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Valdemar: Owl Mage Trilogy #3
Owlknight
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....
450 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
190 people are currently reading
2218 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
511books9,338followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
May 21, 2009
Probably 2 1/2 stars, really. It wasn't a bad book, but I've read better of Lackey's. The pacing seemed very wrong - the first 2/3 of the book are describing the social/political structure of Valdemar and the characters' relational problems. The "main" plot is finally introduced about 100 pages before the end, and then hurriedly dealt with. The result is a slow first part of the book, a very gripping last few chapters, and an epilogue that would have been better expanded. Not a bad book, but not Lackey's best either judging from my limited readings of her works.
July 21, 2017
Just kind of meh. The storyline isn't terrible but it's compressed to the point of not making sense (Darian suddenly remembers he wants to find his parents, ten years after they disappeared?) and the romantic plots aren't developed enough to have the impact they should. If Lackey wanted us to be invested in Shandi and Steelmind, they should have been POV characters, and Darian and Keisha's conflict was just stupid. Everyone was too oblivious to live when the plot required it, right up to the moment of epiphany and then everything was happily resolved. It kind of sucks, because there's the bones of a really interesting story under all this, but it never quite comes out. Anyway, note to my future self: you really only like Owlsight. It's ok to just read the middle book and call it a day.
January 26, 2022
Keisha was at the camp where the northerners who now lived near Elrond's Grove and saw some trade goods that a new group had used to pay for the healing they had come to get.
While looking through the furs she wanted, she came across a vest she thought Darian would like. Upon giving it to him he noticed that the pattern embroidered on it was a pattern that his mother used. The same pattern that was on the last vest she had made for him before his parents had disappeared years ago.
Finally having something that might show that at least his mother might still be alive. He talks to the other leaders of K'valdemar vale and gets permission to hunt for a couple of days to see if he can find something near the Vale where he thought his parents were trapping when they disappeared.
He finds the bones of someone's foot at the site of a change circle, when he brings them back, Firesong link's them to Darian, as being a relative most likely his father.
He goes again to the elders of the Vale and asks for permission to go on a search for his parents up in the northern clan territory's.
For those who want to know more, read the book.
I gave it 4 stars because to me it's a bit long winded and it has too many situations in which the main characters are not being honest with each other even though they are supposed to be honestly working together.
While looking through the furs she wanted, she came across a vest she thought Darian would like. Upon giving it to him he noticed that the pattern embroidered on it was a pattern that his mother used. The same pattern that was on the last vest she had made for him before his parents had disappeared years ago.
Finally having something that might show that at least his mother might still be alive. He talks to the other leaders of K'valdemar vale and gets permission to hunt for a couple of days to see if he can find something near the Vale where he thought his parents were trapping when they disappeared.
He finds the bones of someone's foot at the site of a change circle, when he brings them back, Firesong link's them to Darian, as being a relative most likely his father.
He goes again to the elders of the Vale and asks for permission to go on a search for his parents up in the northern clan territory's.
For those who want to know more, read the book.
I gave it 4 stars because to me it's a bit long winded and it has too many situations in which the main characters are not being honest with each other even though they are supposed to be honestly working together.
June 22, 2023
First few chapters are a bit slow though not lacking the cozy and warm charm I love for this series. Things really take off about 1/3 in with the main plot and it's fantastic from there on out. Really enjoyed seeing more of the world and magic in this installment. I only wish more time was spent on the epilogue. Wanted more closure for these lovely characters �
August 20, 2018
Average in every way.
December 9, 2019
I will admit, when I read the summary for Owlknight, I was disappointed. I wasn't interested in reading a novel where Darian is off to find his long-lost parents. However, once I started reading I loved every moment of this plot line. It's been a while since we've read a Valdemarian quest plot line. And this one is fun and different!
The moral and ethical questions explored in Owlknight kept me intrigued. Lackey and Dixon present a number of situations on this quest where there is no single correct answer. With such a diverse group of characters traveling together, this is a perfect mixture for exploring the ramification of our choices. I was never bored reading long debates on what choice is the right choice between these characters -- particularly when they realized there was no single correct choice.
But there were long moments where I was bored.
A arge portion of this novel is physical description of things. Clothing. Art. Villages. Architecture. Landscape. You name it, Lackey and Dixon spared no words describing it. The descriptions in Owlknight are the most verbose of any Valdemar series we've read to date. Since I don't see images in my head, and I quickly realized that these descriptions served no purpose to further the plot, I eventually started skimming. I skimmed, combined, over 20 pages of descriptive passages. Thankfully, this is the only content I wanted to skim. The rest of the tale engaged me.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed reading The Owl Mage trilogy. I connected with these characters deeply, loved getting to know the different cultures in and around Valdemar, and found the lack of an overall Big Bad very gratifying. Unfortunately, this trilogy has the weakest writing of any Valdemar series Melanie and I read for #ReadingValdemar. Pacing is consistently poor, too many characters are always introduced, and seemingly important details are either forgotten or dropped often. In my perfect book world Lackey will re-write this trilogy someday and it will be stronger. One can dream at least.
The moral and ethical questions explored in Owlknight kept me intrigued. Lackey and Dixon present a number of situations on this quest where there is no single correct answer. With such a diverse group of characters traveling together, this is a perfect mixture for exploring the ramification of our choices. I was never bored reading long debates on what choice is the right choice between these characters -- particularly when they realized there was no single correct choice.
But there were long moments where I was bored.
