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Valdemar: Mage Winds #2
Winds of Change
None but the Companions remember the long-ago age when high magic was lost to Valdemar as the last Herald-Mage gave his life to protect his kingdom from destruction by dark sorceries.
But now the protective barrier set so long ago over Valdemar is crumbling, and with the realm imperiled by the dark magic of Ancar of Hardorn, Princess Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, has gone on a desperate quest in search of a mentor who can teach her to weild her fledgling mage-powers and help her to defend her threatened kingdom.
After a long journey, Elspeth has come to the Vale of the Tayledras Clan to seek training among the magical Hawkbrother Adepts. But rather than finding a nurturing environment in which her talent can flourish, she is whirled inot a maelstrom of war and sorcery as the Vale is attacked by a mysterious Dark Adept, Mornelithe Falconsbane, from out of the "uncleansed lands."
After a terrible batele, Falconsbane is subdued, but he has dealth a potential deathblow to the Tayledras. For the Heartstone, once the center of all life within the Vale and the source of magical power for the Clan, has been warped by evil spellcraft into a deadly dangerous rogue, perverting everything it touches and disabling the most powerful of the Hawkbrother Adepts.
Only Elspeth, a half-trained Mage, and the renegade Hawkbrother Adept, Darkwind, have been spared. Together they must struggle to remember long-forgotten magics and take the rogut Heartstone before the next strike of the Dark Adept. But even as they strive to save their world, the unnatural changechild daughter of Falconsbane flees with Elspeth's magical blade Need, and mysterious spirit-beings begin to haunt the paths of the Clan-home. And as the winds of change begin to blow, Elspeth and Darkwind must abandon the old ways, risking the dangers of the unknown in a desperate bid to save their peoples...
Complete with interior illustrations by Larry Dixon.
449 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1992
403 people are currently reading
2556 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,534 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
August 9, 2024
Where has this series been all my life?!
Oh, and if you want to know more about this installment (or this series), read it .
Oh, and if I ever disappear, look for me in the Vale. (Well either there or in The Plain of Fear.)
Oh, and if you're in need of a hawk-eagle who can give Oscar-worthy performances, I highly suggest you hire Hylarr. You can do so by contacting his agent Starblade, at 1-800-k'Sheyna-pets-for-hire.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
· Book 1: Winds of Fate ★★★★★
· Book 3: Winds of Fury ★★★★★
Oh, and if you want to know more about this installment (or this series), read it .
Oh, and if I ever disappear, look for me in the Vale. (Well either there or in The Plain of Fear.)
Oh, and if you're in need of a hawk-eagle who can give Oscar-worthy performances, I highly suggest you hire Hylarr. You can do so by contacting his agent Starblade, at 1-800-k'Sheyna-pets-for-hire.
👋 Until next time and stuff.
· Book 1: Winds of Fate ★★★★★
· Book 3: Winds of Fury ★★★★★
November 3, 2019
2.75 stars, rounded up.
Well, that was random. This book is the epitome of middle book syndrome. It's like Lackey knew she needed to get her characters from Point A to Point B, but she had a bunch of loose ends to tie up before she could do that. This book doesn't really have a point except to tie up those loose ends from the first book - in a rush all at the end - and tie together some lore from previous books - just because it's cool, I guess - and get Elspeth, who teeters between Queen B and Mary Sue, some much needed attitude adjustments before she goes haring off back to Valdemar with her new cool magical training.
This could have been exciting, even without really having much of a plot, but once again all the stuff that could've held this together and carry the emotions through the story happened mostly off page. Elspeth gets a dressing down about her constant PMS - and she goes off to think about it off page. Skiff has some interesting moments during his search for Nyara, but then once they're reunited - which was sweet, despite how weird that couple is - we don't really get any time with them. Why does he like her again? Aside from the magical mystical lure she had placed on her by her captor to lure guys in? That lure is gone now, so what is keeping Skiff close to her? I have no clue.
The stuff with Starblade's healing - off page. The stuff with Starblade treating Wintermoon like crap - no idea if that's resolved or not. The stuff with Darkwind was interesting enough, but took away too much time from Elspeth and Skiff - you know, the characters I followed to this story-drain of a Vale. Firesong was hilarious, and I actually liked most of the love story going on with Elspeth and Darkwind, when they weren't acting like dorks about Firesong. This is easily one of the more mature relationships Lackey has managed to write. No one even had to get drunk before sex! ... No bonus points. That should be a given, Lackey! Falconsbane is still a putz. I couldn't care less about him as a villain. He's gross and power-hungry and that's all we know about the guy after two books. Well, some other stuff that I'm sure will come back to bite our heroes in the butt later on down the road, but I can't be bothered to care.
Whoever did the digital editing for this book was clearly asleep on the job. Mornelithe and Wintermoon was misspelled at least half a dozen different ways each. So was Nyara and a few other names and words here and there. The italics often didn't stop where they should (this was an issue in the previous book of this particular series as well). Words were randomly bolded for no reason. It was annoying and didn't make me inclined to overlook this book's narrative shortcomings.
One more of these to go, and then I think I'm done with this world for good.
Well, that was random. This book is the epitome of middle book syndrome. It's like Lackey knew she needed to get her characters from Point A to Point B, but she had a bunch of loose ends to tie up before she could do that. This book doesn't really have a point except to tie up those loose ends from the first book - in a rush all at the end - and tie together some lore from previous books - just because it's cool, I guess - and get Elspeth, who teeters between Queen B and Mary Sue, some much needed attitude adjustments before she goes haring off back to Valdemar with her new cool magical training.
This could have been exciting, even without really having much of a plot, but once again all the stuff that could've held this together and carry the emotions through the story happened mostly off page. Elspeth gets a dressing down about her constant PMS - and she goes off to think about it off page. Skiff has some interesting moments during his search for Nyara, but then once they're reunited - which was sweet, despite how weird that couple is - we don't really get any time with them. Why does he like her again? Aside from the magical mystical lure she had placed on her by her captor to lure guys in? That lure is gone now, so what is keeping Skiff close to her? I have no clue.
The stuff with Starblade's healing - off page. The stuff with Starblade treating Wintermoon like crap - no idea if that's resolved or not. The stuff with Darkwind was interesting enough, but took away too much time from Elspeth and Skiff - you know, the characters I followed to this story-drain of a Vale. Firesong was hilarious, and I actually liked most of the love story going on with Elspeth and Darkwind, when they weren't acting like dorks about Firesong. This is easily one of the more mature relationships Lackey has managed to write. No one even had to get drunk before sex! ... No bonus points. That should be a given, Lackey! Falconsbane is still a putz. I couldn't care less about him as a villain. He's gross and power-hungry and that's all we know about the guy after two books. Well, some other stuff that I'm sure will come back to bite our heroes in the butt later on down the road, but I can't be bothered to care.
Whoever did the digital editing for this book was clearly asleep on the job. Mornelithe and Wintermoon was misspelled at least half a dozen different ways each. So was Nyara and a few other names and words here and there. The italics often didn't stop where they should (this was an issue in the previous book of this particular series as well). Words were randomly bolded for no reason. It was annoying and didn't make me inclined to overlook this book's narrative shortcomings.
One more of these to go, and then I think I'm done with this world for good.
August 19, 2016
http://bookslifewine.com/r-winds-of-c...
Note: There will be light spoilers for Winds of Fate in this review. Please read Winds of Fate prior to reading this review.
The ending of Winds of Fate left the K'Sheyna Vale and its inhabitants in chaos. Darkwind's father, Starblade, has been freed from Mornelithe Falconsbane's control but still deeply damaged. Nyara - Falconsbane's abused daughter - has gone into hiding with Need and the gryphlets have been cleansed from Falconsbane's taint. Unfortunately, Falconsbane is still alive, the Heartstone is still damaged and damaging, and Ancar of Hardon is still trying to consume Valdemar.
Elspeth, Skif, the Companions and the Shaman Tre'valen all are sworn in as Wing-Sib[lings] (they become members of the clan) and pledge their assistance with healing the Heartstone. As Wing-Sibs, Skif can stay in the area to search for Nyara (who he has fallen in love with) and Elspeth will receive training.
A lot of action takes place in Winds of Change: K’Sheyna Vale reaches out for help with the Heartstone and receive Firesong K’Treva, an immensely powerful and creative Healing Adept. Need takes Nyara under her wing to being both healing and training as the Shaman Kethra heals Darkwind’s father. Elspeth’s training includes border skirmishes and the reader learns that there is more to the Companions than meets the eye.
As the work on purifying the damaged Heartstone continues, Falconsbane attacks the Vale by trying to kill Starblade and destroy the Vale via a link he tied from Starblade’s life force to the damaged Heartstone. This action forces K’Sheyna to confront Falconsbane. The confrontation with Falconsbane shows everyone that the time has come to work together because they are all at risk:
The winds of change have come and they will not be denied. The three peoples come to realize their fates are tied as one. And only as one will they survive.
I really enjoy Winds of Change. Surprisingly, it’s my favorite book in the Mage Winds trilogy. I say “surprisingly” because it’s the “middle” book but I feel it really moves the plotline along. I love the background the reader gets into Need and her history as well as the story-line about Dawnfire and Tre'valen. My favorite part – hands down – is the tiny cameo by Tarma (Vows & Honor, By the Sword ).
There is a good deal of heavy-handed foreshadowing for the following Mage Storms series but it’s palatable.
Reading Winds of Change has been an excellent trip down memory lane...and not a Suck Fairy in sight. Of course, as with most Mercedes Lackey series, readers have to ignore and/or overlook continuity issues within the Valdemar universe as a whole.
Note: There will be light spoilers for Winds of Fate in this review. Please read Winds of Fate prior to reading this review.
The ending of Winds of Fate left the K'Sheyna Vale and its inhabitants in chaos. Darkwind's father, Starblade, has been freed from Mornelithe Falconsbane's control but still deeply damaged. Nyara - Falconsbane's abused daughter - has gone into hiding with Need and the gryphlets have been cleansed from Falconsbane's taint. Unfortunately, Falconsbane is still alive, the Heartstone is still damaged and damaging, and Ancar of Hardon is still trying to consume Valdemar.
Elspeth, Skif, the Companions and the Shaman Tre'valen all are sworn in as Wing-Sib[lings] (they become members of the clan) and pledge their assistance with healing the Heartstone. As Wing-Sibs, Skif can stay in the area to search for Nyara (who he has fallen in love with) and Elspeth will receive training.
A lot of action takes place in Winds of Change: K’Sheyna Vale reaches out for help with the Heartstone and receive Firesong K’Treva, an immensely powerful and creative Healing Adept. Need takes Nyara under her wing to being both healing and training as the Shaman Kethra heals Darkwind’s father. Elspeth’s training includes border skirmishes and the reader learns that there is more to the Companions than meets the eye.
As the work on purifying the damaged Heartstone continues, Falconsbane attacks the Vale by trying to kill Starblade and destroy the Vale via a link he tied from Starblade’s life force to the damaged Heartstone. This action forces K’Sheyna to confront Falconsbane. The confrontation with Falconsbane shows everyone that the time has come to work together because they are all at risk:
“All peoples face a grave threat from the same source, but three stand to lose the most; the Shin’a’in –”
“For what we guard,” he completed. That was a truism, and always had been.
She nodded emphatically. “Yes. The Tayledras, also, for what we know – and the Outlanders of Valdemar, for what they are. And somehow those threats are as woven together as the lives of the Outlanders and the Sundered Kin have become in these last few days.”
-pg243
The winds of change have come and they will not be denied. The three peoples come to realize their fates are tied as one. And only as one will they survive.
I really enjoy Winds of Change. Surprisingly, it’s my favorite book in the Mage Winds trilogy. I say “surprisingly” because it’s the “middle” book but I feel it really moves the plotline along. I love the background the reader gets into Need and her history as well as the story-line about Dawnfire and Tre'valen. My favorite part – hands down – is the tiny cameo by Tarma (Vows & Honor, By the Sword ).
There is a good deal of heavy-handed foreshadowing for the following Mage Storms series but it’s palatable.
Reading Winds of Change has been an excellent trip down memory lane...and not a Suck Fairy in sight. Of course, as with most Mercedes Lackey series, readers have to ignore and/or overlook continuity issues within the Valdemar universe as a whole.
February 24, 2018
Perhaps reading this one straight after the first was a mistake... this instalment was full of contradictions which constantly frustrated me. The writing continued to be simplistic which, again, was so at odds with the adult content. The inner dialogues of the characters in no way matched their age.... i could go on. It’s such a shame as the world was super interesting and had lots of potential. Sadly the execution let it down.
