I am rather relieved to say that, despite all expectations, this book did not leave me sobbing in the end. There was a tear or two, but I wasn’t brokeI am rather relieved to say that, despite all expectations, this book did not leave me sobbing in the end. There was a tear or two, but I wasn’t broken. I was glued to the page, though, and have no doubt I’ll be rereading this again soon.
”If I die, I’ll either take him with me, or leave him so crippled he’ll be not threat. So help me, I will protect Valdemar with my last breath, and if there is a way to protect her after my death, I’ll find it.”
Magic’s Price is the final volume in the Last-Herald Mage trilogy, and, at last, we learn the reason for the series title. Set 8 years after Magic’s Promise leaves off, Vanyel is now in his mid-thirties and, with Randale at death’s door and Jisa still young, has had to assume the burdens of leadership. To cope, he separates himself from others and hides behind a blank facade. When Stefen, his nephew Medren’s roommate, becomes key to Randale’s care, however, Vanyel can’t help but admire the young bard and, despite his best intentions, his walls begin to crumble. And then the last of the Herald-Mages begin to die, and Vanyel realises the nightmares of his childhood weren’t the fictions he’d once hoped.
”You are quite alone, Herald-Mage Vanyel.”
We’re told from the start how the series ends: with Vanyel alone, fighting and dying for Valdemar. I was therefore surprised that the ‘end’ forms such a small proportion of the overall book. In the first three-quarters, we’re treated to the joys of a budding romance – visit home to meet the parents and all. And, at last, we learn that Vanyel’s parents are proud of him, and I almost cried for reading it.
”There’s only one way you ever disappointment me and–I don’t know, Van, but–it just doesn’t seem that important when you stack it up against everything else you’ve ever done.
I read most of Magic’s Price with trepidation, fearing what the next page would bring, but I needn’t have. Things don’t begin to pick up until the three-quarter mark. At this point, audiences should be warned that there is an incredibly gruesome on-page rape scene. Meanwhile, the final battle, which I’d been vividly imagining since book one, never actually happened. Well…it happened, but we’re shown nothing more than the opening volleys before we switch perspectives, and then we arrive back too late. I was actually rather sad that Lackey made this choice, though my tear glands thank her.
When we first met Vanyel, he was a boy, and a whiny, broken boy at that. By the end, he’s a man, and more than that, he’s a hero – the true stuff of legends. The transition is incredible to witness, particularly as seen through the eyes of Tylendel and Savil to start, and then Stefen to end.
”I can’t not help. Not anymore, anyway. And it doesn’t matter if anyone knows what I’m doing or not; I know, and I know I’m doing my best. And because of what I’m doing, things are better for other people. Sometimes a great many other people.”
Story and characters aside, I find Valdemar a comforting place to be. It’s a medievalesque world which values virtue and justice, where magical horse-like beings, Companions, choose paladins, or Heralds, who protect the weak and uphold the rule of law. It’s a place I’d be happy living, and one which gives me hope.
The Last-Herald Mage is one of the best epic fantasy series I’ve ever read and I’d recommend it highly. Geographically and politically, it’s not on the same scale as the Stormlight Archive or Wheel of Time series, but it packs its emotional punch and its characters will not soon be forgotten. Next, for me, in the wider series, will be the Heralds of Valdemar, the first Lackey wrote.
NB. For those interested, Lackey has actually written and set to music a lot of the songs mentioned in the Last Herald-Mage series. You can find these on YouTube here....more
3.5*s. If you'd asked me at 50% what I was going to rate the book, I would have say 5 stars for sure. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. 3.5*s. If you'd asked me at 50% what I was going to rate the book, I would have say 5 stars for sure. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. It's a good sci-fi romance but, sadly, not great.
"Kiss me. That's an order."
On the spectrum between sci-fi novel and romance novel, I'd put this book pretty squarely in the middle. It's a far cry from the usual insta-love between humans and their green/blue alien counterparts, but the plot does revolve around the romantic storyline. It's slow-burn, (fr)enemies to lovers story with a secondary romantic plot Tasha's friend Eden and wanted rebel Jace. All four are give points of view, as are their adorable little pet furzels, Tank and Reilly.
"If you ever stopped arguing with me, I'd know there was something wrong."
I loved Tasha, with her pink joggers, No, No Bad Captain t-shirt, and sassy attitude. She's eminently capable but down-to-earth and loves a good time. Admiral Branden Kel-Paten wouldn't know a good time if it hit him in the face, mostly because Psy-Serv has programmed him that way. Nevertheless, he's a good man, a good leader, and surprisingly soft and vulnerable once you get passed the hard, grumpy exterior.
'Dear gods, he'd made her blush! And they were talking about hypothetical equations.'
Perhaps surprisingly, the furzels stole the show. They were beyond cute with their child-like telepathic communication and their determination to protect Mommy. Their rather convenient abilities had an element of deus ex machina about them, but they were so adorable I didn't care too much.
"Pet his head and tell him he did a good job." "What?" She mimicked a stroking motion wit her hand. "Pet him. Say, 'Good furzel.'"
