Customer Reviews

Magic's Promise (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 2)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...I got this book by chance. Hell, even before reading this particular book I have never even glance at any fantasy novel. I'm glad I did. Vanyel is simply the most wonderful of characters that one might imagine.I cried every time I read the books in this trilogy (and that amounts to hundreds of times). I first read this book in '94 and since then I have been buying Misty's books, basically on the srength of this particular book. Vanyel is the most complex of characters I have ever encountered and to me Misty managed to flesh him out realistically. When I read this book I feel as though I'm a part of the story, an invisible 'ghost' who dogged his every step, shared his every thought and feel his every pain. I love him to the point of madness. I especially respect the way Misty managed to convey his confusion over his feelings towards Shavri and 'Lendel.And I especially love his banters with Yfandes, whom to me is the rock which helped keep his feet on the ground and restrain him from going bonkers. I can imagine how lonely his life is when people's perception of him are coloured by his heroics and how his legend preceeded him. This can be seen by how Herald Sofya (?) treated him. For me this is the best book of the trilogy since this time 'round he's already matured (unlike the time in Magic's Pawn) and not too obsessed (as in his revenge-mad mode in Magic's Price). Okay, for you sceptics out there I can just say one thing: I wish he was straight and alive. I loved him when I was 13 and I still love him now that I'm 18. Miss this book at your own risk.

There are very few writers as flawed as Mercedes Lackey who can manage to keep my interest for so long. Although I LOVE the Last Herald Mage series, I was annoyed by her faults, which include a tendency to be melodramatic, sentimental and use predictable writing devices (like never-ending interior monologues). The editing is also pretty poor. And yet she has managed to get me so hooked I have devoured 9 of her novels in the space of 3 weeks. Magic's Promise is not as gripping as the other books of this series for the simple reason that there is no love interest. Lots of teasing little comments about how drop dead gorgeous Vanyel is and how starved for affection (setting the reader up for Stefen in the next book) but no real action (and yes, I do like a good love story). But this is still one of her best books because the main aim is the development of Vanyel's character and he is one of the most appealing characters she has ever created. It bridges the gap between Vanyel as confused brat (in Magic's Pawn) and Vanyel as legend (in Magic's Price). It has a gripping enough plot, interesting characters and a nice tidy ending. The only bone I have to pick with this novel is that the reconciliation b/w Jervis and Vanyel and Vanyel and his parents is much too pretty. In the real world there ARE parents who couldn't care less if their kid was dead or alive and there ARE sadistic teachers. And however mature you grow, there are some gaps you simply cannot bridge or just should not. Given the brutal treatment he received at the hands of his family, I think it would have been much more plausible if Lackey had made Vanyel wash his hands of the whole lot of them. And which descriptions of the family and Jervis are we to believe? The highly unfavourable ones in Magic's Pawn or the too-good-to-be-true saccharine ones in this novel? This is an excellent example of the fantasy genre and I (being a diehard fantasy addict) really loved it. If you occasionally enjoy mushy love stories, long for a simpler, cleaner world and love Tolkien, McCaffrey, Eddings and Jordan, chances are that you will enjoy this book and the whole series immensely.

I got a loan of this book from a friend and was reluctant to read it at first, but by the time I had gotten through the first chapter I couldn't turn the next page fast enough. Vanyel to me is an inspiration, I found myself thinking back to times when I wanted to be like Superman and other childhood Heroes. My hands were shaking when I had reached half way through, I found I couldn't put the book down. I finished the book that night, and the next day I was in the shop looking for the next book in the series. Lackey is a genius the way she can grab your attention and hold it to the very end of the book and leave you panting for more. I hadn't read any other of her books before, but by the time I was half way through this book I knew who Vanyel was and what his childhood was like, without delving into too much detail. This book is shear excitment and heartache and inner challenges all in one and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Although appealing for Valdemar fans, the Vanyel books also offer serious food for thought on social issues such as religious prejudice and homosexuality.

Vanyel contines to wrestle with loneliness, grief and guilt over his lifebond's suicide, his family's hostility to his sexuality and his feelings of unworthiness to be a Herald while struggling to solve a murder mystery involving a newly-Chosen royal in this thrilling adventure. New characters are introduced, such as armsmaster Jervis, whom I was prepared not to like at all, and we get to know Vanyel's family. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend the entire Valdemar series. Five stars

Magic's Promise is in many ways my favorite book of the trilogy, although I see-saw between them depending on my mood. This book adds more to the trilogy than it would seem from a quick glance over the plot. I find Van's confusions over his reactions to the other characters, espcially over Shavri, to ring very true. I am glad that Mercedes Lackey chose to include a book like this in the series. Although on the surface, it is just a murder mystery type plot with magic and featuring a character who we already know, on another level it brings up very important things in Vanyel's life. By showing him in a book where he is not in love, it allows the reader to watch him come to terms with difficult issues that could not be raised as effectivly in one of the other books in the series. I find that this book is definitly worth reading more than once.

