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2nd out of 251 books
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Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1)
In Magic's Pawn, an ancient age in the history of Valdemar comes to life--an age when the kingdom was ravaged by the ungoverned fury of bandit warlords, ferocious ice dragons, and the wild magic of wizards. A new addition to Lackey's Valdemar kingdom--and her most powerful series to date!
Mass Market Paperbound, 352 pages
Published
June 6th 1989
by Daw Books
(first published 1988)
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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
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Luisa
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
angsty people
Recommended to Luisa by:
Limyaael, psychedeliceyes
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 affa...more
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 affa...more
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'r...more
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'r...more
Emma
rated it
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 wh...more
Note: I don't think the owls were in this series. Or the magic valleys wh...more
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).
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
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...more
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...more
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 ar...more
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 ar...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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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 part...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...more
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...more
For my second book of the year, I choose something even easier. Online I came across a list of YA novels with LGBT characters, for librarians and teachers to give to teens. This novel by the prolific Mercedes Lackey was high up on the list (although not originally intended as YA, it is frequently shelved there; it is in the King County system). Lackey is another author that I've sold but never read, so I thought this would be a good one to sample her with. Also, I'm not generally fond of sword a...more
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
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...more
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...more
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. Wh...more
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
Katie
rated it
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 ot...more
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 ot...more
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" ...more
What is of interest is the "early history" ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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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 ...more
I’ve only read her work The Obsidian Trilogy, which I loved and there ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I received this book for my fifteenth birthday. It quickly became one of my favorites and I have read it multiple times. Now that I'm 30, I decided to return to the book. In some ways it held up better than I expected. At times, though, I was just shaking my head.
I still found the characters likable. The book is fairly short, and it moves along quickly. I can see why I loved this book so much when I was younger.
But it is amazing that one book could hold this much ANGST. F...more
I still found the characters likable. The book is fairly short, and it moves along quickly. I can see why I loved this book so much when I was younger.
But it is amazing that one book could hold this much ANGST. F...more
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a stunningly well-written trilogy but I have always enjoyed it- I guess for its tragic story-arc.
This is one of Mercedes Lackey's series set in Valdemar, a world with Companions (intelligent horses), magic, bards, bond-birds, and of course various and sundry foes. This, however, is by far my favorite of any of the Valdemar series.
Vanyel, while initially a difficult to stomach troubled youth, turns out to be quite the tragic hero. He's somewhat...more
This is one of Mercedes Lackey's series set in Valdemar, a world with Companions (intelligent horses), magic, bards, bond-birds, and of course various and sundry foes. This, however, is by far my favorite of any of the Valdemar series.
Vanyel, while initially a difficult to stomach troubled youth, turns out to be quite the tragic hero. He's somewhat...more
Pretty decent start to a fantasy series.
Vanyel Askevron is sent to his aunt in Valdemar, his father hoping to mold him into a "man." Vanyel is gay, more interested in music than becoming heir to his father's estate. Antics ensue, and Vanyel gains mage powers. Will he be able to ever use these powers and choose to become a Herald, protector of the peace and people? Or will he become so unstable a mage as to threaten the very existence of Valdemar?
Magic's Pawn i...more
Vanyel Askevron is sent to his aunt in Valdemar, his father hoping to mold him into a "man." Vanyel is gay, more interested in music than becoming heir to his father's estate. Antics ensue, and Vanyel gains mage powers. Will he be able to ever use these powers and choose to become a Herald, protector of the peace and people? Or will he become so unstable a mage as to threaten the very existence of Valdemar?
Magic's Pawn i...more
I'm going to review the trilogy on this review because I Am Lazy. My Internet boyfriend recommended this series to me because he loved it growing up, so that got it an extra star already. As with the Lackey I remember (which is dim), a lot of the appeal of this trilogy comes from the strength-under-duress trope, which is a winning theme for any teens. The world was pretty solid, although I think by modern standards I would call it just a little thin in terms of relying on Generic Medieval for a ...more
Vanyel Ashkevron is the eldest son and heir apparent to a rural lord, but his aspect doesn't quite fit the role. Vanyel is attractive, gentle, and musical instead of being burly, aggressive, and undereducated. In other words, Vanyel is gay, which doesn't usually work out well in what is essentially a feudal society.
After a great deal of abuse at the hands of his family, Vanyel is shipped off to Haven to live with his aunt, a herald. He finally meets someone and falls in love, bu...more
After a great deal of abuse at the hands of his family, Vanyel is shipped off to Haven to live with his aunt, a herald. He finally meets someone and falls in love, bu...more
I don't think this one lived up to the hype. Not enough plot going on and entirely too much teenage angst. The book spent too much time talking about feelings and having the secondary characters endlessly discuss how everything was affecting the main character. It reminded me a bit of the later Anita Blake novels, though without the smut (though I think this book actually could have used some smut).
Vanyel was annoying up until the last tenth of the book, though I still wasn't entirel...more
Vanyel was annoying up until the last tenth of the book, though I still wasn't entirel...more
This was the first book byMercedes Lackey I ever read. I bought it because I liked the cover art.... and I thought the title was Mercedes Lackey....and I just thought that was a great name for a novel. It was the first book I read in fantasy fiction which expressed my religious/spritual views...featured a gay protagonist where the character was not a stereotype....and created an amazing world to boot. I have seen comments about Mercedes Lackey's writing being subpar....that is not what thi...more
This was a recommendation from my girlfriend. It was a novel she read and enjoyed when she was growing up. I have always been a fan of fantasy novels and I saw plenty of Ms. Lackey's books on the shelves, but never felt overly compelled to make a purchase. Well, my girlfriend's insistence that I read this particular novel prevailed and now I am writing a review.
The beginning of this novel really irritated me as it revolved around a character exhibiting a high level of teenage angst. Now,...more
The beginning of this novel really irritated me as it revolved around a character exhibiting a high level of teenage angst. Now,...more
Christopher
rated it
I was honestly fighting between rating this a four or a five; the five won. I think the characters and dialogue won me over. :O
It started off rather slow for me and didn't pick up until Vanyel left Forst Reach. That's when all the likable side characters came into the picture; seriously, most of his family back at Forst Reach need to be slapped (or murdered).
For a good chunk of the book, it's about Vanyel finding comfort and settling into his new life with his aunt and the Heralds; i...more
It started off rather slow for me and didn't pick up until Vanyel left Forst Reach. That's when all the likable side characters came into the picture; seriously, most of his family back at Forst Reach need to be slapped (or murdered).
For a good chunk of the book, it's about Vanyel finding comfort and settling into his new life with his aunt and the Heralds; i...more
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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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“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?”
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