Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #1)

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Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 11,399 ratings · 371 reviews

Mage-Craft—

Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not ony to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the fame...more

Mass Market Paperback, 349 pages

Published June 6th 1989 by DAW (first published 1989)

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Apr 22, 2008 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2008

Vanyel, only fifteen, is the oldest son and therefore heir to a Holding. His mother is seemingly weak-willed and obsessed with her vapours, while his father is such a Man that he needs must push Vanyel into Manly pursuits as well, which includes letting the incompetent and ignorant Armsmaster beat the crap out of him. Vanyel is more interested in music. He's also self-absorbed, introspective, selfish, arrogant, a bit petulant - in other words, young and spoilt, as well as very handsome. His fath...more Vanyel, only fifteen, is the oldest son and therefore heir to a Holding. His mother is seemingly weak-willed and obsessed with her vapours, while his father is such a Man that he needs must push Vanyel into Manly pursuits as well, which includes letting the incompetent and ignorant Armsmaster beat the crap out of him. Vanyel is more interested in music. He's also self-absorbed, introspective, selfish, arrogant, a bit petulant - in other words, young and spoilt, as well as very handsome. His father, Withen, decides to pack him off to his sister Savil, a Herald-Mage who lives in the capital, training young apprentices.

Vanyel's one meeting with his aunt Savil years ago didn't impress either of them, and being sent off into exile doesn't improve his manners. He hasn't shown any Gift, any ability in Mage powers or creativity, not even in music, which shatters his only dream: to be a Bard. Savil isn't like her brother, though, and with her favourite protege, Tylendel, keeps an eye on him to see if he really is an arrogant little shit, or if he's hurting inside and needs help.

His attraction to Tylendel only makes him hate himself more, and fear the older boy's reaction should he find out - even though Vanyel knows Tylendel is shay'a'chern - gay. When the two do finally take the plunge, they fall in love, and become lifebonded. When Tylendel's twin brother is murdered, though, his pain and grief sets him on a dangerous path of revenge and retribution, drawing Vanyel along with him, with tragic consequences.

What starts out as a fairly conventional, formulaic fantasy doesn't stay that way long. While the land of Valdemar may be fairly typical in fantasy fiction in terms of its culture, attitudes, prejudices, sophistication and class structure (i.e. boringly medieval-to-middle ages), it's not entirely patriarchal or old-fashioned. Contrary to what I would expect from a fantasy world that's been revisited so many times, it is not detailed or richly described: you get mostly only a cursory glance at the landscape, which is where falling back on fantasy stereotypes of a medieval-English setting comes in handy. This would normally have alienated, disappointed and bored the hell out of me, but for the characters and the story itself.

Although Lackey overuses italics - this when the story is narrated from Vanyel's point-of-view, to show his nature, but it wears thin pretty quickly - the prose is smooth and quite fast-paced. I much prefer these - I shall call them bildungsromen-style fantasy stories, compared to the Quest-motivated ones. I like stories where the characters are mostly stationary, where you get to watch them live, grow, mature, develop, learn through studies and interactions with others and, yes, adventures, but not quests. Quests get very boring, but it's more than that. There's something enjoyable about the low-key, homely, comfortable "static" fantasy story - most of the Harry Potter books are like this, especially The Order of the Phoenix, which a lot of people found boring but I really enjoyed - it's quite possibly my favourite even. It has precisely this quality, where you really get to know the characters, and you get to indulge in political scheming, feuds, that kind of thing. Magic's Pawn is one of those bildungsromen-type fantasies, but it's still a very busy book, and when adventure happens it certainly doesn't dither.

I did feel a bit like I'd walked in on a group of role-players and a game that's new but familiar: I had no trouble following the story or understanding the world, but because I haven't read any other books set in this world, there's a lot that isn't explained and plenty that you would expect would be dramatised but isn't - like the Companions (intelligent, magical horses) finding their Chosen (new Herald-Mages) - and the difference between a Herald and a Mage, or why some are both, is unclear. Also, what the Hawkbrothers do went mostly over my head; I really didn't understand that part of it.

