Owlflight Book

A long-time Mercedes Lackey fan, I have enthusiastically read everything she's ever published that takes place in Valdemar. Usually, I will read the trilogies as a set, but I did not ever make it a goal to read them in chronological order according to Valdemar's timeline. While I love stories of Companions and Heralds, the "Owl" trilogy that focuses on the Tayledras, or Hawkbrothers, really captured my attention and imagination.

I remember being drawn to the essence of community and whole-mindedness of the Tayledras way of life, and I would gladly move into a Vale if offered the opportunity. I enjoyed the varied creatures that were featured in this series: the deer-like dyheli, the lizard-like hertasi, Bondbirds and Kelvren the Gryphon.

Rarely to I re-read a book, but after finishing a batch of library books and while waiting for the next batch to be ready for pick-up, I knew it was the right time to re-read Lackey's Owl trilogy... and I'm delighted to say that this story still captures my attention and imagination.

I can see why some people might think that Owlflight starts a bit slow, but I think one of Lackey's strong suits is that she really works at creating flawed characters that can grow (and grow up) with you over the course of a trilogy of books. Often, when "listening" to Darian fight with expressing/suppressing his emotions, talking to himself, I caught myself thinking how real the whole scenario was. Sure, he was a little boastful one minute, unsure the next, then petulant -- but what kid isn't?! I had to admire a writer that doesn't try to make a caricature of a hero from a child character, but who takes a very real, honest child and reveals to him -- throughout the journey -- that he has what it takes inside to become a real hero within and without.

"Half of being clever is making certain you are not being stupid." Shin'a'in proverb