The Obsidian Trilogy
It's no secret that Mercedes Lackey is on my short list of authors that I despise. So, as I mentioned in my last post, I've avoided the Obsidian Trilogy for years. But I have to say, I think I was missing out. There's still another three to go, but the first three were a surprisingly tolerable read. Mostly due, in my opinion, to Lackey herself having very little to do with the writing. Her writing style is distinctive enough that I would bet money that I could pick it out; but there is very little of it to be found here.
Not that it's a great work of art by any stretch; the forces of good and evil are presented in stark shades of white and black. The main (male) character rides a unicorn for crying out loud (white, telepathic horses would be a little subtle for this world, I guess), while the forces of evil draw their power from the pain and suffering of others, meaning of course, that they torture innocents to death as their art form.
Thematically and stylistically, it really felt more akin to a darker shade of YA fiction, which, now that I think about it, is probably where ML could do pretty well. So, while I will forever curse her for what she did to my poor Vanyel, now I have to admit she's been involved with one non-terrible series.
Not that it's a great work of art by any stretch; the forces of good and evil are presented in stark shades of white and black. The main (male) character rides a unicorn for crying out loud (white, telepathic horses would be a little subtle for this world, I guess), while the forces of evil draw their power from the pain and suffering of others, meaning of course, that they torture innocents to death as their art form.
Thematically and stylistically, it really felt more akin to a darker shade of YA fiction, which, now that I think about it, is probably where ML could do pretty well. So, while I will forever curse her for what she did to my poor Vanyel, now I have to admit she's been involved with one non-terrible series.