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Obsidian Mountain #1
The Outstretched Shadow
Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council.
Then he found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? The three slim volumes woke Kellen to the wide world outside the City's isolating walls. Their Magic was not dead, strangled by rules and regulations. It felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it.
Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side.
Kellen's life changes almost faster than he can understand or accept. Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world where the magical beings he has learned about as abstract concepts are flesh and blood creatures-Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom.
Especially once he learns about Demons. He'd always thought they were another abstract concept-a stand-in for ultimate evil. But if centaurs and dryads are real, then Demons surely are as well. And the one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage. Turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate?
Deep inObsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And all the world will belong to the Endarkened.
Then he found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? The three slim volumes woke Kellen to the wide world outside the City's isolating walls. Their Magic was not dead, strangled by rules and regulations. It felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it.
Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side.
Kellen's life changes almost faster than he can understand or accept. Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world where the magical beings he has learned about as abstract concepts are flesh and blood creatures-Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom.
Especially once he learns about Demons. He'd always thought they were another abstract concept-a stand-in for ultimate evil. But if centaurs and dryads are real, then Demons surely are as well. And the one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage. Turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate?
Deep inObsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And all the world will belong to the Endarkened.
31 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 8, 2003
334 people are currently reading
8242 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
431 books9,570 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 481 reviews
September 3, 2020
If you enjoy Tolkien, The Wheel of Time series, and classical fantasy - then do yourself a favor and PICK 👏🏽 THIS 👏🏽 UP 👏🏽.
That is all.
That is all.
December 13, 2012
This is a good book...in spite of the fact that it just sort of "ends". Yes plan to get the next volume as this is indisputably the first in a series.
I'm not really a dyed in the wool Lackey fan. I've found her books very much a mixed bag. Some of her books I've loved others I've not been able to get through. Many people seem to snap up and love anything and everything she writes (and I'm happy for you). I've often wished I felt that way. In this book (if you're familiar with her work) you'll see a couple of themes she's used before. That isn't a problem. If the themes are handled well and book tells a good story why would I mind? How many truly original and never before written about themes are there?
James Mallory with whom Ms. Lackey shares credit here is a fairly well know writer/ghost writer. I'm not sure who contributed what to this volume, but I enjoyed it and have already sent for the next volume. One of Lackey's strongest points (at least in the books I've liked) are her characters. The same is true here. While I found the book a bit long I was still involved with the main character and then when we pick up a second protagonist I didn't find her story distracting (though I did burn out a bit on our villainous point of view).
So, yes I can recommend this novel and I hope (hope, hope, hope) that the story holds up in the next 2 books. I will say that the climatic scene here did seem to me to run on beyond the "interest" factor. It's supposed to be building suspense and tension, but by the time we actually did reach "said climax" I was ready for it to be done. Still, not a huge problem and I greatly enjoyed the novel as a whole.
Enjoy.
I'm not really a dyed in the wool Lackey fan. I've found her books very much a mixed bag. Some of her books I've loved others I've not been able to get through. Many people seem to snap up and love anything and everything she writes (and I'm happy for you). I've often wished I felt that way. In this book (if you're familiar with her work) you'll see a couple of themes she's used before. That isn't a problem. If the themes are handled well and book tells a good story why would I mind? How many truly original and never before written about themes are there?
James Mallory with whom Ms. Lackey shares credit here is a fairly well know writer/ghost writer. I'm not sure who contributed what to this volume, but I enjoyed it and have already sent for the next volume. One of Lackey's strongest points (at least in the books I've liked) are her characters. The same is true here. While I found the book a bit long I was still involved with the main character and then when we pick up a second protagonist I didn't find her story distracting (though I did burn out a bit on our villainous point of view).
So, yes I can recommend this novel and I hope (hope, hope, hope) that the story holds up in the next 2 books. I will say that the climatic scene here did seem to me to run on beyond the "interest" factor. It's supposed to be building suspense and tension, but by the time we actually did reach "said climax" I was ready for it to be done. Still, not a huge problem and I greatly enjoyed the novel as a whole.
Enjoy.
July 21, 2014
I seem to differ from other reviewers in that I found the first part of this book to be the most interesting. The authors display the City and its culture for us, rebellious hero Kellen learns about Wild Magic, etc. After a while, the discovery slows, and the story becomes formulaic. Sadly, that only continues as the book progresses.
I found The Outstretched Shadow to be a readable YA fantasy, but it didn't go beyond that. The characters were pleasant, but not intriguing - they pretty much all fell into familiar categories. The story was more problematic, suffering from two key weaknesses. First, it was not original. That need not be a fatal flaw, but it's not helpful. Everything we see in this book, we've pretty much seen before, and the authors didn't even seem to try very hard to do anything new. Second, and more important, the story and plotting are a little too free and easy. Everything happens as it must to suit the plot, and there are virtually no impediments to progress. The descriptions are good (if they run long), but the events are entirely unsurprising. You know where this book is going halfway through, and then it's just a long, mildly diverting plod to get there.
Finally, the ending - climactic as it is - makes virtually no sense.
I intended to give this 3 stars (meaning 2.5), but as I've thought about it, I realize I come down on the other side - 2 stars (for 2.5).
Overall, harmless YA epic fantasy, but it's hard to suspend your disbelief long enough to really enjoy it. I can't recommend this when there are many better stories out there.
