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89th out of 966 books
—
4,863 voters
The Last Herald-Mage (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1-3)
Includes Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, and Magic's Price, telling the "long ago" story of Vanyel and his Companion, Yfandes, and how they saved Valdemar from menaces, but starting when Vanyel was just a crass youth exiled from his family for a suspicion of his hide-bound father that, though ultimately true, is something Vanyel doesn't even imagine is possible.
Hardcover, 900 pages
Published
(first published 1969)
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First, I really do feel like a traitor because ever since I discovered these books in high school, I have loved them. LOVED THEM. I used to weep through the second half of Magic's Pawn. I had to replace the original trilogy because the covers were coming off and you couldn't read the spine. Now, while I enjoyed my latest reread (I wonder how many times I've actually read them?), I was tripped up by the overly-simplistic language, and the inconsistencies that I met like old friends as I read but...more
These are my favorite of Lackey's books, her most moving and heartfelt. It famously has a gay protagonist, rare even in speculative fiction, even in these days. Gay characters aren't unusual, especially now, but gay protagonists still are.
Those themes are important in this book and trilogy, and I think it explores it in ways that are thought-provoking and stayed with me as a young woman. Back then in 1989 when this came out, before Buffy and Will and Grace, I can remember very few positive depi...more
Those themes are important in this book and trilogy, and I think it explores it in ways that are thought-provoking and stayed with me as a young woman. Back then in 1989 when this came out, before Buffy and Will and Grace, I can remember very few positive depi...more
When we talk about writers that are good story tellers but not necessarily good, well, writers, Lackey is always top of the list. I am very well aware of her many, many technical faults, but that doesn't mean I don't have a shelf and a half of her books.
I've read all the books that follow this, so there was a certain...lack of tension, although it was nice to have some of the holes filled in. And it says something that even while I'm mentally picking the book apart I still couldn't put it down....more
I've read all the books that follow this, so there was a certain...lack of tension, although it was nice to have some of the holes filled in. And it says something that even while I'm mentally picking the book apart I still couldn't put it down....more
This is the quintessential trilogy of my youth. Perhaps because I had some familial issues myself, I wholly identified with Vanyel and his feelings of isolation and of being an outcast. It definitely expanded my world view and helped shaped my future opinions on a wide range of subjects. They even helped me fight against my own ice dream - held it off a few years anyway! I feel I should check out her other stuff since I love these so much, but I remember trying other series of hers and just not...more
In Magic's Pawn, we find young Vanyel not fitting anywhere with his family. Lord Withen Askveron wants to make a man out young Vanyel thru weapons master Jervis. Vanyel is injured in a sparring match with Jervis breaking Vanyel's right arm. Weeks go by asyoung Vanyel is healing while avoiding the weapons master's lessons. Lord Withen announces that Vanyel will be going to Haven to live withh his Aunt Savil. Everyone at Forst Reach is relieved to see young Vanyel leave. Arriving in Haven, Vanyel...more
Omnibus volume, so I'm going to review it in parts as I finish them:
Magic's Pawn:
I still don't like teenagers that much, but there's a substantial difference between whiny teenagers and genuinely tragic ones, and Vanyel's definitely the latter. There's a certain amount of "don't do that, dumbass!" going on, but it's all pretty solidly supported by the character development and hangs together quite well. It's a book of its time, in regards to the gay issues, but certainly on the right side of its...more
Magic's Pawn:
I still don't like teenagers that much, but there's a substantial difference between whiny teenagers and genuinely tragic ones, and Vanyel's definitely the latter. There's a certain amount of "don't do that, dumbass!" going on, but it's all pretty solidly supported by the character development and hangs together quite well. It's a book of its time, in regards to the gay issues, but certainly on the right side of its...more
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I was extremely impressed with this series. While it is the typical fantasy storyline of young boy-discovers powers-becomes great hero, the emotional and psychological complexity of the individual characters makes this series truly unique. This series is also the best of Lackey's work that I have read so far, and definitely has more of an adult feel than the other books of hers that I have read. The main protagonist's story is so interesting that I wish that the author would return to his life a...more
I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I liked this book as much as i did. I finished it in two days. Not a record for me but its faster than I have in a while. If you like books with great plots that all come together this is not for you. Yeah it has a good plot but it's more of a way to get the characters to meet each other and grow up. That's what really make this story is the characters how they grow. It really is an engrozing book. I'd suggest it to anyone.
