I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist. ( )

I am so glad that I took the time to re-read the entire series leading up to this trilogy. So much more enjoyable to have the details fresh in my mind. ( )

This is the start of the 'Mage Storms' series. The main point of view character is one Karal, a young Sun Priest of Karse, now allied with Valdemar against the threats coming out of the former kingdom of Hardon. With Imperial forces occupying the disorganised kingdom, the Allied powers only see the overwhelming forces of the imperial army but An'desha, still coming to terms with his possession by the evil Adept Falconsbane dreams of a greater disaster to come.

In so many ways the moral stance of this series grates a bit when compared to the realities of modern diplomacy. ( )

THIS IS AN AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: NOT A REVIEW OF THE BOOK ITSELF. The series is a 4.5 to me. The Audio by Ledoux? A 1. I gave a three rating because I love the books themselves, but this narrator is definitely NOT mmy cup of tea!
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First, please realize that I am a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar tales. I started with The Last Herald Mage Trilogy in 1989 when the first came out and have them still on my bookshelves in paperback editions. I really enjoyed them, though my sight is making it hard to sit and read a physical book these days. I now read on my Nook or Kindle where the back-lighting and ability to make the type larger really helps.

My favorite way to "read" though, is via Audio Books. I have been a member of Audible.com for years. So, I was thrilled when I pulled up my "Whats New" e-mail and saw "Storm Warning: The Mage Storms, Book 1." However, now I am very sad, because the narrator is horrible. David Ledoux may be a good reader for certain books and apparently Joe Hill liked him for "You Will Hear the Locust Sing: A Short Story from '20th Century Ghosts'" and I really like Joe Hill. But the tone of his voice just seems totally wrong for Mage. He comes across as flat affected and droning, and when he tries to get into vocal character, he simply seems overdone. His sentences come across as choppy, instead of smoothly conversational.

Gregory St. John does "The Last Herald Mage" for Mercedes Lackey and Audible (well, the first two. Apparently the third in the trilogy is not available on Audible, and there is no indication of whether it will become available or not). He does a wonderful job and I truly wish that he had done Mage. I would have been happy to re-invest in the series if so. Ledoux? Not so much.

If you get the opportunity to read these series and love sword and sorcery, try these books. Sadly, though, not on Audio. ( )

THIS IS AN AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: NOT A REVIEW OF THE BOOK ITSELF. The series is a 4.5 to me. The Audio by Ledoux? A 1. I gave a three rating because I love the books themselves, but this narrator is definitely NOT mmy cup of tea!
********************
First, please realize that I am a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar tales. I started with The Last Herald Mage Trilogy in 1989 when the first came out and have them still on my bookshelves in paperback editions. I really enjoyed them, though my sight is making it hard to sit and read a physical book these days. I now read on my Nook or Kindle where the back-lighting and ability to make the type larger really helps.

My favorite way to "read" though, is via Audio Books. I have been a member of Audible.com for years. So, I was thrilled when I pulled up my "Whats New" e-mail and saw "Storm Warning: The Mage Storms, Book 1." However, now I am very sad, because the narrator is horrible. David Ledoux may be a good reader for certain books and apparently Joe Hill liked him for "You Will Hear the Locust Sing: A Short Story from '20th Century Ghosts'" and I really like Joe Hill. But the tone of his voice just seems totally wrong for Mage. He comes across as flat affected and droning, and when he tries to get into vocal character, he simply seems overdone. His sentences come across as choppy, instead of smoothly conversational.

Gregory St. John does "The Last Herald Mage" for Mercedes Lackey and Audible (well, the first two. Apparently the third in the trilogy is not available on Audible, and there is no indication of whether it will become available or not). He does a wonderful job and I truly wish that he had done Mage. I would have been happy to re-invest in the series if so. Ledoux? Not so much.

If you get the opportunity to read these series and love sword and sorcery, try these books. Sadly, though, not on Audio. ( )