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Valdemar: Mage Wars #1
The Black Gryphon
It is an age when Valdemar is yet unfounded, its organization of Heralds yet unformed, and magic is still a wild and uncontrolled force. Skandranon Rashkae is perhaps the finest specimen of his race, with gleaming ebony feathers, majestic wingspan, keen magesight and sharp intelligence. Courageous, bold, and crafty, Skan is everything a gryphon should be. He is the fulfillment of everything that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he created these magical beings to be his champions, the defenders of his realm--a verdant plain long coveted by the evil mage Maar.
Now Maar is once again advancing on Urtho's Keep, this time with a huge force spearheaded by magical constructs of his own--cruel birds of prey ready to perform any evil their creator may demand of them. And when one of Urtho's Seers wakes from a horrifying vision in which she sees a devastating magical weapon being placed in the hands of Maar's common soldiers, Skandrannon is sent to spy across enemy lines, cloaked in the protective of Urtho's powerful Spell of Silence.
Now Maar is once again advancing on Urtho's Keep, this time with a huge force spearheaded by magical constructs of his own--cruel birds of prey ready to perform any evil their creator may demand of them. And when one of Urtho's Seers wakes from a horrifying vision in which she sees a devastating magical weapon being placed in the hands of Maar's common soldiers, Skandrannon is sent to spy across enemy lines, cloaked in the protective of Urtho's powerful Spell of Silence.
460 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
508 people are currently reading
6340 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,532 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 403 reviews
March 28, 2018
*** 4.25 ***
The Black Gryphon, first chronologically in The Valdemar series, turned out to be one very pleasant read. The Mage Wars Trilogy is the start of a sweeping through thousands of years series and I decided to follow the reading order recommended by the author. Fantasy Buddy Reads group started reading it this moth and I jumped right in.
"...“Inexperience can be overcome, ignorance can be enlightened, but prejudice will destroy you.”..."
The Black Gryphon covers the brewing war between two very powerful mages, Urtho and Maar. Urtho is a creator, described by all as a man with a good heart and only desirous of peace, but forced into the role of a War lord in order to protect his realm and the people and creatures inhabiting it. He is also the creator of enhanced animals and races of magical creatures, all with the purpose of championing the well being of all. The Gryphons are the greatest of them all. At least the very cocky black Gryphon Skandranon thinks so:) He is, in his own words, the strongest, the bravest, and the smartest, since he and his kind have been gifted with similar to human intelligence, fierce and independent in thought and action. Maar, the evil bastard, is also a very gifted mage, but has chosen to put arcane knowledge on the back burner in order to achieve worldly supremacy. He is not as inventive as Urtho, but in the moment the peaceful mage comes up with a tool or a creature to oppose Maar, he is able to copy and pervert those creations and re-purpose them to his own needs. Thus, he too has magical constructs derivative of the Gryphons, the Makaar, and the war in the skies are between those two powerful champions of opposite causes. Maar's only drive is Power over everything and he has already named himself an Emperor.
"...“You are human and mortal; we are the sum of our weak moments and our strong.”..."
The main human protagonist of this book is the very interesting combination of a healer/beautification specialist/personal therapist/empath/massage therapist/sometimes pleasure specialist and all together healer of all ills and pains of body and soul, the kestra'churn Amberdrake. He makes sure that the troops of Urtho are in top shape to fight for what they all feel is right and also happens to be the gryphon's Skandranon and the hertasi (a lizard-person creature) Gesten's best friend and their roommate. Their trio shares a beautiful and very enjoyable friendship, and I as a reader wished that we all could be as accepting and loving as those three. As the book progresses, we add the Gryfalcon Zaneel, a very abused and shunned Gryphon based on a Falcon species, and the human trond'irn (a caregiver to the Gryphons) Winterhart, who each become very dear to our guys. However, my favorite of all, after Gesten, is the misborn child-like Gryfalcon Kechara, who made me both sad and happy every time she was on page.
"...““Why would you want to make them happy?” Amberdrake turned back to his little friend, and sat with a sad smile on his face. “Because they are bitter, unhappy people, and very little else makes them happy. They say what they do out of envy, for any number of reasons. It may be because I lead a more luxurious life than they, or at least they believe I do. It may be because there are many people who do call me friend, and those are all folk of great personal worth; a few of them are people that occupy high position and deservedly so. Perhaps it is because they cannot do what I can, and for some reason, this galls them. But they have so little else that gives them pleasure, I see no reason to deprive them of the few drops of enjoyment they can extract from heaping scorn and derision on me.””..."
The story goes slowly, because it is mostly character driven, but despite that is is a very fast and enjoyable read. There is a gentleness to it that seems a bit much and unrealistic, but it also adds some very tender note to the whole composition, which makes you yearn for harmony and acceptance. This is mostly led by the very deliberate and thoughtful approach to accepting people as they are and trying to help them be the best they can be channeled by Amberdrake. His willingness to be the best he can be is contagious and soothing not only to his clients and friends, but us as readers as well. The predominant thematics of the story are learning who you are and who those around you are or want to be, and how can that help us all achieve some amity. Living up to our potential and overcoming the psychological blocks we learn to live with through our personality development. Only secondary comes the battles and the magic.
"...“There are no excuses,” he said at last. “But there are reasons. Reasons why we are what we are. Reasons why we do not have to stay that way.”..."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series:) I think I can easily recommend it to all readers of all ages and persuasions:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
The Black Gryphon, first chronologically in The Valdemar series, turned out to be one very pleasant read. The Mage Wars Trilogy is the start of a sweeping through thousands of years series and I decided to follow the reading order recommended by the author. Fantasy Buddy Reads group started reading it this moth and I jumped right in.
"...“Inexperience can be overcome, ignorance can be enlightened, but prejudice will destroy you.”..."
The Black Gryphon covers the brewing war between two very powerful mages, Urtho and Maar. Urtho is a creator, described by all as a man with a good heart and only desirous of peace, but forced into the role of a War lord in order to protect his realm and the people and creatures inhabiting it. He is also the creator of enhanced animals and races of magical creatures, all with the purpose of championing the well being of all. The Gryphons are the greatest of them all. At least the very cocky black Gryphon Skandranon thinks so:) He is, in his own words, the strongest, the bravest, and the smartest, since he and his kind have been gifted with similar to human intelligence, fierce and independent in thought and action. Maar, the evil bastard, is also a very gifted mage, but has chosen to put arcane knowledge on the back burner in order to achieve worldly supremacy. He is not as inventive as Urtho, but in the moment the peaceful mage comes up with a tool or a creature to oppose Maar, he is able to copy and pervert those creations and re-purpose them to his own needs. Thus, he too has magical constructs derivative of the Gryphons, the Makaar, and the war in the skies are between those two powerful champions of opposite causes. Maar's only drive is Power over everything and he has already named himself an Emperor.
"...“You are human and mortal; we are the sum of our weak moments and our strong.”..."
The main human protagonist of this book is the very interesting combination of a healer/beautification specialist/personal therapist/empath/massage therapist/sometimes pleasure specialist and all together healer of all ills and pains of body and soul, the kestra'churn Amberdrake. He makes sure that the troops of Urtho are in top shape to fight for what they all feel is right and also happens to be the gryphon's Skandranon and the hertasi (a lizard-person creature) Gesten's best friend and their roommate. Their trio shares a beautiful and very enjoyable friendship, and I as a reader wished that we all could be as accepting and loving as those three. As the book progresses, we add the Gryfalcon Zaneel, a very abused and shunned Gryphon based on a Falcon species, and the human trond'irn (a caregiver to the Gryphons) Winterhart, who each become very dear to our guys. However, my favorite of all, after Gesten, is the misborn child-like Gryfalcon Kechara, who made me both sad and happy every time she was on page.
"...““Why would you want to make them happy?” Amberdrake turned back to his little friend, and sat with a sad smile on his face. “Because they are bitter, unhappy people, and very little else makes them happy. They say what they do out of envy, for any number of reasons. It may be because I lead a more luxurious life than they, or at least they believe I do. It may be because there are many people who do call me friend, and those are all folk of great personal worth; a few of them are people that occupy high position and deservedly so. Perhaps it is because they cannot do what I can, and for some reason, this galls them. But they have so little else that gives them pleasure, I see no reason to deprive them of the few drops of enjoyment they can extract from heaping scorn and derision on me.””..."