A arge portion of this novel is physical description of things. Clothing. Art. Villages. Architecture. Landscape. You name it, Lackey and Dixon spared no words describing it. The descriptions in Owlknight are the most verbose of any Valdemar series we've read to date. Since I don't see images in my head, and I quickly realized that these descriptions served no purpose to further the plot, I eventually started skimming. I skimmed, combined, over 20 pages of descriptive passages. Thankfully, this is the only content I wanted to skim. The rest of the tale engaged me.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed reading The Owl Mage trilogy. I connected with these characters deeply, loved getting to know the different cultures in and around Valdemar, and found the lack of an overall Big Bad very gratifying. Unfortunately, this trilogy has the weakest writing of any Valdemar series Melanie and I read for #ReadingValdemar. Pacing is consistently poor, too many characters are always introduced, and seemingly important details are either forgotten or dropped often. In my perfect book world Lackey will re-write this trilogy someday and it will be stronger. One can dream at least.
February 20, 2025
Set two years after , this book follows the increasing development of Errold's Grove, k'Valdemar, and the Ghost Cat village in this corner of Valdemar. The first half I would consider a rather slice-of-life story at until a precipitating event about halfway through the book give the book a bit more focus.
For me, this book has one of the first signs of the author's decline that's seen later in and the Alberich duology ( and ) where she starts to go into a bit too much detail in ways that kind of drag a bit.
That said, it's still a good trilogy with fun characters, and I wish we had more books in the post-Storms setting of Valdemar instead of the constant other books (there's really no reason for eleven books with Mags and his family).
For me, this book has one of the first signs of the author's decline that's seen later in and the Alberich duology ( and ) where she starts to go into a bit too much detail in ways that kind of drag a bit.
That said, it's still a good trilogy with fun characters, and I wish we had more books in the post-Storms setting of Valdemar instead of the constant other books (there's really no reason for eleven books with Mags and his family).
April 1, 2020
I think I have decided that Larry Dixon is the one writing most of this series but since it's a story set in Lackey's created world, her name is also on the book. I think this is the case because I remember liking Mercedes Lackey's book more than I liked this series. It wasn't bad but the story could have been written better. I found I was really looking forward to finishing the series more than discovering what happened in the end. I liked the second book of this series the most. This one made me feel like I was jumping to another new conflict without any transition or development. This isn't really much character development in this book and for the most part it was fairly predictable. I'm looking to read the Gryphon trilogy by Lackey and Dixon but now I'm hoping that it's at least better than this trilogy. I'll read it, because I'm persistent and maybe a little obsessive about finishing a goal (Reading all of Lackey) but I'd rather enjoy the reading a little more than I did reading this one. However I will say that I didn't feel the strong urge to drop the book either so it seems that it's landed in the middle ground: not horrible, but not great.
December 9, 2019
Darian is now two years older (around twenty) and poised to be the vale leader of k’Valedemar, which serves as a place of peace, protection, and cultural mixing just inside the borders of Valdemar. These are the lands that are so far from the capital of Valdemar that the Queen often ignores what happens there, believing the villages are not strategic locations nor have Very Important People. k’Valdemar has changed that; now there are mages and Hawkbrothers and healers. The Queen notices and decides to send a Herald and his trainee to live in the area for a year.
Keisha, the healer, is now trained and living in k’Valdemar as Darian’s lover and partner, but she must share her time at their home village, Errold’s Grove. The time Darian and Keisha spend apart is taxing on the young couple, making Keisha doubt if their relationship would work long term. Case in point, when the news of the new Herald and his trainee reach k’Valdemar and the surrounding villages and clans, a council votes to increase Darian’s status so he is on equal footing with the Herald. He is made a knight by a local Lord, a brother of the Ghost Cat clan, and passes the test to become a master-level mage set by his Hawkbrother tutor. Now that Darian is so important, where does Keisha and her constant travelling fit in?
If that weren’t enough, Darian finds evidence that his parents, who disappeared ten years ago during the mage storms, may be alive in another region far away. Can he leave k’Valdemar vale now that he’s a leader? Would Keisha leave her patients to come with him? It’s a journey that would take months and lead a party through hostile clan territory.
Owlknight includes playful details, making the writing more lively than some trilogies we’ve read. The boys of the Ghost Cat clan would raid Errold’s Grove to pass a manhood test. While all stolen items were cheap and returned, the villagers felt violated because the boys entered their homes in the middle of the night. To continue the manhood test while keeping the peace, the council of k’Valdemar decide the boys will try to sneak up on a dyheli and leave a hand print. Dyheli are basically anthropomorphized impalas; they’re large, magical, dry-humored, and wise. The interaction between boys and the herd was a great detail to give life to the setting and culture.
I was so excited as I read this last book that I ate it up quickly and regretted the sadness I felt afterward. I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters. We get realistic portrays of life, such as how to balance a work-life relationship. Keisha wonders if she’s meant to give up her work because she’s a woman, but Mercedes Lackey doesn’t write your typical mother/housekeeper characters. Sure, many women in villages distant from the more liberal capital of Valdemar are homemakers and follow patriarchal ideas, but there are examples of the working woman throughout the kingdom. What Darian and Keisha would ask each other to give up, and how they approached that conversation, was interesting to read.
While part of Owlknight is about romantic relationships and identity, about a third is a travel quest in true fantasy tradition. Meeting people, conquering various difficulties of foes, and characters learning about themselves � this is what made Owlknight so memorable to me. Lines of wisdom filled me up, in particular this gem:
"Do not let yesterday use of too much of today."
