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Valdemar: Owl Mage Trilogy #2
Owlsight
It has been four years since Darian saw his village sacked and burned by barbarians. Taking refuge with the Hawkbrothers, he soon finds his life's calling--as a Healing Adept. But even as he learns the mystical ways of this ancient race, Darian cannot escape the dangers threatening his future. Another tribe of barbarians is approaching. The time has come...to stand up and fight.
450 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
218 people are currently reading
2281 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes 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 writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"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 writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
December 12, 2011
Owlsight is definitely more solid than Owlflight - less drama, more interesting worldbuilding without the tedious flashback-driven backstory. We get a cameo by Kerowyn, and really awkwardly-placed references to the rest of the main Mage Storms characters, which is nice but clumsy, and otherwise it's just a fairly solid YA adventure.
My main gripe with this series is the bizarre-in-context patriarchal assumptions. In a country where there is no sexism at all in the ruling class, it's jarringly out-of-place to have a village where the women cook, clean, and gossip and the men run the place with no comment at all about how that's a little odd. Valdemar was set up from the beginning as an egalitarian society, and I really dislike that those principles seem to be ignored here in favor of a dreadfully stereotypical European rural village setup. It makes for better contrast with the Hawkbrothers, I suppose, but that contrast is never actually remarked upon, and I find it tooth-grindingly irritating.
My main gripe with this series is the bizarre-in-context patriarchal assumptions. In a country where there is no sexism at all in the ruling class, it's jarringly out-of-place to have a village where the women cook, clean, and gossip and the men run the place with no comment at all about how that's a little odd. Valdemar was set up from the beginning as an egalitarian society, and I really dislike that those principles seem to be ignored here in favor of a dreadfully stereotypical European rural village setup. It makes for better contrast with the Hawkbrothers, I suppose, but that contrast is never actually remarked upon, and I find it tooth-grindingly irritating.
January 28, 2008
Lackey is one of my favorite authors ever! I started reading her Valdemar series in 8th grade but I will still pull out her books to reread them. I also love her work so much that I never miss the chance to buy her new stuff. This series was her last full Valdemar series and I’m sad to say I almost wish she hadn’t written it. This whole series just fell flat for me and although, as always her characters were great, the whole work just felt a bit formulaic.
February 20, 2025
Set four years after Owlflight, we meet up with Darian again--older and wiser. We also alternate perspectives with Keisha, the local Valdemaran Healer. Their story meets up in a nice way, though the precipitating event is honestly a bit tame compared to past books, but I really appreciate that Lackey & Dixon had it play out the way it did. Otherwise, it's almost a slice-of-life story, which is fun! We get to see a normal Tayledras Vale for the first time, and a Healer main character!
I almost forgot to mention that the death of a character from the first book clearly still has resonating impacts in this book, which is something I greatly appreciated.
Also, something I thought I remembered happening in this book clearly didn't, so onward to Owlknight!
I almost forgot to mention that the death of a character from the first book clearly still has resonating impacts in this book, which is something I greatly appreciated.
Also, something I thought I remembered happening in this book clearly didn't, so onward to Owlknight!
October 19, 2023
A good tale about development, growth, and friendship. I was surprised that there was no major evil character to destroy. Nevertheless, it was a good story and I look forward to reading the next one in this series.
March 10, 2010
Number 25 in the quest to read 100 books in a year. This is the second book in the "Owl" trilogy, which has also been rebranded as "Darain's Tale.'
The middle book in the trilogy is always the toughest. Darian is now a young adult and has been fully adopted into the Tayledras or Hawkbrother clan; he has been undergoing training both as a warrior and as a mage. He has found a home . . .
More interesting is the introduction of Keisha, who, following the death of Justyn (in the first book in the trilogy) has reluctantly taken on the duties of Healer of Errold's Grove. She is the older sister of the beautiful Shandi, whom every young man in the village desires. She is in many ways in this novel a more interesting character than Darian; it is she who is struggling with how to make her way in the world.
