Product Description
Three classic stories of timeless love and tantalizing fantasy…

Counting Crows by New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey

In Lady Gwynnhwyfar's dark, lonely court, her only ally was noble Sir Atremus, a warrior willing to fight for her honor. But would her powerful spell capture his heart—or tumble the kingdom into chaos?

Drusilla's Dream by USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Lee

Every night Drusilla Morgan dreamed of courageous and handsome Miles Kennedy. Their quest: to battle evil and find true love. Yet when the sun rose, would Drusilla's fantasy man become a reality?

Moonglow by Nebula Award–winning author Catherine Asaro

In a world where kings married for magic, Iris Larkspur was required to wed the prince—despite the spell that kept him deaf, mute and blind. Healing her bridegroom would take a power greater than any she'd ever known—one only two bonded hearts could provide! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I wish anthologies had sequels
These stories draw you into the author's worlds so well that even though each story is "stand alone" you wonder "What happened after that?" I would buy more stories like this in a second.

Excellent Trio of shortstories
All 3 are beautiful stories.The 3rd story introduced, to me at least, a new author with an original Fantasy series.I had to buy the 5 books that follow the short story.

First published 2003
I'm really writing this to warn you that you might already have this book - you can read the reviews under the 2003 edition. I grabbed it quickly without looking and was unpleasantly surprised when I opened it and started to read. The stories for me are really not worth a second read, maybe Asaro's. The other two would have been nicer fleshed out more, didn't work as shorts. Buy the older version used if you really want to try it out. Each story is very different, written in different styles and will appeal to different readers. I've read all three authors but these are not their best works. If you read the reviews on the older book you will see how each reviewer likes a certain author best. My feeling is that if you read to get a taste of each author you will be misled. Lackey is a great and prolific writer but she doesn't write romantic romances, if that makes sense. Lee's story some will find silly but others humorous. Asaro's, well I've already said I liked it best, works best as fantasy and romance. ... Read more

Product Description
The sequel to Storm Warning follows the efforts of the kingdoms of Valdemar and Karse--ancient enemies held together in an uneasy alliance--to find the source of the mysterious mage storms before they destroy the world. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A new danger
There is a new threat from old magic to Valdemar.Can old enemies put aside their hate and save the world?
Once again Mercedes Lackey brings us a great story with some new characters that we can care for.Once I started reading I couldn't stop.

Edge of your seat!
This one was much more exciting than the first - though I had misremembered some details that must be in the next book. Still, Solaris' character is interesting and all in all, I really liked re-reading this series - though I am very glad that I have a new one after the "Owl" trilogy, since I don't recall that trilogy too fondly. Still, the next one will be quite fun.

Firecats rule! :)
Karal, Sun Priest of Karse, has now become the Karsite envoy to Valdemar.He and the other representatives of the Alliance countries must figure out a way to keep their homes safe from the worsening Mage Storms.But Karal's youth and apparent inexperience make other older council members discredit him, and Karal's forgiving nature makes irrational council members dislike him.As Karal struggles to represent his homeland, it begins to take a toll on his health.Only his friends An'desha, Natoli, and the Firecat Altra keep him from becoming ill.However, as the Storms worsen, the temporary protections against them begin to wear away.Will Karal, with the help of Altra, An'desha, the Tayldras Adept Firesong, and the Companion Florian, be able to prevent the Storms from destroying his home forever?

"Storm Rising" is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's Mage Storms Trilogy.I really enjoyed it, though not quite as much as "Storm Warning."

It was slower paced than its predecessor and focused much more on the development of the characters.This wasn't necessarily a bad thing; I enjoy character development and tend to take my time reading books like that instead of rushing through them.Karal's relationships with his nonhuman friends Altra and Florian were filled out nicely, and I continue to enjoy the senses of humor that Lackey endows upon her characters.Firesong's spiral down into obsession and semi-depression was disturbingly real.Tremane came along marvelously.I liked him in "Warning," but the caring way in which he begins to rule Hardorn shows him to be an even more decent human being than I expected.

The climax is quite similar in basic structure to that in "Warning," but that is mostly due to Mage Storm problem that the Alliance is facing.However, it was different enough for me to appreciate what happened.My only complaint is that it came so close to the end of the book that there was no real denouement.

Bottom Line:A solid continuation of the trilogy that really lets you get to know the characters.

good, but disappointing
When I first got this book I was very excited to start reading it because of the great summary on the back.Truth be told, the back describes pretty much only the last chapter.The whole rest of the book is just showing what people thinking and having very little action.Besides that, it mostly shows Firesong's and Tremane's thoughts instead of Karal's, who is the lead character in the book.The only reason why I gave this book a three at all is because of the final chapter.In this chapter it has the climax of the book plus all the facts leading up to it.Overall, this book was okay, but definately not one of Mercades Lackeys best.

A One-Two Knock Out Punch
Faced with more challenges that many people - including himself - think he can handle, Karal struggles to maintain the Karsite presence on what has turned into both a series of brainstorming sessions regarding the magestorms and a likely council of war against the threat in Hardon.Against all the various stresses, he continues to serve the Sunlord while still wishing to be anywhere but.His relationships with An'desha, Natoli, and Altra continue to grow and mature in what little time he has for them, but duties and questions pile up faster than he can deal with them.

My favorite of the books in the series, STORM RISING lets me ride along on Karal's shoulder again.Lackey deals with some very realistic issues, such as others' reactions to Karal's age in the political arena and the desire for revenge.Likewise, she showed how thinking beyond revenge can have positive consequences.The spirit of cooperation between the various countries involved is enviable in this day and age, where war seems to pop up everywhere.

This is the last book of this series where the plot and writing seem to be up to par.However, I still enjoy curling up with this one and losing myself in Haven, walking along with Karal to the tavern or listening in on the discussions with the mages and the envoys.The visit by Solaris was a definite treat, one that opened up a whole new range of possibilities and explored some of them.We understand even more of Tremane and it's relief to see him join up with the 'good' side.

This is one of the books I read and then wish my life had a little more of the magic she puts into her books. ... Read more

Product Description
Jennifer Talldeer is Osage and Cherokee, granddaughter of a powerful Medicine Man. She walks a difficult path: contrary to tribal custom, she is learning a warrior's magics. A freelance private investigator, Jennifer spends hours tracking down stolen Indian artifacts.

The construction of a new shopping mall uncovers fragments of human bone, revealing possible desecration of an ancient burial ground. the sabotage of construction equipment implicated Native American activists--particularly Jennifer's old flame, who is more attractive, and more dangerous, than ever. Worst of all, the grave of Jennifer's legendary medicine Man ancestor has been destroyed, his tools of power scattered, and a great evil freed to walk the land.

Jennifer must stand against the darkness. If she wavers even for an instant, she will be annihilated, and the world will fall into oblivion.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

An Excellent Drop in the Bucket of Too Few GOOD Native American Fiction
GOOD Native American fiction is hard to come by. This one certainly fits that bill! Jennifer Talldeer is spunky, in touch with all sides of her world, and always reminds me of my own 'Old Man' teacher.
The insight to other Native American ways of life are fasinating; and like all good books,Good triumphs over Evil.
I would love to see further adventures and developement of Jennifer Talldeer, her grandfather,and David Spotted Horse.
GSL

One of the most cliched Lackey books
Up until I moved on to other authors, I had read pretty much everything Mercedes Lackey had written. My opinion is perhaps a bit biased now, since I'm no longer interested in her writing (and cringe somewhat when I read it); however, even back when I really loved what she wrote, this book never worked for me.

I'll try to avoid repeating what others have said, so except for the first point this will just focus in on some of what stood out to me. First of all (this one has been mentioned, but I wanted to underline it), I'm not sure how accurate it was as far as Native American beliefs and practices. If someone who is a Native American from the specific people group the main character hailed from would like to comment on this, I would be most interested (let's not get any more "Education of Little Tree" type books out there, shall we?).

Next, one of the things that annoyed me was the treatment of sex. Now, this is certainly at least partly based on my feelings towards sex in general as being something meant for marriage only. However, I got annoyed with the way that Jennifer's grandfather felt that sex would solve all of her personal problems (okay, maybe not ALL of them, but still). From my real life observation, if someone is stressed and dealing with all sorts of personal issues, sex isn't going to be anything more than (to paraphrase someone close to me) a bandaid covering up the splinter so you don't have to actually take the splinter out (i.e., a "solution" that lets you avoid the real problem). You might feel better for a little while, but it's not going to fix things. And considering the way things were between her and her former lover, I wasn't convinced that sex would help. Rather, I thought it would confuse things. They had reasons for breaking up, reasons that I didn't feel were fully dealt with. Jumping back into bed with each other wouldn't solve her problems, it would make them that much more painful a few [months, years, or however long it took] down the road when they had to break up again because they hadn't fully figured out whether they should be together or not. This is one of my main issues with Lackey's books; she uses sex far too lightly, without generally looking at some of the consequences that come in real life.

