Rating: 
Summary: An Original
Review: Mercedes Lackey is one of those who has taken modern fantasy to the human level, and for that I honour her. I've re-read the Vanyel books a number of times, and there's good reason why they remain some of her fans' favourites.I'd say the one thing that I find most displeasing about the Vanyel books is the arbitrary presence of evil. We're told that the Heralds, the keepers of The Right in Lackey's world of Valdemar, are short lived because they're continually doing battle against BAD THINGS, but it's never really clear what those bad things are, where they come from or why they're bad. Magic's Pawn (and Magic's Price, the last book in the trilogy) ends with the main character doing battle with an evil Mage who seems to exist merely to do bad things to good people. This battle seems tacked on simply to provide a rousing finish to the book; there's very little build up to it and it has almost no connection to the rest of the story. To me, that's lazy writing. But the story really isn't about that. The story is about Vanyel, his flaws and strengths as a person and his relationships with friends, lovers, and family, and that is done exceedingly well. Lackey has a sure touch depicting the harm people do to people. Vanyel is a misfit both in his family and with his peers and he suffers not only from their treatment but from his defenses against it. Lackey also went out on a limb making her main character homosexually oriented, and she painted Vanyel's relationship in an honest, genuine way without a lot of stereotyping. The writing isn't great, but this story is so affecting that you can overlook that. It's easy to see why Lackey's books attract numerous fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Why "Magic's Pawn" Is A Classic Tale
Review: I happened to remember this book while posting an opinion on the amazon discussion board about romance; basically, about the lack of risk in the romance genre. In my posting, I mentioned the character of Vanyel as an example one of the first gay male heroes in fantasy fiction. However, this book is far more than just a story about his sexuality. In many ways, I see it as the precursor to the "Harry Potter" series. Vanyel is a young man with rare talents who doesn't fit in with the hidebound nations of family and friends. At great personal cost he tries to be like everyone else and cannot. Good fantasy fiction, like science fiction, often presents to the reader real-life challenges wrapped inside a mythical or fantastical setting. A well-drawn character is a mirror in which our own struggles as human beings is reflected. I could very well relate to Vanyel's struggles for acceptance, as could many other readers. Ms. Lackey succeeds in infusing Vanyel with so much depth that I found myself hurting when his family dismisses him, and cheering when he meets his lifelong companion, Yfandes. Yfandes, Vanyel's equine "companion" always reminded me of a cross between Mother Love and Dear Abby, without the mulishness. She's tough, savvy and very forgiving. I would definitely like to have her on my side in a fight. The standard tropes of fantasy are played to the hilt, but those are not what makes Magic's Pawn the classic work that it is. It is that very depth and perception of the characters that place this novel above the rest, and why so many readers have taken this book to their hearts. In my posting, I said that romance has a long way to go before it can ever be at the level that a book such as Magic's Pawn has reached.
Rating: 
Summary: RIch Characters And Story Line But Falls Flat....
Review: I do not usually red books written by this author, and this rating is based on the entire series. I like the first two books, but the third got boring and the themes were the same after a while.
However, the first two books I very much well like. I enjoy the fact the main character is homosexual but the writer doesn't let that part of his characteristics over power the rest of the story.
The characters in the first two books of this series are very real and well thought out. However, I disliked the third book because it was so much like the second one.
I almost wish that I had not read the third one but oh well, you can't make every book great all the time.
However, I thought this was a good series all and all. I would recommended it to some one who wants something a little different but be weary of the last book in the trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: Decent, but Losing Power With Time and Experience.