I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy, I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that they are so flawed. Some may find the romance a bit sappy, but I'm the first to admit that I dig that kind of thing and you'll see it in my own novels as well.Orphan's Quest (Chronicles of Firma, Book One) Best of all for me, though, was the fact that although her hero is unapologetically gay, the series does not become mired in its "gayness" as so many other works of gay-themed fiction I have read.

This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.

The first book in the trilogy, "Magic's Pawn," introduced us to protagonist Vanyel as an adolescent struggling to figure out who he is in the greater world. "Magic's Promise" brings us up to speed with a well-seasoned Vanyel in his late twenties, but you're never too old to reassess yourself. Vanyel does some soul-searching about a personal decision he'd made some years before (I won't spoil it for you here) in between dealing with Royal intrigue across the border from Valdemar, and the doings of his own crazy family. The mystery of the magical assassination of the entire royal clan of Lineas makes for a page-turning plot all on its own, but Vanyel's coming to terms with his dysfunctional family are what really make this book stand out from other fantasy novels. I've read a few reviews of this trilogy that recommend making it required reading in schools for Lackey's sensitive treatment of a wonderful gay character. I'd recommend putting it in the waiting rooms of counseling offices, rehab centers and other places where parents go for guidance, for Lackey's insightful treatment of a troubled family and the ways in which she shows that reconciliations might be possible.

Ms. Lackey makes me proud to read gay fiction. I can't thank her enough for what she's done through "The Herald Mage" series to advance the acceptance of homosexuality. The message is constant, but subtle, so that even straight readers have to adore every moment of it. She can stand on her soapbox any time, and I'll be right there, cheering her on. This series is too beautiful not to read. Scurry out and buy it this minute. You're missing something special in gay fiction if you don't.

All I can say is, "Wow!" That was one of the most amazing stories I have ever read -- completely and utterly spell-binding. Never before have I been moved to tears, smiles, and chills so many times in one book. My arm hairs were literally standing on end with all of the suspense that is built up in this murder/mystery-style book. I found myself wishing that I could read faster than I do -- I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next.

At times, her language became too confusing to understand -- this is the only reason this book did not get 5 stars. It was often too difficult to understand what the author was trying to say. On more than one occasion, I found myself re-reading paragraphs multiple times just to get a basic idea of what she meant. There are still some sections that I don't understand because of the complicated language.

Yet, Lackey does a masterful job of developing her characters. If you're going to read this book, definitely read "Magic's Pawn" first -- at best, Lackey does a mediocre job of explaining the intricacies of the characters she carried over from the first book of the trilogy.

Overall, I loved this book, and heartily recommend it to anyone who is willing to see past the words and experience the story.

In "Magic's Promise," Vanyel Ashkevron is tired. He's been doing the work of five full Herald-mages, and desperately needs some R&R.

Does he get it? Well . . . no. Not exactly.

But he does find out more about himself, save a neighboring kingdom, and comes to some sort of peace with himself over the lingering grief over his lover Tylendel's death (his lifemate from "Magic's Pawn").

The interesting thing about this book is that it dwells on how difficult dealing with family often is. Vanyel's family doesn't like it that he's gay, and hasn't accepted it fully; his mother is still trying to press women on him, and he really doesn't like that. (Can't say that I blame him, either.) They also don't quite seem to know what to do with Vanyel; he's so powerful, and yet he's one of theirs, so they don't fear him . . . it's very tough for them.

So, while Vanyel balances as best he can amidst his not very understanding family, he discovers a few more interesting things along the way. One, he'd badly misjudged Jervis, the armsmaster at Forst Reach (his father's seat); Jervis is a much better person than I'd ever given him credit for in the first book ("Magic's Pawn"), and sincerely wants to make amends for his earlier bad behavior.

This was welcome, and quite unexpected.

The second is that women can still be turned by a fair face and a handsome body, even if they know you're gay. Maybe (dare I say it?) especially if they know you're gay.

Not a welcome revelation, to be sure. But an honest one, and drawn from life.

Mercedes Lackey does extremely well drawing these insights, from how families treat their own when they love but do not understand, to the overall treatment of gay men and women in society. In Valdemar, there may indeed by "no one, true way" but there is still a range of behavior -- and, sadly, gay men and women aren't totally accepted everywhere even there.

As for why it gets only four stars, rather than five? Well, one character, Melenna, really makes me grit my teeth when she shows up. And I'm not so keen on Herald Lores' behavior, either (you'll have to read it to understand); put them both together and they lessen my enjoyment of the book by a bit.

But I still enjoy the book, no question. Lackey shows the best -- and worst -- facets of being young, attractive, powerful, and gay -- in this book, which is why I recommend it highly.