Gryphon in Light is the first of a new trilogy about gryphons. The novel includes the stories in the Gryphon Kelvren Miniseries: "A Perfect Day in Valdemar," "Transmutation" and "Ripples and Cracks."
Publisher's description[]
On the border between Valdemar and the deadly Pelagirs Forest, the gryphon hero Kelvren returns from a near-fatal self-sacrifice that won him the approval of Valdemar's ground troops, but caused a diplomatic crisis. Frustrated by his lack of a hero's welcome, Kelvren is talked into helping with an expedition by his old friend, Firesong.
Firesong struggles with his own age and mortality, and he intends to solve a vast mystery at the center of legendary Lake Evendim as his crowning achievement. Just getting the multicultural fleet underway is a challenge, but what awaits them is a situation none of them could expect.
Overview (Warning! SPOILERS!)[]
Injured in a local military conflict, Guard Second officer Hallock Stavern awoke in an isolated hospital camp tent. His gut wound was exacerbated by transport, causing internal damage that would challenge even the best Healing Gift. Unfortunately, there were no Gifted Healers on site; the medics did what they could, but he was not expected to survive. Gryphon Kelvren was injured in a separate skirmish and brought to the hospital camp, where Hallock agreed to have the gryphon in his tent. The Healers did not dare medicate the gryphon's unfamiliar system, and they patched him up as well as they could. As the two suffering patients commiserated, Hallock shared the story of a perfect day he spent with his beloved wife, Genni. When Hallock began to lose consciousness and die, Kelvren sprang into action. Later, a Gifted Healer arrived and found that Kelvren had used his personal magic reserves to heal Hallock. She also re-treated Kelvren's wounds, but noted that he had no trace of magic left in his body. The Healers know that the mage-created race of Gryphons is special and requires expertise they do not have. have had to rely on their knowledge of animals. He later says that no one should have only one perfect day.
Gryphons depend on magic, and Kelvren begins to die. Using an incredibly risky historical process, Gryphon Mage Treyvan uses the power of a Node contained in a Changecircle to recharge Kelvren's magic. The results are unexpected; Kelvren is overfilled with magic and glows like the sun. He flies over the local military conflict, intimidating both sides into eventual surrender.
However, when he returns to k'Valdemar Vale, he is not lauded as a hero. Due to his remarkable appearance, the Vale is uncertain whether he is a disguised enemy. The mages seize him, fearing that he is a danger to the Vale. They knock him unconscious and explore the strange changes in his body, also discovering his injuries and probing his memory. Mages from nearby Vales are also summoned, and no one can make sense out of what he has become.
Firesong and Darian insist that Kelvren remain in the Vale, taking the responsibility. Kelvren awakens enraged, but when he begins to understand the dangerous effects of his changed body, he insists on leaving, to protect the Vale. Firesong decides to teach Kelvren more about magic so that he can control his new body. He also proposes a trip to Lake Evendim to find out why the bomb at Ma'ar's headquarters there did not affect the modern Mage Storms.
Kelvren assumes he and Firesong will get on the road quickly, but he soon learns otherwise. They require Silverfox to accompany Firesong, and Trondi'irn Nightwind to tend to Kelvren. But the expedition grows as Hertasi, Dyheli, Kyree, some warriors from the Ghost Cat Clan, and some Tayledras with mage abilities are added. Then Hallock Stavern, his wife Genni, the boy Jefti (who took care of the wounded Kelvren) and Jefti's mother Ammari show up. Then everyone is shocked when a handful of gryphons arrive from Iftel, sent by the god Vykaendys himself. The god had appeared in a temple, along with the Star-Eyed goddess Kal'enal, and told a priest that the plane of the gods is in peril, and gave him a list of specific gryphons to send.
The idea that their mission is important to the gods intimidates everyone. It is brought home when Firecat Serenshey shows up, also sent by Vkaendys. An unpartnered Companion joins the party, calling himself Jak. The firecat recognizes him as a reincarnation of someone who bent the rules, but does not reveal his former name.
Preparations go into high gear and they soon set off. The trip is plagued by miserable rain. The gryphons fly ahead and set up a Gate in partnership with Firesong, allowing the group to cover ground quickly.
An encounter with hostile creatures made of mist rattles everyone. Their mist lets them pass through physical defenses, and only magical shielding keeps them at bay. While the group escapes through their next Gate, the shield collapses and one of the party is killed.
Firecat Serenshey reports that the gods have requested that they
Gallery of cover images[]
See also[]
- Books by chronological order
- Chronological order of books: expanded edition
- Books by publication order
- Books by series