September 23, 2023
3.5/5
I definitely enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one, all of the chapters with Elspeth and Darkwind? Amazing, 12.5/10. I loved seeing Elspeth learn more about magic and see her relationship with Darkwind blossom, like I love these two so much. Same with Treyvan and Hydona! And their little ones! Then the adept from clan k'Treva was so interesting as well, especially all the things you learn about him!
All the other chapters from different POVs? uhhhhhhhhh no. Like they genuienly felt like a chore to get through and it straight up made me put the book down multiple times.
Some of the POVs *were* interesting, it just wasn't something that *I* was interested in. Falconsbane's POV literally spoiled so many things! He straight up described what he was going to do and when it switched back to Elspeth and Darkwind all the tension was gone, so when the thing happened I was here like "ohh nooo who would've ever seen this thing coming?? /s".
I definitely enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one, all of the chapters with Elspeth and Darkwind? Amazing, 12.5/10. I loved seeing Elspeth learn more about magic and see her relationship with Darkwind blossom, like I love these two so much. Same with Treyvan and Hydona! And their little ones! Then the adept from clan k'Treva was so interesting as well, especially all the things you learn about him!
All the other chapters from different POVs? uhhhhhhhhh no. Like they genuienly felt like a chore to get through and it straight up made me put the book down multiple times.
Some of the POVs *were* interesting, it just wasn't something that *I* was interested in. Falconsbane's POV literally spoiled so many things! He straight up described what he was going to do and when it switched back to Elspeth and Darkwind all the tension was gone, so when the thing happened I was here like "ohh nooo who would've ever seen this thing coming?? /s".
August 6, 2024
Strangely enough, I think in some ways I enjoyed the second volume better, even though relatively little happened, and much of what happened was mystical or set up for the next volume. But I enjoyed seeing more creatures, and Elspeth having more maturity, and less sudden character shifts for the sake of plot points. Onto the next one.
January 11, 2016
Oh, oh, oh! I haven’t been this excited about a couple in literature since Vanyel and Tylendel / Stefen from The Last Herald Mage trilogy, which was, ironically enough, written by the same author as The Mage Winds trilogy! Mercedes Lackey is nothing if not a fantasy author, but she also creates some of the most touching and memorable couples I have encountered… and I am romance cynic!
Elspeth and Darkwind. Two powerful warriors from two completely different worlds now thrown together in a joint effort to save Valdemar and Darkwind’s land, the k’Sheyna Vale, from dark and even more powerful enemies. Elspeth’s journey to find a Mage to bring back to Valdemar has brought her full circle for she has learned she is the most powerful Herald-Mage since the legendary Vanyel. But she is untrained and there is only one Mage that can teach her: the Hawkbrother Adept, Darkwind.
Darkwind has discovered he did not destroy the k’Sheyna Vale’s Heartstone as he long believed, but rather his father Starblade did, although the latter was being controlled by the ruthless Mornelithe Falconsbane – a Mage so dark and so powerful, the Hawkbrothers don’t think they can defeat him. But try they must because Falconsbane is set on acquiring the power in the broken Heartstone, and he is already virtually indestructible. What kind of terror will he cause with the Heartstone’s powers behind him?
The Mage Winds trilogy is classic coming-of-age, although Elspeth herself is already an “adult” when the series starts. But the journey she undertakes through these first two books is as coming-of-age as any Disney film, and her character grows and develops in profound ways (excepting the obvious, “oh yeah, she’s a powerful sorceress,” part).
Watching Elspeth on her journey has helped me with my own, and lessons I have (re)learned in Winds of Change helped me make some key decisions in my life. For that alone, I will love this trilogy forever. But Lackey has worked her rare brand of romantic magic again… I haven’t laughed, cried, and rooted for a literary couple more since Vanyel and Tylendel (and later Stefen), and as I mentioned above, I am a romance cynic. I roll my eyes more often than not when two people are coming together in such torrid, star-crossed stories (star-crossed for the most part because of their own tremendous stupidity), but not so with Lackey’s partnerings. Maybe because they can take their time to get there, but not because one or the other is an idiot. Maybe it’s because both partners in the couple are distinct, independent characters who have more to live for than the other person. Or maybe because the world of Valdemar is a magical universe and so much of the coupling comes from the powers around the characters…
I can’t put my finger on it, but suffice it to say: Romeo and Juliet- you two could learn a thing or two from couples like Elspeth and Darkwind, or Vanyel and Stefen.
Elspeth and Darkwind. Two powerful warriors from two completely different worlds now thrown together in a joint effort to save Valdemar and Darkwind’s land, the k’Sheyna Vale, from dark and even more powerful enemies. Elspeth’s journey to find a Mage to bring back to Valdemar has brought her full circle for she has learned she is the most powerful Herald-Mage since the legendary Vanyel. But she is untrained and there is only one Mage that can teach her: the Hawkbrother Adept, Darkwind.
Darkwind has discovered he did not destroy the k’Sheyna Vale’s Heartstone as he long believed, but rather his father Starblade did, although the latter was being controlled by the ruthless Mornelithe Falconsbane – a Mage so dark and so powerful, the Hawkbrothers don’t think they can defeat him. But try they must because Falconsbane is set on acquiring the power in the broken Heartstone, and he is already virtually indestructible. What kind of terror will he cause with the Heartstone’s powers behind him?
The Mage Winds trilogy is classic coming-of-age, although Elspeth herself is already an “adult” when the series starts. But the journey she undertakes through these first two books is as coming-of-age as any Disney film, and her character grows and develops in profound ways (excepting the obvious, “oh yeah, she’s a powerful sorceress,” part).
Watching Elspeth on her journey has helped me with my own, and lessons I have (re)learned in Winds of Change helped me make some key decisions in my life. For that alone, I will love this trilogy forever. But Lackey has worked her rare brand of romantic magic again… I haven’t laughed, cried, and rooted for a literary couple more since Vanyel and Tylendel (and later Stefen), and as I mentioned above, I am a romance cynic. I roll my eyes more often than not when two people are coming together in such torrid, star-crossed stories (star-crossed for the most part because of their own tremendous stupidity), but not so with Lackey’s partnerings. Maybe because they can take their time to get there, but not because one or the other is an idiot. Maybe it’s because both partners in the couple are distinct, independent characters who have more to live for than the other person. Or maybe because the world of Valdemar is a magical universe and so much of the coupling comes from the powers around the characters…
I can’t put my finger on it, but suffice it to say: Romeo and Juliet- you two could learn a thing or two from couples like Elspeth and Darkwind, or Vanyel and Stefen.
