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Bardic Voices #4
Four & Twenty Blackbirds
A fine feathered fiend...
A magical maniac is loose in Alanda. The victims are always women, always lower-class, and the weapon is always a three-sides stiletto, most often found among church regalia. But the killers are never churchmen, and they always commit suicide immediately after the bloody deed.
Tal Rufen is just a simple constable. But he really cares about his job, and when one of these muder/suicides happens on his beat he becomes obsessed. His superiors don't care - the victims will never be missed, and their murderers are already justly dead. But every instinct Tal Rufen has cries out that he has seen only one small piece of a bigger and much nastier puzzle.
A magical maniac is loose in Alanda. The victims are always women, always lower-class, and the weapon is always a three-sides stiletto, most often found among church regalia. But the killers are never churchmen, and they always commit suicide immediately after the bloody deed.
Tal Rufen is just a simple constable. But he really cares about his job, and when one of these muder/suicides happens on his beat he becomes obsessed. His superiors don't care - the victims will never be missed, and their murderers are already justly dead. But every instinct Tal Rufen has cries out that he has seen only one small piece of a bigger and much nastier puzzle.
423 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
82 people are currently reading
1601 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 69 reviews
September 17, 2019
A friend of mine is playing a bard in D&D so I recommended this series to him for ideas. Then I realized that it had been a long, long time since I'd read the series so I began re-reading them. I think I first read the series when it appeared in the late 90s.
I enjoyed this. Despite the grimness of the murders, there's a light touch to the story. There's an almost romance that I had a difficult time pinning down, almost as much as the characters. There's vengeance and justice. I think I needed to read a series like this.
I look forward to discussing this book with my friend.
I enjoyed this. Despite the grimness of the murders, there's a light touch to the story. There's an almost romance that I had a difficult time pinning down, almost as much as the characters. There's vengeance and justice. I think I needed to read a series like this.
I look forward to discussing this book with my friend.
December 18, 2020
It began with promise, became dreadfully dull in the middle, and finished with a lackluster fizzle.
September 10, 2024
I loved the rest of this series enough to re-read them 30 years later. I must not have read this one back then because if I had, I would have skipped it. It was a disappointment. Well written, yes, but it had absolutely no place in this series. It was gruesome, violent, had no music and very little magic beyond the corrupt magic of the bad guy, which was still very lackluster.
I’ve read a lot of Mercedes Lackey books. This is my least favorite.
I’ve read a lot of Mercedes Lackey books. This is my least favorite.
June 21, 2017
reminded me of a monkish murder mystery with only a little magic. The end tied up too quickly and very predictably.
April 7, 2023
This book starts out differently than the first 3 books in the series. Tal Rufen is a constibule in a town where murders involving women who play instruments or sing are being killed by men that don't know them and then they commit suicide, usually involving water. When he gets too involved in investigating, especially since he thinks that the weapon involved is a church weapon, he is told to stop. When the murders stop,he figures out that the killer must be headed for Kingsford.
Quitting his job, he heads for Kingsford and after telling the high bishop of Kingsford his theory, is hired by the bishop as a special investigator. High bishop Ardis agrees with Tal that a mage who has ties to the church must be involved. The main one she thinks of though should be dead. He was turned into a large, ugly black bird, the size of a man who was released when mages tried to burn down the city.
Quitting his job, he heads for Kingsford and after telling the high bishop of Kingsford his theory, is hired by the bishop as a special investigator. High bishop Ardis agrees with Tal that a mage who has ties to the church must be involved. The main one she thinks of though should be dead. He was turned into a large, ugly black bird, the size of a man who was released when mages tried to burn down the city.
February 27, 2016
This book was the weakest of the series for me, even though it had an interesting story and likable characters. The author took a different approach from the previous books. None of our main characters were musicians, and the free bards only played a background role. That wasn’t the issue for me, though. I didn’t mind the change of pace.