Finally, here's my biggest issue with this book (which also ultimately became one of my issues with Lackey's writing in general). In this book she seemingly bends over backwards to be openminded and fair towards people of all races, genders, religions, etc. She in fact states this several times in case the reader didn't get the point; everyone should be accepted, have equal rights, etc. So if this is her belief, why is it that EVERY SINGLE WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) male is an abusive, heavyhanded, racist, sexist, etc. jerk? (and I'm not 100% sure on this, but I seem to remember that every WASP female was abused, timid, and frightened, although generally wanting to be good) I know that WASP males have caused a lot of damage in the world; however, they aren't the only ones, and there are plenty of them that are great guys (and honestly, at this point in time, pretty much the only people groups out there, at least in any large numbers, are those who at one point in time in history conquered [and frequently did horrific things to] other people groups. WASPs just happened to be the most recent, and most successful worldwide, at doing this). This annoyed me so much that I couldn't appreciate much of the rest of the book.

So there you have it. Some aspects of the book were alright, but unfortunately they couldn't outweigh these negative issues for me.

AMERICAN INDIAN MYSTERY(3-4 star)
Good and evil in the Native American spirit world. P.I. Jennie, an unorthodox "warrior" on the shamans path, brings her talents and personality to solve problems in the world of the heavy eyebrows.The Native American theme comes accross very well.The heroine is a good character and her relationship with her grandfather is done very well.However, as much as I enjoyed this story, I still felt as though I was being cheated.A feeling of flatness pervaded most of the book. Despite this, just enough of interesting character, situation and set, kept me in the book till the end. I would really rate this a bit higher but not quite a four. VERY LIGHT READING.

a good indian mystery
i liked this book i wishshe had written more of this seriesyou wont be sorry if you read it

Liked it, but. . .
the heroine's family chose not to be entered on the 'official' list of the tribe, but it seems that when she can get any advantage from being considered Native American, she will take it.Can you say 'having it both ways', boys and girls?Sure you can.

The mystery was interesting; I don't know enough about Osage and Western Cherokee folkways to know how accurately they are depicted (my Cherokee contacts are with the Eastern Band in NC).

Although I enjoyed the book, it don't feel a burning need to read it again. ... Read more

Product Description
Tarma witnessed her clan's murder and, swearing vengeance, became a master warrior. Kethry fled her forced "marriage" and became an adept--pledging her power to the greatest good. When Kethry obtains a magical sword which draws her to others in need, the two vow to avenge the wrongs done to womanhood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

A must read
She's such a great author, so good that I find myself hoping for more books by her as soon as they out,

For fans of Lackey's work, but not really for newcomers to Velgarth.
Though I have read almost all of the Velgarth books before, this was actually a new one for me, and I was eager to see what I'd make of it. I am sorry to say that I'm of mixed opinions.

One one hand, you can see that Lackey has advanced rather smoothly in her style in only the short time since publishing her first novel, and it was easier to fall into than, say, Arrows of the Queen.

This book also features Tarma, who is one of the very few human asexual characters I've found in fiction who are presented in a positive light. As a person who identifies as asexual myself, finding those rare few role-models is a treat, and this books deserves some praise on that alone. Think it's hard finding gay or trans role-models in fiction? try looking for an 'ace' hero and suddenly finding a gay or trans hero seems like a walk in the park!

On the other hand, this book did suffer from some very noticeable flaws. This book, the first in the Vows and Honour series, takes place after the previous publication of a few short stories involving Tarma and Kethry, including the tale of their meeting and vow-sharing. As a result, you open this book and feel like you've come in during the middle of the tale, which doesn't leave one with a very favourable impression.

The pacing suffered at times, too. This often felt like a collection of short stories that only halfway through turned into a cohesive novel. One quest presented devoted more pages to the character conversing in a common room than it did to one of the characters getting kidnapped by her twisted ex-husband, and the tension there was very difficult to feel. Some plot twists weren't twisty in the slightest, and sadly, the meat of the story could be seen coming a mile away.

Also in the "it felt like a book of short stories" vein, there was a great deal of repetition. The reader is constantly reminded of the fact that Warrl's shoulders came up to Tarma's waist, that Need was a magical sword, and that Kathry had amber-coloured hair. Perfectly fine to remind someone of if they're reading a collection of stories that were originally published far apart, but as for one book meant to tell a complete story, it got tedious.

Everything being taken into consideration, that isn't to say that I didn't enjoy reading this book. It definitely had its moments, even if it took a while to really get started. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to those who aren't already fans of Lackey's work, I'm still glad I took the time to read it, and nothing will change that.

oathbound 1
I enjoyed the book and passed it on to a young cousin who was thrilled with it. A great book with an entertaining idea. I would definitely buy it again.

a sad waste of time and money
Valdemar is a fun place to visit, but not in this book.
Boring!
Didn't like the characters, didn't like their situations or adventures.
oh well.....

Great book
But lots of spelling errors. Not sure if that's just in the paperback edition or what... but wow - someone messed up. Not just this book either - the second one Oathbreakers too.

Other than that (which proved to be a bit distracting), this book is really good. I was first introduced to Tarma and Kethry in By the Sword and was anxious to read about how they started. BUT - it doesn't start with how they got together. That story is in Oathblood (the third book).

Tarma and Kethry are brilliant characters and the book moves right along. Mercedes does as good a job with these two as she did with Talia and Vanyel. I really enjoyed seeing how they developed as friends and partners and how each of them developed their own strengths and dealt with their weaknesses. This is just a great all around read for anyone how is a Lackey fan or new to her books. ... Read more

Product Description
Running the gamut from her beloved Bardic fantasies to urban fantasy set in the modern world; from science fiction adventure to chilling horror, this is a volume that demonstrates the wide range of this author's talent. It is a feast for the multitudes of Lackey fans everywhere--and for new readers, a powerful introduction to the most significant new fantasy writer of the decade. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Pleased
Was excited when I got the book in the mail and was able to complete the series. THank you.

12 stories (SF, F, and alternate history) + 1 essay
The stories herein don't overlap OATHBLOOD or WEREHUNTER. Only the title story concerns the Free Bards (see below). For each story I've noted the anthology in which it originally appeared.

"Aliens Ate My Pickup" (didn't appear in Esther Friesner's ALIEN PREGNANT BY ELVIS, so is the only story "original" to this collection). Written in 1st-person dialect by an Oklahoma native, we only see his responses to his questioner, not the questions themselves, and he continually strays off topic, talking about stocking his bass pond, and how his hayfield's been messed up by the crop circle. :)

"Balance" and "Dragon's Teeth" (SPELL SINGERS; these two stories have no connection with Lackey's Free Bards to date). They're designed to be read back-to-back, concerning the developing relationship between middle-aged Masterclass sorceress Martis and her newly assigned bodyguard Lyran, and opening with a reversal of the usual pattern: *she* makes an insulting snap judgement of *his* professional ability, since he looks and dresses more like a dancer than a swordsman. (Martis, however, isn't at her best, having been assigned to deal with a much-loved student gone bad, and generally being hard to please anyway.) The first story explores Lyran's Way of Balance as Martis gets to know him. In their second outing, the two have evolved a partnership rather than a mage/bodyguard relationship.

"The Cup and the Caldron" [sic] (GRAILS OF LIGHT). In Arthur's reign, a young nun and a healer of the Old Religion are called to the same quest, although one sees the Grail and the other Cerridwen's Cauldron.

"Dance Track" (Mike Resnick's ALTERNATE HEROES) combines Dixon's passion for cars and Lackey's for dance. One point of departure is that James Dean, surviving a car wreck and given the choice of tearing up his contract or quitting his hobby of racing, stuffed the pieces into a studio exec's pipe and signed on with Bugatti's Grand Prix team as a driver. Another (making for a nice story, but going beyond the pale historically) is that the dancer Isadora Duncan has been made a generation younger. (Her involvement with the Bugatti team - as their previous driver, WWII having left them short a few years ago - is OK by me, though, given her history as I know it.)

"Dumb Feast" (Mike Resnick's CHRISTMAS GHOSTS). Wealthy Victorian lawyer Aaron Brubaker initially seems very sympathetic; he misses his late wife so much that he's casting the spell of a "dumb feast" to summon Elizabeth's spirit on Christmas Eve. But Elizabeth, in death, no longer has to fit the mold he forced her into during their marriage...