May 11, 2018
3.5* rounded up.
The plot, the world building, the diverse and likeable cast, the obsessed villain... It all worked together well. The book wasn't just sitting in the middle of a trilogy, it did a lot of heavy lifting to provide lore for the upcoming books, to foreshadow the next series, the Mage Storms, and to both tie things up from the first book and introduce the next.
But I'm conflicted. Super conflicted. The romantic subplot could have been satisfying, but Darkwind and Elspeth both seemed to regress at least a decade whenever they thought about each other. I want to like them, but they're both the most annoying characters in the book when they act like that.
There's no subtlety to any of the heartfelt conversations between characters, with the exception of Skif's friendship with Wintermoon (a m/m pair I could invest in, unlike the one in Storm Warning or Magic's Pawn; and unfortunately Lackey made it hyper clear that neither of them are queer) and Darkwind's new relationship with his father, and to a small degree, Kethra.
Firesong's intervention in the love triangle forming (which was, again, heavy handed) was cringeworthy. But aside from that, I actually liked him a lot, and I especially enjoyed how much he annoyed Darkwind.
I have conflicted feelings about Nyara, there's a lot of fetishizing and Healing away of trauma, but on the other hand, her arc and her growth is really satisfying, and she stands alone in the sections devoted to her really well. She definitely came into her own in this book, and it was good to see after how little we saw of her in Winds of Fate and how (mostly) one sided that view was.
Overall worth reading, but I definitely prefer other books by Lackey over this one.
The plot, the world building, the diverse and likeable cast, the obsessed villain... It all worked together well. The book wasn't just sitting in the middle of a trilogy, it did a lot of heavy lifting to provide lore for the upcoming books, to foreshadow the next series, the Mage Storms, and to both tie things up from the first book and introduce the next.
But I'm conflicted. Super conflicted. The romantic subplot could have been satisfying, but Darkwind and Elspeth both seemed to regress at least a decade whenever they thought about each other. I want to like them, but they're both the most annoying characters in the book when they act like that.
There's no subtlety to any of the heartfelt conversations between characters, with the exception of Skif's friendship with Wintermoon (a m/m pair I could invest in, unlike the one in Storm Warning or Magic's Pawn; and unfortunately Lackey made it hyper clear that neither of them are queer) and Darkwind's new relationship with his father, and to a small degree, Kethra.
Firesong's intervention in the love triangle forming (which was, again, heavy handed) was cringeworthy. But aside from that, I actually liked him a lot, and I especially enjoyed how much he annoyed Darkwind.
I have conflicted feelings about Nyara, there's a lot of fetishizing and Healing away of trauma, but on the other hand, her arc and her growth is really satisfying, and she stands alone in the sections devoted to her really well. She definitely came into her own in this book, and it was good to see after how little we saw of her in Winds of Fate and how (mostly) one sided that view was.
Overall worth reading, but I definitely prefer other books by Lackey over this one.
December 4, 2011
Winds of Change is both better and worse than Winds of Fate. The writing is substantially more even - we spend less time in Darkwind's head, which is the main problem with the earlier book. The stupid jealousy subplots are present and just as stupid - this is one of my chief pet peeves, the plot where lovers work themselves into a tizzy assuming their lover is attracted to someone else, when the reader - having access to everyone's head - knows that this is totally not the case. Total waste of my time.
Speaking of wastes of time, the villain doesn't make an appearance until 350 pages in. The book is basically a training montage for the various characters. Nothing of substance actually happens, and the "big battle" at the end feels tacked-on and far too easy.
There's some mildly interesting character development, but other than that, this book is utterly skippable even as the middle book in the trilogy.
Speaking of wastes of time, the villain doesn't make an appearance until 350 pages in. The book is basically a training montage for the various characters. Nothing of substance actually happens, and the "big battle" at the end feels tacked-on and far too easy.
There's some mildly interesting character development, but other than that, this book is utterly skippable even as the middle book in the trilogy.
March 7, 2012
I read this the first time when I was reading all the Valdemar books back in college. I've reread Talia and Vanyel's series since then but not Elspeth's. I enjoyed this book and the four stars is for nostalgia. If I were rating it as a new book, it'd be a 3.
Having read it before, it's hard to accurately review but the plot was enjoyable and I enjoyed Darkwind and Elspeth's relationship. I'd forgotten a lot until it was reintroduced and my memory was jogged. I'm looking forward to rereading the 3rd in the series as well.
I read the ebook version from B&N. I was disappointed with the number of problems with the text conversion. When the gryphons speak especially it was hard to read when double r's were converted to m's instead.
Having read it before, it's hard to accurately review but the plot was enjoyable and I enjoyed Darkwind and Elspeth's relationship. I'd forgotten a lot until it was reintroduced and my memory was jogged. I'm looking forward to rereading the 3rd in the series as well.
I read the ebook version from B&N. I was disappointed with the number of problems with the text conversion. When the gryphons speak especially it was hard to read when double r's were converted to m's instead.
February 24, 2018
Had Mercedes Lackey not been such a prolific author, I feel this particular volume would have been widely acclaimed in mainstream literature. It is probably the best of all her novels, in my eyes. It is extraordinarily rich in characters deeply fleshed out, their motivations clear, in breathing settings the reader can walk in to, and in plot development. I am impressed!
The character Darkwind has an immense appeal as an Aragorn-type character. Elspeth really comes into her own and shows a much appreciated maturity, at long last. The multitude of sentient creatures are beautifully developed and seamlessly woven into the intricate setting and plot.
Highly recommended.
The character Darkwind has an immense appeal as an Aragorn-type character. Elspeth really comes into her own and shows a much appreciated maturity, at long last. The multitude of sentient creatures are beautifully developed and seamlessly woven into the intricate setting and plot.
Highly recommended.
October 7, 2022
Okay, yes, Elspeth is training hard while learning to be less self-righteous and hot-tempered. Darkwind is becoming less of a judgmental prick and more of a partner or team player. Nyara is healing and learning how much she has to contribute. Everyone is toiling away on themselves for devotion to a shared goal. (Even Starblade! I love his arc…And the magnificent, hilarious gryphons!) But what I really need to say is that this book made me long to live in a Vale. There’s plenty of high-stakes adventure in this middle installment—not just setup for the third book—but by god, it almost felt cozy. Don’t get me wrong: there are moments of heart-stopping terror and thrilling triumph, and I often found it impossible to put down. But the sheer realness of the Vale and how welcome it felt… it just made me so happy.