I enjoyed the first 20%. We’re introduced to a new character, a constable, who’s trying to solve a mystery. There appears to be a serial killer who really hates female musicians. The strange thing is that each female musician is killed by a different murderer, and that murderer then proceeds to commit suicide. At around 20%, the explanation was made extremely obvious, but the characters trying to solve the crime didn’t catch on until much later. One of the characters should have caught on right away, but she dismissed the obvious solution for nebulous reasons. That really isn’t my main complaint about the book, though. A book can still be interesting even when the reader has the answers that the characters are still seeking.
My main complaint is the excessive amount of monologues and explanations. Each character analyzes his or her decisions in excruciating detail. Sometimes the decisions were analyzed more than once, and sometimes two characters made similar decisions and so we were presented with similar analyses from each of them. These mental analyses were also kind of backwards because usually the character would analyze their decisions after they had made and acted on them. The author seemed very concerned that I understand exactly why the characters did what they did. In most cases, I didn’t need or want that much explanation because the situation just wasn’t that complicated. Normally I’m the type of reader who wants more time in characters’ heads. I like to know what they’re thinking, what motivates them, and how they see the world around them. This book, on the other hand, took things too far even for me!
You also won’t normally see me complain about padding in a story. I don’t need a tight, streamlined story that races from beginning to end and keeps me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Those books can be fun, but I also enjoy books that engage in some meandering. Give me some meaningless conversations between characters. Give me some flashbacks that aren’t strictly related to the story. Give me some side stories that have very little to do with the main plot. If the book is well-written, and if I like reading about the characters, I’ll enjoy every word of it. This book, however, was only 423 pages and yet it felt like there was only enough story to support half as many pages. The rest of it just rehashed the same things from different angles.
The book did get more interesting near the end, so it was really just the middle that I had so much trouble with. The climactic event was pretty much what I’d expected, but it was still fun to read about. Maybe it seemed more fun than it actually was in comparison with the earlier tedium. There was another small twist near the end that I really can’t talk about without spoiling anything, but it was a departure from the previous books in the series. It was even a departure from what happens in many books written by other authors. It was refreshing and unexpected.
I enjoyed the first 20%. We’re introduced to a new character, a constable, who’s trying to solve a mystery. There appears to be a serial killer who really hates female musicians. The strange thing is that each female musician is killed by a different murderer, and that murderer then proceeds to commit suicide. At around 20%, the explanation was made extremely obvious, but the characters trying to solve the crime didn’t catch on until much later. One of the characters should have caught on right away, but she dismissed the obvious solution for nebulous reasons. That really isn’t my main complaint about the book, though. A book can still be interesting even when the reader has the answers that the characters are still seeking.
My main complaint is the excessive amount of monologues and explanations. Each character analyzes his or her decisions in excruciating detail. Sometimes the decisions were analyzed more than once, and sometimes two characters made similar decisions and so we were presented with similar analyses from each of them. These mental analyses were also kind of backwards because usually the character would analyze their decisions after they had made and acted on them. The author seemed very concerned that I understand exactly why the characters did what they did. In most cases, I didn’t need or want that much explanation because the situation just wasn’t that complicated. Normally I’m the type of reader who wants more time in characters’ heads. I like to know what they’re thinking, what motivates them, and how they see the world around them. This book, on the other hand, took things too far even for me!
You also won’t normally see me complain about padding in a story. I don’t need a tight, streamlined story that races from beginning to end and keeps me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Those books can be fun, but I also enjoy books that engage in some meandering. Give me some meaningless conversations between characters. Give me some flashbacks that aren’t strictly related to the story. Give me some side stories that have very little to do with the main plot. If the book is well-written, and if I like reading about the characters, I’ll enjoy every word of it. This book, however, was only 423 pages and yet it felt like there was only enough story to support half as many pages. The rest of it just rehashed the same things from different angles.
The book did get more interesting near the end, so it was really just the middle that I had so much trouble with. The climactic event was pretty much what I’d expected, but it was still fun to read about. Maybe it seemed more fun than it actually was in comparison with the earlier tedium. There was another small twist near the end that I really can’t talk about without spoiling anything, but it was a departure from the previous books in the series. It was even a departure from what happens in many books written by other authors. It was refreshing and unexpected.