Her tale is what, I think, makes Lackey most worth reading. She is a relatively ordinary young woman living in a rather ordinary world. Her family is niether distinguished nor bad--they are simply doing the best they can to lead the life they have been given and to do right by their children. And yet to Keisha, the life is both stifling and confining--she has a strong sense of duty both to Errold's Grove and to her calling as a Healer, and yet she feels a bit confined both by a family that can't see her as an adult and a village that has "typed" her as "the Healer" or as "Shandi's Sister."
The struggles faced by Lackey's protagonist--and I would include in these some of the best of Lackey, such as Lavan in 'Burning Brightly'--are the struggles faced by many of us growing up (or currently being faced by younger readers. And these struggles give Lackey's work the immediacy of believable, well written "contemporary" fiction.
It's also nice to stay in her "World" of Valdemar while at the same time taking a break from the Collegium, from Haven (the capital city), and the Heralds. Like reading a nicely written regional novel after having read a bunch of urban fiction.
In some ways, this "believablity" of characters and situation gives her work immediacy that . . . and it pains me to say this, especially when I think of how hard I was on Lackey's early work . . .she is at least the equal of Marion Zimmer Bradley . . . I have to meditate on that.
She also brings back one of her great characters, Kerowyn . .. who figures prominently in this book.
Good read . . . but the Keisha stuff is more interesting than the Darian stuff . . . even though this is "Book Two of Darian's Tale."
Hmmm.
The middle book in the trilogy is always the toughest. Darian is now a young adult and has been fully adopted into the Tayledras or Hawkbrother clan; he has been undergoing training both as a warrior and as a mage. He has found a home . . .
More interesting is the introduction of Keisha, who, following the death of Justyn (in the first book in the trilogy) has reluctantly taken on the duties of Healer of Errold's Grove. She is the older sister of the beautiful Shandi, whom every young man in the village desires. She is in many ways in this novel a more interesting character than Darian; it is she who is struggling with how to make her way in the world.
Her tale is what, I think, makes Lackey most worth reading. She is a relatively ordinary young woman living in a rather ordinary world. Her family is niether distinguished nor bad--they are simply doing the best they can to lead the life they have been given and to do right by their children. And yet to Keisha, the life is both stifling and confining--she has a strong sense of duty both to Errold's Grove and to her calling as a Healer, and yet she feels a bit confined both by a family that can't see her as an adult and a village that has "typed" her as "the Healer" or as "Shandi's Sister."
The struggles faced by Lackey's protagonist--and I would include in these some of the best of Lackey, such as Lavan in 'Burning Brightly'--are the struggles faced by many of us growing up (or currently being faced by younger readers. And these struggles give Lackey's work the immediacy of believable, well written "contemporary" fiction.
It's also nice to stay in her "World" of Valdemar while at the same time taking a break from the Collegium, from Haven (the capital city), and the Heralds. Like reading a nicely written regional novel after having read a bunch of urban fiction.
In some ways, this "believablity" of characters and situation gives her work immediacy that . . . and it pains me to say this, especially when I think of how hard I was on Lackey's early work . . .she is at least the equal of Marion Zimmer Bradley . . . I have to meditate on that.
She also brings back one of her great characters, Kerowyn . .. who figures prominently in this book.
Good read . . . but the Keisha stuff is more interesting than the Darian stuff . . . even though this is "Book Two of Darian's Tale."
Hmmm.
July 29, 2018
3.5 stars
I liked it better than the first book in this series, Owlflight. I liked the characters, and the writing was good. I also liked the absence of the 'saving the world' trope, just a danger to one small village the heroes do their best to avert.
I liked it better than the first book in this series, Owlflight. I liked the characters, and the writing was good. I also liked the absence of the 'saving the world' trope, just a danger to one small village the heroes do their best to avert.
July 13, 2017
A many-times reread, and a much more solid reading experience than the first book. Part of that is sentiment -- this was one of my favorite books as a teen, and I think the first Valdemar book I ever read -- but it's still enjoyable even now.
March 14, 2023
If you were a fan of the previous book you will also enjoy this one. Remains a comfy story that explores interpersonal relationships maturely and soothingly. Keisha is a great new main character that fits right in.
