Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Original, September 18, 2001
Mercedes Lackey is one of those who has taken modern fantasy to the human level, and for that I honour her. I've re-read the Vanyel books a number of times, and there's good reason why they remain some of her fans' favourites.I'd say the one thing that I find most displeasing about the Vanyel books is the arbitrary presence of evil. We're told that the Heralds, the keepers of The Right in Lackey's world of Valdemar, are short lived because they're continually doing battle against BAD THINGS, but it's never really clear what those bad things are, where they come from or why they're bad. Magic's Pawn (and Magic's Price, the last book in the trilogy) ends with the main character doing battle with an evil Mage who seems to exist merely to do bad things to good people. This battle seems tacked on simply to provide a rousing finish to the book; there's very little build up to it and it has almost no connection to the rest of the story. To me, that's lazy writing. But the story really isn't about that. The story is about Vanyel, his flaws and strengths as a person and his relationships with friends, lovers, and family, and that is done exceedingly well. Lackey has a sure touch depicting the harm people do to people. Vanyel is a misfit both in his family and with his peers and he suffers not only from their treatment but from his defenses against it. Lackey also went out on a limb making her main character homosexually oriented, and she painted Vanyel's relationship in an honest, genuine way without a lot of stereotyping. The writing isn't great, but this story is so affecting that you can overlook that. It's easy to see why Lackey's books attract numerous fans.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply fantastic., February 19, 2000
This is the very first Mercedes Lackey book I ever read... and I very quickly bought not only the second two books in the trilogy, but some more of her writings.The first reason I picked up Magic's Pawn is the "horse" on the cover, because I am an animal lover. But I sat down on the floor of the bookstore to read a couple pages to get a feel for it, and I could hardly close the book to buy it! This book is an amazing love story. It does not matter that it is between two males at all -- it is simply portrayed as a deep love bond between two souls. This book actually changed my mind from being squeamish about gays to accepting, supporting, and understanding them. But more than a love story, it's a record of a boy growing up, learning a lot about himself. Throughout he has the wonderful support of his "horse" Yfandes, who is truely a lady, no matter her shape. She and Vanyel are mind-linked, which helps him through a lot of hard times. They also share a lot of fun bantering and generally affectionate teasing. If you want a "talking animal" story, get this. If you want a gay love story, get this. If you want a timeless love story, get this. If you want a simply magic story, get this.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Complicated feelings about this one, April 10, 2006
I truly did enjoy this book. The evidence: I read it in one sitting without feeling groggy or laughing out loud at it. The characters are wonderful, the magic is decently thought out, and the story itself holds the attention enough. Lackey writes with charisma; witty and entertaining from start to finish.
I know some readers will be put off by the homoerotic tendencies in these novels. Well, that's why Amazon puts up these reviews - so one will not be taken completely by surprise. I, for one, have no problem with it, and thought the treatment of the gay relationship was tasteful, respectful, and believable. In a large portion of the fiction I've read, homosexual leanings seem to exist on the villain's side of things, and usually augment the evil that is already exposed. So, I enjoyed the change of pace.
There are problems, however. The characters are worked out very carefully and lovingly, while the plot (i.e. dramatic conflict) lacks exposition and development. In other words, the romantic and personal storylines are very satisfying, while the actual plot threads are weak, transparent, and barely even worth caring about. Lackey seems to want us to care about the far-reaching conflicts (the presence of evil, the threat of war, etc.), but really doesn't force the issue. It is quite clear that the author cares more about the romance than the good vs. evil aspect of her story. I will say that this situation improves in the next two novels in the series, but it doesn't change how glaring the flaws are here.
So, why 5 stars? I'm a sucker for a gay love story. Also, the flaws in this book disappear into the background as the series progresses. After one gets used to the way Lackey tells a story, things begin to fall into place.
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