"The Enemy of My Enemy" (Robert Adams' anthology FRIENDS OF THE HORSECLANS). Set in the post-holocaust Horseclans world, wherein the survivors were far from major cities, e.g. the people of the western reservations in the U.S. Lackey chose to focus on another group: the Rom (gypsies). The viewpoint alternates between the town smith and the horse-trading Lowara, who at present are being mannerly visitors, but didn't see fit to enlighten the Gaje about *all* Rom customs. Their devotion to their horses' wellbeing reminds me of Mayhar's HOW THE GODS WOVE IN KYRANNON.

"Fiddler Fair" was written for MAGIC IN ITHKAR 3, and when that shared world anthology series died (a shame, I thought), Lackey reycled the story to drop the incident into a world of her own making, revising the Ithkar-specific references to geography, religion, and so on. ("Fiddler Fair" corresponds to chapter 13 of THE LARK AND THE WREN, which shifted the scene to the Midsummer Faire at Kingsford, even the Ithkar tagline that all the world comes there.)

"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" An original essay addressing some FAQs about Lackey's career.

"Jihad" (Mike Resnick's ALTERNATE WARRIORS) picks up with Lawrence of Arabia just as his captors at Deraa heave him out to die after torturing him. (WARNING: Lackey doesn't gloss over it the way the excellent 1960s film adaptation had to.) Lawrence in our timeline never completely got over Deraa; in "Jihad", he copes differently, turning history into another track. [I admit I had a qualm at one point, wondering if Lackey were about to give him a Companion.]

"Last Rights" (Greenberg's DINOSAUR FANTASTIC). See Lackey's introduction to WEREHUNTER for details of her adventures in rehabilitating raptors - from teaching fledglings to hunt to avoiding injury. Consequently, in this story of a Jurassic-Park-type reconstructed dinosaurs lab, you just *know* the 3 yoyos breaking in to "liberate" the dinosaurs are going to pay for not doing their research, in their unshakeable belief that there's no such thing as a dangerous animal. After all, brontosaurs are vegetarians, right? :>

"Once and Future" (Greenberg's EXCALIBUR) Michael O'Murphy, waking with an awful hangover, vaguely remembers getting drunk in the woods with his friends, but he thought seeing an arm come out of the lake was just a dream - until he realizes that really *is* a talking sword in his bed this morning.

"Small Print" (Mike Resnick's DEALS WITH THE DEVIL). Lester Parker, a small-time "preacher", rescues a televangelist who takes sick while patronizing the same brothel. Brother Lee, in exchange, offers Lester a referral to "Mr. Lightman". Lester, of course, thinks he can take care of himself even in *that* kind of contract, and seems to have a foolproof plan.

IRRELEVANT NOTE: I think Clyde Caldwell missed the point in his cover painting; his Rune *couldn't* pass for a boy, and Sweet did a better job with the Skull Hill Ghost for the cover of THE FREE BARDS, although the figures are posed similarly in both paintings.

An Eccletic Collection
I think that this series of short stories is great.It contains everything from some beautiful straight sci-fi stories to hitorical ghost stories to alternate histories.It was a great collection with a widerange.This is the frist book I read by Mercedes Lackey, but I liked it somuch that it won't be the last.

A good collection of short stories
Both the title and the cover of the book are misleading.It is a collection of 12 short stories, only one of which is about the free bards.The others range from the humorous ("Aliens Ate My Pickup") tothe somewhat dark ("Dumb Feast).Two of the stories are about themage Martis ("Balance" and "Dragon's Teeth").Noteveryone will like all the stories, but most readers will like some ofthem.I personally liked "Once and Future" which points out thatsome people will not touch fame with a stick.Overall, it is a goodcollection.

Good, but not outstanding, especially for Misty
This was a good collection of short stories, and didn't have the annoying tendency of 'Oathblood' to include two stories I'd already read elsewhere for each new one. That having been said, it doesn't compare in my mind toMisty's better work (Vanyel and Bardic Voices pop to mind). Still, it'sworth a read, especially if you are munching your way through Lackey'scollected works. I DO agree that Larry Dixon should have gotten credit forthe work as well. ... Read more

Product Description
The companion volume to "Fiddler Fair", this novel invites readers to lope through the night with a woman transformed into a leopard and pursued by a hunter who is more than human; to attend a gathering of romance writers that has a very unusual vampire in its midst; return to the world of Heralds of Valdemar; and join in more unforgettable adventures from a spellbinding master of fantasy and science fiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Awesome bunch of stories!!
I have had this book lying about forever and hadn't read it - I'm not sure why it took me so long to do so, it is absolutely fabulous!
*First there is "Werehunter," a girl from our world who is desperately unhappy and in dire straits who is whisked to another world to discover that she can shift to a leopard form.
*Then follows four stories all set in the same world - "SKitty," "A Tail of Two SKitties," "SCat" and "A Better Mousetrap," which are just delightful stories about genetically engineered cats used in space ships and what happens when one gains recognition on an alien world that is overrun with vermin.
*"Last of the Season" is a really ... uncomfortable story and I can't go into details about it because it wouldn't pass the monitoring here.Suffice it to say that a little girl's teddy bear is also her guardian and a good thing, too.A very bad man gets what he deserves.
*In "Satanic, Versus" and "Nightside" we get a pair of Diana Tregarde stories - the first is a very amusing romp where Diana and Andre attend a romance writers convention, and the second is a short story that was the seed for Children of the Night: A Diana Tregarde Investigation.
*"Wet Wings" tells a story of political correctness run amok.It's a world not far away from the one we live in.Read and be afraid ...
*"Stolen Silver" is a Valdemar story; the story of how Alberich came to be a Herald.I recognize it, so I guess it must have been subsequently inserted into another book somewhere?
*"Roadkill" is another creepy story, inspired, Mercedes says in her foreword, when she saw a piece of cardboard blow across the road and wondered "what if it were alive?"
*"Operation Desert Fox" is a short story set in a Bolo anthology by Keith Laumer and is very entertaining.
*"Grey" and "Grey's Ghost" are set in the Harton school for English children whose parents are off in India or Africa (set in the Victorian era) and have sent their children back to England - Grey, the title character, is an African Grey parrot.

Each one of these stories is a true gem - Mercedes Lackey has shined each of them up for us until they sparkle.I heartily recommend this for fans of Ms. Lackey or anyone who enjoys a truly good tale.

story's of SKitty
Science fiction
Werehunter
By: Mercedes Lackey
This is an anthology of stories and I am writing about three in particular that target one character SKitty. SKitty is a genetically engineered cat made to be on ships that they help out by clearing out rodents that sneak on board and cause trouble or/and damage therefore making it easy for the crew. Bio-tech made these cats like SKitty since spacers could not deal with pets that need looking after yet they also couldn't deal without a cat to act as a rodent control for mice and things on their ship. So bio-tech made genetically engineered cats to be intelligent companions of astronauts on their ships. So they made cats that were as intelligent as humans and other unique qualities. The type of ships cat that SKitty is has like all the different types enhanced intelligence, a smooth short undercoat so that they she does not shed, forepaws like that of a raccoon, and middle eared tuning so that she actually enjoys some types of space movement instead of disliking it. They also are trained before adoption to use the crew's sanitary facilities and are taught the emergency procedure. At six months old they are put up for adoption. This book is about her adventures with dick her caretaker.

I kind of enjoyed this book. Why I liked as much as I did is because it was fun and I do not often read science fiction although I do still enjoy it. One of the reasons though that I did not enjoy it more is that it is in an anthology and while I am happy that it was at least more than just one short story it was not much and it leaves me wanting more.

Not-so-diverse collection
This is a collection of short stories intended as a companion to FIDDLER FAIR.

The book begins with a strange introduction about caring for birds.I do not know why this was included, or so long.

Four of the stories compose the Skitty stories previously found in the CATFANTASTIC books.These are rather contived tales about a telepathic Shipscat.They sort of remind me of bad SF mysteries; you know the type where some unexplained device is pulled out at the last minute to save the day.

Some of the other stories have also shown up in other collections.

Diana Tregarde fans will enjoy a cute story as DT attends a romance-writer's convention.

The final two stories are "Grey" stories.The first was written for a birdkeeping magazine, but neither is really about birds.The author describes them as sort of a Victorian-age Diana Tregarde series.

Overall not a bad collection, but a little less diverse than FIDDLERS FAIR.If you tend to buy collections and like these sorts of stories, there is a very good chance you have read or encountered these stories before.

A great read!
I've been reading a lot of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series and came across this book while searching for more books of hers! I must say that the editing is much better (the misspellings in her other books were bugging me) although her writing itself is as enjoyable as always. I would LOVE to read more stories about SKitty and her family and I definitely think she should do a trilogy or more on the Grey stories! This was also my first introduction to Di Tregarde and I loved it! If you haven't read Lackey's stuff yet, this is a great book to get. It shows her dynamics as a writer and is quite enjoyable!

oh it's ok
Its not one of the best of her books.......but it is interesting. Its a bundle of short stories so don't be expecting a book.They i very good short stories which i hope she's adding onto.It just wasn't what i expected though. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very Entertaining Read
I have read several of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books and while I don't think that this one was quite as good as those, I did find it very entertaining.It kind of reminded me of a romance novel set in a fantasy world.The story is unique and interesting and I thought that the character development was very good.It's not my new favorite but it's definitely worth a read if you like this kind of thing.

