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The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian…
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The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy, 1) (original 2003; edition 2003)

by Mercedes Lackey

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1,936249,229 (3.87)39
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council. Then Kellen found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? Their Magic felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it. Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side. Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world full of magical beings, Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom. The one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage-turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate? Deep in Obsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And then all the world will belong to the Endarkened.… (more)
Member:acaruthers
Title:The Outstretched Shadow (The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy, 1)
Authors:Mercedes Lackey
Info:Tor Books (2003), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 608 pages
Collections:Your library
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The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey (2003)

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» See also 39 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 24 (next | show all)
Not sure how this got on my list. Even for Lackey I'm not going to slog through 7oo pp of magick, and then have two more books in a trilogy to get through. I did try a few pages, and gosh is it wordy & repetitive. Moving along, August 2021.
  Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Oct 18, 2024 |
There is nothing I love more than a long, winding fantasy tale that gives the characters room to develop. This is the first series I have read my Mercedes Lackey and has thoroughly convinced me to read everything she has ever written. If you are accustomed to reading short books or lack patience, this series is not for you. But if you love a good trilogy wit books similar in length to the works of Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind, you will not regret picking them up. Magics, races and ideas found throughout a lot of fantasy books are reinterpreted in a way that does not seem tropey and the characters are endearing and entertaining. ( )
  Dreamlonging | Jan 5, 2024 |
A nice and simple epic fantasy story. It felt a bit like a simplified and sedate LotR, with many different types of creatures, a few people staying behind, others travelling to an evil place, elves, etc. Typical Mercedes Lackey with the pace and the coming-of-age, young-person-learns-about-own-powers theme. What I'm not used to from her is that the writing was at times decidedly clumsy. I've seen several instances of repetition of words within a sentence, or even repetition of whole sentences. It was not so often that it ruined the book, but it was really noticeable. Overall, it was nice, but it could have done with a few less pages. I'm all for describing every day life in a fantasy world, but I think she took it a bit too far this time. ( )
  zjakkelien | Jan 2, 2024 |
Two authors and neither of them know English? Maybe I accidentally got my hands on a first draft. (My favorite example of Where Is The Editor is Kellen "mutinously" doing exactly what he's told.) ( )
  brutalstirfry | May 6, 2022 |
Authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory create a wealth of cultures in the world of this trilogy, and the first book, The Outstretched Shadow, has a pleasing sense of fully developed magic, logical consequences, and surprising characters. I’ve not read any of the authors’ books before, but I was quickly hooked on this series, enjoying the story progression of the first book (which could easily be two books), and particularly enjoying the sense of an ending (in the individual book) that leaves the reader both satisfied and eager for more.

The world-building is fascinating, the characters are appealingly flawed, and the threat is… well, overwhelming and definitely dark. But there’s natural humor and intriguing food for thought, including a nicely drawn out sense of religion and religious questions. Even the unicorn makes sense! Highly recommended.

Disclosure: I’m hooked! ( )
  SheilaDeeth | Dec 9, 2019 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Mercedes Lackeyprimary authorall editionscalculated
Mallory, Jamesmain authorall editionsconfirmed
Lockwood,ToddCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages, protected and guided the citizens of the Golden City of the Bells. Young Mages in training-all men, for women were unfit to practice magic-memorized the intricate details of High Magic and aspired to seats on the council. Then Kellen found the forbidden Books of Wild Magic-or did they find him? Their Magic felt like a living thing, guided by the hearts and minds of those who practiced it and benefited from it. Questioning everything he has known, Kellen discovers too many of the City's dark secrets. Banished, with the Outlaw Hunt on his heels, Kellen invokes Wild Magic-and finds himself running for his life with a unicorn at his side. Rescued by a unicorn, healed by a female Wild Mage who knows more about Kellen than anyone outside the City should, meeting Elven royalty and Elven warriors, and plunged into a world full of magical beings, Kellen both revels in and fears his new freedom. The one thing all the Mages of the City agreed on was that practicing Wild Magic corrupted a Mage-turned him into a Demon. Would that be Kellen's fate? Deep in Obsidian Mountain, the Demons are waiting. Since their defeat in the last great War, they've been biding their time, sowing the seeds of distrust and discontent between their human and Elven enemies. Very soon now, when the Demons rise to make war, there will be no alliance between High and Wild Magic to stand against them. And then all the world will belong to the Endarkened.

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