The story goes slowly, because it is mostly character driven, but despite that is is a very fast and enjoyable read. There is a gentleness to it that seems a bit much and unrealistic, but it also adds some very tender note to the whole composition, which makes you yearn for harmony and acceptance. This is mostly led by the very deliberate and thoughtful approach to accepting people as they are and trying to help them be the best they can be channeled by Amberdrake. His willingness to be the best he can be is contagious and soothing not only to his clients and friends, but us as readers as well. The predominant thematics of the story are learning who you are and who those around you are or want to be, and how can that help us all achieve some amity. Living up to our potential and overcoming the psychological blocks we learn to live with through our personality development. Only secondary comes the battles and the magic.
"...“There are no excuses,” he said at last. “But there are reasons. Reasons why we are what we are. Reasons why we do not have to stay that way.”..."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series:) I think I can easily recommend it to all readers of all ages and persuasions:):):)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you Need in the pages of a Good Book!!!
August 20, 2024
4.5 stars
If you're looking for a light lovely read you should definitely consider this!
Why? Because of Skandranon Rashkae, the black gryphon, also known as simply Skan
who can fly into terrible rages, curse himself for being a 'stupid bird' or forget his tongue sticking out of the corner of his beak at the sight of a beautiful gryphon lady!
Because of Kestra'chern Amberdrake or simply Drake
who despite his well groomed appearance and jazzy clothing provides service as an 'experienced empath and healer' So don't you dare go thinking otherwise! :)
and because of Gesten, the hertasi
who will fix your appointments better than any other skilled secretary and will not hesitate to tell you that without a bath 'you look like a mop, and if he were a female he wouldn't have you either' .
And most of all because...
'no matter what tears were shed or what trials were faced, some things would stay the same. There would always be day and night, stars and sky, hope and rest. There would always be love, always compassion...'
and always a good book like this to put a smile on your face!
Happy reading! :D
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
If you're looking for a light lovely read you should definitely consider this!
Why? Because of Skandranon Rashkae, the black gryphon, also known as simply Skan
who can fly into terrible rages, curse himself for being a 'stupid bird' or forget his tongue sticking out of the corner of his beak at the sight of a beautiful gryphon lady!
Because of Kestra'chern Amberdrake or simply Drake
who despite his well groomed appearance and jazzy clothing provides service as an 'experienced empath and healer' So don't you dare go thinking otherwise! :)
and because of Gesten, the hertasi
who will fix your appointments better than any other skilled secretary and will not hesitate to tell you that without a bath 'you look like a mop, and if he were a female he wouldn't have you either' .
And most of all because...
'no matter what tears were shed or what trials were faced, some things would stay the same. There would always be day and night, stars and sky, hope and rest. There would always be love, always compassion...'
and always a good book like this to put a smile on your face!
Happy reading! :D
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
July 18, 2025
Jak fajnie było wrócić do tego świata po ponad 25 latach i odkryć "na nowo" ( zupełnie nic nie pamiętałam z książki poza imieniem głównego bohatera) historię wielkiej wojny między "dobrem z złem", między magiem Urtho oraz magiem Ma'arem. Jak dobrze było odkryć, że są tu inni bohaterowie poza Skandranonem wzbudzający sympatię, a poza prostą przygodą w czasie lektury możemy zadawać sobie pytania o naturę dobra i zła, kwestionować intencje i etykę postępowania pewnych postaci.
February 17, 2009
This was my first Mercedes Lackey book, all the way back in High School. I have read it soo many times since. I love the "civilian perspective" that this book gives to a war. So many fantasy books focus on the battles and "great deeds". You only see three battle scenes the whole book and one of them is more of an afterthought of a battle. The true focus is on the downtime in between the battles and how the fighters and their support go about their lives in spite of the war. I LOVE the characters as well, Amberdrake's insecurities... Skandranon's grandious front that hides his genuine feelings... Winterheart and Zhaneel and how they overcome their broken spirits. It is one of my absolute favorites. As an old friend, this is a book I love to revisit.
April 2, 2018
3.75 stars
This was my first book by Mercedes Lackey and, reading it now, it does feel a bit old school but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. It's not super complex - the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad - but it was a very pleasant, calming read.
This was my first book by Mercedes Lackey and, reading it now, it does feel a bit old school but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story. It's not super complex - the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad - but it was a very pleasant, calming read.
March 28, 2016
This is one of the first books I read in the Valdemar world, and it hooked me quite thoroughly. It is still my favorite of the ones I have read so far.
The characters are engaging, even when they are showing a little flatness. None of their developments are particularly unique - finding confidence, learning to ask for help, learning you can't always have any mate you want all spring immediately to mind. However, they are presented in a unique wrapping, and they are unoriginal because they are nearly-universal. The unique presentation makes it interesting, while the familiarity is comforting. A perfect mix, and very typical of Lackey's Valdemar books.
Lackey's habit of switching between characters' POVs is well done here, but it can be quite distracting if the reader is not used to it.
I never get tired of re-reading this book.
The characters are engaging, even when they are showing a little flatness. None of their developments are particularly unique - finding confidence, learning to ask for help, learning you can't always have any mate you want all spring immediately to mind. However, they are presented in a unique wrapping, and they are unoriginal because they are nearly-universal. The unique presentation makes it interesting, while the familiarity is comforting. A perfect mix, and very typical of Lackey's Valdemar books.
Lackey's habit of switching between characters' POVs is well done here, but it can be quite distracting if the reader is not used to it.
I never get tired of re-reading this book.
September 27, 2010
I love Lackey's Valdemar novels, and this is set in the same world a thousand years before that country's founding, in the midst of a cataclysmic war referred to more than once in that series.
One of Lackey's strengths is her world-building, and that's certainly on display here, with magical races like the gryphons developed in interesting ways, and I liked the title character, Skandranon. The novel kept my interest, was a fairly enjoyable read, and I did go on to read (and mostly enjoy) the next two books in this trilogy, which is why I felt it was fair to give it 3 stars.
It doesn't get more than that, because unlike other Lackey books in this world, I can't imagine I'd ever reread it; I don't think it's among Lackey's best, and I wouldn't ever choose these books as an introduction to the author. So if you love Lackey and her Valdemar books already, I think you'll like, even if not love this book; but if you're new to the author, try Arrows of the Queen or Magic's Pawn first.
One of Lackey's strengths is her world-building, and that's certainly on display here, with magical races like the gryphons developed in interesting ways, and I liked the title character, Skandranon. The novel kept my interest, was a fairly enjoyable read, and I did go on to read (and mostly enjoy) the next two books in this trilogy, which is why I felt it was fair to give it 3 stars.
It doesn't get more than that, because unlike other Lackey books in this world, I can't imagine I'd ever reread it; I don't think it's among Lackey's best, and I wouldn't ever choose these books as an introduction to the author. So if you love Lackey and her Valdemar books already, I think you'll like, even if not love this book; but if you're new to the author, try Arrows of the Queen or Magic's Pawn first.
March 6, 2011
I like it. But I always like Mercedes Lackey.
For the first half of the book I thought Skan and Amberdrake were gay interspecies lovers. Then I found out they were just really close, and interspecies lovers don't exist in Valdemar, duh! Well how was I supposed to know, Mercedes is always pushing some socially progressive sexual tolerance in her books, I thought maybe she was taking it to the next level... ;)
Love Zhaneel. And I want a kestra'chern massage. :P
For the first half of the book I thought Skan and Amberdrake were gay interspecies lovers. Then I found out they were just really close, and interspecies lovers don't exist in Valdemar, duh! Well how was I supposed to know, Mercedes is always pushing some socially progressive sexual tolerance in her books, I thought maybe she was taking it to the next level... ;)
Love Zhaneel. And I want a kestra'chern massage. :P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2017
Revisiting another of my favorite Mercedes Lackey books found me smiling in remembrance; I hadn't marked this as 'read' in my time on Goodreads, but the instant familiarity means it must have been one of the last books I read before I joined this site. I knew I had read it, but it was so familiar that it can't have been that long ago I read it.
