Rating: 
Summary: Severe disappointment
Review: I've been a Lackey fan for years, and this is by far her worst book ever. I've always loved the Valdemar universe and I had been excited when the "pre-history" series was coming out. I don't know if it's the influence of her husband as a co-author, but this trilogy is one that I don't think I can bear to read a 3rd time. I only read it twice because I couldn't believe it had been as awful as I'd recalled.The characters in the 3rd story are so hard to care about that it becomes nearly impossible to care about anything happening in this book. The book seemed rushed - almost as if it had been thrown together to complete the trilogy. I'd recommend reading ANY of Ms. Lackey's books before these. I still think she's a wonderful author, but don't let this trilogy be your first experience reading her work.
Rating:
Summary: Bad
Review: If one is a fan of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, "The Silver Gryphon" is helpful only insofar as you will be able to say that you own all of her books set in that world (barring the recent Owlflight books which seem to be merely another method of "milking a long dry cow" as it were). The characters are the "scions" of the previous two novels - and rather whiney characters at that. They spend their time lost in a jungle, afraid. The reader spends his or her time lost in the doldrums, bored. If one is an illustration flipper, like me, who tends to look at all the pictures before reading the plot, the "magic eating creatures" are already revealed. There are very few books that I cannot finish - this nearly became one of those (except that I had purchased it, I certainly would not have finished). If you enjoyed her Valdemar series thus far, if you read that series merely to puzzle out her world, then consider your puzzle complete and leave "The Silver Gryphon" on the shelves.
Rating: 
Summary: Not outstanding, but decent.
Review: If you like Mercedes Lackey and if you like Amberdrake and Skandranon from the earlier books in this series, read this third one. Drake and Skan are in it, albeit briefly, and it's a good "here's how the story ends" type of book. Everybody needs closure, right? In fact, I guess it's safe to say that, really, if you've been reading a series ... you should probably continue right on through the last book. Did you really need someone to tell you that??? The series is pretty much worth the read (*she typed grudgingly*) ... but the first book is the best - best characters/character development, best plot, etc. Don't expect the second two to be quite as good.
Rating:
Summary: Not outstanding, but decent.
Review: If you like Mercedes Lackey and if you like Amberdrake and Skandranon from the earlier books in this series, read this third one. Drake and Skan are in it, albeit briefly, and it's a good "here's how the story ends" type of book. Everybody needs closure, right? In fact, I guess it's safe to say that, really, if you've been reading a series ... you should probably continue right on through the last book. Did you really need someone to tell you that??? The series is pretty much worth the read (*she typed grudgingly*) ... but the first book is the best - best characters/character development, best plot, etc. Don't expect the second two to be quite as good.
Rating: 
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: It has been twelve years since the city of White Gryphon became a part of the Haighlei Empire. The kestra'chern Amberdrake and his friend, the gryphon Skandranon, and their families have lived in relative peace. Amberdrake's daughter, Silverblade, and Skan's son, Tadrith, have grown up and are now members of White Gryphon's elite guard, the Silver Gryphons. They are given their first assignment: a remote rain forest post on the Haighlei border. Despite their parents' misgivings and concern, the two set out. Along the way, a mysterious force suddenly sucks the mage energy out of their equipment, causing Blade and Tad to crash. Injured and unable to call for help, will the two be able to outrun and outwit a deadly enemy they have never encountered before? "The Silver Gryphon" is the third book in Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's Mage Wars Series. As with the previous two books, Dixon's influence on the text will be apparent to Lackey fans. It is easily the weakest of the three, although it is still a worthwhile read for experienced Valdemar fans. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Tadrith. He was a lot of fun and demonstrated all of the entertaining male gryphon quirks that have been present in Skan and Treyvan of Mage Storms and Mage Winds. I didn't like Blade so much at first, mainly because I was hoping she'd be more like Amberdrake (one of my favorite Valdemar characters), but she grew on me as the story went on. I came to appreciate her strength and courage. And of course it was a pleasure to read about Amberdrake and Skan again, even if only for a relatively small portion of the book. The action in this book was quite good. There was ample suspense as Blade and Tad were chased and hunted (I won't mention by what as some other reviews have because I feel it ruins the surprise). The climax was also very tense and exciting. My major complaint (and it really is a trend in Lackey's books) is the rushed feeling I came away with after completing the book. However, this book felt even more rushed than the others. I think this is mostly because I was expecting it to be the concluding book of a series. It really wasn't. These three books can be treated almost individually, unlike the Arrows books or Last Herald-Mage books. Bottom Line: Good for its action and suspense, but lacking in the pacing of its ending. I would really only recommend this to readers familiar with Valdemar.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: It has been twelve years since the city of White Gryphon became a part of the Haighlei Empire. The kestra'chern Amberdrake and his friend, the gryphon Skandranon, and their families have lived in relative peace. Amberdrake's daughter, Silverblade, and Skan's son, Tadrith, have grown up and are now members of White Gryphon's elite guard, the Silver Gryphons. They are given their first assignment: a remote rain forest post on the Haighlei border. Despite their parents' misgivings and concern, the two set out. Along the way, a mysterious force suddenly sucks the mage energy out of their equipment, causing Blade and Tad to crash. Injured and unable to call for help, will the two be able to outrun and outwit a deadly enemy they have never encountered before? "The Silver Gryphon" is the third book in Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's Mage Wars Series. As with the previous two books, Dixon's influence on the text will be apparent to Lackey fans. It is easily the weakest of the three, although it is still a worthwhile read for experienced Valdemar fans. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Tadrith. He was a lot of fun and demonstrated all of the entertaining male gryphon quirks that have been present in Skan and Treyvan of Mage Storms and Mage Winds. I didn't like Blade so much at first, mainly because I was hoping she'd be more like Amberdrake (one of my favorite Valdemar characters), but she grew on me as the story went on. I came to appreciate her strength and courage. And of course it was a pleasure to read about Amberdrake and Skan again, even if only for a relatively small portion of the book. The action in this book was quite good. There was ample suspense as Blade and Tad were chased and hunted (I won't mention by what as some other reviews have because I feel it ruins the surprise). The climax was also very tense and exciting. My major complaint (and it really is a trend in Lackey's books) is the rushed feeling I came away with after completing the book. However, this book felt even more rushed than the others. I think this is mostly because I was expecting it to be the concluding book of a series. It really wasn't. These three books can be treated almost individually, unlike the Arrows books or Last Herald-Mage books. Bottom Line: Good for its action and suspense, but lacking in the pacing of its ending. I would really only recommend this to readers familiar with Valdemar.
Rating: 
Summary: JUST AS good as the previous two
Review: Many people think this falls short of Mercedes Lackey's expectations...truth is, this is one of the best of them all. The only sad part is that Amberdrake, Skan, Winterhart and Zhaneel aren't used as much as the previous two, but wait! Who's this? Tadrith, Keenath, and Silverblade all grown up? Well, who'dve guessed? Tad and Blade seem to run into a bit of a problem when they get stuck in the middle of a rain forest with the Wyr--uh, shouldn't spoil it...with evil doggish-things hunting them down.
Rating:
Summary: Oops!
Review: Misty and Larry missed their stride on this one. While certain passages were spectacular, the story did not hang together well. Perhaps we know too many of the answers to the mystery in advance if we're fans of the later Valdemar books. Perhaps it's simply aimed at a younger audience from the first two Gryphon books. Whatever the case, it's just not in the same class.
Rating:
Summary: Not great, but needed
Review: No, it is not one of Lackey's best, but it is good. I suggest you read it if you plan to read any of Lackey's other books. The next in line would be "Magics Pawn." It is important to read the tales of Valdemar in order, and this book is just as important as the others. No matter what the others say, this IS a good book, and worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Skan son and Amberdrakes daughter a team?
Review: The next generation is finding adventure is not all fun and games! It seemed a good ideal to be a way, way from home, but well you have to read the rest to see the ending. In true Lackey style growing is a process of learning from the past. I hope to see more of her work in the future
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