August 13, 2012
Fantasy is my favorite fiction genre. I picked up the bardic voices books because of the music theme. I enjoyed all of them, but this book stood out to me. It successfully mixed fantasy and detective genres together into a fantastic novel. I have read the book on a number of occasions and it's one of my go to books when I'm in between new novels and need some time away from my research reading. While the other books in the series focus more on action, this book is much more thoughtful. It engages the reader in the mystery and intrigue, frustrations and victories of the characters as they try to stop the murders. I'd definitely recommend this book to those who love either genre.
August 1, 2021
It was not because the same lengthy lecture about how 'serial killers' act and think is delivered almost every chapter from the moment that Tal Rufen gets to Kingsford until the end of the book; nor because of the utterly forced incipient romance between Rufen and High Bishop Ardis; nor because some explanations on who is who in the book are repeated almost identically just two paragraphs later; nor because there is no reason for title's book (except a truly forced one in the form of a children's rhyme shoehorned into one of the chapters); it wasn't even because you can take away whole chunks of the book and the story won't changed in the least (the part where Vysir talks about his night vision goggles, I mean helmet, then searches for his helmet, then finds his helmet, then boasts about his helmet, then test his helmet and concludes that he needs more practise with it, is just filler in the story). I gave 1 star to this book because there was a LOT of building up that ended in nothing. The ending is anticlimactic to say the least. It feels rushed, almost as if a deus-ex-machina was used to close de story. Revaner getting killed after a little chase by Vysir (who never gets to use his helmet), only to get the Hastur cut out from any more scenes in the book? Please! And Ardis getting suddenly and completely over her infatuation just in time to close the last chapter and leave everything as it was before Tal got to Kingsford? Then why the hell did we had to suffer and endure the adolescent lovey-dovey sacharinous eyes and self doubt of both protagonists? I'm glad I didn't buy this!
In retrospect, I think Mrs. Lackey was trying to write a thriller, complete with FBI agents and serial killers translated to her fantasy realms, but in the end she got over her head and didn't know how to finish it. Or her literary agent said 'Enough! Finish this now!' and this is what happened.
I have not read the other books in the 'Bardic Voices' series (I think), and it was a very long time ago that I read other books by Mercedes Lackey, but I seem to remember her stories were much better than this one.
After this, I'm dreading a re-read of any of her books and I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
(This is what I get for reading anything named "Four and twenty blackbirds" that I could get my hands on. Bad idea! I still can't convince myself to finish the one by Cherie Priest by the same name.)
In retrospect, I think Mrs. Lackey was trying to write a thriller, complete with FBI agents and serial killers translated to her fantasy realms, but in the end she got over her head and didn't know how to finish it. Or her literary agent said 'Enough! Finish this right now!' and this is what happened.
I have not read the other books in the 'Bardic Voices' series (I think), and it was a very long time ago that I read other books by Mercedes Lackey, but I seem to remember her stories were much better than this one.
After this, I'm dreading a re-read of any of her books and I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
(This is what I get for reading anything I could find named "Four and twenty blackbirds". Bad idea! I still can't convince myself to finish the one written by Cherie Priest by the same name.)
In retrospect, I think Mrs. Lackey was trying to write a thriller, complete with FBI agents and serial killers translated to her fantasy realms, but in the end she got over her head and didn't know how to finish it. Or her literary agent said 'Enough! Finish this now!' and this is what happened.
I have not read the other books in the 'Bardic Voices' series (I think), and it was a very long time ago that I read other books by Mercedes Lackey, but I seem to remember her stories were much better than this one.
After this, I'm dreading a re-read of any of her books and I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
(This is what I get for reading anything named "Four and twenty blackbirds" that I could get my hands on. Bad idea! I still can't convince myself to finish the one by Cherie Priest by the same name.)
In retrospect, I think Mrs. Lackey was trying to write a thriller, complete with FBI agents and serial killers translated to her fantasy realms, but in the end she got over her head and didn't know how to finish it. Or her literary agent said 'Enough! Finish this right now!' and this is what happened.
I have not read the other books in the 'Bardic Voices' series (I think), and it was a very long time ago that I read other books by Mercedes Lackey, but I seem to remember her stories were much better than this one.
