Scan barcode
ladyethyme's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure why I decided to torture myself by finishing this trilogy, but here we are.
First let me say a few things that I enjoyed about this trilogy. The writing itself is not bad. It is perfectly competent. There are even moments where it made me laugh, and I was able to relate to some of the characters. And more than one instance where a tear pricked my eye.
However, personally I think the avalanche of faults with this series vastly overwhelms positive aspects that it may have.
It seems that pretty much every situation at least in the last book is resolved due to deus ex machina.
Basically I can sum it up in one sentence. "Stupid people doing stupid things and whining a lot."
A LOT.
And plot holes.
And I hate love triangles, and 'comedy of errors'. And reeeeally hate 'love at first sight'. The entire 'we don't need to talk and actually get to know each other'.
And since when is it rational to have a monarch AND the heir of a kingdom BOTH leave in order to visit a prospective husband? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. Risking the entire monarchy?!
Nobody is that stupid. Why on earth wouldn't the Prince come and visit THEM? That's...how it's done.
Oh yeah.
"Plot". 🙄
No actual reason why Rolan couldn't mind speak to the other companions on his journey back but....naaaah. (The magicians were nowhere near to block him anyway). And once THERE, he could absolutely have related the entire instant to every other companion… But does he do this? Naaaah.
Where is the rest of Valdemar's army? I mean lord, in the wars that killed the king, they were like at least 30,000…
Where are they? There was more than enough time for them to be sent for as reinforcements. They had time to get a bunch of old healers out of retirement and to the battlefield… Where is the rest of the army?
🤷🏻‍♀️ And how are they FEEDING this extra 1000 soldiers that defected??
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ohallows's review against another edition
3.25
I'm gonna be completely honest the romance did absolutely nothing for me. it felt very shoehorned in like ohhh they have a lifebond watch as they don't interact for two books but they're in ~love~ like.... talias relationship w Kris felt so much more sustainable (and let me be clear i did not want those two together, their dynamic was perfect as is). I wish Talia could have just been an awesome cool herald without needing to be bonded to a guy who's like. kinda a scrub tbh. he was so cool and fiery in the first books and so lame in this one.
lillywing's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I didn’t like this one as much as the others. It felt very slow. I’m also so confused because I’m p sure this is a trilogy but it ended with them still in war? What’s going to happen with Ancar?
I didn’t like this one as much as the others. It felt very slow. I’m also so confused because I’m p sure this is a trilogy but it ended with them still in war? What’s going to happen with Ancar?
badmiracle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Torture and Rape
asimm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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? No
3.0
laurentined's review against another edition
The conflicts between heralds all being centered around them just annoyingly not communicating with each other to preserve one another's feelings was the first half of this book.
I thought the second half would get better with this statecraft missions. But the. The beginning of chapter 8 happened, iykyk. And I just ran out of chances to give Mercedes Lackey.
I thought the second half would get better with this statecraft missions. But the. The beginning of chapter 8 happened, iykyk. And I just ran out of chances to give Mercedes Lackey.
nymeria1090's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tallyhotel's review against another edition
5.0
*Deep sigh* Still a five star read. Still brings tears to my eyes. I keep shaking my head every time the narrator says Karse as car-see, but that's a me problem. It never occured to 14 year old me to pronounce it that way. LOL. Otherwise, the narrator is fabulous. Same one for all three books.
In my opinion, this trilogy is where you start for Valdemar, even though it's labeled Valdemar #27 or some such. It was #1 in publishing order! It's the best imo, because Talia learns what is going on at the same rate we do...it's a good plot device!
It took me this reread to catch that Kris' family loses a Shin'a'in (sp?) stallion in the floods, and that the loss will be hard to replace...
I always thought the Shin'a'in in the later books came out of nowhere...but there they were (that reference might have been book 2? Convo with Orthallen about home). Not that it really matters, but it gave me a smile to realize.
It's been a good 20 years since I've read these books and honestly I was a bit afraid to go back and read them again. Sometimes you just can't go home. However, these stood up every bit to the memory I had and I couldn't be more pleased with this reread.
In my opinion, this trilogy is where you start for Valdemar, even though it's labeled Valdemar #27 or some such. It was #1 in publishing order! It's the best imo, because Talia learns what is going on at the same rate we do...it's a good plot device!
It took me this reread to catch that Kris' family loses a Shin'a'in (sp?) stallion in the floods, and that the loss will be hard to replace...
I always thought the Shin'a'in in the later books came out of nowhere...but there they were (that reference might have been book 2? Convo with Orthallen about home). Not that it really matters, but it gave me a smile to realize.
It's been a good 20 years since I've read these books and honestly I was a bit afraid to go back and read them again. Sometimes you just can't go home. However, these stood up every bit to the memory I had and I couldn't be more pleased with this reread.