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A review by kathydavie
Crucible by Jessica Schlenker, Kristin Schwengel, Brigid Collins, Elizabeth Vaughan, Stephanie D. Shaver, Phaedra Weldon, Jennifer Brozek, Mercedes Lackey, Michele Lang, Dylan Birtolo, Elisabeth Waters, Anthea Sharp, Louisa Swann, Ron Collins, Fiona Patton, Michael Z. Williamson, Angela Penrose, Kerrie L. Hughes, Dayle A. Dermatis
4.0
An anthology that is ninth in the Tales of Valdemar with eighteen short stories in the Valdemar fantasy series and revolving around the inhabitants of the lands.
The Series
"The Highjorune Masque" (Wil and Lelia, 6; It takes place after Exile’s Honor, 1355 AF, and I think it's the first mention of Lord Dark)
"Unresolved Consequences" (Lady Cera of Sandbriar, 2)
"A Bellowing of Bullfinches" (Lena, 3)
"She Chooses" (Sparrow and Brock, 2)
"Before a River Runs Through It" (Dann Family of Haven, 6)
"Never Alone" (Herald Syrriah, 1)
"Vexed Vixen" (during the time of Vanyel)
For the character lists for each story, read the review on KD Did It.com.
The Stories
Jennifer Brozek's "Feathers in Need"
"Feathers in Need" takes place just after the Mage Storms have changed magic (Storm Breaking, Mage Storms-3 (Valdemar 1376-5 AF). One of the protagonists was changed due to her curiosity while the other was changed through pure accident.
It comes down to Kitha's sense of duty and the twinning of two souls who become one — and of countering others' perception of them as disabled. I love Hadara's comment about being blind doesn't mean she's stupid! Hullo!!!
It's interesting that Brozek has Tayledras helping the Shin'a'in to evacuate when they've been so against each other for so long. Then again, maybe we aren't so deep into this world yet. I sure couldn't tell.
Stephanie D Shaver's "The Highjorune Masque"
There's trouble in Valdemar and a mention of Lord Dark. With Ferrin to stir up trouble with his seditious talk and manipulative Gift, one which gives Ferrin his high.
The masque is simply a word for meeting. I'm not sure why the Bardic Circle would simply toss the guy out. Not with his "gift". Ferrin is a nightmare who thinks it's okay to rape women. After all, others do.
Dylan Birtolo's "Lost Song"
"Lost Song" is a very short and very sad story about a bard who no longer cares. Who tries to drink away his memories. Who would welcome death. Only, there are good people out there. More than the bad. There are also those out there who have suffered in similar ways.
Elizabeth A Vaughan's "Unresolved Consequences"
Lady Cerartha is hoping to make it through her first winter. Hoping to find a product that will help her people do more than survive.
It provides a back history on the chirras and how they were brought to Sandbriar and survived. It also provides insight into Cera's distant and near past. It seems that even Companions can suffer from PTSD.
I do like those Heralds. They consider people and their individual needs. Yeah, not like our politicians who think they're best suited to decide what we [women] do with our bodies.
Ron Collins' "Gifts of Rage and Despair"
Its a partnership of Healer and kyree with the powers of one fading and the other's being enhanced. A failing that leads to Kade's eager acceptance of a "promise".
It was rather whiny with each questioning how the other "knows" they'll never leave and will always be there.
We all know how much we want to learn more, to be better. And it's funny how we believe that having the Internet means we have a better chance of learning the truth when all the Internet is, is a way to spread people's own version of things. Just because it's in the cloud doesn't mean it's accurate.
Okay, okay, that whine over, Collins' story is something of a mish-mash that didn't hold together for me.
Elisabeth Waters' "A Bellowing of Bullfinches"
It's a sad commentary about fashion, and the lengths to which people will stoop. Fortunately, there are also loyal friends, those who see the truth, and those who want only the best for others. It's rather funny how Lena and Maia play on her ladyship's prejudices.
When it comes to animals (or children), shameless bribery is an excellent training technique, lol.
Michele Lang's "She Chooses"
There's been change in Longfall; it has been three years since Sparrow and Brock left the village after all. Only it's not a change either of them would ever suspect.
Doing the right thing is sometimes very hard.
Ehh. Another mish-mash that was sometimes hard to follow.
Kristin Schwengel's "The Harvest"
It's a tricky situation with one faction blackmailing others, which means Del and Jenny need to use care in moving this message to its intended recipient.
Fiona Patton's "Before a River Runs Through It"
I wasn't expecting a battle over dung between seven- and ten-year-olds. Ol' Jez might reconsider how badly he wants that cool cell and free breakfast, lol. The ranking on who collects what was unexpected but it does make sense. The heavier the dung, the older you are.