After this, I'm dreading a re-read of any of her books and I'm definitely not reading the rest of the series.
(This is what I get for reading anything I could find named "Four and twenty blackbirds". Bad idea! I still can't convince myself to finish the one written by Cherie Priest by the same name.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2019
Not my favorite Lackey by a long shot.
Stories in which male detectives pursue serial killers of women are not my jam, but I decided to read this one once I heard that Ardis, Master Wren's priestly cousin, played a key role. It's sadly rare to find "women of the cloth" portrayed in fantasy; it's even rarer to find them portrayed sympathetically. (Read N.K. Jemisin's "The Shadowed Sun" for an outstanding example.) Ardis turned out to be everything I'd hoped she would be: brilliant, competent, kind, pious in the best ways, and possessed of a powerful sense of justice. I was glad to spend time in her company, and she's the reason I don't feel too much regret for the time I spent reading this book.
The trouble is that she's just not in it enough. While she may be the brains and power behind the operation to catch a serial killer who's targeting female musicians, her position as High Bishop means that other characters, exclusively male, have to do all the legwork. As a result, pages upon pages go by without any female character appearing at all except in the fleeting and brutal role of Victim. Had Visyr, the bird-like Haspur, been female (and he could have been, with absolutely no change to the plot), I would have felt a bit better. At least some other female figure would have had an active role in bringing down the revoltingly misogynist killer and his equally revolting accomplice. But no. For two-thirds of the book it's all dudes, all the time. Another problem, for me at least: the book's second half featured way, WAY too much Villain POV. The head-space of an amoral con artist who facilitates the brutal murders of women without the slightest sting of conscience is not a place where I'm eager to spend time. I spent too much of the second half feeling like I needed a bath.
Still, despite this, I can't call the book a complete feminist fail. While we're set up to expect a forbidden romance between Ardis and the book's policeman protagonist, Tal Rufen, it turns out we're really getting a story of the growth of a friendship. Neither Ardis nor Tal chooses love/marriage over the work and duty about which they care deeply, and their choice of the latter is presented as wise rather than regrettable. At the end we see that the two friends and colleagues will go on battling crime and evil together, valuing each other. The last ten pages made me happier than the entire hundred pages preceding it. That earned it an extra star.
Stories in which male detectives pursue serial killers of women are not my jam, but I decided to read this one once I heard that Ardis, Master Wren's priestly cousin, played a key role. It's sadly rare to find "women of the cloth" portrayed in fantasy; it's even rarer to find them portrayed sympathetically. (Read N.K. Jemisin's "The Shadowed Sun" for an outstanding example.) Ardis turned out to be everything I'd hoped she would be: brilliant, competent, kind, pious in the best ways, and possessed of a powerful sense of justice. I was glad to spend time in her company, and she's the reason I don't feel too much regret for the time I spent reading this book.
The trouble is that she's just not in it enough. While she may be the brains and power behind the operation to catch a serial killer who's targeting female musicians, her position as High Bishop means that other characters, exclusively male, have to do all the legwork. As a result, pages upon pages go by without any female character appearing at all except in the fleeting and brutal role of Victim. Had Visyr, the bird-like Haspur, been female (and he could have been, with absolutely no change to the plot), I would have felt a bit better. At least some other female figure would have had an active role in bringing down the revoltingly misogynist killer and his equally revolting accomplice. But no. For two-thirds of the book it's all dudes, all the time. Another problem, for me at least: the book's second half featured way, WAY too much Villain POV. The head-space of an amoral con artist who facilitates the brutal murders of women without the slightest sting of conscience is not a place where I'm eager to spend time. I spent too much of the second half feeling like I needed a bath.
Still, despite this, I can't call the book a complete feminist fail. While we're set up to expect a forbidden romance between Ardis and the book's policeman protagonist, Tal Rufen, it turns out we're really getting a story of the growth of a friendship. Neither Ardis nor Tal chooses love/marriage over the work and duty about which they care deeply, and their choice of the latter is presented as wise rather than regrettable. At the end we see that the two friends and colleagues will go on battling crime and evil together, valuing each other. The last ten pages made me happier than the entire hundred pages preceding it. That earned it an extra star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
What a great book!
