Rating: 
Summary: I think I'm in love!
Review: This book is my favorite book of all time. In the book, Elspeth has traveled long and far to finally find someone to tutor her in the use of her magic, which she plans on bringing home to the defense of her people against the tyrant ruler (Ancar) of their neighboring country. She finally found the mythical Taledras and found one who was willing to tutor her even as he himself relearns magic. This is a beautiful, winding book of action, romance, love, hatred, jelously, humor, and oh so much more. I fell in love with the characters even as the book drew me deeper within. Warning: This book will keep you up late at night, reading into the unholy hours of the morning! If you want a series to read, this is the one (if you are into this genre of reading). I would suggest you first read "Winds of Fate", then this book, then the last in this series. If you aren't already hooked on Valdemar, you will be! Any other Heralds of Valdemar out there, feel free to email me (starstorm_03@yahoo.com)! Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!
Rating: 
Summary: suspenseful, romantic
Review: This book posits a land of magic run amok, where magic and magical creatures are common and those without magic are disadvantaged and alienated. Those using magic seem to be as likely to be evil and sinister as they are to be good. The learning of magic has become a training routine, not unlike military bootcamp, except smaller in scale. On the downside, I must say there is something remarkably unappealing about magic being so common place. The whole double meaning of magic in English is something that is supernatural and also special. In this book, magic becomes a natural underground phenomenon that people can tap into, sort of like drilling a well. Somehow well drilling doesn't seem very exciting. On the upside, the book flows very nicely and really holds your attention. The characters are attractive, varied, and well-developed. The setting is interesting. This whole trilogy is a cliffhanger thing. Don't plan to buy only one of the books in the series. Just plan to buy all three. The books in this trilogy are quite sexual, including gay theme material. Prudish people should not buy these, nor should you buy them for pre-pubescent children. Personally, though, I liked this aspect of the book. This book is very feminist. The main women are warriors and mages. The men are somewhat de-emphasized, and all the villains seem to be men. Also on the downside for me (as a middle aged person), the middle aged people are also de-emphasized and weak, while the young people are strong and dominant.
Rating:
Summary: suspenseful, romantic
Review: This book posits a land of magic run amok, where magic and magical creatures are common and those without magic are disadvantaged and alienated. Those using magic seem to be as likely to be evil and sinister as they are to be good. The learning of magic has become a training routine, not unlike military bootcamp, except smaller in scale. On the downside, I must say there is something remarkably unappealing about magic being so common place. The whole double meaning of magic in English is something that is supernatural and also special. In this book, magic becomes a natural underground phenomenon that people can tap into, sort of like drilling a well. Somehow well drilling doesn't seem very exciting. On the upside, the book flows very nicely and really holds your attention. The characters are attractive, varied, and well-developed. The setting is interesting. This whole trilogy is a cliffhanger thing. Don't plan to buy only one of the books in the series. Just plan to buy all three. The books in this trilogy are quite sexual, including gay theme material. Prudish people should not buy these, nor should you buy them for pre-pubescent children. Personally, though, I liked this aspect of the book. This book is very feminist. The main women are warriors and mages. The men are somewhat de-emphasized, and all the villains seem to be men. Also on the downside for me (as a middle aged person), the middle aged people are also de-emphasized and weak, while the young people are strong and dominant.
Rating:
Summary: A good book,One of the best Mercedes Lackey has ever written
Review: This Book was magical and stirring.Darkwind tries to teach Elspeth magic but it is hard for him since he has to learn magic all over again.The gryphons teach them while they wage a war against Mornelith Falconsbane.The heartsone is put to the test when an amazingly powerful adept from a diffrent clan fractures it so they can move the power into a new heartstone but the power goes to Valdemar instead and Darkwind and elspeth head there with the gryphons to help them.
Rating:
Summary: The book gives depth to the characters so you really care.
Review: This will always be my favorite book by Lackey. It was the first that I read and I became addicted to her work forever after. The characters elicit reactions from the reader in a way that most authors can never acheive. Lackey mackes you really care about them. The characters themselves are a lovable, motly crew. From the former thief to the princess heir to the colorful Tayledras the characters show a diversity and realness (yes, I know that this is a fantasy book!) which is fascinating. They actually have faults! One of the things that I oftentimes hate, is a two-dimesional villain, but Lackey gives Falconsbane as much depth as she does the heros. All in all, one simply does not want to put the book down once one picks it up. Rebecca Camp
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