In a clever fashion, Lackey and Dixon make the novel feel pleasingly circular. After Darian takes on several new identities (vale leader, knight, “brother,� master mage), he’s led back to his first identity: who he was with his parents. Furthermore, there are several callbacks to Vanyel in THE LAST-HERALD MAGE trilogy, making the series feel full circle. The search party follows some of Vanyel’s travels as he went to meet the mage who haunted his dreams with death. So cool!
The ending battle was incredibly smart, avoiding the kind of magic that’s so big it ends in an explosion and the character wakes up to basically say, “Did we win?� Darian understands that a coup de grâce isn’t necessary simply because one can do magic. Using one’s resources sparsely and relying on wits is more interesting.
A highly recommended book.
This review was originally posted at .
Keisha, the healer, is now trained and living in k’Valdemar as Darian’s lover and partner, but she must share her time at their home village, Errold’s Grove. The time Darian and Keisha spend apart is taxing on the young couple, making Keisha doubt if their relationship would work long term. Case in point, when the news of the new Herald and his trainee reach k’Valdemar and the surrounding villages and clans, a council votes to increase Darian’s status so he is on equal footing with the Herald. He is made a knight by a local Lord, a brother of the Ghost Cat clan, and passes the test to become a master-level mage set by his Hawkbrother tutor. Now that Darian is so important, where does Keisha and her constant travelling fit in?
If that weren’t enough, Darian finds evidence that his parents, who disappeared ten years ago during the mage storms, may be alive in another region far away. Can he leave k’Valdemar vale now that he’s a leader? Would Keisha leave her patients to come with him? It’s a journey that would take months and lead a party through hostile clan territory.
Owlknight includes playful details, making the writing more lively than some trilogies we’ve read. The boys of the Ghost Cat clan would raid Errold’s Grove to pass a manhood test. While all stolen items were cheap and returned, the villagers felt violated because the boys entered their homes in the middle of the night. To continue the manhood test while keeping the peace, the council of k’Valdemar decide the boys will try to sneak up on a dyheli and leave a hand print. Dyheli are basically anthropomorphized impalas; they’re large, magical, dry-humored, and wise. The interaction between boys and the herd was a great detail to give life to the setting and culture.
I was so excited as I read this last book that I ate it up quickly and regretted the sadness I felt afterward. I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters. We get realistic portrays of life, such as how to balance a work-life relationship. Keisha wonders if she’s meant to give up her work because she’s a woman, but Mercedes Lackey doesn’t write your typical mother/housekeeper characters. Sure, many women in villages distant from the more liberal capital of Valdemar are homemakers and follow patriarchal ideas, but there are examples of the working woman throughout the kingdom. What Darian and Keisha would ask each other to give up, and how they approached that conversation, was interesting to read.
While part of Owlknight is about romantic relationships and identity, about a third is a travel quest in true fantasy tradition. Meeting people, conquering various difficulties of foes, and characters learning about themselves � this is what made Owlknight so memorable to me. Lines of wisdom filled me up, in particular this gem:
"Do not let yesterday use of too much of today."
In a clever fashion, Lackey and Dixon make the novel feel pleasingly circular. After Darian takes on several new identities (vale leader, knight, “brother,� master mage), he’s led back to his first identity: who he was with his parents. Furthermore, there are several callbacks to Vanyel in THE LAST-HERALD MAGE trilogy, making the series feel full circle. The search party follows some of Vanyel’s travels as he went to meet the mage who haunted his dreams with death. So cool!
The ending battle was incredibly smart, avoiding the kind of magic that’s so big it ends in an explosion and the character wakes up to basically say, “Did we win?� Darian understands that a coup de grâce isn’t necessary simply because one can do magic. Using one’s resources sparsely and relying on wits is more interesting.
A highly recommended book.
This review was originally posted at .
March 22, 2020
Owlknight is the third, the completing book in the series which follows a couple of characters right on the outskirts of Valdemar. The authors detailed and complex fantasy world has several series and a wealth of characters occurring with the stories, and characters often migrate from one series to another, which definitely happens here.
The Owl Mage series starts with two protagonists who were involved in a settlement called Errold's Grove. I had read all three before, but it had been a while so I was happy when the chance to acquire this, number three turned up so I could re-read it. While I own Owlsight and have re-read it reasonably often I had not done so recently and that proved a bit less than optimal. I would not recommend reading this book without having read the first two in the series.
While the descriptions concentrate on Darian, an interesting young man who lost his parents during the mage wars, then continued on to become adopted into the Talydras, eventually training as a mage and founding a new vale... The character that I always loved best however, the one I kept going back to was Keisha. While Darian struggled against being trained as village healer, Keisha's struggle to become that very thing was interesting.
In this, the third book, Darian has an established new vale, combining Talaydras, Valdmar and griffins, it is a fun kind of place. Darian and Keisha are an item and the Northern tribes are being integrating into the society. The slant of this book is that Darian decides to go on a quest to find out what happens to his parents. Keisha goes with him as do several other of teh known suspects from previous stories.
This is a fun, quest type novel. Much of it does contradict previous things we knew about this world, (Hertasi are very different from the way they were originally described) and there are a lot of anachronisms. I have noticed that those books (like this one) where Larry Dixon collaborates tend to be more contemporary in a lot of ways. I very much liked the road trip through the wilderness and Lackey's nice ability to make sympathetic characters and good interpersonal interactions makes the trip fun to read. I do feel that Lackey's fondness for first nations culture is coming through more and more in the Valdemar books, with all the trappings of those tribes being kind of involved in the Northern tribes that Darian and Keisha encounter.
SO a nice conclusion to this trilogy, a lot of fun to read.
