Anthology with something for everyone

Normally an anthology has a few stories I don’t warm to. This set of tales are all winners.
An equal smattering of derring do heralds, normal folk, guards and healers stories taking place both outside and inside Haven. The clue to the tales is in the title of the anthology. Many of the characters do win through using nothing but their own potential, or what’s available where they are at that moment. Making do brilliantly.
My particular favorite (although it was a hard call) was ‘Look to Your Houses’ by Fiona Pattern. Set in one of Haven’s least desirable areas. When a new lieutenant is to join the Guards down in the Iron Street district and everything including inventory reports were to be in order, well Sergeant Hektor Dann had to take action
This area was running more like a family with guards allowing for an old granny who needed some milk, or the missing guard house key (gone these last 20 odd years), or young lads spending the night in jail to sleep things off with no fine. So how to make the reports tally and everything ship shape ready for the new lieutenant who knows nothing about the families and traditions of this lowly area—the tanneries.
Just one of the often highly amusing stories in this collection. Although many are also times of testing and finding your destiny, settling into your own path.
Mercedes Lackey’s contribution is the icing on the cake!

A DAW ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

When it comes to the world of Valdemar, I often enter it like going out to dinner with an old friend. In this case, it's a banquet, and while I expect a variety of dishes at such a spread, I was hoping for more of a variety of flavors. We live in rough times, a lot of us are making do with less and making that less stretch further. I read for escapism, for that moment when chosen and Companion lock eyes and suddenly realize they're not alone in the world, that they are special, meant to be. That moment wasn't depicted in any of the stories, and most of the stories felt as if they were pulled from the lives of ordinary Valedmar, and that Valdemar is too much like the world in which most of us live, a place where people have to do too much with not enough.

I guess I should have taken my clue from the title, but I'd hoped that anything would be more magical and that nothing not quite as bleak. I enjoyed this visit to Valdemar, just wished it didn't feel so cold and that the candles would perhaps burn a little brighter. ( )

Wow, yes, thumbs-up!

Mercedes Lackey's is one of my favorite fantasy series and I was very eager to read this anthology.

I found this collection of 21 stories to be a excellent addition to the world of Valdemar with a few excursions to other well-known locations.

While I missed seeing a few old friends, met in previous anthologies and novels from the series itself, there were new stories and friends to take their place.

The authors Ms. Lackey invited to be part of this collection all seemed well versed in the world that is Valdemar with only a couple times that had me thinking 'hmmm?'.

I find myself going to past anthologies and following the miniseries some authors have created as they unfold, giving us their particular view of the wonderfully luscious world Ms. Lackey created.

Thank-you to DAW and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. ( )