February 20, 2023
This takes place roughly 4 years after the first book. Another group of northern barbarians are heading towards Errold's Grove. Several new characters are introduced. All in all a good story
March 7, 2017
Book two in the Owl series, and we get introduced to some of the characters other than Darian and Snowfire that make this series so great. Keisha and Shandi are two of my favorites, and Keisha and her struggled with her gift I absolutely adored the first time around. Add to that all the usual Hawkbrothers and I adored this series, both as a teenager and now.
I can't wait to get into book three and read again about what happens with Darian and Keisha. Five stars.
I can't wait to get into book three and read again about what happens with Darian and Keisha. Five stars.
May 11, 2024
Darian is returning home after a four year journey with the HawkBrother. He still has more training ahead of him and a new threat looms. The introduction of the Healer Keisha added a balance to the older Darian.
November 27, 2019
The OWL MAGE trilogy follows Darian, who was orphaned as a tween and lived with a sub-par healer wizard named Justyn. That is, until barbarians invaded Errold’s Grove and Justyn sacrificed himself to save the slow citizens trying to escape, including the elderly, children, and those with disabilities. Darian is pursed through the forest by some barbarians and is rescued by Snowfire, who takes Darian to his Hawkbrother vale to live and develop his mage gifts.
In Owlsight, it is four years later. Darian has trained with his bond bird (a giant owl) and has become a strong member of the vale. The goal is to create a new vale near Darian’s old village in Valdemar so he can be a bridge between Valdemarans and Hawkbrothers, continuing the ally protection this fantasy series has been building in previous books.
While readers continue to follow Darian in Owlsight, we get a second narrator, eighteen-year-old Keisha, who now functions as the healer in Errold’s Grove. She trained briefly with a healer at a nearby keep, and he checks on her, but she’s refused to go to Valdemar’s capitol to train at the collegium. There’s no one to replace her during her studies, so it’s worth it to work half-trained instead of leaving villagers with no medical attention.
I’ve complained in previous reviews that the characters either didn’t seem like real people or they seemed too much alike. In this case, Lackey and Dixon give each character unique traits. I could tell each Hawkbrother and villager apart thanks to more detailed personalities. For me, those details brings the novel to life and I was able to immerse myself more fully and care about the safety, happiness, and well-being of each person.
I especially enjoyed watching Snowfire and Nightwind navigate their wedding, marital issues, and dreams of expanding their family. Even the non-human characters, such as the hertasi (large lizards that walk on their back legs; I picture the GEICO gecko) and dyheli (mindspeaking gazelle-like creatures) were described more clearly with how they move, gesture, smile, how their bodies look, etc. Kelvren, the attention-seeking, playful griffon who loves scritches is sure to put a smile on your face!
Lackey and Dixon create the best villain yet, in my opinion: lack of information. A huge group is moving toward the village, but they have women, children, and disabled people with them, suggesting this isn’t another barbarian raid. However, there are tons of weapons, too. What do they want? Will they keep moving or settle peaceably? When readers meet these mysterious travelers, things become scarier than anything sadistic Lackey has written in the past. I won’t spoil it for you.
But the healers that have arrived with a small army, called to fortify the Hawkbrothers in case there is a war, are a big part of the debate about the travelers. Their oath tells them they must assist everyone, no matter whose side they are on. Could these people use medical attention, especially those who look newly disabled or like they’re wasting away? Any contact with an unknown group exposes both the Valdemaran village, still recovering from the raid four years ago, and the Hawkbrother vale, which usually is a secret.
What I enjoyed best overall was the way Lackey and Dixon wrote a plot and characters relatable to actual life. Yes, fantasy is escapist, but if there is no connection to the feelings or realities of the reader, it’s hard to get lost in the story. A novel that heightens the trilogy instead of suffering the sophomore slump, Owlsight is an excellent addition to #ReadingValdemar.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
In Owlsight, it is four years later. Darian has trained with his bond bird (a giant owl) and has become a strong member of the vale. The goal is to create a new vale near Darian’s old village in Valdemar so he can be a bridge between Valdemarans and Hawkbrothers, continuing the ally protection this fantasy series has been building in previous books.
