Best and worst of the trilogy

books:

	• Magic's Price (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 3) Mercedes Lackey DAW, 1990 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 101 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The price of Magic

"Magic's Price" is the darkest and most gripping of the Last Herald-Mage trilogy. It is heart-wrenching,and the closing epilogue is at once satisfying and poignant.

In the final book,Vanyel is older,wiser,and still dealing with his grief from losing Tylendel. He has had many lovers,even fathering children with women despite his own attraction to men. Tylendel is his lifebonded. Mercedes Lackey solves the problem of Vanyel's loneliness with Stefen,a Bard with the power to sing away pain. Stefen is young enough to be Vanyel's son,yet he is Tylendel reincarnate (though Tylendel was slightly older when they first met) Stefen's courtship of Vanyel is at once romantic and humorous. The rarely humored Vanyel finally laughs,finding love in the process.

However,tragedy darkens their blissful world. Vanyel's beloved Aunt Savil is murdered,as are other Herald-Mages. Vanyel is brutally gang-raped. While the villain is vaguely defined (a common problem in Lackey's writing),Vanyel gives the final battle his all. In the epilogue,however,Lackey shows that death does not have the last word.

When Mercedes Lackey created the character of Vanyel,she said she intended for him to be gay,connecting it to him being the Last Herald-Mage. Though he has fathered children,he dies without heirs of his own and a family. He finds love with Stefen,who mirrors himself at a younger age;paradoxically,Vanyel sees him like his father,and emulates his mother. In some ways,Vanyel drowns in his own image like Narcissus,yet in the end he is redeemed through his ultimate sacrifice. In the beginning,Vanyel was a vain peacock;in the end,he is the fiery phoenix.

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BINGO

Both of the previous books in this series had shortcomings: The first book had an abysmal plot line with very few believable moments. The second book neutered the protagonist completely, removing all traces of romance. This book was the perfect fusion of everything GOOD about the first two... and then some.

I was overjoyed to read this book and discover that it would be a love story again, but this time with a compelling conflict in the background to sustain it. It was, in my opinion, even more believable and touching than the first romance in Magic's Pawn. Besides the romantic points, the book had mystery and intrigue, brilliantly shaped characters, and heroic and heart-wrenching moments of joy, sorrow, pain, and love. To top it all off, the character arcs of virtually all of the major players in the series are concluded nicely, even though not all end happily.

My gripes with this book are mostly picky details. For instance: a villain who is only a threat when the plot demands it, but who backs off when the characters need time. Along those lines: Benevolent creatures who just happen to show up out of nowhere in a time of need (think eagles in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit). But it's still, hands down, the best of the series, and well worth the journey.

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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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Excellent!

This triology along with the arrows of the queen triology are among my favorites of the Valdemar series. Full of magic, action and meaningful relationships along with an exciting plot that leaves you wanting more.

Best and worst of the trilogy

I thought the story was better and more enjoyable than the first two. BUT, it also describes the homosexuality in greater detail.

I tolerated the first two because of the tasteful use of "fade to black" before any love scenes. This one goes into more detail -- though still tame by "romance novel" standards.

The worst was the depiction of a gang-rape. Uncomfortable to read.

The hero was still too moody and sulky for me and too dense to see the good in his life. Also, too careless in some very important decisions.

A reasonably satisfying ending.

I'm glad I read it. I will not be recommending it to my children, however.

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

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. Original.

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