Book One of the Dragon Prophecy - Crown of Vengeance

What a disappointment! Fully enjoyed "Obsidian Trilogy and the beginning of " Crown of Vengeance " seemed to promise another winner. Boy.... I was so wrong. Expectations were never realized and the ending could not have been worse. This book should never have been released and Ms. Lackey's loyal readers should be refunded or credited with another of her books. I have not given up on her completely, but Ms. Lackey should have the digital version of " Crown of Vengeance " removed from the store.. I don't expect to sway a reader who has just finished the "Obsidian Trilogy" but don't say you were not warned.

Crown of Vengeance (2012) is the first Fantasy novel in the Dragon Prophecy subseries, a prequel to the Obsidian Trilogy. It tells of the origins of the Endarkened and the rise of Vieliessar.

In this novel, Vieliessar is the daughter of Serenthon and Nataranweiya of Farcarinon. She is orphaned shortly after birth.

Maeredhed is a Lightsister of the Sanctuary of the Star. Her mage powers are weak, but she can see the Light around her.

Celelioniel is the Astromancer, the head of the Sanctuary of the Star. She is half mad from her studies of the Child of Prophecy.

Glorthiachel is the Ladyholder of the House Caerthlien. She is cunning and tricky.

Runacarendal is the heir of House Caerthlien. He glories in battle.

Virulan was the first of the Endarkened created by He Who Is. Now he is the King of the Thirteen.

Uraleese is an Endarkened. He is cunning and tricky.

In this story, Ladyholder Nataranweiya struggles to reach the Sanctuary of the Star. Enemies have killed Serenthon and now pursue her through the storm. Her companions fall back to delay the pursuit. Then her horse flounders and she crawls toward her goal.

Maeredhed is restless in the night and walks to the front entrance. As she stands gazing at the great bronze doors to the shrine, cold air flows in from the front doors. A woman dressed in rich clothes and very pregnant lies at the sill.

Nataranweiya claims sanctuary and Maeredhed sends for a litter to carry her to the infirmary. Celelioniel comes muttering about the Child of Prophecy. Then those pursuing Nataranweiya enter the Sanctuary. Maeredhed tells them to disarm or go to the guest house.

Nataranweiya is dying and the baby will die with her. The midwife cuts into the womb and pulls the baby out of the mother. Before Nataranweiya dies, she names the baby girl Vieliessar.

At a year of age, the orphan girl is fostered with the House of Caerthlien. That House had led the assault on Farcarinon, so Celelioniel puts the child under peace bond to protect her. She is known as Varuthir within the Great Keep.

When Varuthir is twelve, she is chosen to go to the Sanctuary of the Star as a Candidate. She intends to be a komen -- a knight -- and doesn't want to become a Lightsister. She keeps waiting for a reprieve until the last moment.

As the caravan is preparing to depart, Ladyholder Glorthiachel calls her aside. She tells Varuthir that her true name is Vieliessar and says House Caerthlien had destroyed House Farcarinon. She also warns the girl that the only safe place for her is within the Sanctuary.

Vieliessar accepts the truth of Glorthiachel's information and realizes that the ladyholder was responsible for the death of her parents. She tries to attack Glorthiachel with her dagger, but a Lightbrother freezes her body. Then her body sheathes the dagger and walks out to the caravan.

When Vieliessar reaches the Sanctuary of the Star, she announces her name, title and House to Maeredhed. She states that she does not want to be there. She is told that she cannot leave, but she tries several times.

Meanwhile, the Endarkened are preparing to destroy all life in the Bright World. Virulan transforms the other Endarkened to females and keeps them pregnant. Uraleese alone escapes the transformation and remains a male.

This tale presents Vieliessar with a puzzle and then a responsibility. Although Celelioniel has declared her as the Child of Prophecy, she refuses to accept that role. She doesn't even comprehend the prophecy.

Vieliessar and Runacarendal find themselves Soulbonded. They are meant for each other. Yet they both refuse to accept the bonding.

Vieliessar finds herself fated to fulfill the Prophecy. The next installment in this sequence has not yet been announced on the store.

