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Tempest
by Mercedes Lackey
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review, which was first posted on book blog Will Read for Feels.
I’m a long-time fan of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series, and I love that this has expanded to include short story collections by an assortment of authors who clearly love the world Valdemar exists in just as much as I do. Plus, these volumes are always edited by Lackey herself and include at least one new story by her. The latest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, is no exception.
One thing that’s great about the Tales of Valdemar series is that a lot of the writers have contributed to previous collections, and that means that characters you meet and enjoy have a great chance of being revisited in later collections. This is the case with almost all of the stories in this collection, and the effects are occasionally bittersweet and occasionally humorous, but always chock-full of feels.
While I’m not sure I’d say this is one of my favorite Tales of Valdemar collections, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read—in fact, I read it twice! Keep reading for more details on the individual stories in the collection; warning: mild spoilers ahead.
“A Small Quarrel” by Stephanie D. Shaver
This story is about a Herald who must weed out corruption and hunt an evil that threatens Valdemar, so it packs quite a bit of intrigue into a few pages. Rest assured, this can be read as a standalone, but if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar books, you’ll be familiar with Herald Wil and Bard Lelia’s story, and some aspects of this story may just make you inexplicably sniffly.
“Girl Without the Gifts” by Janny Wurts
The Tales of Valdemar collections frequently feature stories about ordinary folk who do extraordinary things to aid Heralds and Companions, and in doing so learn something about themselves or gain belief in themselves when before there was none. This is one such story, so you get quite a bit of feel good vibes early on.
“Unimagined Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan
This story continues the journey of the Lady of Sandbriar, and while it stands on its own merit, fans will recognize Cera from previous collections. What this story does well is give a picture of life in Valdemar, kind of a “day in the life” story of a Valdemaran noble. What it does better is show how a resourceful, determined woman can lead her people to success, if she’s willing to make the effort, take the time, rely on friends, and reach out and acquire new allies.
“Feathers in Flight” by Jennifer Brozek
This story starts with a hit of adrenaline, always a good thing. It features a creature borne of magic—a gryphon—and one whose life has been irreversibly altered by it—a changeling, who form a symbiotic relationship where they compensate for each other’s weaknesses and boost each other’s strengths. Be prepared for feels at the end.
“Blind Leaps” by Ron Collins
Here’s another pair of friends you’ll have met before if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar collections, the kyree Nwah and human Kade. It involves making a big decision about the course of their lives—and their wanderings—as well as a more personal decision on Nwah’s part.
“Haver Hearthstone” by Fiona Patton
This is like the old home collection, given how many familiar “faces” we see in this book. Here we check back with the brothers Dann, particularly Hektor, who is a sergeant in the Haven City Watch. There’s a little less mystery and a little more politicking in this story, in contrast to others featuring the Danns, but there’s still a bit of surprise at the end!
“Unraveling the Truth” by Dayle A. Dermatis
This one’s a cool story featuring one of the most important tasks a Herald does on circuit: settle disputes that can’t be resolved by the local officials. There’s a bit of mystery and quite a bit of politicking involved, but I quite enjoyed the way things worked out.
“Sparrow’s Gift” by Michele Lang
I always enjoy meeting new characters from the Valdemaran universe. The Tayledras woman here, whose mate is a Herald, is no exception. The story may start out fairly slow, but it builds up to the bit of intrigue that, when resolved, makes for a fully satisfying ending.
“Harmless as Serpents” by Rosemary Edghill & Rebecca Fox
Companions may be glorious, but they’re people too! And while that may seem a contradictory statement for anyone familiar with Valdemar’s Companions, I do enjoy a story that shows that not all Companions are dignified fonts of wisdom!
“The Apprentice and the Stable Master” by Brenda Cooper
This story might be a complete standalone at the moment, but for a cameo by two familiar characters, but I hope to see more of main character Marala in coming volumes! Some of the scenes in this story may seem harsh, but wait for the happy ending that reinforces the notion that in Valdemar, justice is meted out more often than not.
“Unexpected Meeting” by Nancy Asire
I do believe I’ve previously met the judge and his assistant who star in this story, but the tale stands well on its own. And what I find fascinating is how it depicts how justice is achieved outside Valdemar’s borders, where there aren’t Heralds who can whip out a Truth Spell at a moment’s notice.
“A Trip of Goats” by Elisabeth Waters
The Temple of Thenoth, Lord of Beasts, in Valdemar is a place I always look forward to revisiting in every Tales of Valdemar collection. Novices like Lena (the heroine of this piece) and Maia (a more minor character here than than she was in earlier stories) who have Animal Mindspeech are a favorite of mine, partially because this is one of the Gifts I sorely wish I possessed. Outside of this, there’s a good bit of putting snobs in their place as well as a healthy dose of humor to this tale.
“The Ones She Couldn’t Save” by Louisa Swann
I’m always fascinated by stories of Gifted people who lived in Karse prior to Solaris becoming Son of the Sun, in much the same way I’m fascinated by stories of those who lived in Europe during World War II. The main character of this tale, Riann, takes a rather extreme measure to make sure she goes undetected by Vkandis’s priests. It’s a bit of a parable, really, and illustrates how selfishness, even in the face of danger to one’s life, is still a choice—as is its opposite.