November 16, 2020
I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist.
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March 20, 2015"Mercedes Lackey is one of my all-time favourite authors. Her 'Heralds of Valdemar' series is my favourite series of hers. Every now and then I re-read them. This is the second part of the Mage Winds trilogy. Herald-Heiress Elspeth and her companion Herald Skif with their Companions, Gwyna & Cymry, are at K'Sheyna Vale & have been made wingsibs. Elspeth is there to learn magic from Darkwind."
Darkwind finds Elspeth alternatingly attractive and frustrating as she seems to intuit on her magic lessons. Doesn't understand why and the royal aspect.
Skif and Wintermoon have gone tracking Nyara whom Skif is attracted to. He wants to know if it's one-sided. The battle a small pack of wyrsa.
I really like the gryphon Treyvan. His wit is subtle. But he likes to tease Darkwind about his attraction to Elspeth, which is a joy. Hydona is the perfect teacher for Elspeth. Think of a winged Kerowyn. Darkwind and Elspeth have encountered their first Changechild Dark Mage. He killed a dyheli for blood magic. They presented a united front and defeated him.
There's a nice scene with Starblade, Darkwind's father and Starblade's healer/lover, Kethra. Then Darkwind abdicates leading the scouts to replace his father as an Adept.
Next is Elspeth and Darkwind moving a very pregnant basilisk.
Basilisk taken care of. Wintermoon & Skif still looking for Nyara, who is becoming more self-reliant. Need is teaching her as well.
It appears Gwyna has been holding back some secrets from Elspeth. Could it be that she's Groveborn? Darkwind is still very much attracted to Elspeth and she, he feels has not been acting 'Princess-like'. I believe Elspeth feels same.
Elspeth & Darkwind have made love. He offered her the feather of a bird. The both have decided to continue the affair. The prose in this scene was very evocative and beautifully written."
Firesong makes his appearance. The Healing Mage is a cross between Legolas and Finnick for handsomeness and beauty. His bondbird is a white firebird. All this beauty and brains and talent, too.
"I liked how they discovered the lost tribe K'Leshya and how they worked together to defeat Falconsbane. Nyara actually took him out by using Need, the mage sword and whacking the control crystal causing Falconsbane to vanish."
September 8, 2014
I read the first book in this series first 20 years ago, when I was a teenager, and then again in 2008, on a whim. I always meant to get around to reading the rest of the series, but something always came up, so I didn't manage to get to it until now.
For all that this book is quite adult in its content, it also has an air of childishness to it. Sometimes I found that endearing, and sometimes it was annoying. I felt differently about it when I was 14 years old, but not so much now that I'm in my 30's.
I rather enjoy the plot concept and the narrative flows well. The story gets a little boggy in some parts, but it mostly moves along at a decent pace. The characters are nothing fantastic, but they're likable enough. The birds are especially amusing. The main characters do come off as too immature for their ages, however. That's sometimes distracting.
Some parts of the story are very predictable and many things fall into place too conveniently. Things seem to work out mostly as planned or expected by the characters, and when it doesn't work out, you can easily see the trouble coming.
This series seems to be nothing too serious and makes for some good light reading, especially in between more serious works when you need a break from darker material. To my understanding, these were among Lackey's first books, so it stands to reason they're not super polished masterpieces or anything. I say they're worth the read.
For all that this book is quite adult in its content, it also has an air of childishness to it. Sometimes I found that endearing, and sometimes it was annoying. I felt differently about it when I was 14 years old, but not so much now that I'm in my 30's.
I rather enjoy the plot concept and the narrative flows well. The story gets a little boggy in some parts, but it mostly moves along at a decent pace. The characters are nothing fantastic, but they're likable enough. The birds are especially amusing. The main characters do come off as too immature for their ages, however. That's sometimes distracting.
Some parts of the story are very predictable and many things fall into place too conveniently. Things seem to work out mostly as planned or expected by the characters, and when it doesn't work out, you can easily see the trouble coming.
This series seems to be nothing too serious and makes for some good light reading, especially in between more serious works when you need a break from darker material. To my understanding, these were among Lackey's first books, so it stands to reason they're not super polished masterpieces or anything. I say they're worth the read.
December 25, 2015
I had some major issues with this novel far more than I usually have with the Valdemar novels.
The character of Elsbeth was written like a spoiled brat Mary Sue. First of all, all her angst about her place and her duty did not ring true for a young woman her age who has been a herald for sometime and has seen war. She came across as teenager.
The Mary Sue came in with the whole becoming an adept mage in less then a year. Please in all the other stories it takes years for a mage to make adept status. But not Elspbeth and no I don't buy she is so much better than every other mage just because she has Vanyeal blood in her lineage.
Another thing that drove me crazy was how much telling of the story the author did instead of showing us the story. It dragged and dragged. She would also replay conversations about the same thing with different characters.
I also had some issues with the romance between Skiff and Nyrra they had sex once and suddenly they are soul mates. At least the romance between Elspeth and Darkmoon was allowed to grow in a much more believable fashion.
I intend to read the last book because I hate leaving a series unread but I am taking a break from it for awhile.
The character of Elsbeth was written like a spoiled brat Mary Sue. First of all, all her angst about her place and her duty did not ring true for a young woman her age who has been a herald for sometime and has seen war. She came across as teenager.
The Mary Sue came in with the whole becoming an adept mage in less then a year. Please in all the other stories it takes years for a mage to make adept status. But not Elspbeth and no I don't buy she is so much better than every other mage just because she has Vanyeal blood in her lineage.
Another thing that drove me crazy was how much telling of the story the author did instead of showing us the story. It dragged and dragged. She would also replay conversations about the same thing with different characters.
I also had some issues with the romance between Skiff and Nyrra they had sex once and suddenly they are soul mates. At least the romance between Elspeth and Darkmoon was allowed to grow in a much more believable fashion.
I intend to read the last book because I hate leaving a series unread but I am taking a break from it for awhile.
January 28, 2008
Lackey is one of my favorite authors ever! I started reading her in 8th grade but I will still pull out her books to reread them. Her character building is really her main strength – you want to meet her characters – which is probably why I always reach for her books as a pick-me-up, it’s like talking to old friends. Another trilogy, events occur after the "Arrows" trilogy and Lackey's writing style improves quite a bit. The reason I gave it three stars is because I have a soft sport for her earlier work!