Fairy Godmothers in a new light
If you have ever wondered where Fairy Godmothers came from, or whether or not they had private lives, if you've ever wondered what capricious energies are set in motion when Tradition is flouted as Fairy Tales go wrong, you will enjoy this charming, inventive, and enjoyable tale. Mercedes Lackey hits her stride as a writer in these wacky fairy tales (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series ) with gentle humor, good natured intelligence,and an engaging romantic subplot. As usual with Mercedes Lackey, there is a lot of thundering action between the good and bad guys, and it is clear her fairy tale universe has many, many more tales to unfold. The romance is a little more graphic than is usual with Mercedes, but less than in many current romance novels. ... Read more

Product Description
Evil had cast its shadow over the kingdom of Rethwellan. When Idra, leader of the Sunhawks mercenaries, failed to return from a journey to her home, Tarma and Kethry, warrior and mage, set out in search of their vanished leader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Great tale!
I was especially looking forward to this book since some of it was mentioned in Kerowyn's book. I was curious about how they got the Prince on the Rethwellan throne. As I mentioned in my review of Oathbound, the amount of spelling mistakes was amazing. Don't they have a person in charge of making sure that doesn't happen. There's nothing that ruins the flow of a story like a spelling mistake... that might just be me though.

This book was better than the first (Oathbound) and that book was FANTASTIC. These are two solid characters and anything they do just draws you in.

The cover art is so great - I wish there was a way to purchase it but I haven't seen any of Jody's art offered on Firebird Arts for a long time.

Definite must read.

A rarity - a better sequel than the first book!
Well, I enjoyed this one much more than the first. It's an actual novel for one - united and whole. The characters and their relationships are much stronger and it makes it much more fun to read. The "bonus" materials at the end are fun... well, I enjoyed them more when I was a kid and read these books for the first few times. Still, it's a fun adventure to read. The last book in the series I've only read a few times before, so I'm looking forward to that, since I don't remember too much about it...

Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar
Mercedes Lackey does it again with the Oathbound series. A most excellent book. I've completely enjoyed it.

Great book
Mercedes Lackey at her best, love the adventure, strong, smart, and magic women.

Oathbreakers
If you enjoyed the Oathbound then you will be entranced by Oathbreakers. This was quite a wild ride lots of fun and a few new characters to get aquainted with. This is a real page turner and a great weekend read. When you open the book you are hooked from the start. ... Read more

Product Description
From fantasy legends Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon comes the third and final volume in a powerful saga charged with war and magic, life and love....

Two years after his parents disappearance, Darian has sought refuge and training from the mysterious Hawkbrothers. Now he has opened his heart to a beautiful young healer. Finally Darian has found peace and acceptance in his life. That is, until he learns that his parents are still alive-and trapped behind enemy borders....

Praise for the Owl trilogy...

"Owlsight will bring new fans into the fold and please those who already love the land of Valdemar."-Starlog

"Vintage Mercedes Lackey."-Voya

"A pleasing coming-of-age adventure featuring an appealing set of characters."-Romantic Times

And for Lackey and Dixon...

" Suspense never lags, action is fast and furious, and their imaginings are totally credible." -KLIATT

• 3rd in the national bestselling Owl trilogy, following Owlflight and OwlsightAmazon.com Review
Owlknight follows Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's two earlier novels about Darian Firkin, Owlflight and Owlsight. By now the boy who ran from barbarian invaders is both knight of Valdemar and a master mage; he is governor of a small province and in love with Keisha who returns his feelings, but he still has problems and responsibilities. For one thing, he has never solved the mystery of what happened to his parents. For another, Keisha refuses to marry him lest his role as governor and hers of healer come into conflict--and there are still barbarians beyond the border who threaten one day to come back.

The story of how these problems are all resolved is told in a quiet tone unusual in this sort of epic fantasy. Darian has as much to look within for the solution to these issues as to struggle in the outside world. The woodland journey during which he does this is much of the time a celebration of the renewal of the human soul by the natural world.

Lackey and Dixon have found a courtly, meditative way of telling an attractively simple story. Darian's growth to final maturity is inevitable, but still fascinating. --Roz Kaveney, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

one of Lackey's best
Darian, thought orphaned and reared by his village, adopted by the tayledras, a forest people of Valdemar, and brought into magehood by the legendary mage, Firesong, matures fully in Owlknight.His maturity and accomplishments earn him knighthood in his own people,through his sponsor, Lord Breon andfull membership in the Ghost Cat clan.

In OwlKnight, Darian discovers that his parents, long thought dead, may have been caught in a "change", a national phenomenon that relocates one part of the land to another site.Along with his soon to be life partner,the village healer, Keisha,her Herald sister, Shandi and several of their closest friends, he set out to try to find his parents and therein lies the story.

Darian's tale is a wonderfully enjoyable trilogy with a satisfactory ending but, for most enjoyment, start reading at the beginning with Owlflight and Owlsight rather than here with Owlknight although each book is nicely selfcontained

Not very exciting... not very original...
Well, I did like this one, but I think that the second one was the best of the trilogy. I just didn't really like the plot of this one... finding his parents after all that time... it just wasn't very good. I mean, it was still more exciting than the first one, but it was more than a little trite. I am excited to read the newest Valdemar book and after that, I am excited to read something written by someone else!!

Not Their Best
Owlknight was an adequate conclusion to Lackey's and Dixon's Owl Brother trilogy, but I confess I was more than a little bored by the endless and tedious descriptions of clothing, housing, flora, etc.Yes, I know how flamboyant the Hawkbrothers are; I got that in all the other novels which included them in their tales.When we finally got to the action; i.e., the journey to find Darian's parents and the ensuing fight with the evil tribe and mage, there just wasn't enough of the good thing.Also, I had hope to see more detail about the interaction of Darian with his parents.

In spite of that, I certainly hope someone manages to tap into a leyline somewhere and open a gate so Darian can visit his family.I just betcha one of his sibs has Adept potential!

I discovered Mercedes Lackey and Valdemar years ago and have begun to reread the series. To my knowledge, the only books about Lackey's world that I haven't read are those in the Gryphon trilogy.I have begun The Black Gryphon and relish the opportunity to finish it and read the other two.

I taught middle schools for decades and highly recommend most of Lackey's books to mature readers in that age group. Perhaps I am a little prejudice; after all, fantasy is one of my favorite genres.

It wraps up the Darian tale, but not much more
Owlknight finishes up the Darian's tale trilogy (or the Owl trilogy).One of the Lackey/Dixon series set in Lackey's Valdemar.

If you've read the first two, you'll probably read the third, and there's no reason for anyone to *stop* without reading this book.I wish there were more of the Hawkbrothers and Firesong.They are truly more interesting characters that Darian/Keisha, but then this is Darian's tale so guess he has to be featured.

The search for Darian's parents is OK, but is isn't a stellar plot. It was more of the standard coming of age theme, and unfortunately the protagonists aren't interesting enough to give any depth to the plot.

This novel doesn't add much to the Valdemarian universe. If you're new to Lackey's works, start elsewhere.If you're already crazy about Valdemar, the HawkBrothers, Change Circles and the like will keep you interested enough to get through it.

An interesting ending
This last of the Darian's Valdemar books ties his story up nicely.It is interesting to see the growth of the character and ties up loose ends.We find out what actually happened to his parents and bridge the gap.We also get to see how Darian and his friends cope with the other Northern tribes that had a difficult time with the mage storms. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Mercedes Lackey

In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected… at a price that might be too high….

World Fantasy award winner Tanith Lee

Struggling under the curse of a dead comrade, Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, must face "The Heart of the Moon" to reveal what has been hidden….

C.E. Murphy

In "Banshee Cries," ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she shouldn't ignore— because the next life she has to save might be her own! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Two Outta Three Not Bad
Mercedes Lackey has such a way with creating atmosphere -- I would really like to see "Moontide" expanded to novel-format."The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith Lee was charming.As far as "Banshee Cries"?Ick Ick Ick -- I stapled that story shut when I passed the book on to my daughter.