I found The Outstretched Shadow to be a readable YA fantasy, but it didn't go beyond that. The characters were pleasant, but not intriguing - they pretty much all fell into familiar categories. The story was more problematic, suffering from two key weaknesses. First, it was not original. That need not be a fatal flaw, but it's not helpful. Everything we see in this book, we've pretty much seen before, and the authors didn't even seem to try very hard to do anything new. Second, and more important, the story and plotting are a little too free and easy. Everything happens as it must to suit the plot, and there are virtually no impediments to progress. The descriptions are good (if they run long), but the events are entirely unsurprising. You know where this book is going halfway through, and then it's just a long, mildly diverting plod to get there.
Finally, the ending - climactic as it is - makes virtually no sense.
I intended to give this 3 stars (meaning 2.5), but as I've thought about it, I realize I come down on the other side - 2 stars (for 2.5).
Overall, harmless YA epic fantasy, but it's hard to suspend your disbelief long enough to really enjoy it. I can't recommend this when there are many better stories out there.
July 20, 2010
This book wasn't bad, but it certainly wasn't groundbreaking either. Everything about it was pretty much cliche: the plot, the protagonist, the magic system, the villans.
The story starts out painfully slow; things don't begin to pick up until about 150 pages into it. Half of that time was spent describing silly little things that don't pertain to the story in any way. Whole pages would be devoted to the description of buildings or how the plumbing system worked. I don't mind learning how your world functions, but it isn't necessary for me to know the exact layout of the floor tiles or how many vases were in the room. The other half of the beginning was spent making sure we know the protagonist was really our cliche hero (Just in case we hadn't read the back). He goes around saving kittens (not an exageration) and cleaning out wells (also not an exageration).
The plot is much the same: Kellen is the typical adolescent pariah who thinks life is unfair. But things change, he gains power, gets a quest (and an elven sidekick/mentor), saves the day, Hurray! Now, there's nothing wrong with this formula; it works as long as you add your own perspective and ideas to it. But in this case, I didn't see much that was new.
The other cast of characters were just as unorigional. You can tell who is good or evil based on what race they are. Elves are good, Demons are bad, High Mages are bad, Wildmages are good. And to illustrate their point they make sure they have the High Mages oppress someone or the Demons torture someone every time it's their turn for a chapter. And in case we hadn't figured out who was good, they make sure they have the Wildmages saving baby deer or making some great self sacrifice every few pages (slight exageration). And towards the end of the story we find out that one of the High Mages was actually working for the Demons, but I wasn't quite sure why that was a big deal because High Mages were evil anyway. That's like discovering Sauron also kicked puppies. It's bad, but we already knew that he was evil, right?
It's an okay read, it's a long way from bad, but it makes a great effort not to be original in any way. It's been a while, but I remember liking Joust by Mercedes Lackey. So I won't be giving up on this author, but I will probably be giving up on this particular series.
The story starts out painfully slow; things don't begin to pick up until about 150 pages into it. Half of that time was spent describing silly little things that don't pertain to the story in any way. Whole pages would be devoted to the description of buildings or how the plumbing system worked. I don't mind learning how your world functions, but it isn't necessary for me to know the exact layout of the floor tiles or how many vases were in the room. The other half of the beginning was spent making sure we know the protagonist was really our cliche hero (Just in case we hadn't read the back). He goes around saving kittens (not an exageration) and cleaning out wells (also not an exageration).
The plot is much the same: Kellen is the typical adolescent pariah who thinks life is unfair. But things change, he gains power, gets a quest (and an elven sidekick/mentor), saves the day, Hurray! Now, there's nothing wrong with this formula; it works as long as you add your own perspective and ideas to it. But in this case, I didn't see much that was new.
The other cast of characters were just as unorigional. You can tell who is good or evil based on what race they are. Elves are good, Demons are bad, High Mages are bad, Wildmages are good. And to illustrate their point they make sure they have the High Mages oppress someone or the Demons torture someone every time it's their turn for a chapter. And in case we hadn't figured out who was good, they make sure they have the Wildmages saving baby deer or making some great self sacrifice every few pages (slight exageration). And towards the end of the story we find out that one of the High Mages was actually working for the Demons, but I wasn't quite sure why that was a big deal because High Mages were evil anyway. That's like discovering Sauron also kicked puppies. It's bad, but we already knew that he was evil, right?
It's an okay read, it's a long way from bad, but it makes a great effort not to be original in any way. It's been a while, but I remember liking Joust by Mercedes Lackey. So I won't be giving up on this author, but I will probably be giving up on this particular series.
September 26, 2010
I'm a fan of Mercedes Lackey's books by and large, especially her early Valdemar books, and despite her being prolific I've managed to read most of them--this is the weakest book I've read by her, and I'm not sure how much to blame her co-writer, James Mallory. Some of the book's weaknesses are ones I've seen in other books of hers: mainly that she's very black and white, with little nuance in her villains and their motivations.
This story actually had a lot of original elements which makes me wish this could have been a stronger book. I liked the idea behind magic in this book, and it, and the culture of the city, raises some interesting questions.
A lot of the problem, I think, is the protagonist, Kellen, whom I found whiny and hard to care about. Another part was just pacing, I think. Too much of the story made me want to skim, just didn't hold my interest. Nor is this a very interesting treatment of elves among those I've read. Feist, Moon, and, of course, Tolkien are better bets if you're looking for a good read in High Fantasy, and Arrows of the Queen or Joust would make better introductions to Lackey.
