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emberise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
tckcallahan's review
5.0
so beautiful and a great escape
I love these books. They are a gorgeous return in times of strife and stress. I love them so dearly. 10/10 recommend
I love these books. They are a gorgeous return in times of strife and stress. I love them so dearly. 10/10 recommend
daeros's review against another edition
5.0
Quiet simply it was a joy to finally see how things began with Elsepth.
To be honest lackey does get better at writing over time, this chapter was her earlist work in the series and believe me one thing she does become in the later books is a better writer. But these 3 are still worth reading.
In part simply because the Fantasy of a Young decently attractive woman being empowered and succeeding in the real world is Something I am all about if you havent noticed my activism. FFS. I pretty much get off on the idea of women running the world or damn close to have a fetish for it Honesty for you- its a kink.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ8Eq_EA4i8 The Good Wife - Alicia Florrick owns judge
I didnt come into this series expecting lackey to disrupt the Fantasy genre with something super original, lacking in formula, or anything.
Ive read her stuff but I also Read George RR martin and I know what disruption in the industry looks like. Believe me.
I am a fan of both.
The thing is the old style wasn't so bad it just kind of conforms to the hero with a thousand faces.
the old heros journey -its present here.
The characters though matter, WHAT we see go through a Heros journey matters.
Lackey basically taught me some of the morals I hold today. She taught me t o see women as Heroes.
I wont forget that.
To be honest lackey does get better at writing over time, this chapter was her earlist work in the series and believe me one thing she does become in the later books is a better writer. But these 3 are still worth reading.
In part simply because the Fantasy of a Young decently attractive woman being empowered and succeeding in the real world is Something I am all about if you havent noticed my activism. FFS. I pretty much get off on the idea of women running the world or damn close to have a fetish for it Honesty for you- its a kink.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ8Eq_EA4i8 The Good Wife - Alicia Florrick owns judge
I didnt come into this series expecting lackey to disrupt the Fantasy genre with something super original, lacking in formula, or anything.
Ive read her stuff but I also Read George RR martin and I know what disruption in the industry looks like. Believe me.
I am a fan of both.
The thing is the old style wasn't so bad it just kind of conforms to the hero with a thousand faces.
the old heros journey -its present here.
The characters though matter, WHAT we see go through a Heros journey matters.
Lackey basically taught me some of the morals I hold today. She taught me t o see women as Heroes.
I wont forget that.
nerdygirlrenee's review
4.0
It's been ten years since I last read this trilogy and picked it up with this new paperback edition.
There were a lot of scenes I remembered, a lot that I didn't, and some scenes that became new favorites. The Valdemar series has always been my favorite, and I loved this one more the second go around.
There were a lot of scenes I remembered, a lot that I didn't, and some scenes that became new favorites. The Valdemar series has always been my favorite, and I loved this one more the second go around.
ombm31329's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
4.25
hellmother's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
arcali's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-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
3.5
Overall, I have mixed feelings on this omnibus. It's three books combined into one and these were Mercedes Lackey's debut books. I felt it started off pretty shakily - a young girl has a pretty awful home life, wishes she were one of the Heralds in her books and all of a sudden, a magical horse appears right on cue. But once the book settles into the meat of the story - Talia learning to be a herald and all that entails, it starts to get pretty enjoyable. I did feel that some parts were a little clear cut for me - I do usually like a bit more 'shades of grey' in my stories these days. I found myself wishing that I'd found this book when I was a teenager - I know I'd have absolutely adored it then, especially as magical horses are involved.
The middle part goes on to cover Talia's internship after finishing being a trainee - she is assigned on a circuit with a more experienced herald. Honestly, this one dragged a bit for me. There are large portions where not a lot is going on, other than the characters repeatedly struggling with their own internal thoughts and feelings.
The last part... takes on a decidedly more mature tone. I would have placed the beginning of the omnibus squarely in YA territory, even with a bit of fade-to-black style romantic encounters along the way, and the very beginning even feels a bit MG in writing style. However, the end of the middle part and much of the last part go into much more adult themes - definitely some content warnings for torture and SA there. Content warnings aside, I found the last 10-15% of the omnibus absolutely gripping reading - it was like Lackey finally found her stride with the action, and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. That alone makes me interested in seeking out more of the Valdemar books, as I'd like to see what they're like once she's really found her stride.
The middle part goes on to cover Talia's internship after finishing being a trainee - she is assigned on a circuit with a more experienced herald. Honestly, this one dragged a bit for me. There are large portions where not a lot is going on, other than the characters repeatedly struggling with their own internal thoughts and feelings.
The last part... takes on a decidedly more mature tone. I would have placed the beginning of the omnibus squarely in YA territory, even with a bit of fade-to-black style romantic encounters along the way, and the very beginning even feels a bit MG in writing style. However, the end of the middle part and much of the last part go into much more adult themes - definitely some content warnings for torture and SA there. Content warnings aside, I found the last 10-15% of the omnibus absolutely gripping reading - it was like Lackey finally found her stride with the action, and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. That alone makes me interested in seeking out more of the Valdemar books, as I'd like to see what they're like once she's really found her stride.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Torture
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
claire_michelle18's review against another edition
3.0
This was ok. I liked seeing a woman as the protagonist of an epic fantasy for a change but you can tell this is an older trilogy as it's drowning in cliché.