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25th out of 80 books
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24 voters
The White Gryphon (Valdemar: Mage Wars #2)
It has been ten years since the magical Cataclysm, which destroyed the twin strongholds of the two world's most powerful Mages, killing Urtho, creator of the gryphons, and sending his forces into exile. Now Urthro's peoples--human and non-human alike live in a terraced city carved into the face of a gleaming white cliff on the edge of the Western Ocean. Secure at least, .....more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
March 1st 1996
by DAW
(first published 1995)
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Jun 25, 2012
Ward Bond
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It has been ten years since the magical Cataclysm, which destroyed the twin strongholds of the two world's most powerful Mages, killing Urtho, creator of the gryphons, and sending his forces into exile. Now Urthro's peoples--human and non-human alike live in a terraced city carved into the face of a gleaming white cliff on the edge of the Western Ocean. Secure at least, until the fleet of the mysterious Black Kings appears in their harbor, bringing envoys who inform the residents of White Gryph
Skandranon is the lead gryphon in a group of humans and non-humans who have escaped the destruction of their homeland during the Mage Wars. Skandranon had died his original white plumage with black feather dye during the war (see The Black Gryphon) so he could fly at night unseen. When he fled the war's destruction using a magic "gate" his dye was dissolved and he became known as the White Gryphon. Ten years later and he is living with his friends in a new city on the coast of the western sea--n...more
This is the second novel in Lackey's Gryphon series, so if you haven't you should read The Black Gryphon first--if you enjoyed that story I think you'll like this one: I like this second novel more than the first in fact.
I thought this novel was better paced and more suspenseful, and I liked the setting, reminiscent of an ancient African civilization such as Mali, but with elements that make the culture pretty unique, and thus different than the usual pseudo-Medieval European setting you usuall...more
I thought this novel was better paced and more suspenseful, and I liked the setting, reminiscent of an ancient African civilization such as Mali, but with elements that make the culture pretty unique, and thus different than the usual pseudo-Medieval European setting you usuall...more
If possible, better than the first! I was hesitant to read this, especially after reading the blurb. I feared that it would be one of those horrible books in which the protagonist is framed, then finds himself boxed in at every oppotunity. However, this is not the case. The rich culture of the Black King's court is intoxicating, as is the exploration of the changed relationships between the primary characters; and the pseudo-introduction of their children. As the events begin to unfold, our hero...more
I had picked this book up a long time ago, and I remember giving up on it. It just seemed to drone on and on and on. I couldn't take it anymore. The only thing that I really remember about it is how boring it was. I think at one point there's some character trying to decide whether to do someone or not and he goes back and forth for over an entire chapter about making his decision. I almost want to give it another try except for the fact that I re-read the first and disliked more than the first...more
Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series provides one of the cornerstones of my reading past. After discovering her when quite young, I still follow new additions to the series - nearly twenty years later! I read and re-read these books over and over again throughout my youth, but I haven't re-read this series in its entirety in a long time - and never as an adult. There are some new books added to the series since the last time I read them, so this re-reading project is pretty exciting for me since it...more
Skandranon and Amberdrake are forced, once again to protect those they care about. They agree, along with their families, to be envoys to the Black Kings in order to try and forge an alliance with them. That alliance is quickly threatened when a series of noblewomen who opposed the alliance are found slaughtered in their rooms. All evidence points to one of the envoys and it's up to them to prove their innocence.
I have read this book countless times but for some reason I ended up taking a differ...more
I have read this book countless times but for some reason I ended up taking a differ...more
It's been a while since I've done any work on the Great Valdemar Reread, but now I'm back at it. Can't let these books languish, after all!
The White Gryphon is the second book of the Mage Wars trilogy, set back in Velgarth's prehistory. The war itself has ended. Urtho and Ma'ar have been destroyed, and the Kaled'a'in have wandered far to find a new home. Finally they've found it, and built into cliff the city they would go on to call White Gryphon, in honour of Skandranon's new magic-bleached co...more
The White Gryphon is the second book of the Mage Wars trilogy, set back in Velgarth's prehistory. The war itself has ended. Urtho and Ma'ar have been destroyed, and the Kaled'a'in have wandered far to find a new home. Finally they've found it, and built into cliff the city they would go on to call White Gryphon, in honour of Skandranon's new magic-bleached co...more
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I read the Valdemar series as a pre-teen, and I've been revisiting it in chronological order as part of a huge "reread my fav childhood fantasy/scifi series" project. I've touched on a few other Lackey series lately (it is HARD to find her stuff online!) that were published after I hit puberty (and thus abandoned fantasy as a genre), so I know she's a fantastic writer... But man! Some of this earlier stuff is.... painful. I made it halfway through The White Gryphon before admitting that, really,...more
The White Gryphon is a wonderful addition to the Valdemar Universe. This book didn't have any real fighting or great foe but that didn't mean it wasn't engaging. I liked the look into a different society completely foreign to the world known thus far in this universe. I enjoyed the idea of a society set against change and highly caste based. In the caste ranking, it definitely reminded me of the caste systems and standards in India.