“One Last Night Manning the Home Station” by Brigid Collins
Of course, every collection needs to feature an earnest Herald wannabe, and this one is no exception. This story is about a girl named Yerra, who loves and admires Heralds and Companions and who wants beyond anything else to be Chosen by a Companion. A family squabble and a missing bride add to the drama in this story, whose moral lesson could be the chorus of a Rolling Stones hit.
“Only Family Matters” by D. Shull
Mental health issues, although not always mentioned as such, have featured prominently in stories of Valdemar, and I got all warm and fuzzy inside over this story, which didn’t just underscore the importance of seeing a MindHealer, but which also highlighted the necessity of one’s support systems.
“Medley” by Jessica Schlenker & Michael Z. Williamson
There are two things I love about this story. One is that you frequently read about Heralds’ promiscuity, but too seldom see the fruits of such efforts in a land where birth control doesn’t yet exist, and this story helps fill the gap. Two is how the story features Gifts developing early and how they can go awry when untrained—but also how it shows that the way Gifts are used are very much driven by intention.
“A Tangle of Truths” by Angela Penrose
We get a bit of a murder-mystery here (or rather attempted murder), which is always fun. The way the clues collected distract and then add up to a rather elaborate political conspiracy makes for a satisfying reveal at the end of it.
“The Unwanted Gift” by Anthea Lawson
Doubting Thomases are always fun to read about, mostly because it’s so satisfying when their misbeliefs are stripped away and they finally see the light! In this case, a know-it-all noble who doesn’t really buy into the various Gifts exhibited by Bards, Healers, and the like, finds out he actually wields one!
“Dawn of a New Age” by Dylan Birtolo
Here’s another bit featuring persecution in the name of the Sunlord, but it too has a happy ending—not to mention a cameo by the firecat Hansa! Bassyl, the hero, is shaych, the slang term for “gay,” and unfortunately, the people of theocratic Karse are both ignorant and intolerant when it comes to sexual orientations outside heterosexuality. Bassyl must learn to deal when his secret becomes public knowledge, then something else happens that leaves him with big decision to make.
“BloodLines” by Phaedra Weldon
Here’s another story that condemns intolerance, this time of a different sort: xenophobia. A Herald is tasked with settling a dispute in a town where xenophobic furor has masked a darker corruption. This bit of intrigue just goes to show that things—and people—aren’t always what or who they seem.
“In Name Only” by Kristin Schwengel
Who doesn’t love a gryphon? And the one who is the main character of this story, Sheski, is a scrappy underdog determined to prove her worth. Of course I was going to enjoy this story!
“Ripples and Cracks” by Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey
This story features a supporting character from the OwlKnight trilogy, Kelvren Skothkar, gryphon Wingleader of the Hawkbrothers’ k’Valdemar Vale. There’s a bit of a prologue, but it gets right to the point and, once done, drops you straight into the action, so that’s all right. I’ll warn you that there’s a bit of heartache here that’s typical of Lackey’s heroic tales—it frequently seems to me that the more glorious the hero, the more pain they must endure for the sake of their heroics. But I was glad to see Kelvren and Darian again.
I’m a long-time fan of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series, and I love that this has expanded to include short story collections by an assortment of authors who clearly love the world Valdemar exists in just as much as I do. Plus, these volumes are always edited by Lackey herself and include at least one new story by her. The latest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, is no exception.
One thing that’s great about the Tales of Valdemar series is that a lot of the writers have contributed to previous collections, and that means that characters you meet and enjoy have a great chance of being revisited in later collections. This is the case with almost all of the stories in this collection, and the effects are occasionally bittersweet and occasionally humorous, but always chock-full of feels.
While I’m not sure I’d say this is one of my favorite Tales of Valdemar collections, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read—in fact, I read it twice! Keep reading for more details on the individual stories in the collection; warning: mild spoilers ahead.
“A Small Quarrel” by Stephanie D. Shaver
This story is about a Herald who must weed out corruption and hunt an evil that threatens Valdemar, so it packs quite a bit of intrigue into a few pages. Rest assured, this can be read as a standalone, but if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar books, you’ll be familiar with Herald Wil and Bard Lelia’s story, and some aspects of this story may just make you inexplicably sniffly.
“Girl Without the Gifts” by Janny Wurts
The Tales of Valdemar collections frequently feature stories about ordinary folk who do extraordinary things to aid Heralds and Companions, and in doing so learn something about themselves or gain belief in themselves when before there was none. This is one such story, so you get quite a bit of feel good vibes early on.
“Unimagined Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan
This story continues the journey of the Lady of Sandbriar, and while it stands on its own merit, fans will recognize Cera from previous collections. What this story does well is give a picture of life in Valdemar, kind of a “day in the life” story of a Valdemaran noble. What it does better is show how a resourceful, determined woman can lead her people to success, if she’s willing to make the effort, take the time, rely on friends, and reach out and acquire new allies.