Vanyel's story, though, was clear and passionately told. Despite his flaws - and he really is a self-indulgent, vain little shit most of the time - you still come to care for him and cheer him on. And I was proud of him, in the village scene at the end. I certainly want to read the next two, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price, to find out what happens with him.(less)

13 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2012 Luisa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: angsty people

Recommended to Luisa by: Limyaael, psychedeliceyes

Shelves: fantasy, bad-rec, unsurprisingly-bad, hilariosly-bad

Unlike most reviewers, I did not have high hopes for this book. I first heard about it from Limyaael's rant on gay and lesbian characters in fantasy, where it sounded so ridiculous, I had to read it. Honestly, I didn't think the book would be as bad as it was.

Forget the back cover description, because it's a ruse written to skirt around the homosexual themes. Magic's Pawn is about Vanyel, a 16-year-old boy who feels out of place and his journey through angst, angst, a cheesy love affair with an...more

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2008 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, guilty-pleasures

I feel the need to explain myself. First, I read this when I was fifteen. The rating I gave it is the one I gave it when I first read it. And I admit, I still love it, even though I am a more discerning reader and can tell it's really not as great as I thought it was when I was only a squealy fangirl. End Discaimer.

The main character is Vanyel Ashkevron; he's the eldest son of a minor noble. Vanyel's not like the rest of his brothers or cousins, who take after his father; they're all tall, stron...more

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Dec 19, 2007 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adolescents who think they might be gay or who are put upon

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

By popular demand (ok a friend asked me to "do the one with the blue-eyed telepathic horses and the owls you could ride on"), a review of the Vanyel books. This series, with it's billowing clouds of adolescent angst, gay boys, and yes, blue-eyed telepathic horses, basically got me through my teenage years. I would lock myself in my room and sob. Oh the tragedy! Oh the gayness! Oh the telepathic horses!

Note: I don't think the owls were in this series. Or the magic valleys where there were lizard...more

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Jul 24, 2007 Wealhtheow rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of histrionic fantasy

Shelves: fantasy

Melodramatic, over-the-top, and as subtle as a brick to the skull, this is nevertheless an engrossing read. Vanyel's journey from a spoiled, effeminent musician-wannabee to a heart-broken, effeminent Herald-Mage is really engaging. Teenagers will especially find themselves drawn to this story. The one truly boring part is Vanyel's time spent healing with the elves (or whatever they're called--they're basically mystical Native Americans with equally mystical white hair and magical birds).

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2008 Pat Childs rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy, I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that th...more

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Nov 23, 2012 Synesthesia rated it 4 of 5 stars

No! That blurb gets the book all wrong. What really happens is Vanyel is a young, somewhat vain, interested in music teenager at odds with his warrior father who sends him off to Savil because he doesn't know what else to do with him to make a REAL MAN of him. Vanyel reluctantly falls in love with a Herald in Training Tylendal who turns out to be his life bond soul mate. Then a tragedy strikes and THAT gives Vanyel his powers.

Dang. Who writes these things? Also Tylendal was a guy because Vanyel...more

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Dec 10, 2008 Noah Soudrette rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

What can I say about this book? I'm torn between being serious here, or funny. How about both?

First, let me warn you: This book is gay. Really, really gay. Gayer than He-man, gay. So, if you can;t handle lots of gay in your books, skip it. I find it a bit refreshing, if not amazingly melodramatic. That's this books big problem. The story is fine and simple, but boy oh boy, it is as melodramatic as it is gay. This book definitely falls under guilty pleasure, and is probably only a few tiers up fr...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Vivian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gaymance, gaymance-high-epic-fantasy

4.25-4.5

If you're a spoiler tag reader like I am, then I will tell you now that my spoiler isn't going to be a spoiler spoiler. It just very obviously hints at some incredibly frustrating events, which you will stab yourself for if you ruin it for yourself.

(view spoiler)...more 4.25-4.5

If you're a spoiler tag reader like I am, then I will tell you now that my spoiler isn't going to be a spoiler spoiler. It just very obviously hints at some incredibly frustrating events, which you will stab yourself for if you ruin it for yourself.

