Rating: 
Summary: I know you've heard this before, but ...
Review: This is one of my all time favorite books ever. If you haven't read it, you HAVE to. The story is inspiring, and Vanyel is a truely believable character.
I read, with some dismay, a few reviews that were taking a negative stance on the fact that Vanyel is shay'a'chern. I, at least, feel that that only adds to the story. It adds to his feelings of isolation and makes him feel even more cut off and alone. If he hadn't been shay'a'chern, it's possible that he would never have become a herald.
Vanyel is my favorite character, mainly because it's so easy to feel empathy toward him. Every time I read it (and that's alot of times) I get caught in the power and emotion of the story. The things Vanyel goes through ... Well, they make you believe that if he can fight through that much adversity and anguish to become what he was meant to be, you can do the same.
This book presents a very touching story of a young boy struggling with many things. (I won't spoil it for you by listing them) It may not be the most well written book, but believe me, you don't even notice that in passing until you've read it several times.
The power behind this book is the way that, when you read it, you see parts of yourself in Vanyel. It grabs you every time, and pulls you in. Once you pick it up, you'll not want to put it down until it's finished.
I really can't say enough good things about this book. Anyone who has ever had problems of any kind should read it. After you finish, the world seems a better place somehow.
If I could, I'd give it 10 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Stirring and Beautiful
Review: Never has a book touched me more deeply or have I cared so much for the characters therein. Ms. Lackey deftly creates a world that the I grew to understand and love as much as my own. I have never read any other novel that deals with homosexuality in this manner - as a part of her character's life, and as a journey to complete before understanding dawns.
I grew with Vanyel, wincing with him at early mis-treatment, laughing with him when he finds true joy, crying with him over the hardships he had to endure, and sobbing for him in the cumulation of this trilogy. Considering that I have read this 4 times at last count, I cannot recommend it more. Pure genius. This book should be on every fantasy lover's shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Magic's Pawn- A very different book
Review: Magic's Pawn was a very good (but kind of sad) story in itself. I bought this book not knowing that it dealt with homesexuality; I personally thought that although that aspect of the story did not ruin the book, it did make it harder to read and comprehend. The main character Vanyel and his partner, Tylendel are two of the main characters in the book, and their relationship was in most part the key point of Magic's Pawn. I must admit that it would have been much better without the homesexuality; it was uncomfortable reading it and didn't seem very appropriate for a fantasy novel. Lackey did introduce a lesbion pair in The Heralds of Valdemar series, but not in such depth. To sum it all up, I did not like the homesexuality in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Oh my gosh!
Review: This is the best book I've ever read, and I've read A LOT of book in my life. I got into it from someone who made a reference to it on fanfiction.net and recommended it, and I faced trials getting this book...such as it wasn't available in my local library. However, I insisted and got my hands on the book and I never regretted it. I restrained myself to a one-chapter a day rule, like I do with all my books, so as not to read them too fast...and I had trouble keeping that rule! Every night I would dream about what was going to happen to Vanyel...infact, sometimes I dreamt I WAS Vanyel and I would wake up crying. It may seem weird, but it's true. That's how much I enjoyed the story...and I strongly recommend with every fiber of my being that you should read this book! It's so...well written. It's truly amazing.
Rating:
Summary: A New Brand of Magic
Review: Vanyel is an unhappy teenager that can't seem to find a place within his family. His father and cousins ridicule him for wanting to be a Bard; his mother pays attention to him when it suits her interests. Only his sister, Lissa, takes an interest in him. When Lissa leaves to go learn swordsmanship, Vanyel is left entirely on his own, friendless and even more miserable, coping with his loneliness by withdrawing into himself. One day, his father decides to send Vanyel away to be fostered with his Aunt Savil, a powerful Herald-Mage, in Valdemar's capital of Haven. Vanyel is unhappy and alone there as well. Savil is just as annoyed to have him there as he is to be there. Only when he meets and falls in love with Tylendel do things start to get better for Vanyel. Tylendel teaches Vanyel to open up and stop isolating himself from people who might care for him. Then the unthinkable happens, and Vanyel's world is up-ended. He is alone again but with newly awakened Mage Gifts that he cannot control. As he spirals downward into suicidal depression, Savil is forced to act to quickly before Vanyel and his extraordinary Gifts are lost to Valdemar forever... "Magic's Pawn" is the first book in Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy. I absolutely loved it and am looking forward to reading the next two books as soon as I can. There were a number of things in this book that stood out to me. The first was Lackey's treatment of homosexuality. I have never read a book that addresses homosexuality so directly, let alone a fantasy book that did so. I thought she portrayed it excellently and very naturally. However, if you are homophobic, I would not recommend this book to you, unless you are able to look past that and at the wonderful storyline. The second was Lackey's development of the world of Valdemar. This is my sixth Valdemar book so far (so I was somewhat familiar with its landscape), but I feel that this book would be a great place for newcomers to start. Her world is very real and well-described. I almost wish I had started with this one because I already know some of Vanyel's story from The Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy, which takes place about 600 years after this trilogy. The thing that stood out most (and which I liked the best) was the magical aspect of the book. I loved Lackey's description of the way Mage Gifts work, particularly how they heal and teach. The portion of the book dealing with the Tayledras culture and magic was particularly fascinating. It was very different from any other type of magic I have encountered in other literature. If you liked this book, I would highly recommend Mercedes Lackey's other books, most notably the Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy: "Arrows of the Queen," "Arrow's Flight," and "Arrow's Fall."
