Mercedes Reviews

..I won't write pages retelling the whole book. I just want to tell you that this is my favorite Dr. Seuss book and I have a copy that I received as a gift when I was 7 years old. My copy is over 30 years old and I have taken it in twice to read to my children's classes. My four kids love this book and their classes loved it too. A great book - buy it for your child and I'll bet that they will have the book 30 years from now and will be reading it to their kids!

Thidwick's adventure begins simply enough. He is marching along on the shores of Lake Winna-Bango, on the far northern shore, looking for moose-moss to eat with 60 other moose. A small Bingle Bug nicely asks Thidwick for a ride "for a way." Thickwick replies, "I'm happy to share!" Most of us would have said the same.

But what happens when a guest overstays her or his welcome? In Thidwick's case, his horns become a veritable zoo of wildlife. There is a Tree-Spider spinning a web, a Zinn-a-zu Bird who gets married and builds a nest, and their uncle the woodpecker who pecks holes the squirrel family inhabits. And so on it goes, to include a bobcat, turtle, fox, mice, fleas, a big bear . . . and 362 bees!

Thidwick is like the horse in Animal Farm. He's providing all of the work and benefit, and everyone is bossing him around. Why, they won't even agree to let him leave with the other moose to find more moose moss. Why is Thidwick willing to put up with this? What are the benefits of having a big heart in this situation?

How does Thidwick end up in this mess? Well, having accepted the Bingle Bug, the subsequent guests ignore Thidwick and ask the earlier guests instead if they can move in. Thidwick honors his first commitment, extends it in time and to the new inhabitants.

As a result of Thidwick's dilemma, this book provides a good opportunity to discuss sharing with your child . . . and explain the benefits and limits of sharing.

Your child will run into people who will try to take advantage. This gives you a chance to ask your child what he or she would do in Thidwick's situation.

The story's resolution is a most original and humorous one that makes good use of the mental picture of shedding your onorous burdens.

This story is illustrated by Dr. Seuss, as well as written in his best rhyming way. The drawings of the creatures in Thidwick's horns come close to matching many of Dr. Seuss's most imaginative mechanical devices. The horns of this dilemma are funnier than those devices, because this concoction is based on animals and natural processes.

The story is a pretty easy one for five to six year olds to learn to read, because many of the words are short and rhyme. The illustrations also "name" many of the nouns. The humor provides "hooks" for memorizing the words.

I also liked the idea of introducing children to the concept of treating a guest well, even if the guest does not behave well. Our society would be much improved if we all did a little more friendly hosting.

After you finish enjoying this story, ask your child if she or he knows of anyone who is like Thidwick. Ask your child what that person should do differently.

Enjoy having a big heart . . . and hosting others!

I remember this book from growing up 30 years ago. The story of a overly gracious moose and how some of his woodland 'friend' take advantage of him. It is classic Seuss with wonderful rhyme and wording. This and McElligot's Pool are now staples for our children's bedtime reading.

This is absolutely the best of the SERRAted Edge novels, and works excellently as a stand-alone as well. Great characters, great development, great surprises, great magic, great humor, great adventure, great dragons, great mages, great ending. The only thing missing was the elves! AND--this is a miracle for contemporary (or even not-so-contemporary) fantasy--there are no overdone gratuitous sex scenes! The entire book is great. I want a sequel--not because the story was unfinished, but because it was a cursed good read, and left the perfect openings for a good sequel.

This is my favorite of the Serrated books. It tied up a lot of loose ends, as well as creating new ones. Talk about great characters! If you've read the other Serrated books, you need to read this one. Was I the only one to catch that mention of Deke Kestrel? Or am I the only one who has also read the Diana Tregarde books? Anyway, this book is a wonderful additon to your library. And if you've already read all the Serrated books, try the Diana Tregarde ones. They are just as good.

I loved this book--it's what got me so interested in Mercedes Lackey. Even if you haven't read the other SERRAted edge novels, get this book. I'm loving it!

CUALQUIER COSA QUE PREFIERAS GUISAR,MEJORA INCREIBLEMENTE SU SABOR... Y SABES QUE MAS?
NO DESPERDICIAS NADA !!!