While readers continue to follow Darian in Owlsight, we get a second narrator, eighteen-year-old Keisha, who now functions as the healer in Errold’s Grove. She trained briefly with a healer at a nearby keep, and he checks on her, but she’s refused to go to Valdemar’s capitol to train at the collegium. There’s no one to replace her during her studies, so it’s worth it to work half-trained instead of leaving villagers with no medical attention.
I’ve complained in previous reviews that the characters either didn’t seem like real people or they seemed too much alike. In this case, Lackey and Dixon give each character unique traits. I could tell each Hawkbrother and villager apart thanks to more detailed personalities. For me, those details brings the novel to life and I was able to immerse myself more fully and care about the safety, happiness, and well-being of each person.
I especially enjoyed watching Snowfire and Nightwind navigate their wedding, marital issues, and dreams of expanding their family. Even the non-human characters, such as the hertasi (large lizards that walk on their back legs; I picture the GEICO gecko) and dyheli (mindspeaking gazelle-like creatures) were described more clearly with how they move, gesture, smile, how their bodies look, etc. Kelvren, the attention-seeking, playful griffon who loves scritches is sure to put a smile on your face!
Lackey and Dixon create the best villain yet, in my opinion: lack of information. A huge group is moving toward the village, but they have women, children, and disabled people with them, suggesting this isn’t another barbarian raid. However, there are tons of weapons, too. What do they want? Will they keep moving or settle peaceably? When readers meet these mysterious travelers, things become scarier than anything sadistic Lackey has written in the past. I won’t spoil it for you.
But the healers that have arrived with a small army, called to fortify the Hawkbrothers in case there is a war, are a big part of the debate about the travelers. Their oath tells them they must assist everyone, no matter whose side they are on. Could these people use medical attention, especially those who look newly disabled or like they’re wasting away? Any contact with an unknown group exposes both the Valdemaran village, still recovering from the raid four years ago, and the Hawkbrother vale, which usually is a secret.
What I enjoyed best overall was the way Lackey and Dixon wrote a plot and characters relatable to actual life. Yes, fantasy is escapist, but if there is no connection to the feelings or realities of the reader, it’s hard to get lost in the story. A novel that heightens the trilogy instead of suffering the sophomore slump, Owlsight is an excellent addition to #ReadingValdemar.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
June 29, 2022
I loved this book. In it, the characters are a little older. Darian is a teenager now, and we are introduced to a new character, Keisha, the Healer who's taken residence in Justyn's cottage. She is the new village Healer, as you can see. Her story is interesting. I also loved how they managed to hide the secret of who Darian's new teacher would be, though this wasn't important to the plot, and was revealed when the teacher shows up before Darian and the Hawkbrothers return to the village. Anyways, I loved how there wasn't a real villain in this book. Instead, it's just a lack of information. Let me explain. A new barbarian tribe is arriving to the village. The Hawkbrothers and the villagers don't know if they're friendly or hostile. Two Heralds are sent: a diplomat, and a military person. They arrange talks with the tribe's leader. They intend to intimidate the tribe a little, to arrange talks. The tribe takes this to mean they are hostile. The tribe has a plague affecting them. See? This makes it pretty interesting, because no one's in the right and everyone's in the wrong. It's just a misunderstanding. I enjoyed this story.
May 6, 2023
It’s four years after the attack of the barbarians and the village of Errold’s Grove has recovered and prospered. It’s now the center for merchants, traders and craftsmen to trade their wares.
Kiesha has become a gifted healer and herbalist, well-known by the Heralds and Hawkbrothers. Her sister Shawnda, an expert dyer, is unexpectantly Chosen to become a Herald and taken off to Haven. Kiesha realized how her sister had protected her from strangers and unwanted household chores. Her quick thinking took care of that problem leaving her more time for her healing duties.
Darian and his group of Talendras are finished with reestablishing the magic in their section of the country into useable patterns. Now they’re are headed home to Kavala vale. After a celebration of Nightwind and Snowfire’s union, Darian begins his mage training in preparation of building for his own vale near Errold’s Grove.
When an unfamiliar multitude of barbarians are seen traveling towards them from the north, both Darian and Kiesha are instrumental in resolving the situation.
I love how the plot chains of Darian and Kiesha combine toward the end. And glad that Kiesha worries were easily taken care of. Also how Shawnda returns to the story.
