Mercedes LackeyReseñas

Dull, but not quite as crushingly dull as book 2 of the series. Ten years later there are some problems, a dangerous Adept to the north becomes a problem. The Adept attacks, Valdemer survives. As if anything else were possible.

The family of a thirteen year old girl in a repressive, patriarchal, farming society wants to marry her. She doesn't want to get married. She wants to get away, read books and live adventures and become one of the Heralds of the Queen, with their fabulous intelligent horses. She runs away and finally joins a training institution for young heralds, where she is valued and accepted. So far so good. I love coming of age fantasies, and this is the classic farmboy story, well, farmgirl in this case.

However, once our heroine Talia gets to the heralds' Collegium, we have to realize that Mercedes Lackey is an unsubtle writer. Everything comes too easy for Talia. She is the chosen one for the most important destiny, everyone adores her even though she doesn't socialize with anybody, her psychic horse is the best, she has a stronger mental link with her horse than anyone... As the Queen's own herald, she is expected to civilize the young princess, also know as the Brat, so that she (the Brat) can also be chosen by one of the psychic horses as a companion, which is a prerequisite for becoming heir to the throne. With some basic common-sense discipline Talia accomplishes this easily, which makes us wonder why the queen or someone else had not bothered before.

And everything is like that. I don't have anything against wish-fulfillment coming of age fantasy, Quite the contrary, I like it. But the writing here was a bit too unsubtle for me. For a better writer with similar themes and target audience, I'd suggest Tamora Pierce.

One remarkable thing about this book is that, even though it was written before it was fashionable to have it in YA fantasies, it depicts same-sex relationships between the characters, which is more or less accepted among the heralds but not so much in the outside society. The main character is heterosexual, though. Also, more attention is paid to her sexual life than in other similar young adult coming of age fantasies. Talia tries several times to have sex with a boy she likes. Bizarrely, they are unable to do that, because every time they try to have sex one of them falls asleep. Maybe the author was trying for cute here, but it comes across as a bit ridiculous. Either describe your characters having sex or don't, but having two teenagers repeatedly trying to have sex and being unable to do so because they fall asleep is just silly.

So it's not like I disliked this. I read the whole book. It was easy reading. But it could have been done better.

questo libro è fortemente offensivo!
una merdosa novella di 20 pagine ripetuta e rimestata per 300. Che per motivi editoriali un autore debba allungare il brodo posso capirlo ma qui si esagera al punto di offendere l intelligenza dei lettori

I had a lot of difficulty getting the book, and after all the fuss I can't say that Valdemar was worth it. I already felt that this trilogy was too much - to much drama, too much magic, certainly too much blood and gore. The final volume even more so. Too bad. Even the coming of the first companions didn't really work for me.

This is one of my very favourite novels - and, in fact, the one I take my name from. I love Mercedes Lackey, I love Valdemar, and I particularly love Lavan and Kalira, for all that this book definitely makes me cry - it's not a bad kind of crying, and it's an example of a trope I truly love when done well (when in the right mood) for the ending.

Drama and realistic showing of trauma and bullying, and also anxiety, war, love, despair. . . A beautiful book.

First printing

First printing

First printing

Very easy reading and I enjoyed the story.
I believe this is my first Mercedes Lackey read and it reminded me very much of Anne McCaffrey.
I do feel that there was not much of a plot - was the typical lowborn, neglected abused nobody is discovered as the "chosen one". There was danger from unknown villains that appeared to be resolved while still remaining basically unknown villains.
I'll forgive the lack of plot as this being the introductory "coming of age" part of the trilogy and expect there to be more challenges and a beefier plotline in the next 2 books.

Easy enough to read and finally the trilogy found something resembling a plot.
However, no real depth to any of the villains and the battle scene was extremely short. Also not fully resolved by the end.
The whole romance saga was just annoying.
I found myself enjoying he book but on reflection I think I'm mostly disappointed.

Pleasant enough book, but a bit like the first - not much of a plot and in the end, really not much happening.
The heroine of the series is likable enough and I like the fact that she is a strong woman and treads her own path along with issues and insecurities like us all.

Still waiting for the blurb from the first book suggesting that she was desperately needed and has come at just the right time to save the kingdom to eventuate.
Third book perhaps?

Valdemar is the conclusion of the Founding of Valdemar series, which is a prequel to the larger Valdemar series that starts with Arrows of the Queen.

The Valdemar series has always been cozy fic, before cozy fic was a thing. It is a fluffy, escapist delight. Yes there are bad guys, but it's never so bad we can't beat them, and the good guys are truly good. It's not too complex, so if you're looking for deeply flawed heroes or anti-heroes, this isn't the place to look. Every child who reads these books (and most of the adults, I'd wager) dream about being chosen by a Companion, joining the ranks of the Heralds and being welcomed into an enormous found family, and adventuring on the side of Right and Good. Because the Kingdom of Valdemar has always stood on the principles of what is right and good, and the Companions are what has anchored the Kingdom and it's government and people to that foundation.

And in the concluding book of this trilogy, we finally get what we've been waiting for - the story of how, when and why the first Companions appeared in Valdemar, bonding with their Chosen and changing the trajectory of a budding new kingdom.

