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This is the 3rd book finishing off this trilogy. I thought the first book was great, I didn't care so much for the second book and this one is better than the second and not as good as the first, I thought. It started out really well, but the ending was not what I wanted.

As far as I can tell, this is the first book series that has a gay man as the protagonist in a fantasy world, at least in Western literature. This was written in 1990. Vanyel finally finds a soulmate again and he is no longer alone. The love story starts out very sweet and well done. Mercedes doesn't go into details about anything having to do with the bedroom. That's all off page. She barely even says they kiss at times, so it's very squeaky clean.

Stefan is a young Bard with a large talent at singing. He is the first Bard that can use his gift to stop people being in pain. So, he is helping out the kind who has a mysterious illness that causes him to be in constant pain. Vanyel has his shields up and doesn't want to bring someone into his dangerous world and make them a target, so he does his best to keep Stefan as a friend only. Stefan has to work hard to get to Vanyel's heart and through all those shields.

In this book, we also go back to Vanyel's home and see how Van's father has changed - he invited Stefan to come along and meet the family.

The first 2/3s of the book are fantastic and I love the story. It's a great love story.

I want to speak on the end.





SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!










So, the ending is a downer. Why? Mercedes is breaking ground here giving us a gay male lead and why does it need to end in death? The Chinese would approve. If you have a boys love story over they, it has to end badly to pass censorship, because gay people can't be seen as being happy and healthy.

I really am upset about the ending. Is it really a bad ending. No, it's done well, but damnit... Why can't we have a happy ending. That's the more difficult ending in reality anyway, then the characters have to get along and live life.

Plus, Van had such a lonely and difficult life and all he gets is a heroic death - really. Plus, he's the last Herald-Mage and now, there is no one to train up the next generation. It's so very sad. I really hate the ending. I know this takes place in the wider Valdemer world and I haven't read the rest and so maybe it fits in with her overall story, but it sucks right here. I wanted to really love this story, but the ending lost a whole star for me.

Oh well. I'm still glad I read this one. I'll be looking for more good books in 2023. Happy New Year.