Footnote: 1) The audible version sounds like it has 2 narrators. One sounds better than the other but I can’t describe which one. His voice is calmer, clearer and better enunciated.
Fave scenes: Darian’s arrival at Kavala vail, the two flowers, choosing the dwellings in the new vale and herb knowledge & deer.
Kiesha has become a gifted healer and herbalist, well-known by the Heralds and Hawkbrothers. Her sister Shawnda, an expert dyer, is unexpectantly Chosen to become a Herald and taken off to Haven. Kiesha realized how her sister had protected her from strangers and unwanted household chores. Her quick thinking took care of that problem leaving her more time for her healing duties.
Darian and his group of Talendras are finished with reestablishing the magic in their section of the country into useable patterns. Now they’re are headed home to Kavala vale. After a celebration of Nightwind and Snowfire’s union, Darian begins his mage training in preparation of building for his own vale near Errold’s Grove.
When an unfamiliar multitude of barbarians are seen traveling towards them from the north, both Darian and Kiesha are instrumental in resolving the situation.
I love how the plot chains of Darian and Kiesha combine toward the end. And glad that Kiesha worries were easily taken care of. Also how Shawnda returns to the story.
Footnote: 1) The audible version sounds like it has 2 narrators. One sounds better than the other but I can’t describe which one. His voice is calmer, clearer and better enunciated.
Fave scenes: Darian’s arrival at Kavala vail, the two flowers, choosing the dwellings in the new vale and herb knowledge & deer.
October 25, 2017
Dive into a story of love, conquest, and magic with the book, "Owlsight", a fiction story by Mercedes Lackey.
The amazing plot drew me in like a fish to water. Additionally, this story puts you into the main character's perspective. A healer with no idea how to use her gift(magic) to heal, named Keisha Alder and a young mage and apprentice to a deceased magician finding his way in life, named Darian.
Darian has been training to become a healing adept with the mysterious Hawkbrothers who took him in. He returns back to his home village in Errold’s Grove to help protect the villagers from the barbarians traveling closer and closer to their village.
Keisha is a home taught healer, trying to learn how to use her inborn gift. Furthermore this young woman has devoted herself to helping and caring for the villagers of her home. With the inability, though, to shield and her lack of training, she is having trouble bearing with the strains of her life.
With the barbarians approaching how will these two characters find a way to protect their home and maybe find love?
I found these two characters engaging and able to relate too.I also enjoyed how these two became closer to each other through their work and those they love.
Mercedes lackey has done an amazing job pulling me in as a reader. She keeps the story flowing and the reader on the edge of their seats. This is an amazing story for those who want an adventure and a tale of love and protection as well as strength.
The amazing plot drew me in like a fish to water. Additionally, this story puts you into the main character's perspective. A healer with no idea how to use her gift(magic) to heal, named Keisha Alder and a young mage and apprentice to a deceased magician finding his way in life, named Darian.
Darian has been training to become a healing adept with the mysterious Hawkbrothers who took him in. He returns back to his home village in Errold’s Grove to help protect the villagers from the barbarians traveling closer and closer to their village.
Keisha is a home taught healer, trying to learn how to use her inborn gift. Furthermore this young woman has devoted herself to helping and caring for the villagers of her home. With the inability, though, to shield and her lack of training, she is having trouble bearing with the strains of her life.
With the barbarians approaching how will these two characters find a way to protect their home and maybe find love?
I found these two characters engaging and able to relate too.I also enjoyed how these two became closer to each other through their work and those they love.
Mercedes lackey has done an amazing job pulling me in as a reader. She keeps the story flowing and the reader on the edge of their seats. This is an amazing story for those who want an adventure and a tale of love and protection as well as strength.
November 19, 2019
I love character driven novels. While Owlsight aspires to be such a novel, it falls short. We get deep into the mundane details of daily life for both Darian and Keisha with little payoff. Immediately, I see pacing parallels to Owlflight and that's not a compliment. Keisha spends the majority of the novel lamenting her inability to understand her Healing abilities due to a lack of a teacher (which I love!) only to rapidly master her powers in throwaway sentences once introduced to the Hawkbrothers (which frustrates me). The barbarians and their related plot which are seemingly dumped in for the last eighty pages don't feel like they belong. In fact, I found myself wishing that Lackey and Dixon had truly focused on their characters and eliminated this external plotline entirely.
