Magic's Price (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 3)

Magic's Price - Mercedes Lackey This is the third and concluding book in the Herald Mage series that begins with Magic's Pawn. I love the Heralds of Valdemar series this novel is a part of. The Herald Mage trilogy was published after the first set of books that begins with Arrows of the Queen, but is set hundreds of years before, so this wouldn't act as a spoiler (and indeed in a way Arrows acts as a spoiler for this set, since by then Vanyel is a figure of legend.) Because of Arrows of the Queen, I knew Vanyel's fate and more or less where his story would end up--and certainly there's plenty of foreshadowing in the two earlier books in the trilogy--and even the title. I found it no less a journey worth taking for that; Vanyel is an appealing character and Valdemar with its "companions" (magical horse-shaped creatures) and rider-heralds is an appealing world to spend time in. I also liked the character of Stefan, a bard and Vanyel's lover. Not only is he an appealing character in his own right, but that subplot gives some needed resolution to the tragedy of Tylendel and their romance cuts some of the bleakness of this novel and makes for a moving ending. This isn't nearly five stars by the way because I don't recognize the flaws in the writing. There are more creatively imaginative books in fantasy, or even by Lackey, and the writing skill isn't extraordinary. But Lackey does have a gift, particularly in this trilogy, for making you care about her characters. I enjoyed the journey and found Vanyel's story moving; the trilogy is among my favorite books in the fantasy genre.