Spirits White as Lightning

Rating:
Summary: Spirits White and Wonderful
Review: "Spirits White as Lightning" is a very intriguing book, set in the "Bedlam's Bard" series. Throughout the books, Eric Banyon (the bard in question) has grown, changed, and become a better person. He started out as a sort of young, angry-at-the-world kid, and has now matured into an older, more thoughtful and introspective man, without losing his ironic look on life or losing any of his earlier appeal. This is tough to do; I applaud Mercedes Lackey for doing it (as she started the series, and has continued it).

Rosemary Edghill is the co-writer for this book, a direct sequel to "Beyond World's End." Eric's trying to learn how to teach Bardcraft; he takes in a young student, Hosea, for training -- even though Eric is a flutist and Hosea plays the banjo. Thing is, once he gets Hosea back to his place, he finds out Hosea not only has the potential for bardic magic -- he also has the potential for Guardian magic (Guardians watch over cities and countries; bards mostly influence people more directly. Something like shades of the same thing, but the magic is normally wielded differently.)

There is also a subplot about the Unselidhe Sidhe (basically, the Dark Elves) and their meddling, and another subplot about Beth and Kory and their quest to have a natural child together. This isn't as easy at it might appear at first; Elves and humans normally do not crossbreed, and need magical assistance.

While there's lots of derring-do being derring-done (and done quite well), the main points of interest are Eric and his relationship with his new apprentice bard, Hosea, the reappearance of Kayla from earlier books, and the subplot about Beth and Kory (one of the earliest books showed their romance, which at the time seemed very star-crossed and miserable; nice to see things have settled down a mite for them).

In addition, most of the people drawn as evil aren't totally such (making it a bit more understandable to see how they trick mortal followers; they play on the instinct mortals have to believe in the best of anyone).

And there's a lot of witty by-play throughout, further enlivening the story.

I think Ms. Lackey and Ms. Edghill did a very good, thorough job here; it's a highly satisfactory sequel, which makes me want the next book, "Mad Maudlin," all the more.

Five stars. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Spirits White and Wonderful
Review: "Spirits White as Lightning" is a very intriguing book, set in the "Bedlam's Bard" series. Throughout the books, Eric Banyon (the bard in question) has grown, changed, and become a better person. He started out as a sort of young, angry-at-the-world kid, and has now matured into an older, more thoughtful and introspective man, without losing his ironic look on life or losing any of his earlier appeal. This is tough to do; I applaud Mercedes Lackey for doing it (as she started the series, and has continued it).

Rosemary Edghill is the co-writer for this book, a direct sequel to "Beyond World's End." Eric's trying to learn how to teach Bardcraft; he takes in a young student, Hosea, for training -- even though Eric is a flutist and Hosea plays the banjo. Thing is, once he gets Hosea back to his place, he finds out Hosea not only has the potential for bardic magic -- he also has the potential for Guardian magic (Guardians watch over cities and countries; bards mostly influence people more directly. Something like shades of the same thing, but the magic is normally wielded differently.)

There is also a subplot about the Unselidhe Sidhe (basically, the Dark Elves) and their meddling, and another subplot about Beth and Kory and their quest to have a natural child together. This isn't as easy at it might appear at first; Elves and humans normally do not crossbreed, and need magical assistance.

While there's lots of derring-do being derring-done (and done quite well), the main points of interest are Eric and his relationship with his new apprentice bard, Hosea, the reappearance of Kayla from earlier books, and the subplot about Beth and Kory (one of the earliest books showed their romance, which at the time seemed very star-crossed and miserable; nice to see things have settled down a mite for them).

In addition, most of the people drawn as evil aren't totally such (making it a bit more understandable to see how they trick mortal followers; they play on the instinct mortals have to believe in the best of anyone).

And there's a lot of witty by-play throughout, further enlivening the story.

I think Ms. Lackey and Ms. Edghill did a very good, thorough job here; it's a highly satisfactory sequel, which makes me want the next book, "Mad Maudlin," all the more.

Five stars. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Lackey always delivers..........
Review: As a long time reader of fantasy ,i can honestly say i have fineally quit mourning my favorite writers death and am grateful i stumbled into the world of Mercedes Lackey.Her book's deliver the right combination of fantasy with realism in a unique way giving her writing a unique twist sure to apeal to most every readers palette.A true gift the writer posesses with well formed chacters and plots and twists ,a sure drug for any fantasy,sci fi buff..........you will be hooked!!!! Cheers to a mind candy of writings.

Rating:
Summary: Elves at Juilliard and the Nakamichi Dragon
Review: Drawing on six or eight different traditions of magic and folktales, Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edgehill have poured it all in a magic cauldron and swirled up a terrific sequel to Beyond World's End. Where else can you find a blue-skinned Rick in Casablanca, or a fox with nine tails that sounds like a street huckster (wanna see what I got under da coat?) or a dragon whose main interest is his Nakamichi CD player. This book has nearly everything: gargoyles, good elves, bad elves, tyrannical music professors, and slow talking hillbilly musicians who turn into Bard Guardians. I _still_ wanna ride Lady Day. This book is complex, funny, wise, and a whacking good read.