Highly recommended for Lackey & Mallory fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high prophecy, mage training, and a lack of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

Crown of Vengeance by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

All hail a new trilogy from the mistress of magical stories! Hmm, if you expect dispassionate diatribes you are at the wrong blog. I suppose Ms. Lackey could write something I wouldn't like but I suspect not! Mr. Mallory is new, to me. Obviously I am not forced to check out his work as this was a wonderful beginning to a new trilogy set in a bucolic world of dark and light where white has no idea that black exists. It is a story of kingdom building not due to lust or greed but due to a dismal prophecy.

Vieliessar of Farcarinon finds herself living a monastic life without the benefit of any magic. She is a child of a disgraced and destroyed High House in a culture that has ennobled battle to an art form. She is an angry child that grows into an angry young woman searching for self identity.

The book continues in the Lackey tradition with poetic imagery found in battle and in Flower Forests. The simplistic nature of the basic plot of dark against light does not detract one whit from the complexity of the story. Bards will sing of the books and the heroic and despicable populace of this, the first book, in The Dragon Prophecy trilogy.

Body of work of <a type="amzn" >Mercedes Lackey</a>
Body of work of <a type="amzn" >James Mallory</a>

I love Lackey. I love Lackey and Mallory. I don't much like this book.

I found it very difficult to read. I got all the way to page 434 of 605, and am not going to finish it. I found the names and the use of different names for the same character confusing and difficult to follow. I found the personal and political relationships very difficult to keep straight. And when I realized that Lackey and Mallory are going to take 1800 pages to bring this series to a close, I decided it's not for me, at least not now.

I am an avid reader, particularly of SF and Fantasy, and Lackey has been one of my favorite authors since her first book in the Valdemar series. I have re-read everything she's written (except this book) at least twice, and own all of them (in paperback). I usually finish a 300 page novel (including Lackey's) in two work days or one weekend day because without really working at it I read and comprehend rapidly. But it has taken me over two weeks to get to page 434 of this book, and I still find it confusing and don't much like it.

I will probably try again in a few months, because it's Lackey - but only because it's Lackey.

I love her books in general and the Obsidian Triology is still my favorite set of all time. But I have to say this was incredibly disappointing. There was so much detail and beauty in Obsidian and this felt like they wrote out the informational part of the storyline while forgetting to elaborate on anything in looks, scenery, or visual culture. Very little detail for a great plot line, I am deeply disappointed that she seem to have lost the magic of this world in this series.

First in the prequel trilogy, the Dragon Prophecy Trilogy, in the overall Obsidian Universe series. In this one, we finally meet Vieliessar Farcarinon, who fulfills the prophecy as its Child and prepares her world for invasion.

I suspect the next two will find the Elvenkind at war with the Endarkened and set the stage for the lack of magic in The Outstretched Shadow (Obsidian Trilogy, #1).

My Take
There were aspects of this that were quite thrilling and others that were just annoying. Why do authors feel the need to give us incomprehensible names. Sure, I get that Tom, Dick, and Mary won't cut it, especially in tales about the elves, but names like Bolecthindial and Hamphuliadiel?? I swear, the length of this book could have been cut by at least a quarter if they had used shorter names!

And I'm probably spilling the beans that the side of the Light are Elvenkind...whoops...as Lackey/Mallory certainly don't mention it often. And possibly the reason for this is to portray them as human with all the foibles and weaknesses of man. It's for sure that humanity is not alone is wanting power or being greedy.

Another irritation is the convoluted writing that the authors use to create a sense of old-timeyness, but some of it is so torturous that I can't figure out what is being said no matter how many times I read it.

It certainly does provide a different take on elves than we usually get. This crew is so cruel and stupidly ambitious. It's as though we're getting a peek under the covers of what they're really like! Then there's the other side, the bad guys. The He Who Is, whom I assume is God, is more of an Old Testament God with his cruelty.

There's a bit in here where Lackey/Mallory are telling us of the matching uniforms Vielle has found for everyone in her huge army, and it made me think of Jordan's Mat Cauthon in the Wheel of Time series when he's struggling to find the coin to pay his men and to find the supplies to feed and clothe them. That has such a feel of reality to it. Here, there's no real effort expended or discussed at having to feed and clothe the thousands who flock to her banners. As difficult as events were in this story, Lackey/Mallory doesn't really bring it home.

