The begining of excellence | The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1)

Just a Review | The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1) | Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

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	• The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1) Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory Tor Books, 2004 - 736 pages average customer review:based on 76 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Awesome fantasy book!

*Warning* This is a very long overview (it was an english assignment) on the book and may contain spoilers!
You should read this book, it is very good! I love it! =)

ELVES ENJOY TEA
THE OUTSTRETCHED SHADOW BY: MERCEDES LACKEY AND JAMES MALORY

Kellen grew up in the High Mage City of Armethalia with no memory of his mother or older sister, only his father Arch-Mage Lycaelon. At his father's insistence Kellen was forced to take High Magic classes for which he had no talent or drive to succeed in. Even the simplest of spells were beyond him, until one day when he found set three mysterious magic books that disguised themselves as children's story books. Upon further examination of the books Kellen discovers that they are Wild Magic books, a form of Magic that is forbidden in Armethalia. This only feeds Kellen's curiosity toward their contents and he quickly begins reading them in secret and even uses a few spells from them. For once in his life Kellen is able to work Magic and it doesn't matter that it is a forbidden form of magic that exacts an unknown price for each spell.
Kellen's father finds out that he is dabbling in this forbidden Magic and has him imprisoned. When Kellen refuses to denounce the Magic and submit to his father, he is exiled from the city and sentenced to death by The Hunt. A magical form of punishment consisting of large stone Mastiffs who's only goal is to hunt down the condemned and rend them to pieces. Kellen is given one night to escape the lands held by the High Mages until the Stone Mastiffs are released to hunt him down with a speed greater than a running horse and Kellen is on foot. Sometime during the night Kellen performs a spell to bring him help to get out of the lands of the High Mages, help comes in the form of a grumpy Unicorn called Shalkan. Shalkan runs tirelessly through the night with Kellen on his back getting more bruised and tired as the hours go by. By morning they are still not outside the lands of the High Mages and the Stone Mastiffs quickly begin to close on them. Kellen realizes that his father put all the magic he had into this Hunt to ensure Kellen's death and they are not going to make it to the border before the Mastiffs catch up with them. Kellen, with no fighting skills and Shalkan, with his magical horn end up making a stand against the powerful Stone Mastiffs. Shalkan uses his horn to de-magic them and Kellen uses a large stick to bash them to pieces. Eventually Shalkan and Kellen make it out of the High Mages' lands and to the hut of a Wild Mage named Idalia who is very good at healing.
After healing for several days Kellen discovers that Idalia is his sister who was also exiled from the High Mage City Armethalia. Kellen has no memory of her due to their father altering the memories of his childhood. Upon discovering that their father is still after them and will do anything to kill them, Kellen and Idalia along with Shalkan the Unicorn flee to the land of the Elves. A strange race with a great love for tea, the elves agree to shelter them because they know that Idalia and Kellen have Wild Magic and can help in overthrowing the Queen of Darkness. Idalia furthers Kellen's knowledge of Wild Magic and they embark on a journey to begin the task of overthrowing the Queen of Darkness. Kellen discovers more about himself, his special brand of Wild Magic, the greater world around him, and a lot about tea.
I have really enjoyed reading this book with its dry humor and diverse characters. The elves constantly stop to enjoy their tea, insisting that everyone else should enjoy it too. With a myriad of flavors of tea, the elves are a great source of amusement for me. I find myself wanting a cup of tea whenever I think about this book. Even in the middle of a battle they insist on stopping to boil water. Nothing can keep the elves from their tea. No one questions the elves and their obsession either. After all, asking questions is considered rude by this tea loving race. Rather than coming right out and asking how your day was, the elves state what they want to know in a very round about way. For instance: "It would be nice to hear about your day." would be an acceptable way to phrase one's curiosity.
Now the elves may be entertaining, but I think Shalkan the Unicorn is probably my favorite character in the book. He is a big know it all that is not afraid to tell others what he thinks of them. He is also very wise and helps teach Kellen about the world and all the monsters in it. And he has an obsession with sweets. Kellen has to be sure to bring Shalkan something sweet to keep him happy. He is not a silent Unicorn and will voice his opinion to anyone within hearing.
Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory are always coming up with new ways to amuse readers with their characters. I always enjoy a little humor thrown in with the books I read. The characters in this book provide just the right amount of humor. Whether the elves are trying to get Kellen to appreciate their tea or Shalkan is telling him off for not bringing sweets, this book is very entertaining. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.

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The begining of excellence

For all those interested in a well written, descriptive novel, this is it! But to be fair I almost gave up on it. Normally I'm the kind of person that if I can't get into a book by the third or fourth chapter, that's it and I won't touch it. The first book of the Obsidion Trilogy is Slow. It took till around a hundred and twenty pages to start thriving for more. All in all I'm really glad I did because the Authors' description of environments and characters is like putting you in the book. Compasion, Fighting, Magic, Mythical Creatures, and Epic Quests await all those who read. And Book 2 and 3 continue the story for hours of page by page enjoyment.

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Just a Review

Just as the writer in the beggining attacked the city with his book.. I wonder if it wasn't this books goal to attack our system of govt in its way of political correctness that seems to be getting ever more dominant. I've been in a unique position to see a likeness between the two but I can't say that this was an intention for the book and not my own conclusions.

I loved this book in its way of bringing a fun magical world full of all matters of neat wonderful things together in contrast with dark disturbing images of human fault and the pure intense evil of the true antagonist. Never again do I expect to read about unicorns in 1 chapter and horrific torture in the next. However, it still reads light and fun unlike some books (The Farseer Trilogy by Robbin Hobb) which are almost physically draining to read. To justify, I can't mention Hobb's work without saying that I place them high in my favorite list despite my comment. Anyway, I also must credit the laws of magic in this world in that they are very well thought out well realized. I absolutely adore the concept behind wild magic. I found the characterization to be more than apt if not completely as full as some of lackeys other works. Even the length of the book is a good thing as I consider because why would I want a 300 page book that lasts for 4 hours or so when I can have an entertaining 700 page book that will last me 2 or 3 days depending on the time invested for the same price?

I don't consider lackey my favorite writer and I don't even know the first thing about the james fellow but I could find no faults with this book. I'm quite happy I picked it up and I doubt it will never see the inside of a used book store again as some of mine do.

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favorite series

This is by far one of my favorite series. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! The characters and plot are amazing. And I love how there is always something going on - every single part of this book is just so interesting. Obviously, I would recommend it!

Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council.

Then he found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? Their Magic felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it.
Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side.

Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world full of magical beings-Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom.

The one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage. Turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate?

Deep in Obsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And then all the world will belong to the Endarkened.

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