Helpful Score: 2
Yet now the realm is at risk again.Elspeth Herald and heir to the throne.must take up the challenge,abandoning her home to find a mentor who can awaken her untrained mage abilities.But others,too,are being caught up in a war against sorcerous evil.
The Tayledras scout Darkwind is the first to stumble across the menace creeping forth from the Uncleansed Lands.And as sorcery begins to take it oll,Darkwind may be forced to call upon powers he has sworn never to use again if he and his people are to survive on enemy able to wreak greater devastation with spells of destruction than with swords....
The Tayledras scout Darkwind is the first to stumble across the menace creeping forth from the Uncleansed Lands.And as sorcery begins to take it oll,Darkwind may be forced to call upon powers he has sworn never to use again if he and his people are to survive on enemy able to wreak greater devastation with spells of destruction than with swords....
Helpful Score: 2
Another good book, December 13, 2002
Reviewer: Myra Schjelderup "Ignolopi" (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
This book is about the heir to the throne of Valdemar, Elspeth, and a Hawkbrother, Darkwind.
Elspeth wanted to go find mages for Valdemar, which was being attacked by a neighboring kingdom (though he hadn't sent any more major attacks since `By the sword'). So, she goes to find mages, and to get trained herself (they find she has a major mage gift), only with her friend Skif and their Companions.
Darkwind is a scout for the Hawkbrothers, who used to be a mage. When they do meet, (after a while) they, Nyara (Falconsbane's daughter who hates him), and two grown griffins and their litter of three, not to mention the magic sword Need that went with Elspeth) get attacked by an evil (aren't all blood mages?) blood mage, Falconsbane. And they get whole new set of problems...
Reviewer: Myra Schjelderup "Ignolopi" (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA)
This book is about the heir to the throne of Valdemar, Elspeth, and a Hawkbrother, Darkwind.
Elspeth wanted to go find mages for Valdemar, which was being attacked by a neighboring kingdom (though he hadn't sent any more major attacks since `By the sword'). So, she goes to find mages, and to get trained herself (they find she has a major mage gift), only with her friend Skif and their Companions.
Darkwind is a scout for the Hawkbrothers, who used to be a mage. When they do meet, (after a while) they, Nyara (Falconsbane's daughter who hates him), and two grown griffins and their litter of three, not to mention the magic sword Need that went with Elspeth) get attacked by an evil (aren't all blood mages?) blood mage, Falconsbane. And they get whole new set of problems...
Helpful Score: 2
Elspeth, future queen of Valdemar, and her long-term friend, teacher, and fellow Herald, Skif, set out to locate a mage who will either train her or return with them to protect their home. Strong female characterization, vivid description, and fast-paced adventure entertain readers as good battles against evil in this first book in a fantasy trilogy.
Helpful Score: 1
Engrossing story continuing the Valdemar series of stories. In this one Elspeth a new Herald and heir to the throne undergoes training, fights off assassins, and learns that she is also a Mage. She had to join forces with Darkwind to fight off evil magic. GREAT!!!
Helpful Score: 1
High magic had been lost to Valdemar centuries ago when the last Herald-Mage gave his life to save the kingdom from destruction by dark sorceries. Yet now the realm is at risk again. And Elspeth, Herald and heir to the throne, must take up the challenge, abandoning her home to find a mentor who can awaken her untrained mage abilites. But others, too, are being caught up in a war against sorcerous evil.
The Tayledras scout Darkwind is the first to stumble across the menace creeping forth from the uncleansed lands. And as sorcery begins to take its toll, Darkwind may be forced to call upon powers he has sworn never to use again if he and his people are to survive an enemy able to wreak greater devastation with spells of destruction than with swords.....
The Tayledras scout Darkwind is the first to stumble across the menace creeping forth from the uncleansed lands. And as sorcery begins to take its toll, Darkwind may be forced to call upon powers he has sworn never to use again if he and his people are to survive an enemy able to wreak greater devastation with spells of destruction than with swords.....
I am a longtime fantasy book reader and Mercedes Lackey is always a great bet for an intricate storyline, dynamic characters and a great dose of action. This book is no different. Be ready to be wanting the next in the trilogy.
Oh - I know I said before that the Talia books or the Vanyel books were my favorites, but now, I must admit... it just may be that the Elspeth books are my favorites. Though there weren't any surprises in this re-read, it was still so exciting to read - Ma'ar/Falconsbane, Need "waking up", Nyara... all the threads are starting to come together - there are even gryphons in these books! Really, it's these next few books that the whole series seems to be working up to.
Elspeth is a willful, stubborn Valdemor princess who rides a magical talking companion that appears as a horse. As the heir to Valdemor, she journeys to find a master magician to train and control her wild magic to save her country from Ancor of neighboring Hardorn. Accompanying her is Skif, a herald experienced in fighting and surviving.
Combined with their tale is another featuring Darkwind, Tayledras mage-turned-scout, intent on defending his people's vale against invasion. When Elspeth and Skif appear in the vale he is wary of the outlanders. Can Darkwind be the mage she seeks? But her task is more because she is searching for a mage to train Valdemarans.
Considerable danger includes fighting a being who uses torture and mind control to force others to do his dastardly deeds, including the beautiful being called Nyara and Darkwind's father.
Combined with their tale is another featuring Darkwind, Tayledras mage-turned-scout, intent on defending his people's vale against invasion. When Elspeth and Skif appear in the vale he is wary of the outlanders. Can Darkwind be the mage she seeks? But her task is more because she is searching for a mage to train Valdemarans.
Considerable danger includes fighting a being who uses torture and mind control to force others to do his dastardly deeds, including the beautiful being called Nyara and Darkwind's father.
Great story from page 1!
Starts out a bit slow, but the 2nd half sucks you in. I'm on to the rest of the trilogy...
Book 1 in the Mage Winds Trilogy. Elspeth decides that the Heralds need to master magic again, so she sets out to find a teacher. Meanwhile Darkwind, a Tayledras scout, is noticing creepy stuff seems to be piling up around his lands. They both start looking for answers, and action ensues.
Would Herald Elspeth, heir to Valdemar's throne, be forced to search for a long-forgotton magic to save her kingdom from conquest by sorcery?
Further adventures of Valdemar.
