The Phoenix Transformed

Fun book to listen to. I'm hooked on audio books for long trips. I do a lot of driving & it makes the trips go fast!

The Phoenix Transformed (2009) is the third Fantasy novel in the Enduring Flame series, following The Phoenix Endangered. In the previous volume, Tyr and Har were found by the Nalzindar. At first the Nalzindar were suspicious, but then Ancaladar appeared and they were accepted. Tyr and Har told their story and heard the story of Shaiara and the Nalzindar. They were puzzled by the actions of Bisochim. Then the disappearance of Ancaladar on the tenth level below the surface changed everything. In this novel, Tiercel Rolfort is the first High Mage to be born in the Nine Cities is almost a thousand years. The Elves have told him that he must save the world from the Dark. Tyr deeply feels the loss of his Bondmate Ancaladar and no longer can use the dragon's power to perform magic. He cannot believe that he is still alive. Harrier Gillian is a Wild Mage. Indeed, he is a Knight-Mage, the first born in about a thousand years. Har is Tiercel's best friend, although he is very irritated at Tiercel's lack of common sense. Shaiara is the young leader of the Nalzindar Isvaieni. She has led her tribe into the Barahileth to the ancient city of Abi'Abadshar. Now she intends to accompany Tyr and Har in their search for the site of the visions. Ciniran is a young woman of the Nalzindar. Bisochim is a Blue Robe -- a Wild Mage among the Isvaieni -- who has been seeking the release of a creature from the Dark and trying to kill Tiercel. He is Bonded to the dragon Seravasse. In this story, Bisochim makes a body and almost simultaneously transfers a Darkling spirit into it. He binds it into the flesh, but Ahairan refuses to give Seravasse and himself immortality. She laughs at him and he tries to bind her to unchanging sleep, but none of his spells can touch her. Bisochim has been duped and betrayed. Then Ahairan summons the Isvaieni to the Lake of Fire to die in the flames. Bisochim tries to break the summoning spell and fails. So he brings a great storm to Telinchechitl and the force of the spell is broken. Then he reduces the cliffs to sand and blocks the magma, leaving a lake of steaming water in place of the Lake of Fire. Meanwhile, Harrier calls Kareta to Abi'Abadshar. After eight hours, the unicorn arrives near the ancient city. They agree on a MagePrice and Harrier asks her whether Ancaladar is still alive. Kareta tells him that he must be, but she does not know where he is. So Harrier returns to the city and tells Tyr that Ancaladar must be alive. Tyr doesn't believe him at first, but becomes more hopeful after learning that Kareta has said so. But Tyr still cannot do magic. Then Harrier and Tyr decide to leave Abi'Abadshar and follow the Dove road to the Lake of Fire. Shaiara and Ciniran insist on going with them. Arriving there, they find thousands of confused Isvaieni, one suicidal Blue Robe and a dragon. Worse, they discover that the Darkling has already entered their world. This tale has Harrier and Tiercel leading

I don't normally write reviews because usually by the time I've read the book, other folks have already expressed what I would say. Not in this case. I'm surprised to read that some folks skimmed pages - if so, they missed wonderful examples of character development and plot lines building. To me, the story is about a journey - one of learning compassion, understanding, respect for strange ways, and finally trust: in one's self and in others. The characters and plot unfold and develop with exquisite, realistic detail. Yes, it takes time, but how else to reconcile such disparate peoples? And what an unexpected twist at the end - never saw that coming! I found the book to be a very satisfying end to the series.

Once Harrier Gillain and Tiercel Rolfort thought they would spend their entire lives in Armerthalieh, but that was prior to the latter receiving the power of high magic and visions of the Dark returning. Harrier had doubts about his best friend's sanity, but not since their trek into the Elven lands where they learn that Tiercel was chosen by the Light to fight the Dark. Harrier leaves the lands of the elves a Knight-Mage. Wildmage Bisochim believes the Dark must enter the world to bring balance. Through experiments, he creates the body of a woman imprisons the dark demon Aharin, released from the dimensional prison where her fellow demons reside. Her goal is to find a mage and create a new race of demons and release her fellow demons where she was imprisoned. Bisoschim used the trust of the Isvaieni trines of the Isva desert to kill the people in the border cities because he believed falsely they have given themselves over to the Dark thus creating the Unbalance. Once he realized he was manipulated by Aharin, he repents and does all he can to save the tribes with the help of Harrier and Tiercel. They travel the land seeking the demon in order to prove to the armies that demons walks the earth again. Aharin sends her walking dead Isvaieni, goblins and other magical beasts to destroy the Isvaieni .Harrier and Tiercel use their power to try and stop her and prevent the dark from coming back. THE PHOENIX TRANSFORMED is an exciting sword and sorcery epic which will remind the audience of the Jews in Exodus as the Isvaieni tribes roam the desert hoping to find the way home by defeating the Dark. Harrier and Tierce are great characters and buddies who have matured considerably since THE PHOENIX UNCHAINED and THE PHOENIX ENDANGERED; each understands they may die for the better good. Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory provide adult and teen readers a strong epic fantasy. That is enthralling and a joy to read. Harriet Klausner