|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
In the captivating world conjured by veteran Lackey (Exile's Honor) and classical scholar Mallory (Merlin: The Old Magic) in this first of a high fantasy trilogy, there are three types of magic, each of which has its own rules, limits and variables. But it is the Wild Magic-anathema to Armethalieh, "the Golden City of the Bells," and considered by its residents to be heresy and truly evil-that has the most unusual aspects, for its practitioners must bargain for what they need and pay an often high price for power. Kellen Tavadon, son of Arch-Mage Lycaelon of Armethalieh, has been raised (indoctrinated, actually) to believe that High Magick is the only true magic and that his father and the Council of Mages have the final word. But Kellen isn't so sure. He's always been a bit suspicious of the council's tight control over the city. One day, while playing hooky from his lessons in magery, Kellen finds a set of books about Wild Magic. He knows he shouldn't touch them. To open the books and read them is to court a death sentence, no matter if your father is the Arch-Mage. But Kellen can't resist. And thus, after a bit of a slow start, Kellen sets down a road he never expected to take, on a journey of dire importance to both humans and nonhumans (the latter including elves, unicorns and other enchanting creatures). The narrative speeds to the end, avoiding a jarring halt while leaving the reader satisfied and wanting to know more.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Bored to tears with the predictability of his life, Kellen has only more of the same to look forward to. As the son of the City's ruling archmage, he is high born and mage trained, intended one day to take his place in the City's governing body of magicians, who protect and shepherd its citizens by means of the very structured, closely held secrets of High Magick. Things change drastically for Kellen, though, when he discovers three volumes of forbidden magic in a used-book stall. Forbidden equals old, equals wild, magic, you see, and once Kellen realizes there is a world full of wonders, diversity, and people who think and live differently, he cannot return to the oppressive sameness of City life. When he refuses to give up the books, his father banishes him forever from the City and to a horrific death prearranged by the mages. The Wild Magic has another agenda for him, however, involving an acerbic unicorn and a woman--heavens!--to learn the Wild (but not sex) Magic from. Delightful. Paula Luedtke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
The garden market positively thronged with people, clustered around the wagons just in from the countryside. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The garden market positively thronged with people, clustered around the wagons just in from the countryside. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book,
By Michael Vogel (ELwood, IN USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Outstretched Shadow: The Obsidian Trilogy: Book One (Hardcover)
I found this book to be a very good read. Im a huge fan of fantasy novels and this one had me spellbound. I probably have a library fee of $30 because i dont want to take it back. i read all other reviews and have found that people dont like the descriptions. They paint a picture. In this book, i could see the world. i could see the intricate pattern on Jermayans elven armor, the beauty of Aremathelieh. Usually a book gives me an idea of what the scene is, but with this one, i knew exactly what it looked like. And ive also seen reviews complaining about the way that Lackey came back to Kellen's problems with Wild Magick. Thats an important part to the story. He live his WHOLE life where rules were everything and now there is no rules. Plus he is scared of the Taint and Mercedes only came back to this when there was something new to add about it. on the whole i definitly recommend and after i get rid of the bank loan im going to have to take out to pay the library fines, im buying this book and ordering the second. i cant wait
1.0 out of 5 stars
I really did try to finish it, but...,
By Isabella (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Outstretched Shadow: The Obsidian Trilogy: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)
I'm rather surprised that I wasn't able to enjoy this book. I really wanted to, but it just didn't happen. Unlike most of Mercedes Lackey's novels, this one's beginning was very boring, going on to describe a lot of stuff that seem ultimately irrelevant. It was so painful to read. I gave it several chances -- I actually made it about halfway through the book before I gave up, figuring I had to just let it go... especially since only one scene actually seemed slightly interesting. (Hence, slightly.)The good: -The characters, for the most part, are fairly interesting. Some are annoying. -The magic systems are intriguing. -There are lots of creatures, some familiar and others unique. The bad: -Too much stuff written that no one wants to read. -Takes waaaay to long for the plot to get set into motion. And when it did... it sort of... stopped. -I *might* attempt to actually finish it, but only if I'm desperate. -The cover art is excellent, but I'm afraid that's the only part of the book that is. Like I said before, I really did want to like this book -- I've rarely dropped a book because I couldn't become interested in it, especially one by Mercedes Lackey. I even tried to pick it up again, but the senseless, rambling paragraphs were altogether too frustrating and boring. I don't doubt there will be some people interested, especially hard-core Lackey fans, but I'm afraid this is one book I certainly wasted my money on.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Dark and Forboding,,
By Rylin "Rylin" (Edmonds, Wa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Outstretched Shadow: The Obsidian Trilogy: Book One (Mass Market Paperback)
I enjoyed this book, but at times it became a bit too dark. I would rather have a fun and enjoyable story, such as The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. He kept the actin rolling without all the dark imagry.I would still reccomend this book to anyone who likes a good book to read in the dark of night, maybe not for young teens, but overall, a good job
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
