This one was probably the weakest of the entire trilogy; it's set twelve years after Pawn. Since the end of book one, Valdemar has become involved in a war with Karse, it's Southern-most neighbor. We never get told why, who started it, or anything else. It's just a fact that there's a war going on, and Vanyel is a key part in it. His powers make him an invaluable tool, and he gets used almost to his breaking point until he finally is given leave. Vanyel decides to go visit his family instead of staying in Haven with Savil; by now they have a very close relationship. He's afraid that if he stays in Haven, it will be easier for those in charge to send him back in the field if some crisis emerges, but if he's visiting his family on their remote holding, he'll be less likely to be recalled unless there's a truly dire emergency.Needless to say, Vanyel doesn't have a very healthy or close relationship with his family. By now they all know he's gay, but because of his powerful position in the Court (as well as his magical abilities) they don't shun him like they might have if he was still "normal". They pretty much ignore that part of his life, except for his mother, who is constantly introducing young women to him in the hopes of effecting a cure.While he's home, he hears a magical cry for help from across the Western border. He responds of course, and stumbles onto a grisley crime scene: all of the occupants of the neigboring kingdom's royal palace have been slaughtered, literally torn to pieces, except one: Prince Tashir, who was recently disinherited by his father because of rumors that he was a bastard. Tashir has the Gift of Fetching, and since the people of the kingdom are suspicious of magic, and since he's the only survivor and has a motive, he's also the only suspect. BUT, when Vanyel arrives, he discovers that Tashir has been Chosen, so it's clear that he couldn't have been responsible for the carnage, because Companions only Choose Good people. You can see where this is going. There are actually several sub plots going on, but giving out details about them is also giving out spoilers, so I'll leave them for you to discover, if you choose. There's more Angst, of course, because it couldn't have Misty's name on it if it have Angst. But I still love it, although it's not my favorite of the trilogy.The Review: In this book we learn a lot about how magic works, what it can and can't do. I think that Misty has created the most unique and detailed magic system I've ever read, frankly. First, there's a distinction between "true" magic (abra cadabra and all that) and "mind" magic (reading people's thoughts, moving objects with the mind). I like all those technical details, oddly enough.One thing that really irritates me about this book is: why is there a war going on? I didn't pay attention to that detail at first, because throughout the Valdemar series, Valdemar and Karse are pretty much always fighting, but since there was no mention of a war going on in Pawn, then it's pretty obvious that the problems started in Vanyel's lifetime. So what event, specifically, started it? I would think that Misty would take the time to answer that question, definatively.Another flaw is that the story tends to drag. The Tashir incident happens until almost halfway through the book. I think what Misty wanted to do here is really focus on Vanyel and how he deals with his warped relationships, but something in the way of action had to happen, so she came up with having Vanyel solve a murder mystery. It really does seem rather incidental. But then, I like the whole dealing-with-relationships part better than the murder mystery part, anyway, so it doesn't really bother me except in a vague sense of feeling disappointed because Misty got a little sloppy.
2.5 Originally posted at FanLit.Magic’s Promise is the second book in Mercedes Lackey’s THE LAST HERALD MAGE trilogy. This review is likely to spoil some of the first book’s plot, so be warned.It’s been several years since the horrid events that took place at the end of the Magic’s Pawn. Vanyel is now the most powerful Herald-Mage on the planet and he’s been traveling all around the realm helping to fight a war with one of Valdemar’s neighbors. He’s exhausted and his body is scarred, but his reputation shines and everyone admires him. He’s been given the nicknames Demonsbane and Shadowstalker. But while Vanyel may be famous, he’s actually more alone than ever.For a much-needed rest, Vanyel goes home to his parents. I’m not sure why he thinks this will be restful since his father despises him because of his sexual orientation and his mother is constantly parading young ladies before him, but perhaps Vanyel has a sense of familial duty. At home Vanyel gets embroiled in a mystery that involves a young disinherited prince and his slaughtered family. Who killed the family and why? Is black magic at work here?I didn’t like the previous book, Magic’s Pawn, because Vanyel was such an angsty teenager. He whined and brooded and even tried to kill himself. I just didn’t like him and I doubted that this is how homosexual boys would prefer to be portrayed in fiction. He’s just a little better this time — less flamboyant and bitchy and definitely no longer a “peacock” — but he’s still obsessed with his sexual orientation and frequently laments his recent celibacy. As I mentioned in my previous review, Vanyel is defined by his homosexuality and thinks about it constantly. I am sure Lackey doesn’t mean to do this, but she is portraying gay people as (1) melodramatic and flamboyant and (2) obsessed with sex, especially sex with young teenage boys. Vanyel and the other young gay boys in the story actually seem promiscuous. There are even sheep jokes. Not kidding. I think Lackey wanted to confront us with gay sex (recall that this was written is the ‘80s) but it comes across all wrong. I’m sorry to say this, but it’s really hard to read this and not think of those Catholic priests.As before, the rest of the plot of Magic’s Promise feels like it’s of secondary importance, but at least it’s slightly interesting this time because Vanyel has to solve a murder mystery that involves physical and sexual child abuse, possible incest, a peace treaty, a greedy uncle, and a magical node. Another subplot involves the king of Valdemar and his soulmate, two dear friends of Vanyel’s. The king is sick and, therefore, the future of Valdemar is a concern. This is sure to become more of an issue in the next book.There are some sweet spots in Magic’s Promise such as when Vanyel confronts Jervis the armsmaster about how Jervis treated him when he was a boy. Vanyel also rights some other wrongs in his family’s home. In the end, Vanyel reflects on his power and purpose in life and we see that he has matured quite a lot since we first met him. (Thankfully.)The audio production of Magic’s Promise, which is 11 hours long, is quite nice. Gregory St. John does a great job with the narration. One small complaint I have, and it’s not the fault of the audio but of the author, is that so many of the names sound similar enough that it can get confusing when you’re listening rather than reading. Vanyel, Randale, Savil, Yfandes, Tashir, Shavri. These names look very different on paper, but if you say them you’ll hear that they sound similar.
