Pretty good, once you get past the homosexuality

books:

	• Magic's Promise (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 2) Mercedes Lackey DAW, 1990 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 51 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Vanyel's Amazing Tale Contines...

Naturally, after I finished reading the first book (Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1)) in "The Last Herald-Mage" trilogy, I had to dive into the next one. Had to see what Vanyel would be up to now that he'd become a Herald-Mage.

Turns out he's the most powerful Herald-Mage and when we first see him again, he's in desperate need of some good rest. All the magic he's been doing on his mission has taken its toll. He decides to spend some time with his family, since they keep asking for him to visit, and hopes he can find some rest while he's there.

Well, wouldn't you know it? Rest is not what he gets at all. Yfandes receives a desperate call from across the border that a fellow companion is in danger. She and Vanyel take off to help. There they find an amnesiac Herald Prince, whose tale brings about an entire host of problems that ensure Vanyel will not be getting rest for some time to come.

What I love about this book is the relationship between Vanyel and his companion, Yfandes. She is a magnificent force and a fitting companion for him. Their conversations are highly entertaining, be it teasing, emotionally charged ones, or even just idle chit chat.

I also like that Vanyel starts to learn that people look at him funny because they are in awe (or fear) of his power, not because he is gay. Yeah, he can be a little dense. Powerful, but dense.

However, his power is what makes him so isolated from others. He is sent continually on missions because he is the only one who can do what needs to be done. I had to keep reminding myself that the trilogy is called "The Last Herald-Mage." He has to because there are so few left, not to mention the simple fact that many of the people, Herald's too, see Herald-Mages as the only solvers to every problem.

I found it fascinating to see Vanyel grown up and how he approaches each situation. I felt saddened too by all he's gone through...very. I found myself only more attached to the character by the reading of this book. Simply put...he and his story are amazing!

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Pretty good, once you get past the homosexuality

I really had to detach myself from the main character because he's gay. It drastically lowered my enjoyment of the book. But, the story was actually pretty good and worth reading.

For a series with the word "Magic" in each title, I thought the use of magic was woefully small. Most of the "good stuff" happens "off-screen" and is only mentioned as an aside.

The "hero" was constantly described as the most powerful herald-mage alive, perhaps ever. Yet, I only ever saw him do something that seemed rather basic and then suffer for days or weeks during recover from over-using his magic.

Finally, it was hard for me to fully enjoy a story that focuses so much on the depression, moodiness, and sulkiness of the hero.

Still... I found it worth reading. (Though I won't recommend it to my kids.)

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Getting there...

This book is a bit of a strange bird. I feel a little bit like the author was trying to correct her shortcomings on the first book in the series (Magic's Pawn)--and was in fact successful--but that she all but abandoned the reason I picked up the series in the first place: the gay protagonist. Yes, he's still gay, but he's totally celibate, and spends a fair amount of time wondering if he might, in fact, be straight.

That said, the plot of this book is 100 times better than the plot of Magic's Pawn. It is believable (mostly), compelling, and the conflicts and villains don't just appear out of nowhere with no motivation whatsoever. In addition, there is fantastic character development, better than the first book, and many new and lovable characters with real dilemmas.

Overall, I had to rate this book higher than Magic's Pawn, because there's no question in my mind it's a better book. If you got this far, DEFINITELY read on to Magic's Price, because it's the best of the three.

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Not as Promising

"Magic's Promise" suffers from a problem common to many trilogies-it carries on from the first part,and at the same time it's all in anticipation of the grand finale.

In "Magic's Promise",Vanyel is sent to solve a royal murder mystery. It's pretty conventional,and surprisingly cliched for Mercedes Lackey. Mercedes Lackey is unaccustomed to writing mystery stories;it shows especially in this installment.

However,"Magic's Promise" does have promise. Vanyel struggles with the loss of his lover,Tylendel,as well as his feelings of attraction towards a young,teenaged prince. His banter with his Companion,Yfandes,shows the deep bond between them. Vanyel's relationship with his family is also developed as they come to terms with his homosexuality. "Magic's Promise" leaves the reader wanting more,and Lackey delivers.

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An Utterly Engrossing Series!

I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy, I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that they are so flawed. Some may find the romance a bit sappy, but I'm the first to admit that I dig that kind of thing and you'll see it in my own novels as well.Orphan's Quest (Chronicles of Firma, Book One) Best of all for me, though, was the fact that although her hero is unapologetically gay, the series does not become mired in its "gayness" as so many other works of gay-themed fiction I have read.

This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.

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

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. Original.

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