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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Third in the Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles which provides us with background on how the current three colleges—Bardic, Herald, and Healer—came to exist using the mystery that surrounds Bardic Trainee Mags.
The Story
Having uncovered the group of assassins seeking to destablize Valdemar, Nikolas, the King's Own Herald, is still suspicious. He believes that the original group never left Haven and he is determined to find and eliminate them using an undercover role he created years ago. In this, he intends to include young Mags, a Bardic Trainee, to whom he has been teaching spycraft techniques.
A tricky dance of spying on extremely able assassins while balancing the more public promotion of the changes in the Colleges through the new sport of Kirball along with the individual issues rising up amongst Mags' friends leaves Mags with a very tense summer. Bear's innovations bring praise from the Healers at Haven even as his Healer family despises him for not having a Gift while Amily grows more and more impatient for her promised surgery to deliver her from her crippled state while under threat. Lena. Lena almost has it worst of all with her selfish, egotistical father, Bard Marchand, as he defrauds those around him and betrays everyone for his own ends.
The Characters
While Mags is the obvious lead with a great deal of strength of character and high morals, he is seconded by Nikolas and his own Companion, Dallen, with Bear, a Healer Trainee, with no Gift but amazing skills. Additional strong support comes from Lena, a Gifted Bardic Trainee, in love with Bear and Amily, Nikolas' crippled daughter who is loved by Mags.
Nikolas grants Mags permission to assemble his own support team as the two of them escalate their own relationship of teacher-student...and friends. It's an interesting trick demonstrating the power of being friends with people from all levels of society and age groups.
My Take
The central theme for this particular sub-series within the main series of Valdemar is of the development of the three Collegiums into a more central educational system instead of the previous apprentice-mentor roles. Using Mags as the central character allows Lackey to set up scenarios of attack while giving power to children as the resolution builds their self-confidence...which is what we want for our own children. Mags brings personality and empathy while his adventures create a fascinating story.
I strongly encourage parents to introduce their kids to the Valdemar series. There is such strength of character and high moral values expressed in this series. Lackey does an amazing job of creating a fascinating series of stories that I simply can't put down until I have finished them. And then I feel rather desperate to find the next! I HATE having to wait for #4 in this particular subset!!
The Cover
The cover is basically the same concept as the first two although initially it appears different. It's simply more complex in its background of a red-toned chessboard with rooks representing the castle at Haven creating the diagonal lines. It does include the gold-framed picture-in-picture with a red-trimmed Dallen rearing up to protect Mags from a masked abductor recalling the scene from the Kirball exhibition game. The one false note is the series of ropes around Dallen's neck as someone attempts to control his efforts.
The Story
Having uncovered the group of assassins seeking to destablize Valdemar, Nikolas, the King's Own Herald, is still suspicious. He believes that the original group never left Haven and he is determined to find and eliminate them using an undercover role he created years ago. In this, he intends to include young Mags, a Bardic Trainee, to whom he has been teaching spycraft techniques.
A tricky dance of spying on extremely able assassins while balancing the more public promotion of the changes in the Colleges through the new sport of Kirball along with the individual issues rising up amongst Mags' friends leaves Mags with a very tense summer. Bear's innovations bring praise from the Healers at Haven even as his Healer family despises him for not having a Gift while Amily grows more and more impatient for her promised surgery to deliver her from her crippled state while under threat. Lena. Lena almost has it worst of all with her selfish, egotistical father, Bard Marchand, as he defrauds those around him and betrays everyone for his own ends.
The Characters
While Mags is the obvious lead with a great deal of strength of character and high morals, he is seconded by Nikolas and his own Companion, Dallen, with Bear, a Healer Trainee, with no Gift but amazing skills. Additional strong support comes from Lena, a Gifted Bardic Trainee, in love with Bear and Amily, Nikolas' crippled daughter who is loved by Mags.
Nikolas grants Mags permission to assemble his own support team as the two of them escalate their own relationship of teacher-student...and friends. It's an interesting trick demonstrating the power of being friends with people from all levels of society and age groups.
My Take
The central theme for this particular sub-series within the main series of Valdemar is of the development of the three Collegiums into a more central educational system instead of the previous apprentice-mentor roles. Using Mags as the central character allows Lackey to set up scenarios of attack while giving power to children as the resolution builds their self-confidence...which is what we want for our own children. Mags brings personality and empathy while his adventures create a fascinating story.