Toda una vida de reunir experiencias para mejorar nuestras propias recetas y de exponer todos los trucos de LA COCINA !

porque cualquier libro con recetas te señala como guisar, pero estos SECRETOS SOLO SE ADQUIEREN EN TODA UNA VIDA DE VIVIR EN LA COCINA.
y MEJORAN DRAMATICAMENTE TUS PROPIOS PLATILLOS.

As Carl Weathers said in Rocky, "sounds like a monster movie." Nope! It's The Ship Who Searched by Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Lackey is able to work remarkably well with McCaffrey's setup, which includes a young girl who goes searching for the mysterious thing from her past that paralyzed her. Tia and her "brawn" are an interesting match...it gets weird when her brawn falls in love...with her. They finally get it all worked out, about three pages before the end...read the book and find out how

With the "brain ships", McCaffrey & Lackey introduced a new science fiction element that is now being used by other authors. Start with the Ship Who Sang, and then read this one.

Unlike McCaffrey's fantasy works, this story is based on believable technology. It's a good adventure in our familiar universe. The characters are warm, complex, & interesting - some people I liked instantly, and other people who grew on me during the story.

This was an easy weekend read, and left me feeling good.

'The Ship Who Searched' presents to the reader a flawless collaboration of eminent authors Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. Who joined their respective forces to write an excellent novel, which is characterized by very strong characters, a convincing, interesting sometimes deeply poignant story. Set in Ms. McCaffrey's universe of Brain and Brawn ships, the novel's premise is based on this: Hypatia Cade the highly precocious daughter of an archaeologist couple is bitten by a bug. This leaves Hypatia or Tia for short paralyzed and in dire straits indeed. An option for Tia might be the Shell person's program. Thus Tia goes on to train for the B & B ship program. After graduation she takes her chances with brawn Alexander Joli-Chanteau.

Tia and Alex are both excellently and eminently convincingly drawn characters, and I loved them from the very beginning. Tia highly intelligent, precocious and flexible [but not in a cloying way] is one of Anne McCaffrey's most interesting and appealing heroines. Strong and indomitable she's the driving force of her story. With Tia Anne McCaffrey presents strength, heartbreak and humour all combined in one package. Tia's scenes in the hospital are nothing but brilliant and heart wrenching, and certainly brought tears to my eyes. The sympathetic and quirky Alex is very well matched with this great heroine. Strong supporting characters are to be found here as well like Tia's friend Moira or Dr. Kenneth. Further should be mentioned Tia's indispensable companion on all her journeys through life the blue teddy bear: Theodore Edward Bear.

All in all a very convincingly created universe with wonderful characters and a deeply satisfying story which I recommend very highly!

Beautiful photographs and tons of information on early and largely unknown models of the past. However, if you expect to find a particular model, you may be disappointed. Selected models are highlighted for each chronological era. Amazingly, the flagship model of present day Mercedes-Benz, the S600 , is conspicuously absent, as are all of the S Class models. I had expected coverage of the V-12 engine, in particular. However, the presentation in three languages, with magnificent pictorials, is quite impressive, and well worth the cost.

This book has everything you need to increase your knowledge in this classic make. It has the history of both Daimler and Benz, the birth of "Mercedes" name, the melting of the two makes in 1926 and much more. It's divided in two books displayed in a nice case. First time I saw the book over the net I was nicely surprised about the good value it is. 700 pages and an excellent price. The series are treated superficially but the pictures make worth the bucks spent. If you want in deep analisis about a model in particular you'll need new books but there's no question about buying this one to start your apprenticeship.

If you are a Mercedes-Benz fan, you will love this book! It is packed with full-color photos of just about every Daimler and Mercedes model that was ever built, including the Formula One and other racing cars. The photos are of a very high standard, and include shots from different angles of the various models, as well as their interiors.

Of particular interest, is the complete history of Mercedes (Daimler included), in the front of the book. All text is presented in English, French and German.

This is a high quality book that will look good on even the most sophisticated coffee table. It will also testify to the good taste of its owner!

