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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.
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.
6671570
Posted July 1, 2011
Another good book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Last Herald-Mage trilogy concludes in this exciting and romantic novel, which had me both happy and sad at the same time. Some will argue that this is the best novel in the trilogy. For me, it was the first novel, Magic's Pawn. Throughout the book Mercedes Lackey addresses all kinds love and all kinds of situations/issues lovers deal with because of this powerful love. And through all these, the message remains the same, and it is a message of tolerance. Karse's self-proclaimed Prophet-King has declared war against all kinds of magic. Supported by religion, he claims that all users of magic are evil, and so are Valdemar's Herald-Mages. Vanyel realizes that because of the kingdom's open and supportive nature about it use of and users of magic in the kingdom, that it will need the alliance of surrounding kingdom's in order to win this war. As Karse's refugees flood to Valdemar to escape certain death, Van works with three powerful Herald-Mages, his aunt Savil, and the Guardians Lissandra and Kilchas. Together they work a spell that'll network every herald and herald-mage inside Valdemar's borders to one another. Because of the self-proclaimed Prophet-King's eradication of the herald-mages and the existing shortage of herald-mages, Vanyel Ashkevron will be the very last Herald-Mage left alive, as they die in suspicious accidents. Along with his lifebonded Stefen, the most powerful Bard the Bardic Collegium has ever known, and his Companion Yfandes, the small band will travel to the far north in harsh winter weather. Vanyel will face the nightmare his Foresight has been showing him since his powers were first forced wide open. In his favor is as the events and people change leading up to this moment, there is no way to tell how his confrontation against Master Dark and the last Herald-Mage will end. One thing is for certain. Valdemar will only avoid war and the overwhelming army of Master Dark if Herald-Mage Vanyel pays Magic's Price.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Last Herald-Mage trilogy concludes in this exciting and romantic novel, which had me both happy and sad at the same time. Some will argue that this is the best novel in the trilogy. For me, it was the first novel, Magic's Pawn. Throughout the book Mercedes Lackey addresses all kinds love and all kinds of situations/issues lovers deal with because of this powerful love. And through all these, the message remains the same, and it is a message of tolerance. Karse's self-proclaimed Prophet-King has declared war against all kinds of magic. Supported by religion, he claims that all users of magic are evil, and so are Valdemar's Herald-Mages. Vanyel realizes that because of the kingdom's open and supportive nature about it use of and users of magic in the kingdom, that it will need the alliance of surrounding kingdom's in order to win this war. As Karse's refugees flood to Valdemar to escape certain death, Van works with three powerful Herald-Mages, his aunt Savil, and the Guardians Lissandra and Kilchas. Together they work a spell that'll network every herald and herald-mage inside Valdemar's borders to one another. Because of the self-proclaimed Prophet-King's eradication of the herald-mages and the existing shortage of herald-mages, Vanyel Ashkevron will be the very last Herald-Mage left alive, as they die in suspicious accidents. Along with his lifebonded Stefen, the most powerful Bard the Bardic Collegium has ever known, and his Companion Yfandes, the small band will travel to the far north in harsh winter weather. Vanyel will face the nightmare his Foresight has been showing him since his powers were first forced wide open. In his favor is as the events and people change leading up to this moment, there is no way to tell how his confrontation against Master Dark and the last Herald-Mage will end. One thing is for certain. Valdemar will only avoid war and the overwhelming army of Master Dark if Herald-Mage Vanyel pays Magic's Price.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.frantastk
Posted September 13, 2010
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I found this book to be far more tragic than the previous two, because we know from the beginning (especially if you read Arrows of the Queen first) that it will end tragically. Finally Vanyel finds happiness and peace in the arms of a new lover. The love story was beautifully written. This book had me in tears knowing that he would not survive his final sacrifice for Valdemar. This is my favorite of the Vanyel trilogy and nearly my favorite of the whole Valdemar saga (my absolute favorite one is By the Sword). I simply couldn't put it down, even knowing how the end would come out. It does leave more questions than it answers about the future of Valdemar, but that's okay, because there are plenty more books after this one to continue the story of the Heralds. Mercedes Lackey has a way of truly bringing the emotion of her characters across in her writing.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.VanyelRG
Posted April 27, 2010
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Being shaych myself, I enjoyed the series and can truly say that the author is exceptionally talented in building up the characters and conveying real emotions. The series does seem like it's leaning more towards the romantic, puppy love-ish feelings of a gay man, but tempered with a deep patriotism towards his country. All in all I could've enjoyed this more if I were a teenage closeted gay man and while I was not bored, it definitely lacked the magical fighting and action that I really craved from say Trudi Canavan or Raymond Feist's books.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This is the third and concluding book in the Herald Mage series that begins with Magic's Pawn. I love the Heralds of Valdemar series this novel is a part of. The Herald Mage trilogy was published after the first set of books that begins with Arrows of the Queen, but is set hundreds of years before, so this wouldn't act as a spoiler (and indeed in a way Arrows acts as a spoiler for this set, since by then Vanyel is a figure of more legend than history.) Because of Arrows of the Queen, I knew Vanyel's fate and more or less where his story would end up, and it's certainly foreshadowed in the other two books. I found it no less a journey worth taking for that; Vanyel is an appealing character and Valdemar with its "companions" (magical horse-shaped creatures) and rider-heralds is an appealing world to spend time in.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Lackey does a really good job at evoking emotions from her readers, which is my favorite aspect about this series. I thought the characters felt real and I loved the relationships between them. I did find it a tad difficult to get into each of the three books, but once I did the story really came alive for me.
