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See all books by Mercedes Lackey , Larry Dixon. About Mercedes Lackey Mercedes Lackey is a full-time writer and has published numerous novels and works of short fiction, including the best-selling Heralds… More about Mercedes Lackey. Inspired by Your Browsing History. Looking for More Great Reads? Download our Spring Fiction Sampler Now. LitFlash The eBooks you want at the lowest prices. Read it Forward Read it first. Unbound Worlds Exploring the science fiction and fantasy universe. Stay in Touch Sign up. We are experiencing technical difficulties.
Please try again later. Taking refuge with the Hawkbrothers, he soon finds his life's calling--as a Healing Adept. But even as he learns the mystical ways of this ancient race, Darian cannot escape the dangers threatening his future.
Owlsight (The Owl Mage Trilogy Book 2) and millions of other books are available for instant access. Owlsight: Book Two of Darian's Tale (The Owl Mage Trilogy) Mass Market Paperback – October 1, This item:Owlsight: Book Two of Darian's Tale (The Owl Mage Trilogy) by. Owlsight has ratings and reviews. Andrea said: Lackey is one of my favorite authors ever! I started reading her Valdemar series in 8th grade bu.
Another tribe of barbarians is approaching. The time has come Paperback , pages. Published October 1st by DAW first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Owlsight , please sign up. Lists with This Book. Jan 28, Andrea rated it it was ok Shelves: Lackey is one of my favorite authors ever!
I started reading her Valdemar series in 8th grade but I will still pull out her books to reread them. I also love her work so much that I never miss the chance to buy her new stuff. This whole series just fell flat for me and although, as always her characters were great, the whole work just felt a bit formulaic. Mar 08, Jessica rated it it was ok. While in many ways an enjoyable sequel to Owlflight, Owlsight is afflicted by awkward pacing and is weighed down by plodding descriptions of day-to-day activities.
Like the first book in the series, it makes its slow and winding way to the last eighty pages or so, then rushes to an unsatisfying, too tidy ending. All that saves the novel is its central characters. On a side note, this book is a good though surely unintentional reminder of the value of careful copy editing.
It is riddled with distracting errors. Dec 26, Jeremy Preacher rated it liked it Shelves: Owlsight is definitely more solid than Owlflight - less drama, more interesting worldbuilding without the tedious flashback-driven backstory.
We get a cameo by Kerowyn, and really awkwardly-placed references to the rest of the main Mage Storms characters, which is nice but clumsy, and otherwise it's just a fairly solid YA adventure. My main gripe with this series is the bizarre-in-context patriarchal assumptions.
In a country where there is no sexism at all in the ruling class, it's jarringly out Owlsight is definitely more solid than Owlflight - less drama, more interesting worldbuilding without the tedious flashback-driven backstory. In a country where there is no sexism at all in the ruling class, it's jarringly out-of-place to have a village where the women cook, clean, and gossip and the men run the place with no comment at all about how that's a little odd.
Valdemar was set up from the beginning as an egalitarian society, and I really dislike that those principles seem to be ignored here in favor of a dreadfully stereotypical European rural village setup. It makes for better contrast with the Hawkbrothers, I suppose, but that contrast is never actually remarked upon, and I find it tooth-grindingly irritating. Jan 24, Olga Godim rated it liked it Shelves: I liked the characters, and the writing was good.
I also liked the absence of the 'saving the world' trope, just a danger to one small village the heroes do their best to avert. Jul 13, Veronica rated it liked it. A many-times reread, and a much more solid reading experience than the first book. Part of that is sentiment -- this was one of my favorite books as a teen, and I think the first Valdemar book I ever read -- but it's still enjoyable even now. Jun 09, Bibliotropic added it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here. While the previous book in this trilogy, Owlflight, centered almost completely around Darian and his adoption by the Tayledras, this book splits its time evenly between Darian now a few years older and a good bit more mature than we last saw him and Keisha, the resident Healer of Errold's Grove. While both viewpoints are interesting and allow us to get a much more complete feel of the situation than before maturity can do that to a person , it was Keisha'sections of the story that primarily i While the previous book in this trilogy, Owlflight, centered almost completely around Darian and his adoption by the Tayledras, this book splits its time evenly between Darian now a few years older and a good bit more mature than we last saw him and Keisha, the resident Healer of Errold's Grove.
While both viewpoints are interesting and allow us to get a much more complete feel of the situation than before maturity can do that to a person , it was Keisha'sections of the story that primarily interested me. Darian's stuff was interesting, to be certain, but until Darian actually meets Keisha and the two stories start to twine together, his point of view mostly consisted of life in the Vale. Keisha's sections of the story, however, were told from the perspective of somebody who is increasingly self-reliant, talented, and trying to find her place in the world, all while being hampered by an overprotective family and only a sketchy idea of a big part of her own vocation.
Being empathic, she's removing herself little by little from society while still trying to be nearby to help tend the hurts and illnesses of an entire village. It's easy to feel both empathy and sympathy for her.