But Keisha kept my interest. Yes, she is introspective and occasionally tedious. But she's a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it. Darian is still the central character of this novel. In Owlsight he grows quite a bit. We get to (thankfully) skip a lot of his development and assimilation in to the Hawkbrother culture but jump back in as he is starting to finally learn about his own sexuality and how to become a Healer-Adept. I saw the reintroduction of some familiar faces from previous novels coming about 1.5 billion miles away, but that didn't stop the giant grin on my face when they arrived. I can't wait to see how Darian grows as a mage in our next novel.
But Keisha kept my interest. Yes, she is introspective and occasionally tedious. But she's a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it. Darian is still the central character of this novel. In Owlsight he grows quite a bit. We get to (thankfully) skip a lot of his development and assimilation in to the Hawkbrother culture but jump back in as he is starting to finally learn about his own sexuality and how to become a Healer-Adept. I saw the reintroduction of some familiar faces from previous novels coming about 1.5 billion miles away, but that didn't stop the giant grin on my face when they arrived. I can't wait to see how Darian grows as a mage in our next novel.
Read
February 3, 2021Owlsight, sequel to Owlflight, is a fair-to-middlin' piece of adolescent fantasy (no, no not that kind of adolescent fantasy!). We pick up the story of Damian a year or so after the last book and also weave in the tale of Keithra, a young healer in the village of Errold's Grove.
Once again, too much time has passed since I read the first book in the series, and it wasn't worth investing the time re-reading it to get the feeling for how this book fits into the larger tapestry of the Valdemar series, so I ended up reading this one in fits and starts. One of Lackey's problems in some of her recent fiction is the whole concept that all of the "good guys" in the story will somehow be reasonable and nice and live happily ever after, once their minor misunderstandings are out of the way. It seems as if, at one time, Lackey actually put together some really nasty villains in her novels and built characters with depth.
The more I read, however, the less I cared about how things turned out. The trials and tribulations of Damian's and Keithra's coming of age weren't all that exciting. I'll probably pick up the last book in this set, Owlknight, just to avoid a gap on the bookshelves, but I'll wait till it hits the used bookstores.
Once again, too much time has passed since I read the first book in the series, and it wasn't worth investing the time re-reading it to get the feeling for how this book fits into the larger tapestry of the Valdemar series, so I ended up reading this one in fits and starts. One of Lackey's problems in some of her recent fiction is the whole concept that all of the "good guys" in the story will somehow be reasonable and nice and live happily ever after, once their minor misunderstandings are out of the way. It seems as if, at one time, Lackey actually put together some really nasty villains in her novels and built characters with depth.
The more I read, however, the less I cared about how things turned out. The trials and tribulations of Damian's and Keithra's coming of age weren't all that exciting. I'll probably pick up the last book in this set, Owlknight, just to avoid a gap on the bookshelves, but I'll wait till it hits the used bookstores.
June 18, 2024
OWLSIGHT by Mercedes Lackey.
It has been four years since the battle at Errold's Grove and Darian's acceptance into the Tayledras vale. Now 18, Darian is learning to use his mage powers, and received a new teacher and a new assignment.
Back at the grove, things have improved. Two young sisters are figuring out their places in the world. Keisha has become the town's healer, and Shandi has become the belle of the ball to the boys in the town. One will be chosen, changing the lives of both as well as the lives of their family.
When word arrives at the new Tayledras vale, as well as a sudden arrival of Trainee Shandi and her companion, the fear of a second barbarian attack seems inevitable.
I prefered this 2nd tale of the Owl Mage Trilogy and this 38th tale in the chronology of Valdemar. The narrator was the same, but his delivery smoother.
This story explores healers, Kelvren, the dyheli, and hertasi and relationships between Valdemar and Tayledras more than the first in this trilogy.
The story has more meat to it than OWLFLIGHT.
It has been four years since the battle at Errold's Grove and Darian's acceptance into the Tayledras vale. Now 18, Darian is learning to use his mage powers, and received a new teacher and a new assignment.