Like with many of Lackey's books, the war is only secondary to the relationships of the characters. There is rich history here, and the stories all interconnect eventually. I love Amberdrake and Skandranon especially, because Skan is everything you could hope for from a Gryphon. He is proud, ruthless, vain and yet charming. He is more human than some human characters from other fantasy novels!
The Mage Wars set off a fraught era of Valdemar's history, in which many events are influenced. It is a great starting point for the series, or just a revisit on events. Always a fun read, five stars.
Like with many of Lackey's books, the war is only secondary to the relationships of the characters. There is rich history here, and the stories all interconnect eventually. I love Amberdrake and Skandranon especially, because Skan is everything you could hope for from a Gryphon. He is proud, ruthless, vain and yet charming. He is more human than some human characters from other fantasy novels!
The Mage Wars set off a fraught era of Valdemar's history, in which many events are influenced. It is a great starting point for the series, or just a revisit on events. Always a fun read, five stars.
August 12, 2016
I used to read a lot of Mercedes Lackey a long time ago, I guess in my early teens. I really loved her various Valdemar series. Recently, kind of because I don't read as much as I used to and am tired of books that just don't engage me, I was thinking maybe I should try falling back on some authors I used to like. Lackey was basically the one at the top of my list since I remembered her books as being so enjoyable.
I wouldn't say I liked The Black Gryphon as much as some of my other favorites by Lackey, in particular The Last Herald Mage trilogy, but yes--this book was definitely fun. It's hard to describe the plot of the book because most of the book is really about the interpersonal relationships between the several main characters. The overall setup is that there is a war between two powerful mages: Ma'ar, who has been steadily conquering country after country, and Urtho, who didn't want to get involved until Ma'ar conquered everyone else and brought war to his doorstep. This situation is the setting, with the real focus on the day-to-day lives of a small cast of protagonists. These characters form friendships, go on small adventures in the camp, and fall in love, etc. There are two romantic subplots, and Lackey is really good at making these subplots satisfying without letting them take over the story.
Lackey creates really rich and believable alternate worlds. Her writing is also very descriptive, so that you can imagine exactly what everything looks like. She knows a lot about birds, so she's able to write about the gryphons and other bird-species realistically (but not so much that it gets annoying). What always impresses me about her though is that the real focus of her books is always on her characters and the relationships they have--not just romantic ones, but also friendships, bonds between parents and children, teachers and students, etc. So her stories are very feel-good.
I guess the feel-goodness of her writing also maybe a weakness. I don't recommend these books for just anyone. I don't consider them "epic" fantasy novels like Tolkien or Martin or Jordan, even though they're all "fantasy." But they're enjoyable reads for anyone who likes a) fantasy and b) for a story to focus on its characters and relationships between them.
I wouldn't say I liked The Black Gryphon as much as some of my other favorites by Lackey, in particular The Last Herald Mage trilogy, but yes--this book was definitely fun. It's hard to describe the plot of the book because most of the book is really about the interpersonal relationships between the several main characters. The overall setup is that there is a war between two powerful mages: Ma'ar, who has been steadily conquering country after country, and Urtho, who didn't want to get involved until Ma'ar conquered everyone else and brought war to his doorstep. This situation is the setting, with the real focus on the day-to-day lives of a small cast of protagonists. These characters form friendships, go on small adventures in the camp, and fall in love, etc. There are two romantic subplots, and Lackey is really good at making these subplots satisfying without letting them take over the story.
Lackey creates really rich and believable alternate worlds. Her writing is also very descriptive, so that you can imagine exactly what everything looks like. She knows a lot about birds, so she's able to write about the gryphons and other bird-species realistically (but not so much that it gets annoying). What always impresses me about her though is that the real focus of her books is always on her characters and the relationships they have--not just romantic ones, but also friendships, bonds between parents and children, teachers and students, etc. So her stories are very feel-good.
I guess the feel-goodness of her writing also maybe a weakness. I don't recommend these books for just anyone. I don't consider them "epic" fantasy novels like Tolkien or Martin or Jordan, even though they're all "fantasy." But they're enjoyable reads for anyone who likes a) fantasy and b) for a story to focus on its characters and relationships between them.
April 12, 2010
First of the trilogy about the "pre-history" of Valdemar. This entails the story of the Mage wars and how the people were scattered in order to save them from the threat of Ma'ar and his evil hordes. The people are aided in their efforts by gryphons...flying carnivores that speak and think in human language. They are raptors but constructed on a larger scale by their beloved Founder Urtho. The Black Gryphon is the main character and the best friend of Amberdrake, a kind of professional counselor with the "gift" of empathy. Their troubles and triumphs flesh-out the plot by running from humor to terror. My favorite character though was little "Kechara" (meaning "beloved")...the mis-born gryphon of Urtho who has the mind of a child (in a small adult body) but a hidden mental power that is yet to be unleashed.
June 5, 2024
6 months trying to read this. Ain't gonna happen. Bummer, because I got the trilogy.
January 14, 2013
Mercedes Lackey has to be one of my favourite fantasy authors ever. Her talent for creating believable magical worlds and elegant, mystical creatures shines in this book. It's a gripping read from start to finish.
September 6, 2023
A comfy book that focuses mainly on self worth and interpersonal relationships in a war setting.
I was most pleased with Amberdrake. Not often do I come across a story focusing on someone who does sex work. The author took a lot of care in exploring his profession in a respectful manner. Winterheart I first was mostly imdifferent about, but she did grow on me throughout the story. The non-human characters were fun, especially by boy Skan!
I wish there was more focus on the 2 mage generals. Especially Ma'ar who was basically the standard evil villain.
Overall, it was a lovely start to the trilogy!
I was most pleased with Amberdrake. Not often do I come across a story focusing on someone who does sex work. The author took a lot of care in exploring his profession in a respectful manner. Winterheart I first was mostly imdifferent about, but she did grow on me throughout the story. The non-human characters were fun, especially by boy Skan!
I wish there was more focus on the 2 mage generals. Especially Ma'ar who was basically the standard evil villain.
Overall, it was a lovely start to the trilogy!
November 14, 2019
I've been craving a really immersive high fantasy series, but I'm not sure Valdemar will be the one.
This is the first book in the Mage Wars trilogy portion of Mercedes Lackey‘s longer Valdemar series. It is also the first Mercedes Lackey book that I've read. I started out hopeful and desperately wanted to love it, but the choppy narrative and inconsistent pacing were a massive struggle for me. I enjoyed the characters quite a bit: different creatures (including griffins!! or griffons or gryphons, whatever.) work alongside humans to fight a war between two very powerful mages. I'd say this story is more about the characters and their relationships than anything else. There are some actions scenes in here, particularly toward the end. But they were super boring. I didn‘t care about any of the action scenes at all.
I may read the next two books in this trilogy, or I may decide to go on to the next portion of the Valdemar series. (I'm reading in chronological order, fyi.) I don't know how I'll proceed yet, but what I DO know is that it will be a little while before I'm ready to jump into this world again. I'm hoping other books by this author flow a little better and are less clunky.
Audiobook Notes: I'm so glad that I borrowed this audiobook instead of buying it for myself. Not because of the narrator, but because I probably won't ever listen to it again. Gary Furlong narrates and does a fun job. He made listening to this book bearable. His accent is so wonderful and I love how he pronounces every complicated word and name (including the ones with apostrophes) perfectly, without missing a beat. If I go further with the Mage Wars trilogy, I'll listen again, but it will be with audiobook loans.
Title: The Black Grypon by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
Series: Valdemar: Mage Wars #1
Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 12 hours, 3 minutes, Unabridged
This is the first book in the Mage Wars trilogy portion of Mercedes Lackey‘s longer Valdemar series. It is also the first Mercedes Lackey book that I've read. I started out hopeful and desperately wanted to love it, but the choppy narrative and inconsistent pacing were a massive struggle for me. I enjoyed the characters quite a bit: different creatures (including griffins!! or griffons or gryphons, whatever.) work alongside humans to fight a war between two very powerful mages. I'd say this story is more about the characters and their relationships than anything else. There are some actions scenes in here, particularly toward the end. But they were super boring. I didn‘t care about any of the action scenes at all.
