More Magic from Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Promise (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #2)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: The wild magic is taking its toll on the land, and even Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage to ever walk the world, is almost at the end of his strength. But when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a call for help from neighboring Lineas, both Herald-Mage and Companion are drawn into a holocaust of dark magic that could be the end of them both.
My Review: This story follows on from Magic's Pawn but a few years later after Vanyel has become a powerful Herald Mage. I love this story and like book one my copy is fast falling apart because of it. In this case it's the emotions and mystery that keep me rereading and yes, I know I know the answer to the mystery now, but it is still a good read.



Magic's Price (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #3)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: The final chapter in Mercedes Lackey's spellbinding fantasy trilogy! The Herald-Mage, Vanyel, and his Companion, Yfandes, are alone responsible for saving the once-peaceful kingdom of Valdemar from the forces of a master who wields a dark, forbidding magic. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, both Valdemar and its Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price.
My Review: I love/hate this book. I can never leave it out when I reread the trilogy but I hate the ending! Mind you it is a little bit redeemed by the epilogue. Overall this is a well written emotional read that is very much a norm for Valdemar stories, if you don't want your heartstrings pulled to pieces then don't bother starting them.

One other thing - I have a new ereader :D It's a Kobo this time and as soon as I get familiar with it I will be catching up on all the 'please review this' books I have :D

Yet again the reader is kaput!

Darn Levro reader broke again - this time the on/off switch fell off and now I can't get at my books :(

Luckily before it broke I managed to read Ruffskin by Megan Derr and since then I have reread an old favourite Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. So on to a couple of reviews:



Ruffskin (Dance With The Devil #4)by Megan Derr 3*
BLURB: An ordinary rainy day at the Bremen is interrupted when a strange courier shows up with a package for Peyton Blue, the Bremen's much-loved owner and bartender. When the package turns out to be a piece of Peyton's past and brings that past violently into the present, it is up to Johnnie to resolve a years old problem and put the past where it belongs once and for all.
My Review: I gave this only 3* because it seemed rushed and didn't really give me a feeling of a full story. There was a cameo appearance of Johnnie and Grim but the main romance of Peyton seemed like it had something missing. Not that what was there wasn't good because actually it was very good, it just wanted as much as the story deserved.



Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: Vanyel Ashkevron is beautiful. He's a talented musician. He's his mother's pride and joy. Too bad his father and siblings don't feel the same way about him. For that matter, too bad Vanyel doesn't feel the same way about himself. He can't seem to do anything right as far as anyone else is concerned. It seems like the only person who really loves him is his sister, Lissa. And she's just a woman, she doesn't have enough influence to protect him. So he lives, enduring the hatred of everyone, never able to do anything right, to please anyone. Then his father finally gets fed up with him and makes a decision that will change the course of his whole life. Vanyel is to be sent to the capital, Haven, and his Aunt Savil, one of the famous Herald-Mages of Valdemar. Anyone else would be thrilled, but Vanyel has met his Aunt once before, and he knows that she hates him just as much as everyone else. He has no choice but to go to Haven though, and maybe, just maybe, he'll find what he's been looking for, and the life he was destined to lead.
My Review: Even though I have read this book so many times the thing is falling apart (again) I am still moved to tears at the tragic tale of Vanyel. Mercedes Lackey has a knack of putting so much emotion on the page that your feel every word. In the case of this, the first one in a trilogy, it is more obvious than ever. Vanyel seems to have the ability to attract bad luck no matter what he tries to do to avoid it. The story is full of magic, action, romance and tragedy. The magic is believable, the action is bloody and the romance and tragedy go hand in hand and will bring most people to tears.