Book 1), Winds of Fate (The Mage Winds

To ask me or anyone to "judge" anything that Mercedes Lackey writes is like asking a deaf and blind person to give a critique of a beautiful sunset. As far as I am concerned, Mercedes Lackey sets the Standard in writing Fantasy, and sets the goal to which all others might strive. If she wrote it, you just know that it is very good. I once aspired to writing fantasy fiction myself, but gave up realizing that I could never reach her standard.

Received the book brand new, good condition there was what seemed to be a watermark on just one of the pages that had worn it down as if it were rubbed or erased but the print was still visible and so it did not really trouble me.

I've owned this book since first printing. It fell apart. But, hey, it lasted somewhere around twenty or so years. Even considering being well-treated, (NOT,) pretty long-lived. However, down is dead. And it MUST be reread. Because, you know, it keeps giving up some new level of info. . . every time. YAY!

This review is based strictly on the Kindle version and is no reflection on the quality of the story. I know I'm repeating a number of other reviewers, but this is the most unprofessional editing I've ever seen in a traditionally published book. I've seen a few self-published books that were worse, but not many. Names are misspelled, words are changed -- i.e. mere for merc is one that occurs frequently -- and occasionally entire phrases are omitted. It's a shame that a writer of the caliber of Mercedes Lackey is treated so disrespectfully by her publisher. If I were she, I'd be embarrassed that such shoddy work has my name on it.
The story itself is interesting and exciting. New characters are introduced, and a new villain makes his first appearance. I'm looking forward to reading the next 2 books in the trilogy, but I think I'll stick to paper.

Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series provides one of the cornerstones of my reading history. After discovering her when quite young, I still follow new additions to the series - nearly twenty years later! I read and re-read these books over and over again throughout my youth, but I haven't re-read this series in its entirety in a long time - and never as an adult. There are some new books added to the series since the last time I read them, so this re-reading project is pretty exciting for me since it will include these new volumes, and will be in a new order. These books really just remind me of being young, reading them in the back seat of the car on family road trips... I think I was in 4th or 5th grade when I first started reading them, and they've always been a pleasure to re-read - and I am sure this will continue to be the case! The Valdemar series is broken up into (for the most part) separate trilogies. In my re-reading project, I am going to try to read them chronologically - not by publication date, but by their timeline within the series.

And actually, this re-reading project is making it more difficult for me to pin down just which is my favorite of the trilogies comprising the Valdemar series. Traditionally, it has always been the Heralds of Valdemar series, starring Talia, but before re-reading that one, I thought maybe it is the Vanyel books after all, and now, reading this first book in the Mage Winds trilogy, I am starting to think that it's these Elspeth books after all. Though I have read them numerous times before, they are just so exciting! I love the whole Ma'ar/Falconsbane character, and Nyara... not to mention the fun in Need waking up. Numerous plot threads are set up here and begin to come together, linking the entire series as a whole. Even some gryphons appear in this one! It is perhaps these last six books that the entire series has been working towards the entire time... And I can't wait to read the next one - Winds of Change (The Mage Winds, Book 2).

Valdemar is in trouble yet again. The mysterious magical defenses that have protected it since the time of Herald Vanyel are eroding, while Ancar of Hardorn and his mages grow stronger. Elspeth, Herald and Heir to the throne, decides that she must take matters into her own hands and find mages to protect her beloved country. She sets off on a journey with her friend and fellow Herald, Skif, that will take them far to the south, where Elspeth realizes she may have a Mage Gift of her own...
K'Sheyna Vale is also in trouble. Its Heartstone is damaged beyond repair, and half of its inhabitants are stranded at the remote new Vale site. Darkwind, the head scout of Clan K'Sheyna and a powerful mage who has forsaken his powers, faces the daily battle of keeping his home safe from the evil forces of a mysterious Dark Adept that is seeking to destroy everything Darkwind holds dear...
"Winds of Fate" is the first book in Mercedes Lackey"s The Mage Winds Trilogy. It has an interesting structure to it. Throughout much of the book, the chapters alternate perspectives between Elspeth and Darkwind, with a few interludes of completely different perspective thrown in. I found this to be very effective. It kept me motivated and reading, especially during the Elspeth chapters that tended to drag a little more. The differences between the storylines were ample enough that I was never confused by events. It was also nice to look forward to the expected unification of the two storylines.
I was also pleasantly surprised and delighted by the abundance of Tayledras characters in this book. The Tayledras as a people have fascinated me ever since I read "Magic's Pawn" and became enchanted with Moondance and Starwind. "Winds of Fate" allowed me an even deeper look into their culture, and it was through the eyes of Darkwind, a member of that culture himself.
"Winds of Fate" is a fun book to read. Its characters are strong and behave like real people. Its setting is so real that I almost feel like I've been there. Mercedes Lackey keeps the mood light when it needs to be by adding little touches of humor here and there.
Bottom Line: A great continuation of the Valdemar books and an absolute treat to the Tayledras lovers out there. However, I would recommend that you first read The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy and The Heralds of Valdemar to truly appreciate this book.