This was a brilliant whodunnit, and Misty, as usual, had all her characters lined up, and ready to roll, from the very first sentence.
There were familiar characters to read about, and some new, and they mixed together in a way that brought this story to life - except when some of them died, of course! Lol
Like my favourite Valdemar books, these Bardic Voices have got to me, and they will definitely be staying on my shelves for the foreseeable future. I just hope that I can manage to find more of them as the years go by, as it would be a crime in itself, if no more of them were written.
But, in the meantime, I'll be finishing everything written by Misty, that I already have on my shelves, even though this will be my first read of them all, and the very last of the BV that I do have, is A Cast of Corbies, which should, apparently, have been read between books two and three - at least now I know which order they should be in, ready for the next time I read them all!
This was a brilliant whodunnit, and Misty, as usual, had all her characters lined up, and ready to roll, from the very first sentence.
There were familiar characters to read about, and some new, and they mixed together in a way that brought this story to life - except when some of them died, of course! Lol
Like my favourite Valdemar books, these Bardic Voices have got to me, and they will definitely be staying on my shelves for the foreseeable future. I just hope that I can manage to find more of them as the years go by, as it would be a crime in itself, if no more of them were written.
But, in the meantime, I'll be finishing everything written by Misty, that I already have on my shelves, even though this will be my first read of them all, and the very last of the BV that I do have, is A Cast of Corbies, which should, apparently, have been read between books two and three - at least now I know which order they should be in, ready for the next time I read them all!
August 27, 2018
Another re-read, although it has been a while. Part of the Bardic Voices series. This one centers on Constable Tal Rufen, who sees similarities in a group of murders of young women. He becomes somewhat obsessed with the problem, is rebuffed by his superiors, and ends up going to High Bishop Ardis, since her city is the next in line for the murderer to hit, according to Tal's conclusions. She immediately takes him into her employ and they start concentrating on the cases which soon begin appearing. The Haspur birdman Visyr, who is in the city doing mapping for Duke Arden, agrees to help them. A villain from several books ago resurfaces, and Tal and Visyr between them manage to stop him and his confederate. A slight touch of possible romance does nothing much for the story, but is also not obtrusive.
January 31, 2021
This is an earlier novel by Mercedes & it shows. It's sort of a combination: a murder novel in a fantasy/ steam age setting.
As a crime novel, it suffers from some plot goofs, like somehow they know they're looking for a triangular bladed weapon before anyone witnesses a muder and sees the weapon used.
As a fantasy, has some interesting elements, but again comes up short. The magic system isn't at all explored beyond that it exists. There is the same lack in the "delambrian" elements, which are fairly common. Also some plot errors here, such as there is a man sized flying race (non-magical), and there is a man, magically transformed into a bird of the same size that "wouldn't be able to fly because it's too big"
As a crime novel, it suffers from some plot goofs, like somehow they know they're looking for a triangular bladed weapon before anyone witnesses a muder and sees the weapon used.
As a fantasy, has some interesting elements, but again comes up short. The magic system isn't at all explored beyond that it exists. There is the same lack in the "delambrian" elements, which are fairly common. Also some plot errors here, such as there is a man sized flying race (non-magical), and there is a man, magically transformed into a bird of the same size that "wouldn't be able to fly because it's too big"
October 24, 2023
A straight up murder mystery set in a fantasy realm. This book just blended two of my favorite genres. I really enjoyed it. Again, I have not started at the beginning of a series, but at the end. Do all the books continue a tale? It doesn't sound like it. This book reads like a standalone. I think I'm okay on this one.
Tal Rufen is our intrepid constable who notices details about a series of deaths that ties them together. He has to quit his job to continue investigating. This brings him to the door of a high bishop where he unexpectedly is not only taken seriously but given a job and assistance to carry on his work. It's religion, politics, and murder all rolled up in one easy to follow story. I think I'll start book one next.
Tal Rufen is our intrepid constable who notices details about a series of deaths that ties them together. He has to quit his job to continue investigating. This brings him to the door of a high bishop where he unexpectedly is not only taken seriously but given a job and assistance to carry on his work. It's religion, politics, and murder all rolled up in one easy to follow story. I think I'll start book one next.
