Customer Reviews

Magic's Price

5 star:		(95)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this book and my heart is still aching 3 hours after I finished it. I thought being as old as I am no book would be able to move me to so much tears least of all a fantasy. But I was wrong as my eyes just blurred with tears towards the last part of Magic Price. This book is invaluable. Not because of the magic or the style of writing because I have read better ones. It is Vanyel, his Life-bond and his Companion which makes Magic Price and the series itself so special and priceless. I will always love Vanyel and remember Vanyel for his struggles to find himself, his vulnerability, his sensitivity, his inherent goodness and his sacrifice for those he loves. The Last Herald-Mage Series will always be one of my favorites to be treasured always. It is definitely not only for young adults as some claim. It is for all of us with love in our hearts.

I don't think I've cried over a book in years, that all changed when I picked up "Magic's Pawn" I believe I got the lump in the throat four times with that book!

I read the first two in days, but I hesitated on the third. I just didn't want this trilogy to end! Besides a friend told me bluntly: "If you cried over the first, the third will knock you flat."

But all of you who has read this series know the pull of it.

Gods! It was fantastic! Vanyel, Savil, the army that is their family have all grown so much since the begining (I did how ever miss Jerivis, he grew on me in Magic's Promise)

And some old favorites make a guest spot, The Hawkbrothers among them!

This was the first set of Lackey's books I've read so I didn't accept Stefen right off (I'm an old romantic and there's no one for Vanyel except Tylendel) but because of one thing or another (not telling your gonna have to read) I loved him by the middle of the book.

Vanyel is an enigma, and the character plays with the emotions so well. One second you understand why he's building walls, the next you want to beat him over the head and tell him to stop being such a jerk! (of course Yfandes will do that for you) but that's one of the reasons why I love him! In so many ways Vanyel is an unlikely hero, he tries to make his head drown out his heart, but he's ruled by his emotions, even if he *doesn't* want to listen to them, and that leads to confusion (which is his compainion as much as Yfandes) and then to doubt. Vanyel is rarely sure of himself, no matter how he sounds. He loses his temper, he does stupid things (often many in a row) He's human You just don't see that very much in Fantasy heroes.

If you've read the first two, you have a good idea of what's coming in some aspects of the plot, but no matter how you steel yourself up for the coming blow it will do no good. I was crying like a baby by the end of this book, and could still get choked up by thinking about it a couple of days later.

This Trilogy is a must read for any one who has no problems falling in love with fictional characters (it *will* happen) and enjoys books that will make you laugh, cry, and cuss all at once. (this'll happen too)
Any one who calls themselves a Fantasy fan must have The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy in their personal Library.

I don't know exactly what it is about these books, but every time I read Magic's Price, I get this overwhelming urge to cry. I NEVER cry for books, 'cos I'm generally not the crying kind. The feeling of this book is bittersweet melancholy, but that doesn't totally explain my inclination to tears. As one might realize from reading all the other reviews concerning the Last Herald Mage trilogy, perhaps its greatest virtue is the amount of empathy and identification that the reader feels with its main character, Vanyel. He is just a really, really, incredibly great character. Long-suffering, honorable, HUMAN, filled with pain and loneliness, he is a perfectly perfect character.

I first discovered Lackey when I was eleven, or twelve, with the Arrows of the Queen series. I liked Talia and her story, but now, years later, I can't quite get into it quite the same way I did when I was younger. I first read this series right after Arrows, and still, today at nineteen, I enjoy Magic's Price with almost the same fervor and sighing sadness. I read it now with an eye to the things I didn't notice the first time around; the writing is occasionally awkward, sometimes lacking polish and panache, the humor's kinda corny, etc. But still, the force of the story, Vanyel's story, grabs me by the throat with the same power.

This is Lackey's greatest work, no question. Her other Valdemaran books pale in comparison, her Heraldic trilogies wilt. I whole-heartedly recommend this book, which is the best one of the series. But begin with Pawn, which is one long dirge on alienation, loneliness and suffering (great for all adolescent-kind!), and Promise, which is a sort of a lull in which we see the grown up Vanyel in action and have an adventure. Go forth and read these books and get hooked.