It's an odd world. One in which men and women are equals, but strict classes of a medieval society exist. Women can be komen and War Princes and are addressed as "Lord", although some are also referred to as "Lady". I haven't figured out what the distinction is yet. War has been turned into a game with rules, like an exaggerated game of three-dimensional chess.

How the current Houses and their nobles treat the lower classes is awful and Vielle finds a very, very powerful tool that will form a cornerstone of her reign. It's the same with the Lightborn who are normally drawn from the lower classes. Once found, a Lightborn is kept for the nobles' use and, it seems, that their families are held hostage for their good behavior. There is so much that Vielle changes and her idea of justice spreads throughout their world, doing quite of bit of the work for her.

I love how Vielle does nothing they expect and drives the Alliance nuts trying to figure her out.

It's just incredible the work Lackey/Mallory have done to create this world. Everything from its geography, history, customs, clothing, manners, beliefs is intricately detailed. It has been a couple years since I read the other two trilogies in the overall series, and what I do remember doesn't really have much to do with this one. The elves in this are so incredibly different from the other two sets that this can stand on its own. I would recommend waiting to start the other two trilogies until you've read the whole of this one, or read them quickly together so as not to lose details.

In spite of my whining, this is a great story. I do suspect that part of my frustration stems from thinking I'm continuing the series since this story is being published after the first two trilogies: Obsidian Trilogy and Enduring Flame and it actually comes before them.

The Story
It's a race between the Endarkened and the Brightworld, the elves. Only, the elves don't know the Endarkened exist. The threat they pose. Only Queen Pelashia knew and she could only give hints to her lord to set down in his Song of Amretheion Aradruiniel. It will be up to the Child of Prophecy to save their world.

It's an introduction to the end of House Farcarinon, but Vieliessar's beginning. First in fosterage, then a return to Sanctuary where she learns the truth as well as patience. One hundred years later, as the Child of Prophecy, she seeks the throne that destroyed her father and her House.

Now, if only the Hundred Houses will support this Child as she seeks the throne of the High King.

*snort, guffaw, giggle...collapse and die laughing at the thought that these hidebound, power-hungry, greedy, self-seeking jerks could actually cooperate that long...*

Once both armies are over the mountains into Jaeglenhend, the Alliance destroys any chance they could have at a reconciliation.

The Characters
No, it only looks like I listed every character...

Vieliessar "Vielle" Farcarinon was born the day her mother died. The last of the Farcarinons. Lord Serenthon Farcarinon's death, Lady Nataranweiya's Bondmate, has already ensured the Lady's death; it's only her struggle to reach sanctuary to give birth that allows for Vielle's survival. Her family and her House have been destroyed by their own allies: Caerthalien had been their staunchest ally. When they betrayed Serenthon, they joined with Aramenthiali, Telthorelandor, and Cirandeiron and killed or imprisoned anyone who was part of Farcarinon.

Gunedwaen is the now-crippled former Swordmaster to War Prince Serenthon Farcarinon living on Caerthalien charity. He will train Vielle to become a knight and follow her to her destiny. Rithdeliel was Farcarinon's Warlord and now he is Oronviel's.

House Oronviel
War Prince Thoromarth is the first to fall to Vielle. Eiron Lightbrother is with his House and refuses Vielle. Princess Nanduil is hostage at Caerthalien. Komens Bethaerian, Diorthiel, and Dirwan are knights of his household. Terandamil Master Ranger musters the commons into infantry.

House Ivrithir: War Prince Atholfol is next. Lord Farathon commands a meisne of komen.

House Araphant: War Prince Luthilion has no heirs; he's outlived them all. Lightbrother Celeharth has been his Mage for long years; he will extort a promise from Vielle.

House Laeldor: The first treacherous House and mostly through its own fear. Vielle uses extreme measures against War Prince Ablenariel, but sends his wife, Ladyholder Gemmaire, home. His son, Prince Culence, is the heir-prince.

House Mangiralas: War Prince Aranviorch is a Less House, and usually safe from war due to its Horse Fair. Heir-Princess Maerengiel is the younger twin; Prince Gatriadde the older. Chief Warlord/Ladyholder Faurilduin is a nasty one. Camaibien Lightbrother aids Gatriadde.

