Mercedes Lackey is one of my favorite authors. There are currently 4 books in the new series she and James Mallorey have been co-authoring. The original trilogy ‘The Obsidian Trilogy” contains The Outstretched Shadow, To Light a Candle and When Darkness Falls. The Phoenix Unchained is the 4th from this series and looks like it’s gonna start up a new trilogy. It’s got great characters, a fun and creative magic system, and while the bad guys are a little predictable, it doesn’t even begin to dent an otherwise great read. The world they paint in your head is beautiful, and even the minor characters are well rounded. I highly recommend it.

The Outstretched Shadow

The Obsidian Trilogy: Book One

The Obsidian Mountain Trilogy (Volume 1 of 3)

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

Kellen Tavadon, son of the Arch-Mage Lycaelon, thought he knew the way the world worked. His father, leading the wise and benevolent Council of Mages,…

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Mass Market Paperbound Published: September 2004

The Phoenix Unchained

Book One of The Enduring Flame

Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory

New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory first teamed up to write The Obsidian Trilogy, set in a wondrous world…

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Hardcover Published: October 2007

Some other books I recommend from Mercedes Lackey are:

Heralds of Valdemar:

Arrows of the Queen

Arrow’s Flight

Arrow’s Fall

Vows and Honor

The Last Herald Mage

I like the rest of the Valdemar stuff, but these are my favorite out of them.