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kathydavie's review
5.0
Fourth in the Collegium Chronicles, a sub-series in the overall Valdemar series for young adults. This particular subset revolves around the Herald-Trainee Mags and his Companion Dallen.
My Take
Oooh, we delve a bit further into Mags' mysterious background! I must say, Lackey had me worried toward the end of Changes.
Story-wise, the first half was more of a day-in-the-life of Mags and his friends. It's actually more interesting than I've made it sound as it includes Bear and Lena's new adventures and Bear's father's trouncing (yes!!); the spying missions that Mags undertakes within the town; and, the Kirball games at which Mags excels. It's the second half that becomes a lot more "exciting" and dangerous. It's also furthers Mags (and our) discovery of a lot more about his past as well as back history on how the Karsite religion got so far out of whack.
Oh, wow...Bear makes the gravest pronouncement on his father. Totally fair, and utterly devastating.
I must say, I don't understand why Mags' kidnappers were so secretive. I would have thought providing him with some background would have achieved a great deal more. Although, there would have been less chance of our meeting Franse and Reaylis!
Good lessons in here for the kids (and adults!): independence, confidence, humility, the importance of not labeling someone, and a look at how the skills of others can be adapted to one's own interests---making lessons in seemingly silly subjects suddenly appear desirable. There's an incident in here about the importance of loyalty and keeping secrets and a great example of making mature decisions. I love the bit of charity Nikolas provides a woodworker. It's helping without rubbing the man's nose in it!
I certainly feel a strong desire to learn something about woodcraft and gathering food!
I like how Lackey handled the dream sequence and the very real feel she created with Mags waking up from the drugs with which the kidnappers plied him. There was a lovely bit of practical diplomatic philosophy on the part of Reaylis as well. It's a sweet dream to think our own politicians could ever embrace such a concept...
The Story
It opens with the unpretentious wedding of Prince Sedric and Lydia, Master Soren's niece. The Karsite assassins who tried to take Amily have forced the celebrations to remain local and the story remains local with everyday events for the first half.
Part of Mags' tasks is to go undercover as Harkon in the pawnshop for Willie the Weasel. It's on his way home that he feels the watcher. A mysterious presence that neither he nor Dallen can classify. One to which they'll wish they had paid more attention.
The Characters
Mags, a Herald Trainee, is a Kirball star and a secret spy for Nikolas; Dallen is his Companion. His Gift is Mindspeech, being able to speak to anyone at all mind-to-mind. Mags has come a long way from the scrubby miner's slave he was a short time ago. "Harkon" is his latest disguise under Nikolas' tutelage. Meric is yet another persona.
Bear Tyrall is in love with Lena Marchand. He's a Healer Trainee without a standard Gift other than that of working with herbs and she's a Bardic Trainee whose father is in huge disgrace. Healer Tyrall is Bear's truculent father, adamant that Bear return home and stop his nonsense. Father Poule runs a Temple of Rusal in Haven which helps the poor and Bear spends time there regularly helping to heal people.
Nikolas is the King's Own Herald---and Willie the Weasel---and Rolan is his Companion; Amily is his unGifted daughter about whom Mags is unsure. The operation Bear tried on her has worked! Gennie is the captain of the Kirball team Mags is on. Herald Caelen is the Dean of the Collegium and one of the very few who know about Mags' extracurricular activities for Nikolas. Finny is a trainee with a Gift for Fetching; Mags will put a word in for her.
Brother Franse is a Karsite Red-robe who rescued Mags. Reaylis is a Suncat, a holy creation of the Sunlord Vkandis.
Cole Pieters was the sadistic brute who abused and used toddlers on up to teens to mine jewels. Kan-li and Levor have been sent by the Shadao to retrieve something valuable that was lost. Only, they have a really stupid approach...
The Cover
The cover is consistent with the previous three in this sub-series. Diagonal streaks of a variety of golden suns and their rays are streaming across the deep, deep blue background. A solid, rounded-corner box above contains the necessary text of author, title, and tagline while the same size and shaped frame focus our attention on a lilac Dallen and a raggedy Mags, both crouched to avoid a hail of arrows.
I think the title refers to what Mags discovers, that his Redoubt is his friends and the love they all share, for it holds him strong.
My Take
Oooh, we delve a bit further into Mags' mysterious background! I must say, Lackey had me worried toward the end of Changes.
Story-wise, the first half was more of a day-in-the-life of Mags and his friends. It's actually more interesting than I've made it sound as it includes Bear and Lena's new adventures and Bear's father's trouncing (yes!!); the spying missions that Mags undertakes within the town; and, the Kirball games at which Mags excels. It's the second half that becomes a lot more "exciting" and dangerous. It's also furthers Mags (and our) discovery of a lot more about his past as well as back history on how the Karsite religion got so far out of whack.
Oh, wow...Bear makes the gravest pronouncement on his father. Totally fair, and utterly devastating.
I must say, I don't understand why Mags' kidnappers were so secretive. I would have thought providing him with some background would have achieved a great deal more. Although, there would have been less chance of our meeting Franse and Reaylis!
Good lessons in here for the kids (and adults!): independence, confidence, humility, the importance of not labeling someone, and a look at how the skills of others can be adapted to one's own interests---making lessons in seemingly silly subjects suddenly appear desirable. There's an incident in here about the importance of loyalty and keeping secrets and a great example of making mature decisions. I love the bit of charity Nikolas provides a woodworker. It's helping without rubbing the man's nose in it!
I certainly feel a strong desire to learn something about woodcraft and gathering food!
I like how Lackey handled the dream sequence and the very real feel she created with Mags waking up from the drugs with which the kidnappers plied him. There was a lovely bit of practical diplomatic philosophy on the part of Reaylis as well. It's a sweet dream to think our own politicians could ever embrace such a concept...
The Story
It opens with the unpretentious wedding of Prince Sedric and Lydia, Master Soren's niece. The Karsite assassins who tried to take Amily have forced the celebrations to remain local and the story remains local with everyday events for the first half.
Part of Mags' tasks is to go undercover as Harkon in the pawnshop for Willie the Weasel. It's on his way home that he feels the watcher. A mysterious presence that neither he nor Dallen can classify. One to which they'll wish they had paid more attention.
The Characters
Mags, a Herald Trainee, is a Kirball star and a secret spy for Nikolas; Dallen is his Companion. His Gift is Mindspeech, being able to speak to anyone at all mind-to-mind. Mags has come a long way from the scrubby miner's slave he was a short time ago. "Harkon" is his latest disguise under Nikolas' tutelage. Meric is yet another persona.
Bear Tyrall is in love with Lena Marchand. He's a Healer Trainee without a standard Gift other than that of working with herbs and she's a Bardic Trainee whose father is in huge disgrace. Healer Tyrall is Bear's truculent father, adamant that Bear return home and stop his nonsense. Father Poule runs a Temple of Rusal in Haven which helps the poor and Bear spends time there regularly helping to heal people.
Nikolas is the King's Own Herald---and Willie the Weasel---and Rolan is his Companion; Amily is his unGifted daughter about whom Mags is unsure. The operation Bear tried on her has worked! Gennie is the captain of the Kirball team Mags is on. Herald Caelen is the Dean of the Collegium and one of the very few who know about Mags' extracurricular activities for Nikolas. Finny is a trainee with a Gift for Fetching; Mags will put a word in for her.
Brother Franse is a Karsite Red-robe who rescued Mags. Reaylis is a Suncat, a holy creation of the Sunlord Vkandis.
Cole Pieters was the sadistic brute who abused and used toddlers on up to teens to mine jewels. Kan-li and Levor have been sent by the Shadao to retrieve something valuable that was lost. Only, they have a really stupid approach...
The Cover
The cover is consistent with the previous three in this sub-series. Diagonal streaks of a variety of golden suns and their rays are streaming across the deep, deep blue background. A solid, rounded-corner box above contains the necessary text of author, title, and tagline while the same size and shaped frame focus our attention on a lilac Dallen and a raggedy Mags, both crouched to avoid a hail of arrows.
I think the title refers to what Mags discovers, that his Redoubt is his friends and the love they all share, for it holds him strong.
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Went into a much different direction than I expected though that is a positive. An improvement over the previous 3 books of this series and the best of the bunch clearly.
0uterspacebookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
3.0
kayteeem's review
2.0
Slower paced than other novel sets in this world -- not too surprising since many of those are trilogies. Kirball still seems like a space-filler. It was a nice uncomplicated read for a sick day.
chazbot72's review
3.0
This was a good book, but it was another one where the author told a good story in a long and boring way. It could have been much shorter, but some parts were stretched out almost to the point of my losing interest. I skimmed through about a third of the book and still didn't miss anything.
catherine_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Herald-Trainee Mags has come a long way: from child slave in a gem mine to hero of the Kirball field. He's made friends with his year-mates and team-mates. He's been working with King's Own Herald Nikolas, learning the tricks of the spy trade. In fact, he's doing so well at this last, Nikolas decides to let him run an undercover operation in town on his own.
But one night, Mags is opening the pawnshop--the front for the operation--when he's hit from behind. When he wakes up, he's blindfolded and trussed up like a chicken for the roasting pan, in a conveyance of some kind. Worse, he's head-blind: his Gift of Mindspeech is gone. He can't even sense Dallen, his Companion. If he can't sense Dallen, then Dallen can't sense him, either. And if Dallen can't sense him, then Mags may be on his way to his end...
I found Redoubt rather slow-going. The actual impelling event doesn't happen until halfway through the book. The first half is mainly about Mags' relationships with his friends and Nikolas (and more games of Kirball). Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed it, all of it. But when I read the precis on the back cover, I expected events to move along faster.
On the other hand, the pace definitely allows for more character development. Lackey definitely knows what she's doing. Recommended.
But one night, Mags is opening the pawnshop--the front for the operation--when he's hit from behind. When he wakes up, he's blindfolded and trussed up like a chicken for the roasting pan, in a conveyance of some kind. Worse, he's head-blind: his Gift of Mindspeech is gone. He can't even sense Dallen, his Companion. If he can't sense Dallen, then Dallen can't sense him, either. And if Dallen can't sense him, then Mags may be on his way to his end...
I found Redoubt rather slow-going. The actual impelling event doesn't happen until halfway through the book. The first half is mainly about Mags' relationships with his friends and Nikolas (and more games of Kirball). Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed it, all of it. But when I read the precis on the back cover, I expected events to move along faster.
On the other hand, the pace definitely allows for more character development. Lackey definitely knows what she's doing. Recommended.
pamma's review against another edition
2.0
I was rather disappointed in this book. It was not as captivating as some of the earlier works by Lackey. It almost feels as though she rushed it. I found the story did not hold my attention. At least in this fourth book of the Collegium series there was not the multitude of spelling errors that there were in the first three paperback editions.
fyrekatz's review
5.0
I can't wait for the next novel in this series... I believe my goal for 2013 besides getting a job would be to real all the Valedmar Books! Lets Go!
kraley's review
2.0
I feel sad that I am giving a Valdemar book so few stars, but this just wasn't up to par. The story was slow, repeated too many things from past books, and we STILL had to suffer through a Quiddich, I mean Kirball game. Ugh. Earlier renditions have had a plot that kept the story moving. This one was tiresome and we really didn't have anything added to Mags' story. I'll read the next one in hopes of better fair. This didn't even rate as mediocre.
alboyer6's review
2.0
I had listened to the first three audiobooks of this series. It looks like this volume isn't going to be one so I read it. I was really disappointed with the second half of the story and though Mags was rescued there wasn't much more resolution.