(view spoiler)

Anyway, apart from that incredibly frustrating event, this was a very enjoyable book that hooked me nearly from beginning to end. Though my attention did stray for a few moments (because I finally received a book I've been dying to read), I didn't stop reading it until I reached the very end.

There are some parts (actually, one particular part) of the book where you will rage and maybe even cry. Maybe even rant at the incredible unfairness of the world like I did. But I guess you could say it wasn't really a sad ending. Not a HEA, not bittersweet (holy fuck thank God), but not happy either. It sort of just awkwardly straddles that line.

But anyway, all in all this was a very good book and I recommend it if you enjoy this genre, or perhaps it caught your eye.

*Note: After reading a review or two below about how utterly whiny and annoying Vanyel was, Magic's Pawn was bumped pretty drastically down my to read list. But just be aware that

- no he is not whiny. Yes he whines, but no, I don't think he's that annoying or whiny.
-My opinion maybe differ from you.
-I reckon he has a pretty legitimate reason to whine when he does. You have to admit, his character is complex and maybe a tiny bit fucked.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2008 Sianeka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-themed, fantasy

I don't normally like Mercedes Lackey books. I'm not certain why, but most of her stories leave me cold, and I forget about them shortly after I close the cover of the book. But Magic's Pawn is different.

I truly care about Vanyel Ashkevron, the main character of this series. He is handsome and proud and arrogant and lonely and desperate and scared and insecure, all at once. There are moments in the story when I wish he would be a little less insecure and chin up, but those moments are rare. Most...more

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Apr 29, 2008 oriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: formative-reading

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 19, 2007 Vivien rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: formative-fantasy-novels

I've been thinking lately about all of the fantasy novels I read in my youth that have probably been permanently impressed on my brain. "Magic's Pawn," for instance, I must have read at least once I year from the ages of 12 to 18. I remember being riveted with shock when the main character, Vanyel, a young man, falls in love and *sleeps* with another man. At that time I think I had no conception of what it meant to be gay, only that it was something embarrassing and taboo, so that particular asp...more

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Dec 22, 2008 RF rated it 2 of 5 stars

Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this book was the back-of-the-book blurb. Because, well, pretty much every word of the blurb is a lie. When you read it, you're filled with a desperate sense of urgency, the sense that at the outset of the book Vanyel is already extremely powerful and dangerous and gets sent to his aunt so that she main contain his power.

Not so. In fact, it is no great spoiler to say that half the book passes with Vanyel being a simple whiny powerless boy, and he is sen...more Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this book was the back-of-the-book blurb. Because, well, pretty much every word of the blurb is a lie. When you read it, you're filled with a desperate sense of urgency, the sense that at the outset of the book Vanyel is already extremely powerful and dangerous and gets sent to his aunt so that she main contain his power.

Not so. In fact, it is no great spoiler to say that half the book passes with Vanyel being a simple whiny powerless boy, and he is sent to his aunt simply because his father wants nothing to do with him. Likewise, quite seriously, every other word of the blurb is a very twisted version of the truth, and I really have to wonder who wrote it.

The truth of the matter is, I'd love to read the book described in the blurb. Magic's Pawn, however, is but a shadow of it, in both storyline and execution.

As an editor, I sometimes cringed at certain sentences. Mercedes entertains the awful habit of over-italicizing for emphasis. I believe the habit stems from wanting to make one's writing 'sound' more like real speech - hence letting the reader know where the emphasis goes - but the truth of the matter is, this is NOT speech, this is a book, and trying to implement speech devices into it seems folly. Here's an example:

"Gods, I hate Gating," Savil muttered to Andrel.

If I imagine how this sentence would read without italics, - "Gods, I hate Gating." - I can understand that it might come out neutral, not nearly emphatic enough, or else the emphasis might fall on 'Gods'. Yet, I do not think italics are the only way out. For example, "Gods, I absolutely hate Gating." achieves exactly the same thing as italics, and, well, to me it looks better. I understand and totally agree that sometimes italics are quite necessary - yet, Mercedes indulges in them quite a bit much.