Another aspect I found enlightening was the spin on imperialism...more
Another aspect I found enlightening was the spin on imperialism...more
Better than the first despite the same rating. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I up it to three at some point. The mystery plot moves things along pretty well and I enjoyed her dip into a foreign culture, even if she has a little bit of the "calling a rabbit a smeerp" syndrome. It was nice to see her expand the world a little more. In fantasy, it's far too easy to give the impression that the single city or culture you first introduce is all there is in the world, but Lackey always has an ey...more
Lackey is one of my favorite authors ever! I started reading her in 8th grade but I will still pull out her books to reread them. Her character building is really her main strength – you want to meet her characters – which is probably why I always reach for her books as a pick-me-up, it’s like talking to old friends. Again, a prequel to her Herald series (and we're talking ancient history here). This series has to do with the recovery of a devastated world and devastated people after the Catacly...more
I really liked the first book however in the 2nd book when I got to the part about the guy who psychologically binds his captives so badly that the small bits of string that he winds around their limbs holds them in place more securely than chains would have....that part completely turned me off from the book and I didn't even finish it :(
Given what I've been told of the next one, this is definitely the stopping point for this trilogy. Basically, what it has done is get my interested in reading the rest of the series. It's not the most amazing thing by any means, but it's fun reading and I like the characters. I liked the focus on older characters, I liked the politics. So yes.
In the 2nd Mage Wars book, the survivors of the Cataclysm are settling iunto their new home when they encounter the mysterious black skinned Haighlei - a race almost immune to change. Skan and Amberdrake are chosen to represent the survivors at the Haighlei court, and soon become embroiled in a series of mysterious - and magical - serial murders!
Better than the first of this series, this was more of a political intrigue/plots-and-schemes novel. I need to back up and read more about Valdemar in the order Lackey published then, but I think reading these earlier novels was helpful - I might not have had the patience to work my way through the world otherwise. :)
A great follow-up to the Black Gryphon with Skan, now white, trying to adjust to being an administrative leader rather than a fighter and not quite adjusting to the change. Fortunately a situation arises that puts both Drake and Skan back into the field and polishing up their old skills. The flow of the book is smooth, with a slowly building crisis and a fast finish. Thoroughly delightful.
I loved this book, it was very different from the rest of the history of Valdemar but it was intense the characters were amazing and the story was over before I new it. I am always amazed at how ML can keep me on the edge of my seat wondering how things are going to turn out with the people that she has made me fall in love with.
Skandranon Rashkae is leader of the White Gryphon settlement. Skan and his mate, Zhaneel have twin gryphlets. Amberdrake and his lifebonded, Winterhart have a two year old daughter named Windsong. White Gryphon is a peaceful place with few crimes to be punished. A strange ship is found in the bay below White Gryphon. The men have black skin can only be the Black Kings or Haighlei Empire. The Black Kings claim that the people of White Gryphon are trespassers to this land. White Gryphon send envoy...more
The first book in this series was disappointing. This second book is even worse and felt entirely like filler: I found myself wondering whether Lackey had been obliged to write this trilogy (or at least the last two novels in it).
Essentially, nothing much happens. The gryphon Skandrannon and his friends are still around. They moved after the end of the mage wars.
Yawn.
Essentially, nothing much happens. The gryphon Skandrannon and his friends are still around. They moved after the end of the mage wars.
Yawn.
The creepiest part of this book often finds it's way into my mind again: the odd man who bound his captives with such strong psychological bounds, that the small bits of string that he wound across their limbs held them in place more securely than any chains would have.
The rest of the book was good too! Just that scene has really stayed with me. (I like how he was taken down at the end too, though!)
I love the Haighlei, as odd as they are. Their culture is so different from the rest of the peopl...more
The rest of the book was good too! Just that scene has really stayed with me. (I like how he was taken down at the end too, though!)
I love the Haighlei, as odd as they are. Their culture is so different from the rest of the peopl...more
Not great, but not bad. Just like in many of her other books Lackey goes a bit overboard with some of her descriptions—to the point of redundancy.
Mercedes has created the fabulous world of Valdemar. It is chock full of Magic,mystery,romance,suspense. One of the best fantasy series I've ever read.
I really, really, want to get into this series and I just can't. This one just dragged on and on and on for me and I was thrilled when it was done.
This book was interesting in that it shows a direct interaction of the Kaled'a'in and another culture. First Contact, as it were. However, I found the plot overall to be rather weak, and would recommend almost any other Valdemar series over this, with the exception of the Black Gryphon being a pretty solid read. The third in this "trilogy" - really a collection of books that are connected rather than a true trilogy, is even weaker, story wise, than this, in my opinion. Not bad books, but when ta...more
The White Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey (1996)
I actually like this ok - I don't like it nearly as much as most of the rest of the Valdemar books, but it's not nearly as bad as the other two in the sequence.
It's more or less a murder mystery, with the characters from The Black Gryphon but the focus on exploring a new culture with some interesting customs. Skandranon is mostly sidelined and thus spends much less time annoying me, and while the villain is cacklingly one-dimensional, he's likewise not really the focus.
Much stronger than The Bla...more
It's more or less a murder mystery, with the characters from The Black Gryphon but the focus on exploring a new culture with some interesting customs. Skandranon is mostly sidelined and thus spends much less time annoying me, and while the villain is cacklingly one-dimensional, he's likewise not really the focus.
Much stronger than The Bla...more
This was a great series.
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Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts &...more
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Mar 28, 2011 03:39pm