Wish I'd read it when I was a kid...

books:

	• Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1) Mercedes Lackey DAW, 1989 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 214 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great Series...

This novel as well as the other two that follow Magic's Pawn is amazing. I have not gotten so attached to a character in a very, very long time. This book was loaned out to me because I was looking for a good fantasy read. Well I found one. I really do feel for Vanyel and actually shared his ups and downs throughout the novels. I also liked it because of the different relationship that took place in the story. Instead of a charming guy trying to save the world to save the girl, Lackey has given the reader a very tasteful, very normal, gay relationship. All and all I loved these books and will read them over and over again. Highly recommended.

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Wish I'd read it when I was a kid...

Let me first start out by saying that I'm not really a fan of epic fantasy. In fact, the whole reason I purchased this book is because I finally grew tired of reading "gay books" (i.e. books about gays/lesbians coming out of the closet, finding love, dealing with discrimination, etc.) and simply wanted to read an interesting book with a gay hero/heroine. I implemented the use of the internet in my quest to find a good book with a gay main character, and was ultimately led to the Last Herald Mage trilogy. I was hesitant at first because like I said, I'm not into epic fantasy. All the good reviews on amazon and various other websites spurred me on however, so I purchased it.

I'm glad I did. In fact, I wish I'd read this when I was a teenager. a story like this would've been a huge comfort and joy to me as I struggled through those merciless, torturous years.

I'll not bore you with a long description of the storyline, as you can read that on any number of the reviews. I will state however, that I was so deeply moved by this extraordinary book that I was actually reduced to tears on more than one occasion. I hurt so deeply and profoundly for Vanyel, it was like I was experiencing his setbacks firsthand. I was particularly moved by his struggles with his sexuality, and could personally relate. The fact that a subject such as this was so deftly and beautifully handled amidst a world of swords, sorcery and talking horses only serves as testament to the writer's skill. Furthermore, Vanyel's sexuality is not the primary focus of the story. Yes, it does play an important role, but Vanyel does (unlike so many other books with gay protagonists) have a life outside of being gay.

As wonderful and moving an experience reading this book was for me, it is not without it's shortcomings. First (and perhaps, the most annoying for me) was the fact that Vanyel was either crying and carrying on like a big baby emo kid most of the time, or simply unconscious. Don't get me wrong, he did suffer grievously throughout the course of the book, but he was starting to come off as some annoying, simpering heroine from one of those "bodice ripper" books after a while. (He did however manage to redeem himself at the very end of the book, but up until then, he was kind of a tool.) The villain struck me as weird, too. A previous reviewer mentioned the fact that he didn't really seem to have a reason for doing what he was doing, he was just...bad. I couldn't agree more. He kind of reminded me of the typical villain from a Final Fantasy game...a beautiful, self-serving sociopath who is just evil for no good reason. He was a very flat, boring character amongst an otherwise interesting and well-rounded cast.

Other than a couple of grievances, this was an incredible book, filled with magic, heroism, adventure, and more pretty boys than you can shake a stick at. (gotta go find me some Starwind/Moondance fanfics, STAT!) I will not only read the next two books in the series, but I will also read other books by Lackey as well. A real treasure that has earned a respected spot on my bookshelf as well as in my heart.

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Mixed Emotions...

I read this book on the advice of a friend. I had asked if she knew of any good same-sex fantasy stories, and she loaned me this book. And then came my mixed emotions.

First of all, as a budding writer myself, I was bothered by the abruptness of the plot developments. Each conflict seemed to be prefaced by about one page of buildup, and the "main" villain doesn't put in an appearance until the last 10 pages of the story. Along those lines, I was also annoyed by the repetitiveness of the text; the words "pain" and "loneliness" alone must have been used hundreds of times.

As for the "gay" aspect of the story: my first reaction was that it was too preachy and unrealistic, more like a political manifesto than a love story. But then I thought about the fact that the author, to my knowledge, is not herself gay, and also that the novel was written almost 20 years ago. In that light, the book seems much more groundbreaking: I imagine it was a well-intentioned try at exploring an underwritten genre, and I applaud her the attempt.

As for the novel as a whole, it all boils down to: do I want to know what happens next? Will I read the rest of the series? My answer is yes, but barely. I am principally hoping that the remainder of the series will be less of an angst-ridden coming-of-age story, and more of a heroic journey (laced with same-gender romance, of course!).

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A Pawn or An Active Player?

Mercedes Lackey's Last Herald-Mage trilogy is considered innovative with its sympathetic gay hero,Vanyel. As a character,Vanyel has been accused of being a Gary-Stu,the angsty,uber-powerful alter ego of the other. I dare to disagree. Vanyel begins the story quite flawed and self-centered. He is rightfully considered "a peacock",and when he arrives at the Royal Court of Valdemar to be tutored by his aunt Savil,she doesn't give him special treatment.

Vanyel's journey is like other coming-of-age epics. He matures, comes to understand his powers,stops being passive...and finds love with a youth near his age named Tylendel. To Lackey's credit, Vanyel&Tylendel's brief,beautiful love affair isn't conveyed in a preachy,unrealistic way. When it ends with Tylendel's suicide,it is heart-wrenching and tragic.

Lackey is strong in character development,but not so much with plot. The battle between good and evil remains in the background in contrast to the growing romance,as well as Vanyel's bond with his Companion,Yfandes. Villains are vaguely described. The relationship between Vanyel and Tylendel is not allowed to grow and mature because of Tylendel's suicide. A bothersome contradiction in the story is that Vanyel&his boyfriend keep their affair secret, and are told to do so by Savil. Valdemar is portrayed as a tolerant land,with the motto "No one way is the true way." Why would there still be a stigma on homosexuality? However, Lackey's poetic style outdoes any of the book's weaknesses. The lack of cliches in "Magic's Pawn" makes it a must in any fantasy reader's library.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

In Magic's Pawn, an ancient age in the history of Valdemar comes to life--an age when the kingdom was ravaged by the ungoverned fury of bandit warlords, ferocious ice dragons, and the wild magic of wizards. A new addition to Lackey's Valdemar kingdom--and her most powerful series to date! Reissue.

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