If you enjoyed this series, you might also like the "Joust" series by the same author.
Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2006
Absolutely the best book of the best series that I have ever read, and I am only 16! The characters just make you want to laugh and cry, and you feel their emotions as if they were your own. Ms. Lackey makes the characters seem very real, even if the setting is not. I strongly reccommend this book to everyone!
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Posted July 21, 2005
Misty has done it again! If you have not done so already - if you are here, thinking about buying this book, I assume you have, but there it is - if you have not done so already, you must read the other two books in this trilogy (in order): Magic's Pawn and Magic's Promise. The series combines a beautiful and unique love story that is only beautiful and never gratuitous, with a great tale of magic, adventure, and mystery. I rarely cry when I read, but the ending of every book brought at least a few tears, but often times, more. Ms. Lackey uses her awesome talents as a writer of fiction to make an imaginary world seem as though it had existed, and addresses one of today's most sensitive issues with great skill and care. A must read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 14, 2005
This is a fabulous book and series. It is what truly got me interested in Mercedes Lackey's writings. The writing is well done and it's not all angst and sadness, there's some humor, too. Made me cry.... a lot, but I won't tell you why because then I'd be giving away the story.
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Posted March 19, 2004
This book has broken so many bounds. I reccomend this book to anyone that can read. Mercedes Lackey is a genius. She really puts a face to 'Saych'/Gay people. I cannot imagine how anyone could harbor any hate for someone after reading this. Many thanks to Mercedes Lackey. It is books like this that changes the world.
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Posted November 8, 2003
I love how Lackey writes her books, building up even to the last pages! They are all awesome and this one particularly was very emotionally powerful. You just get sucked into the book until you are Vanyel, going through all his troubles and turmoil. The ending is excellent! By this point the readed is so attached to the charactors that it makes you cry! Only a few other books have made me shed tears like this book has!
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Posted August 22, 2003
I loved this series. The first one was my favorite, but all three are fantastic! It's wonderfully written, and you can't help becoming emotionally attached. I also enjoyed the songs at the back of this book.
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Posted January 29, 2003
I must of read the first two books a dozen times before I bought the third one. I just couldn¿t bring myself to read it, because I could tell where the story was developing. After I finally did I can tell you that I cried, freely. I have yet to see a companion with the dedication of Yfandes. The last part of the book was so emotionally powerful I almost couldn¿t take it.
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Posted April 14, 2002
This was an outstanding way to end the series. At the end, I had to go back and read it over because it was...many things at once. I have no complaints about this book. Misty really did a good job on it. A question that probably pops up is why the battle between Vanyel and Lereath wasn't written in. I thought that this was because in order for the readers to be pleased, she would have to write the battle exactally right, which would be very, very hard to do. Overall, the ending was awesome, and the whole book was outstanding (Yfandes' tail!!) Before reading this book, I recommmend reading the other books in The Last Herald-Mage series.
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Posted January 8, 2002
It was fantastic I have read all three books this series and this is by far the most exciting and the saddest. It offers a good deal of surprise with twists that you were not expecting.
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Posted November 28, 2001
Wow! That's all I have to say about this book. The things poor Vanyel has to go through as the last Herald-Mage... And unlike how some writers would do it, Van doesn't find his love only to lose him in the next page. Stefan sticks around until the end, and then he goes out with a bittersweet fading away. This is a great book, and one of her best!
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Posted November 12, 2001
A great series. I couldn't stop reading. I read it in the morning, during school, and even staying up very late. This series was the first of Lackey's that I've read and I look foward to more. It really made you feel that you were in the book instead of just reading it and it had a great effect on my emotions.
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Posted June 26, 2001
This is one of my absolute favourite books. I love the whole trilogy, but the third is the best. Van's heartbreaking situation is just extremely intense, and don't forget to get a box of tissues for the end! I won't give away the rest of the series, but lets just say we haven't heard the last of Van!
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Posted January 5, 2001
I have read the whole series, and I am very pleased with it. I won't spoil the secret about the bard, though. Vanyel's ultimate enemy must be destroyed because he has destoryed all the other mages, including Savil. Seeking revenge, and needing to destroy Master Dark or he will take over Valdemar.
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Overview
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.
The final chapter in Mercedes Lackey's spellbinding fantasy trilogy! The Herald-Mage, Vanyel, and his ...