The Uradabhur is a region of 30 Houses in the east
Jaeglenhend: War Prince Nilkaran is a nasty bully and his people don't wait to pledge to the High King. Moraigre Lightbrother is his Mage. Princess Telucalmo and Heir-Prince Surieniel are in his besieged Keep.

The Grand Windsward Houses
Penenjil: War Prince Melchienchiel has sent his Silver Swords.
Enerchelimier:
Nantirworiel: War Prince Methothiel may be loyal to the Alliance, but the Foxhaven Free Company, which has been providing its army, is not.

The Lightborn who swear to Vielle
Ambrant, Aradreleg, Peryn, Harwing (who hooks up with Gunedwaen), Pharadas, and Isilla. Iardalaith (and he brings House Daroldan) will train her Lightborn to fight: the Warhunt which includes Rondithiel, Bramandrin, Pantaradet, and Jorganroch.

The Free Companies
Three of the best Free Companies, mercenaries, are Foxhaven, Glasswall, and Blue Deer. Nadalforo, once First Sword of Stonehorse, pledges to Vielle.

Sanctuary of the Star
Thurion is Landbond; Berthon, the son of a knight; and, Athrothir, the son of a castellan, are the others Called from Caerthalien that year that Varuthi/Vieliessar is sent back to the Sanctuary at age 12. Iardalaith had been in training to become a knight before he was Called.

The Astromancer leads the sanctuary and is changed whenever a Vilya tree bears its fruit. Maeredhiel has served for six centuries and was there when Vielle was born; now, she is in charge of the Candidates. Rondithiel Lightbrother is one of her instructors.

Celelioniel was astromancer when Vielle was born; she has dedicated her life to the Song of Amretheion Aradruiniel, a prophecy of a child who will come. Hamphuliadiel is the Lightbrother who becomes astromancer next. An evil one, who changes all the rules. Mosirinde Peacemaker was the first official Lightborn. She set up the rules for them, created the Compact, and established the sanctuary.

House Caerthalien
War Prince Bolecthindial was Serenthon's greatest ally. And his greatest betrayer. The vicious and intelligent Ladyholder Glorthiachiel hates and despises all things Farcarinon. Prince Ivrulion is the eldest; he would have been War Prince after his father, but his being Lightborn throws him out of the succession. His son would have been Prince Huthiel. His being Lightborn is why their parents had Prince Runacarendalur. To become War Prince instead, and he's well-suited to the role with his genius at battle tactics. His first encounter with Vielle is a heart-wrenching revelation. Gwaenor is his long-lived horse. Helecanth is the chief of his personal guard. Prince Domcariel is a slow thinker, too slow for battle. Prince Gimragiel is just like his mother, just not as intelligent. Princesses Thorogalas and Angiothiel are their sisters. Carangail Lightbrother is the Lady's personal Mage. Lengiathion is Caerthalien's Warlord.

The Caerthalian Alliance (who distrust and hate each other)
Aramenthiali: Lord Manderechiel hates his second wife, Ladyholder Dormorothon who is Caerthalian. Sederet is the Heir-Prince.

Cirandeiron: War Prince Girelrian is old enough to be a great-great-grandmother to her husband, Irindandirion, who is careful to stay out of politics.

Telthorelandor: War Prince Ivaloriel is said to be quite detached whether on the battlefield or ruling his domain. He is bonded to his wife, Ladyholder Edleleorn.

Denegathaiel: War Prince Clacheu.

Sarmiorion: War Prince Ferorthaniel is at the fake parley. Ladyholder Varelotiel joins her husband after he's come over the mountains and leaves her Keep defenseless. The Glasswall Free Company, which refused a contract with her to fight, besieged their castle and plundered it. The commons tried to get shelter or help from their lord and lady's allies and were refused. So they joined Vielle. A lesson for all who play with politics.

Jovadigalas: War Prince Mindingener.

The Endarkened
Virulan is their king, First among the Thirteen. And he's as nervous of rebellion as any surface lord! Uralesse is second. Virulan does everything he can to break him, keep him subservient. Rugashag is one of the once-brothers, who becomes Virulan's consort. Shurzul, Khambaug, Bashahk, Dhasgah, Gholak, Lashagan, Marbuglor, Arzhugdu, Nagreloth, and, Orbushnu are the rest of the thirteen. All have but one goal: destroy all life and become the supreme ruler.