I strongly encourage parents to introduce their kids to the Valdemar series. There is such strength of character and high moral values expressed in this series. Lackey does an amazing job of creating a fascinating series of stories that I simply can't put down until I have finished them. And then I feel rather desperate to find the next! I HATE having to wait for #4 in this particular subset!!
The Cover
The cover is basically the same concept as the first two although initially it appears different. It's simply more complex in its background of a red-toned chessboard with rooks representing the castle at Haven creating the diagonal lines. It does include the gold-framed picture-in-picture with a red-trimmed Dallen rearing up to protect Mags from a masked abductor recalling the scene from the Kirball exhibition game. The one false note is the series of ropes around Dallen's neck as someone attempts to control his efforts.
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A better entry than the previous book. A fun Valdemar book!
kraley's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little disappointed in the caricatures of characters that were in this installment. I mean, would any real person cry as much as Leena, be as big of a wimp as Bear? I liked Mags' character and thought he was well developed and interesting, but, I didn't believe that he could all of a sudden become as good as master thieves, etc. the interaction with the heartstone was interesting. I was disappointed not to find out more about Mags' past. The good thing is that even though this was labelled as a trilogy, it is obvious that another book will be forthcoming.
alboyer6's review against another edition
3.0
A good audiobook series, I enjoy the narrator and the story though a few spots the characters got a little whiny. I'm looking forward to the wrap up of the series in the 4 book.
jmoses's review against another edition
3.0
This felt rushed, and like the plot was lifted almost whole cloth from a previous work of hers. Different in the details, but real similar. It was entertaining, but I wasn't thrilled.
tani's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this one was quite a bit better than the second book in the series. It certainly felt like it moved along much better, and I read it at a pretty quick clip as a result. I was really surprised to find that it doesn't finish off the series, though. Since when do Valdemar books go longer than a trilogy? Still, it gives me something else to read when the Valdemar urge comes upon me again.
mikaiten's review against another edition
3.0
I'm absolutely loving these new books in the Valdemar series, but I'm concerned that we're on the third book and still lacking resolution. Usually Lackey writes in trilogies, so I'm curious to see if another installment of the Collegium Chronicles is on it's way. Mags' story definitely hasn't been resolved, and I'm sure there is much more to be said about the rest of the characters involved as well.
ipomoea's review against another edition
2.0
This was the first Valdemar book that I walked away from midway, and had to talk myself into picking up again. I've been reading these books for twenty years, and normally when I pick one up for the first time, I tear through it.
Not this title, though. Between Lackey's portrayal of Mags' speech ("allus", dropping aitches like they're going out of style, "figger"), and the interminable Quiddich-- sorry, Kirball-- sections, it bored me. What kept me going are the small references to events and people of previous times in the world, giving you an idea of what life was like in that big gap between Vanyel and Alberich.
While I'm glad I read it, I'm also glad I didn't purchase it, and will probably only add it to my collection if I find a used paperback. As someone who owns almost all the Valdemar books in hardcover (purchased new), that's a pretty damning situation. I'll keep reading the series, of course, but in general, it's burned me enough that it's strictly a "library first" series. I keep reading Valdemar books in the vain hope that Lackey will finally write about the founding of Valdemar, but instead we keep getting "plucky orphan" books.
Not this title, though. Between Lackey's portrayal of Mags' speech ("allus", dropping aitches like they're going out of style, "figger"), and the interminable Quiddich-- sorry, Kirball-- sections, it bored me. What kept me going are the small references to events and people of previous times in the world, giving you an idea of what life was like in that big gap between Vanyel and Alberich.
While I'm glad I read it, I'm also glad I didn't purchase it, and will probably only add it to my collection if I find a used paperback. As someone who owns almost all the Valdemar books in hardcover (purchased new), that's a pretty damning situation. I'll keep reading the series, of course, but in general, it's burned me enough that it's strictly a "library first" series. I keep reading Valdemar books in the vain hope that Lackey will finally write about the founding of Valdemar, but instead we keep getting "plucky orphan" books.
rainbowdragonz's review against another edition
4.0
My favourite part about this book is how much effort and detail Lackey puts into creating a believable spy plot. The alternate personas, the fence, the twist of gift and talent to create a completely believable herald spy. And I enjoy how it ends in a complete cliff hanger.
xofelf's review against another edition
5.0
Can I have the next book now? I like that this isn't her usual trilogy, but ugh. I wanna know how it ends. I've missed series where a new Herald is Chosen and all their adventures after. Please write more Valdemar books taking places in those gaps, Mercedes Lackey. Totally want to know what else happened since the founding and after Vanyel.