The Owl Mage series starts with two protagonists who were involved in a settlement called Errold's Grove. I had read all three before, but it had been a while so I was happy when the chance to acquire this, number three turned up so I could re-read it. While I own Owlsight and have re-read it reasonably often I had not done so recently and that proved a bit less than optimal. I would not recommend reading this book without having read the first two in the series.
While the descriptions concentrate on Darian, an interesting young man who lost his parents during the mage wars, then continued on to become adopted into the Talydras, eventually training as a mage and founding a new vale... The character that I always loved best however, the one I kept going back to was Keisha. While Darian struggled against being trained as village healer, Keisha's struggle to become that very thing was interesting.
In this, the third book, Darian has an established new vale, combining Talaydras, Valdmar and griffins, it is a fun kind of place. Darian and Keisha are an item and the Northern tribes are being integrating into the society. The slant of this book is that Darian decides to go on a quest to find out what happens to his parents. Keisha goes with him as do several other of teh known suspects from previous stories.
This is a fun, quest type novel. Much of it does contradict previous things we knew about this world, (Hertasi are very different from the way they were originally described) and there are a lot of anachronisms. I have noticed that those books (like this one) where Larry Dixon collaborates tend to be more contemporary in a lot of ways. I very much liked the road trip through the wilderness and Lackey's nice ability to make sympathetic characters and good interpersonal interactions makes the trip fun to read. I do feel that Lackey's fondness for first nations culture is coming through more and more in the Valdemar books, with all the trappings of those tribes being kind of involved in the Northern tribes that Darian and Keisha encounter.
SO a nice conclusion to this trilogy, a lot of fun to read.
May 10, 2023
It’s been two years and K’Valdemar Vail is well on its way to becoming a full Vail. As neutral ground K’Valdemar leadership have daily meetings to smooth out the problems of three cultures living close together. There are still ‘barbarian� clan’s coming down from the north that need to be quarantined and then assigned land to settle on. And now they’re getting their own Herald Mage. Things are growing bigger than Darian expected and he’s restless.
But the council have decided that the arrival of the Heralds prescribed that Darian be raised in rank to make him equal to the Herald Mage. Thus, he is promoted to a full mage, knighted by Lord Brion and made a Ghost cat clan brother. He also decided to find out what happened to his parents after getting clue about somewhere in the north.
The ending both answers questions and leaves us wanting more.
Kiesha thinks too much. I’m glad Firesong and Shandi took them in hand to steer them closer together. But there’s way too much detail described of the clothing, rooms, etc. Some things need to be left to the readers imagination.
Fave scenes: the King Stag’s prime doe joke, Kel’s entrance at the Herald’s arrival, Anda receiving the languages and Darian’s sinkhole.
But the council have decided that the arrival of the Heralds prescribed that Darian be raised in rank to make him equal to the Herald Mage. Thus, he is promoted to a full mage, knighted by Lord Brion and made a Ghost cat clan brother. He also decided to find out what happened to his parents after getting clue about somewhere in the north.
The ending both answers questions and leaves us wanting more.
Kiesha thinks too much. I’m glad Firesong and Shandi took them in hand to steer them closer together. But there’s way too much detail described of the clothing, rooms, etc. Some things need to be left to the readers imagination.
Fave scenes: the King Stag’s prime doe joke, Kel’s entrance at the Herald’s arrival, Anda receiving the languages and Darian’s sinkhole.
June 19, 2024
OWLKNIGHT by Mercedes Lackey. 3rd book of the Owl Mage Trilogy, and chronologically the 40th book of Valdemar tales.
News reaches the community that the area will be getting a Herald and his assistant Herald, who happens to be Healer Keisha's sister, Shandi, who was rushed into her whites. To make things equal for Darian as the leader and now master mage of the nearby Tayledras vale, Lord Breon decides that Darian and his son and heir, Val should be knighted. This will raise them to the same hierarchical level as Herald Aldon.
As they approach the arrival of the Heralds, they begin preparations fir the knighting ceremony, Keisha heads to the newest community in the area, the Ghost Cat Clan. While there she checks the trade goods available and comes upon a leather vest with an unusual pattern that she believes will be a wonderful present for Darian.
Upon seeing the vest, he is astonished, heads to a storage box holding some of his mementos and pulls out a vest he wore as a child. When comparing the two vests, he knows the new vest was made by his long lost mother. Could they still be alive?
A search party ventures further north to see if she is alive. All of the book's action is in this section. And probably the best part of the book.
Very wordy.
News reaches the community that the area will be getting a Herald and his assistant Herald, who happens to be Healer Keisha's sister, Shandi, who was rushed into her whites. To make things equal for Darian as the leader and now master mage of the nearby Tayledras vale, Lord Breon decides that Darian and his son and heir, Val should be knighted. This will raise them to the same hierarchical level as Herald Aldon.
As they approach the arrival of the Heralds, they begin preparations fir the knighting ceremony, Keisha heads to the newest community in the area, the Ghost Cat Clan. While there she checks the trade goods available and comes upon a leather vest with an unusual pattern that she believes will be a wonderful present for Darian.
Upon seeing the vest, he is astonished, heads to a storage box holding some of his mementos and pulls out a vest he wore as a child. When comparing the two vests, he knows the new vest was made by his long lost mother. Could they still be alive?
A search party ventures further north to see if she is alive. All of the book's action is in this section. And probably the best part of the book.
Very wordy.
December 6, 2019
I have read about fifteen Mercedes Lackey books, and this was the worst one. Extremely dull through the first half. The main character pasts his magic test and becomes a Mage, his girlfriend becomes a full-fledged Healer (kind of like a doctor in their world), and her sister becomes a Herald, which is kind of like a diplomat. There are congratulatory ceremonies, and everyone loves each other. I'm glad they get along, but it does not make for much of a story. Finally about halfway through the book some semblance of a plot develops. The main character Darian sees a shirt that is obviously brand new and it looks exactly like one her mother made him ten years ago. Ten years ago his parents disappeared. The entourage goes on a quest to find his parents. Along the way they meet an interesting monster and a group of barbarians.
I struggled to finish Owlknight, but I felt obligated to finish it since it was the last book of a trilogy. If it had been a stand-alone book and by an author I did not have a good track record with, I probably would have abandoned it before the end.
I struggled to finish Owlknight, but I felt obligated to finish it since it was the last book of a trilogy. If it had been a stand-alone book and by an author I did not have a good track record with, I probably would have abandoned it before the end.
October 13, 2023
into the North
First half of the book is the cozy mix of Society for Creative Anachronism how-to, ceremonies, and Tayledras fashion show (the description of everybody’s fancy dress clothes goes on and on). Second half is about a boy who was orphaned by the mage storms finding out his parents may have been abducted by magic, not killed outright.
The world building is full of callbacks, in this book, we revisit the great pass carved by Leareth in Magic’s Price.
Lots more emphasis on building a coalition that includes nonhumans in its culture, strong showing of dyheli in this trilogy. Wonder if Velgarth has elves and Underhill (like SERRAted edge).
Funny that Valdemar culture is something to escape for many protagonists: they run to Haven, or Hawkbrother communes or find their own way to avoid small town prejudice and gender role conformity. And Northern tribes are even worse with men’s fires and women’s fires.
Wonder if when Gates are a thing again, the transplanted land from the storms can be used to Gate around the world.
First half of the book is the cozy mix of Society for Creative Anachronism how-to, ceremonies, and Tayledras fashion show (the description of everybody’s fancy dress clothes goes on and on). Second half is about a boy who was orphaned by the mage storms finding out his parents may have been abducted by magic, not killed outright.
The world building is full of callbacks, in this book, we revisit the great pass carved by Leareth in Magic’s Price.
Lots more emphasis on building a coalition that includes nonhumans in its culture, strong showing of dyheli in this trilogy. Wonder if Velgarth has elves and Underhill (like SERRAted edge).
Funny that Valdemar culture is something to escape for many protagonists: they run to Haven, or Hawkbrother communes or find their own way to avoid small town prejudice and gender role conformity. And Northern tribes are even worse with men’s fires and women’s fires.
Wonder if when Gates are a thing again, the transplanted land from the storms can be used to Gate around the world.
June 10, 2017
Once again, this book starts off with about eight chapters of slice-of-life information that, while interesting, isn't really necessary or relevant to the plot. And that knocks the pacing out of whack. The main plot feels truncated and choppy, with the resolution crammed into the last 60 or so pages. Much of the initial conflict between main characters feels contrived, and is never formally resolved on the page. I won't go into how irritated I was by the idea of a Herald who thinks a conflict in front of them isn't *their* problem (which is entirely counter to canon in pretty much the entire series - Vanyel would be rolling in his grave).
But on the whole, this book does wrap the trilogy in a neat little bow, which at least gives the story for these characters a satisfying conclusion, even if it did feel a tad abrupt.
But on the whole, this book does wrap the trilogy in a neat little bow, which at least gives the story for these characters a satisfying conclusion, even if it did feel a tad abrupt.
November 19, 2020
Ok, not a great deal of character development or conflict. Could not understand what the relationship between Shandi and Steelmind would be based upon. Keisha and Darian's issues were so much discussed but there was never any actual conflict. The beginning conversations about needing to put Darian on an equal footing to Anda all seemed contrived and frankly juvenile. Also, the Wolverine warriors were described quite sympathetically in the actual battle scene which seemed at odds with how they were painted earlier on in the story. Overall it was entertaining for what it was and a nice conclusion to the mystery introduced in the first book. I've thought this before but I think Lackey is quite good at the world building but in terms of compelling story and writing likeable and sympathetic characters always seems to fall slightly short.
May 14, 2023
So much description! Petty details, a very slow read. Not a bad story but very slow to get to the point and then very quick to get through the actual story line. I usually really like Mercedes Lackey, I’ve read dozens of her books. The few I’ve read that she’s written with other authors are excruciatingly slow to get moving. Too much detail-I don’t really care what every single person wore to a wedding for example…and this sort of pedantic detail is found
a lot. And repeated six ways to Sunday. Too bad. I stuck with this trilogy because I like Valdemar, and have read all the books over the years, and they are all 3 this way. I hope this isn’t indicative of Lackey’s style now-I’m in the midst of another audible book of hers and the same thing is happening-I find myself telling Alexa to skip 2 minutes in the midst of a description, and find that I haven’t missed a thing.
a lot. And repeated six ways to Sunday. Too bad. I stuck with this trilogy because I like Valdemar, and have read all the books over the years, and they are all 3 this way. I hope this isn’t indicative of Lackey’s style now-I’m in the midst of another audible book of hers and the same thing is happening-I find myself telling Alexa to skip 2 minutes in the midst of a description, and find that I haven’t missed a thing.