Review: The first time I read this book, I was in my teens, living a dreary life in a small town, and badly alienated from my family---not unlike the protagonist of this book. So at the time, I found "Magic's Pawn" to be powerful, engrossing, and a page-turner. I loved it. Alas... age and experience bring new insight. Since then, I've come to realize that Lackey is a formulaic writer---the plot of this book gets imported into her next twelve books, with slight cosmetic changes. Shake, bake, repeat...the flaws are many, in this book. The most glaring flaw probably lies in the author's determination to make a statement about homosexuality. I think it's good that she did it---and she handles it well in this particular book---but after a while (in the following two books) she just gets waaay too preachy about it... Vanyel never really seems to accept it, himself. He angsts about being gay in book 1 of the series, and he's still angsting about it, with nearly the same intensity, by the end of book 3, chronologically twentysomething years later... Other flaws include the expository style---there's too much internal monologue. Too much "tell" and not enough "show"...---the characters tend to be stereotypically/cliched good or evil, with not much in the way of complexity/grey areas. The "bad guys" are sadistic, slithery, ugly/foul, and universally warped---it's a wonder every would-be hero in the land isn't after them, to rid the world of such an obvious evil. The "good guys" are a little better. They have a few minor character flaws---Vanyel whines, Savil has a temper, the Tayledras constantly spout annoying proverbs---but otherwise they're almost universally sympathetic, admirable, self-sacrificing, affable, and brave. Heralds and non-Heralds alike. When I was seventeen, I liked reading this kind of stuff. It helped affirm my developing identity, and reassured me that it was perfectly normal to feel like my parents were horrible monsters and everyone was out to get me. It also fascinated me in that it was the first fictional fantasy novel I'd read which even touched on the concept of alternative sexualities---the novelty of it was refreshing, back then. It was also "comfort reading"---the good guys were good, the bad guys were bad, and everyone lived happily ever after in the end. Useful escapism. At the time, I needed books like this; anything more complex or involving just made me angry/frustrated, because I saw the world in black and white and I didn't feel like paying attention to the shades of grey. Now, the grey interests me, and the black and white seems simplistic and unreal. So on its own---read without touching the author's other works, including the rest of this trilogy---this would be a great "young adult" book. The book is powerful in its message, beautiful in its own way, and completely absorbing. The main character is easy to identify with, particularly if the reader is close to his age. For anyone older than twenty, however... I'd hesitate to buy this one. ..all of the Valdemar trilogies are similar, so you might as well just buy them all, while you're at it...If not, however, I'd like to recommend Storm Constantine's Wraeththu instead, if you're looking for a more complex...blend of fantasy, magic, good characterization, and examinations of sexuality. I don't hate this book, but my old copy, much-read when I was younger, is gathering dust now, and when the time comes to throw it away, I don't think I'll be replacing it.
Rating:
Summary: A good mix of fantasy and gay romance
Review: Young Vanyel would rather be a bard, playing his lute and performing for the courts, much to the chagrin of his father Lord Withen. So infuriated is Withen that after Vanyel is almost beaten to death by the armsmaster Jervis, he sends him to train under his Aunt Savil, a Herald-Mage at the court of Valdemar. Savil doesn't really know what to do with Vanyel, either. Somewhat vain, ill-mannered and continuously broding, even the other bards and mages don't feel that he has the right gifts. Savil feels that something is keeping Vanyel from showing his true self. When her herlad-mage trainee, the handsome Tylendel, spies Vanyel and falls for his beautiful looks almost immediately, she allows Tylendel to get closer to Vanyel, hoping to pull him out of his shell. Vanyel soon finds himself falling for Tylendel, now that he's aware of the world around him, the world that Withen tried to keep from him. But events take a tragic turn, and soon Vanyel's untapped herald-mage gifts are ripped open. Unable to control his new gifts, Savil takes him away to heal and to learn self-control, but daner lurks in the near future. Something is hunting young Vanyel, through his tortured nightmares and into reality. I found this to be an enjoyable book to read. Very descriptive and the characters are very likable. With the exception of Vanyel. For a main character, he's too depressing and filled with self-loathing that I wanted the author to get rid of him. (Bad thing, since he's the driving force of the book.) I felt the book lingered too much on those aspects of him, making the book feel sluggish at first. Once Vanyel and Tylendel begin their romance, however, the pace picks up and makes for a fine book, filled with action, magic, interesting and amazing creatures, and just a good story.
