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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This is my favorite book in the Last Herald Mage trilogy. That said, I kind of hate this trilogy, so it's not saying much.
Vanyel finally quit whining in this book. One thing I will say is that Lackey does a great job at showing Van's growth and maturation over the course of the story. I didn't think Van would ever suck it up, buttercup, and quit whining all the time.
This book reads like an after school special in so many places. Van and Withen's reconciliation, for example, was so cheesy I had to go make nachos. And the lesson on how you can't choose to be "shaych," was so overdone and heavy handed. I rolled my eyes in so many places during this book. Sheesh. I can see why this series was considered groundbreaking back in the 90s, but it's just not my cup of willowbark tea.
Readers, be warned that this book does contain some quite graphic and brutal scenes. There are no explicit descriptions, but you get the gist of what's going on and that's more than enough.
I'm glad I finished the series. It's one I have meant to read for a long time. Now that I've read it, I will probably not revisit it. Ever. Because I really, really hate Vanyel. A lot.
Re-read June 2017: I didn't mind the book as much this time but it still isn't my favorite Lackeybook.
Vanyel finally quit whining in this book. One thing I will say is that Lackey does a great job at showing Van's growth and maturation over the course of the story. I didn't think Van would ever suck it up, buttercup, and quit whining all the time.
This book reads like an after school special in so many places. Van and Withen's reconciliation, for example, was so cheesy I had to go make nachos. And the lesson on how you can't choose to be "shaych," was so overdone and heavy handed. I rolled my eyes in so many places during this book. Sheesh. I can see why this series was considered groundbreaking back in the 90s, but it's just not my cup of willowbark tea.
Readers, be warned that this book does contain some quite graphic and brutal scenes. There are no explicit descriptions, but you get the gist of what's going on and that's more than enough.
I'm glad I finished the series. It's one I have meant to read for a long time. Now that I've read it, I will probably not revisit it. Ever. Because I really, really hate Vanyel. A lot.
Re-read June 2017: I didn't mind the book as much this time but it still isn't my favorite Lackeybook.
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Update: The author recently made some horrifically ignorant and anti-trans comments on her blog.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Talk about a real heartbreak. Have you ever had your heart smashed into a million pieces while having your other feelings be pulverized, just to thank someone for that? That’s the feelings this book gives me.
I can't believe you made me read Stefen's composition with my own eyeballs. As if I hadn't cried enough.
Even though I knew full well how this ended, at least in part. I still acted surprised by the floodgates opening up and me sobbing about it. So.
Anyway, I love this and I love Vanyel and I love Valdemar.
Even though I knew full well how this ended, at least in part. I still acted surprised by the floodgates opening up and me sobbing about it. So.
Anyway, I love this and I love Vanyel and I love Valdemar.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vanyel had a lot of character development, which could have been interesting, except it never felt like it was a focus because instead it felt like the author was trying to hit checkpoints in the plot since this was a prequel.
Initial thoughts review: wow, such a beautiful tale! I thought this trilogy was much better written than Heralds of Valedmar. These books are darker than Tamora Pierce's, but I still feel that if you like one author, you will like the other. Will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this universe!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No