C.E. Murphy
This author has a very creative mind, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

not as good as i thought
It took me quiet long to get into all of the three stories!! The last one from C.E. Murphy was probly the one that i liked most but i was a liitle dissapointed. It did not really meet my expectiations

I should have known better
Not the first time I've read an anthology with stories by authors I love - for their full-length novels. Not the first time I've been sorry about it. It's a real challenge to write a stand-alone story about a character with 3 novels out there - and a novella has very different pacing demands from a full-length. Anyway, if you've read the Walker papers, you'll find Banshee Cries duplicates an awful lot of explanations (with the identical same phrases, which really gets my goat, did she just use generic fill material?) Oh well, I'll stick to the novels (which are really, really excellent and you should go and buy any full length by C.E Murphy right now; you'll thank me.)

This is a great book!!!!!!
I really liked this book.Reading new authors gives me a chance to see how they write. ... Read more

Product Description
Eric Banyon is a talented musician whose lady has left him singing the blues in a deserted corner of the Renaissance Faire. He couldn't have known that the desperate sadness of his music would free Korendil, a young elven noble, from the magical prison he has been languishing in for centuries. Suddenly, Eric has no time to be sad, as he has to help Korendil fight against the evil elf lord who first imprisoned Korendil and now seeks to conquer all of California--and that is only the beginning. . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Bedlam's Bard
Love how the modern world and the world of the elves is intertwined. The humor and the openness of the characters keep me picking up all the books in this series.

Way below standard for this favourite author.
Let me start by making one thing clear. I'm a big Mercedes Lackey fan. I buy her books when they come out in the US. I'm in the UK, so this involves transatlantic postage. I bought this expecting to love it, for it to be a fun read, something to immerse myself in when I get home from work, an escape. Not great literature. Just a good basic fantasy/action novel. I was planning to review this anyway, but when I commented on it to someone and they said I should read its reviews, I thought I'd write mine before I did so. So, this review is based on having read half the book, and a history as a fan.

This is not what I expected from a Lackey book. More than that, it's _terrible_.

Eric, the protagonist, is a whiny, self-obsessed loser. I'm not the slightest bit surprised that he walked out of the Juilliard - my only surprise is that they didn't throw him out, talent or no talent. The other characters are cardboard cutouts. Mary Sue Witch and Gary Stu Elf.

And the style! I've just seen a fanfiction author taken to task for spending 15% of the time in italicised direct thought. This book has about 40% italics. One, this is very hard to read, and two, 40% of the time describing "poor me" wangsting? After twenty pages I didn't care how sad poor ickle Eric's life was and is, and it goes on, and on, and on... I've never felt like this for any other Lackey character, ever.

There were a couple of redeeming features. I laughed out loud at the comment about standard fantasy with telepathic horses, and I loved the idea of mental/magical combat involving musical modulations.

But in general, I think that had this book not had "Mercedes Lackey" on the top it wouldn't have made it past a publishing assistant's glance at the first page and a rejection slip. I've read fanfiction which was very, very much better than this. A lot of it. If Ms Guon wrote most of this book, Ms Lackey should ditch her as a co-writer. If Ms Lackey wrote it, then she needs to pay a lot more attention to the quality of her work. I for one will not be buying anything simply because it has her name on as author in the future.

Great Fantasy
This is a collection of two of Mercedes Lackey's books, 'Summoned to Tourney' and 'Knight of Ghosts and Shadows'. It features Eric Banyon, a human bard; Beth Kentraine, witch extroadinaire, and a Sidhe knight, Korrendil (Kory). The gang must battle evil forces, mundane and magical. A well-written beginning to the 'Bedlam's Bard' series.If you love real-world fantasy, with heroes and evil-doers, you'll love it! Also, check out the first appearance of Kayla and Elizabet in 'Bedlam Boyz'.

A wonderful read in a different world
Yes, this is a reprint of a classic.A Mercedey Lackey classic that I loved to read when I first read both stories, and still love to reread.That's why I bought this $4 edition when it became available.

This is a wonderful read in a different Mercedes Lackey world. It is not set in the world of Valdemar that Mercedes Lackey built. Valdemar is an incredible fantasy world that I and so many others love. But, if you can get you mind out of that world of Valdemar, Mercedes Lackey has built several other Fantasy Worlds that you can leap into and hopefully enjoy as much as I and many others do.

Bedlams Bard is the introduction and creation of what I'd call the 'Eric Banyon Facet' of Mercedes Lackey's modern day world of bards and fairy, magic & streetlife, music & busking & the coasts. Here you start to know some of the characters, see them learn and grow a little. See them make really stupid decisions and backslide a lot. It's a story by story tellers where if you can let your imagination go with it besides being enthralled you also might find yourself at points in the book wanting to reach in, shake a character and ask "What were You thinking? Why did you DO that????"

It's definitely more adult in some ways than a lot of the Valdemar books.I didn't let my daughter read it when she was 10, but I did read it to her, with a Lot if very quick mental and verbal editing and deletions. She loved the story, but thought Eric and the Fairy folk verystupid some of the time!

If you only like books with the newest conventions and styles, this may not be for you. But if you can appreciate a fantasy book from the mid 90's that starts building a world with romance, dark & light magic, celtic magic and real Fairy folk, then get this book.

Deadly boring wangst.
In order to enhance your reading experience, let me introduce a bit of vocabulary before we start. WANGST: noun. "Ridiculously overblown self-pity." (The Urban Dictionary)


I'm used to Lackey's generally lightweight style; I even tend to enjoy it more than I don't. This book, however, is just a stinker.

I've yet to make it past page 150 in "Bedlam's Bard," and that's including extensive skimming. The book is dominated by an unstoppable tag team of wangsty, cardboard characters and an absurd overload of internal dialogue. One at a time either of those might be bearable, but in combination the reader (or this reader, anyway) just begins to wish that there was some way to put these obnoxious people out of their misery.

The book opens as some girl named Maureen dumps Our Henpecked Hero, Eric Banyon, for no particular reason. We must take the authors' word for it that their relationship had some redeeming value, because we never actually see her again. Maureen's sole purpose is to make Eric drunk and wangsty; and indeed, "Maureen" is all we get to hear about for the next hundred pages.

Aha! But the relationship is really only a plot device which (if my skimming is correct) 1) introduces an annoying, overly drawn-out subplot in which Eric is convinced that the elves are a product of his imagination/bad mushrooms/Maureen's spite and 2) eventually causes Eric to hook up with his Wun Twu Wuv. Eric's Wun Twu Wuv, whose name I cannot be bothered to remember, also gets extensive internal dialogue and wangst. For a change of scenery, her wangst is about Eric's immaturity and wangst.

Eric's immaturity and general footloose nature are supposedly a major plot point and have something to do with his Twagic, Juilliard-attending Past (TM); but for all the other characters harp on about it, I couldn't see how, exactly, he was being immature. (Well, apart from the wangst, but everybody in the book does that. I was desensitized.)

A few less-than-fascinating baddies are eventually introduced, but this is where I stopped. The rest will have to remain a mystery. I'm a sucker for bad fantasy, but "Bedlam's Bard" isn't even funny-- just deadly boring. It should have stayed out of print. Take the hideous cover art as a sign, and give this one a wide berth. ... Read more

Product Description
The Captain thought that their shipscat would be an asset at the trade negations, so he ordered Dick to bring her with them. Dick had warned her repeatedly not to hunt on this planet, but what cat ever does what a human tells her to? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fun little story
This is the first of four S'Kitty/S'Cat shorts that I've read so far for the Kindle.The four stories (SKitty, A Tail of Two SKitties, SCat and A Better Mousetrap) are light-reading, SciFi short stories that were individually published over the years, and now have been released in this format.

I read this one first, and liked it enough to pick up the other 3.Enjoyable and works well as a self-contained, stand alone story, with enough elements that seeing more of the SKitty universe would be welcome.I read this one back in the day near when it was published (back when I read everything of MLs I could get my hands on...not so much anymore) and it was nice to see I still enjoyed it.

Worth a pickup..but I would only buy one at a time to make sure you like it--very light reading to be sure! ... Read more

Product Description
A new novel from Mercedes Lackey is always a special event. Now, for the first time, this fantasy legend has contributed a brand-new novella for Roc's fantasy hardcover line--a deluxe showcase for major talents such as Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley.

In The River's Gift, a young woman uses her healing gifts to help a magical horse-like creature--and receives, in return, the greatest gift of all...

Extraordinary praise for Mercedes Lackey:

"Lackey is a spellbinding storyteller who spins intricate webs of magical adventure."--Rave Reviews

"A fantasy superstar."--Romantic Times

* Specially illustrated and packaged for the gift- giving season ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Better for Young Adults
I read this book a while back. I was like sixteen I think, which marks me closer to the age of our heroine. The book is a quick, light read that is delightful, but it suffers from being so short. A lot of time is spent before the 'trouble' of the book even begins and the detail is well placed there. We learn about the daily lives of the people, of Ariella and a lot about the Harvest Time.