I may read the next two books in this trilogy, or I may decide to go on to the next portion of the Valdemar series. (I'm reading in chronological order, fyi.) I don't know how I'll proceed yet, but what I DO know is that it will be a little while before I'm ready to jump into this world again. I'm hoping other books by this author flow a little better and are less clunky.
Audiobook Notes: I'm so glad that I borrowed this audiobook instead of buying it for myself. Not because of the narrator, but because I probably won't ever listen to it again. Gary Furlong narrates and does a fun job. He made listening to this book bearable. His accent is so wonderful and I love how he pronounces every complicated word and name (including the ones with apostrophes) perfectly, without missing a beat. If I go further with the Mage Wars trilogy, I'll listen again, but it will be with audiobook loans.
Title: The Black Grypon by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
Series: Valdemar: Mage Wars #1
Narrated by: Gary Furlong
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 12 hours, 3 minutes, Unabridged
May 17, 2025
The Black Gryphon The entire Valdemar series is a favorite of mine and one that I have reread repeatedly over the years. The series unfolds in the form of trilogies, duologies, singles, etc., and this series, Mage Wars, is the start of it all.
The Black Gryphon takes place long before the Valdemar kingdom is founded, a time of magic and the fight for power. A war is brewing between two great mages, Urtho and Maar. Urtho wants nothing more than to protect his realm and the people in it. To that end, he has created a race of magical creatures to act as champions and protectors of the realm... the gryphons. Skandranon is the best of the best of these creatures... strong, brave, and of human intelligence, capable of independent thought. Maar, too, has created his own magical constructs, the makaar. These creatures, like gryphons, are supposed to be champions to the cause, but who answer only to Maar, whose quest is only for power.
Although Skan is at the center of the book, of equal immportance is Amberdrake. Drake is Skan's best friend, a human friend who is also a member of Urtho's troops, working among the troops as a kestra'churn. A kestra'churn is a combination of massage therapist, counselor, and social worker. Also important to the series is Zaneel, a new breed of gryfalcon, and Winterhart, a human trond'irn (a caregiver for the gryphons). Both of these ladies have issues of their own and their stories add so much to the story, not just for their own characters, but for development of Skan and Drake as well.
The characters are engaging, even if their arcs concern timeworm themes of gaining confidence, learning to let in others, etc. The dynamic between Skan and Drake is fantastic, despite the difference in species. They play off of one another and it makes for some unexpected humor. Gesten, a supporting character and a hertasi (a lizard-like, intelligent creature), is a bit on the sarcastic side, but his interplay with both Skan and Drake is great, often witty and sometimes just as the voice of reason. Zaneel is one of my favorites, her story alll about turning those things that you see as faults into strengths. Winterhart was not my favorite, despite her importance. She tended to let herself get wrapped up in bad situations without doing anything to stop them from drowning her. Because of that, she wound up taking it out on those around her. Her character probably changed the most throughout the story and, by the end, I sympathized with her. A standout favorite is Kechara, a misborn gryphon who is a supporting character, but adds warmth and sweetness to the story.
My Recommendation
If you enjoy high fantasy, then this is a fantastic series to read! The entire series was published out of order (in terms of the world's chronology), so I would suggest reading it in the order suggested on the author's website.
The Black Gryphon takes place long before the Valdemar kingdom is founded, a time of magic and the fight for power. A war is brewing between two great mages, Urtho and Maar. Urtho wants nothing more than to protect his realm and the people in it. To that end, he has created a race of magical creatures to act as champions and protectors of the realm... the gryphons. Skandranon is the best of the best of these creatures... strong, brave, and of human intelligence, capable of independent thought. Maar, too, has created his own magical constructs, the makaar. These creatures, like gryphons, are supposed to be champions to the cause, but who answer only to Maar, whose quest is only for power.
Although Skan is at the center of the book, of equal immportance is Amberdrake. Drake is Skan's best friend, a human friend who is also a member of Urtho's troops, working among the troops as a kestra'churn. A kestra'churn is a combination of massage therapist, counselor, and social worker. Also important to the series is Zaneel, a new breed of gryfalcon, and Winterhart, a human trond'irn (a caregiver for the gryphons). Both of these ladies have issues of their own and their stories add so much to the story, not just for their own characters, but for development of Skan and Drake as well.
The characters are engaging, even if their arcs concern timeworm themes of gaining confidence, learning to let in others, etc. The dynamic between Skan and Drake is fantastic, despite the difference in species. They play off of one another and it makes for some unexpected humor. Gesten, a supporting character and a hertasi (a lizard-like, intelligent creature), is a bit on the sarcastic side, but his interplay with both Skan and Drake is great, often witty and sometimes just as the voice of reason. Zaneel is one of my favorites, her story alll about turning those things that you see as faults into strengths. Winterhart was not my favorite, despite her importance. She tended to let herself get wrapped up in bad situations without doing anything to stop them from drowning her. Because of that, she wound up taking it out on those around her. Her character probably changed the most throughout the story and, by the end, I sympathized with her. A standout favorite is Kechara, a misborn gryphon who is a supporting character, but adds warmth and sweetness to the story.
My Recommendation
If you enjoy high fantasy, then this is a fantastic series to read! The entire series was published out of order (in terms of the world's chronology), so I would suggest reading it in the order suggested on the author's website.
March 3, 2015
A friend lent me the Mage Wars trilogy, which is a prequel trilogy in Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar world. I love Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series to bits, so I've been keen to read Valdemar books for a while. This friend is a massive Lackey fan, and offered to lend me the first Valdemar book, so of course I accepted!
The only snag is that The Black Gryphon is the internal chronology first Valdemar book, not the publication order first :/ I am usually super pedantic about reading series in publication order. I probably should have been more specific about that when talking to my friend. Oh well! I had it in my hands and this is what he gave me when I asked for the first book, so I started reading.
It took me a few chapters to get into it and get my head around the world. I don't know if that was actually because it's better to read it after having read the Valdemar books that were written earlier, or whether it was because I was a bit paranoid that there were references I was missing because I haven't read earlier books.
Once I got into the characters, however, I was totally captivated and stopped worrying about reading order. There were bits where I could tell were foreshadowing of things to come, but the book was just so lovely that I couldn't mind too much.
Like every other Mercedes Lackey book I've read, it's just plain fun to read!
I really like how, while the book is set during the height of the massive war, most of the main characters are support personnel rather than combatants - counselors/therapists and healers, mainly. Also, gryphons! All of the characters are just so nice (but also sufficiently complex) that you can't help loving them all.
I was reading it on the train home last night and I missed my station because I didn't look up until I finished the book. If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is.
After I read this trilogy I will definitely read the publication-order first book next, but I can live with having read this trilogy out of order.
The only snag is that The Black Gryphon is the internal chronology first Valdemar book, not the publication order first :/ I am usually super pedantic about reading series in publication order. I probably should have been more specific about that when talking to my friend. Oh well! I had it in my hands and this is what he gave me when I asked for the first book, so I started reading.
It took me a few chapters to get into it and get my head around the world. I don't know if that was actually because it's better to read it after having read the Valdemar books that were written earlier, or whether it was because I was a bit paranoid that there were references I was missing because I haven't read earlier books.
Once I got into the characters, however, I was totally captivated and stopped worrying about reading order. There were bits where I could tell were foreshadowing of things to come, but the book was just so lovely that I couldn't mind too much.
Like every other Mercedes Lackey book I've read, it's just plain fun to read!
I really like how, while the book is set during the height of the massive war, most of the main characters are support personnel rather than combatants - counselors/therapists and healers, mainly. Also, gryphons! All of the characters are just so nice (but also sufficiently complex) that you can't help loving them all.
I was reading it on the train home last night and I missed my station because I didn't look up until I finished the book. If that's not a good sign, I don't know what is.
After I read this trilogy I will definitely read the publication-order first book next, but I can live with having read this trilogy out of order.