HAH! Lolol, and kids think they haven't any power, *more laughter*
Louisa Swann's "Hertasi and Wyrsa and Magpies, Oh My!"
I like that Medran is into the "teaching opportunities". Something I need. It seems that Roli needs a different sort of training now, for his out-of-control psychokinesis. He also needs to find his own people and Swann keeps it close to the vest as to what species Roli is.
Michael Z Williamson and Jessica Schlenker's "A Fire in the Grass"
It's bittersweet as it's a partial coming-home for Keth' while Yssanda hopes it will come to feel like home. It's been a long trip from Haven to this potential new embassy, and Heralds have been dropping off along the way to arrange Waystations to make future journeys easier.
It's Keth's idea to set up the embassy, for he knows people who have magic need training, and no Shin'a'in will do magic. They have it, but they don't have control of it nor do they know when to use it. Of course, it turns out that Keth' has his own learning to accomplish too, for there is no one true way.
It is necessary to change with the world, if we are to survive.
Dayle A Dermatis' "Never Alone"
Poor Syrriah. Her life upended a year ago when she and her beloved husband had planned to retire(!), and now she's thrust in amongst a bunch of kids. Luckily, her past life experience makes her perfect when she learns about the challenge. Not only is she good with a bow, but she's had twenty years of experience in overseeing a manor.
They do say that the Companions Choose their person to fill a need they see coming up. That's certainly the case with Syrriah. Dermatis does need to pay attention to his storyline, as various "facts" here don't agree with the "facts" in "Old Loom, New Tapestry".
Brigid Collins' "Down the Line"
Grandfather is insisting that Torec marry. He hasn't any magic, so he must do his duty by the family. It's a betrayal so great, so hideous . . . If only she'd looked.
The Companion makes an excellent point that no Gift is evil. Evil comes from how someone uses their Gift — and a Companion never Chooses wrong.
Angela Penrose's "Ghosts of the Past"
People are going missing. And Arvil and Graya discover it's a trip down bad memories lane.
Crack me up. Arvil and Graya don't have Mindspeech, so they communicate via hoof count and a stylus.
Anthea Sharp's "The Quiet Gift"
"Valor" was one of her best . . . and it's still not enough. The Master Bard is not feeling her Gift. Her talent? Yes. But not the Gift Shandara has. And the harder she works, the less reliable her Gift. In a few weeks she'll have to perform in front of everyone. And then it happens. How will she play? And then that cold hits her throat. And she still has to perform. She'll be a laughingstock!
I gotta say, the girl is a bit dim about events at the concert.
Kerrie L Hughes' "Healing Home"
Her father gave her a chance five years ago. And Jorie took it. Now she's back for his funeral. And in time to note how many people are sick.
Jeez, that sister of hers is a piece of work! With such a filthy mind. How does Alphon reckon he'll get away with hurting a Herald? Oh, I love it, I love it. That rescue was brilliant even if it was too abrupt. It's a story with good bones, but Hughes needs to work on it some more. Too much tell.
Phaedra Weldon's "The Note"
Elfyn gave birth to Lynal. Now, she'll bury her. The Healers couldn't save her but a Herald was sent to tell Elfyn and get her back for her last sight of her daughter.
Whew, it's a story of loss after loss after loss. With a good bucketful of jealousy thrown in. I gotta wonder about Elfyn's husband, if the men he trusted were thieves. Hullo. Then a different sort of loss is caused by pride. Hmm, I guess not everyone in Valdemar knows about Companions.
Oh, it's a sad tale and I cried. But Weldon could have really wrung this one. Instead, it's another mish-mash.
Mercedes Lackey's "Vexed Vixen"
They need a Healer, and they take her. Little do they know she has some special talents, some especially quick wits as well.
How dumb are these guys? Yep, the road is dangerous, and if a town misses its traveling Healer, the bandits think they'll just ignore it?
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with a dull gold border all the way around. Part of the border races across the top to form the bottom line of a box to display the title in gold with the info on it being all new tales in white. Beneath that is an epigraph in white. Immediately below that on the sides are pastel color blocks stacked with a thicker dull gold border around them to frame in the heater shield that takes up most of the cover. It has a purple and blue drapery-style background with a lilac-covered Companion's head in profile, looking right. The head of a young Herald with reddish-brown hair swirling in the wind is under the Companion's chin. Another, smaller heater shield with a deep blue-gray background with a scattering of silver rivets overlaps the bottom line of the top rectangle and points to the Companion's eye. The shield contains a white pegasus. Another heater shield is at the bottom of the large one and has a black background with a flattened red gryphon, its wings spread wide. At the bottom is another rectangle formed by thin, dull gold lines noting the editor of this anthology.
