I feel the need to explain myself. First, I read this when I was fifteen. The rating I gave it is the one I gave it when I first read it. And I admit, I still love it, even though I am a more discerning reader and can tell it's really not as great as I thought it was when I was only a squealy fangirl. End Discaimer.The main character is Vanyel Ashkevron; he's the eldest son of a minor noble. Vanyel's not like the rest of his brothers or cousins, who take after his father; they're all tall, strong, and not stupid really, just not very interested in intellectual pursuits. Vanyel is the only one who takes after his mother, which means he's kind of short, scrawny, likes books, and is a fairly decent musician. He wants more than anything to be able to abdicate his position as heir, and study to become a Bard in Valdemar's capital, Haven. His duty-minded father isn't about to let him, though. Eventually, Vanyel's father decides that he ought to go to Haven to study, not music, but fighting, how to be a good Lord, etc... and he is fostered with his aunt, Herald Mage Savil. A Herald is kind of like a hybrid police oficer/soldier/FBI agent, with super powers. People become Heralds only if they get Chosen by a Companion; Companions are benevolent guardian spirits who inhabit the bodies of white horses, and can sense people who have special powers (Gifts), like telepathy (mind speech), telekinesis (fetching), fire-starting, or the ability to do magic. Companions can also look into a person's heart and see if they are Good, besides just being Gifted, so it's absolutely unimaginable to think of there ever being a bad Herald. Back to the summary:Vanyel has to go live with Savil, but is not pleased by the prospect. He knows he isn't getting special treatment; he's being gotten out of the way, because of mounting tension between him and his family. So, he decides that since no one cares about him, then he won't care about anyone, either, and convinces himself that the world is against him and it's better to just ignore other people. Which helps him make tons of friends when he gets to Haven (seriously, he's popular with the other noble kids). Other "regular" people (Bards, Healers, Heralds and their trainees), think he's an arrogant snob and avoid him. Even his aunt can't stand him. Except for one person--Tylendel, who is Savil's trainee and lives with her and Vanyel. Tylendel is an Empath as well as a mage, and can sense Vanyel's loneliness and depression, and reaches out to him.Vanyel distrusts Tylendel at first, but he eventually breaks down and opens up to Tylendel. When that happens, Vanyel also finds the courage to confess that he also has a crush on Tylendel. Tylendel, who is openly gay, also has a crush on Vanyel. They keep their romance a secret from everyone except Savil, which would have been hard to do in any case, since they all live together. Savil agrees to keep quiet, and even starts to warm to Vanyel, since he's starting to drop the whole since-they-don't-like-me-I-don't-like-them-either attitude.To make an already long summary less long, by the end of the book Vanyel has been Chosen, to everyone's everlasting shock. He has the most powerful mage gift of anyone, ever. In addition he also has nearly every other Gift--mind speech, Empathy, fetching. The reason he suddenly got these powers is complicated and full of major spoilers, but suffice it to say that this book is full of Angst. Now, the review:First, some technical critiques: whoever was the copyeditor for this book needs to be fired. Typos abound, not to mention there's one or two continuity problems, but they're pretty minor. Also, the dialogue can be a little awkward in places, but again, just a few, so I can overlook that.The whole tolerance theme gets shoved in your face a lot. I think one reviewer said in places it starts to read like a PFLAG pamphlet. But that was necessary, I think, considering her target audience, young adults. Now, she may brag that she has fans of all ages and backgrounds, but even if she didn't start out to write YA novels that's what she ended up doing (in my opinion). Subtlety really doesn't have a place in YA, because none of us were particularly astute when we were thirteen and up. So I can forgive the book for getting a little preachy. A lot of people say they couldn't handle this book because Vanyel was just so damn whiny. Well, he is, actually, I can't refute that, except to say he's a teenager. Teenagers whine. I didn't notice that when I first read it, and I got upset to hear people say that, because to me, Vanyel wasn't whiny, he was just stating facts! His life sucked! I believed that, because I thought my life sucked sometimes, too. One thing about Misty, she can create believable characters who are easy to relate to. If Vanyel had been any less fleshed out, any less compelling, then when she sprung the whole "he's gay" surprise on her readers, then I would have been disgusted and stopped reading. But even though I was cringing in the back of my mind and thinking, ew, he's gay? Why did she go and ruin the book that way for? I kept reading, because I was already far too emotionally invested in him to just abandon his story. And surprise, surprise, I ended up changing my mind about gay people. This is not an "eh, it was okay" book; you either love or hate it. And I am unapologetic fan.