November 16, 2011
The advantage to rereading the Valdemar books in internal chronological order is that I get my least favorite ones out of the way first. I do not like the Gryphon trilogy much at all - Larry Dixon's influence is far too noticeable, and while his illustrations are nice enough, the man can't write. The result is a really choppy book, with some good parts - I love the idea of a professional therapist/masseuse/high-class escort, because we all have needs, and they're very much intertwined, I think. And some bad parts - any of Skandranon's internal dialogue. Which there is a fair bit of, since he's the title character. Amberdrake, obviously written by Lackey, is much more bearable.
There's also the larger problem of turning stories that are set up as legends in previous books into actual novels. We know how the war ends, and so the main conflict has to be much smaller in scope. I'm just not that fascinated by a secondary character's bad romantic choices, and she turns from a villain into a hero far too quickly and easily. There's just not that much tension there. I am glad that Lackey has consistently declined to write about the founding of Valdemar for that reason - it leaves the aura of epic adventure around it, whereas introducing everyone's petty little spats just brings it all down.
There's also the larger problem of turning stories that are set up as legends in previous books into actual novels. We know how the war ends, and so the main conflict has to be much smaller in scope. I'm just not that fascinated by a secondary character's bad romantic choices, and she turns from a villain into a hero far too quickly and easily. There's just not that much tension there. I am glad that Lackey has consistently declined to write about the founding of Valdemar for that reason - it leaves the aura of epic adventure around it, whereas introducing everyone's petty little spats just brings it all down.
July 7, 2018
This is the novel that started me on my love affair with Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar series. I decided to re-read this after being able to meet the author and her husband Larry Dixon who did the art for the book. This trilogy in the series is a bit different than any other sequentially later books. This is really the only time gryphons are the focus of the series. Skandranon who is the main focus is a smartassed "bird" with a huge ego, and for me, it makes him funny instead of annoying, especially when he gets taken down a peg or two. This book is the first in the Mage Wars trilogy and gives you the background of why Valdemar functions the way it does in later books.
Re-read 2018
I still love Skandrannon, his attitude is very well written. I've been re-reading quite a few books in this series and decided to just re-read all of them. I believe there are 40 in it now, so I have quite a few to go.
Re-read 2018
I still love Skandrannon, his attitude is very well written. I've been re-reading quite a few books in this series and decided to just re-read all of them. I believe there are 40 in it now, so I have quite a few to go.
September 3, 2021
The very first in the Valdemar series as well as the first in the Mage Wars Trilogy revolving around Urtho's gryphons and how their world was changed. The focus is on Skandranon, a gryphon, and Amberdrake in a secondary role. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Valdemar books on my website.
My Take
Wow, there is a lot of action and it's full of characters! You can't help but like Skandranon. Yep, he's vain, he struts, he uses magic, and he learns that love is in the air, lol.
While Skandranon is the focus, it's Drake around whom the story is spun with clients coming from all over the camp, enabling Lackey/Dixon to introduce us to a variety of characters and their world, set the tone for the story, and prepare us for the state of this world to come.
The kestra'cherns are a kind of psychiatrist, medical doctor, and/or masseuse — sexual and physical — whose business is to provide pleasure and support, to determine what the patient needs at that point in time.
Amberdrake is warmth. He cares so much, and his character arc includes his angst over the wounds his clients suffer, as he wonders who helps the healer. His past is long and varied (and we learn a good bit of his back story through stories Drake shares), surviving school and passing through war, even as he learned so many skills.
Zhaneel is a sweetheart who had had a rough childhood with her issues following her into young adulthood. And she's still being treated badly. Her character arc is one of becoming confident in herself. She's also part of the romance side of The Black Gryphon, and it shows Skan in a more delicate light. Who'd'a thunk?
Meanwhile, Winterhart is a coldhearted woman with no empathy and a lousy bedside manner, doing the very least she can. The general in charge of Winterhart's wing, Shaiknam, is well described with his humancentric views and that he never completes a project. He believes he inherited his father's (a famous and the greatest, as well as Urtho's first general) acumen. Oy. One niggle is the relationship that develops between Winterhart and Drake. I wish Lackey/Dixon had done a better job of making it more believable . . . more build-up, more show.
Amberdrake makes several excellent points with a young Healer who is outraged over the transfer of one of his clients to Drake. Sounds like our own world where people make up their minds based on their prejudices.
Kaled'a'in Healers and Mages have been working with warhorses and bondbirds. Hmm, I'm wondering if the Companions come from those Kaled'a'in horses. And if the Kaled'a'in split to become the Shin’a’in and the Hawkbrothers.
While most of the perspectives we read are Skan's and Drake's, the story uses third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspective of other characters.
The most difficult part of The Black Gryphon are the proper nouns with their odd letter combinations and use of apostrophes. I do hate that part, as it slows me down (!), but I do understood how useful it is when worldbuilding.
A story that will frighten and uplift your heart with these supportive, caring characters.
The Story
The gryphons are a force to be reckoned with in battling the evil mage Ma'ar who seeks to conquer the world. In particular, it's the black gryphon, Skandranon Rashkae, who embodies the best of what Urtho intended to achieve and their best chance to discover what Ma'ar plans.
For even now Ma'ar is advancing on Urtho's Keep, seeking to take Urtho's creations.
The Characters
Skandranon "Skan" Rashkae is a vain, reckless, courageous gryphon and Master Mage. Drake is his Trondi'irn with Tamsin and Cinnabar his assigned Healers.
Aubri is another gryphon who has to share a tent with Skan; Jewel is the hertasi assigned to him.
Urtho is . . .
. . . The Mage of Silence, and an Adept who leads the good guys. He's also the creator of the gryphons. The hertasi who look after Urtho include Kelethen and Seri. His army of humans, hertasi, tervardi, and the gryphons are now quartered near Urtho's Keep after their garrison in Laisfaar at Stelvi Pass was overrun. Urtho's generals include the wounded Corani; the petty, stupid Shaiknam of the Sixth (Commander Garber, his second-in-command, is just like Shaiknam); Sulma Farle; Lord Cory; Micherone of the Laurys; and, Judeth of the Fifth. Commander Loren. Vel garth. Taran Shire is the trainer of the gryphons. Urtho's mercenaries include Pedron's Wolves.
Amberdrake "Drake", of the Kaled'a'in, is a respected kestra'chern with a too strong Gift of Empathy and one of Healing, allowing for the mental comfort of healing and distance from evil. Skan is his best friend. Gesten is his snarky companion hertasi. Amberdrake's Kaled'a'in family lived as agents for their clan in Therium, a city in Tantara and included his parents, Firemare, Starsinger, Zephyr, Uncle Silverhorn, Stargem, Windsteed, Brightbird, and more.
Other kestra'cherns include Riannon SilKedre, Losita, Lily, Jaseen, Protea, Loren, Renton, Rilei, and Marlina.
Other gryphons include Lyosha of the Second Wing West and Kechara, a misborn similar to Zhaneel, with a very strong Gift.
I think Dierne and Lysle are more hertasi along with Poidon who had shown Amberdrake a dance move.
The Healers
Healer Tamsin and his lover/co-worker, Lady Cinnabar (one of Urtho's trusted advisors and a relative), are a lifebonded pair. Calla and Rio are some of Lady Cinnabar's hertasi. Artis Cam lodon is the chief Healer. M'laud is a Senior Healer. Healers Lanz and Karly have an intriguing small part to play.
The Mage-Corps
Journeyman Vikteren is friendly with Drake. Snowstar is a Kaled'a'in Adept who reports directly to Urtho.
Kelreesha Trondaar's Sixth Wing East includes . . .
. . . Scout Zhaneel, a shy young gryphon is different from the others and suffers accordingly. The proud Winterhart is a Trondi'irn , assigned to oversee the gryphons assigned to her wing, which include Zhaneel and Feliss; she's also a Healer. She's involved with the self-centered Conn Levas, a mercenary mage. Ividian is/had been one of Sixth Wing's mages.
The Haighlei Emperors are . . .
. . . known as the Black Kings, of a land in the farthest south.
