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A review by ipomoea
Changes by Mercedes Lackey
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.