The Endarkened are the first race He Who Is created and if you think demon, you've got it about right. There are thirteen of them, at least at the start, and they love to torture, hurt, and destroy. They've been in hiding underground for millennia as they build up their numbers to better destroy those who live on the surface. For He Who Is wants to destroy the Brightworld, bringing the world back to what it was. Perfect. Timeless.

The Hundred Houses are the survivors of the death of the High King with High and Less constantly changing alliances, absorbing some and others breaking out down through the millennia. The Sanctuary of the Star is like a monastery where those with the inner magic, the Lightborn, Pelashia's Children, go to learn how to use their gifts. Candidates are the first level; Postulants are those with a greater magic that needs training. Komen are knights who pledge to a House. Landbonds are like serfs, tied to the land; Farmholders are a step up. Bondmates are soulmates. And fated to die together. The Flower Forests seem to be wells of power from which the Lightborn draw their magic. The Starry Hunt seems to be their idea of god(s). Elvenkind sacrifice to it for victory, for thanks, and in hope of avoiding punishment. the Silver Hooves is another religious entity upon whom they call.

High King Amretheion Aradruiniel was the last, some 10,000 years ago. After his wife, Queen Pelashia Celenthodiel, was ambushed, he went mad and was assassinated. Their children formed an alliance and swore that one of them would be his successor. For some reason, all the other nobles of the time thought the children were tainted, defiled, and they were hunted down and killed. But not all. Arwath and Calebre were two that eluded them. And Vielle is one of their descendants. Celephriandullias-Tildorangelor...*pant, pant, pant, my fingers are wearing out*...is Amretheion's city. Lost for ages.

Vielle's army have named the plains before the city, Ifjalasairaet, wind and dust. They must open the Darariel Dorankalaliel---the Fireheart Gate to gain entrance.

The Cover
The cover is a fantasy of war with a lovely sunlit day in the forest overcrowded with an armored horse and his mailed rider leaping over a crowd of men, arrows flying, bloody swords waving.

The title is both personal and prophetic with Vielle taking a reluctant vengeance as she fulfills Amretheion's words and takes the Unicorn throne with a Crown of Vengeance.

I randomly picked up this book never having heard of the author(s). I was pleasantly surprised at the strong writing and engaging story. It appears to be the first in a trilogy, the second two books are not out yet. The only thing I found keeping this book from five stars was the failure to distinguish significantly between certain minor characters, many of whom had very long and obtrusive names, so I lost track of everyone but the main character. That, however, was enough. Good book.

While the sometimes unpronounceable names of the characters and places can turn your mouth (and brain) to mush, the political scheming and intrigue (along with the martial knowledge obvious by the authors) makes this book. Starts out as a classic revenge story, but somewhere along the way, revenge takes a backseat to saving humanity from a vast and powerful evil. While trite and a little forced in places, it was a pretty good read.

This book has a driving plot. The question 'what next?" is so compelling that I had a hard time putting it down. Several very late nights allowed me to read it in less than one week. Is it the best of Mercedes Lackey work? I actually prefer the halfblood chronicles. But this book moves quickly; the characters are nicely developed and I am looking forward to the sequel.

According to ancient and obscure prophesy, a new high king will come... and destroy the hundred houses. For thousands of years, the houses have battled one another, each prince seeking to become the next king. Each time, one house appears to be ascendent, other houses unite to pull it down... and then turn on one another. Vieliessar, last heir to a vanished house, dreams of vengence but dares never leave the Sanctuary. The princedoms that destroyed her father's house wait to complete the elimination of all possible enemies.

When Vieliessar receives the gift of light (magic), she also learns that vengence, the recreation of her house, are not to be a part of her future. Instead, she's been given powerful gifts, but can use them only to recreate the kingdom in order to face the overwhelming power of the endarkened.

There hasn't been a high king for thousands of years and nobody but Vieliessar takes her ambitions seriously. Not only does Vieliessar mean to be high king, she means for it to happen in a single year. Against her, the land's most powerful princedoms, led by gifted warlord Runacarendalur, marshal their forces.

