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okwrites's review against another edition
4.0
By far the best of the trilogy. This book was about the way people come together, about building relationships and lives, about protecting a world you care about, about ensuring the future will be better. It was even better than I anticipated, because I always knew the companions came from magic (we're told that several times), but it was so different to see how it actually played out.
mmingie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
I thought I was well caught up on Valdemar, but this trilogy has reminded me that I need to get back to some of the books I skipped
scribe391's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
A multi layered story. Kordas is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Haven.
Rothas and Lythe’s story is like one from Lackey’s: Five Hounded Kingdoms and reminded me of the 80’s fantasy movie: Ladyhawk.
Another part of the plot involves the death of a beloved pet.
Rothas and Lythe’s story is like one from Lackey’s: Five Hounded Kingdoms and reminded me of the 80’s fantasy movie: Ladyhawk.
Another part of the plot involves the death of a beloved pet.
brittcb7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
0uterspacebookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
emeraldreverie's review against another edition
1.75
Ah Valdemar. Three decades ago you helped me a lot. I read you now to revisit that nostalgia but wow can I not really recommend any of this now.
ipomoea's review against another edition
4.0
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is it, this is the book that has the scene you’ve heard about a dozen times over the years– King Valdemar goes into the grove, prays, and ta-daaaa: MAGIC HORSES. I first read this story in 1991, and I’ve been waiting for this to be told directly for 32 years. It’s more complicated, but it always is. If this trilogy is where you started your Lackey journey, that’s okay, it’s an unexpected entry point, but as long as you started with the first book in the trilogy, I think this book will make sense to you. If this is your first Lackey book, stop. Put it down. Go read something else.
The book starts ten years after settlement in Haven, with the Palace erected, the town walls built, and everyone settling into a new life. Against his wishes, the people have decided that Kordas Valdemar needs to be the king, as that’s what they’re used to, and he’s been the de facto leader of this group of settlers for the last decade. But of course, nothing is easy, and while right now there’s a good leader and a good heir, will there always be? And what’s up with that mysterious city in the distance where some settlers have left and traveled to join? In order to protect his people and their descendents, Kordas prays and prays and prays. He prays some more, people come to see, and three Companions show up, all “hoofbeats like bells” and blue-eyed horse spirits. This is when I started to get nit-picky. The Companion names (in the uncorrected proof I got an ARC of) are different from what’s in Arrows of the Queen (and the Valdemar Wiki), but whatever. There’s also Sunsinger and Shadowdancer, of “sad ballad” fame, and Windrider, and some of the lore isn’t quite right or really needs to be squinted at in the right light to see it as matching canon, but I’m willing to let it slide.
Throughout this trilogy, the Tayledras have been supporting characters in that “wise Native characters support the white people on their journey” way, yet they’re absent from previous Valdemar kingdom lore. This gap is neatly explained away, but after 30+ years of writing the Tayledras as “wise Natives”, it’s jarring in 2023 to still read them that way. Lackey has been trying to evolve her characters and writing to meet contemporary norms (especially regarding gender-diverse people), but this is an area that maaaaybe hasn’t quite evolved that much.
Overall, if you’ve been a Lackey reader for years, this is worth reading. The pivotal moment in Valdemaran history is in here, and you’ve been waiting for it. If you’re a casual fantasy reader, this isn’t the book for you, this is entertaining fan service.
This is it, this is the book that has the scene you’ve heard about a dozen times over the years– King Valdemar goes into the grove, prays, and ta-daaaa: MAGIC HORSES. I first read this story in 1991, and I’ve been waiting for this to be told directly for 32 years. It’s more complicated, but it always is. If this trilogy is where you started your Lackey journey, that’s okay, it’s an unexpected entry point, but as long as you started with the first book in the trilogy, I think this book will make sense to you. If this is your first Lackey book, stop. Put it down. Go read something else.
The book starts ten years after settlement in Haven, with the Palace erected, the town walls built, and everyone settling into a new life. Against his wishes, the people have decided that Kordas Valdemar needs to be the king, as that’s what they’re used to, and he’s been the de facto leader of this group of settlers for the last decade. But of course, nothing is easy, and while right now there’s a good leader and a good heir, will there always be? And what’s up with that mysterious city in the distance where some settlers have left and traveled to join? In order to protect his people and their descendents, Kordas prays and prays and prays. He prays some more, people come to see, and three Companions show up, all “hoofbeats like bells” and blue-eyed horse spirits. This is when I started to get nit-picky. The Companion names (in the uncorrected proof I got an ARC of) are different from what’s in Arrows of the Queen (and the Valdemar Wiki), but whatever. There’s also Sunsinger and Shadowdancer, of “sad ballad” fame, and Windrider, and some of the lore isn’t quite right or really needs to be squinted at in the right light to see it as matching canon, but I’m willing to let it slide.
Throughout this trilogy, the Tayledras have been supporting characters in that “wise Native characters support the white people on their journey” way, yet they’re absent from previous Valdemar kingdom lore. This gap is neatly explained away, but after 30+ years of writing the Tayledras as “wise Natives”, it’s jarring in 2023 to still read them that way. Lackey has been trying to evolve her characters and writing to meet contemporary norms (especially regarding gender-diverse people), but this is an area that maaaaybe hasn’t quite evolved that much.
Overall, if you’ve been a Lackey reader for years, this is worth reading. The pivotal moment in Valdemaran history is in here, and you’ve been waiting for it. If you’re a casual fantasy reader, this isn’t the book for you, this is entertaining fan service.
tobinopteryx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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? No
5.0
municipalvampire's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
amalthea44's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0