June 16, 2015
Good story, WORST COPYEDIT EVER
I picked this series up for nostalgia's sake; I first read it years ago, and the writing and story mostly hold up.
The EDITING though, is TERRIBLE. Whoever put these books together for e-book sale should be fired. Words misspelled everywhere, with a significant predisposition towards conflating "r"s with the following letter, e's with c's and other problems. It happens thought Lackey's series and is annoying enough that I doubt I'll buy another one of her books digitally. Happily, not the case with her print books.
I picked this series up for nostalgia's sake; I first read it years ago, and the writing and story mostly hold up.
The EDITING though, is TERRIBLE. Whoever put these books together for e-book sale should be fired. Words misspelled everywhere, with a significant predisposition towards conflating "r"s with the following letter, e's with c's and other problems. It happens thought Lackey's series and is annoying enough that I doubt I'll buy another one of her books digitally. Happily, not the case with her print books.
November 30, 2025
I liked this quite a bit. Usually I dont enjoy the second books of the trilogies, they tend to be slow and drag, this one gave more insights into the characters I think. I want to say that we found out that the companions use node power in Vanyel's series at least I think we did, the revelation in Mage Winds didn't surprise me which is why I feel like we found out about it in The Last Herald-Mage.
September 28, 2020
Revisiting one of my favorite fantasy series from middle school. Notable:
- pretty impressive attitude about sexuality for the early 90s, though usually heterosexual.
- lots of badass bitches.
- everyone is very very very white. At one point a black person from somewhere “south” is mentioned in throwaway dialogue, but I’m fairly confident no non-white character ever actually appears in this series.
- classic b&w art at the head of each chapter features mullets on literally every character.
- pretty impressive attitude about sexuality for the early 90s, though usually heterosexual.
- lots of badass bitches.
- everyone is very very very white. At one point a black person from somewhere “south” is mentioned in throwaway dialogue, but I’m fairly confident no non-white character ever actually appears in this series.
- classic b&w art at the head of each chapter features mullets on literally every character.
February 2, 2023
This is one of those books that upon rereading I didn't enjoy as much as my memory of it. The attempt at romance was stilted and I ended up skimming through those sections.
The plot line does advance however, as Elspeth continues her training as a mage. Nightwind is pretty much unbearable
The plot line does advance however, as Elspeth continues her training as a mage. Nightwind is pretty much unbearable
December 6, 2021
I do like her Mage section of the Valdemar series.
December 14, 2014
I found the second book in the series to be predictable with uninteresting characters. Unfortunately, Elspeth's tale is just not as compelling as the original Valdemar series.
August 8, 2023
More cheesy talking horse (and talking bird!) fantasy. Just what I need.
October 27, 2021
The Mage Winds books are really one unit. I think the publisher just decided to spare my wrists by breaking them into three volumes.
May 13, 2019
Characterization is hit or miss in Winds of Change. While women are distinguishable and unique, male characters blend together. I confused Skif for Darkwind for several pages when I let me brain relax a little, and their backstories are nothing alike: a former street thief who is now a herald vs. a tribal person who has never been in a city and has a mage gift. Because Skif has a unique background from other heralds in THE HERALDS OF VALDEMAR trilogy, I missed his unique playfulness while fighting and proficiency at sneaking around in Winds of Change. There were other pairs of men I confused, too. The only male completely his own was Firesong, a peacockish, yet unbelievably talented, person who is creative with his gifts.
Poor male characterization is forgiven because Lackey adds many new things to her universe. Readers get more information about evil mages and where Falconsbane (and possibly others like him) comes from. We learn how tribes were scattered and split up after a huge Mage War thousands of years ago that still affect the tribes today. The place called Pelagir Hills by everyone in Valdemar is called The Uncleansed Lands by tribes people because there is blood magic in the ground left over from the Mage War that mutates animals on those lands. The tribes collect and tame the magic to make it clean again. The more information a reader has, the more she feels like part of an exclusive Lackey club.
Although I complained that two women in Winds of Fate were boiled down to sex objects, all women in this novel grow and further separate themselves as individuals, even in romantic relationships with men. Darkwind acknowledges that what he tries to teach Elspeth with her mage gift isn’t working when he sees her train with a female gryphon. In that moment, Darkwind realizes that Elspeth’s ruler is her queen mother, her Companion is a female, and her armsmaster is female. There are ways he will not connect with Elspeth in which a woman can. Nice!
Even though Nyara grows as a woman because she is away from her slave master, she must contend with Skif, who has fallen in love with her after one sexual encounter. Lame, Ms. Lackey. Twice, Nyara is under the male gaze when Skif notes that she seems less sexual, a trait created in her by her slave master that she must unlearn. Instead of being happy that she is healing, he finds her “fascinating.” As if his feelings about her are the focus of her wholeness. While Nyara grows in confidence and strength, Skif believes it makes her “all the more beautiful.” Perhaps Lackey felt that a man viewing strength as beautiful would make it fine, but Skif has turned Nyara’s personal development into something that connects to him. He makes his opinions the center of her story. His pursuit of Nyara despite her running away seems desperate, and possessive.
To soothe my frustration, Lackey gives me Elspeth and Darkwind discussing how people court each other in their own cultures, signaling their interesting in one another in a natural way that isn’t forced love or lust, or possession. It was nice to see adults talk about their feelings and then act on them in a responsible way, noting differences from expectation and reality and accommodating each other sexually and emotionally nonetheless.
The novel ends leaning forward — that is, not on a cliffhanger and not resolved — which makes me excited to read the final novel in THE MAGE WINDS TRILOGY. I hope Lackey has done something about Skif, who appears to be at the root of most of my problems with Winds of Change.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
Poor male characterization is forgiven because Lackey adds many new things to her universe. Readers get more information about evil mages and where Falconsbane (and possibly others like him) comes from. We learn how tribes were scattered and split up after a huge Mage War thousands of years ago that still affect the tribes today. The place called Pelagir Hills by everyone in Valdemar is called The Uncleansed Lands by tribes people because there is blood magic in the ground left over from the Mage War that mutates animals on those lands. The tribes collect and tame the magic to make it clean again. The more information a reader has, the more she feels like part of an exclusive Lackey club.
