Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Still can't put it down, after reading dozens of times!
Review: I started blindly in the second book of this trilogy, despite my confusion I enjoyed Magic's Promise and then went in search of this book. Magic's Pawn filled in the holes and left me with a new favorite author. I reccomend this to anyone interested, its beautiful, emotional and exciting.

Rating:
Summary: The first book that ever made me cry...
Review: This was the first book I ever read by Misty Lackey. It was the first book that ever made me cry. I liked it because Misty made the characters seemed so real...as if Vanyel and Tylendel and the formidable Aunt Savil were people I could actually reach out and touch. In some way they all became very special to me. Now that I have read many of her other books I cannot say that this is the best, but I can honestly say that I have never read another book like it.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning Beginning To An Amazing End
Review: This book was stunning. The first Misty book that I had read, I was stunned. When this book came out, homosexuality was a very unapproachable subject. After reading this story, I was transformed. The emotions which this story evoked only got stronger as the trilogy progressed. It is so good to see that someone is willing to approach the unapproachable, and attempt to describe the indescribable. May Misty continue on in her endeavors with just as much success as the previous ones.

Rating:
Summary: Be prepared for an excellent, moving story
Review: This was an excellent story. The charcters were strong, well developed and heartfelt. The plot was fairly original and used good devices to convey Misty's thoughts. She is a wonderful writer. One thing--would people please stop focusing on the gay aspect? Yes, Vanyel is gay. So what? That's not what the story focuses on. It focuses on his feelings about becoming a herald, using his powers. I cried throughout much of the book, including when he lost Tylendel, but also through his decision to utilize his mage-abilities and help people. A definate must-read for anyone, fantasy lover or not--I wasn't much into fantasy until now.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: Magic's Pawn was the first book by Mercedes Lackey I ever read. It took a little while to get used to the pairing of Vaynel and Tylendal, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it touched me in a way not many books do. It will remain one of my favorites always, and I have read many more Valdemar books since.

Rating:
Summary: Best book including a gay character I've read....
Review: Lackey has truly done it! Finally, a Science Fantasy trilogy that accurately depicts gay life, while still spinning another fantastic Valdemar tale. Couldn't put it down! (Chapter 8 is a tear-jerker.) I've even lent the book to some non-scifantasy gay friends, and even they loved it!

Rating:
Summary: it was the best book i have ever read.
Review: Magic's pawn was a touching book, in fact I cried when I read it. It was so sad about Tylendal, and how Vanyel had to carry on without his love. I was shocked that Vanyel and Tylendal were gay. Not many authors go into that. If they do it is horrible. I think that Misty did it artfully. She did a great job on this book and its sequels. I only wish that she could have brought back Vanyel and his love Tylendal/Stefen(plus Yfandes of course)back in more books than just the Mage Winds Series. This is a great book, and i reccommend it to anyone with a tender heart.

Rating:
Summary: I realy love this trilogy
Review: I have read almost all of Ms. Lacky's books and these are my favorites. They are as hart renching as a tragedy but they have a hapy ending. They realy helped me too. I first read them when I was 14 and at that time I was haveing trubel resolving and acsepting the fact that there were people who were gay with mith my personal fealings about True love. Because I fellt and still do that true love means that people balance echother exactly I thought then that that ment it had to be a man and a woman. Reading these books helped me realise that Love is the important thing. It dose not mater who how old what sex or even how many as long as they truly love eachother it is a beutiful thing and that is all that maters.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read! A definete must-read!
Review: When I picked up this book, I had never heard of Mercedes Lackey or Valdemar. It just had a pretty cover. Then I started to read it and I couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried, I got angry. It was wonderful. This was the first book to affect me so deeply. It has wonderful characters, a great plot, and several meaningful lessons. Thanks to this book, I am a loyal fan of Mercedes Lackey and her Valdemar books. And I still cry when I read about Vanyel, Aunt Savil, Tylendyl, et all. Thanks, Mercedes, for several hours of wonderment.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book In The Entire World!!!
Review: Magic's Pawn is about a young boy named Vanyel who is the heir to Forst Reach, he wants to be a bard though and his father hates music. He gets sent off to live with his aunt the Herald-Mage Savil and falls in love with one of her trainees Tlyndel. When Tlyndel dies avenging his twin, Vanyel tries to kill himself but is chosen by a companion and made a Herald-Mage himself. He doesn't want to be a Herald but when he runs away and watches a Cold Drake attack a helpless village he realizes that he has to protect people who can't protect themselves. When he saves snother village and almost dies trying he achives true pureness and recieves his whites. Vanyel is my favorite character and I'll admit to being in love with him..now only if I were a guy and he didn't have a new lifebonded..