This book... this trilogy... there are not enough words in the English language to completely convey how utterly incredible these books are. Especially Magic's Price. This is the first (and last) book to actually make me cry; I've read this book easily 50 times, and I bawl like a baby every single time. Mercedes Lackey created a wonderful character in Vanyel, one that I think just about everyone (shay'a'chern or not) can relate to in some way. Aside from the obviously superb plot, the book is also well-written and moves at a good pace... I admit that Magic's Pawn dragged a bit (the first half, at least), but not so with this volume! A definite "must-read"!!!! (can you tell I LOVE this book?!)

On a side note... adding to another customer review... when I read the Arrows books I noticed immediately that Kris's Companion was named Tantris... and did anyone else notice how Kero's Companion is called Sayvel, and she is just as wonderfully cynical and cantankerous as Van's Aunt Savil?! Very interesting....

-Oh gods- There are so many ways to tell why this trilogy has become my number one favorite set of books. I am re-reading "Magic's Pawn" for the upteenth time and it never ceases to move my heart. Once my friend lent me her copy of "Magic's Pawn", I couldn't stop. I was so gratefull that she owned the whole trilogy or I would have gone crazy and bought them all at once, which I did later...
Anyways, about "Magic's Price": It, along with "Magic's Pawn", is one of my favorite books in the world. By the end, I was in tears, sobbing, because I truly loved this book and felt moved by it. It starts out with an older Vanyel sparring with Herald Tantras. Later on in the book, he meets a talented Bard named Stefen, whom he... Oh, I don't want to give away too much. It covers their adventure thought the perils of Valdemar. Something is coming... And only the last Herald-Mage Vanyel Ashkevron can stand against it.
I can only hope to encourage people to read this trilogy and all other books by Mercedes Lackey. Her world of Valdemar will be treasured in my heart as an escape to a world of fantasy that I truly love.

I have read and reread this book so many times, I've gone through three copies of it. Magic's Pawn was the first fantasy book I ever read, and, goodness, it has never let me forget it.

And this, out of all Lackey's novels, is her best. I will forever maintain that. IF you missed the poem called Magic's Price at the end of the book, read it, but only AFTER you've completed the novel. Even now, the poem... and the book make me cry.

This is perhaps one of the best examples of modern fantasy available in print. Vanyel is a man who feels, suffers, loves, and lives, and as a reader, you can sympathize with it all. Two thumbs way, way up. READ IT!

"Winds of Change" was much better than "Winds of Fate," and I wish the former, rather than the latter, had been the start of the "Mage Winds" trilogy.

I know this flies in the face of just about every other reviewer here. Bear with me, please.

In the first book, "Winds of Fate," Elspeth, heir to the throne of Valdemar, had gone off to find some mages, because Valdemar was in grave danger, and it had none. Along the way, she found out that *she* was a mage, and prospectively very, very powerful; she also regressed quite a bit from how she'd been previously drawn in "By the Sword" and the "Arrows" trilogy.

Darkwind, in the first book, started off as an ex-mage and had to take up the mantle of magecraft again, because his clan, K'Sheyna, was in grave danger, and most of the mages were tapped out.

The thing is, if I'd read this book alone, I'd have liked it better. Darkwind and Elspeth are drawn to be much more sympathetic characters in this book. They have interests outside magecraft, and we see a bit of that. We also see Gwena finally getting her comeuppance (in the first book, Gwena, Elspeth's Companion, really raised Hell because she tried to coerce Elspeth into doing things, rather than asking or explaining anything). And we see more about Treyvan and Hydona, as well as more from Nyara and Skif.

Nyara really starts to come into her own, here. Without her efforts, Mornelithe Falconsbane (the big bad guy) would not be put down at the end of this book. And, without Treyvan and Hydona, the book would lose quite a bit of light, laughter, and love, as their successful romance foreshadows both Darkwind and Elspeth's eventual pairing-off and Skif and Nyara's as well.

The thing is, like I said before, it's *not* the first book in a trilogy. It's the second. And, as such, I have to go off the first book, or this book would make no sense whatsoever.

So, much as I like this book, and would like to give it a higher rating, I feel in good conscience I can't. So, I'm giving it three and a half stars, and would definitely recommend it -- with the extremely grudging addition that, without "Winds of Fate," this book will make little to no sense.