In short, this book was not stellar. Is it good enough to make me want to read the sequels? Sure. Is it so great that I'm going to grab them and start reading them right now? No.(less)

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May 24, 2013 Juushika rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-fantasy, trope-companion-animal, status-borrowed

Smothered by his oppressive country family, Vanyel is given a second chance when he's sent to the city to live with his aunt, a Herald instructor. But his maturation begets tragedy, and magic, and perhaps war. Magic's Pawn seems intended to be a powerful emotional journey of love and loss, but Lackey expresses almost no understanding of human emotion. Vanyel lives in emotional extremes, his character growth is delineated and repetitive, and most of all his experience and reactions are both so tr...more

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May 15, 2013 Mike rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Things I liked about this book:

- This is essentially the only fantasy novel I've ever read where the main character is a gay man. It's nice to see that that can happen.

Things I did not like about this book:
- Ill-defined magic system. For a book involving a main character learning to use magic, the entire system is vague and not particularly explained. But there is a Lot of Seemingly random Capitalization-Hypenation.

- Romance book in disguise. The book was recommended to me as fantasy; it is pred...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Josh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt, vaginal-fantasy, fantasy

Magic’s Pawn certainly did not disappoint. Well, as far as the gay fantasy aspects of it go. The story follows the dreadfully dreary character Vanyel as he is abused by his father, his teacher, and basically everyone who knows him, to the point he is emotionally stunted. Eventually his father throws his hands in the air and ships Vanyel off to live with his aunt, a powerful and important Herald-Mage. There, he finds some measure of acceptance, acts like a dick, and almost kills everyone until he...more Magic’s Pawn certainly did not disappoint. Well, as far as the gay fantasy aspects of it go. The story follows the dreadfully dreary character Vanyel as he is abused by his father, his teacher, and basically everyone who knows him, to the point he is emotionally stunted. Eventually his father throws his hands in the air and ships Vanyel off to live with his aunt, a powerful and important Herald-Mage. There, he finds some measure of acceptance, acts like a dick, and almost kills everyone until he learns a lesson about being a decent human being…or something.

The plot is relatively unimportant and nothing too original, so I will not linger on it, and I recommend you do the same should you happen to read this book. Instead, let us focus on the more important aspects of the book. First, the romance bits. Vanyel meets and fairly quickly (for such an emotionally-stunted dick) falls in love with one of the other herald-trainees being taught by his aunt. As this is his first great love, it is exquisitely passionate (note: lots of sex, few details) and burns a little too brightly for its own good. His whole coming out to himself and to others process is sort of glazed over. This might have bothered me, except by the time he gets around to shacking up with the guy, I had been through so much of his internal monologue and emo baggage that I had ceased to care much.

On that note, let me say that Vanyel is a difficult person to sympathize with, despite Lackey doing quite a bit of pen-work in the first few chapters describing just how awful his life truly is. Mostly this is because he spends the vast majority of the book (seriously about 90%) as a pariah. He makes the willful decision early in the novel to isolate himself from others so as to not be hurt when they inevitably turn on him (spoiler: it involves a painful number of ice metaphors). There is a brief window of happiness when he is first with his lover, and then it is straight back to icicles and brooding.

To sum up: not a lot of romance, lots of teen angst. That may be the key to why I was not fully satisfied with Pawn. I am no longer the closeted gay teen trying so hard to repress all those feels locked up inside of me. Maybe that person would have been better able to “get” Vanyel and conjure up some sympathy for his situation.

As for the quality of Lackey’s writing, I found it somewhat wanting as well. The best example I can give as to why is the frequent conversation point amongst the supporting characters about how aloof Vanyel was. It is a major plot device that no one gets along with him because of how coldly he acts and most of the novel is dedicated to trying to change him, but there is almost never a description of how he is acting aloof. Vanyel gets precious little dialogue in and there is never (to my flawed recollection) a description of his body language that might add some imagery or reality to his apparent emotional detachment.

So we are left with an uninspired story, unlikeable characters, and perhaps middling writing. Despite it all, I mostly enjoyed my journey through Magic’s Pawn. I have tried only recently and unsuccessfully to read gay ci-fi/fantasy, and I wish I had started with this book. There is enough substance to it to draw the reader in and get me through to the end, which is more than I can say for the rest of what I have read in the genre. I will consider it a satisfactory jumping off point for further adventures in the realm of moody gay speculative fiction and happily recommend it to others just starting to wade in (if with some reservations and cautions).(less)

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Jan 18, 2012 Sian Jones rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-scifi, third-person-narrator

I first read this series in high school, and at the time I adored it. (ADORED with bells on.) When I read it then, I identified with Vanyel. I couldn't understand why the adults in his life were urging him to be his own person so much, to get some boundaries. I'd huff angrily about how they didn't understand, they just didn't! And of course my heart broke and I wept like a child at certain moments. Re-reading it now, I identify with Vanyel's aunt, Savil, and I'm completely on board with all the...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Cat Hellisen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

This is the first Mercedes Lackey book I have read.

First of all, this review might have been pushed up a notch if I could have had an ebook version and stripped it of all italics ever. As it was, my eyes were bleeding from being stabbed repeatedly by little slanted daggers. For emphasis.

The story is standard fanfic fare - super emo kid is hated by everyone, is sent off to "become a man" by his evil dad, falls madly in love with the Most! Beautiful! Guy! EVA! after 3 seconds, is bonded for life b...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Trina Burton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Vanyel is a pretty boy, spoiled and pampered by his mother, disliked by his father and ridiculed and ostracized by his siblings. Unfortunately, he's the oldest son so it is his duty to learn to rule the manor after his father although he would like nothing more than to become a bard. When Vanyel is sent to his Aunt Savil, a Herald-Mage, to "learn to become a man" he is initially upset. But once he gets there he is educated by learned teachers, makes new friends and finds a new love. When tragedy...more

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May 28, 2011 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

Fifteen-year-old Vanyel Ashkevron doesn't fit into his family, wishing more than anything to be a Bard rather than his father's heir. After a particularly nasty incident with the arms master, Vanyel's father sends the boy to his Aunt Savil, a Herald Mage, in Valdemar's capital city. While staying in Haven, Vanyel finds a kind of acceptance in the court and his one true love. But when disaster strikes, Vanyel suffers the greatest loss and must struggle to heal and to learn how to control his new...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anybody who would listen to me, although i feel it is aimed more toward women, but not necessarily.

Recommended to Katie by: i read a great review and thought i'd see what all of the fuss was about.

I read this book a while ago, and i just loved it. It has stuck in my mind since that day and i think of it fondly.
I found this book very interesting, the setting is described beautifully and is very easy to imagine. I like the style of writing in these books, it doesn't just focus on the action side of the story but also the emotional side too. That might not be everybodys cup of tea but i thought it was a nice change from the usual bombardment of blood and fighting you get in so many other b...more

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Mar 01, 2010 Chuck rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm behind on my blogging, so this will be fast. This is the first book in 'The Last Herald Mage' trilogy. I'm becoming a Lackey fan; although I liked this book, and although the strong influence of Bradley is here, I just didn't find the protagonist all that sympathetic. Vanyel is a character I grow to like in the second and third books, but he seems a bit of a privileged brat who spends a lot of time feeling sorry for himself.

What is of interest is the "early history" or Valdemar, the collegiu...more

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Oct 24, 2009 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. You know those books that you're so excited to buy because the description contains just about everything you love in a novel and everyone absolutely ADORES it? And you shove it to the front of your TBR pile because you can't handle NOT reading it right away? And then as soon as you finish you can't remember why you were ever excited about it in the first place? Yeah. For me, this was one of THOSE.

Like I mentioned before, the premise had me hopeful and excited. I bought it not too long after rea...more You know those books that you're so excited to buy because the description contains just about everything you love in a novel and everyone absolutely ADORES it? And you shove it to the front of your TBR pile because you can't handle NOT reading it right away? And then as soon as you finish you can't remember why you were ever excited about it in the first place? Yeah. For me, this was one of THOSE.

