Of the Mage Wars trilogy, this first one is my favorite. For some reason, I became very fond of Gesten at the beginning, and Zhaneel. It's an incredible story, and I think it's more fun that not all of the main characters are human, or even necessarily initially impressive. ( )

The Black Gryphon is a new character in the Valdemaran histories, brought in after the successful use of gryphons in a previous trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and deservedly so -- the gryphons were nicely characterized, given their own little quirks and histories. As far as the Lackey trilogies go, this isn't the best beginning of a series but it's adequate. It also isn't the first book she co-authored with her husband, but it's the first one I read and clearly inferior; however, the military aspects of the story are pretty good and it kept my interest throughout. Can't say much more than that. ( )

Skandranon is the leader of the gryphons. A vain and charismatic creature. An intellegent species created by Urthro, the mage of silence. His partner is Amberdrake. his healer companion. The story is delivered through their experiences in this good vs evil story.The tyrant-sorcerer Kiyamvir Ma'ar is sweeping across the land destroying everyone who won't join him in his war. This story pre-dates the Vladamar stories and set up some of the characters you encounter there. ( )

What I like best about this novel is the fact that it gives background information on the other Valdemar books. This is truely the beginning of Valdemar as we know it and how it comes to be that way. ( )

Prequels are not usually as good as the material they spawn from, and that is the case here. The Gryphon Trilogy tells the "pre-history" of Valdemar. The novels are very good and enjoyable on their own merits, but are not the same calibur as Queen's Own or The Last Herlad Mage trilogies. I highly recommend them, but warn readers not to expect to read about the Valdemar we know and love. The Black Gryphon is the best of the trilogy - the next two books are worth reading, but the story is stretched more than it needed to be. ( )