Storm Warning (Mage Storms Series #1)

by Mercedes Lackey

Overview

With her phenomenal Mage Winds trilogy, bestselling author Mercedes Lackey captivated fans across the country. Now in the first volume of the series sequel, she continues the same storyline, returning readers to a war-torn Valdemar in preparation to confront an ancient Eastern Empire—ruled by a monarch whose magical tactics by be beyond any sorcery known to the western kingdoms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780886776619
Publisher:	DAW
Publication date:	09/28/1995
Series:	Valdemar: Mage Storms Series , #1
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	38,444
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.90(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the best-selling Heralds Of Valdemar series. She is also a professional lyricist and a licensed wild bird rehabilitator. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots. She can be found at mercedeslackey.com.

Editorial Reviews

In this first volume of The Mage Storms trilogy, the prolific Lackey's fantastic themes, while not especially distinctive, are nonetheless deployed in entertaining and comfortingly familiar fashion. Picking up where The Mage Winds saga concluded, this story follows the novice cleric Karal and the young wizardly Adept An'desha as they struggle with adult responsibilities. In fact, while many meetings are held to discuss the threat of a nasty political takeover and an overwhelming evil, very little action ensues--the plot is almost completely concerned with the protagonists' personal growth. An'desha is afraid to sift though the nasty memories left behind in his brain by a diabolical Mage. When these memories become the key to solving the terrifying waves of magic that are wreaking havoc in the Kingdom, good-hearted Karal must help his friend find the internal strength to overcome his fears. Lackey populates her tale with wise adults and engaging magical animals, but ultimately delivers little that's new or original. Her book feels like a series of moral lessons (know thyself, do good works, etc.) from Saturday morning cartoons. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In the face of a growing threat from the mysterious and powerful Eastern Empire, the lands of Valdemar and Karse attempt to form an alliance despite old prejudices and misunderstandings. Readers familiar with the author's previous Valdemar series ("The Mage Winds," "The Heralds of Valdemar," etc.) will enjoy the return of favorite characters, while a vivid assortment of new protagonists continues to expand the wealth of cultures present in one of fantasy's most intriguing universes. Lackey's talent for evoking the youthful passions of her heroes and heroines brings life to this creation. Recommended.

Library Journal

Lackey returns to her most popular creation, the world of Valdemar, in the first novel of a new trilogy, Mage Storms. Valdemar faces the problems of a necessary alliance with its longtime foe, Karse, against Hadorn and the resurgent Eastern Empire. Lackey is a sound storyteller, and Valdemar is a well-wrought world in which problem-ridden characters (human and other) and plots and schemes (more than a few involving sorcery) abound. There is also a large audience for Lackey's creation, but it's hard to avoid feeling that Lackey is beginning to repeat herself and that Valdemar may not be the arena for her best work. This will not, however, much alloy the pleasure devout Valdemar readers will take in the new book. Their desires should be met: get this volume.

Roland Green