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It is an age when Valdemar is yet unfounded, its organization of Heralds yet unformed, and magic is still a wild and uncontrolled force.
Skandranon Rashkae is perhaps the finest specimen of his race, with gleaming ebony feathers, majestic wingspan, keen magesight and sharp intelligence. Courageous, bold, and crafty, Skan is everything a gryphon should be. He is the fulfillment of everything that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he created these magical beings to be his champions, the defenders of his realm—a verdant plain long coveted by the evil mage Maar.
Now Maar is once again advancing on Urtho's Keep, this time with a huge force spearheaded by magical constructs of his own—cruel birds of prey ready to perform any evil their creator may demand of them. And when one of Urtho's Seers wakes from a horrifying vision in which she sees a devastating magical weapon being placed in the hands of Maar's common soldiers, Skandrannon is sent to spy across enemy lines, cloaked in the protective of Urtho's powerful Spell of Silence.
An exciting prehistory offshoot of the bestselling Valdemar series. In the tradition of her previous novels, Lackey spins a tale of high action, sorcery, and adventure taking place a thousand years before Valdemar is established, with magic a wild and uncontrolled force.
I love Lackey's Valdemar novels, and this is set in the same world a thousand years before that country's founding, in the midst of a cataclysmic war referred to more than once in that series. One of Lackey's strengths is her world-building, and that's certainly on display here, with magical races like the gryphons developed in interesting ways, and I liked the title character, Skandranon. The novel kept my interest, was a fairly enjoyable read, and I did go on to read (and mostly enjoy) the next two books in this trilogy, which is why I felt it was fair to give it 3 stars. It doesn't get more than that, because unlike other Lackey books in this world, I can't imagine I'd ever reread it; I don't think it's among Lackey's best, and I wouldn't ever choose these books as an introduction to the author. So if you love Lackey and her Valdemar books already, I think you'll like, even if not love this book; but if you're new to the author, try Arrows of the Queen or Magic's Pawn first.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 21, 2012
Well written, with memorable relatable characters. The black gryphon is always a good read no matter how many times you read it!
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Posted June 26, 2012
Hannah!!!! Please get back on!!!!! I miss you so much!
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 5, 2012
Helo?
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 10, 2011
An interesting read with enjoyable characters
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is a wonderful and engaging story that hooked me in and wouldn't let me go, I sat down and didn't get up until it was done. I love the characters Skan and Amberdrake are interesting and the story is full of conflict, moral choices, and fleshing out the characters that I really enjoy. Over all it is one of my favorite books and a happy find for me.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.i like most of mercedes lackey books...at least the ones i have read so far...always entertaining and makes you want to keep reading...
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Posted November 4, 2002
I don't remember how old I was when I read this book...but I remember falling in love with it (I've read it 5 times now). Mercedes Lackey does a fantastic job of describing everything (especially the battle scenes) and Dixon does an excellent job of drawing the actual images. People who love the animal-like creatures of fantasy and not just the humans, I just have to say that this is an awesome book. She describes the gryphons actions/battle-scenes extremely well and realistically, it keeps you on the edge of your seat! When you come to the ending though, be warned, and bring a box of tissues...
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Posted April 13, 2002
I have read this whole series and it was the best I've read so far.
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Posted April 4, 2002
I thought that this overall was a good book. The begining was a little...slow I guess. I really enjoyed reading about Skan's personality and I find him pretty funny (in his own ways...) The ending was very good, but I wish that Misty and Larry could have written a little about their travels after (I don't want to give the ending away like some people do in these things...) all the battles.
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Posted January 21, 2002
This is a great book, and if you don't read it then.... your not cool. J.K. The ending is a huge surprise I hated the book for a couple days bacause of it then I read the sequal.
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Posted August 13, 2001
Lackey opens a whole new world to those familar with the other Valdemar books, through this. Showing us what existed before Valdemar was founded and introducing us to the magical and wonderful creatures that are gryphons.
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Posted June 8, 2001
Geez, I love this book! It's my fav, and thats saying something, i read a TON! I finished it in a day, and then i checked it out from the library like, ten times! (Yes, i know, i'm obsessed....)
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Posted April 8, 2001
I just found this book because I could not find anything else, but when I read it, it was excelent. coming from me that is a pretty good compliment for a book, since have read hundreds of them, I am really looking forward to getting the rest of the series, which I am going to get today.
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Posted February 11, 2001
This was the first book of Mercedes Lackey I had ever read. Once you read it you can't put it down and you just have to finish the rest.
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Posted October 16, 2000
This book is great most book that i have read has a bunch of events lined up like event boring stuff event boring stuff this book seemed to flow it is great
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Posted March 17, 2000
Exciting book of magic and war, amazing creatures, good and evil. Great for any fantasy reader.
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Posted February 11, 2009
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Posted January 15, 2010
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Posted September 12, 2012
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Overview
It is an age when Valdemar is yet unfounded, its organization of Heralds yet unformed, and magic is still a wild and uncontrolled force.
Skandranon Rashkae is perhaps the finest specimen of his race, with gleaming ebony feathers, majestic wingspan, keen magesight and sharp intelligence. Courageous, bold, and crafty, Skan is everything a gryphon should be. He is the fulfillment of everything that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he ...