The Outstretched Shadow

The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 1

By: Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2003 Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory (P)2010 Tantor

An interesting book on sword and sorcery.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The authors have put together a well thought out world and many of the characters are above par.

Would you be willing to try another book from Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory ? Why or why not?

Yes. I was a little worried at the start and getting into the middle of this 1st book but it did pick up a little. The Narrator was noticeably too slow but thank the heavens that the Audible App on my Android phone has a setting to play it at 1.25x speed. This is one thing I wish my Kindle did and I'd have to warn someone who had a Kindle.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Susan Ericksen?

I am listening to the 2nd book in this series by her.

Any additional comments?

To casual fantasy readers you might not like the 1st book much. Kellen does a lot of, well....whining regarding his self doubt, inability to do this or that, and almost anything he can doubt himself about. Its mostly inner-monologue but that doesn't make it any better or any easier to listen to. His self-confidence is horrible.
The World in general that the authors have created has awesome potential. Already in the 2nd half of this book you start to see it and it gets better in the 2nd book. I hope the authors keep on this tangent but I've only listened to this 1st book in the series and now am in the middle of the 2nd.

Well Thought Out World

This is a fairly detailed and fairly unique magical world. There are some minor underlying flaws in it, but they are not readily noticeable. Overall it a fun thought provoking read.

Recommended

Very interesting world. Enjoyed listening to story. Story took very surprising twists. Reader kept story moving nicely.

Nice story

Worth the credit I spent and I will keep listening to the trilogy to see what happens next. my only gripe is that the main male character can be really whiny but he is a 17 year old boy, so I suppose that's to be expected?

liked everything about it

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes....tacks you away and the characters are beleavable

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chalkin the unicorn...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes and did my best to do it

Any additional comments?

I listened to all three back to back i couldn't get enough....

fun, exciting, new twist to magic

The book is as interesting as it is long! It is fun and gives a new twist to the world of magic that is refreshing.

A masterpiece that makes this world fade away...

This is an astounding series by Mercedes Lackey. It is a coming of age story about a young man, Kellen, that doesn't quite fit in with the people of his home city. His father is harsh and demanding wanting only the best for...who? His son? Himself? With his father being Arch Mage of the city the expectations for Kellen are high. He should be taking over for his father one day. That is the plan, anyway, at least until the three books of forbidden wild magic come into his possession. The books of wild magic can get him banished from the city, or worse if he is caught with them! Are their dark powers too alluring for Kellen to resist? You'll have to read to find out.

One of the best series I have ever read. Truly Epic.

DW

Long, but enjoyable

I have read this book (and the rest of the series) several times since buying them in paperback a few years ago. The audio version highlighted a few flaws, such as the overly-long descriptions (especially of the various antagonists) and the very slow first half of the book. Susan Ericksen, however, is a fantastic narrator, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening. Kellen is presented as a youth who is dissatisfied with his life. Although he could easily have grown up as a spoiled brat, he thinks about the people around him and is indignant on their behalf as he learns about various ways in which the high mages take advantage of them.

One reviewer claims that Kellen acts like a 10-13 year old. I have two teenage boys, and I can only wish they showed the kind of concern for others I see in this character. Yes, he has doubts, but I don't see any evidence of the whining some others complain of. In fact, being handed one shock after another, being uprooted and having to make major adjustments in his life, he deals with it quite well for the most part.

The biggest problem with this book is the amount of repetition. Especially when Kellen is musing over a problem, injustice, or puzzle, the same questions and observations are repeated way too many times. It's almost like the authors are concerned the reader will forget something important, which is unfortunate.

I fully intend to get the next two books on audio. To avoid spoilers, I will only say that some of the story arcs resolve very interesting and surprising ways, and there are enough plot twists to keep the reader (or listener) guessing. Even with the occasionally too-wordy descriptions, the trilogy is carefully woven together, rich in detail, with characters that have motivations most of us can relate to.

Good Story but gory / violent at Times

Love Mercedes Lackey, but when she teams up with Mallory, there is more emphasis on torture and graphic violence. The scenes become bloody, even horrific. So don’t mistake this for fiction appropriate for young adults. Yet the story line IS young adult. The main characters are teenagers at the start of the novels, the world building is very fantastical. It’s kids fighting great evil.

The writing is good, you get pulled into the story, and interesting enough to pull you along to the next book. Just wish the horror were toned down.

can't wait for the rest of the books!

This first book has a dense and satisfying story. Well written so you know that the stories are relevant, each has its own people, tempo and purpose. And as you reach the last "act" all the stories become interwoven as you understand that without the beginnings the end would not have been possible.
I'm starting the next book now!