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berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I had fun reading this book. There were some great stories, some not so great ones, but I was just happy to be back in this 'verse.
saphirablue's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly don't know what to write besides - some I love, some I don't. Some I wish that have been longer. Some have been just perfect the way they are. As always with these. :)
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
A wide variety of stories covering the somewhat grubbier parts of Valdemar - Gifts being misused, Heralds in danger, retribution and vengeance, and far more - but somehow it all makes it realer. Each author has taken the core, the heart of Valdemar and stepped off the map in a new direction, broadening the world and adding more depth to both characters and plots. Worth a read by any fan of Valdemar!
(I must admit that I lost my notes, so this review suffers from more brevity than detail.)
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
(I must admit that I lost my notes, so this review suffers from more brevity than detail.)
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
jennifox's review
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Like most anthologies this was a mixed bag, but not one of the stories was great and most weren't even good. A lot weren't even complete stories.
whisper88's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
inferiorwit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Outing, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
Minor: Child death
ktglick's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know about you, but after the most contentious election I've yet lived through, and its continuing aftermath, I need something comforting to read. For pretty much all of November, I immersed myself in Mercedes Lackey's land of Valdemar.
Why? Well, it's a country that's watched over by magical horses who have the ability to choose people who are incorruptible to be their companions and protectors of the land. And the law of the land is that the ruler must be one of them, so no matter what darkness assails them from outside, the people of Valdemar can rest assured that there are good and just people leading them and protecting them.
I could use some of that right about now. After re-reading the "Arrows" trilogy of Lackey's Valdemar series, I continued my journey with this new collection of short stories, with contributions from 24 authors (including Lackey herself).
This collection is probably not the best place to dip into Valdemar for the first time. The stories contain references to peoples, countries, magical concepts and historic and political events from throughout Valdemar's long history. If you aren't passing familiar with the world, you'll be confused. Even I had to do some wiki-ing when I ran into stories from time periods where I hadn't read the books. But I learned a lot about corners of Valdemar I haven't yet seen that whet my appetite for more.
The stories take the perspective of almost everyone possible: Heralds, Bards, Healers, ordinary citizens, citizens of countries that border Valdemar, gryphons and people of the outlying cultures of the country. Given the variety of story subjects and authors, this anthology is bound to be hit and miss for anyone. Any reader who is familiar with Valdemar and the larger world of Velgarth will have their favorites in this book and other stories that don't land for them.
So the question is, is it worth it? I would say if you are already a fan and have read all of the previous books, go for it. It's a chance to return to this world anew, and the last story by Mercedes Lackey and John Dixon is an extension of the Owlflight series that perhaps hints at things to come in future books.
DISCLAIMER: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Why? Well, it's a country that's watched over by magical horses who have the ability to choose people who are incorruptible to be their companions and protectors of the land. And the law of the land is that the ruler must be one of them, so no matter what darkness assails them from outside, the people of Valdemar can rest assured that there are good and just people leading them and protecting them.
I could use some of that right about now. After re-reading the "Arrows" trilogy of Lackey's Valdemar series, I continued my journey with this new collection of short stories, with contributions from 24 authors (including Lackey herself).
This collection is probably not the best place to dip into Valdemar for the first time. The stories contain references to peoples, countries, magical concepts and historic and political events from throughout Valdemar's long history. If you aren't passing familiar with the world, you'll be confused. Even I had to do some wiki-ing when I ran into stories from time periods where I hadn't read the books. But I learned a lot about corners of Valdemar I haven't yet seen that whet my appetite for more.
The stories take the perspective of almost everyone possible: Heralds, Bards, Healers, ordinary citizens, citizens of countries that border Valdemar, gryphons and people of the outlying cultures of the country. Given the variety of story subjects and authors, this anthology is bound to be hit and miss for anyone. Any reader who is familiar with Valdemar and the larger world of Velgarth will have their favorites in this book and other stories that don't land for them.
So the question is, is it worth it? I would say if you are already a fan and have read all of the previous books, go for it. It's a chance to return to this world anew, and the last story by Mercedes Lackey and John Dixon is an extension of the Owlflight series that perhaps hints at things to come in future books.
DISCLAIMER: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
booksandyarniness's review
3.0
3.5 stars. A couple of the stories included were a bit too twee for my tastes, but that is the nature of anthologies.
The final story makes me wonder if it is the lead up to a new book.
The final story makes me wonder if it is the lead up to a new book.
morgandhu's review against another edition
3.0
Tempest, edited by Mercedes Lackey, is yet another in what has become a long series of anthologies of stories set in Velgarth, the world of Valdemar and Heralds and mind-speaking spirits who look like white horses and magic-casting gryphons and other marvels.
It's a fairly strong anthology, with contributors from seasoned veterans like Fiona Patton, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill and Lackey herself, and relative newcomers. Several of the contributors have offered stories which focus on characters they have created and written about before in these anthologies, including Elizabeth Vaughan's stories about widowed ladyHolder Cera, and Patton's tales of the Dann brothers and their adventures as part of Haven's Watch.
Good light reading for anyone looking for a quick Valdemar fix.
*This anthology contains 22 stories, 17 of which were written by women, two of which were written by men, two of which were co-written by both a woman and a man, and one by an author who chose not to be identified by gender.