Title: Beyond World’s End
Author: Mercedes Lackey
First published January 1, 2001
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780671318550 (ISBN10: 0671318551)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
The threat of the Unseleighe Sidhe looms over the human world once again. Their evil elf-lord seeks to create a powerful army of drug-addled slaves to wreak havoc and feed on human suffering.
The task of stopping him falls on the shoulders of Eric Banyon, a talented musician and mage. With his unique abilities and unwavering determination, Eric must find a way to put an end to the dark lord’s plans before it’s too late.
Will he succeed in his mission, or will the world fall into darkness and despair? The fate of humanity rests on Eric’s shoulders in this thrilling tale of magic and adventure.
About the Author
Mercedes was born in Chicago on June 24, 1950. She had a typical upbringing and graduated from Purdue University in 1972.
In the late 70s, she worked as a model before transitioning to computer programming. Eventually, she found her way to American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded almost fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company that specializes in science fiction folk music.
As she puts it, “I’m a storyteller; that’s what I see as my job.” Her stories come to life through her characters and how they react to their situations. This is why she gets letters from readers ranging from thirteen to sixty-odd years old.
Mercedes believes that songs are like “story pills” that reduce a story to its bare essentials or encapsulate a crucial moment in time. She often writes lyrics to help her get to the core of a scene she’s working on.
Writing music is also important to her because of the fantasy novels she writes, which are set in a semi-medieval otherworld. In medieval times, music was essential; bards were the primary newsbringers.
When Mercedes writes the “folk music” of her characters, she enriches the entire world she’s created, whether or not she includes the songs in the text.
Mercedes began writing out of boredom, and now she’s addicted to it. She can’t stop writing, which means she has no social life.
She started writing fantasy because she loves it, but she takes great care to construct her fantasy worlds meticulously, like a “high-tech” science fiction writer. For example, she applies the principle of TANSTAAFL (credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic.
In her worlds, magic has a cost, and the price for a magician is often high. Mercedes tries to keep her world as realistic as possible, with its stubborn pumps, porridge bugs, and love lives that refuse to become untangled, as well as invading armies and evil magicians.
Every character, even the “evil magicians,” is more than just a flat stereotype.
In everything Mercedes writes, she tries to expound the creed she gave her character Diana Tregarde: “There’s no such thing as ‘one, true way’; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good — they’re the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren’t willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race.” Mercedes also writes under different names.
Editoral Review
Beyond World’s End by Mercedes Lackey is an epic conclusion to an already impressive five-book series, the Firebird Trilogy. First published on January 1, 2001, this book takes readers on a wild ride through a complex world filled with magic, adventure, and political intrigue.
Mercedes Lackey is an award-winning author with over one hundred published books to her name. She is known for her complex characters, vivid world-building, and intricate plots that often delve into profound themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Her writing style is atmospheric and immersive, drawing readers into her stories with the vividness of her descriptions and the emotional resonance of her characters. The Firebird Trilogy, of which Beyond World’s End is the conclusion, follows the story of Ilya, a powerful mage who is forced to confront a dangerous conspiracy that threatens his world.
Along the way, he meets a diverse cast of characters from various backgrounds and forms a powerful bond with a young girl named Yarrow, who is integral to his quest. The final book in the trilogy finds Ilya and his team facing their greatest challenge yet, as they attempt to save their world from destruction.
The stakes are high, and the tension is palpable as they race against the clock to stop an ancient evil that has been awakened. One of the strengths of Beyond World’s End is its richly detailed world-building.
Lackey has created a complex and vibrant world filled with unique cultures, magic systems, and political systems that add depth and authenticity to the story. She also does an excellent job of weaving in real-world issues and themes, such as the importance of diversity and the need for social change.
The characters in Beyond World’s End are also well-developed and highly relatable. Ilya, in particular, is a fascinating protagonist who is both powerful and vulnerable.
Readers will find themselves rooting for him as he battles against impossible odds to save his world. Yarrow, too, is a remarkable character who is wise beyond her years and provides much-needed emotional support to Ilya.
However, one of the weaknesses of this book is that it can be slow-paced at times. While the world-building and character development are excellent, the plot can sometimes drag, which may disappoint readers looking for a fast-paced adventure.
Overall, Beyond World’s End is a fantastic conclusion to the Firebird Trilogy, and fans of Mercedes Lackey or fans of high fantasy will find much to enjoy in this book. It is a well-crafted and thought-provoking story that provides a satisfying conclusion to Ilya’s journey.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a complex and immersive fantasy adventure. Rating: 8/10