After reading Winds of Fate, I couldn't help but read this book. Although Elspeth's aggrevated attitude started to get to me after a while in Winds of Fate, she began to go through a transition in this book, becomming someone I could actually relate to! I still love Darkwind as I did in the first book, and finding out that Firesong was...not as he seemed made my jaw drop! An exciting, multi-faceted, and altogether wonderful fantasy!

Heralds Elspeth and Skif have journeyed far from their native Valdemar in search of mages to protect against the dark forces of Ancar of Hardorn. Their search has taken them to the Vale of the Tayledras Clan k'Sheyna, where they have been made Wingsibs of the Clan. Thus, Elspeth begins her mage training under the tutelage of a Tayledras scout and former Adept, Darkwind, and two gryphons, Treyvan and Hydona.

But an evil force is lurking in the Uncleansed Lands, a Dark Adept that will stop at nothing to destroy the Tayledras through the rogue Heartstone he has created. Will Elspeth and Darkwind be able to stop him before it is too late?

"Winds of Change" is the second book in Mercedes Lackey's Mage Winds Trilogy. I really enjoyed it and went through it very quickly. There was lots of action and rarely a dull moment. The love scenes were sweet and not overly graphic, and thus lightened the mood and allowed more intimate glimpses into the characters involved.

Lackey is so good at creating a thoroughly, convincingly real world that the reader feels like he or she has actually been there. It is a real treat to read her books. I feel like I go somewhere completely new and different each time I start another of her books.

The characters are absolutely wonderful as well, especially Darkwind. He is one of my favorite Lackey characters, and I greatly look forward to finding out what will become of him in the next book. "Winds of Change" completely changed my attitude towards Elspeth. She has never been one of my favorites (the only thing that really got me through "Winds of Fate" was Darkwind), but she really started to mature and grow finto someone I really respected and liked in this book.

As with "Winds of Fate," "Winds of Change" is filled with Tayledras characters. So if you like the Tayledras, this is a must read.

Don't get me wrong. I really loved this book, but there were a few small things that bothered me about it. First, Skif and Nyara's relationship. It is just too weird for me and almost too scripted. Like, how did he know that he truly loved her and wasn't just falling for the spells put on her? It just never came off as being as realistic as the rest of the book did. Second, Mornelithe Falconsbane's evilness. He is just too evil. It seems to me that Mercedes Lackey tends to make her villains very one-sided and so unexplainably evil that there is no way the reader can feel sorry for them. I'm just one of those people who likes to be able find the cause for the evilness so that I can better understand why a villain is the way he or she is.

Bottom Line: A nice addition to the Valdemar series and another absolute treat for my fellow Tayledras lovers out there. Make sure that you read "Winds of Fate" first!

Misty Lackey is one of my favourite authors, although sometimes she can have books that are really bad, but makes up for that when she writes excellent ones like By the Sword. Kerowyn, the main character is a likeable girl who has a strong personality. THis 492 page book chronicles her life since the death of her parents at 14 to her being involved in romance, war, and strategy when she is older. I think this book is a classic that I would recommend to people who love a good fantasy and a story about a strong minded girl. Although some of it is sad because you might not like some of the decisions Kero makes, this is an excellent book, and I don't think any other Lackey books can top it.

This is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read! I've been reading Misty Lackey since I was 8 or so and I have loved all of her Valdemar books! Kero is a lovable and very real character. I absolutely love the song "Kerowyn's Ride" which I have on a CD from Firebirdarts.com! Everything by Misty is really great, but this one is a marvel. I like it since it focus on people outside of Valdemar and the main character isn't a herald, which can get somewhat boring. Buy this book and you won't be disappointed, and pick up a copy of the song "Kerowyn's Ride" too. Both are great!

"By the Sword" is one of Mercedes Lackey's best books. It's an honest, unflinching look at the life of a mercenary woman -- and a parable of how difficult modern women find balancing love, sex, partnership, and job responsibilities, all at once.

"By the Sword" tells the story of Kerowyn. She's Kethry's granddaughter (Kethry, as you might recall from the "Oath" books, was the mage partner of Tarma the Shin'a'in), yet grows up mostly ignorant of her heritage. That's because her mother dies young, her father is an idiot, and Kerowyn's been left to rule the roost at the ripe old age of 15.

