50. Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey
ISBN: 0886773520
DAW, New York, 1991
352 pages
Adult Crossover

Teaser: Sixteen year old Vanyel, firstborn son and heir apparent of the large Forst Reach hold, doesn't meet his father's expectations. In an attempt to teach him to be more manly, Vanyel is sent to stay with his Aunt Savil, one of the king's advisors. Will Vanyel become more than just another noble?

Summary: Vanyel may be the firstborn son and heir apparent of Forst Reach, a large holding, but he doesn't fit in at all. Smaller and slimmer than his sturdy father and brothers, Vanyel would much rather be a bard than a lord holder. Vanyel ends up being sent to the capitol, Haven, to stay with his Aunt Savil, in hopes that she will be able to force Vanyel to fit his father's ideas of manliness. This backfires rather spectacularly, as Vanyel ends up finding his soulmate, who happens to be one of Savil's male students, Tylendel. Unknown to even themselves, Vanyel and Tylendel form a lifebond, a tie between two soulmates that is so strong that one half rarely lives on if the other dies. Savil is supportive, and even helps the two keep their relationship a secret, as all of them know that Vanyel's father would be furious if he found out.

Vanyel's happiness is shattered when Tylendel's twin is murdered. Through the bond the twins shared, Tylendel felt his twin die, and the shock drives him a little mad. He becomes obsessed with revenge, and convinces Vanyel to help him. The plan goes horribly wrong, and Vanyel ends up having all of his latent magical gifts blasted open. The pain of his magic being awakened is quickly overwhelmed by an even greater agony when Tylendel snaps completely and commits suicide. The lifebond is shattered, and Vanyel attempts to follow Tylendel. His aunt and others stop him, and Savil takes Vanyel to a reclusive group of healers living outside the kingdom. Eventually, Vanyel realizes that Tylendel would want him to live, and that furthermore, he has a duty to use these new magical gifts to help people.

Evaluation: I first read this book in my freshman year of high school, and it remains my favorite book. Vanyel has lived a very sheltered life, and the thought of two boys falling in love is one that has never crossed his mind. Nearly a third of the way through the book Vanyel and readers alike discover that Vanyel is gay. The situation is dealt with very tastefully, with the most risqué moment being a candle getting snuffed out as a chapter ends and Savil later raising an eyebrow and remarking that there was no doubt of what had happened, but not actually elaborating. While Savil and her other two students are very supportive, the general public opinion is decidedly homophobic. When Vanyel nearly dies, his father is more upset about the rumors that his son is gay than the fact that his son nearly died. By the end of the book, Vanyel has realized that his magical gifts come with a responsibility to help others, and has decided to devote his life to doing so. The emotions are very well written, and I cried at several points during the story. This book was the first I read with a gay main character, and helped shape my opinion that love is love, regardless of gender.

Challenge issues and age recommendation: The main character is homosexual, and suicide and attempted suicide are a major part of the story. Sexual themes are present, but there are absolutely no steamy scenes, not even mild kissing or petting. Some violence is also present. Death, loss, revenge, and healing and hope are major themes in this story. While I read this book when I was 13, it is an adult book rather than a teen book, and I was a fairly advanced reader. I would probably recommend it for teens 15 and up.