Rating:
Summary: My Thoughts (slight spoiler be ware)
Review: Let me start off by saying I am not really a "Fantasy" reader. I enjoy all themed books. This one was recomended to me by a close friend. I went into it scepticaly actually. Being a gay boy honestly I hate the way popular culture portrays gay people. Sure there are alot out there that act the way TV and movies portray them but there are also your just average normal everyday ones as well that tend to be forgotten (...) So i read the book and almost instantly (after the first 15 pages or so) started to really get involved in the main chacter of this book, Vanyel. Looking to lock his self away and be completly by himself...I think we all feel taht way sometimes. The meeting of Lyndel was wonderful. Their relationship is beautiful. The things done and said warmed my heart. Lyndel being so suportive and encouraging of Vanyel was so sweet. Caught my self smiling and even tearing up at parts of this book. Then after Lyndels sudden death I was heartbroken... I had never felt more for a fictional person as I did for Vanyel and his loss. I have to admit the book depressed me deeply for a short while, but as sad as it was it was a lesson he had to learn and it ultimatly showed he was NOT alone...he did have people to care for him besides Lyndel. Basically...One of the best books I have ever read with a great outlook on the seldom forgotten gay people that actually do seek love and relationship in their life. And ofcourse me being gay gave a special interest in this book...but I beleive that its an enjoyable read for any sex or sexual prefrence. Ive only begun Mercedes Lackey (this being my first book) But have started 'Magics Promise' and already I am [absorbed] into the story and do look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Read
Review: Lackey never leaves much to the imagination, which is the best thing I could ever think of, she is such vivid writer things just fall into place. She has the essence of every character bottled so tightly in the book that none could stray. She can grab the easiest of minds and hold their every thought and movement in the finishing of the book. You can't put it down and when you do, you just can't wait to pick up the next one. Every word leads you to wanting more. Vanyel Ashkevron is the first-born and heir to the throne. But he doesn't want to be; he really wants to be a Bard. When his father finally decides to send him away, he is sent to live with his wicked Herald-Mage aunt Savil. She seems to like him as much as his dad does. When he goes to the Collegium the Heralds and Herald-trainees don't know what to make of him. Is his cold outlook and attitude what he truly is, or was he abused? While he is at the Collegium he finds love, but not in the way he thought he would. When his lover's twin is assassinated and Van promises to help him seek revenge, is he really ready for what he put himself up to? Worse though, will be finding out if Van can stand up to his father, when he finds out?
Rating:
Summary: one of my all-time favorites
Review: Personally, this trilogy has been my favorite one by Mercedes Lackey the instant I read it, and it still is. I utterly adore Vanyel, and the other characters are also wonderful, especially Tylendel, Savil, and Yfandes. I won't give too much away, but let it be said that this is a must for all gay/fantasy readers out there. I was reading the "Valdemar Companion", and in an interview with Mercedes she commented on how she had had several people walk up to her and tell her that this trilogy changed their views of homosexuality. I hope that tells you something about these stories. ^.^
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST TRILOGY EVER
Review: This, and the other two books that follow it, are the best books ever written. I don't know of any other books that gets you as emotionally involved as these. I know that the first five times I read the trilogy, I cried. And what was sad was that I started to cry before the end. Misty, you're the greatest author ever!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A warning before you read this book.
Review: Beware of the other reviews for this book, I listened them and wasted my money. This book is plodding and completely uninteresting. How anyone can make it through this series with all the other great fantasy books out there is beyond me. And what finally turned me off completely from this book and series is that the main character, a teenage boy, has a lover who is also a teenage boy. So unless you don't mind reading about two teenage boy lovers and you don't like for your books actually be interesting, DO NOT waste your money like I did.
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