Kiyamvir Ma'ar is . . .
. . . , the Mage of Black Fire, an Adept, who leads the bad guys. He had been Prime Minister to the King of Predain. He created the makaar, a rip-off of Urtho's gryphons. Kili is the makaar leader. Polden is one of his generals.
The Kaled'a'in are nomads from the land of Ka'venusho. The k'Leshya Clan, a.k.a. the Spirit Clan, of the Kaled'a'in took in Amberdrake. The wise Lionwind is their Clan Chief. I think perchi are prostitutes. Green-bands are rough field-Healers. The country of Predain was near Tantara and had the College of Chirurgeons who believe in modern medicine. Silver Veil is a kestra'chern who took the young Amberdrake in and taught him her skills. Lorshallen was another kestra'chern who taught Drake the Gifts of Healing and Empathy. A dyrstaf is an insidious fear-spell. Miranda thorns are an irreversible poison.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a deep sky blue background behind a range of brown peaked mountains. Nestled in a bowl amongst the mountains is a fanciful and colorful city of pastel domes and minarets. The black gryphon is in the forefront with his purplish rough-feathered neck, scaly-looking wings with feathers at bottom and curled around Skan's body, tasseled tail sweeping to the left, his fore-claws holding a blue marble?, and around his neck a golden necklace of pendent pearls. Behind Skan and before the mountains is a misty white of overlapping rings. The authors' names at the top are in white. Immediately below it is the title set in an arc surrounding Skan in a deep navy with a lilac shadow. The series info is below Skan's tail plume.
The title is all about Skandranon, The Black Gryphon.
My Take
Wow, there is a lot of action and it's full of characters! You can't help but like Skandranon. Yep, he's vain, he struts, he uses magic, and he learns that love is in the air, lol.
While Skandranon is the focus, it's Drake around whom the story is spun with clients coming from all over the camp, enabling Lackey/Dixon to introduce us to a variety of characters and their world, set the tone for the story, and prepare us for the state of this world to come.
The kestra'cherns are a kind of psychiatrist, medical doctor, and/or masseuse — sexual and physical — whose business is to provide pleasure and support, to determine what the patient needs at that point in time.
Amberdrake is warmth. He cares so much, and his character arc includes his angst over the wounds his clients suffer, as he wonders who helps the healer. His past is long and varied (and we learn a good bit of his back story through stories Drake shares), surviving school and passing through war, even as he learned so many skills.
Amberdrake makes a good point about poisonous people who spread evil gossip: " . . . they are bitter, unhappy people, and very little else makes them happy. They say what they do out of envy, for any number of reasons. . . . They have so little else that gives them pleasure."Those aligned with Urtho fight with passion, some with the need for vengeance. Some for money.
Zhaneel is a sweetheart who had had a rough childhood with her issues following her into young adulthood. And she's still being treated badly. Her character arc is one of becoming confident in herself. She's also part of the romance side of The Black Gryphon, and it shows Skan in a more delicate light. Who'd'a thunk?
Meanwhile, Winterhart is a coldhearted woman with no empathy and a lousy bedside manner, doing the very least she can. The general in charge of Winterhart's wing, Shaiknam, is well described with his humancentric views and that he never completes a project. He believes he inherited his father's (a famous and the greatest, as well as Urtho's first general) acumen. Oy. One niggle is the relationship that develops between Winterhart and Drake. I wish Lackey/Dixon had done a better job of making it more believable . . . more build-up, more show.
Amberdrake makes several excellent points with a young Healer who is outraged over the transfer of one of his clients to Drake. Sounds like our own world where people make up their minds based on their prejudices.
Kaled'a'in Healers and Mages have been working with warhorses and bondbirds. Hmm, I'm wondering if the Companions come from those Kaled'a'in horses. And if the Kaled'a'in split to become the Shin’a’in and the Hawkbrothers.
While most of the perspectives we read are Skan's and Drake's, the story uses third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspective of other characters.
The most difficult part of The Black Gryphon are the proper nouns with their odd letter combinations and use of apostrophes. I do hate that part, as it slows me down (!), but I do understood how useful it is when worldbuilding.
A story that will frighten and uplift your heart with these supportive, caring characters.
The Story
The gryphons are a force to be reckoned with in battling the evil mage Ma'ar who seeks to conquer the world. In particular, it's the black gryphon, Skandranon Rashkae, who embodies the best of what Urtho intended to achieve and their best chance to discover what Ma'ar plans.
For even now Ma'ar is advancing on Urtho's Keep, seeking to take Urtho's creations.
The Characters
Skandranon "Skan" Rashkae is a vain, reckless, courageous gryphon and Master Mage. Drake is his Trondi'irn with Tamsin and Cinnabar his assigned Healers.
Aubri is another gryphon who has to share a tent with Skan; Jewel is the hertasi assigned to him.
Urtho is . . .
. . . The Mage of Silence, and an Adept who leads the good guys. He's also the creator of the gryphons. The hertasi who look after Urtho include Kelethen and Seri. His army of humans, hertasi, tervardi, and the gryphons are now quartered near Urtho's Keep after their garrison in Laisfaar at Stelvi Pass was overrun. Urtho's generals include the wounded Corani; the petty, stupid Shaiknam of the Sixth (Commander Garber, his second-in-command, is just like Shaiknam); Sulma Farle; Lord Cory; Micherone of the Laurys; and, Judeth of the Fifth. Commander Loren. Vel garth. Taran Shire is the trainer of the gryphons. Urtho's mercenaries include Pedron's Wolves.
Amberdrake "Drake", of the Kaled'a'in, is a respected kestra'chern with a too strong Gift of Empathy and one of Healing, allowing for the mental comfort of healing and distance from evil. Skan is his best friend. Gesten is his snarky companion hertasi. Amberdrake's Kaled'a'in family lived as agents for their clan in Therium, a city in Tantara and included his parents, Firemare, Starsinger, Zephyr, Uncle Silverhorn, Stargem, Windsteed, Brightbird, and more.
Other kestra'cherns include Riannon SilKedre, Losita, Lily, Jaseen, Protea, Loren, Renton, Rilei, and Marlina.
Other gryphons include Lyosha of the Second Wing West and Kechara, a misborn similar to Zhaneel, with a very strong Gift.
I think Dierne and Lysle are more hertasi along with Poidon who had shown Amberdrake a dance move.
The Healers
Healer Tamsin and his lover/co-worker, Lady Cinnabar (one of Urtho's trusted advisors and a relative), are a lifebonded pair. Calla and Rio are some of Lady Cinnabar's hertasi. Artis Cam lodon is the chief Healer. M'laud is a Senior Healer. Healers Lanz and Karly have an intriguing small part to play.
The Mage-Corps
Journeyman Vikteren is friendly with Drake. Snowstar is a Kaled'a'in Adept who reports directly to Urtho.
Kelreesha Trondaar's Sixth Wing East includes . . .
. . . Scout Zhaneel, a shy young gryphon is different from the others and suffers accordingly. The proud Winterhart is a Trondi'irn , assigned to oversee the gryphons assigned to her wing, which include Zhaneel and Feliss; she's also a Healer. She's involved with the self-centered Conn Levas, a mercenary mage. Ividian is/had been one of Sixth Wing's mages.
The Haighlei Emperors are . . .
. . . known as the Black Kings, of a land in the farthest south.
Kiyamvir Ma'ar is . . .
. . . , the Mage of Black Fire, an Adept, who leads the bad guys. He had been Prime Minister to the King of Predain. He created the makaar, a rip-off of Urtho's gryphons. Kili is the makaar leader. Polden is one of his generals.