January 7, 2025
So, in the end I think I had read this book before. The colddrake sounded very familiar and the final battle. But I definitely didn't remember it well. Overall, I thought this book was better than the second one and maybe not quite as good as the first one. The entire series is not as interesting as I would have liked. Perhaps because there are so few companions and I am a horse lover. But mostly I feel like I've heard all about Tayledras vales over and over again and I'm good there. I did greatly enjoy learning a bit more about the northern tribes and the Great Pass and I really loved the mage battle description! In fact, those things alone will bring this book up to 4 stars from a 3. They were all in the second half of the book because it took that long to actually get the meat of the story going!
February 3, 2020
The Owl trilogy is the one trilogy I remember the least; not sure if that's because it's the last, or just the ones I've read the least. By this time, people should have read the other two books in the series. In this one, Darian finally goes looking for his parents, with Keisha, Shandi and some of the Hawkbrothers, and assorted others. They travel through the northern lands with all the tribes (we never find out whether or not it's a different country or part of Valdemar, really, although I'm assuming it's a different country which is not named.
There is a lot to expand on for future books if Misty decides to continue from this point rather than fill in the blanks between trilogies, and I hope she does both.
There is a lot to expand on for future books if Misty decides to continue from this point rather than fill in the blanks between trilogies, and I hope she does both.
January 11, 2021
This was a great ending to the Mage Owl trilogy - and to the continuous Valdemar series. I'm sad about that in so many ways, but I know that there are still so many Mercedes Lackey books on my shelves that I haven't actually read, as yet, so that makes me happy, too!
Owlknight was, as usual for Mercedes' work, a great tale of bravery in adversity, of striving even when all seemed to be going wrong, and of overcoming fears, big and small, in order to be able to grow in maturity and spirit.
In the end, its all about friendship and love - of places, and people.
I'm so glad that I managed to get almost every book Mercedes has written and, in a few years time, when I get back around to them again on my bookshelves , I know I'll enjoy them all just as much then, as I have now.
Owlknight was, as usual for Mercedes' work, a great tale of bravery in adversity, of striving even when all seemed to be going wrong, and of overcoming fears, big and small, in order to be able to grow in maturity and spirit.
In the end, its all about friendship and love - of places, and people.
I'm so glad that I managed to get almost every book Mercedes has written and, in a few years time, when I get back around to them again on my bookshelves , I know I'll enjoy them all just as much then, as I have now.
August 23, 2024
I was hoping that this book would have picked up where the previous title left off.
Instead, there was a two-year time jump and I felt like we were robbed of important developments, such as the relationship between the two main characters and other life milestones of supporting characters that I would have rather read about, instead of how much detail someone's outfit has.
Her Mage Storms trilogy was much more linear and I really enjoyed that but this one I felt the time jumps between books were a little jarring and it kept taking me out of the story and it took me a while to get reaccustomed to the new timeline with each new book, I'm a little annoyed when stories do time jumps for no good reason.
Instead, there was a two-year time jump and I felt like we were robbed of important developments, such as the relationship between the two main characters and other life milestones of supporting characters that I would have rather read about, instead of how much detail someone's outfit has.
Her Mage Storms trilogy was much more linear and I really enjoyed that but this one I felt the time jumps between books were a little jarring and it kept taking me out of the story and it took me a while to get reaccustomed to the new timeline with each new book, I'm a little annoyed when stories do time jumps for no good reason.
June 20, 2023
Concluding the Owls trilogy is Owlknight, the final book in Darian’s tale and one that mnages to tie up loose ends without being so perfect and saccharine that it seems wholly unbelievable. eisha and Darian are paired up somewhat happily, though Keisha is of the pessimistic attitude that Darian’s only staying with her until something better comes along. (Thankfully, she gets talked out of this notion quite soundly, because if there’s one thing I can’t stand in a novel, it’s large amounts of introspection on whether so-and-so really loves somebody else when there’s nothing to suggest it other than one person’s paranoia.) Darian has passed his Master trial and is advancing in his studies of magic. The northern barbarians aren’t nearly as barbaric as everyone first thought and are actually doing quite well for themselves as self-contained cultures living within Valdemar’s borders. Everything seems to be going smoothly.
Until a chance event convinces Darian that his parents, who disappeared years ago, might actually still be alive. Which sets him on the path to finding them, even if it takes him into territory that nobody in Valdemar has ever stepped foot in before.
This is a book that is somewhat world-spanning without being world-changing, which is always an interesting tactic to use. So many books that feature characters travelling all over the place do so because there’s some great world-shaking event going on. Or else they’re trying to prevent catastrophe. Or some other similar large thing. But here, it’s all to conclude a personal quest, to find closure for a young man’s trauma. Nothing so large and spectacular as in previous Valdemar novels. The world is not coming to an end, and there is no great evil to defeat.
The closest thing to an evil to defeat is the Wolverine tribe, who are a smarter version of the original tribe who attacked Darian’s village in Owlflight (review here) all those years ago. They’re bent on expanding their territory, subduing all other tribes they come across, and are ruthless in their actions. But they don’t even enter into the story until very close to the end, and despite what a couple of characters may have thought about them being a threat to Valdemar, I honestly couldn’t see that. It’s one thing for a nomadic tribal culture to take over and eliminate other tribes, but it’s another thing altogether to take on a huge nation. If Valdemar was going to worry about every group of people who might someday possibly attack them in any number, they may as well wipe out the entire world as a precautionary method. I never saw Wolverine as a legitimate threat to Valdemar, not the way they were trying to establish.