This story actually had a lot of original elements which makes me wish this could have been a stronger book. I liked the idea behind magic in this book, and it, and the culture of the city, raises some interesting questions.
A lot of the problem, I think, is the protagonist, Kellen, whom I found whiny and hard to care about. Another part was just pacing, I think. Too much of the story made me want to skim, just didn't hold my interest. Nor is this a very interesting treatment of elves among those I've read. Feist, Moon, and, of course, Tolkien are better bets if you're looking for a good read in High Fantasy, and Arrows of the Queen or Joust would make better introductions to Lackey.
January 20, 2010
This was a beautiful story of the maturation of a naive, misfit boy, Kellen, discovering the world that has been hidden from him his entire life. I really liked the way this book included so many fantastical creatures you don't typically see included in fantasy novels such as unicorns, centaurs, fauns, sprites, etc... I really appreciated how they were also given personalities and an important place in the world other than just beautiful creatures the heros encounter. I also like the way all magic has a price meant to keep nature's balance. The main downside to this book was the overabundant descriptions of the black and white, sterile landscape of the city. The ending of the book was very exciting and I love the introduction of Vestakia's character although the unicorn, Shalkan, is still my favorite.
February 28, 2010
I generally always like the plot and characters in Mercedes Lackey's books, and this one was no exception. What keeps me from giving her books higher ratings is that there is a lot of repetition in her writing. After the hundreds of books she has written, I don't quite get why she doesn't have better editors.
That said, I do keep reading her stuff. Probably because I like the worlds she builds and the interesting plot lines. I would love them if they weren't so much work to read!
That said, I do keep reading her stuff. Probably because I like the worlds she builds and the interesting plot lines. I would love them if they weren't so much work to read!
October 15, 2021
DNF. This is just tedious and written in the older fantasy style that ... I dunno, assumes you're an idiot or something.
July 31, 2021
The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Kellen is a teen with teen age angst. His father is the head of the mages in his perfect town. The town is perfect because that is what the council of mages want. Kellen is a reluctant student and discovers an alternative forbidden magic. He butts heads with his daddy and ends up banned from the city. That is the basis of the story.
Kellen meets a sister he didn’t know he had and she teaches him how to use their magic. The story is of discovery and coming of age. Kellen surprises his sister with his adaptability. Kellen is befriended by a sarcastic Unicorn.
The three end up with Elves and Kellen is tasked with a quest to save the Elven community.
Vestikia shows things aren’t always as the seem and the value of acceptance and tolerance.
I enjoyed the book.
Kellen is a teen with teen age angst. His father is the head of the mages in his perfect town. The town is perfect because that is what the council of mages want. Kellen is a reluctant student and discovers an alternative forbidden magic. He butts heads with his daddy and ends up banned from the city. That is the basis of the story.
Kellen meets a sister he didn’t know he had and she teaches him how to use their magic. The story is of discovery and coming of age. Kellen surprises his sister with his adaptability. Kellen is befriended by a sarcastic Unicorn.
The three end up with Elves and Kellen is tasked with a quest to save the Elven community.
Vestikia shows things aren’t always as the seem and the value of acceptance and tolerance.
I enjoyed the book.
February 7, 2013
This book was surprisingly good! I shouldn't be so surprised, because I generally adore Mercedes Lackey's work, espescially her Valdemar series. But this was a different type of story, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was long, and it took a little while to get started, so you need to go into it with some patience. In fact, it felt like 65% of the book was exposition. Personally, I enjoyed its slower pace because the world building in this book was nothing short of amazing. The details in this fantasy world were described so painstakingly, they felt so vivid and real. And this book really does have a little bit of everything; magic, elves, unicorns, fighting, romance, etc... I highly recommend this book if you love well-crafted fantasy stories.
November 15, 2018
A very fun, retro 80's-style Fantasy with a nice 21st-century polish. Comfort-food reading. It is not the most original storyline but it is very well realized. A fascinating well-structured and meticulous world-building; likable characters centered on a young mage's coming of age. This is full-throated Fantasy with talking unicorns, cheerful dryads, silly fauns, mighty centaurs, and other magical beings.
I'd read this before. Or at least some of it, about 14 years ago. Didn't remember anything of it and this time I enjoyed it much, much more. A very fine and entertaining read. I've already started reading the second novel of the trilogy. Also, totally love the magnificent Todd Lockwood cover art.
I'd read this before. Or at least some of it, about 14 years ago. Didn't remember anything of it and this time I enjoyed it much, much more. A very fine and entertaining read. I've already started reading the second novel of the trilogy. Also, totally love the magnificent Todd Lockwood cover art.
May 22, 2016
This was a solid fantasy novel! I enjoyed Kellen, and the relationships he builds in his adventure. The magic system is wonderful, and I really enjoy the world! I plan on continuing on with the series!
September 7, 2018
I really liked this book! There are some weird bits, and a lot of violence! But the world-building is really really neat, and I very much like the development and writing of Kellen, the main-(ish) character.
January 26, 2011
Would I call this the best fantasy written? Of course not, it borrows many elements from all over, but what Mallory and Lackey have done with this book, is make it entertaining and captivating, and for that reason I like it very much. This book is the first in what is known as the Obsidian Trilogy and it does make a very good beginning.
