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To Light a Candle

The Obsidian Trilogy, Book Two (Obsidian Chronicles)

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

864 pages

A sweeping epic fantasy where rigid traditions clash with wild magic against the backdrop of a looming, demonic war.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into a classic, sprawling epic fantasy where the stakes are world-ending and the magic is deeply woven into the fabric of the land. The mood is steeped in foreboding and perilous wonder, balancing the rigid, bureaucratic tension of a walled city with the erratic, desire-driven freedom of the wilds. It moves at a steady, deliberate pace, building dread as demonic forces sow division and death. The emotional texture is defined by earnest heroism, the frustration of unheeded warnings, and the poignant ache of a romance shadowed by a looming, tragic sacrifice. It will delight readers who crave traditional high fantasy filled with elves, talking unicorns, intricate magical rules, and sweeping battles between light and dark.

Mood
  • epic
  • perilous
  • magical
  • foreboding
Tone
  • earnest
  • dramatic
  • sweeping
  • romantic
Pace
steady
Themes
the burden of destiny · rigid tradition vs. wild freedom · impending war · sacrifice for the greater good · cross-cultural romance
The writing
Descriptive and traditional, focusing on expansive world-building and the intricate mechanics of contrasting magic systems.
The arc
Moves from the tense frustration of unheeded warnings to the poignant acceptance of inevitable sacrifice in the face of war.
Who it's for
Fans of classic, sprawling epic fantasy who love detailed magic systems, non-human allies, and high-stakes romantic subplots.
Content notes
  • war
  • death
  • demonic forces
  • impending tragedy

About the book

In The Outstretched Shadow, which was named by VOYA as Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror book for 2003, Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory introduced readers to a complex new fantasy world populated by humans, centaurs, elves, talking unicorns, and demons. The Golden City of the Bells, where only humans live, is ruled by the Mage Council, practitioners of High Magic---a powerful magic that is stable and reliable, though rigidly controlled and performed only by men. Outside the City's walls, humans and magical beings mix freely and call upon Wild Magic---a system sometimes erratic, always driven by desire and need, and performed by both men and women. Now, in To Light a Candle, the Demon Queen sends her forces against her human and elven enemies, sowing distraction and death. In the human City, the Queen's agents work to divide the Council and foment rebellion among the City's citizens.

In the countryside, they target the most vulnerable and valuable---the young Elf Prince and the Wild Mages who might be the Demons' most dangerous enemies. To his own surprise, young Kellen, once the disappointing son of the great Mage who leads the City's Mage Council, has become a powerful Knight-Mage. Valued for his bravery and his skills as both wizard and warrior, Kellen joins the Elves' war councils. Yet he cannot convince the City of his birth that it is in terrible danger. Kellen's sister Idalia, a Wild Mage with great healing ability, has pledged her heart to Jermayan, a proud Elven warrior. Someday Idalia will pay a tragic Price for a world-saving work of Wild Magic, but until then, she will claim any joy life can offer her. Jermayan, who has learned much while fighting at Kellen's side and loving the human Idalia, finds that everything changes when he Bonds with a dragon while rescuing the Elf Prince and becomes the first Elven Mage in a thousand years.

Furious at her enemies' success with the dragon, the Demon Queen attacks in force. Light struggles against Dark, like flickering candleflames buried deep in the shadow of Obsidian Mountain.

Description from Open Library.

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