The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame | Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory |...

The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame | Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory | Very good but not great

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The Phoenix Endang...

	The Phoenix Endangered: Book Two of The Enduring Flame Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory Tor Books, 2008 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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In The Phoenix Endangered, second in The Enduring Flame, Tiercel, a budding High Mage, and Harrier, a reluctant Knight-Mage, develop greater power?and learn of the evils of war when they see the devastation caused by the fanatical armies of the Wild Mage Bisochim.

The desert tribespeople led by young Shaiara flee Bisochim?s evil, seeking a legendary oasis deep in the desert?a refuge that may hold the key to stopping Bisochim and preserving the Balance between Light and Darkness . . . or that may be the cause of Light?s ultimate downfall.

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enchanting quest fantasy

No one in the Nine Cities for almost one millennium cast a High Magick spell until Tiercel Rolfort did it in the Moonturn of Flowering (see THE PHOENIX UNCHAINED). Stunned by his undesired by him accomplishment, the apparent Knight-Mage has begun "seeing" a beautiful frightening Fire Woman emerging from a fiery lake. The vision scares him so he seeks help from a mage, but none have been seen in civilization since the end of the Endarkened; he goes into the wilderness to find a Wild Mage.

However, the two teens and their non-human companions learn of the Wild Mage Bisochim Bluerobe, who they would like to discuss Tiercel's situation with. However, the Wild Mage is the out of control general of an army of deadly desert warriors destroying anyone in their path. Nomad leader Shaiara leads her people on a risky venture to find the mythical oasis Abadshar, where legend states alien technology exists that will battle the darkness led by Bisochim.

Though very similar in its coming of age tone as the first Enduring Flame tale, young adult readers will enjoy the action-packed THE PHOENIX ENDANGERED. The exploits of the teen heroes (including youthful Shaiara) and their camaraderie especially the bantering and teasing are fun to follow. Additionally, the two male buddies learn the destructive nature of unchecked or balanced power abused by witnessing the collateral damage of war and the impact of explicit and even implied bigotry. Not quite as refreshing as THE PHOENIX UNCHAINED, the second tale remains a save the people of the Light enchanting quest fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

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Very good but not great

I loved the first trilogy and I'm enjoying this one, but there are still areas that fall just a little short for me. The descriptions of learning and training to be a Knight-Mage in the first trilogy were so well done and the same things here fall just a little flat. While our heroes are young men raised in a comfortable society, their reluctance and horror at inflicting pain and death on the people trying to kill them and other innocents seems way too touchy-feely. I don't expect them to revel in the gore and death, but surely they can see the justness of their cause and take some pride in putting themselves in harm's way in defense of the Light. This is a fantasy book with Light and Dark after all.

That said, I anxiously await the next book.

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