The first half of the book was brilliant, with Tasha and Kel-Paten at loggerheads. Sadly, it was let down by the second half, as the author tried to get too clever with the plot and the world-building. The alternate dimensions confused me and the antagonists were rather one-dimensionally evil; all of it distracted from the primary storyline, the romance. A shame as I really thought I was on to a winner.
Would I recommend this? Maybe, if you're already a fan of sci-fi romances. I'd probably recommend Winter's Orbit first. I'm still going to give Linnea Sinclair another go, perhaps with Gabriel's Ghost. I think she's got potential and I really did love the start. ...more
The Last Watch is a highly enjoyable space romp. A lot of the technical detail went over my head, but I liked the premise, enjoyed the story, and loveThe Last Watch is a highly enjoyable space romp. A lot of the technical detail went over my head, but I liked the premise, enjoyed the story, and loved the crew.
A few thousand years in the future, the universe has stopped expanding. Its edge, the Divide, is ‘guarded’ by Sentinels, the dregs and outcasts of the military (yes, it does sound very like GRRM’s the Night Watch but in space – that’s what sold me). Exubitor Adequin Rake (32), commands the Argus, a Sentinel ship, and has been assigned the Sentinel’s newest recruit and first non-military personnel: Cavalon Augustus Mercer II (27), exiled by his influential grandfather for acting against the family’s interests.
As if Rake doesn’t already have enough on her plate, time and space have begun to act oddly – or rather more oddly – at the Divide. The only explanation is that the universe is shrinking. But surely she would have been warned if this were the case? And why aren’t the local Gates answering their comms? Rake’s on her and she and her crew will either band together and work it out, or the whole of human civilisation is at risk.
It’s an exciting plot, with lots of desperate Hail Mary ventures and hotchpotch remedies. There’s a reason its been described as competency porn by Dewes and others. Rake, Cavalon, Jackan, Griffith, Puck, Emory, Warner and co. are a talented bunch and put that talent to use, whether fighting aliens or the universe itself. Did I understand it all? No. Did I enjoy the ride anyway? Absolutely; even the time ripples, which I usually detest in fiction.
“He’s like a four year old in an engineers body. Give him some toys to fix and hopefully he’ll wear himself out.”
I imagined Cavalon as a very excitable, very loveable puppy. He’s a clever guy, no doubt, with his million and one degrees, but he obviously skipped the modules on office politics, and maybe even common sense. He cannot do authority, but he’s charming and funny, loyal and caring, full of energy and willing to work (when pushed) so it’s hard to care.
“How can you be at once highly intelligent and utterly idiotic?” “I know, right? You’d think all that selective breeding would have created a nice clean crop of Mercers by now.”
Rake’s personnel management skills are on point, and I respect her for keeping her (wo)men in line. Unfortunately – and oddly, given her high-ranking military history – she’s not so good at the tactical or strategic side of things. She ummed and ahhed for so long about what to do that it was almost too late. Hardly the decisive leader you’d expect. Anyway, I hope that she took Puck’s words to light and ups her game in future. Griffith, her swoon-worthy beau, might help here too.
There’s a lot to like about this book. If I’d understood a bit more of the science, and Rake had been a bit more together, I think I could have give it another half-star, but it’s a solid four stars as is. I’ll definitely be reading the next and would recommend this to those that like books by Andy Weir or Craig Alanson....more
I love the Kate Daniels series, but this book didn't massively do it for me. It's not awful by any stretch, but I wasn't as invested as I have been inI love the Kate Daniels series, but this book didn't massively do it for me. It's not awful by any stretch, but I wasn't as invested as I have been in the other books.
Unlike all the other, I listened to Magic Rises, rather than read it. I think this aggravated my issues with the book because everything was so overdramatic. I mean, it's hard to judge what's dramatic and what's not anyway, with characters being shot and stabbed left, right and centre without batting an eyelid, but when this is coupled with some occasionally whiny narration, it rubbed me up the wrong way.
"I love you and I don't want you to be hurt. I'm not going to ask you to come with me. That would be like stepping in front of a moving train and saving, 'Hey, honey, come stand next to me.'" [...] "Anytime." He just looked at me. "I've never killed a train before. It might be fun to try."
Talking of whiny, I had thought that Kate and Curran were over their doubts about one another, but apparently not. At times, I wanted to slap some sense into Kate; fortunately, Curran is more patient and understanding than me (who would have ever thought). And they did have some wonderful make-up lines so I guess I'll forgive them.
I love you and you love me, and we're both too fucked up for anyone else. Who else would have us?"
Without a doubt, the highlight of the book was Hugh d'Ambray. I loved the opportunity to get to know him as a person, rather than as the Vice Chair of All Evil, and will admit to falling for his charms, even as he schemed. I really have no idea how Kate is going to go up against Roland, but, at this point, it seems some deus ex machina might be the only solution to his rather omnipotent problem.
"Aha! So I'm not crazy." "You are most definitely crazy," Derek said. "But in a deranged, endearing way."
At this point in the series, you've made up your own mind about whether or not you'll continue on in the series, so it doesn't matter what I say. Personally, I'm excited to see what's to come.
"Great," Curran said. "Another fine addition to your collection of uncanny misfits." "I take offence at that," Barabas said. "Don't worry, I could myself in, too," Curran told him.
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