Although I complained that two women in Winds of Fate were boiled down to sex objects, all women in this novel grow and further separate themselves as individuals, even in romantic relationships with men. Darkwind acknowledges that what he tries to teach Elspeth with her mage gift isn’t working when he sees her train with a female gryphon. In that moment, Darkwind realizes that Elspeth’s ruler is her queen mother, her Companion is a female, and her armsmaster is female. There are ways he will not connect with Elspeth in which a woman can. Nice!
Even though Nyara grows as a woman because she is away from her slave master, she must contend with Skif, who has fallen in love with her after one sexual encounter. Lame, Ms. Lackey. Twice, Nyara is under the male gaze when Skif notes that she seems less sexual, a trait created in her by her slave master that she must unlearn. Instead of being happy that she is healing, he finds her “fascinating.” As if his feelings about her are the focus of her wholeness. While Nyara grows in confidence and strength, Skif believes it makes her “all the more beautiful.” Perhaps Lackey felt that a man viewing strength as beautiful would make it fine, but Skif has turned Nyara’s personal development into something that connects to him. He makes his opinions the center of her story. His pursuit of Nyara despite her running away seems desperate, and possessive.
To soothe my frustration, Lackey gives me Elspeth and Darkwind discussing how people court each other in their own cultures, signaling their interesting in one another in a natural way that isn’t forced love or lust, or possession. It was nice to see adults talk about their feelings and then act on them in a responsible way, noting differences from expectation and reality and accommodating each other sexually and emotionally nonetheless.
The novel ends leaning forward — that is, not on a cliffhanger and not resolved — which makes me excited to read the final novel in THE MAGE WINDS TRILOGY. I hope Lackey has done something about Skif, who appears to be at the root of most of my problems with Winds of Change.
This review was originally published at Grab the Lapels.
September 3, 2018
Again the audio book edition for Winds of Change. In my last review I failed to mention the griffins,Treyvan and Hydona, and how much I liked them for being, griffins and also the kind of kindly teachers one wants to see, particularly after the Herald's swordmasters. It helps that they are the size, I guess, of a VWbug and have scary beaks and talons, not to mention fearfully large winds and lots of powers.I never get a clear description of how they are put together, except in my own mental construction and I appreciate how her descriptions are evocative rather than definitive.
I've called this a ya book, but again it's a gritty ya book because it has survivors of genetic manipulation and sexual exploitation. And perhaps that's just one of the facts of modern youth-these things exist and we need fiction about them. Wat interests me about the survivors of the evil Mage Falconbane is the pairing Lackey does of a tribal leader, Darkwind's father, and Falconbane's own daughter, Nyara. Both have been warped, the leader internally, and Nyara within and without. It's a place in fiction that makes it clear that power and rank are no defense against evil or internal scars. Even the griffin's young have been tampered with, but somehow it isn't with the sexual blatancy of Nyara and Starblade. Starblade requires the attention of a healing shaman right down to sex therapy. Hyara, who has been altered to look like a cat, sort of a test ground for Falconbane's own alterations has taken a different path. She's just as untrustworthy to the Vale as Starblade, a sneaker plant so to speak. So she removes herself to figure out where she fits in the picture, as far from Falconsbane and hidden from those who would be her friends. Except Need, the talking sword mage, who has decided to give the wounded woman some guidance and healing.
Where Elspeth had a potting shed, Nyara has an abandoned tower where Need has taught her to hunt and fish, sew clothes and cook her food. She's also teaching her some swordsmanship and self defense, some strategy and a great deal about self esteem. I enjoyed this the same way I enjoyed Robin McKinney's Deerskin, and much moore than the mineslave heralds sojourn on the river banks in the previous series. I don't feel like Lackey's gift is in outdoor survival narratives, it is at hearths, many unusual hearths, but all consisting of that sense that makes home. And it's here that we learn of Need's backstory, which is a good one.
While Nyara is sorting herself out Elspeth is dealing with her own demons of privilege and entitlement. She and Darkson are having cultural issues, teacher student issues and sexual tension. It all works out in the end, in part because the griffins...
Always the griffins for me.
A note to aspiring authors-please make sure your characters names don't sound alike: Trevalen the shaman and Treyvan the griffin is a no go.
I've called this a ya book, but again it's a gritty ya book because it has survivors of genetic manipulation and sexual exploitation. And perhaps that's just one of the facts of modern youth-these things exist and we need fiction about them. Wat interests me about the survivors of the evil Mage Falconbane is the pairing Lackey does of a tribal leader, Darkwind's father, and Falconbane's own daughter, Nyara. Both have been warped, the leader internally, and Nyara within and without. It's a place in fiction that makes it clear that power and rank are no defense against evil or internal scars. Even the griffin's young have been tampered with, but somehow it isn't with the sexual blatancy of Nyara and Starblade. Starblade requires the attention of a healing shaman right down to sex therapy. Hyara, who has been altered to look like a cat, sort of a test ground for Falconbane's own alterations has taken a different path. She's just as untrustworthy to the Vale as Starblade, a sneaker plant so to speak. So she removes herself to figure out where she fits in the picture, as far from Falconsbane and hidden from those who would be her friends. Except Need, the talking sword mage, who has decided to give the wounded woman some guidance and healing.
Where Elspeth had a potting shed, Nyara has an abandoned tower where Need has taught her to hunt and fish, sew clothes and cook her food. She's also teaching her some swordsmanship and self defense, some strategy and a great deal about self esteem. I enjoyed this the same way I enjoyed Robin McKinney's Deerskin, and much moore than the mineslave heralds sojourn on the river banks in the previous series. I don't feel like Lackey's gift is in outdoor survival narratives, it is at hearths, many unusual hearths, but all consisting of that sense that makes home. And it's here that we learn of Need's backstory, which is a good one.
While Nyara is sorting herself out Elspeth is dealing with her own demons of privilege and entitlement. She and Darkson are having cultural issues, teacher student issues and sexual tension. It all works out in the end, in part because the griffins...
Always the griffins for me.
A note to aspiring authors-please make sure your characters names don't sound alike: Trevalen the shaman and Treyvan the griffin is a no go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
This second book of the Mage Winds series tells mostly a complete story. It builds heavily on the first book and it has many significant loose ends to carry into the final book. I recommend reading in order. It is also very much a part of the larger Valdemar universe story. In fact there are many references to other series in the Valdemar universe.
