The Phoenix Endangered [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Fiction) [Preloaded Digital Audio Player]

Mercedes Lackey (Author), William Dufris (Narrator)

Book Description

Series: Playaway Adult Fiction | Publication Date: July 2009

In The Phoenix Endangered, the second entry in The Enduring Flame, Tiercel, a budding High Mage, and Harrier, a reluctant Knight-Mage, develop greater power-and learn of the evils of war when they see the devastation caused by the fanatical armies of the Wild Mage Bisochim.The desert tribespeople led by young Shaiara flee Bisochim's evil, seeking a legendary oasis deep in the desert-a refuge that may hold the key to stopping Bisochim and preserving the Balance between Light and Darkness...or that may be the cause of Light's ultimate downfall.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Harrier Gillain, future Knight-Mage, and his best friend, Tiercel Rolfort, High Mage in training, tread familiar ground in this sequel to 2007's The Phoenix Unchained, following the command of the Light in a quest to destroy the Dark. Accompanied by Kateta, a pushy, nagging unicorn, and the mammoth black dragon Ancaladar, the teen heroes prepare themselves in the elven city of Karahelanderialigor before setting out in search of the Lake of Fire, where the Wildmage Bisochim Bluerobe is raising a fanatic horde of desert nomads. Harrier and Tiercel's lengthy trek comes most vividly to life through the subplot of young nomad leader Shaiara, who risks her whole tribe on the chance of finding Abi'Abadshar, a legendary oasis of alien technology. Adding thinly veiled racial subtext to the customary coming-of-age world-saving story, this epic will mostly appeal to those who like their fantasy by the numbers. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Entertaining. . . .  This beguiling beginning promises a highly readable epic combining vivid characterization with an interesting exploration of how past heroics are twisted over centuries into something both more and less than they were.”
--Publishers Weekly on The Phoenix Unchained

“Sets a lavishly detailed stage peopled with intriguing and well-developed characters whose futures hold both promise and peril.”
--Library Journal on The Phoenix Unchained

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Preloaded Digital Audio Player
• Publisher: Playaway (July 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161545697X
• ISBN-13: 978-1615456970
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,645,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mercedes Lackey is the acclaimed author of over fifty novels and many works of short fiction. In her "spare" time she is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator. Mercedes lives in Oklahoma with her husband and frequent collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fun book, builds characters while developing plot, March 18, 2009

By 

Derek S. Wilson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed reading this book. It starts and ends slow, but ultimately it was satisfying. There are times where it took me a long time to finish reading a chapter. Not because the book was long, or dull, but because I knew that if I read it too fast, I'd be finished with the story. The way it is seperated by telling three seperate stores which intertwine seems to fit this story quite well, though I would have preferred longer chapters with Bisochim, as I think he's one of the less developed characters of the two books. If you enjoyed the first book, this one has a bit less excitement and wonder, but still it is an enjoyable story. The cliffhanger at the end could have been better written and I felt kind of let down by that. I suspect a publishing deadline must have been looming. I'll definitely get the third book when it comes out!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Ride, November 11, 2008

By 

R. Smith (Huntsville, Al United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame (Hardcover)

This is a fun and entertaining read. It is not one of Lackey's more serious novels; rather, it is a rip-rollicking adventure story. I enjoyed it highly and had trouble putting it down. The dialogue is very good and at times hilarious. If you have read the Obsidian Trilogy be forewarned that this series is not nearly as intense. One of the things I liked about this story is the introspection and the character's musings on why they are on this quest and the right and wrong of violence. Too often in these stories the main character is all too willing to pick up a sword and start swinging with no regard for the consequences or the effects.
I highly recommend this book (and the first book in the Enduring Flame series) and am looking forward to the third installment.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Quest Continues, November 17, 2008

By 

Arthur W. Jordin (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame (Hardcover)

The Phoenix Endangered (2008) is the second fantasy novel in The Enduring Flame series, following The Phoenix Unchained. In the previous volume, Tiercel Rolfort became the first High Mage since the Great Flowering. Harrier Gillian went with him to find a Wildmage to soothe or, at least, explain his terrible dreams of the Lake of Fire. After many adventures, Harrier found himself being chosen by the Wild Magic as the first Knight-Mage since Kellen the Poor Orphan Boy.

In this novel, Harrier is rather irritated with Kareta. Since she had brought him the three books of Wild Magic, the unicorn had not stopped nagging him about reading them and about practicing the spells. Kareta is surely beautiful, but she is just so pushy. Harrier just doesn't really see himself as a Wildmage, much less as a Knight-Mage.

Tiercel is happy in the bond with Ancaladar Star-Crowned and it does help with his magic. Ancaladar is so powerful that Tiercel can do just about any magic by drawing upon the dragon's resources. Ancaladar is also mentoring him in his studies. Their only problem is the shortage of time. It takes decades of training to become a master mage and they probably only have a year or two.

They are leaving the Elven Lands and will be crossing Pelashia's Veil in a few sennights. They stocked up on supplies and equipment in Karahelanderialigor and will pick up more supplies at Blackrowan Farm. After that they must find villages and towns to restock their supplies.

In this story, they cross the Veil and the very next night Tiercel has another vision of the woman at the Lake of Fire. He wakes up everyone else with his shouts. Then Harrier finally starts reading his magic books. Of course, he doesn't admit that to Kareta.

Kareta points out that Harrier also needs to practice his weapon skills. Harrier rebuts her argument by stating that he lacks any weapon skills. So she declares that he needs to use his magic to find an instructor.

Then they find a mostly dead warrior in the barrenlands. Since Tiercel has no healing spells, Harrier attempts to heal the man without anyone else to share the Mageprice. After two days sleep, he wakes up and learns that the man is healed. Still, he doesn't want to do that again without several others agreeing to take some of the price.

The wounded man sleeps even longer that Harrier does. When he awakes, they learn that he is a Telchi, a warrior from the Selken Isles. It seems that the Wild Magic has provided Harrier with an arms instructor.

Since healing the Telchi, Harrier can no longer deny that he is a Wildmage. He starts trying to perform the simpler spells in his books, but makes little progress at first, But they discover that Harrier's magic makes Tiercel feel weak. So Tiercel stays away from the wagon whenever Harrier is practicing his spells.

This tale takes Tiercel and Harrier into the Madiran. The Telchi guides them to his home city of Tarnatha'Iteru in the border lands outside the true desert. They meet the Consul and then follow the Telchi to his home. The next day, Tiercel starts searching records for the location of the Lake of Fire.

This story bridges the adventures of the first volume with the forthcoming conclusion in the next volume. Very little excitement occurs until the closing chapters. Still, the characters provide enough interest to keep the plot moving. Enjoy!

Recommended for Lackey & Mallory fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of serious magic, unusual cultures, and a touch of humor. Anyone who has not read novels in this sequence should start with The Outstretched Shadow.

-Arthur W. Jordin