Rating: 
Summary: Important bridge b/w first and third books
Review: There are very few writers as flawed as Mercedes Lackey who can manage to keep my interest for so long. Although I LOVE the Last Herald Mage series, I was annoyed by her faults, which include a tendency to be melodramatic, sentimental and use predictable writing devices (like never-ending interior monologues). The editing is also pretty poor. And yet she has managed to get me so hooked I have devoured 9 of her novels in the space of 3 weeks. Magic's Promise is not as gripping as the other books of this series for the simple reason that there is no love interest. Lots of teasing little comments about how drop dead gorgeous Vanyel is and how starved for affection (setting the reader up for Stefen in the next book) but no real action (and yes, I do like a good love story). But this is still one of her best books because the main aim is the development of Vanyel's character and he is one of the most appealing characters she has ever created. It bridges the gap between Vanyel as confused brat (in Magic's Pawn) and Vanyel as legend (in Magic's Price). It has a gripping enough plot, interesting characters and a nice tidy ending. The only bone I have to pick with this novel is that the reconciliation b/w Jervis and Vanyel and Vanyel and his parents is much too pretty. In the real world there ARE parents who couldn't care less if their kid was dead or alive and there ARE sadistic teachers. And however mature you grow, there are some gaps you simply cannot bridge or just should not. Given the brutal treatment he received at the hands of his family, I think it would have been much more plausible if Lackey had made Vanyel wash his hands of the whole lot of them. And which descriptions of the family and Jervis are we to believe? The highly unfavourable ones in Magic's Pawn or the too-good-to-be-true saccharine ones in this novel? This is an excellent example of the fantasy genre and I (being a diehard fantasy addict) really loved it. If you occasionally enjoy mushy love stories, long for a simpler, cleaner world and love Tolkien, McCaffrey, Eddings and Jordan, chances are that you will enjoy this book and the whole series immensely.
Rating: 
Summary: An Enchanting Tale
Review: There's not much to say except that this book is another wonderful work by Mercedes Lackey. It really ties you to the characters. You can feel Van's pain, and his conversations with 'Fandes are usually fun. :) A must-read book.
Rating:
Summary: The entire trilogy kicks!
Review: These have been my favorite books for a very long time. I like the potential and foreshadowing in this book. The highlights: resolution of the familial conflicts, and his final release of the pain caused by 'Lendel's loss. He comes across as infinitely human and yet is still the hero we all want to be. I think I'll always love him.
Rating:
Summary: Why so few reviews?
Review: This is a really, really great book! I have no idea how to put this into words, but I'll try! As a sequel to Magic's Pawn, this book excels! Being partially mystery, it has some excitement and suspense greater than that of the first book. This book should be read, and re-read, and re-re-read! Sorry, people who complain that Mercedes Lackey's characters are cardboard-Vanyel, Savil, Jervis, even Yfandes, are more human than some folk in our 'real' world!
Rating:
Summary: Beyond Good
Review: This is a wonderful book with probably the most loved shaych, or gay character in the literary world. Vanyel is love and beloved, the trilogy is beautiful, it moves you to believe in truth and beauty and faith and dying for things you believe in. i love you, vanyel and ashke i know that you are happy whever you are. I want everybody to read this trilogy and understand love that deep.It is a treat for fantasy fans and although the lead character is gay, it is neither campy nor porn. Marcedes Lackey has a gift for bringing to life things hardly every written about and anyone who does not love Vanyel or these books has a serious problem!!!
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting tale of intrigue.
Review: This is the second book in Lackey's THE LAST HERALD MAGE trilogy. It takes place about 12 years after the end of the first book, MAGIC'S PAWN. This kinda bugged me at first since I would have liked to see Vanyel go through his Mage training. Lackey, however, makes the book so absorbing that I soon forgot about this fact. As usual, the characters in the book are exceptionally vivid. Each has their own personality and really stands out as an individual. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters that were in the first book develop as people in this one, especially the relationships between Vanyel and his father and between Vanyel and Jervis.The storyline in this book was quite intriguing and a had a very different flavor from the first book. It dealt with solving a murder and lots of mystery. I wish that Ms. Lackey had decided to delve into the intrigue a little more and truly root out the motivations of the antagonists (which she hardly ever seems to do...that is my only complaint about her writing). The magical elements involved were exciting and I enjoyed the climax and resolution...definitely a happy ending. Lackey fans will love this installment and fantasy fans in general should enjoy it as well.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully written!
Review: This is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's best trilogy. Also beautifully written, this book takes place years after the first one. The only thing this book lacks is romance. But don't worry! The romance returns full force in book three! In this book, Vanyel has already become a famous, respected and admired Herald-Mage. There is no herald who commands power as he does, and he struggles with inner demons of love for his friends. Out of all three books, this one holds the most action. Vanyel continues to grow in this book, building toward the character he will end up as in the last one. Did you enjoy Magic's Pawn? Don't hesitate, buy this book -- it's an amazing read. You'll love it. And when you finish this one, you get to look forward to reading the last one...the best one of all.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully written!
Review: This is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's best trilogy. Also beautifully written, this book takes place years after the first one. The only thing this book lacks is romance. But don't worry! The romance returns full force in book three! In this book, Vanyel has already become a famous, respected and admired Herald-Mage. There is no herald who commands power as he does, and he struggles with inner demons of love for his friends. Out of all three books, this one holds the most action. Vanyel continues to grow in this book, building toward the character he will end up as in the last one. Did you enjoy Magic's Pawn? Don't hesitate, buy this book -- it's an amazing read. You'll love it. And when you finish this one, you get to look forward to reading the last one...the best one of all.
Rating:
Summary: As good as the first, which is hard to get
Review: This is the second book, and I loved it as much as the first. Vanyel is older now, and more mature; a battle-seasoned veteran fresh off the lines.
His character continues to develop, and he never fails to surprise and delight the reader.
This book opens with Vanyel, burned of all his reserves, going home for an extended family visit. And anyone who's read the first book knows how that will go.
It shows Vanyel being a Herald, and also a person. He finally realizes that his reputation as First Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron, called Demonsbane, called ...well, the list goes on. He tries to come to terms with the fact that his reputation is frightening people away, and come to terms with his family at the same time.
Add a dash of magic, a young Herald in distress, and a few other surprises and this is definitely a book worth reading. This is where Vanyel really comes into his own, and tries to make peace with some of his demons.
Again, as with the first, ten stars!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful coming-of-age story
Review: This trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price) is one of my very favorites. Magic's Pawn takes Vanyel through his adolecent stage, from rebelling against his family (who really need rebelling against!), to discovering his true love, to discovering his own power, through great pain and hardship. Vanyel endures more than anyone should have to endure. This is one of those books that keep you awake at night because you NEED TO KNOW what happens next! The book is set in the same universe as the Arrows Trilogy, Winds trilogy, and Owls trilogy, but about a thousand years earlier. It's a good idea to read these books BEFORE you read the Winds trilogy, and I won't spoil it by telling you why. I would recommend this book to adults, but also to teenagers who are struggling with their own identity. I believe it won an award from a gay and lesbian literary society, because of its wonderful portrayal of both straight and gay loving relationships. If you're new to Lackey's works, this is a good trilogy to start with. Follow it with Arrows of the Queen and its sequels, and you'll be all set.
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