【 THE WHITE GRYPHON 】

book #2 in the Mage Wars series
book #2 in the chronological order of the Valdemar universe

Genre: Fantasy [high fantasy]
Audience: Adult
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Published: April 1995
Publisher: DAW
Pages: 305 (hardback)

This series continues to please and be exciting! I am reading the Valdemar books mostly blind. I have no expectations and so no idea what to expect. It really surprised me that there was a 10-year gap between The Black Gryphon and The White Gryphon, however.

This being book two of the series, I thought we would mostly follow the war that we’re introduced to in book one. But the ending/resolution of book one really is (unless I’m in for a big surprise) the conclusion to that particular conflict. So, 10 years on, we find ourselves seeing what the characters have got up to in their new settlement, ‘White Gryphon’, in their new roles.

But that wasn’t the only shock in this book. Things become much more mature in book two. It’s worth noting that this is really, really firmly within the adult genre category. The villain of this book has a particular penchant that is distasteful in the extreme (and what makes him such an excellent, abhorrent villain). But it’s along the weird, sexual line of things – so considered yourself warned.

I must say, the almost extreme line of evil that this character takes did make me pause for thought with this book. It’s such a big difference in content expectations from book one that it was slightly jarring. Especially with how tactfully and almost coyly the responsibilities of a Kestra’chern are handled in book one. But putting that side, I really enjoyed this.

There’s something super fun about the friendship between Amberdrake and Skandranon, and I loved how the characters have developed since we first met them. I loved the strong sense of a mystery in this book, and I’m really enjoying the refreshing way that while these books follow on chronologically from each other (and I would never recommend reading them out of order), they also read as complete story, start to finish. It feels so often these days that series can be convoluted and drawn out, so this was nice (and pacy)!

While the first book was all magic, war and relationships, this book is more about intelligence, plotting and parenthood. I think book one is firmly my favourite so far, but there really is just something about these books and this world that sticks with you long after you finish reading. I cannot get these characters out of my head, and I am completely obsessed with Valdemar.

I’ve already picked up book three and I can’t wait to see what adventures are in store for these characters next.

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Title: The White Gryphon
Series: Mage Wars #2
Author: Mercedes Lackey
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It has been ten years since the magical Cataclysm, which destroyed the twin strongholds of the world’s two most powerful Mages, killing Urtho, creator of the gryphons, and sending his forces into exile. Now Urtho’s peoples—human and non-human alike—live in a terraced city carved into the face of a gleaming white cliff on the edge of the Western Ocean.

Secure at least, until the fleet of the mysterious Black Kings appears in their harbor, bringing envoys who inform the residents of White Gryphon that their newfound home lies on the northern perimeter of lands claimed by this powerful kingdom. Desperate not to lose their hard won home, Skandranon, along with his longtime friend Amberdrake, agree to accompany the envoys back to the Court of the Black Kings, hoping to negotiate an alliance.

When a high ranking noble who opposes this alliance is found murdered, Skandranon and Amberdrake realize that they are up against unknown enemies who will stop at nothing, even the use of diabolical Blood Magic, to destroy White Gryphon.