Back at the grove, things have improved. Two young sisters are figuring out their places in the world. Keisha has become the town's healer, and Shandi has become the belle of the ball to the boys in the town. One will be chosen, changing the lives of both as well as the lives of their family.
When word arrives at the new Tayledras vale, as well as a sudden arrival of Trainee Shandi and her companion, the fear of a second barbarian attack seems inevitable.
I prefered this 2nd tale of the Owl Mage Trilogy and this 38th tale in the chronology of Valdemar. The narrator was the same, but his delivery smoother.
This story explores healers, Kelvren, the dyheli, and hertasi and relationships between Valdemar and Tayledras more than the first in this trilogy.
The story has more meat to it than OWLFLIGHT.
May 26, 2017
While Darien has been traveling with the Hawkbrothers and learning to become a Healer Adept for the past four years, Keisha has taken over the healing in the village. She has no formal training, but she is good and the Hawkbrothers have also watched over her when it comes to herbal remedies. Just as Darien is settling in to his new family's Vale, word comes that another set of barbarians are following the same path as the ones that killed Justin and brought Darien to the Hawkbrothers. It's decided that Darien and those that will help him must return to start their new Vale earlier than expected.
I love the young man Darien has become and I love Keisha. They are great characters. Even more so than the first book, the village is a character in the story as the two deal with the various people and the expectations put on them.
This was just a great book.
I love the young man Darien has become and I love Keisha. They are great characters. Even more so than the first book, the village is a character in the story as the two deal with the various people and the expectations put on them.
This was just a great book.
October 1, 2023
Darian Of Two Cultures
OwlMage2
Welp. It’s official. I will have read the Winds Trilogy and the Storm trilogy to get caught up with all the characters. But, I know enough not to be lost.
Darian promised to return to Errolds Grove, and be the mage for the border, as a bridge between the Hawkbrothers and Valdemar. Of course, the village thinks only of itself and its minor needs of weather-witching.
But managing the magic of the world takes precedence over their pettiness. And it has been to learn these skills, that put Darian on the Teylades path. He has power that can and needs to be shaped, and a bondbird.
Soon, he is tasked with creating a Vale, a sort of magic collection zone, that protects and directs the flow of magic to make it useful and sustainable.
But that isn’t all he is tasked with, and the story rolls out from there.
Happy reading!
OwlMage2
Welp. It’s official. I will have read the Winds Trilogy and the Storm trilogy to get caught up with all the characters. But, I know enough not to be lost.
Darian promised to return to Errolds Grove, and be the mage for the border, as a bridge between the Hawkbrothers and Valdemar. Of course, the village thinks only of itself and its minor needs of weather-witching.
But managing the magic of the world takes precedence over their pettiness. And it has been to learn these skills, that put Darian on the Teylades path. He has power that can and needs to be shaped, and a bondbird.
Soon, he is tasked with creating a Vale, a sort of magic collection zone, that protects and directs the flow of magic to make it useful and sustainable.
But that isn’t all he is tasked with, and the story rolls out from there.
Happy reading!
April 12, 2021
So many words! So much irrelevant description! So little plot!
She writes well, even in books like this, but that just means I keep hoping that what I’m reading will fill me in on something, or lead into something, or build toward a fulfillment and then...
Nope, suckered once more...
Some of her books are SO good (Exile’s Valor, for example) , many are fair to middling (most of the Mags stories), but then there are the ones like this which just miss the boat.
I rather think many of these should have been short stories and to fill them out to novel length she put in a lot of “sidelights”, things she might have used in her notes on Valdemar background, and spent a great deal of verbiage trying to make them relevant, although without particular success.
She writes well, even in books like this, but that just means I keep hoping that what I’m reading will fill me in on something, or lead into something, or build toward a fulfillment and then...
Nope, suckered once more...
Some of her books are SO good (Exile’s Valor, for example) , many are fair to middling (most of the Mags stories), but then there are the ones like this which just miss the boat.
I rather think many of these should have been short stories and to fill them out to novel length she put in a lot of “sidelights”, things she might have used in her notes on Valdemar background, and spent a great deal of verbiage trying to make them relevant, although without particular success.