Having just finished Magic's Price, the final book in the Last Herald-Mage trilogy, I have to say that this last book is a genuine improvement over the first two, though it's nothing spectacular. However, I will speak of the series as a whole this time.

I am of two minds when I speak about the Last Herald-Mage trilogy. Mercedes' main attraction in her writing lies in the emotional appeal rather than the storytelling. In one hand I enjoyed the book purely because of the emotional value and similarities to my own life and Vanyel's life, like how Vanyel is gay and lived in a negligent family and struggles with loneliness and homophobia. How he has passions and dreams that are forced to rot because circumstance grants him no outlet for them. Those are things that I identify with because they are a part of my life as well. Indeed, that is the only reason I continued from the first book to read the other two: curiosity based on empathy.

But on the other hand, as a fan of fantasy literature, I find Lackey's two-dimensional, derivative, predictable, and even cheesy plots unforgivable. Her tendency to repeat herself is also annoying. Example, if you've read the ending-conflict of the first book than you have already read the ending-conflicts of the rest of the trilogy. They play out in almost exactly the same way. Vanyel confronts some mega-powerful mage who you've never seen before and who acts stereotypically villainous, then Vanyel realizes that the only way to defeat said mage is to do some dangerous and potentially lethal magic maneuver. The only difference between these ending-conflicts is the name of the mage Vanyel fights. Literally.

That is but one example. You will find that many elements from her first book are repeated throughout the other two. You'll find yourself having a palpable sense of deja-vu from time to time. The trilogy is formulaic to a fault.

So all-in-all, I would say that the Last Herald-Mage trilogy is mostly comfort-reading. It's allure, and I believe what wins the series its fans, is the emotional aspect, and it is purely on that basis that one will like the book. Otherwise, the series is a glorified fairy-tale, as trite and predictable as the story of Sleeping Beauty. But like a fairy-tale, the storytelling was never the real point, but the emotion and moral is.

To be blunt: As a serious fantasy book, the Last Herald-Mage trilogy simply can't hold water. There is simply nothing new here. It uses common fantasy cliches and beats you over the head with them with no real twists to give it flavor. The writing itself is truly horrible, given Lackey's pentiant for italic words and internal monologue and bad prose. The end result is a bland fantasy book in the fantasy genre context. However, I would recommend this book as a comfort-reading or a light-reading, or as a young adult book.

In all fairness, I can only grant this book three stars.

Although Valdemar fans already know Vanyel's end and dreaded it to start with, this book really gut-punches the reader. Sometimes humorous, filled with love, and heartbreakingly tragic by turns, it's a page-turner that the reader won't be able to put down until they finish. I won't give the storyline away - but keep the tissues close by!

With things calming down on the border, Vanyel has returned to Haven to assume the responsibility of keeping things in order for the dying King Randale. Amidst the stresses he must face, Vanyel finds an unexpected friend in a Bard named Stefen who has the uncanny ability to sing away pain.

But a dark power is haunting the edges of Valdemar, slowly eliminating the Herald-Mages in an attempt to make an evil magical assault unstoppable. Vanyel vows to stop this dark power at all costs. Will he be able to fulfill his quest with the help of Stefen and his Companion, Yfandes?

"Magic's Price" is the final book in Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald-Mage trilogy. It was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy. I never cease to be amazed at Lackey's gift of writing the perfect trilogy ending. I was left satisfied and extremely pleased for the main characters.

As with "Magic's Pawn" and "Magic's Promise," Lackey does an admirable job with her treatment of homosexuality. It's subtle and not thrown at the reader in a preachy way, which I feel may encourage readers to be more tolerant of gays and lesbians.

Bottom Line: An AMAZING conclusion with wonderful characters that I will truly miss reading about. Try to read the last ten pages without crying!

I've owned this book (and the rest of the series) for ten years now. At least once a year I dig it out and re-read it from the beginning. I never, ever fail to be sobbing my heart out by the last page of Magic's Price.

To be brutally honest, strictly as a writer, Lackey is not the best. If you prefer polished prose, innovative storylines, and interesting bad guys, go look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you prefer a story that speaks straight to your heart, go for this one.