While Darian does get closure in regard to his parents, it was a bittersweet one, which was emotional without being overly sweet or too neat in its wrap-up. Darians parents have spent the years since their disappearance living with one of the northern Tribes, and they haven’t just sat there dreaming up ways to get home. They resigned themselves to being there, and integrated into the tribe, settling in and even having more children. Darian is understandably disappointed by this, having spent so long dreaming of rescuing his parents and bringing them home, only to find that they are home. Just not the home that he envisioned. It’s a difficult thing to come to grips with, that one’s parents have moved into a new life and that they can’t really be a part of yours anymore, but it’s very fitting with the trilogy’s messages regarding maturity and coming of age. Not an easy scene to read, but a fitting one, and all the more powerful for its realism.
Because of the fact that this trilogy focused more on people than politics (though it did dip into the political scene in many ways; some things are just unavoidable), more on individuals than on large-scale events like so many other Valdemar novels have done, it was a really refreshing set of stories to read. It’s not for everyone, I admit, but sometimes it’s nice to read fantasy novels that are very contained and small-scale, without having to involve the rest of the world. The stories here revolve around Darian, and his biggest concerns are family, friends, and trying to master his magic. No great wars, no amazing discoveries, at least none that step too far outside his personal sphere. Because of that, it was easier to connect to characters here than in some other novels. Everything was kept close to home, and it really showed.
On the whole, this is a trilogy that can easily be skipped if you’re reading the Valdemar novels. It adds many details to the world, but isn’t necessary for understanding the world as a whole. It’s not essential to the history, and you’re not going to be confused if you read any other novels if you haven’t read these ones. But that doesn’t mean it’s worth skipping. If you, like many ohers, have been hooked by the Tayledras, or if you’re looking for a smaller-scale tale that still stays interesting, then absolutely check this series out. However, there are bits of this series that will be lost on you if you haven’t read other Valdemar novels first. There are references to other big events peppered throughout its pages, and while this trilogy enriches the whole, it’s not something that can stand easily on it own, without context. Justyn’s memories, the Kaled’a’in, the very presence of Firesong are all made weaker here if you haven’t seen these things in the other Valdemar novels first.
But because of the way this trilogy enriches the series as a whole, it remains high on the list of my favourite Valdemar rereads. And I can’t see that ever changing.
Until a chance event convinces Darian that his parents, who disappeared years ago, might actually still be alive. Which sets him on the path to finding them, even if it takes him into territory that nobody in Valdemar has ever stepped foot in before.
This is a book that is somewhat world-spanning without being world-changing, which is always an interesting tactic to use. So many books that feature characters travelling all over the place do so because there’s some great world-shaking event going on. Or else they’re trying to prevent catastrophe. Or some other similar large thing. But here, it’s all to conclude a personal quest, to find closure for a young man’s trauma. Nothing so large and spectacular as in previous Valdemar novels. The world is not coming to an end, and there is no great evil to defeat.
The closest thing to an evil to defeat is the Wolverine tribe, who are a smarter version of the original tribe who attacked Darian’s village in Owlflight (review here) all those years ago. They’re bent on expanding their territory, subduing all other tribes they come across, and are ruthless in their actions. But they don’t even enter into the story until very close to the end, and despite what a couple of characters may have thought about them being a threat to Valdemar, I honestly couldn’t see that. It’s one thing for a nomadic tribal culture to take over and eliminate other tribes, but it’s another thing altogether to take on a huge nation. If Valdemar was going to worry about every group of people who might someday possibly attack them in any number, they may as well wipe out the entire world as a precautionary method. I never saw Wolverine as a legitimate threat to Valdemar, not the way they were trying to establish.
While Darian does get closure in regard to his parents, it was a bittersweet one, which was emotional without being overly sweet or too neat in its wrap-up. Darians parents have spent the years since their disappearance living with one of the northern Tribes, and they haven’t just sat there dreaming up ways to get home. They resigned themselves to being there, and integrated into the tribe, settling in and even having more children. Darian is understandably disappointed by this, having spent so long dreaming of rescuing his parents and bringing them home, only to find that they are home. Just not the home that he envisioned. It’s a difficult thing to come to grips with, that one’s parents have moved into a new life and that they can’t really be a part of yours anymore, but it’s very fitting with the trilogy’s messages regarding maturity and coming of age. Not an easy scene to read, but a fitting one, and all the more powerful for its realism.
Because of the fact that this trilogy focused more on people than politics (though it did dip into the political scene in many ways; some things are just unavoidable), more on individuals than on large-scale events like so many other Valdemar novels have done, it was a really refreshing set of stories to read. It’s not for everyone, I admit, but sometimes it’s nice to read fantasy novels that are very contained and small-scale, without having to involve the rest of the world. The stories here revolve around Darian, and his biggest concerns are family, friends, and trying to master his magic. No great wars, no amazing discoveries, at least none that step too far outside his personal sphere. Because of that, it was easier to connect to characters here than in some other novels. Everything was kept close to home, and it really showed.
On the whole, this is a trilogy that can easily be skipped if you’re reading the Valdemar novels. It adds many details to the world, but isn’t necessary for understanding the world as a whole. It’s not essential to the history, and you’re not going to be confused if you read any other novels if you haven’t read these ones. But that doesn’t mean it’s worth skipping. If you, like many ohers, have been hooked by the Tayledras, or if you’re looking for a smaller-scale tale that still stays interesting, then absolutely check this series out. However, there are bits of this series that will be lost on you if you haven’t read other Valdemar novels first. There are references to other big events peppered throughout its pages, and while this trilogy enriches the whole, it’s not something that can stand easily on it own, without context. Justyn’s memories, the Kaled’a’in, the very presence of Firesong are all made weaker here if you haven’t seen these things in the other Valdemar novels first.