Stories of the prophesied one are a staple of fantasy... to the point where it's easy to verge into cliche. An author has got to come up with something new, something special, to make this old story line work. So, strike one. Strike two is that any time a reader sees two authors named on a book cover... especially if one of those authors is a famous name like Mercedes Lackey, there's got to be a suspicion that the big name author wrote a five page outline and left all the work to the lesser-known. So, I was prepared to be disappointed by CROWN OF VENGENCE. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory combine to write a strong fantasy with sympathetic and interesting characters (I liked it that the two primary characters were opponents throughout the story), the underlying threat of He who Is, and plenty of action. I would have liked to see a bit more of the strategy both sides followed... it seemed that there was something going on that Lackey and Mallory didn't take the time to explain. Still, I found myself drawn into the story and carried through a book that weighs in at over six hundred pages (hardback edition).

Books by Lackey and Mallory aren't quite the same as those by Lackey alone. I find Lackey's books to be more emotional, but less epic. CROWN OF VENGEANCE is epic, with vast armies, horrible threats, and hungry ambition driving characters. Overall, while there were a few things I would have done differently, I really enjoyed reading this book.

Really love this book, wouldn't change anything, except that TOR books made them cut almost half of the book before publishing. >:-( Would have liked to have read everything they envisioned originally. Also, TOR, please stop messing around with your customers and publish the second book, already! Two years i can understand, but 4 is ridiculous!

While the sometimes unpronounceable names of the characters and places can turn your mouth (and brain) to mush, the political scheming and intrigue (along with the martial knowledge obvious by the authors) makes this book. Starts out as a classic revenge story, but somewhere along the way, revenge takes a backseat to saving humanity from a vast and powerful evil. While trite and a little forced in places, it was a pretty good read.

This book has a driving plot. The question 'what next?" is so compelling that I had a hard time putting it down. Several very late nights allowed me to read it in less than one week. Is it the best of Mercedes Lackey work? I actually prefer the halfblood chronicles. But this book moves quickly; the characters are nicely developed and I am looking forward to the sequel.

According to ancient and obscure prophesy, a new high king will come... and destroy the hundred houses. For thousands of years, the houses have battled one another, each prince seeking to become the next king. Each time, one house appears to be ascendent, other houses unite to pull it down... and then turn on one another. Vieliessar, last heir to a vanished house, dreams of vengence but dares never leave the Sanctuary. The princedoms that destroyed her father's house wait to complete the elimination of all possible enemies.

When Vieliessar receives the gift of light (magic), she also learns that vengence, the recreation of her house, are not to be a part of her future. Instead, she's been given powerful gifts, but can use them only to recreate the kingdom in order to face the overwhelming power of the endarkened.

There hasn't been a high king for thousands of years and nobody but Vieliessar takes her ambitions seriously. Not only does Vieliessar mean to be high king, she means for it to happen in a single year. Against her, the land's most powerful princedoms, led by gifted warlord Runacarendalur, marshal their forces.

Stories of the prophesied one are a staple of fantasy... to the point where it's easy to verge into cliche. An author has got to come up with something new, something special, to make this old story line work. So, strike one. Strike two is that any time a reader sees two authors named on a book cover... especially if one of those authors is a famous name like Mercedes Lackey, there's got to be a suspicion that the big name author wrote a five page outline and left all the work to the lesser-known. So, I was prepared to be disappointed by CROWN OF VENGENCE. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised.

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory combine to write a strong fantasy with sympathetic and interesting characters (I liked it that the two primary characters were opponents throughout the story), the underlying threat of He who Is, and plenty of action. I would have liked to see a bit more of the strategy both sides followed... it seemed that there was something going on that Lackey and Mallory didn't take the time to explain. Still, I found myself drawn into the story and carried through a book that weighs in at over six hundred pages (hardback edition).

Books by Lackey and Mallory aren't quite the same as those by Lackey alone. I find Lackey's books to be more emotional, but less epic. CROWN OF VENGEANCE is epic, with vast armies, horrible threats, and hungry ambition driving characters. Overall, while there were a few things I would have done differently, I really enjoyed reading this book.

Really love this book, wouldn't change anything, except that TOR books made them cut almost half of the book before publishing. >:-( Would have liked to have read everything they envisioned originally. Also, TOR, please stop messing around with your customers and publish the second book, already! Two years i can understand, but 4 is ridiculous!