Like I mentioned before, the premise had me hopeful and excited. I bought it not too long after reading Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series so it has been absolutely essential to me to have more action-filled gay fantasy while waiting for the release of The White Road.

Unfortunately, Magic's Pawn did not meet my expectations for a few very simple reasons.

The foremost of those reasons being the main character. My God. He had potential at first. Misunderstood, not so sure of himself, angsty. I don't mind angst, just so you know--I loved The Catcher in the Rye if that says anything. But throughout the story I grew to hate Vanyel and his self-pitying, oh-poor-me attitude. It got to the point where I kind of wanted him to just go ahead and kill himself. (Which he actually tried to do at one point in the story, somehow not as awesome as I thought it would be since it only served to add more ANGST.) And with this angsting comes whining. Lots of it. I started to wonder why none of the other characters just didn't brain him with the blunt edge of a sword.

One of the other things that I could not stand about this novel was the relationship between Tylendel and Vanyel. It was cheesier than the cheesiest of cheesy romances. They happen to know each other for a full five minutes and suddenly they are soul mates and they cannot live without each other. Not only did I not believe it, I felt like I was reading an "If you're gay, it's okay!" pamphlet. I'm fine with a with a few agendas being pushed within a novel--if Lackey wanted to create a gay-acceptance storyline, that's fine. WONDERFUL even. But to spell it out over one hundred times in one book is really irritating.

So Tylendel dies and not only does it give Vanyel more opportunity to ANGST, he is chosen by a Companion and he morphs into the biggest Gary-Stu I have ever seen in published fiction. Suddenly, there is nothing he CAN'T do. (Expect stop whining, it seems.)

The final verdict is two stars. Although the message was shoved down our throats, it was a good message all the same, thus saving it from one star status.(less)

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May 04, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Maria by: Wyatt

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy

It took me a while to get a handle on Forst Reach and then Valdemar. At first I was sure I had strayed into an historical. But once I realized that this is a different world, I was able to concentrate on Vanyel. Lackey does a fantastic job of describing what goes on in a sixteen-year-old's world when no one understands him or listens to him, not atypical of teenagers everywhere. Vanyel's case is even worse than most, since he has a dysfunctional family with unrealistic expectations. Unfortunatel...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fantasy

It's been awhile since I've read any fantasy books that took themselves seriously, but that's no bad thing. It's also been several years since I read The Queen's Own trilogy (my introduction to Valdemar) so I was a bit hazy going into this book about where we sat on the timeline. I never did sort that out until I consulted the interwebs after I finished and discovered this trilogy is set well before The Queen's Own. No problem. It stands just fine on its own.

I find Lackey's world captivating, he...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Jimmy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, fantasy

