Customer Reviews

Trio of Sorcery

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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

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

This book contains three supernatural-mystery novellas, all of them enthralling and great fun to read. The first, "Arcanum 101," features witch and Guardian of the Earth Diana Tregarde, who was first introduced about 20 years ago in the dark-fantasy novels "Children of the Night," "Burning Water" and "Jinx High." This short novel is a prequel, set in 1970 at Harvard, where Diana is a freshman student who must track down an evil psychic, who may or may not be the real thing.

The second, "Drums," set in 1995, features Jennifer Talldeer, the Osage shaman and PI first introduced in the paranormal detective novel "Sacred Ground." Here she must face down an angry Osage ghost who is determined to make a young Chickasaw woman his bride.

"Ghost in the Machine," set in the present day, introduces a new investigator, Ellen McBride, who is a techno-shaman. In the course of a probe into some anomalies in a multiplayer online role-playing game, she confronts a dangerous Wendigo that is about to escape the virtual world and break into the real one.

This is a terrific read for aficionados of urban fantasy, paranormal mysteries, and cyber-thrillers. And especially for fans of Mercedes Lackey who have loved her earlier urban-fantasy detective tales.

The first is the initial Diana Tregarde and tells the story of how she assembled her team of paranormal talents. Well done plot good characters and some good humor.

The Second is Talldeer and Horse PIs and how they defeat an angry, vengeful spirit. Again excelliant characters nicely done plot and excelliant perral. Nice resolution.

The last is about a Techno shaman was really nicely done and showed outstanding imagination. Again excelliant characters and plot. Some humor as well. I would like to see more of these characters and this world.

Overall a home run read. Very highly recommended.

BTW don't expect a book report--I did read the book and I don't need to blow the plot!

Trio of Sorcery is a book that I was really looking forward to and I wasn't disappointed. I remember reading the Diana Tregarde books back when they were first published, as well as Sacred Ground, which featured Jennifer Talldear. I was hoping that this book would bring the heroines into the 21st century. That didn't happen, but I think what Ms. Lackey did was more effective. Arcanum 101 was set before any of the published works, which allowed the reader to see how Diana grew over time. Drums was set shortly after Sacred Ground, which worked as well. Both stories are able to be read as stand-alone books, so no previous knowledge of the published books is needed. Ghost in the Machine featured a new heroine as well as a nice twist on magic and technology. I'd like to see more of Ellen McBridge. I have only one other request to the publisher - please make Sacred Ground and the Diana Tregarde books available in Kindle format. Hopefully the sale of Trio of Sorcery will prove there's still a market for them.

Many years ago, Misty Lackey wrote some fantastic urban fantasy with Diana Tregarde as the lead character, and another series with Jennifer Talldeer in the hot seat. Due to some real world complications that would themselves be a terrific novel plot, she stopped writing them and allowed them to go out of print. I am delighted to report that they have stood the test of time, and they are back in print, along with this book--three novelettes with the same characters.

This is some of Misty's best work. It is fantastic to see that she has returned to the urban fantasy series she gave up.

Bravo!

Walt Boyes
Active Member, SFWA

"Arcanum 101". Diana Tregarde is just starting college, but also is a Guardian witch dedicated to keeping mortals safe from nasty supernaturals. She makes friends with four other students who reside in the same building she does. They saw her banish a dybbuk; but rather than fearing her, they offer to assist her in finding a kidnapped little girl. There only clues come from the fortune teller advising the distraught mother, but the Harvard freshman Guardian believes the woman practices the dark arts.

"Drums". Nathan Begay, the new client of private investigators Jennifer Talldeer and David Spirited Horse, hires them to follow his girlfriend Caroline. She does not want to see him or any of her friends. Caroline seems lifeless as of her soul has been drained from her. Jenny observes Caroline dancing with a ghost; a raging evil spirit who died without honor or love and has chosen Caroline as his death bride.

"Ghost in the Machine". Tom Bishop was intimately involved with the MMORPG (multi-player online game); he helped create another zone to the game. Dark Valley is very popular, but the programmed Wendigo is doing things outside the coding and Tom cannot stop him doing what it wants. The programmers hire Ellen McBridge to fix the flaw. She uses shaman magic to try to get the ghost out of the machine.

The returns of Diane Tregarde (early 1990s; see Children of the Night and Burning Water) and Jennifer Talldeer (mid 1990s; see Scared Ground) will elate fans of Mercedes Lackey. While this is Ellen McBridge's first tale, she holds her own with the other two paranormal investigators. The three novellas are well written and entertaining while starring strong females with similar traits but different scenarios confronting the supernatural.

Harriet Klausner

Mercedes Lackey has written another winner. It was great to have a new Tregarde story, especially one that tells how she got started as a Guardian.

Premise: Three urban fantasy novellas about magically talented women solving mysteries. Arcanum 101 is a Diana Tregarde prequel, featuring the witch and Guardian trying to find the connection between a fake psychic and a kidnapped girl, while simultaneously starting college. Drums is a sequel to the novel Sacred Ground, in which medicine woman Jennie Talldeer needs to stop an angry ghost from killing a young dancer. Finally, Ghost in the Machine follows techno-shaman Ellen McBride, who is called in to consult with a MMO corporation who find that their perfectly programmed monster may be more powerful than they planned.


This was a fun read. I especially liked that the stories worked well together, despite not having much overt in common. The first is set in the early 70's, and the protagonist is a college freshman. The second is set in 1995, and Jennie is established, but young, say, late 20's/early 30's? The third is set in 2010, while Ellen seems semi-ageless, and is definitely at the top of her game.

I liked all three stories, although I don't think I ever read Sacred Ground, so I felt a little less sure of Drums than of the other two. Now I want to go re-read some Diana Tregard. Mmmm...Horror/Fantasy. There's some amusing bits in this story about hippies encouraging dangerous metaphysical incursions. I think Ms. Lackey is still a bit pissed about the people who took the Diana Tregarde books way too seriously, and I don't blame her one bit.

Ghost in the Machine was a delight, and I adored Ell. She has a familiar spirit in an AIBO (remember those cute robot dogs?) She programmed it to talk like K9. She's a professional with a wicked sense of humor. I love her.

These stories had fun characters, tense plots, good action scenes, interesting mystery plots, and emotion with very little angst. I thoroughly approve.