Originally published: 1991
Page count: 446
Dates read: 5/30/23-6/17/23
2023 book goal progress: 12 out of 23
Author Challenge: Mercedes Lackey
Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.
Description on back of book:
High magic had been lost to Valdemar centuries ago when the last Herald-Mage gave his life to save the kingdom from destruction by dark sorceries. Yet now, the realm is at risk again. Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, must take up the challenge, abandoning her home to find a mentor who can awaken her untrained mage abilities. Others, too, are being caught up in a war against sorcerous evil.
Description on back of book:
High magic had been lost to Valdemar centuries ago when the last Herald-Mage gave his life to save the kingdom from destruction by dark sorceries. Yet now, the realm is at risk again. Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, must take up the challenge, abandoning her home to find a mentor who can awaken her untrained mage abilities. Others, too, are being caught up in a war against sorcerous evil.
The Tayledras scout Darkwind is the first to stumble across the menace creeping forth from the '"Uncleansed Lands." As sorcery begins to take its toll, Darkwind may be forced to call upon powers he has sworn to never use again if he and his people are to survive an enemy able to wreak greater devastation with spells of destruction than with swords.
First sentences:
"The legend: Long ago, in the days of the first King, for whom the Kingdom of Valdemar is named, it came to the King that he was growing old. Now Valdemar had led his people out of the hand of a tyrannical monarch and had no wish to see them fall again into the hands of tyranny. He knew that his son and Heir was a worthy, honest man - but what of his son's sons and theirs?"
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 9
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 3
Enjoyment - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?
Review:
First sentences:
"The legend: Long ago, in the days of the first King, for whom the Kingdom of Valdemar is named, it came to the King that he was growing old. Now Valdemar had led his people out of the hand of a tyrannical monarch and had no wish to see them fall again into the hands of tyranny. He knew that his son and Heir was a worthy, honest man - but what of his son's sons and theirs?"
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 9
Writing Style - 8
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 3
Enjoyment - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?
Review:
I was really looking forward to having Elspeth as the main character and for about the first half of the book, it was great. Then she turned into the Brat again, a teenage one at that, and she wouldn't listen to anything Skif or even her Companion would say. Of course, they didn't call her out on her shit as harshly as Talia would have, which is what needed to be done. So, unfortunately, the second half of the book was a pain to get through because Elspeth was just a stupid and selfish Brat.
Anyway - it isn't too bad because the whole book actually tells two stories and every other chapter followed either Elspeth and Skif or Darkwind and his tribe. I really enjoyed learning about the tribal cultures in the world of Valdemar - including their past and present issues. It was still good overall, I just hope Elspeth turns around again because she's currently annoying and I don't support her at all. I want to like and support the main characters I read about, and I just can't at the moment.
Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Mercedes Lackey have the last words:
"Magic isn't an answer, it's a tool, and any tool can be done without."
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