Kellen is almost your average boy. Except that he's not. He's mageborn and not to just any mage, he is the son of the Arch-Mage Tavadon, leader of all the mages in the city of Armethalieh. He isn't like his father at all however. He longs for freedom and new things (market wares and the people of Armethalieh for that matter are closely controlled by the mage rulers to discourage dissent). He also isn't very good at the High Magic practiced here. That's why, when three strange books find him, he is very susceptible to what they hold. These are outlawed books in his city, books that contain the Wild Magic. He snoops into them and eventually is caught out and banished from the city. With the help of Shalkan, a unicorn sent by the wild magic to protect and guide him, he makes it out of the city's boundaries alive.
Fortune smiles on his and he is able to reunite with a sister he never knew about. But nothing stays peaceful forever, His father cannot rest with him having escaped and widens the city's borders to come after him, driving him into Elven lands. Here to are problems. An unnatural drought has taken hold of the Elven lands and they are in danger because of it. With Idalia his sister, the elves are relying on Kellen to help them and defeat whatever is behind this strange drought. With Idalia working magic from home, Kellen takes off with Shalkan and a Knight elf named Jermayan to fulfill his quest despite the dangers along the way.
It is easy to like the characters in this book. With the exception of a few, they are well written and you come to truly care for them and what happens to them. There are a few that are written very heavy handed though. Kellen's father, for example, is the biggest misogynist you'll ever read and it definitely makes him unlikeable, which is what the authors wanted.
For having been written by two writers, the writing is smooth and flows easily. The very beginning is slow to start but the book soon finds it's pace and the description is well done. There really isn't anything offensive in this book and pre-teens on up could probably read it easily. There are a few instances of adult humour, but the more innocent wouldn't get the joke.
I really like this series and eagerly look forward to reading the next in the trilogy. It may be the same old fantasy as a lot of novels, but at least it is interesting.
The Outstretched Shadow
Copyright 2003
711 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Kellen is almost your average boy. Except that he's not. He's mageborn and not to just any mage, he is the son of the Arch-Mage Tavadon, leader of all the mages in the city of Armethalieh. He isn't like his father at all however. He longs for freedom and new things (market wares and the people of Armethalieh for that matter are closely controlled by the mage rulers to discourage dissent). He also isn't very good at the High Magic practiced here. That's why, when three strange books find him, he is very susceptible to what they hold. These are outlawed books in his city, books that contain the Wild Magic. He snoops into them and eventually is caught out and banished from the city. With the help of Shalkan, a unicorn sent by the wild magic to protect and guide him, he makes it out of the city's boundaries alive.
Fortune smiles on his and he is able to reunite with a sister he never knew about. But nothing stays peaceful forever, His father cannot rest with him having escaped and widens the city's borders to come after him, driving him into Elven lands. Here to are problems. An unnatural drought has taken hold of the Elven lands and they are in danger because of it. With Idalia his sister, the elves are relying on Kellen to help them and defeat whatever is behind this strange drought. With Idalia working magic from home, Kellen takes off with Shalkan and a Knight elf named Jermayan to fulfill his quest despite the dangers along the way.
It is easy to like the characters in this book. With the exception of a few, they are well written and you come to truly care for them and what happens to them. There are a few that are written very heavy handed though. Kellen's father, for example, is the biggest misogynist you'll ever read and it definitely makes him unlikeable, which is what the authors wanted.
For having been written by two writers, the writing is smooth and flows easily. The very beginning is slow to start but the book soon finds it's pace and the description is well done. There really isn't anything offensive in this book and pre-teens on up could probably read it easily. There are a few instances of adult humour, but the more innocent wouldn't get the joke.
I really like this series and eagerly look forward to reading the next in the trilogy. It may be the same old fantasy as a lot of novels, but at least it is interesting.
The Outstretched Shadow
Copyright 2003
711 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
January 13, 2019
Rating
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory is book one of The Obsidian Trilogy. It is followed by To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls.
This first book in the trilogy starts out very promising. Unfortunately, the initial plot which I found quite riveting begins to slow and finally fall flat for me as I gave up reading about halfway through.
Kellen Tavadon, son of the most powerful mage in the Golden City, wants more out of life than the controlled, sanitized life given to him by his father and the other ruling mages of the City. He finds more than he bargained for when he happens upon the three books of Wild Magic.
Wild Magic differs from the traditional magic performed by the City's mages in that it is easier, requires less preparation, is in some ways more powerful, but ultimately was banned long ago by the mages of the Golden City because it exacts a price that is sometimes too high to pay. Kellen soon learns there is even more to it than that when he is discovered practicing this forbidden magic and banished from the City and its utopian way of life. This is all well and fine with Kellen. Others have been expelled from the city and, he imagines, gone on to lead a new, independent existence free from the stifling rules of the mages. He comes to find out, though, that of those previously banished, none still live, for the mages set an Outlaw Hunt in pursuit of him: a pack of stone golem hounds whose only purpose is to kill those expelled from the City.
This is a great premise and the story does well up until the point where Kellen settles into a life free from his father's influence. He begins to delve further into Wild Magic, albeit slowly, and discovers there is an entire world of fascinating people living outside the borders of the City. The problem is that the story settles far too much into the mundane. Meeting new neighbors, attending fairs, chopping wood, observing Kellen's sister, who is a healer, going about her daily routine. In a way, I found the manner in which Kellen settles in with his sister to be a bit… unwholesome; I think the sister character's part would have been better served as a non-blood relation.