August 2, 2024
The hero was a dedicated and idealistic constable who had to work against his negligent and self-serving colleague and superior to solve a series of gruesome murders. Naturally, I was rooting for him from the beginning.
By the middle of the book, I was able to guess the identity of the villain and therefore rather doubtful that the rest would keep me engaged. But then it turned into a cat and mouse game between the cunning villains and the dedicated heroes and heroine ending in a climactic confrontation scene. It ended happily although more realistic than romantic.
By the middle of the book, I was able to guess the identity of the villain and therefore rather doubtful that the rest would keep me engaged. But then it turned into a cat and mouse game between the cunning villains and the dedicated heroes and heroine ending in a climactic confrontation scene. It ended happily although more realistic than romantic.
January 15, 2025
This book is unique in that it is a murder mystery in a realm dominated by magic, with touches of religion thrown in. I really enjoyed it, though parts seem unnecessarily drawn out. The author has made the main voices, a top religious mage and a really good watchman/detective, really sympathetic and admirable. Yay! It's nice to have people you really want to root for in modern fiction. The novel is clean (though with modern attitudes toward multiple sexual partners) and positive, unpredictably positive towards faith, though it's an alien religious system.
December 8, 2022
Like another review I read, there was too much internal dialogue with multiple characters mulling over same bits and it really felt like word padding.
My library only had this 3rd book and I’m sure the whole fire incident was in book 2, so maybe this one was just wrapping up those loose ends and introducing the new crime fighting characters for future books. I’m on the fence about buying the 1st 2 books.
My library only had this 3rd book and I’m sure the whole fire incident was in book 2, so maybe this one was just wrapping up those loose ends and introducing the new crime fighting characters for future books. I’m on the fence about buying the 1st 2 books.
August 23, 2021
Excellent Fantasy
I loved the progression of the plot. There was never any lags in progress. One of my favorite characters was the strong, intelligent female lead. Evil was defeated very satisfactorily.
I loved the progression of the plot. There was never any lags in progress. One of my favorite characters was the strong, intelligent female lead. Evil was defeated very satisfactorily.
February 27, 2024
Earlier M. L.
More blood and guts than some of Ms Lackey ' s fans may like. The world and characters of this series are not as appealing as Valdemar or Elemental Masters, but worth reading.
More blood and guts than some of Ms Lackey ' s fans may like. The world and characters of this series are not as appealing as Valdemar or Elemental Masters, but worth reading.
July 28, 2024
The first half of the book was so hard to get into. It's different from the first three books. If the second half hadn't gotten better I would have put it down. Definitely not one that I will ever reread.
June 2, 2025
Outstanding Lackey writing
There are more twists and turns in this story than you could ever imagine. Points of view in the story are smoothly changed and the writing is brilliant!! I am a huge fan of Lackey's work and in my opinion it is a masterpiece.
There are more twists and turns in this story than you could ever imagine. Points of view in the story are smoothly changed and the writing is brilliant!! I am a huge fan of Lackey's work and in my opinion it is a masterpiece.
October 16, 2017
It was a little too detailed. It was interesting in connecting with the prior books. Like the diligence of the policeman involved.
April 5, 2019
This was ok, fairly predictable though, but I have also read a lot of Lackeys work.
June 24, 2019
A page-turning fantasy crime novel.
February 1, 2020
I really enjoy this book. I like this world and I am sad she’s not riding in it anymore. While it is part of a series it can be read on its own.
May 15, 2022
Awesome
I have never read a bad book by Mercedes Lackey. I just wish there were more in the series. Forever fan
I have never read a bad book by Mercedes Lackey. I just wish there were more in the series. Forever fan
February 26, 2023
I like that the two characters, despite their chemistry and crushes, don't end up together; that the Bishop Ardis doesn't break her vows for him...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2024
Particularly vicious and gruesome. And again, long winded. Sigh.
December 26, 2025
3.5 rounded down
December 31, 2025
I really loved this book, but I want a different ending. Anyone who has finished will know what I mean.
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