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juushikaTitle: Magic's Price (The Last Herald Mage Book 3)
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Published:: New York: DAW, 1990
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 352
Total Page Count: 141,295
Text Number: 414
Read Because: personal enjoyment, e-book borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: In his 30s, Vanyel now works in the heart of Haven, advising the king and training new Heralds. One trainee, a remarkable young bard named Stephen, has his sights set on Vanyel—but so does the agent behind the war which has threatened Valdemar for all these years. In Magic's Price the plot finally comes full circle, but it's a disjointed, unevenly paced, and unfailingly predictable circle; what's somewhat more compelling is the conclusion to Vanyel's emotional journey. Vanyel has aged, but his emotional growth continues to feel delineated rather than convincing; any hope that the angst may have been scaled back is quashed by a gratuitous rape scene and melodramatic conclusion. The Last Herald Mage series ends as it began; like Magic's Pawn, Magic's Price is again memorable—and, again, for all the wrong reasons. The melodrama of these these books left a strong impression on me as an adolescent and I can see why, but upon reread I in no way recommend them.
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Published:: New York: DAW, 1990
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 352
Total Page Count: 141,295
Text Number: 414
Read Because: personal enjoyment, e-book borrowed from the Multnomah County Library
Review: In his 30s, Vanyel now works in the heart of Haven, advising the king and training new Heralds. One trainee, a remarkable young bard named Stephen, has his sights set on Vanyel—but so does the agent behind the war which has threatened Valdemar for all these years. In Magic's Price the plot finally comes full circle, but it's a disjointed, unevenly paced, and unfailingly predictable circle; what's somewhat more compelling is the conclusion to Vanyel's emotional journey. Vanyel has aged, but his emotional growth continues to feel delineated rather than convincing; any hope that the angst may have been scaled back is quashed by a gratuitous rape scene and melodramatic conclusion. The Last Herald Mage series ends as it began; like Magic's Pawn, Magic's Price is again memorable—and, again, for all the wrong reasons. The melodrama of these these books left a strong impression on me as an adolescent and I can see why, but upon reread I in no way recommend them.