Rating: 
Summary: Square peg
Review: Vanyel lives with his family in Forst Reach where he's been emotionally and spiritually battered for his artistic nature and effeminate appearance. When his father finally tires of him, he sends him off to live with Vanyel's aunt Savil. Torn from everything he's ever known, Vanyel descends into a deep depression, which isn't helped by Savil's abrupt demeanor. Savil is a teacher and a Herald, and Vanyel hopes to possibly be a bard someday, but finds his dreams destroyed. Tylendel, one of Savil's students, feels that he can help Vanyel through his pain, and tentatively makes contact with the younger teen. Vanyel and Tylendel soon begin a romance, which is put to the test when Tylendel's twin brother is murdered. Dragged into Tylendel's plan of vengeance, Vanyel becomes the focus for a whirlwind of magical powers which ultimately changes Vanyel forever. With the loss of Tylendel, Vanyel is adrift in pain, but through the efforts of Savil and her friends, he begins to heal the many wounds he's accumulated and to discover the scope of the magical abilities that have somehow awakened inside him. The first book in the Last Herald-Mage series is quite compelling and feels almost immature in the beginning, but that is more of a reflection of Vanyel's character.
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Summary: Vanyel is a well-made character...
Review: I've read a lot of books over the years, of a variety of genres, but I can still count on one hand the protagonists that I truly took to heart. It seems to be a fine balance that an author needs to maintain in order to create such a character. At one extreme is the archetype that the character must be based on, to induce that gut-level familiarity that pulls the reader into the character's life with immediacy. But the character can't be drawn too simply, because bigger-than-life characters don't induce protective feelings in the reader. At the other extreme is complexity, and here's the extreme that many a fine literary character keels to, for it's the most human. But a loveable character cannot be so complex that it's impossible for the reader to know him or her, for that's the point when the character stops being loveable and starts being challenging. Far be it from me to denigrate the value of challenging literary characters, for they show us ourselves in the most necessarily honest light, but sometimes what is needed is simply a "friend" and I have the utmost respect for writers who are able to create characters that, if met in real life, one would want to call friend. It is a much more difficult proposition than I've probably made it sound like here; as I said before, a fine balance, particularly to make the character not only sympathetic but memorable as well. Lackey has created one such rare character in Vanyel. This first novel of a trilogy follows Vanyel's coming-of-age, in which he is sent from his father's home for the sin of being different and finally blossoms into himself under his Herald Aunt's tutelage, but not before learning some valuable lessons about love, forgiveness and sacrifice. The most compelling aspects of this novel are the protagonist's growth and the character interaction, but there are also a few excellent action scenes and a dream of future-Vanyel that promises more adventure in the novels subsequent to this one. To sum up: if you like memorably sympathetic characters who grow measurably over the course of a novel - characters like Joan Vinge's Cat, for instance - then you will probably like this trilogy.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: OH MY GOD!!!! This is possibly the best mercedes Lacky book i have read, and thats a LOT of them. I am 12 years old, and am not usually moved much by books. But i just sobbed over some of the parts in this. This is the best and i LOVE IT!
Rating:
Summary: Trilogy with emotional depth
Review: I reread the three in this trilogy immediately after completing it. The first read through, I was captivated by characters and plot, rushing through for the story. The second read was to savor the sensitive development of the relationships and the maturing of Vanyel, the protagonist, who learns to accept himself as a gay man with unique powers who still embraces his humanity. The struggle of Van's parents to accept him despite their distaste for his sexual preferences, and his need for that acceptance was beautifully developed through the books. Ms. Lackey showed a wonderful understanding of the sometimes unhappy realization that we do not always fit the socially accepted norm, the difficulty of the situation and the struggle to find love and acceptance. What a wonderful trilogy!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book
Review: I am a huge fan of Mecedes Lackey's work! This book is possibly the best of them all! I read it over and over and over again and i still cry almost every time. Im warning you if you read this book there stands a very big risk of you falling in love with Valmemar and all its characters. This is one of those book where you can have read it a million times andknow exactly what happens at every turn of the page and still cry. When 'Lendal dies it makes you want to sit there and cry over the worlds hurts. You wont be able to put this book down at all once you start it i promise!
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