Book Review: Magic's Pawn
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Title: Magic's Pawn
Series?: Yes. Book one of The Last Herald Mage series, second trilogy in The Novels of Valdemar
Genre: Fantasy
Back-of-the-book blurb: "Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar. But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept, Vanyel's wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril..."
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this book was the back-of-the-book blurb. Because, well, pretty much every word of the blurb is a lie. When you read it, you're filled with a desperate sense of urgency, the sense that at the outset of the book Vanyel is already extremely powerful and dangerous and gets sent to his aunt so that she main contain his power.
Not so. In fact, it is no great spoiler to say that half the book passes with Vanyel being a simple whiny powerless boy, and he is sent to his aunt simply because his father wants nothing to do with him. Likewise, quite seriously, every other word of the blurb is a very twisted version of the truth, and I really have to wonder who wrote it.
The truth of the matter is, I'd love to read the book described in the blurb. Magic's Pawn, however, is but a shadow of it, in both storyline and execution.
As an editor, I sometimes cringed at certain sentences. Mercedes entertains the awful habit of over-italicizing for emphasis. I believe the habit stems from wanting to make one's writing 'sound' more like real speech - hence letting the reader know where the emphasis goes - but the truth of the matter is, this is NOT speech, this is a book, and trying to implement speech devices into it seems folly. Here's an example:
"Gods, I hate Gating," Savil muttered to Andrel.
If I imagine how this sentence would read without italics, - "Gods, I hate Gating." - I can understand that it might come out neutral, not nearly emphatic enough, or else the emphasis might fall on 'Gods'. Yet, I do not think italics are the only way out. For example, "Gods, I absolutely hate Gating." achieves exactly the same thing as italics, and, well, to me it looks better. I understand and totally agree that sometimes italics are quite necessary - yet, Mercedes indulges in them quite a bit much.
In short, this book was not stellar. Is it good enough to make me want to read the sequels? Sure. Is it so great that I'm going to grab them and start reading them right now? No.
Final Verdict: 6/10
Next Read: finishing up Destiny by Elizabeth Haydon
Title: Magic's Pawn
Series?: Yes. Book one of The Last Herald Mage series, second trilogy in The Novels of Valdemar
Genre: Fantasy
Back-of-the-book blurb: "Though Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities to work both Herald and Mage magic, he wants no part of such things. Nor does he seek a warrior's path, wishing instead to become a Bard. Yet such talent as his if left untrained may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to be fostered with his aunt, Savil, one of the famed Herald-Mages of Valdemar. But, strong-willed and self-centered, Vanyel is a challenge which even Savil cannot master alone. For soon he will become the focus of frightening forces, lending his raw magic to a spell that unleashes terrifying wyr-hunters on the land. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shin'a'in Adept, Vanyel's wild talent may have already grown beyond anyone's ability to contain, placing Vanyel, Savil, and Valdemar itself in desperate peril..."
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about this book was the back-of-the-book blurb. Because, well, pretty much every word of the blurb is a lie. When you read it, you're filled with a desperate sense of urgency, the sense that at the outset of the book Vanyel is already extremely powerful and dangerous and gets sent to his aunt so that she main contain his power.
Not so. In fact, it is no great spoiler to say that half the book passes with Vanyel being a simple whiny powerless boy, and he is sent to his aunt simply because his father wants nothing to do with him. Likewise, quite seriously, every other word of the blurb is a very twisted version of the truth, and I really have to wonder who wrote it.
The truth of the matter is, I'd love to read the book described in the blurb. Magic's Pawn, however, is but a shadow of it, in both storyline and execution.
As an editor, I sometimes cringed at certain sentences. Mercedes entertains the awful habit of over-italicizing for emphasis. I believe the habit stems from wanting to make one's writing 'sound' more like real speech - hence letting the reader know where the emphasis goes - but the truth of the matter is, this is NOT speech, this is a book, and trying to implement speech devices into it seems folly. Here's an example:
"Gods, I hate Gating," Savil muttered to Andrel.
If I imagine how this sentence would read without italics, - "Gods, I hate Gating." - I can understand that it might come out neutral, not nearly emphatic enough, or else the emphasis might fall on 'Gods'. Yet, I do not think italics are the only way out. For example, "Gods, I absolutely hate Gating." achieves exactly the same thing as italics, and, well, to me it looks better. I understand and totally agree that sometimes italics are quite necessary - yet, Mercedes indulges in them quite a bit much.
In short, this book was not stellar. Is it good enough to make me want to read the sequels? Sure. Is it so great that I'm going to grab them and start reading them right now? No.
Final Verdict: 6/10
Next Read: finishing up Destiny by Elizabeth Haydon