December 19, 2024
This was a pretty fun read. Not incredible, characters don't really grow. Darian was pretty much a grown up from the get-go. Was super fun to see Kero and Eldan again and the ghost cat clan was intriguing. I am getting rather bored reading about how a Vale is created and looks over and over again though. My other major complaint was that the pictures were not placed well. Like we saw a pic of Kero before the book unveiled the "secret" that it was her so it spoiled the surprise a bit. Loved the image of the two armies facing each other but if the companions knew, seems like they could have informed their heralds and things could have gone easier. Still, an enjoyable read
April 13, 2023
Pour ce tome 2, on se retrouve 4 ans après les évènements du tome 1 et je dois dire qu'il ne se passe pas grand chose...
En plus de Darian, nous découvrons un nouveau personnage, Keisha, qui est une guérisseuse débutante un peu en difficulté...
Je ne sais même pas quoi dire sur ce livre car il aborde plus la vie de tous les jours du village et l'installation permanente des Hawkbrothers près du village en question.
J'ai déjà commencé l'écoute du tome 3 et j'espère que ça va bouger un peu plus.
En plus de Darian, nous découvrons un nouveau personnage, Keisha, qui est une guérisseuse débutante un peu en difficulté...
Je ne sais même pas quoi dire sur ce livre car il aborde plus la vie de tous les jours du village et l'installation permanente des Hawkbrothers près du village en question.
J'ai déjà commencé l'écoute du tome 3 et j'espère que ça va bouger un peu plus.
April 30, 2023
I’ve read Valdemar stories from the first, and enjoyed them all. This one had a satisfying finish, but the first 2/3 were unbearably slow. If I didn’t like Valdemar, I would have stopped reading. The descriptions went on and on and on. And on. The brides dress, the bridesmaids, the shoes, the sweet meats, the weather the this, the that. OMG. IN addition, it is read unbearably slowly. I increased the speed to 1.5x, and that helped. It did finish well, fortunately. Worth reading/listening but only if you like Valdemar
February 16, 2020
This book is worth reading for the wedding ceremony alone. It's such a lovely passage on love and commitment. The magical system is really well-crafted and interesting, and it doesn't have all the backtracking and awkwardness Lackey sometimes suffers from.
The audiobook is excruciatingly long even sped up, though. I honestly don't understand how it takes so long to get anywhere. I highly recommend getting this in print if you have the option.
The audiobook is excruciatingly long even sped up, though. I honestly don't understand how it takes so long to get anywhere. I highly recommend getting this in print if you have the option.
January 22, 2022
Darian Firkin and a group from k'vala vale have moved back to the barely set up k'valdemar vale near Elrrods Grove. But while they are getting it set up and meeting with all the people who live near there, a new group of barbarians are seen moving down from the north. Are they going to be invaded again or are they coming for a different reason.
Not as good as many of the Valdemar books are, but I'm hoping it will get better with book three.
Not as good as many of the Valdemar books are, but I'm hoping it will get better with book three.
January 3, 2018
In this book, Keisha and Darian each come of age and finds their places. I don't usually read coming-of-age YA type stories, but I find myself often making an exception if it's a Mercy Lackey book. The world building here is lush, almost too much so at times (hence the 4 stars rather than 5), the settings and peoples vivid and enchanting. New friends, new enemies, new magic.
December 7, 2022
Really enjoying the Owl Mage Triology, a good mix of adventure/action, interesting character development, fictional culture clash/interaction, and of course the owls and griffon. Some really fun characters, and I like how the author resolves conflict---wishing people could be as mature and grace-giving as in this novel.
June 30, 2017
New People
Out of the many clans one decided to leave ; and find help for the Ghost Cat Clan. Summer Sickness had them travel far from home to look for healer's. Saved the Leaders youngest child and became heroes.
Out of the many clans one decided to leave ; and find help for the Ghost Cat Clan. Summer Sickness had them travel far from home to look for healer's. Saved the Leaders youngest child and became heroes.
March 7, 2019
This book is great! I love getting to know Keisha's character and seeing Darian grow into his new role! While this book wasn't very action packed I still found that I greatly enjoyed the story arc. I'm excited to read the next one!
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