Magic’s Pawn is absolutely brilliant! It took me about 100 to 150 pages to finally get into it, (when Vanyel finally meets his aunt Savil and her Herald trainee Tylendel, (too dangerously close to the OTC Tylenol)), but once I did I couldn’t let go. Mercedes Lackey had me smiling as I read, falling in love, crying my eyes out, and joyously cheering Vanyel on. It’s one of the best emotional roller coasters I’ve read.
I’ve only read her work The Obsidian Trilogy, which I loved and there are just a...more Magic’s Pawn is absolutely brilliant! It took me about 100 to 150 pages to finally get into it, (when Vanyel finally meets his aunt Savil and her Herald trainee Tylendel, (too dangerously close to the OTC Tylenol)), but once I did I couldn’t let go. Mercedes Lackey had me smiling as I read, falling in love, crying my eyes out, and joyously cheering Vanyel on. It’s one of the best emotional roller coasters I’ve read.
I’ve only read her work The Obsidian Trilogy, which I loved and there are just as many big differences between the two as there are similarities. When she talks about Vanyel’s home, family, and upbringing, it reminded me of Kellen Tavadon. Primarily when it comes to magic and its practitioners, you can always tell when it’s Mercedes Lackey’s great handiwork. Her magic can be just as destructive as it is romantic. Also, like Kellen had his magical friend the unicorn Shalkan, the Herald-Mages of Valdemar have horses that choose them as Companions.
I was really looking forward to reading a great and adventurous fantasy adventure with a gay character, (the bonus would be if it had romance too.) There are so very few of them which are one of the things that makes this trilogy a jewel. Magic’s Pawn definitely delivers. The main character Vanyel is so vain in his obvious good looks, but like just about every son he tries so hard to please his father. In the end all his efforts gets him nothing but beat down. It’s no wonder he decides that whatever he does, he’ll never be good enough, so why even try.
Vanyel will go through so many trials of being shay’a’chern. He’ll try to hide his non-masculine behavior, he’ll find and loose his ashke, (beloved), he’ll know pain, lose, and despair as only I believe a shay’a’chern can know them. It will be him literally dying that will force him to choose to give in to its darkness or to become so much more and stronger and chose to continue to live on.
(There are other coming-of-age issues addressed in this fantastic novel, which are obvious to members of the openly gay community. Because face it, not everyone was supported when they were a closeted gay teen. Mercedes’s book is entertaining, easy to relate to, and an overall great read. I would highly recommend that parents read this book along with their maturing adolescent readers, even if their son or daughter isn’t gay there are similarities that heterosexual adolescents can relate to. Along with responsible parenting, there is so much tragedy in the world today that can be prevented with this great book.)
This is a trilogy that I’m looking forward to revisiting again and again. It’s a true gem and a must have for any fantasy reader’s permanent library.(less)

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Mar 20, 2012 Carissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first started this book I remember thinking 'Seriously? This little prick is the main character?' I almost didn't get past that, then upon finding out how his family treated him I warmed up to him just a little bit. It was when he went to live with his aunt that I really got into it because until then there had really been no 'fantasy'(my favorite genre) to the book. When Van found love I was happy for him because not only was the guy good to him but he finally understood WHY his family t...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Tammy K. rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those with an open mind and a love for adventure.

Shelves: magic, sourcery, lgbt-character, oldies-but-goodies, series-sequel

I have long been pushed to read Mercedes Lackey writings. I have always been put off by the cover of her books.
Finally I agreed to give this book three chapters and found myself reading far into the night, when I was scheduled to leave town early the next morning.
It was worth the lack of sleep. I found myself thinking of the book wishing to have it handy to read while traveling.
This is a book that if given the time (two or three chapters) one can bond with the characters enough to sink into th...more

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May 27, 2012 Nissa Annakindt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, lgtb

Why be A Hero? A review of: Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage series)
Mercedes Lackey
1989

Sometime in the early 90s, I got a book-club edition copy of the whole Last Herald-Mage series in one volume. I was already a Mercedes Lackey fan from her Tarma and Kethry series. I loved this series also and have re-read the book many times.

The central character of the series, set in the kingdom of Valdemar, is Vanyel Ashkevron, the eldest son of a border lord, Withen Ashkevron. Vanyel, a boy of fifteen whe...more

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Sep 24, 2010 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About Mercedes Lackey

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 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 & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.

"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as `my job.' My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of `story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the `folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.

"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't `not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a `high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL [`There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the `evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.

"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:

"There's no such thing as `one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."

Also known as Misty Lackey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/merced...(less)

More about Mercedes Lackey...

Books by Mercedes Lackey

Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1)

Magic's Price (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #3)

Magic's Promise (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #2)

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Quotes from Magic's Pawn

“The great love is gone. There are still little loves - friend to friend, brother to sister, student to teacher. Will you deny yourself comfort at the hearthfire of a cottage because you may no longer sit by the fireplace of a palace? Will you deny yourself to those who reach out to you in hopes of warming themselves at your hearthfire?” — 68 people liked it

“Van, Van, we’re only simple, fallible mortals - we aren’t saints, we aren’t angels - we fall on our faces and make errors and sometimes people die of them - sometimes people we love dearly -” — 2 people liked it

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Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1)

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