Unfortunately when her father dies and her life changes the nature of the book changes. The action happens quickly and the resolution even quicker. I think if this had been a book of Lackey's normal length we would have been given better details as far as the feelings and thoughts of Merod and Ariella are concerned. As it is 128 pages is just too short a novel to richly imagine the world and circumstances.

A short, sweet (but predictable) escape
Ariella lives a somewhat sheltered life in the family manor, under the watchful eye of old cousin Magda. Spending her free time in the forest, she discovers she has a talent for healing the woodland animals. Indeed, one day a handsome, wounded Kelpie, a water-living, magical creature in the shape of a horse, requires her assistance. Soon after, Ariella's world is shattered when tragedy befalls her father, and she is sent off to marry a horrible cousin. The River's Gift is filled with many, many predictable and clichéd story elements. However, for me it was a short, sweet escape from mundane reality during my lunch break.

Cute
As this is being my first title read by Lacky I have nothing else to base her writings on, although i must say that I enjoyed the story.I thought it was cute, and although it was a bit predictable it had its own innocent and altruistic qualities.I didn't purchase this book, i got it from the local library, and I wouldn't buy it...because 16$ for that is quite a lot of money.LOL.

I felt that Merod should have been developed more, and I also thought that he should have been less "dainty".He is supposed to be this luring & ominous creature and yet he falls in love with a mortal, that which he has despised his whole being.

I could appreciate that the girl had these healing abilities, and I did wonder if her mother could do the same.I also wondered why she didn't make an attemp to heal her father when he had his "heart attack".It was sappy and cute and allowed for my needed catharsis at that moment so I cannot be too disappointed.I feel that if you are going to read this then remind yourself that it is a damned short story and won't have tons of character development.

Not one of the better books by Mercedes Lackey
The only reason to buy this book is if you are absolutely desperate to own/read everything this author has ever written. If you have read all the Heralds of Valdemar series, and are looking for that depth and quality,I think you will be as disapointed as I was. The depth of characters and storyline is just not here. Girl has healing powers, heals forest creatures and faery, enter a magical horselike being, father dies, enter bad-guy and suprise arranged marriage, saved by man of her dreams, with suprise ending similar to a Hans Cristian Anderson tale.This should have been a short story. The cute little book with borders and embelishment,takes up just enough space to stretch it into a hardback. Can we say, "waste of money!" If you want to read wonderful series by Mercedes Lackey with unforgetable characters Vanyel, Elspeth and Tahlia are waiting.

An ok attempt at a novella
Misty Lackey is one of my favourite authors, and I was thrilled to read this story when I read a description of it. When I actually read the story I was disappointed. The story was sappy and predictable, and the main character was just the perfect little person---it made me want to throw up. Merod as a character isn't really developed and so the end came at me and I was disapointed because all I had really seen of Merod was an image of a cold kelpie. Fun, light read, but not worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description
Alberich's new horse had been stolen from the enemy--but it wasn't the only thing stolen.

This story was originally published in the anthology HORSE FANTASTIC, December 1991. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Déjà vu
This is a great little clip, but unfortunately it is taken word for word from the book Exile's Honor which I've already read.In fact, this entire "book" can be downloaded as the sample for Exile's Honor kindle book (plus some more) so save your money and go download it for free. ... Read more

Product Description
The FarSeers among the Sidhe of Elfhame Avalon have seen two visions of the future. In one, an evil queen will take the throne and welcome the Inquisition in, debauching the nation and threatening even the elf strongholds throughout the land. In another, a red-haired child will grow up to take the throne and usher in a golden age of literature, music, and art. The evil Unseleighe Sidhe, who draw power from pain and misery, welcome the coming of a ruler of humans who will increase their strength, and are determined to prevent the red-haired child from coming to the throne. Unless the good Sidhe can find the child and protect her from the evils and dangers of both the human and elven worlds, she will never grow up to become Elizabeth, Queen of England in the Sixteenth Century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Wrong book information
"That Family Circus Feeling" is being given the book review for "This Scepter'd Isle" Please look into this. I now own both books and will keep them, but I was only after the Mercedes Lackey series. This is an example of the buyer's confusion.

That Family Circus Feeling (Paperback)
~ Bil Keane
Bil Keane (Author)
> Visit Amazon's Bil Keane Page
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(Author) "With red-eyed hounds wailing and horns sounding "the death," the Wild Hunt poured into the forecourt of Caer Mordwyn, the palace of Vidal Dhu..." (more)

This Scepterd isle
This whole series is good lots of good writing, without Ms. Lackeys usual boring middle...Have the whole series will reread again and again

Enjoyable different twist on England's History!
Definitely enjoyed the different twist with this series. I love the possibility of the Elven influence on this time period of England's History. I am still reading through the series and am sure I'll enjoy all the books!

Light, Light Reading - good concept
As with past books, when co-authored they are best for light reading.Mercedes Lackey takes a back seat in the overall written word, as can be witnessed in this book.That being said .. the concept is a very good one - Historical fiction with a twist of fantasy and magic.

If you are expecting another Valdemar this one is not for you.If you follow the Tudors and love real history, don't read this book - you will be disappointed.If you enjoy quick light historical romantic paperbacks i.e. fluff without substance then this will fit right in.

I confess, I did enjoy it .. it passes the time.

Good, but too short
THIS SCEPTR'D ISLE may be 496 pages long, but it's still too short.

Why do I say that?

Well, it's not just because I enjoy the writers so much (although I do), and it's not just because it starts off so well (even though it does).

It's more that the story as a whole suffers when the authors turn away from Henry Fitzroy, Henry VIII's "natural," i.e., illegitimate, son.Fitzroy is a very engaging character, and while the book stays with him (and the Seleighe elves protecting him), I enjoyed it immensely.

However, about 2/3 of the way through, the story shifts more to protecting Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I).Because of this, we don't see Henry's marriage, we don't see much of his life after he hits age 13 (the then-age of maturity!), and we don't really see why he likes Elizabeth so much.The best the authors came up with was that Fitzroy didn't know, either, but since he did, he was going to do his best for her.

This is quite plausible, considering Fitzroy was around age 17 when he died; how many 17 year old boys are close to their sisters?And if they are, how many of them know why?

Still, it's a fairly weak thread to weave your plot over; it worked, because the authors are both fine writers, but I would rather have seen this book go another fifty to one hundred pages and see Fitzroy's marriage, maybe see him yearning for his own kids (and that might be why he took to Elizabeth, who was portrayed as not only very smart but very loving as a youngster?), and have the plot fully fleshed out.

As it stands, 2/3 of this book is exemplary, but then it falls off to a very rushed ending that wasn't very satisfying.

Be that as it may, THIS SCEPTR'D ISLE is an entertaining prequel to Ms. Lackey's "Bedlam's Bard" and "Serrated Edge" novels, and I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the two sets of half-sibling twins, Rhoslyn and Pasgen (raised by the Unseleighe, or Dark, Elves) and Denoriel and Aleneil (raised by the Seleighe, or Bright, Elves).

A shade under four stars, recommended.

Barb Caffrey ... Read more

Product Description
An all-new original short fiction anthology featuring Mercedes Lackey's heroic Heralds and their horselike companions-as penned by such masters of fantasy as Judith Tarr, Michelle West, Fiona Patton, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

awesome!!!
As all her books whether alone or with her collaberators it makes for an easy read in her "world" Valdemar and surrounding areas.

Companions and Firecats! Oh my!
These anthologies are a terrific addition to the "pure" series of Valdemar novels by Mercedes Lackey. Written by other authors inspired by her world of Valdemar, they are an eclectic mix of stories that provide a little more insight into Valdemar as well as the people living in the lands bordering it. Tragic and comedic, they add a valuable enhancement to the beloved people of the world of the Heralds and Companions.

Sun In Glory
This was a much enjoyed sellection of short stories and some very tallented writers. There was no getting bored here, if you have read the valdamaran series and are familiar with the stories this book will mesh well with your memories of the other tales.

Fantastic!
I am always a bit sceptical about anthologies, even the Marian Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey ones.However, Mercedes did a truly fantastic job of editing these stories to remain true to the Valdemarian history, lands, and people.I highly recommend this book for the Valdemar-lovers out there!

I did not like this at all
I generally enjoy Mercedes Lackey books, what with them being the most abundant set in my bookcases, but I was sorely disappointed with this. It just was not up to my expectation of excellence for this writer. The only story I specifically remember that I like whas something about a priest who lived off somewhere by himself and one of the giant cats from the Karse sungod thing... if you have read the books, you know what kind of cat I mean, I just can't think of it. I also can't think of the name of the stories because I barely made it through by skimming to see if there were any I wanted to read after reading a couple. I didn't see this as a good investment other than completing the collection, and if you aren't a book collector, I recommend checking this out at a library or going to a used bookstore or borrowing from a friend. It's not worth the money. There are worse books, but this was far below my level of expectation. ... Read more

Product Description

Three acclaimed, bestselling authors -- three extraordinary fantasists -- unite talent and vision to create a noble dynasty and a remarkable realm of spirit and substance.