Magic’s Pawn is absolutely brilliant! It took me about 100 to 150 pages to finally get into it, (when Vanyel finally meets his aunt Savil and her Herald trainee Tylendel, (too dangerously close to the OTC Tylenol)), but once I did I couldn’t let go. Mercedes Lackey had me smiling as I read, falling in love, crying my eyes out, and joyously cheering Vanyel on. It’s one of the best emotional roller coasters I’ve read. I’ve only read her work The Obsidian Trilogy, which I loved and there are just as many big differences between the two as there are similarities. When she talks about Vanyel’s home, family, and upbringing, it reminded me of Kellen Tavadon. Primarily when it comes to magic and its practitioners, you can always tell when it’s Mercedes Lackey’s great handiwork. Her magic can be just as destructive as it is romantic. Also, like Kellen had his magical friend the unicorn Shalkan, the Herald-Mages of Valdemar have horses that choose them as Companions.tI was really looking forward to reading a great and adventurous fantasy adventure with a gay character, (the bonus would be if it had romance too.) There are so very few of them which are one of the things that makes this trilogy a jewel. Magic’s Pawn definitely delivers. The main character Vanyel is so vain in his obvious good looks, but like just about every son he tries so hard to please his father. In the end all his efforts gets him nothing but beat down. It’s no wonder he decides that whatever he does, he’ll never be good enough, so why even try.tVanyel will go through so many trials of being shay’a’chern. He’ll try to hide his non-masculine behavior, he’ll find and loose his ashke, (beloved), he’ll know pain, lose, and despair as only I believe a shay’a’chern can know them. It will be him literally dying that will force him to choose to give in to its darkness or to become so much more and stronger and chose to continue to live on.t(There are other coming-of-age issues addressed in this fantastic novel, which are obvious to members of the openly gay community. Because face it, not everyone was supported when they were a closeted gay teen. Mercedes’s book is entertaining, easy to relate to, and an overall great read. I would highly recommend that parents read this book along with their maturing adolescent readers, even if their son or daughter isn’t gay there are similarities that heterosexual adolescents can relate to. Along with responsible parenting, there is so much tragedy in the world today that can be prevented with this great book.)ttThis is a trilogy that I’m looking forward to revisiting again and again. It’s a true gem and a must have for any fantasy reader’s permanent library.
What do You think about Magic's Pawn (1989)?
There's lots of praise and lots of laughing about Mercedes Lackey's books, either of which apply for those of her books I read alike. But still, despite constantly reoccuring elements that would bug me into stopping to read other books altogether, I never can put one of her books down. It's no different with Magic's Pawn, first in the trilogy on Vanyel, a character in the Valdemar universe.This book has everything. Absolutely too many italics AND BOLD PRINT, angst, more angst, over the top magic, a world that doesn't get half as well described as I usually enjoy it, characters that often are a bit too flat and one-sided and can do a few too many things, constant in-your-face-dialogues mentioning the obvious... and yet, oh, and yet. I don't exactly what it is, but like other books by Mercedes Lackey, they draw me in from the first sentence and that's about it. No chance to stop reading. I couldn't help enjoying this book, not when I first read it with 17, nor now, in an age in which I like to claim I'm free of angst and a mature reader who is rather picky with what she reads.For some reason, there's something in these books that, despite all the flaws I could write huge lists of and rant about for paragraphs, that hits home, right where books are supposed to reach you. And while I just cannot give it a solide 5 star rating, because the writing really could be a bit better, I enjoyed myself more than I'd like to admit re-reading this book.