As her brother is being married off, also at a young age, bandits come in and disrupt the festivities. They carry her brother Lordan's new wife off, kill her father, and murder many others on the way out. This inflames Kerowyn, who vows revenge.

Going to put on her brother's cast-off armor and grabbing a dagger, she's stopped by a rather mysterious woman on the way to see her grandmother. (Yes, she's so ignorant that she doesn't recognize Tarma, nor her significance in her grandmother's life.) She's warned to go back; this inflames Kerowyn still further.

Kerowyn goes to Kethry and tells her what's happened; Kethry passes along her sword Need -- which basically is a sort of magical guardian spirit. If you're a mage, it gives you ultimate fighting prowess. If you're a fighter, it gives you immunity against magic.

Kerowyn rides, finds the bandits, kills them, and brings Lordan's bride home. However, after she gets there, she realizes she's not cut out for the life of a noblewoman (they are of the minor nobility); she goes back to her grandmother and asks for more help.

At this point, Tarma steps in, and trains Kerowyn to fight.

The rest of the book deals with Kerowyn's training, some of her campaigns, her growing strategic and tactical prowess -- and something more. Along the way, as she watches others pair off and feels hopelessly alone (she's gifted with Mindspeech, making it even worse, as none of her mercenary compatriots have this particular talent/affliction), she finds her soulmate, Eldan. Who just so happens to be a Herald of Valdemar.

A lesser writer would have dragged Kerowyn into Valdemar at that point; wisely, Lackey keeps Kerowyn out, instead giving her more adventures, then finally getting Kerowyn and Eldan together in the midst of a long, bloody war.

As they deal with their love and duty, much happens. (I don't want to give the rest of the plot away.) And Kerowyn finds a way to indeed have it all, after all.

This is definitely one of my all-time favorite Lackey books; Ms. Lackey did an outstanding job with this one, as it is accurate, unflinchingly candid, yet still realistic without sacrificing anything in the characterization department.

Thing is, with someone else, Kerowyn wouldn't be so engaging. She's a tough, smart woman who happens to like her job -- as a professional mercenary soldier and captain. Most writers would draw her as a caricature; instead, Ms. Lackey showed Kerowyn as learning tactics, and coming to believe that people who fought wars should have ethics -- as it's bad enough as it is.

Five stars plus. Highly recommended.

Now, this book struck me as interesting the moment I laid hands on it( the cover page, darn the habit ). I was quite surprised when I started reading the book that I actually got interested in such an atmosphere of fantasy where music and fear appear to be the most uninvisible kind of magic there is, and how alike it is to old England.
Then, I found out why. The lyrics of this book encourages the reader to read on, I found this book interesting because of the mere fact that it was set in our world--almost. I found a profound love of a world that is so similiar to ours, yet still contains that musically smooth writing that captures your soul like lines from music wrapping around you, grasping you, embracing you. That was no doubt a rare find. Then I knew I was in the good part of the story, the part where I can be sure to be entranced for--no less than an infinity. Astounding, yes, quite astounding. A book whose prose matches the lyrics of its songs.
This book also presents a magical variety of characteristics of its characters, such a big yet invisible mix that it's almost as if the characteristic were cards in one gigantic deck shuffled with astounding skill so that no card is the same. At that time I was sure of this author's skill. For to have a different variety of characteristics actually makes a story interesting, it opens more doors to imagination, to possibilities, and it captures the attention of the reader better. That strategy is the backbone of A.D. 999, one of my favorite fantasies.
This book was--well, my opinion is better stated at the end. Lastly, I should say that not only did this book's prose find its armour, wit, and it captured a main factor in a good story, but this book acually did not depend on length to capture a reader's attention, a small trilogy this may be, this book still contains the lyrics and prose of any worthy book, which is amazing, counting that it is hard to write a book with a lot of pages, let alone the Wheel of Time. I'm not sure if this book is as good as A.D. 999, but it definitely captures its quality. Finally, what I've been thinking about all this time, this book is classic romantic dark midieval fantasy movie material.
Now, despite all my comments on how good this book is, there are several flaws. If you put everything down( and by everything, I mean the story ), you'd discover that this story came to its plot quickly, which is good, but the Lark and the Wren had 30% suspense, and ended in like one chapter. If this was only a short story that would've been real obvious. Plus, this book's praises music as if its the center of the universe. Now, this is only my opinion, and I know many of you will disagree with me, but just hear me out, okay? Okay. I believe if the author put down music as only one of the many quality time/magic in her world, I believe that would make her world a little bit more interesting, more wide. That would multiply the space of her world by 10 times. Those are some of the big ones, I can live with the other ones.
So all in all, I believe that this book definitely had many praiseworthy scenes, a lot of admirable plots, and many qualities which makes this book great, a real treasure to read, and something we normies can in a way relate to. However, I did list some of its flaws, after reading the book, and really--is there really a book without flaws? Not even A.D. 999 was truly flawless. But then again, this isn't A.D. 999, so believe me, I am just a little over indifferent of its plots. So on a scale of 1 through 100, or hell on paper through phenomenoe, I'd give it an eighty-nine, and an a little better than great. Congratulations, you'be got a B+. If this book was the only book of an author, it would've gotten an 100%, and if the author only wrote a few books, or the author only writes at this level, I'd give it at least a 93%, but when it's coming from Mercedes Lackey, well, you get the idea.
So I hope this had been helpful--Steven Cong.