The title refers to the general theme for the stories, of characters going through a Crucible.
The Series
"The Highjorune Masque" (Wil and Lelia, 6; It takes place after Exile’s Honor, 1355 AF, and I think it's the first mention of Lord Dark)
"Unresolved Consequences" (Lady Cera of Sandbriar, 2)
"A Bellowing of Bullfinches" (Lena, 3)
"She Chooses" (Sparrow and Brock, 2)
"Before a River Runs Through It" (Dann Family of Haven, 6)
"Never Alone" (Herald Syrriah, 1)
"Vexed Vixen" (during the time of Vanyel)
For the character lists for each story, read the review on KD Did It.com.
The Stories
Jennifer Brozek's "Feathers in Need"
"Feathers in Need" takes place just after the Mage Storms have changed magic (Storm Breaking, Mage Storms-3 (Valdemar 1376-5 AF). One of the protagonists was changed due to her curiosity while the other was changed through pure accident.
It comes down to Kitha's sense of duty and the twinning of two souls who become one — and of countering others' perception of them as disabled. I love Hadara's comment about being blind doesn't mean she's stupid! Hullo!!!
It's interesting that Brozek has Tayledras helping the Shin'a'in to evacuate when they've been so against each other for so long. Then again, maybe we aren't so deep into this world yet. I sure couldn't tell.
Stephanie D Shaver's "The Highjorune Masque"
There's trouble in Valdemar and a mention of Lord Dark. With Ferrin to stir up trouble with his seditious talk and manipulative Gift, one which gives Ferrin his high.
The masque is simply a word for meeting. I'm not sure why the Bardic Circle would simply toss the guy out. Not with his "gift". Ferrin is a nightmare who thinks it's okay to rape women. After all, others do.
Dylan Birtolo's "Lost Song"
"Lost Song" is a very short and very sad story about a bard who no longer cares. Who tries to drink away his memories. Who would welcome death. Only, there are good people out there. More than the bad. There are also those out there who have suffered in similar ways.
Elizabeth A Vaughan's "Unresolved Consequences"
Lady Cerartha is hoping to make it through her first winter. Hoping to find a product that will help her people do more than survive.
It provides a back history on the chirras and how they were brought to Sandbriar and survived. It also provides insight into Cera's distant and near past. It seems that even Companions can suffer from PTSD.
I do like those Heralds. They consider people and their individual needs. Yeah, not like our politicians who think they're best suited to decide what we [women] do with our bodies.
Ron Collins' "Gifts of Rage and Despair"
Its a partnership of Healer and kyree with the powers of one fading and the other's being enhanced. A failing that leads to Kade's eager acceptance of a "promise".
It was rather whiny with each questioning how the other "knows" they'll never leave and will always be there.
We all know how much we want to learn more, to be better. And it's funny how we believe that having the Internet means we have a better chance of learning the truth when all the Internet is, is a way to spread people's own version of things. Just because it's in the cloud doesn't mean it's accurate.
Okay, okay, that whine over, Collins' story is something of a mish-mash that didn't hold together for me.
Elisabeth Waters' "A Bellowing of Bullfinches"
It's a sad commentary about fashion, and the lengths to which people will stoop. Fortunately, there are also loyal friends, those who see the truth, and those who want only the best for others. It's rather funny how Lena and Maia play on her ladyship's prejudices.
When it comes to animals (or children), shameless bribery is an excellent training technique, lol.
Michele Lang's "She Chooses"
There's been change in Longfall; it has been three years since Sparrow and Brock left the village after all. Only it's not a change either of them would ever suspect.
Doing the right thing is sometimes very hard.
Ehh. Another mish-mash that was sometimes hard to follow.
Kristin Schwengel's "The Harvest"
It's a tricky situation with one faction blackmailing others, which means Del and Jenny need to use care in moving this message to its intended recipient.
Fiona Patton's "Before a River Runs Through It"
I wasn't expecting a battle over dung between seven- and ten-year-olds. Ol' Jez might reconsider how badly he wants that cool cell and free breakfast, lol. The ranking on who collects what was unexpected but it does make sense. The heavier the dung, the older you are.
HAH! Lolol, and kids think they haven't any power, *more laughter*
Louisa Swann's "Hertasi and Wyrsa and Magpies, Oh My!"
