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Obsidian Mountain #1-3
The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy: The Outstretched Shadow, To Light a Candle, and When Darkness Falls
The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy consists of the VOYA Best Science Fiction and Fantasy novel, The Outstretched Shadow, the USA Today bestseller To Light a Candle, and The New York Times bestseller, When Darkness Falls; three entertaining adventure fantasies featuring elves, dragons, humans, and a very opinionated unicorn.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
- GenresFantasy
2536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2014
62 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
440 books9,597 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 2, 2021
Overall great
This is a classic high fantasy with all the elements, bells and whistles you could crave in the genre. Far from a fast read, it bogs down on places, but with over 2000 pages offered up in this trilogy - that is to be expected. Overall, it is a solid story with a predictable end, but is the one you want by the time you get there.
This is a classic high fantasy with all the elements, bells and whistles you could crave in the genre. Far from a fast read, it bogs down on places, but with over 2000 pages offered up in this trilogy - that is to be expected. Overall, it is a solid story with a predictable end, but is the one you want by the time you get there.
July 23, 2014
This is the perfect summer reading. The bad guys are unarguably evil, the good guys experience personal growth, the setting is rich with detail and back-story, there are elves, and the whole thing wraps up in a singularly satisfying conclusion. I don't know if it would be as much fun to read a second time, but it was a blast the first time through!
June 11, 2020
Been a long time since I have enjoyed a series as much as this one. The world building was well done and I felt an affinity for the main characters especially Kellen and Idalia — Favorite quotes. Enter and be welcome. What a wonderful way to welcome people into your home. Also — Wisdom is not summoned, only discovered. Just delightful.
June 30, 2020
An all-time favorite
The Obsidian Trilogy has been my favorite for many years and I go back to it every so often when I'm in need of visiting my friends within its pages.
The Obsidian Trilogy has been my favorite for many years and I go back to it every so often when I'm in need of visiting my friends within its pages.
May 6, 2023
This was an amazing book series that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a book to take you on an adventure. The author does an amazing job with character development in this series. She does an amazing job with descriptive words making it easy to feel like you are living in the story. This is highly recommended to any person, teenage and above, who is looking for a good story.
September 12, 2019
While this series was quite predictable and at times it felt like they had about 3 unique story ideas and everything was stretched to fit these. I enjoyed it, it was a real page turner and it has piqued my interest in fantasy again.
May 10, 2025
I loved the battles and the details of how a 17-year-old boy ended up being the general of a battle for the land he had been born in, but dwelling in the gore and violence from the POV of the Endarkened was a bit much for me.
May 22, 2018
I am a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey. This isn't one of the Valdemar books but I liked it anyway. What's not to like? Unicorns and dragons and magic.
November 18, 2018
One of the slowest first book I've read by it ends with such a cliffhanger...
The second and third are incredible
The second and third are incredible
July 30, 2019
A thrilling read, with many moments of mystery, plenty of witty characters, beautiful friendship, and fantastical creatures.
Read
July 25, 2021AMAZING!!
September 7, 2024
Absolutely amazing trilogy. You have to read all three books at once to get the full story, but they are great. I really, really enjoyed this series and will read it again!
October 9, 2014
I read this years before goodreads came along. Doing a revisit>>>>
I would have to describe this YA series as 'Tolkien Light' as it has the same concept of Elves. The First Race, noble, in tune with the earth and always beautiful, complete with pointed ears. As the story involves them a great deal, elf lovers will enjoy this story. The Hero is a 17 year old, human boy who discovers he's a Knight-Mage and must lead the Armies of Light (Centaurs, unicorns, dragon & Elf) against the 'Endarkened' who are the classic winged, horned and cloven hoof Demon. Humans have lost their way to greed and short memories and are up for grabs as to who will get them to fight on their side.
Lackey is a prolific writer and reminds me of my childhood favorite, Andre Norton (who has co-authored with Lackey.) There is dastardly acts by the bad guys, friendly banter and environment/character development that makes you love the heroes and their world, nothing but chaste love and magic.
I would have to describe this YA series as 'Tolkien Light' as it has the same concept of Elves. The First Race, noble, in tune with the earth and always beautiful, complete with pointed ears. As the story involves them a great deal, elf lovers will enjoy this story. The Hero is a 17 year old, human boy who discovers he's a Knight-Mage and must lead the Armies of Light (Centaurs, unicorns, dragon & Elf) against the 'Endarkened' who are the classic winged, horned and cloven hoof Demon. Humans have lost their way to greed and short memories and are up for grabs as to who will get them to fight on their side.
Lackey is a prolific writer and reminds me of my childhood favorite, Andre Norton (who has co-authored with Lackey.) There is dastardly acts by the bad guys, friendly banter and environment/character development that makes you love the heroes and their world, nothing but chaste love and magic.
May 28, 2013
I only read the first book in the series. It moved too slowly, and it seemed like characters did stupid thing just to fit the story the author wanted to tell. An example of this is when the hero 'forgets' to go to school for a whole week. Rediculous.
June 3, 2014
Read all three books the first time in about 36 hours. The Obsidian Trilogy is one of the great fantasy series' of our time. It does start out slow but picks up about halfway through the first book and never let's up.
June 23, 2016
Without doubt, my favorite elves. The Endarkened are amazing villains too. I really enjoy that many of the little details in the books become important later on.
It would be good to know your own opinion about this book.
It would be good to know your own opinion about this book.
May 16, 2014
This series started off slow, but once it got to the interesting parts (part-way through the first book), it was almost impossible to put down!
August 27, 2015
one of my besetting sins...love this fantasy trilogy
September 12, 2015
Most awesome epic fantasy series!
February 21, 2025
A good friend
I probably reread the trilogy about every eighteen months or so. It is a true Wonder Tale to be savored.
I probably reread the trilogy about every eighteen months or so. It is a true Wonder Tale to be savored.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews