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midici's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book on a whim. When I was younger I read almost all of Lackey's Valdemar series after a family friend gave me an entire box of her books. The tales here were pretty good but it's been such a long time since I've read some of her books that I struggled to remember associations between the new characters introduced and the older ones that were mentioned/involved in these tales.
saphirablue's review against another edition
3.0
As always - some I loved. Some I like. Some are not for me.
I really enjoy that there are some stories with new characters and adventures and some characters we've met in the other books and we again get a glimpse in their lives. :)
xeni's review against another edition
3.0
I had this weird sense of deja vu while reading this Valdemar collection. At least half of these stories I've read before. But I have no record of it - no previous addition to GR, no hard copy on my shelf, no recollection of the other half of these stories so I probably did not read this exact book before. Did half these stories get sold and end up in other short story collections as well? It's just so strange.
Anyway, as usual with SS collections I find them either 1. too simple or 2. I want more. Since the authors don't need to focus on creating the setting (Valdemar is so established by now, it's probably rather easy to write in this world as an outside author), I expect a higher quality of story. You should be writing compelling characters with interesting plots. And I expect even more from the authors who are writing series (like the Dann siblings one), since they have even less character work to do! But overall these stories left me feeling a bit meh.
I'll keep reading the Valdemar SS collections. How can I not when I adore the world? I'm hoping that their quality also improves as I move up in the years.
Anyway, as usual with SS collections I find them either 1. too simple or 2. I want more. Since the authors don't need to focus on creating the setting (Valdemar is so established by now, it's probably rather easy to write in this world as an outside author), I expect a higher quality of story. You should be writing compelling characters with interesting plots. And I expect even more from the authors who are writing series (like the Dann siblings one), since they have even less character work to do! But overall these stories left me feeling a bit meh.
I'll keep reading the Valdemar SS collections. How can I not when I adore the world? I'm hoping that their quality also improves as I move up in the years.
bookwyrm37's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
Discussed as past events in 1 or 2 stories, nothing graphicmsjb22's review against another edition
2.0
As usual with anthologies, a bit of a mixed bag, but this one wasn't as good as some of the others...
pandaofhugs's review against another edition
5.0
So Valdemar and Mercedes Lackey have been one of my favorite worlds and authors for a long time. This is a fantastic! collection of short stories (about 20 pages apiece give or take a few) by a myriad of authors. Including one by Mercedes Lackey herself! (its the very last one) but well worth the wait to read all of them.
inferiorwit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Drug use, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, and Death of parent
whisper88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
libra17's review against another edition
2.0
Kinda Lackluster
I'll be honest: I got this almost entirely for the short story about Vanyel. That being said, I'm working my way through the other short story anthologies and had high hopes for the other stories in this volume. Such, however, was not meant to be. The only two stories from this collection that I really liked were Consequences Unforseen and Vixen. Here's to hoping some of the other anthologies have more to them.
I'll be honest: I got this almost entirely for the short story about Vanyel. That being said, I'm working my way through the other short story anthologies and had high hopes for the other stories in this volume. Such, however, was not meant to be. The only two stories from this collection that I really liked were Consequences Unforseen and Vixen. Here's to hoping some of the other anthologies have more to them.