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42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally!, November 11, 2010
I never thought we'd ever get to see Diana Tregard in action again! She first showed up in 1989 when urban fantasy wasn't even a named genre yet. A modern day witch, who knows martial arts and who writes romance novels to put food on the table, but her real job was as a Guardian--a defender against supernatural badness. I'm pretty sure (hey, 1989 was a long time ago...) that she was the first @!&*@*kicking female urban magic wielder I read. Not as hardcore as Anita Blake was at the beginning (and before AB became obsessed with a certain body part, not that there's anything wrong with that but I digress). But..when I picked up the first AB novel--10+ years later-- I remember thinking, 'gee I wish there'd been more about Diana Tregarde'! A search of old Mercedes Lackey information made me think that some creepy/nutty/stalker types must have taken the Diana-verse so seriously and obsessively that ML decided not to write the stories again.
All I can say, is thank goodness she changed her mind! So here we have a new Diana Tregarde book, which is funny, as story-wise, it's the first one and set in the 70s--which I am old enough to remember and appreciate the fine details of. The novella length (almost half the book) was for this tale. Hopefully we will see more of her. I'd like to re-read the older stories, but woefully my paperbacks are locked up in storage for another year or three and the originals are not on the Kindle as yet--if they were this is a series I'd re-buy because this story is out! The paper ones were re-issued a few years ago and are obtainable, if anyone is interested in those.
The second story features Jennifer Talldeer--the main character from Sacred Ground. That was a stand-alone novel, and one I had wished for more stories. Now, 15 or so years later, I finally have it. Once again, this is a character I reminisced about when reading new books, this time like those of CE Murphy's Joanna Walker and others with the urban/shaman theme. Again, Mercedes Lackey was a few years ahead in terms of building a theme. In any case, this too was a nice story, very appropriate for the less-than-full-novel number of words. In contrast to the first story which have a history, this gave a follow up story for the characters...a 'where are they now', except the now is the mid 90s--right around the birth time of Amazon in fact. (Gasp! Life at the infancy of ebay too--which gets a mention).
The final story was an all new product--set in the current time with new characters. I basically started reading it to finish the book--hey I'd read the good ones right? Well, I ended up liking this one too...and very happy I didn't stop. Computer coding and magic...that's all I'm saying.
I got the sense with this book the characters were interesting to the author as well--and I hope she enjoyed them enough to give us more of all three. All in all, I'd give the 4.5 (or 9.125) if only I could use more than the standard 5 star vote! In this case I round up.
JTG
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Familiar Faces and Someone New, November 13, 2010
This review is from: Trio of Sorcery (Hardcover)
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:
[...]
Mercedes Lackey is an author responsible for a number of my firsts. Diana Tregarde was probably the first the urban fantasy series I ever read, and she mixed magic with police interceptors much to my delight. I also know for a fact that Jennifer Talldeer, in SACRED GROUND, was the first character I ever read who used a condom in a love scene (a realistic, compelling, touch). Both Diana and Jennie have new stories in TRIO OF SORCERY, as well as a new character, Ellen McBridge. All three characters left their mark on me for better or worse in this anthology, and not in the way I expected.
Diana Tregarde's story in Arcanum 101 works well for those familiar with her previous books, but can also serve as a good introduction to the series. Featuring a witch/romance novelist, I love the trademark Lackey touch of mixing magic with practical concerns (like getting a job or figuring out bus schedules). While being a Guardian does give Diana a bump up in magical power, she's not above further augmenting that power with research, martial arts, and the fastest get away car she can bum a ride in. Reading this origin story whetted my appetite to go back and re-read all of those Diana Tregarde books I remember enjoying so much.
Arcanum 101 was followed by Drums, taking up the story of Jennie Talldeer and David Spotted Horse where SACRED GROUND left off. Of the three stories, Drums was the weakest in the triology. It felt unfinished on the edges, awkward at the beginning and vague at the end. Given how vividly I remember Jennie and David's relationship, I didn't like how Lackey raises questions between them that were never resolved in the scope of this story. I'd be willing to forgive, however, if this means more stories featuring these characters will follow.
And finally, set in present day, Ghost in the Machine was definitely my favorite story (and not just because it deals with an on-line computer game very similar to World of Warcraft). Ghost in the Machine introduces a fascinating concept of how magic might collide with our modern world. Usually short stories leave me wanting in the character development department, but the techno-shaman Ellen McBridge and magically augmented AIBO were a pair that I would love to read more about.
Thoughout these three stories, Lackey emphasizes this passage of time by prefacing each story with a primer on the technological and social norms of the day. While I enjoyed these prologues, I would have enjoyed the stories themselves more if Lackey had used a lighter hand with these time period markers. I felt like many of the "period references", were rather clunky and unnecessary for the story itself.
Over all, this trio was a pleasant trip down memory lane, as well as a sweet showcase of Mercedes Lackey's portfolio. I only hope that these stories are the seedlings of new full length books.
Sexual Content: None
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical Investigations, November 30, 2010
This review is from: Trio of Sorcery (Hardcover)
Trio of Sorcery (2010) is a Fantasy collection of three shorter works. These stories feature two known characters and someone new.
Diana Tregarde is a witch and a Guardian. Di has studied magic since moving in with her grandmother. When she was sixteen, she swore the oath and became a Guardian. Now she has to help anyone who Calls for her aid.
This story tells of Diana's first days in Harvard. Parts of this tale were mentioned in Burning Water.
- "Arcanum 101" has a police detective asking for help on a side issue in a case. While almost overwhelmed by the curriculum and other responsibilities, Diana listens to what Joe O'Brian has to say. He is working on a missing girl case and a so-called medium has latched onto the mother. He wants Diana to debunk the psychic so that the police can work without her interference.
Jennifer Talldeer is a Private Investigator and a Medicine Woman. Jenny has been trained in Medicine for most of her life, first by her grandfather and then by other Medicine Men and Women. Now she has a partner, David Spotted Horse. This story follows Sacred Ground.
- "Drums" is about a mi-ah-lushka, a nasty ghost. A Navaho man comes to Jenny and David to ask them to watch a Chicksaw woman. After checking his story, they stake out the house. Jenny gets the night shift and finds the ghost dancing with the enthralled woman.
Ellen McBride is a techno-shaman. Ell counters magicians flipping bits for luck. She has a familiar who inhabits a robot dog. This is her first story.
- "Ghost in the Machine" leads a game developer into a very scary situation. A Wendigo monster in a new game is zapping almost everybody who enters Dark Valley. The coder talks to Ellen about fixing the game.
It is good to have the author writing more outside the Valdemar series. Hopefully other stories will follow, especially with the new character.
Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of combat magic, tough challenges, and clever mages. Read and enjoy!
-Arthur W. Jordin
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