Review: THE PHOENIX TRANSFORMED

The Phoenix Transformed by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Book 3 of The Enduring Flame Trilogy

Genre: epic fantasy

About The Phoenix Transformed:

In the Enduring Flame trilogy, Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory have given readers a new view of the complex and fascinating world they originally created for the Obsidian Trilogy. Jumping one thousand years in time, Lackey and Mallory have told the compelling story of Harrier Gillain, the first Knight-Mage in a thousand years; Tiercel Rolfort, the first High Mage in hundreds of years; and Shaiara, the young leader of a desert tribe who takes both boys under her wing but has a special affection for Harrier.

These three young people are their world’s main defense against the evil called up by the rogue Wild Mage, Bisochim. Bisochim’s conviction that he was restoring the balance was shattered the moment Ahairan took her first breath. Now, in The Phoenix Transformed, Bisochim joins forces with Harrier and Tiercel, and the three mages search desperately for a way to destroy Ahairan as she sends her magical forces against them and the desert nomads under their protection.

With more than one twist in the telling, centering on a magic-plagued journey across a blistering desert, The Phoenix Transformed is the stunning conclusion to The Enduring Flame.

Source: Info in the About The Phoenix Transformed was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6352652-phoenix-transformed on 11/12/2011.

[image credit: Todd Lockwood]

Review:

The story telling quality is compelling as per usual! I would give it a 5 out of 5.

Some of the questions I had reading Books 1 & 2 were answered in this book... like, why is it called an Enduring Flame series? And Ancaladar is black, why did he, all of a sudden, became red in the cover of this book? I like it when loose ends comes together to make sense and yield to the reader the whole picture. And then some questions were not quite answered... why are the books in this series titled with Phoenixes? I can conjecture but it doesn't seem to quite gel to me...

I would say that the plot has depth, surprises and wonderful twists, though, I have a few nitpicking issues, like some of the scenes do not have a lot of authenticity or not very "realistic". (We are using the word "realistic" loosely here, seeing that this is a fantasy novel and a work of fiction.) However, on the whole, this book as a finale to a trilogy is very satisfying indeed! Kudos to this trilogy for having done that! I would recommend this series to anybody who likes epic fantasy reads!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4.5
Plot = 4
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Other Books In This Series:

Review: THE PHOENIX ENDANGERED

The Phoenix Endangered by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Book 2 of The Enduring Flame Trilogy

Genre: epic fantasy

About The Phoenix Endangered:

In The Phoenix Endangered, second in The Enduring Flame, Tiercel, a budding High Mage, and Harrier, a reluctant Knight-Mage, develop greater power—and learn of the evils of war when they see the devastation caused by the fanatical armies of the Wild Mage Bisochim.

The desert tribespeople led by young Shaiara flee Bisochim’s evil, seeking a legendary oasis deep in the desert—a refuge that may hold the key to stopping Bisochim and preserving the Balance between Light and Darkness . . . or that may be the cause of Light’s ultimate downfall.

Source: Info in the About The Phoenix Endangered was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2903799-the-phoenix-endangered on 11/12/2011.

[image credit: AnimeJanice]

Review:

The cover art got it wrong. Tiercel is the blond one and Harrier is the ginger head. However the depiction is bang on and I like the drawing/art... It is pleasing to my fantasy buff eyes! The character development is very good as per usual with this dou author. I still miss Simera! And usually I hate cliffhangers... but this time around I was prepared! Having known these authors' writing style from the Obsidian Trilogy, I knew it's gonna be like that. I think it's a matter of my getting into the proper "mind set" that I did not get upset when it came to the cliffhanger... and maybe... plus the fact that I continued reading onto Book 3 straight away as soon as I hit the cliffhanger that contributed a lot to my not getting upset. But really, this book has no real beginning with a cliffhanger ending. Shouldn't be read own it's own. A middle chapter of a bigger book (which is the trilogy). I think if read as a stand alone, the reader would get royally confused. I wouldn't even talk about the plot because it started with Book 1 and ended in a cliffhanger so there isn't one really to talk about. But because of the marvellous story telling quality I cannot give it a 1.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 1
Ending = 1
World building = N/A
Cover art = 3
Pace = 4

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 cherries


Other Books In This Series:

Review: THE PHOENIX UNCHAINED

The Phoenix Unchained by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
Book 1 of The Enduring Flame Trilogy

Genre: epic fantasy

About The Phoenix Unchained:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory first teamed up to write The Obsidian Trilogy, set in a wondrous world filled with magical beings, competing magic systems, and a titanic struggle between good and evil. That world proved so popular with the creators and readers alike that Lackey and Mallory have returned to it with The Phoenix Unchained, Book One of The Enduring Flame, the opening volume of a new epic fantasy trilogy.

After a thousand years of peace, much Magick has faded from the world. The Elves live far from humankind. There are no High Mages, and Wild Mages are seen only rarely. Bisochim, a powerful Wild Mage, is determined to reintroduce Darkness to the world, believing that it is out of Balance.

Tiercel, a young Armethalian nobleman, is convinced that High Magic is not just philosophy. He attempts a spell--and draws the unwelcome attention of Bisochim. Tiercel survives Bisochim's attack and begins trying to turn himself into a High Mage.

Next in line to be Harbormaster of Armethalieh, Harrier instead finds himself regularly saving Tyr's life and meeting magickal people and creatures. To Harrier's dismay, it seems that he must become a hero.

In The Phoenix Unchained, Harrier and Tiercel begin a marvelous journey to uncover their destinies. Along the way, they meet a charming female centaur, several snooty Elves, and the most powerful dragon their world has ever known.

Source: Info in the About The Phoenix Unchained was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/373051.The_Phoenix_Unchained on 11/12/2011.

[image credit: Todd Lockwood]

Review:

I bought this book because I knew that the story telling quality of this "author dou" is very good! I love this author dou, but, having experienced reading the Obsidian Trilogy, I resisted buying/reading this book when I first saw it a few years back. I just knew that it would be just like the Obsidian Trilogy where the first two books ends in a whooping cliffhanger. And I was right. This book ended in a cliffhanger. Good thing that I got all three books before I started reading and was able to go straight to Book 2 as soon as I hit the cliffhanger. Disaster averted! Otherwise I would be pissing mad (again!).

[image credit: AnimeJanice]

Character development is the same fabulous quality that I got to know with the Obsidian Trilogy. In this book my favouritest character is Simera. She's a well-rounded Forest Warden Apprentice, likeable, no non-sense centauress. Somebody I could totally root for! And then the book breaks your heart!.... it is really a good thing I got Book 2. And I love the fact that I got to re-visit old, well-loved characters from the previous trilogy, i.e., Ancaladar!

Overall I would give this book a 4 out of 5. Can't give it a 5 since it ended with a cliffhanger.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 3
Ending = 2
World building = 3.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 4

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries


Other Books In This Series: