Lyonesse: Madouc

From Amazon:  The World Fantasy Award-winning third volume of the LYONESSE trilogy brings attention to the faerie changeling Madouc. Where princess Suldrun once meekly endured the proprieties of Castle Haidion, Madouc defends herself with rotten fruit. Vexed, King Casmir arranges a contest to marry her off, but Madouc has other ideas, and enlists the stableboy "Sir Pom-pom" on an impromptu quest to find her father. During their travels, they encounter swindlers, faeries, trolls, ogres, a knight in search of his youth, and a relatively pedestrian item known as the Holy Grail. As the sorcerers Shimrod and Murgen investigate portents of cataclysm in the world of magic, Casmir plans a murder that will bring all the lands under his iron rule; however, his ambitions will be complicated by one small but important oversight—he's failed to allow for Madouc! 

I found this series in my quest to learn what 'non-Tolkien' fantasy was all about.  It is something I hear all the time - that so and so author is just another Tolkien rip-off but I've never actually seen it.  This, likely because I only read LOTR in the last few years, well after I'd read plenty of modern fantasy books.   I really enjoyed the series, although the greatness of the books seemed to decline with each book.  The first was fantastic and amazing and wonderful.  I loved the scope of the book, the is a great history built into the story and it reads more like history than fiction.  I enjoyed the fact that Vance uses a broad vocabulary and really put my Kindle's dictionary to good use for this one!  The world of Lyonesse is one that I would have been thrilled to see more sequels and prequels for.  I'd like to know more about various magicians and to see how Madouc and Dhrun got on in the world.  I don't know if it's really answered any questions for me as to what is Tolkien fantasy and what isn't, but I certainly enjoyed the read.

Lyonesse: The Green Pearl - Jack Vance

From Amazon:  In this second volume of the Lyonesse trilogy, THE GREEN PEARL, King Aillas of Troicinet defends the peace of the Elder Isles against both the Ska marauders who once enslaved him and the wicked King Casmir. While organizing the unruly barons in the frontiers of his land, Aillas goes out of his way to capture the lovely Ska noblewoman who once stung him with her disregard. When he gets separated from his men, his dream of forcing the lady's recognition becomes the toil of dragging an obstreperous captive across lands governed by Casmir's henchmen. Meanwhile, the world of magic has gone on the move. The concentrated malice of the witch Desmei has manifested as a green pearl, breeding lust and envy and death; and a sorcerer in Casmir's employ abducts the princess Glyneth, in a bid to draw Aillas and friends on a hopeless rescue mission across a bizarre and deadly alternate world. 

My thoughts:  I'll comment on all three together in the post for the last book.