Anthology of short stories about Lythande, a woman who must stay disguised as a man or lose her sorcery and her life.

The Secret of the Blue Star
Not my favorite story, but a poignant look at how difficult it can be for Lythande to have to hide the truth from everyone.

The Incompetant Magician
Lythande performs a task for a fellow magician in exchange for a remnant of her past. The story itself isn't that interesting, but I like the end.

Somebody Else's Magic
Lythande's secret is threatened when she helps a dying woman and is bound by somebody else's magic. A frustrating story with a weird ending.

Sea Wrack
Lythande decides to help a fishing village rid itself of a murderous mermaid. I really quite like this one, and it brings to mind several old fairy tales I've heard.

The Wandering Lute
Lythande attempts to disenchant a lute and has several amusing adventures on the way. There is a sequel story, The Gratitude of Kings, that isn't in this book. I like both stories; there are several entertaining characters and situations.

Looking for Satan by Vonda McIntyre
This story isn't told from Lythande's perspective but that of Wess, a girl from the north who has come south with her companions to find their kidnapped friend Satan. They meet Lythande in the city and Wess and Lythande strike up a curious relationship. It is definitely the strongest story in the bunch and my favorite. ( )

A chance purchase in a second-hand bookshop turns out to be my favourite Marion Zimmer Bradley yet. Lythande is a mercenary magician minstrel, an adept of the Blue Star, using magic for the law in the face of the forces of chaos. So far, so good. But Lythande is also a woman, and if anyone were to find out her power would be diminished and she can be killed. Needless to say, this difficult state of affairs leads her into a fair few problems.
This lovely (and far too short) volume follows Lythande as she copes with the love of a young girl, an incompetent wizard, a magic sword which won't leave her alone (and unfortunately is known to be only able to be handled by women), and a magical lute which forces her to take an unwelcome path. Enchanting! ( )

Wonderful anthology of stories about the wizard Lythande. Lythande is a woman, but if anyone ever finds out, her magic will not work. MZB is a great author, check out her historical fiction! ( )

As an Adept of the Blue Star school, Lythande is unique in many ways. The most amazing--and problematic--of these is the fact that Lythande is a female. why is this a problem? For one, Blue Star Adepts can NEVER EVER be females--it is one of the main rules of the order. But Lythande is a female, and it is her most important secret, because it is the secret that allows her to control her magical powers. If another Adept knew her secret, they could steal her magic power which would kill Lythande and leave one less Adept to fight against the chaos at the end of time.

These are a few of the tales of Lythande, immortal Blue Star Adept. ( )

Short stories around a wizard called Lythande, but linked together. ( )