What do You think about Magic's Promise (1990)?
Since the first book, Vanyel has fathered Jisa on the queen, Shavri, because King Randale is sterile and wanted an heir. Shavri thinks Randale may be mortally ill. Vanyel is confused about his sexuality and thinks he may be in love with ShavriThe main plot concerns young prince Tashir Remoerdis of neighbouring country Lineas, who has just become a Herald. There's a mystery over Tashir's parentage. There are strong sexual subplots with Tashir having been sexually abused by his own mother as a chi
—Jacey
Vanyel's more likable in this book, as is Savil. But, while the last book was Van weeping, this book is him just exhausted. It's been years since the last book and Vanyel is now a hero and has been taking the place of 5 herald mages in a border war for the past year.In the last book, both 'Lendel and Van were troubled. Here, we have Tashir and Medren. Medren is much like a younger Van and Tashir resembles Tylendel.Van has to face up to his family and history. Here, we get some of the subtlety in
—Jo Oehrlein
Herald-Mage Vanyel has spent long years defending Valdemar against wild magic at its borders, and has seen many of his friends and fellow mages die in the fierce demonic battles. Returning from one such bitter victory, Vanyel is exhausted, haggard, lonely and heartsick. By king Randal's order he takes time off to rest and recuperate, all the while knowing the safety of Valdemar rests on his shoulders - for who else could do his job? There is no one else.Reluctantly returning to his family's estate for a "holiday", as much of one as you could get amongst his family, Vanyel faces up to many past torments. There's his father, Withen, and his homophobia; Melenna, who doesn't believe she can't convince Vanyel to become heterosexual and marry her; Melenna and his brother's bastard son, Medren, who has a Bard's gift; his brother's half-baked ideas of running the farm; and his old nemesis, Jervis, the armsmaster.Family troubles take a backseat when Vanyel and his Companion, Yfandes, sense a Companion's distress from the next kingdom over, Baires, where trouble has been brewing between it and its neighbour, Lineas. The ruling families have intermarried but the king of Baires disinherited his first-born, Tashir, because it was widely believed he was the son of the Queen's uncle, a mage from Lineas. Now the entire royal family of Baires is dead except for Tashir, shredded to bits inside the palace, and a Herald from Valdemar, Lores, thinks it's Tashir's doing. Tashir has exhibited some magic and he's the only survivor. It's Tashir's new Companion's distress that they heard, as Lores thinks he's a demon and is whipping him.Vanyel rescues the boy, who looks scarily like his long-dead life-bonded love, Tylendel, and whisks him off to the family estate while he and Savil try to figure out what really happened.The character development of the first book is something that really impressed me, and it continues here. Vanyel, older now but still fairly young, has experienced a lot but still has much to learn - about himself, about love and life. He's isolated himself, and is often confused and angry and hurt, but he's definitely more mature and better able to deal with other people - in short, he's the same Vanyel, just more weathered. And still changing. I can't help but feel for the poor man, and want a bit of happiness to go his way, for his loneliness comes through clearly and painfully.Lackey's infamous habit of italicising very second word doesn't become any less irritating, and italics are hard to block out, especially when used so liberally (it always makes me think of L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon, who was told by her grumpy teacher to stop using italics in her writing). Other than that, I enjoy her writing style and I love her characters.The world, while it has a narrow focus and often vague details, feels strong and real because of the prose, and because the story focuses so much on Van and his inner angst. "Angst" is such a bad word, I know, but you'll empathise with Vanyel; it's hard not to. He's a moody lad, broods too much, and doesn't always stand up for himself when he should - like with poor Melenna - but he has a nice balance of decisiveness, courage, self-torment and humbleness, that makes him familiar yet new. The plot is a little tricky to follow at times because, as with the previous book, you're thrown in with an assumed prior knowledge that, while it makes the world feel very real, does make you fall behind the characters at times. But it's a matter of faith, I think: things do come clear, though the minor characters got a bit muddled in my head and a map would be really really helpful with this trilogy. Now, let's just hope it doesn't take me another year to read the last book, or I'll forget what happened to Tylendel all over again!
—Shannon (Giraffe Days)