Let's face it; how many outcasts feel like they've been in a very smilar situation? Keisha was clearly meant to be this book's misfit. Previously it was Darian, but since he went off with the Hawkbrothers and grew up some, he could no longer fill that role. Like many Lackey novels, this book takes a long time to get going, with a great deal of build-up, character development, repetition, and characters just generally living life.
Until the halfway point comes, and the big threat is introduced, and then there's more build-up until the final confrontation shortly before the end. I'm not saying this is good storytelling, as a general rule, but Lackey has this knack of making it work. You get so caught up in the characters that very often you don't realize that nothing exiting is happening, because one person's life is already interesting enough.
I think this method works for her because she tends to write about extraordinary people. Doing a story this way when your main characters are farmhands would have people putting the book down very quickly. But when you've got stories about Heralds, Healers, Bards, mythical cultures coming out of the woods, then you can afford to get away with slow build-ups because even the every-day lives of these people are worth talking about. As such, this isn't a book that's heavy on the action. Even less so than many of the Valdemar novels, really.
The big threat at the end turns out not to be another invading army of barbarians but a disease. Certainly one that's threatning, and very dangerous if it spreads from the northern trbes into Valdemar, but the final conflict is between Keisha and the disease raging inside a young boy's body, with her sister Chosen to be a Herald in the opening scenes of the novel, and quite amusingly so! It was an interesting twist, because as much as he moment was tense and filled with energy and emotion, it was relatively action-free. No big physical battle, no death or blood or anything of the sort.
Also, I confess to a moment of fangirlish squee when Firesong is brought into the picture. I don't know what it is about him and Vanyel, but whenever either of those two are on the pages, it's like my ears perk up and I have to keep reading. They're both wonderful characters, and they add a wonderful touch of humour and depth to any story they're placed in, and so Firesong's appearance was definitely welcome.
This story is a fantastic continuation to the initial coming-of-age story told in the previous book of the trilogy. Seeing Darian's maturity and sense of self-worth and place in the world was a good follow-up to is earlier struggle, and Keisha's similar-but-different struggle was an echo of what so many of us have gone through in our lives that it was hard not to relate to them in some way. Between that aspect and the increasing exploration of Tayledras culture, this book is one that I, at least, really enjoyed reading and will probably always have a place on my bookshelves. Book two in the Owl series, and we get introduced to some of the characters other than Darian and Snowfire that make this series so great.
Keisha and Shandi are two of my favorites, and Keisha and her struggled with her gift I absolutely adored the first time around. Add to that all the usual Hawkbrothers and I adored this series, both as a teenager and now. I can't wait to get into book three and read again about what happens with Darian and Keisha. Mar 10, Chuck rated it liked it. Number 25 in the quest to read books in a year. This is the second book in the "Owl" trilogy, which has also been rebranded as "Darain's Tale.
Darian is now a young adult and has been fully adopted into the Tayledras or Hawkbrother clan; he has been undergoing training both as a warrior and as a mage. He has found a home. More interesting is the introduction of Keisha, who, following the death of Justyn in the first book in the tri Number 25 in the quest to read books in a year. More interesting is the introduction of Keisha, who, following the death of Justyn in the first book in the trilogy has reluctantly taken on the duties of Healer of Errold's Grove. She is the older sister of the beautiful Shandi, whom every young man in the village desires.
She is in many ways in this novel a more interesting character than Darian; it is she who is struggling with how to make her way in the world. Her tale is what, I think, makes Lackey most worth reading. She is a relatively ordinary young woman living in a rather ordinary world. Her family is niether distinguished nor bad--they are simply doing the best they can to lead the life they have been given and to do right by their children.
And yet to Keisha, the life is both stifling and confining--she has a strong sense of duty both to Errold's Grove and to her calling as a Healer, and yet she feels a bit confined both by a family that can't see her as an adult and a village that has "typed" her as "the Healer" or as "Shandi's Sister. And these struggles give Lackey's work the immediacy of believable, well written "contemporary" fiction. It's also nice to stay in her "World" of Valdemar while at the same time taking a break from the Collegium, from Haven the capital city , and the Heralds.
Like reading a nicely written regional novel after having read a bunch of urban fiction. In some ways, this "believablity" of characters and situation gives her work immediacy that. I have to meditate on that. She also brings back one of her great characters, Kerowyn. Oct 24, Jessica Manalo rated it it was amazing. Dive into a story of love, conquest, and magic with the book, "Owlsight", a fiction story by Mercedes Lackey. The amazing plot drew me in like a fish to water. Additionally, this story puts you into the main character's perspective. A healer with no idea how to use her gift magic to heal, named Keisha Alder and a young mage and apprentice to a deceased magician finding his way in life, named Darian.
Darian has been training to become a healing adept with the mysterious Hawkbrothers who took him i Dive into a story of love, conquest, and magic with the book, "Owlsight", a fiction story by Mercedes Lackey. Darian has been training to become a healing adept with the mysterious Hawkbrothers who took him in. Keisha is a home taught healer, trying to learn how to use her inborn gift. Furthermore this young woman has devoted herself to helping and caring for the villagers of her home.
With the inability, though, to shield and her lack of training, she is having trouble bearing with the strains of her life. With the barbarians approaching how will these two characters find a way to protect their home and maybe find love? I found these two characters engaging and able to relate too.
