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kiki870's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Storm Warning is the first book in the Mage Storms trilogy, part of the Valdemar saga. I love this series, the references to previous times with the saga. Like most of the books, magic is at the center of the story, but this time it’s not the answer but the problem. It is the mathematicians and the engineers of the city that are the ones to figure out what’s happening. It’s a nice comeupance to some of the mages who have become a little too secure in their occupation. There’s a nice message that there are many ways to solve problems.
The new perspective from that of the Empire is great. It’s also interesting to watch Tremane’s views and beliefs change as he realizes that Empire that he has give himself to has essentially abandoned him.
There are a lot of moving parts in the saga, and I really enjoyed seeing many of them begin to come together in this book.
meribiaa's review
5.0
I loooove The Mage Storms and rereading them is so satisfying.
I love Karal and Tremane so much as characters. It's so satisfying to follow their arcs through these books.
This book isn't as exciting as the later volumes, but it has a buildup that's quite enjoyable.
The way Lackey transforms characters within the series is masterful, and we see the starting point for those transformations here. Lackey doesn't shy away from making people temporarily unlikeable so she can bring us through that transformation.
I love Karal and Tremane so much as characters. It's so satisfying to follow their arcs through these books.
This book isn't as exciting as the later volumes, but it has a buildup that's quite enjoyable.
The way Lackey transforms characters within the series is masterful, and we see the starting point for those transformations here. Lackey doesn't shy away from making people temporarily unlikeable so she can bring us through that transformation.
crownoflaurel's review
3.0
Much more boring then I remembered -- lots of introspective, repetitious thinking, and less action. The first quarter of the books tries to recount the events of previous books, and introducing the world, but it takes forever to get through.
judythereader's review against another edition
4.0
Tremayne finds his ambition is within his grasp as the Emporer Charless sends him to pacify Hardorn and bring it into the Empire, which will prove he is a worthy successor to the throne. Andisha does not know where he fits in the world now that he has been saved from Mornelithe Falconsbane. Karal doesn't understand what he is doing in Valdemar, so far from his home in Karse. He loves his master the Karsite envoy but he is so homesick. As the two become friends, they find themselves right in the center of everything as Mage storms begin sweep across the entire world.
These storms disrupt all magic. That is not as bad for Valdemar as it is for the Empire, but they also disrupt the physical world. Changing terrains and transforming animals into something different and deadly. It's Karal who brings the Mages together with the Artificers to try to find a new solution.
I enjoyed this set of characters and this new view of Valdemar. It is almost like Lackey is sneaking towards a Steampunk world. I don't know that is where she'll go, but the mixing of science and magic adds a truly fascinating layer to this world I love.
These storms disrupt all magic. That is not as bad for Valdemar as it is for the Empire, but they also disrupt the physical world. Changing terrains and transforming animals into something different and deadly. It's Karal who brings the Mages together with the Artificers to try to find a new solution.
I enjoyed this set of characters and this new view of Valdemar. It is almost like Lackey is sneaking towards a Steampunk world. I don't know that is where she'll go, but the mixing of science and magic adds a truly fascinating layer to this world I love.
kmj91's review
4.0
3.5 stars, a welcome addition to the Valdemar world with some new perspectives.
With Valdemar and its surrounding countries being ravaged by seeming unstoppable mage storms, the famous Heralds have no choice but to team up with their longtime enemies, the Sun Priests of Karse, to figure out how to stop the storms. It was refreshing getting another Karsite perspective after the Alberrich books and to focus on an unrepentant Karsite who slowly learns to trust the Valdemarans and learn to overcome his xenophobia was great. I do think Karal is a tiny bit bland as a character and wish more of the focus was shifted on to An'desha healing from being possessed by a villain but it's still an engaging read.
With Valdemar and its surrounding countries being ravaged by seeming unstoppable mage storms, the famous Heralds have no choice but to team up with their longtime enemies, the Sun Priests of Karse, to figure out how to stop the storms. It was refreshing getting another Karsite perspective after the Alberrich books and to focus on an unrepentant Karsite who slowly learns to trust the Valdemarans and learn to overcome his xenophobia was great. I do think Karal is a tiny bit bland as a character and wish more of the focus was shifted on to An'desha healing from being possessed by a villain but it's still an engaging read.
buttermellow's review
2.0
Not my favorite Mercedes Lackey book. Her Joust series is more fleshed out & fun to read.
jesshale's review
4.0
I found this book to be a great improvement on the preceding Mage Winds series.
Overall it has a much better pace and plot, but a big draw is the characters. Karal (and to a lesser extent An'desha) are much better protagonists than Elspeth, even though I like her character well enough.
I'm also fond of the "familiar setting/characters as seen by an outsider" trope which we get plenty of here!
Overall it has a much better pace and plot, but a big draw is the characters. Karal (and to a lesser extent An'desha) are much better protagonists than Elspeth, even though I like her character well enough.
I'm also fond of the "familiar setting/characters as seen by an outsider" trope which we get plenty of here!
wolftashie's review
3.0
i love how these books are so fun to read, and really enlightening on how people really act, with the awesome twists of magic and gods and such. the cat altra has got to be one of my favorite characters in this book. i just finished rereading it and loved every second of it. i find it much better than the winds series because i just hate the characters. in teh storms series the characters are all there but they are no where near as prominent. karal is an awesome character and pretty realistic, i feel a lot in common with him. plus the bad guy is just totally cool, and it gives a new insight on the ma'ar bad guy. if you really love mercedes lackey, read the books in order, starting with the griffon series and moving up the timeline from there. i finished this book in about 2 days, they can all be read that quickly.