The House of the Tiger has skillfully ruled Merina in times of peace. But now the indomitable armies of the Emperor Balthasar stand poised to crush the vulnerable city/state. And in the enemy's midst is the gray mage Apolon -- foul necromancer who serves the Dreadful Dark . . . and whose mission it is to satsfy his Master's terrible hungers with living souls, the Heart of a Goddess, and the blood of a Princess.For Adele, aging Dowager Queen; for ruling Queen Lydana; and for Princess Shelyra, lithe, impetuous, ingenious Designated Daughter, the battle seems hopeless -- for they possess no defense, save for their wiles and weapons of the spirit. But the Tiger is a cunning beast, not to be underestimated. And when corered, she bares her teeth . . . and strikes.

Customer Reviews (18)

Tiger Burning rather dim if you ask me
Got this book in the usual way, browsing the nearest store for a titl that would catch my eye. Paid only a dollar for it, which i thought was great. Boy am i glad i didn't pay more!

The premise is interesting enough. A city with no military, but with excellent trade routes, is suddenly under seige. The royal family, consisting of The Dowager Queen, the Ruling Queen, and the Designated Daughter(Princess), end up going into hiding in order to regroup and figure out how to win their city back. They all take on alternate personas that they have cultivated in the past, and seeminglyblend in.

Shelyra, the hot tempered princess, chafs at the order fromher aunt to go into hiding ith a group of people known as the Horse Lords. She disobeys, and spends her time sneaking around aand spying on the Prince,Leopold.

The Ruling Queen, Lydana, slips away to another park of the city and becomes Mathild, a Beadswoman of dubious reputation(all speculation). Noone would recognize the Queen under the guise of Mathild..would they.

The Dowager goes into the convent(or temple) and becomes Gemen Elfrida, a role shes been assuming for some two years. With her city under siege, it seems safest.

After the basic story is laid out, i just had a hard time keeping up. Normally i enjoy any collabaration involving Marion Zimmer Bradley(Black Trllium for example, was brilliant) But here, it just didnt seem fleshed out enough. There were just too many viewpoints, and i never felt i got to know any of the main players. I liked Lydana myself, and think it should have been told from her view, or at least just the three woman. hopping from the three women to Leopold and Apolon, the main baddie, was to much.

3 strong writers, 3 strong heroines
Three strong female writers serve to deliver a work with three strong and different female heroines.

The city state of Merina is facing destruction by the Emperor Balthasar.The ruling house of the Tiger surrenders the city to the oncoming forces.The ruling Queen then disappears, along with her Dowager mother (presumed dead) and heir apparent daughter.

I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews to this book.I found the weaving together of the 3 stories worked well.The characters were strong, yet different, both in their motivations and their actions.The three different heroines were an excellent use of 3 talented authors.

Recommended for any fantasy fans, fans of the authors involved, and especially fantasy works with strong female protagonists.

In a more positive light..
Despite the more recent negative reviews on this book, it is a marvelous story, well worth the read. Please check out the more positive reviews...perhaps, it takes a true fantasy afficionado to appreciate the complexity of this book. Well worth the read. LadyHawke791

There was just something missing...
I just didn't GET this book...the three ladies who wrote it are, as far as I'm concerned, three of the most important female fantasy writers of all time.Yet I simply couldn't get into this book.The writing styles were just too different, and the story moved too slowly...this is a danger of multiple perspectives: the authors must backtrack to catch "their" character up to the others, and the reader is left slogging through a 400-page mess.I think that if this book had been a little better organized (and the characters a bit more believable) I would have enjoyed it more.As it was, it just left me with this vauge headache and the need to go back, re-read certain passages, and finall, put the book down and not come back to it.

a few good details
this book had me bored to tears. i literally threw this book down a few times wondering when things were going to culminate? everything is tediously described three times by three different characters. three generations of a royal family are seen through three women of this royal house; the old queen, the middle aged heir and the young princess. in that it's pretty standard but instead of moving this story, which at its heart is wonderful, every scene is retold through each character's eyes with barely any variance.

this story of a kingdom threatened by an invading emperor who lusts for conquest sounded pretty interesting to me. his son, who the reader finds quickly is really loving and wishes for peace, is in this kingdom to help conqueror it. the three main characters, through who the story is told, are the queen, the heir and the young princess. the queen is aging and must pass on the throne but cannot when they are all forced to flee into hiding by the invaders. this summary is brief but the story is closely connected with the characters and i don't want to hand out to many teasers.

at the begginning of the book i was intrigued by the idea of this mystical kingdom with hidden secrets and mysterious ritualsbut by the third chapter i was wondering when something was going to happen to already. "tiger burning bright" hints that angels may play a very important role but then abruptly ignores the subject leaving the reader wondering why the lengthy description if they play no real role?

chapter after chapter is devoted to what every character is thinking, feeling, wearing and what they plan to do but never actually do. build up is all well and go and i am a never ending fan of suspense, holding it as critical part of a story but between three authors one would think that all this suspense was leading somewhere.

the long awaited ending was something i wouldn't call overly original, reading instead like some trashy romance novel. i knew who would end up with who by the fifth chapter and kept wondering when it would happen already. though many like the story line and i found i liked certain scenes or detail/ideas in the book overall i found it a dissappointing if not completely tiresome read. ... Read more

Product Description
Rune runs away from her abusive home to become one of her world's greatest violinists, while fellow musician Robin journeys to Skull Hill to recruit a terrible ghost, and Nightingale teams up with a strange beast for her own musical pursuits. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

One of my Favorites!
This whole series is magical and I love it, but this is deffinatly the place to start! The story is enchanting and the character's will stay with you for ever. I am very greatfull for having read all the books of The Free Bards, the story just keeps building with every book!
I highly recomand them all!

3 excellant stored collected
These 3 stories from the Free Bards series are an excellent introduction the first The Lark & The Wren deals with how Rune decided to become a musician and leave her dead end village.The Robin & The Kestrel deals with the adventures of Robin a Gipsy Free Bard and Johnny a curios anomaly.The last The Eagle & The Nightingales deals with a Free Bard singer and her entanglement with some of the non-humans and court politics.

The characters are all well done and compelling and the plots are very good although not truly great.The stories were edited when the collection was done with resulting improvements by and large.But there are a number of editorial rough spots both original and new which keep this book from getting 5 stars.

The cover here is not horrid contrary to recent tradition, actually its pretty good. Goes to show that Baen doesn't have a requirement for bad covers.

Overall an Excellent though not outstanding read (5 stars is Outstanding for the genre).

Happy Delivery
The accuracy of description and safe delivery was quite good.I would buy a product from these people again.

Decent, but no more
If I could, I'd give this book 2 1/2 stars, but as that's not possible, I rounded down.

When I first read these books ("these books" refering to the trilogy brought together in this books), I rather enjoyed them. There were many aspects that I liked. It seemed somewhat creative, I liked the characters, and the created world was interesting (just close enough and yet different enough from our world for my tastes).

On the other hand, for someone who has read a lot of Mercedes Lackey, it has some of the stereotypes she tends to use. The one that grated at me the most was the govt. vs. religion issue. She bent over backwards to demonstrate how the government was generally being reasonable, caring for the people, and having fair, understanding laws, while the church was harsh, cruel, controlling, and generally bad news (this wouldn't bother me so much except that it seems to be a theme throughout many of her books, and eventually it wears on you). She did have a few token good church types, but it was more to make it seem like she was being fair than anything else.

There were also the male vs. female issues. This is probably a personal difference of taste, as I used to enjoy the whole "women are automatically at the bottom because of their gender but through personal merit struggle to the top" genre, but have gotten bored of it. For me that was a negative part of the books, although as I said, that might be more of a personal issue.

If you like M. Lackey's style, you will probably like this one. However, she has other books that are better (such as her earlier Valdemar books).