I read some reviews on the second book in the series, To Light A Candle. Those reviews claim the second book picks up the pace. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the end of The Outstretched Shadow, so I won't be getting to see that for myself.
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory is book one of The Obsidian Trilogy. It is followed by To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls.
This first book in the trilogy starts out very promising. Unfortunately, the initial plot which I found quite riveting begins to slow and finally fall flat for me as I gave up reading about halfway through.
Kellen Tavadon, son of the most powerful mage in the Golden City, wants more out of life than the controlled, sanitized life given to him by his father and the other ruling mages of the City. He finds more than he bargained for when he happens upon the three books of Wild Magic.
Wild Magic differs from the traditional magic performed by the City's mages in that it is easier, requires less preparation, is in some ways more powerful, but ultimately was banned long ago by the mages of the Golden City because it exacts a price that is sometimes too high to pay. Kellen soon learns there is even more to it than that when he is discovered practicing this forbidden magic and banished from the City and its utopian way of life. This is all well and fine with Kellen. Others have been expelled from the city and, he imagines, gone on to lead a new, independent existence free from the stifling rules of the mages. He comes to find out, though, that of those previously banished, none still live, for the mages set an Outlaw Hunt in pursuit of him: a pack of stone golem hounds whose only purpose is to kill those expelled from the City.
This is a great premise and the story does well up until the point where Kellen settles into a life free from his father's influence. He begins to delve further into Wild Magic, albeit slowly, and discovers there is an entire world of fascinating people living outside the borders of the City. The problem is that the story settles far too much into the mundane. Meeting new neighbors, attending fairs, chopping wood, observing Kellen's sister, who is a healer, going about her daily routine. In a way, I found the manner in which Kellen settles in with his sister to be a bit… unwholesome; I think the sister character's part would have been better served as a non-blood relation.
I read some reviews on the second book in the series, To Light A Candle. Those reviews claim the second book picks up the pace. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the end of The Outstretched Shadow, so I won't be getting to see that for myself.
May 14, 2012
It had been a very long time since I'd read any Mercedes Lackey books. I loved her heralds books (especially the first set), but over time I got tired of talking animals, and what seemed to be the same characters repeated over and over, whether wearing heralds' whites, skins and feathers, or court robes. And then there is the sometimes interminable detail of scenery, domestic decoration, and attire.
But, for some reason, I picked this up.
Wow. Talking "animals." And a heroine most comfortable in tanned deerhide. And an annoying, talented adolescent on his way to saving the world (another Lackey trope). And interminable description. And then there are the Tolkeinesque ripoffs--like a race bred by the bad guys that take the noblest race and corrupt it both to horrify and destroy. And the sense that this could be the last age of a world filled with elves and "Other Folk."
But repeated elements in fiction don't have to doom a book to a mechanical rearrangement of tropes and stock characters. This book also reminds me of all the reasons I read the Heralds of Valdemar. It is a rich, varied world she and James Mallory have created. The characters are round and complex enough to keep our interest. The bad guys are thoroughly evil, but fascinating to watch as they exercise a certain brilliance to achieve the worst possible goals. And the plot, while not wholly original, is presented deftly.
At the end of this semester, my best student asked for a list of recommended reading over the summer. I knew her taste ran to Fantasy and Science Fiction. I recommended that she read this book, particularly since she was not familiar with Lackey's work. It may not be perfect--but it's good.
But, for some reason, I picked this up.
Wow. Talking "animals." And a heroine most comfortable in tanned deerhide. And an annoying, talented adolescent on his way to saving the world (another Lackey trope). And interminable description. And then there are the Tolkeinesque ripoffs--like a race bred by the bad guys that take the noblest race and corrupt it both to horrify and destroy. And the sense that this could be the last age of a world filled with elves and "Other Folk."
But repeated elements in fiction don't have to doom a book to a mechanical rearrangement of tropes and stock characters. This book also reminds me of all the reasons I read the Heralds of Valdemar. It is a rich, varied world she and James Mallory have created. The characters are round and complex enough to keep our interest. The bad guys are thoroughly evil, but fascinating to watch as they exercise a certain brilliance to achieve the worst possible goals. And the plot, while not wholly original, is presented deftly.
At the end of this semester, my best student asked for a list of recommended reading over the summer. I knew her taste ran to Fantasy and Science Fiction. I recommended that she read this book, particularly since she was not familiar with Lackey's work. It may not be perfect--but it's good.
April 17, 2012
I've read a lot of Mercedes Lackey's books, and though I can't say she doesn't have very many shortcomings as an author, I've only highest praise for her imagination. Though not very original, her stories are very enjoyable, her characters likable, her world-building fun. That is true for this story too, so I would recommend it to fantasy-lovers, but not the ones too picky about language or simplifying characters or situations. For instance, for half a book I was really bothered by childish behavior of some of the characters: Kellan and his father, mostly. Then I said to myself, well, ok, Kellen is, in fact, a child, so his behavior, whining and redundant monologues, though irritating are passable. His father too is in some ways a child - sheltered adult made king of the sand castle with nobody to offer the least resistance to his will. But I honestly don't think that kind of analysis went into the story, it may be just the sin of oversimplifying the story.
