This is the first Lackey book to get 2 stars from me. I liked the characters, I liked the world/setting, and I liked the story, even though it's kind of cookie-cutter Lackey. What I didn't like was the writing.

What it is is... padded. This entire trilogy barely scrapes past 1200 pages (this book was around 400 pages). The authors should have cut the excess, boring crap and sold it as one big book. It is full of repetitive, circuitous dialogue (yes, the characters like to bicker and argue a lot. That would be ok. But even the smallest things are often dragged on far too long.)

Physical buildings and objects are described far, far too much. The worst thing is that they are insignificant things. For instance, a building that is in the story for five seconds, and has no importance, is described right down to the how the clay for the tiles was made. This took up a good chunk of the page, about a half.

However, the characters really do shine. They are quite likable and it's sad that this trilogy is their home. Poor Ancaladar must be bored out of his mind.

Longtime Lackey fans and lovers of the Obsidian trilogy could give this story a go. Anyone else, pass. Read the Obsidian trilogy or any of Lackey's other works instead.

The connection these characters have and their dialogue gets me every time! It's so familiar while remaining in the fantastical. The imagery is great. I see every nook and cranny of each place the boys land. The suspense is wonderful! I can't wait to read the next book.

So, I still love all the references to Kellan the Poor Orphan Boy etc.

Really enjoy the addition of Shaiara, though I don't know that she was actually a significant enough figure to warrant being on the cover.

I have issues with the pacing of this book. I know that Harrier and Tiercel and spending a long time doing these things, but the way that it's split up among the characters feels really weird. Another thing that messes with the feel of the pacing is the fact that characters come and go and are replaced throughout. It's hard to hold onto a solid, narrative arc when characters act like main characters but disappear.

Could also have used a good edit. A lot of the internal logic and conflicts are dwelled on unnecessarily. I understand that taking a life is not an easy thing to do or wrap your head around, but I'm getting sick of reading about that struggle.

Probably the weakest of these books so far, though I'll still eagerly go into the next one. (also the reader is still very not good ): )

I tagged this as "non-European fictional world" because most of the novel is spent in the fantasy!Saharah desert.

I really like this book. Two of the main characters, Harrier and Tiercel, find themselves having to defend a city against a conquering army. The two have to struggle with the fact that, to defend the city, they're going to have to murder thousands of people in the opposing army when neither young man has ever so much as hurt someone before. I thought the moral dilemma was really interesting and I appreciated that the characters actually thought about the implications of what they were doing. I'm really looking forward to the last book in the trilogy now.

The second of the series following the Obsidian Mountain series. Tiercel, Harrier and Ancaladar continue on their quest for the Lake of Fire, Harrier fighting his calling as a Knight-Mage the entire way. As they journey south, they meet up with 'the Telchi", save a city from destruction by destroying another. Meanwhile Bisochim moves his precious Isvani to his paradise and the Nalzindar go into hiding from the corrupted Mage.
And then what? Their adventures shall continue.
I loved it and cannot wait to read the next of the series. Ms. Lackey is one of my favorite fantasy authors and has done another excellent job.

I feel like this book suffers from middle book syndrome, unfortunately. The two main characters, Harrier and Tiercel, are in a major growing pains stage of their life, which makes sense but also means that they can be rather irritating to listen to. A lot of the same arguments get rehashed unnecessarily, and while I don't mind long books, this one could have been shortened by almost 100 pages without losing much of anything. The ending is kind of a crazy cliffhanger, and since this is the second trilogy in one of my favorite book universes, I'll definitely finish the series. Shaiara is the the bright spot here - it's about time we have a strong, mature woman character again.