Title: Magic’s Price
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: The Last Herald Mage #3, Valdemar #6
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw fantasy
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: What if he thinks I’m just some kind of bedazzled child?

Valdemar – the once-peaceful kingdom protected by the magic of its Herald-Mages – is now beseiged on all fronts. The king lies near death, the neighboring land of Karse wages a relentless war against Valdemar, and the forces led by a master of dark forbidden magic are massing to strike the final devastating blow against the kingdom.

And Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage Valdemar has ever known, has become the primary target of the evil which is reaching out to poison all the land. With all his fellow mages slain, Vanyel alone remains to defend his people against the dark master’s army. yet a dream vision has revealed to Vanyel the fate which awaits should he and his Companion Yfandes take up the dark master’s challenge. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, the dream will become a horrifying reality in which both Valdemar and its last Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price…

I loved the entire The Last Herald Mage trilogy, and the finale certainly didn’t disappoint. Even though I knew what the ending would be from mentions in other Valdemar books, but, I still wanted to watch the entire tragedy unfold.

This stunning conclusion not only restored your faith in the world and love, but it also took you on a journey to the creation of so many things within the Valdemar world. The woods were Talia and Kris fought, the vrondi from the Collegium chronicles, the fact that the Heralds became automatically connected – it all made sense because of this story. Not only did I have the pleasure of watching Vanyel’s last stand unfold, Lackey helped me to understand so many other aspects of the Valdemar-verse that I didn’t even realise I was misunderstanding.

And then there was the introduction of Stefan – Bard Stefan who we hear so much about in the other books finally bought to life in all of his beauty and vibrancy. The moment he entered the pages, I was in love. Actually, his purity, sweetness and talent reminded me so much of one of my best friends that I just wanted to hold him.

Although I knew how Vanyel’s last stand would end – I did not expect the ending to the book. Lackey takes a feeling of disappointment (after Vanyel finally finds Stefan and vice versa) and makes it into a beautiful ending that will definitely bring a tear to your eyes.

Image source: Wikia

Title: Magic’s Promise
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: The Last Herald Mage #2, Valdemar #5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw fantasy
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: The Inn had certainly marked his passage into a different world, though young Vanyel Ashkevron, more than half a prisoner of his escort, had not gotten the attention that Herald-Mage Vanyel got now.

The wild magic

Is taking its toll on the land. Many Heralds and Herald-Mages have died fighting to preserve peace. Even Vanyel, the most powerful of the Herald-Mages is almost at the end of his strength, in need of a respite from the dual threats of war and dark magic.

But for Vanyel, there can be no reast. Not when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a summons which can’t be ignored – a desperate cry for help which draws them both into the heart of a magical holocaust in the neighboring kingdom. Almost overwhelmed by the devastation they discover there, Herald-Mage and Companion must try to unravel this tragic mystery. Is the young Prince Tashir, a newly Chosen Herald who can’t control his own magic, responsible for the destruction? Or is Tashir a pawn in a deeper, more deadly game – and, if so, will Vanyel be able to find and defeat the true destroyer before this master of dark powers can strike again?

It took me a while to pick this one up after the first book in this series. Actually, I had to go and read an entirely different, but happier book to be able to face more of Vanyel’s tale. But, on the same token, I was just itching to find out what happened next in his journey. And, let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed!

The book starts years after Vanyel has learnt to deal with the pain of his loss. And I say deal with, not accept. And not move on. Sometimes there is only one true love in life, and I can’t fathom losing such a one so early in life. I found that very thought to be so incredibly gut-wrenching and heart-breaking. But, also in dealing with such loss in life to serve and protect others, a kind of light and inspiration. That we may feel pain, and we may lose loved ones, but there is always someone left behind who needs you. I think that this is a tie for many people to the living world, and it very much struck me that this was the case with Vanyel.

Not only has Vanyel found a purpose in a life without romantic love, but he also has managed to gain control of an unfathomable amount of power. I loved that this was a story about a man with power – who used it for the greater good.

Even though I still think that this is the darkest series I have so far read by Lackey, I also found it to be the most inspiring. It’s true that there is no light without the dark, and I think that this is just so beautifully highlighted in this book. Just make sure you have some chocolate next to you to light your way in the darkest moments…

Image source: Goodreads