The Kaled'a'in are nomads from the land of Ka'venusho. The k'Leshya Clan, a.k.a. the Spirit Clan, of the Kaled'a'in took in Amberdrake. The wise Lionwind is their Clan Chief. I think perchi are prostitutes. Green-bands are rough field-Healers. The country of Predain was near Tantara and had the College of Chirurgeons who believe in modern medicine. Silver Veil is a kestra'chern who took the young Amberdrake in and taught him her skills. Lorshallen was another kestra'chern who taught Drake the Gifts of Healing and Empathy. A dyrstaf is an insidious fear-spell. Miranda thorns are an irreversible poison.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a deep sky blue background behind a range of brown peaked mountains. Nestled in a bowl amongst the mountains is a fanciful and colorful city of pastel domes and minarets. The black gryphon is in the forefront with his purplish rough-feathered neck, scaly-looking wings with feathers at bottom and curled around Skan's body, tasseled tail sweeping to the left, his fore-claws holding a blue marble?, and around his neck a golden necklace of pendent pearls. Behind Skan and before the mountains is a misty white of overlapping rings. The authors' names at the top are in white. Immediately below it is the title set in an arc surrounding Skan in a deep navy with a lilac shadow. The series info is below Skan's tail plume.
The title is all about Skandranon, The Black Gryphon.
January 11, 2021
This takes place during the war between Urtho and Ma'ar, which began for reasons I can't recall (because Ma'ar wants world domination?). Most of the book is focused on life in one of Urtho's army's camps, far enough away from the fighting that no one there is in immediate danger but filled with humans and nonhumans healing from injuries and dealing with PTSD.
Urtho used his magic to create gryphons to help him in the war, and Skandranon (Skan), the "Black Gryphon," is one of the best of them. His closest friend is a human named Amberdrake, a kestra'chern (an empath/healer who uses a combination of methods to heal others emotionally and physically). The book follows their life and the development of their relationships in the camp, as Urtho attempts to figure out how to turn the tide of the war against Ma'ar.
This was my first time listening to this in audio form, although I had previously read the book quite a few times - it was the first Valdemar book I'd ever read, back when I was a teen obsessed with gryphons, and it became one of my comfort reads, although it's probably been at least 10 years since I last read it.
I was interested to see how well this would hold up after all this time, but I don't know that audio was the best way to do that. Gary Furlong pronounced most of the names and fantasy words differently than I'd imagined they would sound, and his narration gave the slower parts of the book more weight and made them more noticeable than they might have been if I had been rereading my old print copy. It wasn't bad (except for maybe the gryphon hisses - Furlong tried, but those weren't designed for audiobook narration), but it was definitely different.
I remembered most of the characters and their relationships, as well as most of their backstories (Amberdrake was the one character whose backstory I completely forgot). What I did not remember was how little on-page action there was. This was technically a war story, but it was so focused on characters' thoughts and emotional turmoil that it was easy to forget that there was fighting going on elsewhere. For example, Amberdrake tried his best to be everyone's rock while in reality he was one bad piece of news away from completely falling apart, and Winterhart seemed heartless and brittle but was eventually revealed to be a mass of guilt and anxiety.
Lackey spent a lot of time on character relationships: Amberdrake's friendship with Skan (which had some issues because Skan is not the sort to sit down and talk about feelings), Amberdrake helping Zhaneel to increase her self-confidence, and the budding romances between Amberdrake and Winterhart as well as Skan and Zhaneel. It was all blended with information about the war - for example, in an effort to increase her confidence and catch Skan's eye, Zhaneel created and worked out on obstacle courses that led to her being given an important role in one of the battles. Still, there were times I found myself thinking that the story was extremely slow, and I wonder how much of that was this reread (enough time for me to not be so affected by nostalgia?) and how much was due to the audio format making the pacing more obvious.
During this reread, I found myself viewing Urtho's army from more of an organizational leadership perspective. I imagine Urtho had a limited number of people he could promote or demote without risking further problems among his ranks, but there were at least a couple characters who were perfect examples of why it's dangerous to just shuffle toxic employees around. It was frustrating to watch.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing Amberdrake, Skan, and Zhaneel again, but this didn't work as well for me as I remembered. At some point I'll have to reread my paper copy to see if that makes a difference, and then continue on from there to The White Gryphon and The Silver Gryphon, which I don't think I've ever reread.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Urtho used his magic to create gryphons to help him in the war, and Skandranon (Skan), the "Black Gryphon," is one of the best of them. His closest friend is a human named Amberdrake, a kestra'chern (an empath/healer who uses a combination of methods to heal others emotionally and physically). The book follows their life and the development of their relationships in the camp, as Urtho attempts to figure out how to turn the tide of the war against Ma'ar.
This was my first time listening to this in audio form, although I had previously read the book quite a few times - it was the first Valdemar book I'd ever read, back when I was a teen obsessed with gryphons, and it became one of my comfort reads, although it's probably been at least 10 years since I last read it.
I was interested to see how well this would hold up after all this time, but I don't know that audio was the best way to do that. Gary Furlong pronounced most of the names and fantasy words differently than I'd imagined they would sound, and his narration gave the slower parts of the book more weight and made them more noticeable than they might have been if I had been rereading my old print copy. It wasn't bad (except for maybe the gryphon hisses - Furlong tried, but those weren't designed for audiobook narration), but it was definitely different.
I remembered most of the characters and their relationships, as well as most of their backstories (Amberdrake was the one character whose backstory I completely forgot). What I did not remember was how little on-page action there was. This was technically a war story, but it was so focused on characters' thoughts and emotional turmoil that it was easy to forget that there was fighting going on elsewhere. For example, Amberdrake tried his best to be everyone's rock while in reality he was one bad piece of news away from completely falling apart, and Winterhart seemed heartless and brittle but was eventually revealed to be a mass of guilt and anxiety.
Lackey spent a lot of time on character relationships: Amberdrake's friendship with Skan (which had some issues because Skan is not the sort to sit down and talk about feelings), Amberdrake helping Zhaneel to increase her self-confidence, and the budding romances between Amberdrake and Winterhart as well as Skan and Zhaneel. It was all blended with information about the war - for example, in an effort to increase her confidence and catch Skan's eye, Zhaneel created and worked out on obstacle courses that led to her being given an important role in one of the battles. Still, there were times I found myself thinking that the story was extremely slow, and I wonder how much of that was this reread (enough time for me to not be so affected by nostalgia?) and how much was due to the audio format making the pacing more obvious.
During this reread, I found myself viewing Urtho's army from more of an organizational leadership perspective. I imagine Urtho had a limited number of people he could promote or demote without risking further problems among his ranks, but there were at least a couple characters who were perfect examples of why it's dangerous to just shuffle toxic employees around. It was frustrating to watch.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing Amberdrake, Skan, and Zhaneel again, but this didn't work as well for me as I remembered. At some point I'll have to reread my paper copy to see if that makes a difference, and then continue on from there to The White Gryphon and The Silver Gryphon, which I don't think I've ever reread.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 20, 2019
I love this story so much! It really throws you into the thick of things immediately and has you falling in love with the characters very quickly. Skandranon and Amberdrake are such fascinating, individual characters. I love how individual Skandranon is, he's this snarky arrogant gryphon and yet you adore his personality so much. Amberdrake has such a caring soul and so much pain in his past. Yet he strives everyday to use that pain to understand and help others. I enjoy the idea of his profession, part psychologist, part health care, part lover, so much to help the whole of the human.
The Mage Wars here epically change the landscape of the world into the future. Ma'ar is the epitome of evil and Urtho the truly caring loving grandfather who stands up for all. He's not a warrior, he's a protector forced into war to save those he cares about. The ending of this book is so devastating, yet you know there's hope because of how things went. Love this world and these stories so much.
The Mage Wars here epically change the landscape of the world into the future. Ma'ar is the epitome of evil and Urtho the truly caring loving grandfather who stands up for all. He's not a warrior, he's a protector forced into war to save those he cares about. The ending of this book is so devastating, yet you know there's hope because of how things went. Love this world and these stories so much.
June 7, 2021
I didn't think this book was as good as some of Lackey's other books. It took a while to get into the story and figure out what's what. But, it had some good characters who had interesting story arcs. I thought it could have done with a few more battle scenes, and I would have liked more info on Mar's background.
September 5, 2023
Three facets to this book:
The characters and relationships were simple, but I loved the coziness of it as I've come to expect from the authors
The magic is little-explored but what we saw was interesting, it felt new, exciting and unique
The war and strategy stuff was not good, it's all tell don't show, and even then it's bad, and it felt like the protags are usually put into a bad place by force.