Elspeth is not only a full-fledged herald, but the heir to the throne of Valdemar. And as Valdemar faces a tragic looking war with King Ancar from the northern country Hardorn. Unfortunately Ancar has many mages working for him, powerful ones, while Valdemar's gifted heralds are the only one with slightly smaller gifts. Elspeth realizes that she is the only one that can go out and find a mage for Valdemar. Elspeth isn't alone though. She travels with her good friend Skif and her teacher Kerowyn's mysterious protective sword called need. Things start to get complicated when Skif's feelings become more than just friendly towards Elspeth and the sword proves to have a mind of it's own. Elspeth also knows that her biggest problem will be finding the right mage. For the public to trust this mage, the mage must also be a herald, and a herald mage has not existed since the legendary Vanyel who died centuries ago.
Far from Valdemar in K'Sheyna Vale lives the Hawkbrothers who are facing a great ordeal. Not too long ago the heartstone, a place of immense power, was destroyed, ruining all of their lives in the process. No one was scared as deeply as Darkwind though. Darkwind is a former mage who gave up every trace of magic he had after seeing the heartstone destroyed and the death of his mother. Darkwind now serves as a guard but his live gets more complicated when he runs into a strange and beautiful girl, a changechild who has deadly connections to a powerful mage who has connections to the Hawkbrothers. What will happen when Elspeth and Darkwind meet?
Mercedes Lackey once again proves to be one of the stronger modern writers in the fantasy community. Her characters are flawed and well written. It's amazing to see how much Elspeth has grown from simply "the brat," to awkward teenager, and now to strong leader and herald. Darkwind is a strong character you can't help feeling sorry for. The story line is different from the Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy and By the Sword, because of it's concentration on mages. In the beginning of the books the P. O. V. alternates between the ex-mage Darkwind, and the herald princess Elspeth with a few interludes in between. By the end of the book the two have met. The ending is very suspenseful and makes me itch for the second book in the trilogy. I highly recommend this to Mercedes Lackey fans.

This book really does make for exciting and somewhat fearful reading with the introduction of the arch-adept bloodmage 'Falconsbane' into the picture and how he nearly comes to destroy the Sheyna Tayledras community.

The plot is good and there are a couple of of twists and turns that aren't entirely expected. Overall rather charming reading.

However, some contradictions truly do destroy the pleasure of reading this story:

- AFAIK Companions technically _cannot_ be affected by direct magic. They are immune to magic strikes unless there is an embedded body spell. (mentioned in the herald mage series). So, how did they get affected by direct energy strikes merrily thrown by Falconsbane?

-Skif is supposed to be wordly-wise and mature (Arrows of the Queen). Why does he suddenly decide to behave like a stupid dog-in-heat while accompanying Elspeth? I was wincing all the time at this sudden change in his personality.

-The HORRIBLE tendency of every bloody character to sound like the other (with the possible exception of the Taleydras), when they constantly refer to each other using pet nicknames. Mercedes Lackey (I will *not* call her misty) simply has to get rid of this fundamental flaw in her writing. Its supremely irritating! Here we have Elspeth making a *formal* speech to the Valdemar Council and she refers to Kerowyn as 'Kero' 4 times in that speech....aargh.