I read this book as a palate cleanser in between some heavier books, and it was exactly what I needed. It's like a light, airy desert after a rich and heavy dinner. This book in particular did feel a little less detailed in it's story and plot than the first two of the trilogy, and that's the only reason it's not a full four stars - I'd give it a 3.8 if I could do partials. But it was still a perfect 'curl up under a blanket with some tea and daydream' book.

If you are a fan of the original Valdemar series, then this is a must read. If you were a horse girl as a child, this is a must read. Or if you're just looking for a magical, cozy fantasy fic to relax with, then this is it.

Wow. It's been awhile since I've ready any Lackey--I found the Valdemar? stuff too simplistic and the characters
one dimensional, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Even with the obligatory romance that every writer seems to think YA needs. (I must have been the only teenager that thought life was too interesting to bother with boys. It colors my thinking). She has stayed away from the (dramatic music) love triangle, although I almost thought it was in the works at one point.

There was some talk of this being a mashup of the Mockingjay series, but I don't really get that feeling. I found that series VERY depressing. Joy is a good person who enjoys life and the people around her. She's humble, intelligent and has a great sense of self while remaining a teenaged character rather than an adult stuffed into a teenaged body (as some YA characters are).

Joy is a bit a a Mary Sue when it comes to magic, but not enough to ruin the story so far. As an indicator of how much I liked it, I purchased the Kindle & audiobooks for #2 and pre-ordered #3 in Kindle. Looking forward to how things shake out.

I just read over some reviews. A LOT of folks didn't like it, but I did appreciate one comment: "What it is is a paranormal/mythological/post-apocalyptic/dystopian mashup. "

EDIT - I forgot to mention the audiobook, I went between it and the Kindle version. The narration was well done. I could picture what I was seeing and I liked the author's variances from character to character.

Nice installment to this YA series, but Lackey is really treading the line on the protaganist. We'll see with Book #4, but one more 'save' and she'll have turn into a full-blown Mary Sue.

1.5/5 maybe. It's so awkward when the eeeeevil villain is totally right about the evils of colonialism.

Gosh I forgot how much Lackey likes to Tell, and in slightly ridiculous detail. Does she... edit?

I enjoyed this. I rather suspect that I would not have if I didn't know the while series so well.

2/3 of the book is people processing their emotions, as internal monologue or with one another. Unclear if the emotional processing would be less of a slog if Vanyel was less whiny and obnoxious---I don't think so. It's not Lackey's best book. But it's a classic of gay fantasy. Best read by preteens.

Another reread. Mercedes Lackey is one of those authors you have to read in your adolescent years to appreciate. Arrows is (mostly) well-written-- I began to notice some awkward spots this time around-- and certainly fun, but far from great literature.

Fantasy

Historical Fiction

Dystopia

Dystopia

Dystopia

The third book in the Herald Spy trilogy sees Mags and Amily both growing into their adult responsibilities. Mags is busy with his poor orphans down in Haven. He has rescued them from the men who want to use them as thieves and is teaching them to carry messages and work in a variety of wealthy households. Along the way they are bringing him valuable intelligence that he is using to keep Valdemar safe.

Amily is also busy up at the Court. She is working with her own intelligence network among the Queen's handmaidens. She is also building her skills as the King's Own even though she is a bit resentful that many still consider her father Herald Nikolas the King's Own.

Amily's lower profile comes in useful when a series of anonymous letters threatens the stability of the Court. The letters target women and are filled with misogynistic threats and crude remarks. Mags is also dealing with threats against women in religious orders and woman shop owners down in Haven. It soon becomes clear that the same hand is directing each action. But finding out who is a difficult task.

Mags is focused on a religious order that worships the patriarchal god Sethor because of their dismissive attitude toward women. But it seems that the attacks require mind gifts. Mags didn't know that mind gifts could exist outside of the Heralds.

This was an excellent episode in Mags's story. It is also a great return to the world of Valdemar with its Heralds and Companions. I enjoyed the story.

This second volume in the Herald Spy series has as a central focus Mags and Amily's wedding. The king wants to use the occasion of the marriage of the King's Own Herald to do some political things. Mags and Amily put Lady Dia in charge and know that all they will need to do is show up. Both Amily and Mags are busy with their day jobs; Amily is learning her role as a the King's Own Herald and setting up a spy network among the impoverished young women of good family who are poor relations of little hope and prospects. Mags is busy working with his own spy network of orphans that he plans to train and put in households where he needs information.

Mags keeps having feeling that something is going to go wrong with the whole wedding. So he convinces Amily that the two should just slip off and get married. They won't tell anyone. But if something goes wrong with the spectacle that is being arranged, at least, they will already be married.

And something does go wrong. Someone is trying to force Valdemar to go to war with its neighbor Menmellith. Menmellith currently has a boy king who is in the care of the council and a disgruntled relative has taken the opportunity to try to foster a rebellion. Menmellith is certain that Valdemar is behind the potential usurper because his troops are using Valdemaran weapons. The King and council know very well that they haven't sanctioned this plan in any way. Heralds are sent scurrying including Mags and his new father-in-law to try to find out who is leading and funding these plan.

I especially liked seeing Mags go back to the area where he started his life and get to see what a well run mine that cares for its workers looks like. We also get to see Mags and some of the younger sons of the mine owners get all involved in Kirball.

This was another excellent story about the Heralds of Valdemar.