I also enjoyed how these two became closer to each other through their work and those they love. Mercedes lackey has done an amazing job pulling me in as a reader. She keeps the story flowing and the reader on the edge of their seats. This is an amazing story for those who want an adventure and a tale of love and protection as well as strength. Dec 08, Susan rated it it was amazing. The 2nd book of the Owl Keisha Alder is introduced in this book - she has a Healing Gift, but is having trouble learning how to use it from reading books.
Her Healer's empathy is driving her nuts living at home with several large noisy brothers, and a somewhat clingy mother. When her sister is Chosen and leaves, their mother's hysterics nearly drive her crazy, and she realizes she must move out of the house. She is using Justyn and The 2nd book of the Owl She is using Justyn and Darian's old cottage as her workshop, so she moves in there and presents her mother with a fait accompli. When Darian and the Tayledras return to the new Vale created near Errold's Grove, she gets involved with them and they help her learn to use her Gift. When another group of barbarians" appear, people panic - but the new group includes women, children, and sick people, so they decide to help instead.
They learn that the group is called the Ghost Cat clan, and they are not like the last lot of barbarians who plundered Darian's home village. Keisha and Darian form a secret plan to get a sick child to help and also to discover the cause of the illness. Captain Kerowyn is furious with them, but their ploy works with the help of the Ghost Cat clan's totem. This book is even better than the first one, and has a lot less teenage angst - Darian is growing up, and Keisha is very sensible, although she does tend to brood a bit.
I enjoy this book every time I read it. Aug 18, agatha rated it really liked it. Lackey's novels are, to me, the reading equivalent of a delicious snack. They're easy to read, they have some fun characters, and there's magic, talking sort of horses, adventures, heroes, and trained birds. I take them out regularly for re-reads. The Owl Mage trilogy is interesting because it steps outside Valdemar, although I think it's one of the les Lackey's novels are, to me, the reading equivalent of a delicious snack.
The Owl Mage trilogy is interesting because it steps outside Valdemar, although I think it's one of the lesser "outside Valdemar" stories - of the three, Owlsight ranks 1 for me. I quite like Keisha's story and, quite honestly, I usually end up more interested in her bits of the story than in Darian's! It's also better at providing some context as to the state of the world in that area post-mage storms. May 26, Judy Hall rated it really liked it Shelves: While Darien has been traveling with the Hawkbrothers and learning to become a Healer Adept for the past four years, Keisha has taken over the healing in the village.
She has no formal training, but she is good and the Hawkbrothers have also watched over her when it comes to herbal remedies. Just as Darien is settling in to his new family's Vale, word comes that another set of barbarians are following the same path as the ones that killed Justin and brought Darien to the Hawkbrothers. It's decid While Darien has been traveling with the Hawkbrothers and learning to become a Healer Adept for the past four years, Keisha has taken over the healing in the village.
It's decided that Darien and those that will help him must return to start their new Vale earlier than expected. I love the young man Darien has become and I love Keisha. They are great characters. Even more so than the first book, the village is a character in the story as the two deal with the various people and the expectations put on them. This was just a great book. Dec 27, Meg Watts rated it really liked it. In this book, Keisha and Darian each come of age and finds their places. I don't usually read coming-of-age YA type stories, but I find myself often making an exception if it's a Mercy Lackey book.
The world building here is lush, almost too much so at times hence the 4 stars rather than 5 , the settings and peoples vivid and enchanting.
New friends, new enemies, new magic. Aug 06, Michael rated it really liked it. A great addition to the series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters from the first book better. I also enjoyed meeting and getting to know the new characters. I look forward to reading the next book. Summer Sickness had them travel far from home to look for healer's. Saved the Leaders youngest child and became heroes. Jun 27, Blake rated it it was ok. What a let down. Nov 03, Kat Hooper rated it liked it.
Mar 26, Alicia rated it liked it. Pleasant read, but not gripping or particularly noteworthy. Mercedes Lackey, fantasy at its finest Enter the land of Valdemar, where magic is real, horses talk, and gods walk among us. You won't be disappointed. Jan 28, Jacob rated it liked it. Great characters and story.
Such a rich world. This book was a pleasure to read. He also enjoys getting to know the young people of the Vale in at least one case, rather intimately.
But his thoughts are on the future: Darian is eighteen now, responsible, competent, kind, and confident without being arrogant. Keisha Alder, on the other hand, is still struggling to achieve her independence. She increasingly craves solitude and quiet, but both are hard to come by at home. Despite her age, her parents still see her as their child, and her four brothers are large and generally noisy. Many of her feelings will be familiar to anyone who is or has been an adolescent, which makes her the more relatable of the two main characters.
I really like her, with her practicality, her sense of humor, her caring heart, and her strong-mindedness. That brings Keisha and Darian together, though not in the romantic sense. It also gives Keisha relief in the form of a Healer who can teach her to use her Gift rather than be used by it. This group, though, is bringing women and children, making their purpose — invasion or immigration — much less clear.
The tension swiftly rises to a climax that requires the skills and quick thinking of both Keisha and Darian to resolve.