Winds of Fate

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Title: Winds of Fate
Series: Mage Winds (book1)
Number of Pages: 385
Publication Date: 1991
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis: "Elspeth, future queen of Valdemar, and her long-term friend, teacher, and fellow Herald, Skif, set out to locate a mage who will either train her or return with them to protect their home."

Winds of Fate1 was beyond awesome. Mercedes Lackey2 did a wonderful job creating an interesting story, set in its own little world full a magic, with an interesting cast characters chock full of flaws.
I liked the Heralds (Elspeth and Skif) and their Companions (Gwena and Cymery3), but I think my favorite group of people in the book would have to be the Tayledras4; they're just really cool; while the Heralds have their Companions the Hawkbrothers have Bondbirds which are bigger and smarter than your average bird. Fave non humans, the gryphons5 Treyvan and Hydona.
Another thing that I liked about Winds of Fate was that the main villain in the book was a truly despicable guy, who altered his appearance to where he no longer resembled a human and that he was absolutely messed up and all sorts of crazy.
My least favorite part would have to have been the character Skif at certain points in the story, especially when he thought himself to be in love with Elspeth.
Although the story slowed down a bit when Elspeth and Skif where traveling in search of mages to take back to Valdemar. Other than that, Winds of Fate is a quick read that I would recommend to those who like a good fantasy read.
I enjoyed Winds of Fate so much that I went and picked up Winds of Change today when I went to the library (again6).

Winds of Fate earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.

Orchid7

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1. Winds of Fate was one of my latest library finds.

2. I'd definitely rank Mercedes Lackey as one of my favorite author.

3. which are spirits that kind of look like horses. It's hard to explain them

4. who kind of remind me of elves.

5. The gryphons remind me another one of my favorite books/authors; The Darklord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones.

6. I think their starting to recognize me there.

7. I hope Zombie Girrrl doesn't mind that I put footnotes in this post.