Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

Mercedes Lackey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mage Winds | Publication Date: August 1, 1993

Princess Elspeth journeys to the Vale of the Tayledras Clan to seek Mage training among the powerful Hawkbrother Adepts, only to find that she and renegade adept Darkwind must confront the malevolent magic of Ancar of Hardorn. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this sequel to Winds of Fate, Elspeth, heir to the throne of Valdemar, develops into a strong practitioner of magic under the tutelage of Darkwind k'Sheyna. Accepted as a member of the k'Sheyna clan of the Tayledras, magicians who cleanse lands damaged in the long-ago Magic Wars, Elspeth takes her turn in patrols searching for the vanished Falconsbane, an evil Adept who almost destroyed the clan, its Heartstone, and Darkwind's father Starblade. While Elspeth and Darkwind slowly and contentiously come to love each other, her companion Skif seeks the Changechild Nyara, daughter of Falconsbane, who turned against him to save the Vale of the k'Sheyna and then fled into the wilderness with the enchanted sword Need. Aided by the powerful but mysterious mage Firesong k'Treva, the Vale fights off another attempt at destruction by Falconsbane, while still greater powers put in an appearance and set the stage for the Mage Wind trilogy's projected third title. This is a charming, colorful and romantic coming-of-age tale, deeply imbued with the concept of responsibility as well as the imagined pleasures of power.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Elsepth, herald and heir to the throne of Valdemar, seeks to learn the long-forgotten skills of magic by studying with the reclusive Hawkbrothers of the embattled Pelagir Hills. When a powerful mage known as Falconsbane attempts to destroy her adopted clan, Elspeth must use her new talents in a deadly battle to save the people she has come to love. Lackey's talent for world building comes to the fore in her vivid description of the Hawkbrothers' culture, while her strength of characterization remains constant. Fans of the popular Valdemar series will create a demand for this solid fantasy.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: DAW (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886775639
• ISBN-13: 978-0886775636
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,976 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Lackey, Mercedes

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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think I'm in love!, June 24, 2000

By 

Melissa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is my favorite book of all time. In the book, Elspeth has traveled long and far to finally find someone to tutor her in the use of her magic, which she plans on bringing home to the defense of her people against the tyrant ruler (Ancar) of their neighboring country. She finally found the mythical Taledras and found one who was willing to tutor her even as he himself relearns magic. This is a beautiful, winding book of action, romance, love, hatred, jelously, humor, and oh so much more. I fell in love with the characters even as the book drew me deeper within. Warning: This book will keep you up late at night, reading into the unholy hours of the morning! If you want a series to read, this is the one (if you are into this genre of reading). I would suggest you first read "Winds of Fate", then this book, then the last in this series. If you aren't already hooked on Valdemar, you will be! Any other Heralds of Valdemar out there, feel free to email me ([e-mail])! Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elspeth and Darkwind's journey continues, December 9, 2002

By 

Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

In Valdemar, Princess Elspeth is the heir to the throne and a herald, but in K'Sheyna Vale, she's just another mage in training. After becoming members of the Hawkbrothers, Elspeth and the ex-theif Skif part ways momentarily to complete their own tasks. Elspeth is beginning to learn magic, and it's becoming obvious from the start that she has it in spades. Her teacher, Darkwind, finds himself facing the challenge of teaching a slightly uppity (and not to mention attractive) woman while relearning much of the magic he swore never to use again.

Meanwhile Skif and Wintermoon, Darkwind's brother, start too look for Nyara, the changechild of whom Skif is still quite smitten with. Nyara is also the newest wielder of the sword Need. It appears that Need is the only one that can help her become independent of her father, the cruel adept, Morenlithe Falconsbane. who is planning on striking again soon. He will stop at nothing from stealing the power of the Vale's heartsone. Elspeth, Darkwind, and the other mages of K'Sheyna Vale know they must stop him but they know that he's impossible to defeat alone.

This book was just as good, if not better that Wind of Fate. The first book in the trilogy was merely warming us up for the thrills you'll find in this one. There are many good parts about this book. Me being a closet hopeless romantic, love to watch the mere attraction between Darkwind and Elspeth grow into something possible more. I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next book. The character Nyara, who almost annoyed me through certain parts of the first book, really grows in leaps and bounds in this one. She's now one of my newest favorite characters. I'm also pleased to see Elspeth calm down a bit in this one. Her character is also turning out wonderfully. This is an amazing book filled with many twists and turns and memorable scenes. If you've read the first book I highly recommend reading this one as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fantasy!, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading Winds of Fate, I couldn't help but read this book. Although Elspeth's aggrevated attitude started to get to me after a while in Winds of Fate, she began to go through a transition in this book, becomming someone I could actually relate to! I still love Darkwind as I did in the first book, and finding out that Firesong was...not as he seemed made my jaw drop! An exciting, multi-faceted, and altogether wonderful fantasy!