But, that said, I found a lot to like so far: world is promising, characters rather sweet, lot of magical creatures and races we have yet to explore, and overall story that is bound to be very interesting.
EDIT: I decided to mark this book with 4 stars. Not because of quality of the writing. I still don't like black and white view of good and evil. But to give it any less would imply that I didn't enjoy the story, despite the many faults, and that is not true.
But, that said, I found a lot to like so far: world is promising, characters rather sweet, lot of magical creatures and races we have yet to explore, and overall story that is bound to be very interesting.
EDIT: I decided to mark this book with 4 stars. Not because of quality of the writing. I still don't like black and white view of good and evil. But to give it any less would imply that I didn't enjoy the story, despite the many faults, and that is not true.
March 24, 2010
I liked the story and the characters very much; and I loved the concept of wild magic in this book. But so much of the book was taken up by the mental anguish of its main character, Kellen Tavadon, that it began to feel like filler -- something added to make the book thicker.
Granted Kellen has been torn from his insular urban existence and thrown into the wide world of wild magic, and his struggles to find the truth between these conflicting worlds are important to the story. But I have enough of a problem dealing with my own monkey mind without the additional trauma of being told in excruciating detail every doubt, thought, and emotion in the mind of a seventeen year old boy whenever something new happens to him. Not to mention that floating in timelessness feeling I get when authors stop in the middle of a life and death struggle to give me a 15 minute description of what must have passed through the character's mind in a instant.
Happily the next two books in this series are unavailable in audio so I don't have to decide whether or not to continue on to book #2.
Granted Kellen has been torn from his insular urban existence and thrown into the wide world of wild magic, and his struggles to find the truth between these conflicting worlds are important to the story. But I have enough of a problem dealing with my own monkey mind without the additional trauma of being told in excruciating detail every doubt, thought, and emotion in the mind of a seventeen year old boy whenever something new happens to him. Not to mention that floating in timelessness feeling I get when authors stop in the middle of a life and death struggle to give me a 15 minute description of what must have passed through the character's mind in a instant.
Happily the next two books in this series are unavailable in audio so I don't have to decide whether or not to continue on to book #2.
April 9, 2013
This is not one of Lackey's better books. The Outstretched Shadow is much longer than it should be, mostly due to over-description, and the hero's unending, repetitive, and unnecessary inner turmoil about whether or not he's going to the dark side (when it's perfectly clear that he hasn't an evil bone in his body).
March 12, 2013
I really enjoyed this trilogy of books, and actually am sad it is finished. I would have loved to find out more about how Kellan and Vestokia progressed and about the changes the high mages made in their city etc.
September 5, 2010
And yet another Lackey-created world! I'd love to chat with this woman...she must be incredibly fascinating.
Amazing tale of how fear can repress a society.
Amazing tale of how fear can repress a society.
December 11, 2011
This book had a REALLY slow start, but I absolutely loved it!!!
January 27, 2026
A long, long time ago, I read this book as a freshman in high school. It was the first adult fantasy novel I’d come across, and I was obsessed with it. I was about halfway through the sequel when my then-cult-indoctrinated parents decided that demons might be influencing me via these books, so the books annnd my extended edition LOTR DVDs all got thrown out. This was devastating to teen-me (and insulting af), but it did nothing to lessen my love of fantasy.
Eventually I bought another set of LOTR extended editions, and then finally, at the end of 2025, I bought the complete Obsidian Mountain Trilogy and started a reread.
I took my time with this book, 1) because I remembered almost nothing from my first read, and 2) because I owed it to my younger self to really sit back and enjoy it. It was wild to reenter this world. Settings I hadn’t imagined in over 20 years were suddenly real again, and just as I remembered them. It felt, in the strangest way, like coming home. My feelings toward the book have changed a lot in the years between 14 and 35, but what I can say is that it still resonates deeply with me.
The characters have heart, so much heart. Kellen, Idalia, and Shalkan were everything to me. The magic was interesting, if sometimes contrived-feeling, and the world was vast and full of life, populated with everything from centaurs to sylphs. The plot itself, though simple, was told in a captivating way, and I can’t wait to see where this adventure leads. That said, the way I cackled when I realized that Kellen’s upbringing and indoctrination was basically a mirror for what my own had been? LOL. Maybe I’d been drawn to this series for a reason back then, much like Kellen was drawn to his three books lol.
That said, I did have some issues with the prose and the storytelling, hence 4/5 rather 5/5 stars. There can be a lot of filler, at times. From what else I’ve read of Lackey, this comes as no surprise to me. I love the heart she gives her characters, and how fearless she can be in making them yearn, suffer, lose, etc, but her tales can meander quite a bit. I think The Outstretched Shadow could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter. Trimming some of the overly descriptive passages alone would’ve helped tons. I also wished that the villainous characters had a bit more depth. This was very much a good is good and evil is evil sort of cast, with very little to speak of in the way of gray. As a result, I found almost every villain to be painfully flat. Which leads into my last criticism: I personally didn’t enjoy most of the villain-POV chapters. I get why they’re there, I understand the function they serve, but I would’ve preferred less knowledge about what’s going on with the plot / more mystery, over these mustache-twirling baddies further bloating the page count.
Anyway, this has been so cozy and healing for my inner teen, and I’ll always be grateful for these books coming back into my life.