I'm probably rating this a wee bit higher than it deserves just because it was so nice to read a fantasy novel (or 3) whose main character is gay. It was very well written and Vanyel's character arc was wonderfully executed, but there seemed to be a bit too much focus on the personal - the big evil plot that threatens the world took a while to unfold and seemed incidental at times. And the love/angst was a bit much. Still, I enjoyed it.
This was a wonderful fantasy adventure that currently has me hooked in Valdemar.
In the first book, Magic's Pawn, we are introduced to young Vanyel and his life. One of the things I was delightfully surprised by was the fact that Mercedes Lackey doesn't shy away from any form of love. I have never read a book where the main character was a shaych, and I felt it was very well done. I have to admit..I cried. Damn.
By Magic's Promise, I really came to like Vanyel. Okay, he is a bit whiny and all, bu...more
In the first book, Magic's Pawn, we are introduced to young Vanyel and his life. One of the things I was delightfully surprised by was the fact that Mercedes Lackey doesn't shy away from any form of love. I have never read a book where the main character was a shaych, and I felt it was very well done. I have to admit..I cried. Damn.
By Magic's Promise, I really came to like Vanyel. Okay, he is a bit whiny and all, bu...more
I just finished this entire trilogy and LOVED IT. I love it so much, I started reading a library book and ended up buying a copy for myself. This book is that good. I'll be reading it over and over and over again.
This trilogy deals with several very serious issues in a straightforward way, despite all the magic in the books. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes reading fantasy and gay romance. That was another thing I enjoyed about this book was the straightforward way it handled the gay r...more
This trilogy deals with several very serious issues in a straightforward way, despite all the magic in the books. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes reading fantasy and gay romance. That was another thing I enjoyed about this book was the straightforward way it handled the gay r...more
I just reread this trilogy for the first time since before college. It was better than I remembered!
Brilliant writing. And as much as I enjoy all of the Valdemar books, I agree with the folks who say the more recent ones don't hold a candle to the first two trilogies that were written. These books kept me invested in the characters for 900 pages, and still wanting more.
Brilliant writing. And as much as I enjoy all of the Valdemar books, I agree with the folks who say the more recent ones don't hold a candle to the first two trilogies that were written. These books kept me invested in the characters for 900 pages, and still wanting more.
This series is angst ridden, broody, very gay, and (to my 15 year old self) nearly perfect. It isn't a great literary work, but it went along way toward convincing me that I wasn't the only one in the world who had feelings like that and that compared to the characters in this book, my life wasn't all that messed up.
A great fantasy series (good vs evil) that has a gay protaganist. Bigotry, love, betrayal, revenge...this series helped me as a teenager to realize that the love between homosexuals is the same as love between hetersexuals, a concept not approved or even voiced around me except in derision.
I postponed reading this for a long time; after all, I knew how it ended. It was a worthwhile read, though. Emotionally gripping and full of character development and action as well, I was glad I read it. Won't be one I repeatedly re-read, though. Just a little too heavy for that.
I'm a fan of Valdemar. I know that sometimes the plots are transparent, but I really love Misty's characters - Vanyel is one of my favorites. I like that her happy ending is a little bittersweet. And of course, I harbor a secret wish that I could be a person worthy of being Chosen.
If I could add 5 more stars to this I would! These 3 books helped me come to grips with myself and made me feel like MY life wasnt hopeless! Being gay, I cried and laughed with these books. For me these were life changing books!
This is the book I reread parts of most often and I wish I could explain why. I think Vanyel is the first guy I ever really had a crush on way back when I was 13. And he's gay, which explains much about my life . . .
i read it while in iraq. i found it to be an interesting book. i enjoyed reading it but since read i dont remember it all. some but not all.
One of my all time favorite trilogies. The story is beautifully and poingantly written and it's a love story!
Probably one of the best books I've ever read. One of the few books I've read twice.
I read these books separately and they were very good.
Feb 21, 2012
Lisa
added it
The Last Herald-Mage by Mercedes Lackey (1990)
Nov 14, 2010
Michele bookloverforever
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
fantasy-series,
paranormal-series
i love all things valdemar and this series is outstanding.
This series showed me what joy reading could be.
Loved this series. My first with a gay hero!!!
One of my all-time favorites. Excellent trilogy.
This is a must read triliogy
I love this trilogy so much.
I am currently reading/re-reading all of Mercedes Lackey's books and this one has always been my favorite. I fell hoplessly in love with Vanyel and with Valdamar. I felt that this time around I paid more attention to some of the details and understood more about the history as well. I have to say that three times around now, I still cried and laughed and was infected with anxiety at different places in the story. I have to say that I adored this book and know that one of these days, I will visit...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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