This is a long book. I could have done with at least a quarter less. A lot happens but much of it, especially in the first half, drags a little. A lot of pages are taken up with introspection and with so many characters lending a POV, that's a lot of introspection. There are five couples and several additional characters. Another problem is that there is too much magical "technobabble". Much is made of different ways to build defense spells but it seems that when it's really needed, all the innovation is forgotten. Another annoying thing is all the strategizing followed by doing it. It's repetitive. Sometimes, some of it is necessary. In this case, it often slows down the pace of the story. Still, the last third or so gets interesting.
Elspeth develops as a person thanks in part to a confrontation by Darkwind. She is still quite assertive, but learns to be less arrogant. She is also intelligent and creative. Darkwind is a focal point for most of the book, but half way through Firesong presents major competition for center stage. Skif sheds his infatuation and finds a new focus. There are so many other significant characters.
The Kindle version has many typos, some that interfere with understanding. It is also annoying that when there are changes in POV, the Kindle version doesn't show a break between paragraphs, so the change is often a shock. Also, I think this might be trying to mimic the way Gryphons' phonic speech, but often the letter R is replaced by M, which seems to make no phonic sense.
Mature themes: there is sex, but it is done poetically with almost nothing explicit. There are many references to sadistic torture used to brainwash and transform two main characters, but in this book, it seems that the author is trying to soften it because most of the references are oblique. On the other hand there are a lot of descriptions of the use of blood magic (which depends on death and suffering to product potency). There is a lot of fantasy violence.
This is a long book. I could have done with at least a quarter less. A lot happens but much of it, especially in the first half, drags a little. A lot of pages are taken up with introspection and with so many characters lending a POV, that's a lot of introspection. There are five couples and several additional characters. Another problem is that there is too much magical "technobabble". Much is made of different ways to build defense spells but it seems that when it's really needed, all the innovation is forgotten. Another annoying thing is all the strategizing followed by doing it. It's repetitive. Sometimes, some of it is necessary. In this case, it often slows down the pace of the story. Still, the last third or so gets interesting.
Elspeth develops as a person thanks in part to a confrontation by Darkwind. She is still quite assertive, but learns to be less arrogant. She is also intelligent and creative. Darkwind is a focal point for most of the book, but half way through Firesong presents major competition for center stage. Skif sheds his infatuation and finds a new focus. There are so many other significant characters.
The Kindle version has many typos, some that interfere with understanding. It is also annoying that when there are changes in POV, the Kindle version doesn't show a break between paragraphs, so the change is often a shock. Also, I think this might be trying to mimic the way Gryphons' phonic speech, but often the letter R is replaced by M, which seems to make no phonic sense.
Mature themes: there is sex, but it is done poetically with almost nothing explicit. There are many references to sadistic torture used to brainwash and transform two main characters, but in this book, it seems that the author is trying to soften it because most of the references are oblique. On the other hand there are a lot of descriptions of the use of blood magic (which depends on death and suffering to product potency). There is a lot of fantasy violence.
May 24, 2020
The second book of the Mage Winds trilogy expands on a great deal that was hinted at in the first book of the series, and includes a great many more hints about things to come. Among others, the developing romance between Elspeth and Darkwind, the further healing of Starblade, and matter of the Heartstone, Tre’valen’s thoughts and feelings towards the now-Avatar Dawnfire, and of course, Skif’s hunt for Nyara.
And the arrival of my dear dear Firesong. Honestly, who doesn’t love Firesong?
Mercedes Lackey often takes the middle of things, be they books or trilogies, to expand on things rather than to focus on big action. The initial conflict is set up in the first book, and this book paves the way for the third book. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is open to interpretation and personal taste. While many things within this book are essential to the plot, it could, realistically, been tightened and shorted and perhaps the trilogy could have been a duology.
But to have that happen, you sacrifice a lot of character development and interaction, which I personally find quite entertaining.
Especially when you learn about Falconsbane’s origins and his continued reincarnations, and you see the list of names that he once had and a familiar one just pops out: Leareth. I remember reading that passage for the first time and flashing back to the Last Herald-Mage trilogy and feeling my jaw drop in surprise at the tie-in. Leareth’s presence in that trilogy could have been easily contained within those earlier three books, but Lackey chose to bring him back, a mere mention that spoke volumes.
And fortunately, that isn’t something that fell prey to the numerous internal inconsistencies within the Heralds of Valdemar series.
Falconsbane/Ma’ar is definitely a fascinating character, once that I’ll probably talk about in depth after I finish the trilogy proper. The name he takes for himself, Mornelithe, established as meaning Hatred-that-Returns, is all too apt, and has layered meanings that make him well worthy of a discussion all on his own.
The Mage Winds trilogy, as I said previously, is definitely one that can’t be missed for anyone who likes the Valdemar books. It may not be one of my favourites, but it is fascinating, and essential to understanding a good deal of the history of the world that Lackey sets up.
And the arrival of my dear dear Firesong. Honestly, who doesn’t love Firesong?
Mercedes Lackey often takes the middle of things, be they books or trilogies, to expand on things rather than to focus on big action. The initial conflict is set up in the first book, and this book paves the way for the third book. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is open to interpretation and personal taste. While many things within this book are essential to the plot, it could, realistically, been tightened and shorted and perhaps the trilogy could have been a duology.
But to have that happen, you sacrifice a lot of character development and interaction, which I personally find quite entertaining.
Especially when you learn about Falconsbane’s origins and his continued reincarnations, and you see the list of names that he once had and a familiar one just pops out: Leareth. I remember reading that passage for the first time and flashing back to the Last Herald-Mage trilogy and feeling my jaw drop in surprise at the tie-in. Leareth’s presence in that trilogy could have been easily contained within those earlier three books, but Lackey chose to bring him back, a mere mention that spoke volumes.
And fortunately, that isn’t something that fell prey to the numerous internal inconsistencies within the Heralds of Valdemar series.
Falconsbane/Ma’ar is definitely a fascinating character, once that I’ll probably talk about in depth after I finish the trilogy proper. The name he takes for himself, Mornelithe, established as meaning Hatred-that-Returns, is all too apt, and has layered meanings that make him well worthy of a discussion all on his own.
The Mage Winds trilogy, as I said previously, is definitely one that can’t be missed for anyone who likes the Valdemar books. It may not be one of my favourites, but it is fascinating, and essential to understanding a good deal of the history of the world that Lackey sets up.
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