All in all, excited to get into this 40+ book epic, solid first book.
The characters and relationships were simple, but I loved the coziness of it as I've come to expect from the authors
The magic is little-explored but what we saw was interesting, it felt new, exciting and unique
The war and strategy stuff was not good, it's all tell don't show, and even then it's bad, and it felt like the protags are usually put into a bad place by force.
All in all, excited to get into this 40+ book epic, solid first book.
August 14, 2021
3 stars, lots of potential but I was a bit underwhelmed
I'm definitely in the minority on this one. People seem to really love Black Gryphon and I can see why. The highs in this book are very high with touching moments that explore trauma and bonding, parental relationships, dealing with suicidal depression and not belonging. It's an admirable book that touches on numerous important subjects in thoughtful and considerate ways. But I couldn't get into it like I was hoping I would. Part of the issue is that this book just has really bad tonal whiplash. It starts with war atrocities and mutilation and a suicide mission to mercy kill a fellow gryphon before she can be tortured to death. That's all very bleak and alarming but it's a misdirect because much of the book has little to do with the war and the book quickly pivots after that opening to relationship drama. I've got nothing against the relationship drama in the Valdemar books, I often enjoy those elements a lot, but here it was just really jarring to go from such a starkly brutal opening chapter or two to the usual slightly juvenile love drama. Usually Valdemar books happen the other way around where the characters start off childish and then get into harrowing ordeals so this reversal where the awful stuff comes first and then the childish romantic issues come next just felt like an unsuccessful attempt to play around with the formula. It's still worth reading and judging from the other reviews the book works well for most people but I'm definitely more mixed on it.
I'm definitely in the minority on this one. People seem to really love Black Gryphon and I can see why. The highs in this book are very high with touching moments that explore trauma and bonding, parental relationships, dealing with suicidal depression and not belonging. It's an admirable book that touches on numerous important subjects in thoughtful and considerate ways. But I couldn't get into it like I was hoping I would. Part of the issue is that this book just has really bad tonal whiplash. It starts with war atrocities and mutilation and a suicide mission to mercy kill a fellow gryphon before she can be tortured to death. That's all very bleak and alarming but it's a misdirect because much of the book has little to do with the war and the book quickly pivots after that opening to relationship drama. I've got nothing against the relationship drama in the Valdemar books, I often enjoy those elements a lot, but here it was just really jarring to go from such a starkly brutal opening chapter or two to the usual slightly juvenile love drama. Usually Valdemar books happen the other way around where the characters start off childish and then get into harrowing ordeals so this reversal where the awful stuff comes first and then the childish romantic issues come next just felt like an unsuccessful attempt to play around with the formula. It's still worth reading and judging from the other reviews the book works well for most people but I'm definitely more mixed on it.
June 26, 2017
I read this book several years before I became involved with Goodreads, and I'm just now feeling moved to write a review because I saw it listed as one of the "Best 'Strong Female' Fantasy Novels." I'll get the bad news out of the way first: it really isn't, at least to me. I never could manage to warm up to the bigoted shrew Winterhart; even after her supposed reformation, I still found her one of the least engaging of all Lackey's female leads. One female character did capture my heart and wouldn't let go, the "gryfalcon" Zhaneel, who turns disadvantage into strength in a very awesome way and wins the respect of nearly every other character. She's one of the main reasons the book has stuck with me. If she were the female lead, and if she were a little bit more significant at the climax, this book would absolutely qualify for the list. But her part, while important, isn't quite big enough, as evidenced by the fact that the majority of the reviews for this book don't even mention her name.
The book is really a bromance, between the human Amberdrake and the gryphon Skandranon. Amberdrake is okay, but Skandranon steals the book with his badassery and his wisecracking charisma and his way of being completely relate-able even though he is distinctly (and appealingly) not human. When he's in the room, he is what you look at. If you're looking for a reason to pick up the book, he's it.
The book is really a bromance, between the human Amberdrake and the gryphon Skandranon. Amberdrake is okay, but Skandranon steals the book with his badassery and his wisecracking charisma and his way of being completely relate-able even though he is distinctly (and appealingly) not human. When he's in the room, he is what you look at. If you're looking for a reason to pick up the book, he's it.
February 2, 2015
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Skan is a powerful gryphon, a creation of the mage Urtho. Fearless and brave, little does he know he's going to fall for a cull gryphon. With the help of his friend Amberdrake, they will have to overcome the final treachery.
There's so many tiny storylines in this novel that you hardly get a sense of the overall war. However, it's clear that there is a war going on, and that most of this would not have happened if not for the selfish ways of Ma'ar.
In some ways, this novel sets up the Winds trilogy with Elspeth. Ma'ar also appears in those novels, and the reason why is shown at the very end of this novel. I still don't understand exactly why he hates gryphons, but he does with a passion.
I'm happy that Amberdrake is able to find someone to keep him company, even though it's not what you would expect! There's no real antagonistic figure except Conn, and you don't know how important he is going to be until the end.
Normally changing perspectives would drive me nuts. Here though they serve well, because I'd get bored of Skan's hissing speech and Amberdrake's superior attitude pretty quickly.
I didn't get a sense of terrain. This novel was about the people and animals. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm pointing it out nonetheless.
Skan is a powerful gryphon, a creation of the mage Urtho. Fearless and brave, little does he know he's going to fall for a cull gryphon. With the help of his friend Amberdrake, they will have to overcome the final treachery.
There's so many tiny storylines in this novel that you hardly get a sense of the overall war. However, it's clear that there is a war going on, and that most of this would not have happened if not for the selfish ways of Ma'ar.
In some ways, this novel sets up the Winds trilogy with Elspeth. Ma'ar also appears in those novels, and the reason why is shown at the very end of this novel. I still don't understand exactly why he hates gryphons, but he does with a passion.
I'm happy that Amberdrake is able to find someone to keep him company, even though it's not what you would expect! There's no real antagonistic figure except Conn, and you don't know how important he is going to be until the end.
Normally changing perspectives would drive me nuts. Here though they serve well, because I'd get bored of Skan's hissing speech and Amberdrake's superior attitude pretty quickly.
I didn't get a sense of terrain. This novel was about the people and animals. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm pointing it out nonetheless.
July 25, 2011
This is a truly brilliant example of a full-blown three-dimensional nonhuman character. Skandranan is proud, vain, reckless, loyal, fierce and completely loveable. He's a gryphon, the ultimate predator who always manages to come back from one-way missions. He's one the front lines of a magic war the good guys are losing. So Skandranan goes on one last heroic mission - that will either save everyone or destroy everything.
I love Mercedes Lackey, and this book is the pinnacle as to why. Her characters have such LIFE - they're not perfect, they have flaws, but you always cheer for them because they never stop trying and they never give up. There's enough magic and action for the biggest die-hard fantasy fan but it's the characters that bring me back again and again!
I love Mercedes Lackey, and this book is the pinnacle as to why. Her characters have such LIFE - they're not perfect, they have flaws, but you always cheer for them because they never stop trying and they never give up. There's enough magic and action for the biggest die-hard fantasy fan but it's the characters that bring me back again and again!
February 29, 2024
Rather disappointing read. The quality of the prose is just weak, DND like. Everything is tell, not show. In the middle she touched upon subjects that were interesting, especially the reasoning behind the secret of gryphon breeding, but all was ruined with bad writing and minimizing. The end (rather, the full last quarter) was just terrible, rushed and made zero sense (say, the suicide of the main evil, wtf). And this is even a book written in her prime, so this is not about lack of experience. Overall it feels a bit like fanfic on her own world (which is very ironic since she started as fanfic writer but forbade fanfic on her works). Ugh.
April 11, 2009
Having reread this series this week, I found that this first book, is actually the most powerful of this so called "trilogy" - which really is a loose collection of connected stories. It is a good perspective, historically speaking, of Urtho and the Mage Wars of Valdemar. Ma'ar is not nearly as interesting as you would hope, however, in comparison to his other iterations. However, it was a great book, with a lot of strength in its story, and is highly recommended for Valdemar fans. The second and third are much weaker stories, for those who move forward with it.
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