WINDS OF FATE, by prolific sf/fantasy author Mercedes Lackey, is the first in the "Mage Winds" trilogy. The chapters alternate back and forth between the story of Elspeth, heir to the throne of Valdemar, and Darkwind, one-time mage and now a scout for his people, the Tayledras. This alternation continues until the two meet up near the end of the book, interrupted only by two brief "Interludes." Elspeth is on a quest to bring a mage into Valdemar to work with the Heralds against the growing threat of King Ancar of Holdorn, while Darkwind has to deal with the growing, magical threats to his sundered clan, the K'Sheyna.
I just finished reading the "Heralds of Valdemar" books, and I loved them. I was looking forward to reading this book, since it would involve more magic and also because I really like the character of Elspeth. However, though I didn't DISLIKE this book, I was more than a bit disappointed. Many parts of the story drag, and seem to go on for longer than is necessary, flaws that are hard to cover up. The story is not nearly as interesting as that of the "Heralds of Valdemar" books, which were very hard for me to put down. It wasn't until the last 150 pages or so (and remember, this is a 458 page book!) that the plot starts to pick up a bit, and even then it isn't nearly as good as I had hoped for. The characters are good--I liked them a lot--but without an interesting story to be part of, that fact is overshadowed. There are SOME interesting parts, but they come sporatically up until, as I said, the last 150 pages or so.
However, on the bright side, this book wasn't boring enough to turn me away from the rest of the trilogy, and the rest of the Valdemar books, and so it can't have been all that bad. Read it, if only so that you'll know what's going on in the other books.
Happy reading!
P.S. I would've given this book 3 1/2 stars if that were possible.

I really like the Valdemar stories leading up to this one (in Valdemar time), but from this book on find it all a bit too much. What I really like about the Valdemar series is the details of the world, which is well & practically realised, and the way the heralds work to look after their country. The introduction of "real" magic changes it, and not always for the better.

The character of Elspeth is also a bit too much; firstly her male co-herald almost being obsessed with her, then her mage-teacher, she is not only good at riding & fighting, but is a top-level mage,who learns in a year what other people seem to need life times to achieve, & although she's a little rude at the start, this needs only be pointed out to her once & she overcomes it. She is so independently minded that you get the impression that she'd start an argument if you said the sky was blue.

The broadening of the peoples and parts of the world in the stories becomes a bit overwhelming - it is fun when characters from the Sword/Sorceress series run into the odd herald & vice versa, but now they're all best friends it is less so. The whole world working together theme which this builds is a both too loose and too detailed a concept. (And as a personal preference, if we're going to learn more about the foreign lands, how about a trilogy with more on Karse?)

I do like these books, and most of Lackey's others, but just wish we got more Valdemarian stuff rather than native-american inspired magicians. I am vastly preferring the prequel series as the Herald Collegium is set up.

I mostly enjoyed reading this book, but I found it pretty much a cliche. The young, feisty princess is threatened by an evil king and goes out on a quest to find magic. She fails to follow the advice of those older and wiser and acts rather stupidly rebellious.
Fortunately, she didn't suffer quite the expected downfall and retribution for her behavior, which was sort of a relief. I don't think I would have enjoyed reading about her being tortured by the bad guy; and, fortunately, the tortures that others have suffered at his hand are only summarized briefly.
This book is very, very sexual. If they put ratings on books, I think I would give it an NC-17. S&M stuff and incest appear fairly often -- pretty disgusting, even though it's only the bad guy who perpetrates this junk. Unfortunately, they don't put ratings on books, and my 13 year old read it. Fortunately, the stuff is expressed sufficiently metaphorically that most of it went over his head -- at least I hope so. The love scene between Darkwind & Dawnfire, though more traditional, was VERY titillating.
On the upside of this, though, is that the bad guy's evil sexuality is pretty creative. I don't think that I've seen anything quite like it in a book. I just wish there were some warning, so I could keep it out of the hands of my kid.
The suspense is pretty good, but there are some places that drag a bit.
The second book is better, though still kinky.

This is one of my favorite Mercedes Lackey trilogies!!! Absolutely loved it! I have only read the hard copy, not a kindle so I cannot say how good it has been transferred to Kindle... Very good story! I also love the stand alone Valdemar tales, By the Sword & Brightly Burning. The Oathsworn Trilogy is really good as well ?

Herald Elspeth is the heir to the kingdom of Valdemar and a rather difficult person to like. Darkwind is a 27 year old Tayledras scout/wizard. This novel alternates between both characters and their respective lives as their paths slowly join.

I admit, I didn't empathize with Elspeth. She's too whiney and I don't like the way she treats her companion. I also think she handled the situation with Skif poorly. Darkwind is ok, but a little too cookie cutter, and the relationship between him and the seventeen year old scout skeeved me out. Also his scenes at times were boring.

Overall this was an OK novel. I found the parts with the gryphons a bit strange, and the sections told from Darkwinds POV were bland.

Overall: 3 star read.

In this book Elspeth, heir to the throne of Valdemar, goes in search of someone to teach her to use her magic in the defense of her kingdom. Unknowingly, she steps right into the middle of someone elses war also- the Taledras (sp?) vs. Falconsbane. This is my favorite series of all time, but "Winds of Change" and "Winds of Fury" were far better than this book, in my own opinion. This book is a little slow, with some great kicks here and there, but it doesn't really get doing until Elspeth and Darkwind meet. The ending (and the rest of the series) make it well worth the read! If you have read this book and are discouraged by how slow you thought it went through most of it, I encourage you to go ahead and try the next two in the series. They are much faster paced and well worth the read. The book has a good plot and good characters, and all and all, is a worthwhile read, and a good book.

"Winds of Fate" is an extremely disappointing novel by Mercedes Lackey. In it, she takes her previous characterization of Elspeth the princess of Valdemar from previous books (the "Arrows" trilogy, "By the Sword") and mostly tosses it out the window. This sets up an incredibly difficult amount of suspension of disbelief in my view.
Many other reviewers have gone into the basic synopsis of the plot for this book. I don't want to go into that again. Suffice it to say that Elspeth, who's around 25 and acts much younger (more like a bratty 14 year old), despite her earlier characterization of being calm, cool and collected, instead runs off and starts acting even more like a spoiled brat than she did to begin with.
She meets up with Darkwind, a Tayledras mage from the Clan of K'Sheyna. Darkwind, too, is deeply flawed in my view, as he's angry at his father (for good reason), has renounced his magecraft (for a reason that may or may not be good) and, worst of all, sleeps with someone who's not only underage by our standards (at about 17 when he, too, is at least 25), but is under his command, as he's Head of the Scouts and she's a Scout who's recently passed her apprenticeship. This is a big no-no in my view, and I wonder why Ms. Lackey violated the trust relationship of superior to inferior, as she normally does not do this (especially if one is young and the other not so young).
Will Elspeth and Darkwind meet? Of course, but what happens isn't quite as expected. Some is good; some is very, very bad. They meet up with Mornelithe Falconsbane, who is more or less the eternal enemy everyone faces, from Talia in the "Arrows" trilogy to Vanyel in "Magic's Price." They have to try to halt his expansion, while learning to like and trust the other amidst many small setbacks.
Btw, Elspeth has problems along the path with Skif (approximately 33); Skif, despite characterization in other books that shows him to be kind, adult and reasonably level-headed, acts in a rather hamhanded fashion and keeps throwing himself at her. The reasons he does this are twofold: one, she's an extremely powerful potential Mage, and he's been warned by Quentin (a returning character from "By the Sword") that she could easily be taken over if not watched all the time. Who better to watch her than a lover? Two, he's alone and miserably lonely on the road; he doesn't speak much Trade, and he's never been out of Valdemar before. So, while she's in her element (freedom, glorious freedom!), he hates it and clings harder to her.
That part is realistic. This part is not. He's 33 years old. If she says, "No, I don't want to date you," that's the end of it. Period. Even more so if it's, "No, I don't want you for my lover. Period." And Skif, despite previous characterization that basically showed he would respect any woman who asked him to back off, doesn't do so here. Very strange, and most offputting in my view.
Then, Elspeth is fighting against her own Companion, Gwena, every step of the way. This is realistic; she's a feisty gal, and Gwena has been manipulating her for years, and Elspeth just found it out. So it's not Elspeth's behavior I'm questioning, here; it's Gwena's. Gwena is the _only_ companion outside of doomed Tylendel's Gala who acts in this fashion; she's high-handed, rather self-centered (especially considering she's a Companion) and insists her way is the only way there is. It's behavior that's extremely offputting for a Companion, and although it's exactly the reaction Ms. Lackey probably wanted me to have, it leaves me cold.
Darkwind loses his much-younger lover, hardly seeming to care; that, too, was most offputting. I realize the guy is cold and self-absorbed and into himself, but really, does he have to shrug off Dawnfire's loss so easily and quickly? Not to mention callously? (Especially considering she's underage?)
OK, since you probably have figured out I don't like this book at all, you might be wondering why I gave it any stars. Here's why. I still like Ms. Lackey's writing; if Elspeth and Skif hadn't had previously established characterizations, I would have had no problems with what they did (although I still would have thought they both were incredibly immature for their ages). I enjoyed her Shin'a'in characters (Kra'heera, also returning from "By The Sword," among others). I enjoyed her Gryphon characters Treyvan, Hydona, and their gryphlets. And I especially enjoyed Nyara, Falconsbane's daughter (who turns away from him, choosing good instead of evil) who eventually becomes Skif's lover (and next-best-thing to lifebonded mate).
Still. If you've read the rest of the Heralds of Valdemar books, this book simply does not fit. It doesn't. It sticks out like a sore thumb.
Which is why in all good conscience I can only give it one and a half stars. I do recommend it, oddly enough, because the "Mage Winds" series as a series is quite strong. But this was a very weak opening book, and that's why the exceptionally low rating.