But because of the way this trilogy enriches the series as a whole, it remains high on the list of my favourite Valdemar rereads. And I can’t see that ever changing.
March 8, 2017
The third book in the Owl series is almost divided into two halves; firstly, we kind of catch up with Darian and Keisha and all that has happened since the Ghost Cat Clan came to settle within Valdemar. As well as having their own personal problems, Darian and Keisha are expecting Shandi and her mentor Herald to come and stay in the Vale for a while as diplomats, and there is a whirlwind of activity as they both prepare for their arrival, and entertain them after. Finally Darian begins to wonder what became of his parents many years before, and some of the main host of characters go in search of them within the very tribes that Ghost Cat clan traveled past.
Along the way, they all get to experience personal growth, and the relationship problems between members of the group get resolved, least of all Darian and Keisha's. They experience new magic also, and bring Healing knowledge to the clans.
Admittedly, the second half of the book interests me far more than the first. All the pomp and ceremony can't compete with the adventure of the second half, although I wasn't bored exactly. More that I wanted to get going, and the tidbits of information I was given just wasn't enough. I first read this book as a teenager, and I will admit the love story behind both of the main 'couples' in this one is how I've always preferred my romance since; there, but not the focus of the story. Cute, but not overwhelming. Problematic and real, because god only knows that is what relationships are really like!
Some people might have a problem with the pacing of this novel as it starts out slow and builds, but if you've invested time in Valdemar then probably not as much of a problem. I loved the resolution, and always wanted to know more about this particular set of Valdemar inhabitants. I'm not sure if they feature in any other books, but with my re read of Valdemar perhaps I will discover more about them. I adored this series, both when I first read it and now. Five stars.
Along the way, they all get to experience personal growth, and the relationship problems between members of the group get resolved, least of all Darian and Keisha's. They experience new magic also, and bring Healing knowledge to the clans.
Admittedly, the second half of the book interests me far more than the first. All the pomp and ceremony can't compete with the adventure of the second half, although I wasn't bored exactly. More that I wanted to get going, and the tidbits of information I was given just wasn't enough. I first read this book as a teenager, and I will admit the love story behind both of the main 'couples' in this one is how I've always preferred my romance since; there, but not the focus of the story. Cute, but not overwhelming. Problematic and real, because god only knows that is what relationships are really like!
Some people might have a problem with the pacing of this novel as it starts out slow and builds, but if you've invested time in Valdemar then probably not as much of a problem. I loved the resolution, and always wanted to know more about this particular set of Valdemar inhabitants. I'm not sure if they feature in any other books, but with my re read of Valdemar perhaps I will discover more about them. I adored this series, both when I first read it and now. Five stars.
January 6, 2019
Pacing of the book was a bit slow. I spent the first half of the book eagerly expecting something interesting to happen, with a lot of build-up regarding totems and spirits and the like. Then the second half comes along at a blisteringly fast pace and rushes to an ending. There were a lot of named characters but I didn't feel much investment in most of them. Honestly, I'm a bit bummed that this is the last full book in the Valdemar chronology.
October 2, 2023
Titles Make The Job Easier
OwlMage3
Shouldering responsibility might seem easy for Darian Firkin k’Valdemar k’Vala. There is rather a lot of it. And when the Queen sends an Herald-Mage to k’Valdemar Vale, the adults around him move swiftly to set Darian on equal footing.
There is so much to his life. Even disturbing dreams. Finding out what they mean, adds just bit more to his plate. But there is such richness in the telling!
OwlMage3
Shouldering responsibility might seem easy for Darian Firkin k’Valdemar k’Vala. There is rather a lot of it. And when the Queen sends an Herald-Mage to k’Valdemar Vale, the adults around him move swiftly to set Darian on equal footing.
There is so much to his life. Even disturbing dreams. Finding out what they mean, adds just bit more to his plate. But there is such richness in the telling!
March 5, 2023
Best of the trilogy. Darian is now a Master Mage, while Keisha is a Master Healer. 2 Heralds come to the Vale, one of which is a Herald-Mage, are to be stationed there.
Much more humor than the first two books and not many "dry" moments. Excitement, reunions, adventure, and a battle pave the way to excellence.
Much more humor than the first two books and not many "dry" moments. Excitement, reunions, adventure, and a battle pave the way to excellence.
April 17, 2023
This was an odd book in that it didn't really get to the main plot until half way through the book. I enjoy these characters and the story, but the first half really dragged on with descriptions of clothes, places etc. Then the second half was really good with interesting adventure, battle, and discoveries. Overall good, but could almost start 10 chapters in and still get the whole story.
May 22, 2023
In story, I think this was the best of this trilogy. It's got heart, and the characters are devoted to one another. There is, however, some condescension in the narration towards the tribes that reads as a feeling of superiority, and because of the tribes' resemblance to Native American people, that made me uncomfortable.
February 10, 2024
Why did I wait so long.
I have been read fantasy/ScFY for years. Why have I waited so long to start reading Mercedes Lackey. She's not up to my all time favorite Anne Mccaffery but probably only because I haven't read enough of her books. But I will be correcting that error in the near future.
I have been read fantasy/ScFY for years. Why have I waited so long to start reading Mercedes Lackey. She's not up to my all time favorite Anne Mccaffery but probably only because I haven't read enough of her books. But I will be correcting that error in the near future.
January 26, 2022
Full review here:
While the ending feels a LOT truncated, the emotional resonance in the resolution remains probably the most emotionally true of anything she has ever written.
While the ending feels a LOT truncated, the emotional resonance in the resolution remains probably the most emotionally true of anything she has ever written.
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