It's often campy. It's sappy. It's got teen angst and drama. It's also one of the most beautifully sad (or sadly beautiful...) endings I've ever had the privilege to read. It's true to humanity, and that what makes it good, not the villians or the plot or the deeper meanings (what deeper meanings?).

Read the series at least once. Give it a chance.

When I first started reading Lackey (Arrows of the Queen), I had no intention of continuing on to The Last Herald Mage series. I was younger then, and my first thoughts when reading about Van's -the main character- *ahem* sexuality, I was like...ew. So a few years down the road and quite a bit more experience, I finally decided to give Magic's Promise a go. Less than a week later, I tearfully closed Magic's Price. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be gingerly setting this series on my overcrowded bookshelf. This is, by far, Misty's best series. Nowhere else is there such tragedy in Misty's works as there is in this series, nowhere is there such love, hatred, suspense, magic, and self-discovery. I cannot recommend this series enough. My heart always breaks a little whenever I finish a book, knowing the characters I had grown to love will never return, but at the end of this series, it shattered.

"Magic's Price" is a great book.

Don't let anyone fool you regarding Ms. Lackey's writing competence; anyone who can weave so many subplots together, while showing flawed, real people making mistake-laden choices and having to live with the consequences, is a good writer.

I think Ms. Lackey is an outstanding writer.

I had a very long review written; not sure if it went anywhere. I really don't want to write the same review again, so let me try and sum up.

Other folks have gone over the plot; I'd just like to say these things:

Vanyel's biggest strength is his humanity. The fact he is afraid to love Stefan after so many years of being alone is very realistic. Also, the fact that Stefan had to try again and again and again to get Vanyel to open up to him was _also_ realistic.

Anyone throwing this book to the side because it features a gay couple is really missing out. It's a fantastic, highly emotional book that deals with complex issues in a realistic fashion.

I highly disagree with anyone who thinks that because Vanyel has a lot of inner monologue and can't seem to make up his mind very quickly, he's not a good character. He's a great character; yes, he's flawed, but so what? It makes him more believable overall.

Not only that, I find it more than a bit sexist to say that Ms. Lackey's character shouldn't be so flawed, when George R.R. Martin is currently being revered for setting up a bunch of totally flawed "heroes" and truly revolting "villains" with semi-hearts-of-gold. Why is it OK for Martin but not for Ms. Lackey?

Makes no sense to me.

Anyway, buy this book; it's one of the best books Ms. Lackey has ever written, it has more than one moral (about love, and courage under the face of adversity, and duty, and shared goals and dreams even if they don't totally prove out), it's very readable, and best of all, it shows that even the most dense people (the Ashkevrons) can eventually get the message regarding people that are out of the mainstream.

Gay people aren't any different than you or me. Ms. Lackey was absolutely spot on in her characterization, and I think she did a great, fabulous job with this book. I'd give it (and "Oathbreakers," another of my all-time favorites) more than five stars if I could.

Vanyel is now a man with silver streaks in his hair but he still looks increadibly hot. And why not? What else does he have except his good looks and bravery? He is one of the last Herald-Mages in Valdemar and everything is always up to him, he has to fight, protect, serve with no time to catch his breath. The poor guy is practically celibate, he stays away from all men in guilt because he thinks that by adopting a lover, he might betray Tylendel.

I felt very happy when he accepted Stefen, though it took him freaking forever! Man, the guy sure is patient.

AS to the events of the rest of this book, they didn't go so well with me. I wanted to scream at Ms. Lackey for torturing her characters so cruelly. Why the hell won't she let Vanyel be happy for once? I just don't understand...I really do not.

And the whole business with Stefen, and him being a reincarnation of Tylendel, that was a good touch. Yeah....it was all fine, till another of them dies, and the other has to go through life alone...AGAIN.

Though it was sweet, I disliked the ending. It didn't feel real to me. So, in a sense, they were never together again where it mattered. Now it became Stefen's turn to live out his life in lonliness. In my opinion, she needs to stop mutilating her characters so much. WHo knows? Maybe once in a while, she can make them......um, i don't know...happy?

But, once again, overall, it was a great book and very emotional, so it deserves 5 stars, except Lackey's obsession of causing her characters to suffer massive amounts of harships, pain and lonliness.