All right, but not up to usual standards

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	• Storm Rising (Mage Storms) Mercedes Lackey DAW, 1996 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

good, but disappointing

When I first got this book I was very excited to start reading it because of the great summary on the back. Truth be told, the back describes pretty much only the last chapter. The whole rest of the book is just showing what people thinking and having very little action. Besides that, it mostly shows Firesong's and Tremane's thoughts instead of Karal's, who is the lead character in the book. The only reason why I gave this book a three at all is because of the final chapter. In this chapter it has the climax of the book plus all the facts leading up to it. Overall, this book was okay, but definately not one of Mercades Lackeys best.

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All right, but not up to usual standards

From age 13, I've followed the Heralds of Valdemar series, reading and rereading them over and over. Though Storm Rising is by no means the worst Misty book I've read, from about here on the quality of the books she puts out begins slipping. I was enchanted by the Arrows series, even more so by the Winds series, but the Storms series seem to be missing something. Maybe it's the lack of development between the characters. In its defense, Storm Rising is, alas, the last book to have the wonderful handdone drawings by Larry Dixon. Very uncool. From here on out, they're all computer generated. The artwork in the beginnings of the chapters are one of my favorite things about Misty's books, and I was sorely disappointed when they disappeared. Again, I know I'm giving the impression of a book not worth reading, but please don't take it that way! It really is worth reading, I'm just pointing out the fact that it's not quite as good as her previous books. Perhaps if she spent more time on her characters and less time trying to push out just one more book before the year ends the quality of her work will go back up.

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Firecats rule! :)

Karal, Sun Priest of Karse, has now become the Karsite envoy to Valdemar. He and the other representatives of the Alliance countries must figure out a way to keep their homes safe from the worsening Mage Storms. But Karal's youth and apparent inexperience make other older council members discredit him, and Karal's forgiving nature makes irrational council members dislike him. As Karal struggles to represent his homeland, it begins to take a toll on his health. Only his friends An'desha, Natoli, and the Firecat Altra keep him from becoming ill. However, as the Storms worsen, the temporary protections against them begin to wear away. Will Karal, with the help of Altra, An'desha, the Tayldras Adept Firesong, and the Companion Florian, be able to prevent the Storms from destroying his home forever?

"Storm Rising" is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's Mage Storms Trilogy. I really enjoyed it, though not quite as much as "Storm Warning."

It was slower paced than its predecessor and focused much more on the development of the characters. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing; I enjoy character development and tend to take my time reading books like that instead of rushing through them. Karal's relationships with his nonhuman friends Altra and Florian were filled out nicely, and I continue to enjoy the senses of humor that Lackey endows upon her characters. Firesong's spiral down into obsession and semi-depression was disturbingly real. Tremane came along marvelously. I liked him in "Warning," but the caring way in which he begins to rule Hardorn shows him to be an even more decent human being than I expected.

The climax is quite similar in basic structure to that in "Warning," but that is mostly due to Mage Storm problem that the Alliance is facing. However, it was different enough for me to appreciate what happened. My only complaint is that it came so close to the end of the book that there was no real denouement.

Bottom Line: A solid continuation of the trilogy that really lets you get to know the characters.

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A One-Two Knock Out Punch

Faced with more challenges that many people - including himself - think he can handle, Karal struggles to maintain the Karsite presence on what has turned into both a series of brainstorming sessions regarding the mage storms and a likely council of war against the threat in Hardon. Against all the various stresses, he continues to serve the Sunlord while still wishing to be anywhere but. His relationships with An'desha, Natoli, and Altra continue to grow and mature in what little time he has for them, but duties and questions pile up faster than he can deal with them.

My favorite of the books in the series, STORM RISING lets me ride along on Karal's shoulder again. Lackey deals with some very realistic issues, such as others' reactions to Karal's age in the political arena and the desire for revenge. Likewise, she showed how thinking beyond revenge can have positive consequences. The spirit of cooperation between the various countries involved is enviable in this day and age, where war seems to pop up everywhere.

This is the last book of this series where the plot and writing seem to be up to par. However, I still enjoy curling up with this one and losing myself in Haven, walking along with Karal to the tavern or listening in on the discussions with the mages and the envoys. The visit by Solaris was a definite treat, one that opened up a whole new range of possibilities and explored some of them. We understand even more of Tremane and it's relief to see him join up with the 'good' side.

This is one of the books I read and then wish my life had a little more of the magic she puts into her books.

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Well hmm....

I love the Valdemar series, but this is definately not one of my favorite series in the bunch. The plotline is very good, I admit: The various countries must band together and all chip in to find some way to defend themselves against a larger enemy who is determined to rule them all. At the same time, ancient echoes of a tremendous amount of magic being released are striking on man again, making magic turn wild and rampant once again, threatening all that lives. The plot is good, but I found myself having trouble relating with the characters and finding my attention wandering. The best parts were those with Elspeth and Darkwind back in the story! But if you are a Heralds of Valdemar fan, then I would suggest you read it, but if not then I would start somewhere else.

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