The Phoenix Transformed (The Enduring Flame)
Product Type: Book
Product Price: $8.99
Manufacturer: Tor Fantasy
Purchase
Description
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 finds that she 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.
Reviews
Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-08-17
Summary: "Far too long..."
I agree with the prior 4 or 5 reviewers who feel that this last book went on far too long. There was SO much time devoted to them walking in the desert and being attacked ad infinitum, and then the ending wrapped up quickly with little explanation for many open items.
All in all, it was a frustrating read. I was invested in it from the first 2 books of the series, but I really just wanted to skip to the end of this book.
Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-08-10
Summary: "Are we there yet?"
After thoroughly enjoying the first trilogy in this world, I looked forward to this new one. After the first book, I was intrigued but not like before. Yet I continued onward, trusting that the authors would do amazing things like in the first trilogy. Second book ends with quite the cliffhanger, leaving me more eager for the conclusion.
All I've been left with is a burning rage for the time I wasted on these books. The final book in this trilogy was slow, drawn out, and the plot wandered more than the people in the desert did. It was as if the authors just wanted this really awesome ending but knew they had to fill up the pages with something in order to make it a thick book.
If I had wanted to read about people wandering aimlessly in the desert, I would have read the Bible, thank you.
I'm all for character development and such, but the authors broke the number one rule in writing: Show, don't tell. The only time the story picked up any pace was when characters from Harrier's and Tyr's past show up on the scene. But then it's back to more wandering about and when they finally do reach some random destination, they end up having to go all the way back to where they started this particular journey.
The only reason I ever finished reading this book was because I had already invested so much time into it that I just had to finish it. Never did I feel like I had to turn the page to find out what happened - it was more like a chore than a pleasure. The very end of the book was alright but by this point I was so mad at the authors that I just didn't care much for it. Alright, yay, there's a new magic in the world, big deal.
Suffice it to say, I would never recommend this trilogy to anyone. I would suggest War and Peace before this crap. Yet I will sing the praises of the first trilogy any time. Go reread the Obsidian Trilogy instead of spending money on this.
Rating: 2 / 5
Date: 2010-07-15
Summary: "How fun is a 500 page journey across the desert? Not very."
I really enjoyed the first two books- picking them up without having read the Obsidian trilogy, and I fell in love with the story which showed real promise and potential to be a great epic. The second book lagged a little bit insofar as character development went, but I figured "hey, it's the second book in the trilogy, it's obviously going to get better!"
Unfortunately that's not what happened. What we got was Harrier being gruff and grudgingly accepting of responsibility, Tiercel endlessly complaining, no Ancaladar until the last few pages, an uninspired evil villain, and endless desert trekking.
To be completely honest, reading about a group of desert nomads who struggle across an unforgiving desert could be interesting- but not for 500 pages where the 'trials and tribulations' are wash, rinse, and repeat. The group of adventurers are plagued by a series of the awakened demon Ahirain's minions. Over. And over. And over again, with little to no variation in battle sequences.
There was also no progression on the villain's side! The great demon Ahirain wanted to bring back the endarkened, that is what had been hinted at in the first two books and would certainly have made for some really awesome plot. But all she does is make ugly versions of desert animals and dead people and send them to attack our protagonists in order to impress some remnant of an ancient civilization. Very scary.
Whenever the book actually showed promise- IE Servasse taking Bisochim and Tiercel to the Elf lands to get help, which could have opened up new ideas and subsequent plot derivations- Not to mention a much desired break from the desert! But no. Servasse gets her wing eaten and so they have to go back to the main group. After much journeying, they finally get to where they were going, and they then decide it's time to go all the way back to where they started! What a plot twist right? I wanted to throw the book at the authors. The only reason I 'liked' this book was because of the ending. If the rest of the book had been written like the last 50 pages, it would've been great.
Check it out from the Library if you want some closure to the series, but don't buy it- you may as well read the first 100 pages and skip over to the last 50. You wouldn't miss much.
Rating: 2 / 5
Date: 2010-05-17
Summary: "Disappointing"
I was very disappointed in this whole series. I never did get "close" to Tiercel and Harrier. I wanted to, but Harrier was too grouchy and Tiercel too wimpy. I hated that they didn't bring Ancaladar back until the end. And I know I will get a lot of flack, but their total disregard of the animals in the book really turned me off. I just read the part where he burned the shotar, but it died before it hit the open ground? I found it disturbing. I know it's a book, but... I, too, wish she would have just stayed with Kellen and kept their characters going.
Rating: 2 / 5
Date: 2010-04-25
Summary: "It's ok, but overall I was disappointed."
I'm a huge fan of the first series, the Obsidian Trilogy, but this entire trilogy seemed weak, and this last book was a definite letdown. It seemed smaller than an epic should be, if you know what I mean, plus it was incredibly depressing. I thought the first book was good, but by the time Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory got to this third book, it seemed as if they didn't know where to go with the plot. Also, the characterization in this book seemed one-dimensional; no one coming into this trilogy for the first time would understand why you would care what happens to the heroes. Save your money, and re-read the Obsidian Trilogy.