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A review by willowmoon
Magic's Price by Mercedes Lackey
2.0
I just wanted to add this at the beginning: there is a r*pe scene in this book. It wasn't necessary and had no warning. It wasn't explicit, but it scarred me pretty badly, and I have no previous trauma. If this will trigger you, do not read this book.
On to my review. (Minor spoilers ahead, nothing too bad but just in case)
I wasn't very happy with this book. My main problems were Vanyel's relationship with Stefen and the way it ended. I find it very strange how a big point in the second book it's emphasized how just because Vanyel is gay, that doesn't mean he's a pedophile. However, in this book, he's in a relationship with Stefen, who is eighteen. There is a huge age gap, and just because Stefen is of legal age, that doesn't make it okay. I know Stefen is Telendyl's reincarnation, but it would've been much better to give Vanyel someone completely new (that's his age!) and have Vanyel move on past Telendyl. Because, let's face it, he spent waaay too much time mourning over his first boyfriend. Throughout the book it emphasizes how mature and experienced Stefen is, but I find that to be icky because that's something groomers say to their victims to convince them that what they're doing is okay. Also, you can SEE the power imbalance, especially after Vanyel gets set on destroying the bad guy!
That (sort of) leads into my next criticism of the book: the villain. He's just so... underwhelming. He isn't even introduced until two-thirds of the way through the book, and although he was alluded to in the first book, that was pretty much it. He doesn't do anything, really. And the way Vanyel's confrontation was written is very strange. He's just thinking about how easily everything is going compared to the visions he had in the first book, and it focuses on that instead of the actual battle.
The time this book spent on Vanyel's and Stefen's relationship would've been much better spent on creating some rising action with the villain. Because let's face it: there is none. If you were to make a plot diagram for this book, it would be a flat line with a short, steep spike at the end. And although I do appreciate a good dose of gay (Vanyel's and Telendel's relationship in book one was one of my favorites in fiction!) I feel like this book spent too much time focusing on the gay and not enough on the conflict.
On to my review. (Minor spoilers ahead, nothing too bad but just in case)
I wasn't very happy with this book. My main problems were Vanyel's relationship with Stefen and the way it ended. I find it very strange how a big point in the second book it's emphasized how just because Vanyel is gay, that doesn't mean he's a pedophile. However, in this book, he's in a relationship with Stefen, who is eighteen. There is a huge age gap, and just because Stefen is of legal age, that doesn't make it okay. I know Stefen is Telendyl's reincarnation, but it would've been much better to give Vanyel someone completely new (that's his age!) and have Vanyel move on past Telendyl. Because, let's face it, he spent waaay too much time mourning over his first boyfriend. Throughout the book it emphasizes how mature and experienced Stefen is, but I find that to be icky because that's something groomers say to their victims to convince them that what they're doing is okay. Also, you can SEE the power imbalance, especially after Vanyel gets set on destroying the bad guy!
That (sort of) leads into my next criticism of the book: the villain. He's just so... underwhelming. He isn't even introduced until two-thirds of the way through the book, and although he was alluded to in the first book, that was pretty much it. He doesn't do anything, really. And the way Vanyel's confrontation was written is very strange. He's just thinking about how easily everything is going compared to the visions he had in the first book, and it focuses on that instead of the actual battle.
The time this book spent on Vanyel's and Stefen's relationship would've been much better spent on creating some rising action with the villain. Because let's face it: there is none. If you were to make a plot diagram for this book, it would be a flat line with a short, steep spike at the end. And although I do appreciate a good dose of gay (Vanyel's and Telendel's relationship in book one was one of my favorites in fiction!) I feel like this book spent too much time focusing on the gay and not enough on the conflict.