Under the shimmering, silvery moonlight, a young man’s heart beats with the song of magic and a world awaiting discovery. This is the tale woven in Mercedes Lackey’s novel, Magic’s Pawn, an audiobook you’d absolutely find entrancing. It is narrated by the enthralling voice of Gregory St. John, whose timbre escorts you through the tapestry of enchantment and peril in the land of Valdemar.
Vanyel Ashkevron, the hero of our tale, is a delicate soul, born of noble lineage, but bearing the weight of immense expectations. His affections for music and art are met with scorn by his father, Lord Withen Ashkevron, who yearns for a son worthy of carrying the family’s battle-hardened legacy. To mold him into the son he desires, Lord Withen sends Vanyel to live with his stern Aunt Savil, a Herald-Mage, whose role is to guard and guide those blessed with arcane gifts.
There, in the company of his aunt, and surrounded by mystical energy, Vanyel’s own latent abilities burgeon, taking roots and burgeoning into magic of the most wondrous kind. Alongside, a bond blooms between Vanyel and another trainee, Tylendel Frelennye. Their friendship quickly evolves into something deeper, and they pledge their hearts to one another. Their love, however, faces daunting challenges; from the bitter chill of societal scorn to the sinister whisperings of forgotten magic.
As you traverse the terrain of Vanyel’s journey, you may also wish to explore other realms created by Mercedes Lackey. One such masterpiece is the novel Arrows of the Queen, the first book in the Heralds of Valdemar series. Another gem is The Fairy Godmother, which is part of The Five Hundred Kingdoms series. These tales too, will transport you to lands where valiant hearts challenge fate.
Magic’s Pawn, a tragedy wreaks havoc upon Vanyel’s world, and Tylendel’s thirst for revenge puts them both in the path of forbidding forces. Following Tylendel’s tragic demise, Vanyel’s own magic engulfs him, searing and remaking him as one of the last Herald-Mages, the defenders of Valdemar.
Onward he steps, with grief as his companion and newfound powers coursing through his veins. Figures like Yfandes, a Companion – a mystical steed with a sapient soul – join him. Together, they delve into the shadows, warding off the encroaching darkness and battling terrors in a bid to keep Valdemar safe.