Rating: 
Summary: a truely masterful piece
Review: I began reading this trilogy backwards, stumbling upon a copy of Magic's Price before seeking out its predecessors. Even without prior introduction to the series or the faintest notion what it was about, I was immediately absorbed. Vanyel's isolation, devotion to duty, compassion, and morality are touching alone, but the tragic, though infinitely satisfying, plot and bittersweet ending moved me to tears. Though Lackey's works are, in general, amazing, the Last Herald-Mage trilogy is outstanding, Magic's Price in particular.
Rating:
Summary: All good things must come to an end...
Review: ...and so it is with The Last Herald-Mage trilogy. I've enjoyed it enough that I'll definitely look into Lackey's other Valdemar novels.This final chapter of the trilogy catches up with Vanyel close to a decade after "Magic's Promise" ended. As Randale becomes more gravely ill, Vanyel takes more of the regent's day-to-day responsibilities onto his shoulders. When Medren, now a Journeyman Bard, tells Vanyel that his roommate has the heretofore unheard-of ability to remove pain when he sings, Van is ready to try anything if there's a chance it will ease Randi's suffering. This is how Vanyel meets the beautiful young Bard Stefen, and they begin a courtship that is hilarious fun to read. Meanwhile, evil threatens Valdemar from without, including a possible conspiracy to kill off the nation's Mage-Gifted. One thing that especially impressed me about "Magic's Price" was the subtle manner in which Lackey echoed certain events from "Magic's Pawn" throughout the story. I won't give away more than that for fear of spoiling it. You don't really have to have read the first two novels to enjoy this one - Lackey uses enough exposition to fill in the blanks - but I do recommend reading the first two anyway, because they're just that good.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent trilogy
Review: I have enjoyed this series of books and most of ML Valdemar books since my early 20's, yuck that was 16 years ago!
Anyway what is so enchanting about her books is that with less effort and description, than some other authors who are on book 9 of their series with no true end in site, she conveys a true sense of character and empathy for her protagonisits.
Her tales are simpler than Tolkien and many other writers and while they may not be as well writen as those authors, her simplicity and excellent characterization makes her books a joy to read.
I do not compare her to those writers nor do I claim she is better than them, I do say however that I find a real pleasure in sitting down and rereading her books more than I do Tolkien or Jordan. Oops! I said his name, oh well.
Do I enjoy reading more "edjucated" writers? Of course, but I also enjoy ML books because they are simpler than those longer, more complex tales.
Vaynel is one of her best characters and his story is all the more tragic because if you have read her first trilogy you know how it will eventualy end.
Rating:
Summary: -Oh gods...-
Review: -Oh gods- There are so many ways to tell why this trilogy has become my number one favorite set of books. I am re-reading "Magic's Pawn" for the upteenth time and it never ceases to move my heart. Once my friend lent me her copy of "Magic's Pawn", I couldn't stop. I was so gratefull that she owned the whole trilogy or I would have gone crazy and bought them all at once, which I did later...
Anyways, about "Magic's Price": It, along with "Magic's Pawn", is one of my favorite books in the world. By the end, I was in tears, sobbing, because I truly loved this book and felt moved by it. It starts out with an older Vanyel sparring with Herald Tantras. Later on in the book, he meets a talented Bard named Stefen, whom he... Oh, I don't want to give away too much. It covers their adventure thought the perils of Valdemar. Something is coming... And only the last Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron can stand against it.
I can only hope to encourage people to read this trilogy and all other books by Mercedes Lackey. Her world of Valdemar will be treasured in my heart as an escape to a world of fantasy that I truly love.
Rating:
Summary: Characters to care about
Review: Don't read this book for wonderful writing, read it for sensitive character development and a challenge to live for more than personal gain. This final book in the trilogy sees Vanyel thaw, accepting his humanity. In the end, his very humanity is what enables him to triumph, to avoid the trap of revenge that consumed Tylendel in the first book. I also enjoyed the development of Stefan from a hedonistic, self-serving adolescent to an adult who understands that serving others can be truly rewarding and love is more than sex. The whole trilogy does a wonderful job of exploring the distinctions and interrelationship between sex, friendship and love. I intend to share the series with my children when they hit adolescence, to help them be compassionate and understanding and to realize that sex without love is empty. . . and friendship is a necessary prerequisite! (I do agree that this is not English literature at its finest, but it doesn't try to be! And the emotional resolance of this trilogy is more than enough to cover for grammatical or stylistic faux pas.)
Rating:
Summary: You won't regret it :)
Review: One of the best heart-touching books I've ever read. A must for real Lackey fans.
Rating:
Summary: A bit sophmoric but entirely enjoyable.
Review: Okay, it's certainly not first-rate writing, but it's got a great plot -- as evidenced by the fact that so many people keep on going back and reading more and more of the Valdemar series. A friend turned me on to the Last Herald Mage series as a "realistic way to portray gays". It is, and it's very non-prejudicial (self-consciously so, may I add), but it's also an interesting plot once you get into it. The vocabulary and writing are a bit lacking at times, but the plot is where this trilogy in particular shines, and the series in general does well. Another reader critiqued it, saying it didn't deserve 5 stars because it wasn't top of the line -- as evidenced by Tolkien and other leaders of the genre. It's not supposed to be Tolkien -- it's supposed to be relaxing, with a good plot and some wieldy sentence structure and a few typographical errors. It is good at what it does, and it doesn't even attempt (thankfully so) to be Tolkien.
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Summary: READ THE WHOLE VALDEMAR SERIES!!!
Review: The best thing about all Mercades Lacky books is how clearly & strongly she portrayes emotions. Out of the ones I've read so far, I think she does it best in the Last Harald Mage trilogy. The charicters are so deep, & you get so attatched to them, you feel like you known them, & like you are living the story. All the funny parts made me laugh (The mud fight;;; hehe) All the touching parts had me feeling like it was me, (& some of the time I wish it was. *prr!* ~,^.) & the sad parts... Oh my god, I cried harder than I EVER do. TWICE. These three books are up there with The Princess Bride & The Golden Compass in my opinion (yup, that's pretty high). Now go buy it!!
Rating:
Summary: This is 1 of my most favorite books.
Review: This book, is one of the best books I have ever read. This is Mercedes Lackey's best series to date. Vanyel, the main character, is a Herald-Mage and he's so lonely. He distances himself from everyone he loves because he's afraid of their safety ever since he became a Herald-Mage. He lost his lifebonded- Tylendal, in the fist book of this exciting and emotional series, Magic's Pawn. In this book, Vanyel loses many people that he loves, including his Aunt Savil, but in tragedy, you find happiness. Vanyel finds love in a bard named Stefan. The love doesn't last long though because Vanyel calles Final Strike in the end, killing himself and Master Dark, an evil man who was planning to take over Valdemar. This is an exciting and attention catching book that will move you from laughter to tears. You won't be able to put this book down until you've finished it, and even then, you might find yourself picking it back up to reread. IT'S THAT GOOD!
Rating:
Summary: I need a hug after that one!
Review: Once again, Mercedes Lackey yanks her readers through the world of Vanyel Ashkevron, the devastatingly handsome Herald Mage of Valdemar. Magic's Price was exceptionally poignant and one of the best books I have ever read. I recommend it to everyone I meet. Also, Misty, if you're reading this, I have one request. Please write us a series on Savil so we know what really happens when she's younger!
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