—Charlotte
I picked up this series because I was in the process of writing a fantasy novel with a gay hero and I wanted to see what other works were out there. I had never read Ms. Lackey's work, so I didn't know what to expect. I was not just pleasantly surprised by this trilogy, I was completely captivated by it and very sad when I reached the final page. The plot is interesting and the pace is quick. The characters, especially the hero Vanyel, are extremely sympathetic, primarily due to the fact that they are so flawed. Some may find the romance a bit sappy, but I'm the first to admit that I dig that kind of thing and you'll see it in my own novels as well. Best of all for me, though, was the fact that although her hero is unapologetically gay, the series does not become mired in its "gayness" as so many other works of gay-themed fiction I have read. This trilogy gave me a great deal of inspiration to push on with my own fantasy aspirations. I owe Misty a big hug if we ever meet face to face. I highly recommend these three books. Whether you're gay or straight, you'll find them an excellent read and, like me, you'll be sorry to reach that last page.
—Pat Childs
Vanyel, only fifteen, is the oldest son and therefore heir to a Holding. His mother is seemingly weak-willed and obsessed with her vapours, while his father is such a Man that he needs must push Vanyel into Manly pursuits as well, which includes letting the incompetent and ignorant Armsmaster beat the crap out of him. Vanyel is more interested in music. He's also self-absorbed, introspective, selfish, arrogant, a bit petulant - in other words, young and spoilt, as well as very handsome. His father, Withen, decides to pack him off to his sister Savil, a Herald-Mage who lives in the capital, training young apprentices.Vanyel's one meeting with his aunt Savil years ago didn't impress either of them, and being sent off into exile doesn't improve his manners. He hasn't shown any Gift, any ability in Mage powers or creativity, not even in music, which shatters his only dream: to be a Bard. Savil isn't like her brother, though, and with her favourite protege, Tylendel, keeps an eye on him to see if he really is an arrogant little shit, or if he's hurting inside and needs help. His attraction to Tylendel only makes him hate himself more, and fear the older boy's reaction should he find out - even though Vanyel knows Tylendel is shay'a'chern - gay. When the two do finally take the plunge, they fall in love, and become lifebonded. When Tylendel's twin brother is murdered, though, his pain and grief sets him on a dangerous path of revenge and retribution, drawing Vanyel along with him, with tragic consequences.What starts out as a fairly conventional, formulaic fantasy doesn't stay that way long. While the land of Valdemar may be fairly typical in fantasy fiction in terms of its culture, attitudes, prejudices, sophistication and class structure (i.e. boringly medieval-to-middle ages), it's not entirely patriarchal or old-fashioned. Contrary to what I would expect from a fantasy world that's been revisited so many times, it is not detailed or richly described: you get mostly only a cursory glance at the landscape, which is where falling back on fantasy stereotypes of a medieval-English setting comes in handy. This would normally have alienated, disappointed and bored the hell out of me, but for the characters and the story itself.Although Lackey overuses italics - this when the story is narrated from Vanyel's point-of-view, to show his nature, but it wears thin pretty quickly - the prose is smooth and quite fast-paced. I much prefer these - I shall call them bildungsromen-style fantasy stories, compared to the Quest-motivated ones. I like stories where the characters are mostly stationary, where you get to watch them live, grow, mature, develop, learn through studies and interactions with others and, yes, adventures, but not quests. Quests get very boring, but it's more than that. There's something enjoyable about the low-key, homely, comfortable "static" fantasy story - most of the Harry Potter books are like this, especially The Order of the Phoenix, which a lot of people found boring but I really enjoyed - it's quite possibly my favourite even. It has precisely this quality, where you really get to know the characters, and you get to indulge in political scheming, feuds, that kind of thing. Magic's Pawn is one of those bildungsromen-type fantasies, but it's still a very busy book, and when adventure happens it certainly doesn't dither.I did feel a bit like I'd walked in on a group of role-players and a game that's new but familiar: I had no trouble following the story or understanding the world, but because I haven't read any other books set in this world, there's a lot that isn't explained and plenty that you would expect would be dramatised but isn't - like the Companions (intelligent, magical horses) finding their Chosen (new Herald-Mages) - and the difference between a Herald and a Mage, or why some are both, is unclear. Also, what the Hawkbrothers do went mostly over my head; I really didn't understand that part of it.Vanyel's story, though, was clear and passionately told. Despite his flaws - and he really is a self-indulgent, vain little shit most of the time - you still come to care for him and cheer him on. And I was proud of him, in the village scene at the end. I certainly want to read the next two, Magic's Promise and Magic's Price, to find out what happens with him.
—Shannon (Giraffe Days)