Eventually I bought another set of LOTR extended editions, and then finally, at the end of 2025, I bought the complete Obsidian Mountain Trilogy and started a reread.
I took my time with this book, 1) because I remembered almost nothing from my first read, and 2) because I owed it to my younger self to really sit back and enjoy it. It was wild to reenter this world. Settings I hadn’t imagined in over 20 years were suddenly real again, and just as I remembered them. It felt, in the strangest way, like coming home. My feelings toward the book have changed a lot in the years between 14 and 35, but what I can say is that it still resonates deeply with me.
The characters have heart, so much heart. Kellen, Idalia, and Shalkan were everything to me. The magic was interesting, if sometimes contrived-feeling, and the world was vast and full of life, populated with everything from centaurs to sylphs. The plot itself, though simple, was told in a captivating way, and I can’t wait to see where this adventure leads. That said, the way I cackled when I realized that Kellen’s upbringing and indoctrination was basically a mirror for what my own had been? LOL. Maybe I’d been drawn to this series for a reason back then, much like Kellen was drawn to his three books lol.
That said, I did have some issues with the prose and the storytelling, hence 4/5 rather 5/5 stars. There can be a lot of filler, at times. From what else I’ve read of Lackey, this comes as no surprise to me. I love the heart she gives her characters, and how fearless she can be in making them yearn, suffer, lose, etc, but her tales can meander quite a bit. I think The Outstretched Shadow could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter. Trimming some of the overly descriptive passages alone would’ve helped tons. I also wished that the villainous characters had a bit more depth. This was very much a good is good and evil is evil sort of cast, with very little to speak of in the way of gray. As a result, I found almost every villain to be painfully flat. Which leads into my last criticism: I personally didn’t enjoy most of the villain-POV chapters. I get why they’re there, I understand the function they serve, but I would’ve preferred less knowledge about what’s going on with the plot / more mystery, over these mustache-twirling baddies further bloating the page count.
Anyway, this has been so cozy and healing for my inner teen, and I’ll always be grateful for these books coming back into my life.
July 8, 2023
3.5🌟 rounded up. It was published in 2003, but it really has an 80s classic fantasy type feel to it. It was slow-going, but overall I enjoyed it. Though not enough to continue the series I don’t think, but I do own the other two so we’ll see… The focus on the young MC and keeping his chastity, while struggling with his feelings when encountering female creatures did put me off a bit tbh. 🤷🏻♀️
January 7, 2025
Am I getting too old for YA? The main character is whiny, the middle gets slow, the action is pretty sparse, quite a bit of hand-holding, almost everything gets said twice, the sarcasm attempts are juvenile and the sexual tension is forced and weird.
April 13, 2016
"The Outstretched Shadow" is a mixture of excellent plot and mind-numbing exposition that is makes for a maddening read for anyone making it through the book. Authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory collaborated in creating interesting and worth-reading characters as well as burying them with pages of padding.
The book revolves around Kellen, the disgruntled son of the Arch-Mage ruler of his home city. Finding life in the city stifling and the rule of Mages like himself based on a lie, Kellen yearns to do something else and finds the Three Books of Wild Magic, outlawed by the Mage practitioners of High Magick. After his father finds the Books, Kellen welcomes banishment but almost loses his life without the help of the unicorn Shalkan. Once free of the city, Kellen starts his study in earnest of Wild Magic with the help from his previously unknown sister, but his father's greed results in both of them running for their lives into Elven country only to find themselves in the middle of a drought, which is the opening move in a new war launched by the Great Enemy, the Endarkened.
The overall plot and the characters were very interesting, however Lackey & Mallory buried it under unnecessary padding that blogged down the pace of the book. Kellen's worry and philosophical thoughts about Wild Magic was where the padding was most visible. While this inner struggle was necessary, the amount of time and the repetition of the same paragraphs was a discredit to the authors and undermined the trust of the reader. If Lackey & Mallory had been given a descent editor, the book would have been 100-150 pages shorter and much better for it.
"The Outstretched Shadow" is overall an okay book that unfortunately could have been really good, the protagonists and antagonists are well written creating the basis for a enjoyable series. However, the unnecessary padding of the book could result in discouraging readers from even finishing the book.
The book revolves around Kellen, the disgruntled son of the Arch-Mage ruler of his home city. Finding life in the city stifling and the rule of Mages like himself based on a lie, Kellen yearns to do something else and finds the Three Books of Wild Magic, outlawed by the Mage practitioners of High Magick. After his father finds the Books, Kellen welcomes banishment but almost loses his life without the help of the unicorn Shalkan. Once free of the city, Kellen starts his study in earnest of Wild Magic with the help from his previously unknown sister, but his father's greed results in both of them running for their lives into Elven country only to find themselves in the middle of a drought, which is the opening move in a new war launched by the Great Enemy, the Endarkened.
The overall plot and the characters were very interesting, however Lackey & Mallory buried it under unnecessary padding that blogged down the pace of the book. Kellen's worry and philosophical thoughts about Wild Magic was where the padding was most visible. While this inner struggle was necessary, the amount of time and the repetition of the same paragraphs was a discredit to the authors and undermined the trust of the reader. If Lackey & Mallory had been given a descent editor, the book would have been 100-150 pages shorter and much better for it.
"The Outstretched Shadow" is overall an okay book that unfortunately could have been really good, the protagonists and antagonists are well written creating the basis for a enjoyable series. However, the unnecessary padding of the book could result in discouraging readers from even finishing the book.
August 27, 2018
This was a Long book, especially as an audio book. Thirty plus hours of listening. I got lots of laundry folded and needlework done while I listened.
It's an epic fantasy that follows the classic pattern of a young man (in this instance) who is dissatisfied with his current life and discovers that he is special and meant for something more. Then he plunges into adventure. Kellen's discovery begins with the purchase of three magically disguised books that introduce him to wild magic. The story begins early and proceeds slowly. Kellen experiments with the wild magic, which is illegal in the human city. There's lots of demonstrations of how twisted the city's high magic has become before the adventures really begin and Kellen meets a unicorn friend. (It's on the front cover, so you know the unicorn shows up sometime.) The scenes with the truly evil and disgusting villains are gross and disgusting and if I'd been reading instead of listening, I would have skimmed those pages, so I skimmed the audio too. My program has a 15-second jump, ahead or back. So I jumped. These are seriously bad, nasty, evil villains. There was a time or two where Kellen got himself all twisted up with worrying, when I wanted to reach through the speakers and smack him upside the head. Which is a good sign in a book. It means the characters have become real. This is a good read. I liked it. Off to look up the next one.
It's an epic fantasy that follows the classic pattern of a young man (in this instance) who is dissatisfied with his current life and discovers that he is special and meant for something more. Then he plunges into adventure. Kellen's discovery begins with the purchase of three magically disguised books that introduce him to wild magic. The story begins early and proceeds slowly. Kellen experiments with the wild magic, which is illegal in the human city. There's lots of demonstrations of how twisted the city's high magic has become before the adventures really begin and Kellen meets a unicorn friend. (It's on the front cover, so you know the unicorn shows up sometime.) The scenes with the truly evil and disgusting villains are gross and disgusting and if I'd been reading instead of listening, I would have skimmed those pages, so I skimmed the audio too. My program has a 15-second jump, ahead or back. So I jumped. These are seriously bad, nasty, evil villains. There was a time or two where Kellen got himself all twisted up with worrying, when I wanted to reach through the speakers and smack him upside the head. Which is a good sign in a book. It means the characters have become real. This is a good read. I liked it. Off to look up the next one.
November 30, 2017
This is a terrible fantasy novel. It has a talking unicorn in it. The characters are drab and unlikable. Humans flirt with an elves and centaurs. I guess they are compatible in this universe. There’s no build up or foreshadowing. There’s no overarching story that lends one to looking forward to the next chapter. The plot is a sort of ‘here you go’. And the reader just has to say, ‘ok, I guess.’ The whole effort is derivative and poorly written.
July 10, 2024
I've read this several times, I think this is number six, though I never finished the trilogy. This is the point of Mercedes Lackeys backlog that I paused at, and I intend to catch up with all the newer releases. Starting with The Outstretched Shadow, book one of three.
This is not an original storyline, by any means, but it's very well done. Kellan Tavadon and the other cast of characters are all playing an important role, in defeating the Endarkened, aka Demons.
It starts off with Kellan at Armethalieh, where he begins his adventure. He desires new things, tired of the same boring rundown city, full of strict rules and an even stricter father, the High Arch Mage Lycaelon.
Kellan, through his wandering and avoiding his studies, locates three books. Books of magic. The Book of Sun, the Book of Moon, and the Book of Stars. However, slight problem in that these books are outlawed, banned, and the very worst sorts of things that he could have possibly gotten his hands on, according to his father.
His father tries to convince him to let go the Wild magic, and not become Tainted, however Kellan refuses and is therefore outcast, banished and forever removed from the only home he's ever known.
What follows is an adventure, featuring unicorns, elves, fauns, centaurs, dryads, even at one point, dragons.
Kellan winds up on a quest to save the elven kingdom from an unnatural drought, and learns about demons and his own power along the way.
At the end of the book, he creates many enemies...and barely survives a great battle.
I adore Mercedes Lackey, but I know her books aren't for everyone. But if you like worlds that you can easily get lost in, I really recommend her books.
Rated: 5 ⭐
This is not an original storyline, by any means, but it's very well done. Kellan Tavadon and the other cast of characters are all playing an important role, in defeating the Endarkened, aka Demons.
It starts off with Kellan at Armethalieh, where he begins his adventure. He desires new things, tired of the same boring rundown city, full of strict rules and an even stricter father, the High Arch Mage Lycaelon.
Kellan, through his wandering and avoiding his studies, locates three books. Books of magic. The Book of Sun, the Book of Moon, and the Book of Stars. However, slight problem in that these books are outlawed, banned, and the very worst sorts of things that he could have possibly gotten his hands on, according to his father.
His father tries to convince him to let go the Wild magic, and not become Tainted, however Kellan refuses and is therefore outcast, banished and forever removed from the only home he's ever known.
What follows is an adventure, featuring unicorns, elves, fauns, centaurs, dryads, even at one point, dragons.
Kellan winds up on a quest to save the elven kingdom from an unnatural drought, and learns about demons and his own power along the way.
At the end of the book, he creates many enemies...and barely survives a great battle.
I adore Mercedes Lackey, but I know her books aren't for everyone. But if you like worlds that you can easily get lost in, I really recommend her books.
Rated: 5 ⭐
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