I like that Medran is into the "teaching opportunities". Something I need. It seems that Roli needs a different sort of training now, for his out-of-control psychokinesis. He also needs to find his own people and Swann keeps it close to the vest as to what species Roli is.
Michael Z Williamson and Jessica Schlenker's "A Fire in the Grass"
It's bittersweet as it's a partial coming-home for Keth' while Yssanda hopes it will come to feel like home. It's been a long trip from Haven to this potential new embassy, and Heralds have been dropping off along the way to arrange Waystations to make future journeys easier.
It's Keth's idea to set up the embassy, for he knows people who have magic need training, and no Shin'a'in will do magic. They have it, but they don't have control of it nor do they know when to use it. Of course, it turns out that Keth' has his own learning to accomplish too, for there is no one true way.
It is necessary to change with the world, if we are to survive.
Dayle A Dermatis' "Never Alone"
Poor Syrriah. Her life upended a year ago when she and her beloved husband had planned to retire(!), and now she's thrust in amongst a bunch of kids. Luckily, her past life experience makes her perfect when she learns about the challenge. Not only is she good with a bow, but she's had twenty years of experience in overseeing a manor.
They do say that the Companions Choose their person to fill a need they see coming up. That's certainly the case with Syrriah. Dermatis does need to pay attention to his storyline, as various "facts" here don't agree with the "facts" in "Old Loom, New Tapestry".
Brigid Collins' "Down the Line"
Grandfather is insisting that Torec marry. He hasn't any magic, so he must do his duty by the family. It's a betrayal so great, so hideous . . . If only she'd looked.
The Companion makes an excellent point that no Gift is evil. Evil comes from how someone uses their Gift — and a Companion never Chooses wrong.
Angela Penrose's "Ghosts of the Past"
People are going missing. And Arvil and Graya discover it's a trip down bad memories lane.
Crack me up. Arvil and Graya don't have Mindspeech, so they communicate via hoof count and a stylus.
Anthea Sharp's "The Quiet Gift"
"Valor" was one of her best . . . and it's still not enough. The Master Bard is not feeling her Gift. Her talent? Yes. But not the Gift Shandara has. And the harder she works, the less reliable her Gift. In a few weeks she'll have to perform in front of everyone. And then it happens. How will she play? And then that cold hits her throat. And she still has to perform. She'll be a laughingstock!
I gotta say, the girl is a bit dim about events at the concert.
Kerrie L Hughes' "Healing Home"
Her father gave her a chance five years ago. And Jorie took it. Now she's back for his funeral. And in time to note how many people are sick.
Jeez, that sister of hers is a piece of work! With such a filthy mind. How does Alphon reckon he'll get away with hurting a Herald? Oh, I love it, I love it. That rescue was brilliant even if it was too abrupt. It's a story with good bones, but Hughes needs to work on it some more. Too much tell.
Phaedra Weldon's "The Note"
Elfyn gave birth to Lynal. Now, she'll bury her. The Healers couldn't save her but a Herald was sent to tell Elfyn and get her back for her last sight of her daughter.
Whew, it's a story of loss after loss after loss. With a good bucketful of jealousy thrown in. I gotta wonder about Elfyn's husband, if the men he trusted were thieves. Hullo. Then a different sort of loss is caused by pride. Hmm, I guess not everyone in Valdemar knows about Companions.
Oh, it's a sad tale and I cried. But Weldon could have really wrung this one. Instead, it's another mish-mash.
Mercedes Lackey's "Vexed Vixen"
They need a Healer, and they take her. Little do they know she has some special talents, some especially quick wits as well.
How dumb are these guys? Yep, the road is dangerous, and if a town misses its traveling Healer, the bandits think they'll just ignore it?
The Cover and Title
The cover has a black background with a dull gold border all the way around. Part of the border races across the top to form the bottom line of a box to display the title in gold with the info on it being all new tales in white. Beneath that is an epigraph in white. Immediately below that on the sides are pastel color blocks stacked with a thicker dull gold border around them to frame in the heater shield that takes up most of the cover. It has a purple and blue drapery-style background with a lilac-covered Companion's head in profile, looking right. The head of a young Herald with reddish-brown hair swirling in the wind is under the Companion's chin. Another, smaller heater shield with a deep blue-gray background with a scattering of silver rivets overlaps the bottom line of the top rectangle and points to the Companion's eye. The shield contains a white pegasus. Another heater shield is at the bottom of the large one and has a black background with a flattened red gryphon, its wings spread wide. At the bottom is another rectangle formed by thin, dull gold lines noting the editor of this anthology.
The title refers to the general theme for the stories, of characters going through a Crucible.