Rating:
Summary: Eric is back in the house!
Review: Eric the bard is back, with a new tale of his adventures in New York. This time, Eric has taken on an apprentice. Bard, Hosea, and is once again battling his nemesis dark lord Aerune

I really liked this book, especially the focus on my two favorite characters' Beth and Kory. I liked the chase scenes in Vegas, the comical parts in the "Goblin Market" and the cameos from other characters. The authors have such great imaginations!

The only quibble I had with this book was the inclusion of the guardians... I don't know why, but the subplot just bored me. I hope to see less of the "Guardian" and Guardian House, in future works.

I'm also not entirely sure I care for the character of Ria, either. Ria seems to dominate almost every scene she's in.... And I prefer the other characters personalities a great deal more! Eric could do better!

Overall, another excellent work, a light hearted fantasy, and great summer reading.

Rating:
Summary: a feeling of sour disenchantment
Review: I am a great fan of Ms. Lackey but I had issues with this book. There's a lot of (for want of a better word) dissing of fantasy fans and their passion for their fantasies. That passion that makes us believe there really are other worlds, and births a million Mary Sues that we only hope we're smart enough not to inflict on the masses... anybody else get what I'm describing and did anybody else think this book speaks against it? It's hard to describe but it bothered me a lot.

Apart from that, of COURSE this is a wonderfully fun book, how could it not be? And of course I'll be buying the paperback.

Rating:
Summary: well written, confusing in some places...
Review: I enjoyed reading this, and the solution
to the "villain problem" was a surprise,
a nice change from the usual "smite him
dead" approach, but... the time-travel/
time-difference references are muddying
the waters for me. In "Beyond World's End",
which takes place "before" the events in
this book,it's implied that the whole Bedlam's
Bard series' events have taken several years,
maybe as much as a decade. The changes that
take place--Beth/Kory separating from Eric,

Beth becoming pregnant and having a child,should
have taken a minimum of three years, but NOW
apparently all this(from Summoned to Tourney to
Spirits) has happened in less than two years
"real time." It just seems like ML hasn't figured
out herself what the "timeline" is. Am I the only
one who finds this confusing?

Still a very good book(I like Hosea. Bet he's not
as stubborn as I am...) and worth buying.

Rating:
Summary: Lackey and Edghill had me ROTFL (Rolling on the Floor Laugh)
Review: I loved this book. Why? Well, normal Mercedes Lackey books are all introspection and character development... By the end she usually has a GREAT Character and nothing to do with them. Don't get me wrong, I am in NO WAY Dissing my all time favorite author, but it seems that way to me.

THIS book let these characters be in an environment that was fun and expositionary(sp?) They introduced them to such an extent that a new reader will want to find out more. I have met the characters from SerratedEdge before and was glad to meet them again, it made me want to find my old paperbacks and read the stories again.

I am not one to EVER suggest anyone read a series of books without starting at the front and working toward the end... For the first time ever I want to suggest this fourth book to my friends to read FIRST in the series!

Yes, it had a LOT of stuff taken from cartoons, Comics, DnD, and just plain Pop Culture... But THAT was the fun part. It is quite probable that Misty (Ms. Lackey) didn't know what Ms. Edghill was doing, since she claims to have missed a lot of pop culture in pursuit of writing. I had fun reading the book and picking out the pieces of Culture scattered freely about it, groaning at BAD jokes, and ROTFL at really GOOD Double Entendre.

And given Misty's REAL history, I think this is her way of saying.. "Hey! This is ALL fantasy! There is no 'TRUTH' to it! If you believe in THESE guys, You will have to believe in THOSE guys too."

Everyone has their own opinions. This is mine.

Rating:
Summary: A mamoth read but well worth it !
Review: I really enjoyed this book, even though the size of it in hardcover was rather intimidating. From the first pages I was thoroughly entranced, and I was thrilled when some of the characters from the SERRAted edge came into the novel. I really enjoyed the fast paced action, and the humour that was subtly threaded through the work. I would recommend that you read Beyond Worlds End before you try and read this novel, it would also help to read the Tannim books in the SERRAted edge and the two Bedlam Bard books.

A great read over the weekend, all I can say is that I can't wait for another book in the series (come on - there has to be another one with an ending like this!)

Rating:
Summary: Mercedes Magick
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the latestEric Banyon adventure! For me itwas a page-turner. There was a lotof good humor, interesting characters (ie. Chinthliss, the dragon, a Fox with 9 tails, Elves from the Serrated Edge series, andan unlikely Bardic apprentice) andthe ongoing relationships betweenElves and humans. It's a great read, fast and funny.