I have read all the Bardic Voices books, individually, and they are all excellent. A word of advice if you are going to read them in their collected form, though: Mercedes Lackey wrote a book, called A Cast of Corbies, that goes with the series. It covers what happens between The Robin and the Kestrel and The Eagle and the Nightingales. It isn't absolutely necessary, but Eagle makes more sense if you read Cast first.

A big fan of Lackey's Bardic Tales and Valdemar series, I first read the former. The Free Bards has all three of her first books in one volume. This is the best way to read the book if you are purchasing it! It saves money and it does not lose anything from being compiled.

If anything, being able to read them together gives one a good read for many days!

Excellent book!!!!!!

I love the Herald trilogy, and all the rest of Misty's books that I've read! Misty is my most very favorite author, and I simply cannot see how anyone can NOT like her books! For those of you who have said that Arrow's Fall was a bit graphic, you must think watching the news is graphic! Those so-called "graphic" elements are a wonderful touch of reality in an otherwise fantasy world. They happen in real life EVERY DAY, and they are all over the news! And I would like to say that I am "only" 15, and I was 14 when I first read her books, and I wasn't at all disturbed by the events marked "graphic"! If you can't handle it, then simply crawl back under the rock from whence you came. For those of you who have yet to read her books, you have no idea what you are missing! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fall in love with Talia and her friends! Excellent books!!

This trilogy was wonderful! My best friend gave them to me after I had read The Last Herald-Mage trilogy and I absolutely loved it! Yes this book is rather graphic, but they are not intended for children. The fact that Talia was tortured only makes it all seem real. I mean how many villains are going to go, "Well, I want to take over your country and kill off your queen. Would you care for some tea?" This book is wonderful and left me teary eyed at the end. I've read it a grand total of 8 times and feel the same way each time I pick it up. I definetly recommend it to anyone who likes real fantasy!

As you followed Talia through the first two books in the Arrows trilogy, you saw her grow and prosper under the guidance and care of those in the Collegium.
Now, after finally completing her classes, and receiving her Whites, she is sent on a mission, with Herald Kris, to investigate a marriage proposal from Prince Ancar of Hardorn, to Elspeth, Heir to the throne of Valdemar.
Everyone has their doubts, and wants those doubts calmed and dismissed before they accept the proposal. But what Talia and Kris discover dismisses the sincerety of Prince Ancar's proposal without a second thought: Ancar, along with Hulda, a Mage who had tried to overthrow the throne of Valdemar, and undermine Elspeth (when she was young), are now trying to overthrow the throne of Hardorn. Not only do they try- they suceed.
We lose one of our favorite characters, and see two of our other favorite characters through a very happy event.
And although this book will make you yell, laugh, and cry, it is worth every second.