The Eagle & the Nightingales

Bardic Voices, Book 3

By: Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by: Christa Lewis

Disturbed by the growing presence of the Church throughout Alanda, Nightingale fears for her non-human friends and joins forces with birdman T'fyrr in a quest to save the High King.

©1995 Mercedes Lackey (P)2022 Tantor

Primo story

Always a pleasure to read one of her books. Never read one that was disliked or regretted.

Excellent Series!

As much as I have loved this series over the years, I do believe I now have a new favorite in this most recent book. Perhaps it is because the author has referenced events in previous books wherein she built these strong characters and this tale brought all that effort together in one very enjoyable tale.

Huzzah, Mercedes Lackey! Huzzah!

Not enough words to properly review

Mercedes Lackey has been one of my favorite authors for decades and like a faithful friend I will always be prepared to hear the words she writes. I was a little disappointed in this story because I felt like this presented as more of an outline for a story vs. a stand alone novel. Because I am familiar with the previous stories I knew of the non human races mentioned and who Raven was it this is never really developed or explained. If this was the first Mercedes' Lackey book I had read I do not think I would have chosen another. She is a talented author but this book seemed to be rushed. There were parts of this story full of the richness I expect from this author heavily dosed with underdeveloped avenues/characters which left me flat and considering not finishing the book. If this is the first Mercedes Lackey book you read, please try some of her earlier books. They will not disappoint.

ok

Robotic sounding narrator made it sometimes hard to listen to. Speeding up play didn't help either.

Weak characters and story

This just doesn't compel my attention in the way that many of the Valdemar series books by this author do.

There are stretches of what amount to parades of horribles intended to raise the stakes for the protagonist. The protagonist doesn't seem to have much agency through much of the novel. The villains are rather faceless and seem to have no real personalities. And the ending seems forced and abrupt.

That said, there are some hints of a much more interesting world and story here, but those are frustratingly just hints. And there's no indication of a path to showing us that world and story.

I generally like Lackey's work quite a bit, but this book just isn't up to her usual standard.