Welcome! Thanks for sticking around. As I am sure you are familiar with by now, this is my review of the third and final book in the Last Herald Mage series, Magic’s Price. Well we’re rapidly approaching the end of the series, and the plot is finally starting to wrap up. I think you’ll be pleased with the ending, I know I was. If you cried at all in the first book, expect this to be something of an emotional roller coaster ride. The plot twists are just beginning! You’re in for a treat, especially with the heartbreaking but beautiful ending.

We start with Vanyel busy as always, he and the other Herald Mages are creating a magical barrier around the nation of Valdemar. King Randale is still declining in health, and Vanyel takes over many of the responsibilities of the crown whilst the Prince is trained. You’ll be introduced to Stefan in Magic’s Price, a young Bard who falls in love with Vanyel. (Give him a chance! You’ll end up liking the character.) But can anything ever be as simple or as easy as it may seem? On top of all of this, mysterious deaths and ambushes abound. Karse, an old enemy of Valdemar, is about to declare Holy War. Herald Mage’s are dying in supposed accidents all over the Kingdom, and things are really starting to heat up.

But don’t think it is all about the plot. Lackey’s greatest strength will forever be her characters, and I can say I was all but outright sobbing towards the end of the book. Vanyel is one of those great characters you will remember, because he is HUMAN. He is so incredibly easy to connect to. You understand why he builds up walls, and at times want to hit him, he makes mistakes and learns from them. He does stupid things and he tries so hard to be ruled by his head, by logic, but can never quite manage to distance himself. Vanyel at the end is a being of emotion, of his heart. That is why we love him, why we get drawn in. As I’m sure you expect by now, you’ll see more Vanyel confusion and reluctance, doubt and fear, and of course plenty of hurt and pain. But he does his best despite all of that; isn’t that what it means to be human?

This is in my opinion the best of the three. It is a perfect blend of plot and action, along side the romance and character building. It still has its flaws. By now you’ll be well used to Lackey’s writing style, and the occasional “Wait, did she seriously write that?” moments. “Timely” villains, in the sense they only show up when required by the plot and then vanish when Vanyel needs time to rest and heal. But overall.. the plot wraps up nicely, the characters get to some degree satisfying endings and it doesn’t feel like there are any plot holes left to patch up.

Well worth the read if you enjoyed the first two books to even the slightest degree. Just bring a box of tissue, and avoid wincing at some of the obvious writing flaws.