Great novel. Mercedes Lackey once again pleased me with her interesting characters. Elspeth, princess of the realm of Valdemar strikes out with Skiff to go bring a mage back to help her realm to fight Acar. On her journey she meets up with the Hawkbrother Darkwind and finds out that she is gifted with the mage talent.

Mercedes Lackey's 'Winds of Fate' was a refreshing piece of literature of the fantasy genre. Her strong, multi-leveled characters bring a sense of realism to a fantastic world of powerful mages & gryphons while still keeping imagination as the leading trait to this intense plot of adventure, romance, and magic

This book was rather strange in that it kept shifting in its appeal. One minute the reader is completely interested in Elspeth and Skif, and the next minute they are so annoying that He wishes that they would all just go back to Valdemar where there might be some interesting people. The part about Darkwind was the same way; one minute the reader really cares about him, and the next minute he is completely confused by the complex political structure of his people. All in all, though, the book wasn't bad, and it began to pick up again once Elspeth and Darkwind actually met each other.

In this book, Mercedes Lackey rehashes the exact same plot we saw in the Arrows and Last Herald mage series. Same misunderstood young adult, same hero saves the world, same one dimensional evil villian.
First, Elspeth goes from being a fairly interesting character in the first series, to being a brat. All of a sudden, she is misunderstood, disliked by her mother, and ugly. She isn't happy about anything. Lackey is known for whiny protagonists, but this is ridiculous. Show me exactly what Elspeth has to be discontented about. This happens to several other characters, Skif, who displayed much common sense in the other books, becomes an idiot. Tayledras are fools.
The other problem I had with the book is the rehashed plot, which we have seen in every other series prior to this. Even the villian is recycled!
All in all, if you read Arrow and Herald-Mage, then you have read this series, and the others are much more well done. I say skip this series unless you absolutely have to read everything Lackey writes.

Wow. This book is incredible! Anyone who reads this book is going to love it. Of course, if you read this book, you'll feel compelled to read Winds of Change, and after that, Winds of Fury. Winds of Fate is the beginning of a superb trilogy.

Mercedes Lackey's `Valdemar` book series continues to meet and exceed my expectations. If you like medieval settings or seemingly ordinary characters having extraordinary abilities this is a continuing series that I would rate as must read

This book sucked me in immediately! No boring places to drag through. Entertaining all the way! This is the first book by Mercedes Lackey I ever read and I now own nearly all her books! It's even better because it's part of a huge series. I hate it when the book just quits!

please exscuse the spelling

it is true that these books are perdictable as all of her valdemar books are but it is plesent perdictablity no serprises yes but no let downs ether

great book for all who like an ezzy but charming story