Mercedes, indeed the legendary figure
Now, this book struck me as interesting the moment I laid hands on it( the cover page, darn the habit ). I was quite surprised when I started reading the book that I actually got interested in such an atmosphere of fantasy where music and fear appear to be the most uninvisible kind of magic there is, and how alike it is to old England.
Then, I found out why. The lyrics of this book encourages the reader to read on, I found this book interesting because of the mere fact that it was set in our world--almost. I found a profound love of a world that is so similiar to ours, yet still contains that musically smooth writing that captures your soul like lines from music wrapping around you, grasping you, embracing you. That was no doubt a rare find. Then I knew I was in the good part of the story, the part where I can be sure to be entranced for--no less than an infinity. Astounding, yes, quite astounding. A book whose prose matches the lyrics of its songs.
This book also presents a magical variety of characteristics of its characters, such a big yet invisible mix that it's almost as if the characteristic were cards in one gigantic deck shuffled with astounding skill so that no card is the same. At that time I was sure of this author's skill. For to have a different variety of characteristics actually makes a story interesting, it opens more doors to imagination, to possibilities, and it captures the attention of the reader better. That strategy is the backbone of A.D. 999, one of my favorite fantasies.
This book was--well, my opinion is better stated at the end. Lastly, I should say that not only did this book's prose find its armour, wit, and it captured a main factor in a good story, but this book acually did not depend on length to capture a reader's attention, a small trilogy this may be, this book still contains the lyrics and prose of any worthy book, which is amazing, counting that it is hard to write a book with a lot of pages, let alone the Wheel of Time. I'm not sure if this book is as good as A.D. 999, but it definitely captures its quality. Finally, what I've been thinking about all this time, this book is classic romantic dark midieval fantasy movie material.
Now, despite all my comments on how good this book is, there are several flaws. If you put everything down( and by everything, I mean the story ), you'd discover that this story came to its plot quickly, which is good, but the Lark and the Wren had 30% suspense, and ended in like one chapter. If this was only a short story that would've been real obvious. Plus, this book's praises music as if its the center of the universe. Now, this is only my opinion, and I know many of you will disagree with me, but just hear me out, okay? Okay. I believe if the author put down music as only one of the many quality time/magic in her world, I believe that would make her world a little bit more interesting, more wide. That would multiply the space of her world by 10 times. Those are some of the big ones, I can live with the other ones.
So all in all, I believe that this book definitely had many praiseworthy scenes, a lot of admirable plots, and many qualities which makes this book great, a real treasure to read, and something we normies can in a way relate to. However, I did list some of its flaws, after reading the book, and really--is there really a book without flaws? Not even A.D. 999 was truly flawless. But then again, this isn't A.D. 999, so believe me, I am just a little over indifferent of its plots. So on a scale of 1 through 100, or hell on paper through phenomenoe, I'd give it an eighty-nine, and an a little better than great. Congratulations, you'be got a B+. If this book was the only book of an author, it would've gotten an 100%, and if the author only wrote a few books, or the author only writes at this level, I'd give it at least a 93%, but when it's coming from Mercedes Lackey, well, you get the idea.
So I hope this had been helpful--Steven Cong. ... Read more

Product Description
Equipped with more inherent psi power than any mortal or elf, an abused little girl threatens to destroy Earth and the Faerie world, unless the elves can stop her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Serious Subject
It's embarrassing when a book has been sitting on a 'to be read' pile for so long the pages are yellowing.And I like Mercedes Lackey.Perhaps it was the idea of Elf racecar drivers that put me off.It seemed like stretching the elf prototype a bit.And maybe it's just a little too cutesy.

Yet 'When the Bough Breaks' is anything but a cute story.Racing is a backdrop for the story of an Elf (Mac Lynn) who is uncomfortable with his heritage and falling in love with a human (Lianne McCormick) for the second time.He should know better one would think, but there is something in the Elven mind that is drawn to drama.But even that isn't the real center of the story.

Amanda is a pre-adolescent girl who comes from an abusive family.Not a little abusive, but a lot abusive.So abusive that her personality has divided in order that some parts of her mind can never have to know the horrible truth.So abusive that her massive psychic talent has awakened and, if she cannot learn to master her anger, it may very well bring the Elven world down.The only think holding together is that one of her personalities isn't hers, but that of an ancient druid witch.

Mac and Lianne struggle to extract Amanda from her wealthy but hopeless environment, but are hampered on all sides.Not only is Amanda herself a threat, but several psychic hunters are determined to kidnap Mac or Amanda and enslave them for their powers.It will take a miracle for this to work out well, and, frankly, well just may not be an option.

As much as I applaud Lackey and Lisle for making a real statement about the horrors of child abuse, the plot is heavy handed in other places with less effect.There's are too many things going on and this weakens the plot line around Amanda.And Mac Lynn's antics provide a distracting and almost innapropriate contrast to the core issues.I would have liked to see this be a simpler, darker story with a less predictable conclusion.

GREAT
This is an extraordinary book all of those who have read Lackey's Valdemar series would love this book(I know I did).It's got everything!!!! Magic, Elves(and wow on those Elves)(tray cool!!) And enough excitement and dangerto keep you reading!!!!

A realistic depiction of MPD w/in a gripping urban fantasy.
I read all and own most of Lackey's novels, including collaborations.I particulary like her urban fantasies because they grapple fearlessly--and realistically--with real-life issues.In When the Bough Breaks, the authors portray multiple personality disorder very truly, yet merge it seamlessly with the other aspects of the story.Don't get me wrong!This is not some psychological narrative, but another excellent combination of fantasy and modern life from master storytellers.I highly recommend it!

Thought-provoking and informative
This is a brilliant book.It manages to deal with a very topical issue, without being too preachy.I particularly liked the ending where the villian gets his just desserts ~ if only such options were possible in real life!!

Horses turning into cool cars and magic in the air;must read
When the Bough Breaks has everything: elves, magically talented psi positive humans, fast cars, elvensteeds, and bad guys. It's my nominee for awards. ... Read more

Product Description
Mickey Zucker Reichert, Tanya Huff, Michelle Sagara, and others present seventeen original tales set in the popular fantasy universe of Valdemar, home of the Heralds and their mysterious horse-like Companions. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Swords and swashbuckling!
These anthologies are a terrific addition to the "pure" series of Valdemar novels by Mercedes Lackey. Written by other authors inspired by her world of Valdemar, they are an eclectic mix of stories that provide a little more insight into Valdemar as well as the people living in the lands bordering it. Tragic and comedic, they add a valuable enhancement to the beloved people of the world of the Heralds and Companions.

Good Collection and Fresh Air
I really like short stories and I think there aren't enough of them published so I'm always glad when a book of short stories I haven't read in magazines comes out.

Letting other authors in your world can be asking for heaps of trouble. Here it really works out well. I'll risk heresy and state that I think Lackey had been getting stale and a book of fresh viewpoints into her mythos is a great thing that can only help future works. There are tales here that are absolutely Valdemaran yet probably could never have been written by Ms. Lackey herself. This only strengthens her world considerably.

To me, every tale here rang true to what Valdemar is about with nothing throwing me out of the story by being obviously wrong. Quality varies of course, but I don't think any story would be worse than mediocre, and most are above average and some first rate tales.

The short story is quite well suited to providing a look at the other corners of Valdemar that aren't royal family, or top herald related and these do so superbly. These new voices may have even inspired the better quality Exile's Honor which was just published.

If you enjoy short stories, if you enjoy Valdemar, pick these up. Allow yourself to believe that other people can write in this universe as well as the creator and you'll be in for a pleasant treat. Ms. Lackey deserves kudos for allowing others into her world, and doing such a fine job of picking good stories that fit into her world yet reveal more.

It was okay
I thought about 1/2, maybe 3/4 of these stories were good, and worth the read, but some fell flat in my opinion. Maybe they were just too short, but I found a few boring, and without the "tone" of Valdemar (or maybe it's just MLs writing) that I've come to adore. If you've got the time, give it a try, but don't strain yourself to get at it.

Lackey Lets Others In Her Sandbox
... and it makes for a lovely book! Honestly, I'd been finding Mercedes Lackey's own Valdemar books to be getting repetitive. It's to the point where I can pick one up (say, Brightly Burning) and go, 'Ok, he's going to be Chosen, she's going to have a Lifebond with HIM, and those two over there are going to have catastrophic mental Gifts that they have to fight to master.' Predictable. Still affecting, I must admit - nobody can make me cry like Lackey - but boring.

This book is not like this. Why? Because other authors were let in to play with Ms. Lackey's toys, and it's an enchanting work. Lots of short stories set in the Valdemar universe, each exploring some small aspect that Lackey hasn't focussed upon yet. One thing that sucks me into fantasy worlds like nothing else is the feeling that so many OTHER stories could be being told than the one the author has chosen. This book proves Valdemar has this potential.

If only Ms. Lackey could write Valdemar stories like these, instead of her (now-standard) Tayledras/Herald/etc moony lovefests about Grand Quests and World-Changing Events, I'd buy a lot more of them in hardcover. As it is, I hope she lets folks into her playground again, for another similar volume.

Fairly decent
This was a collection I think really only meant fortrue Valdemar fans. You definately needed background in the Valdemar world in order for thesestories to make sense.But if you are familiar with Lackey's Valdemarseries, this is a must buy.It provides some background on a few littletidbits on the real novels, and also some entertaining short stories.Notmuch "depth" to them, but what do you expect, they're shortstories. ... Read more