“Feathers in Flight” by Jennifer Brozek
This story starts with a hit of adrenaline, always a good thing. It features a creature borne of magic—a gryphon—and one whose life has been irreversibly altered by it—a changeling, who form a symbiotic relationship where they compensate for each other’s weaknesses and boost each other’s strengths. Be prepared for feels at the end.
“Blind Leaps” by Ron Collins
Here’s another pair of friends you’ll have met before if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar collections, the kyree Nwah and human Kade. It involves making a big decision about the course of their lives—and their wanderings—as well as a more personal decision on Nwah’s part.
“Haver Hearthstone” by Fiona Patton
This is like the old home collection, given how many familiar “faces” we see in this book. Here we check back with the brothers Dann, particularly Hektor, who is a sergeant in the Haven City Watch. There’s a little less mystery and a little more politicking in this story, in contrast to others featuring the Danns, but there’s still a bit of surprise at the end!
“Unraveling the Truth” by Dayle A. Dermatis
This one’s a cool story featuring one of the most important tasks a Herald does on circuit: settle disputes that can’t be resolved by the local officials. There’s a bit of mystery and quite a bit of politicking involved, but I quite enjoyed the way things worked out.
“Sparrow’s Gift” by Michele Lang
I always enjoy meeting new characters from the Valdemaran universe. The Tayledras woman here, whose mate is a Herald, is no exception. The story may start out fairly slow, but it builds up to the bit of intrigue that, when resolved, makes for a fully satisfying ending.
“Harmless as Serpents” by Rosemary Edghill & Rebecca Fox
Companions may be glorious, but they’re people too! And while that may seem a contradictory statement for anyone familiar with Valdemar’s Companions, I do enjoy a story that shows that not all Companions are dignified fonts of wisdom!
“The Apprentice and the Stable Master” by Brenda Cooper
This story might be a complete standalone at the moment, but for a cameo by two familiar characters, but I hope to see more of main character Marala in coming volumes! Some of the scenes in this story may seem harsh, but wait for the happy ending that reinforces the notion that in Valdemar, justice is meted out more often than not.
“Unexpected Meeting” by Nancy Asire
I do believe I’ve previously met the judge and his assistant who star in this story, but the tale stands well on its own. And what I find fascinating is how it depicts how justice is achieved outside Valdemar’s borders, where there aren’t Heralds who can whip out a Truth Spell at a moment’s notice.
“A Trip of Goats” by Elisabeth Waters
The Temple of Thenoth, Lord of Beasts, in Valdemar is a place I always look forward to revisiting in every Tales of Valdemar collection. Novices like Lena (the heroine of this piece) and Maia (a more minor character here than than she was in earlier stories) who have Animal Mindspeech are a favorite of mine, partially because this is one of the Gifts I sorely wish I possessed. Outside of this, there’s a good bit of putting snobs in their place as well as a healthy dose of humor to this tale.
“The Ones She Couldn’t Save” by Louisa Swann
I’m always fascinated by stories of Gifted people who lived in Karse prior to Solaris becoming Son of the Sun, in much the same way I’m fascinated by stories of those who lived in Europe during World War II. The main character of this tale, Riann, takes a rather extreme measure to make sure she goes undetected by Vkandis’s priests. It’s a bit of a parable, really, and illustrates how selfishness, even in the face of danger to one’s life, is still a choice—as is its opposite.
“One Last Night Manning the Home Station” by Brigid Collins
Of course, every collection needs to feature an earnest Herald wannabe, and this one is no exception. This story is about a girl named Yerra, who loves and admires Heralds and Companions and who wants beyond anything else to be Chosen by a Companion. A family squabble and a missing bride add to the drama in this story, whose moral lesson could be the chorus of a Rolling Stones hit.
“Only Family Matters” by D. Shull
Mental health issues, although not always mentioned as such, have featured prominently in stories of Valdemar, and I got all warm and fuzzy inside over this story, which didn’t just underscore the importance of seeing a MindHealer, but which also highlighted the necessity of one’s support systems.
“Medley” by Jessica Schlenker & Michael Z. Williamson
There are two things I love about this story. One is that you frequently read about Heralds’ promiscuity, but too seldom see the fruits of such efforts in a land where birth control doesn’t yet exist, and this story helps fill the gap. Two is how the story features Gifts developing early and how they can go awry when untrained—but also how it shows that the way Gifts are used are very much driven by intention.
“A Tangle of Truths” by Angela Penrose
We get a bit of a murder-mystery here (or rather attempted murder), which is always fun. The way the clues collected distract and then add up to a rather elaborate political conspiracy makes for a satisfying reveal at the end of it.
“The Unwanted Gift” by Anthea Lawson
Doubting Thomases are always fun to read about, mostly because it’s so satisfying when their misbeliefs are stripped away and they finally see the light! In this case, a know-it-all noble who doesn’t really buy into the various Gifts exhibited by Bards, Healers, and the like, finds out he actually wields one!
“Dawn of a New Age” by Dylan Birtolo
Here’s another bit featuring persecution in the name of the Sunlord, but it too has a happy ending—not to mention a cameo by the firecat Hansa! Bassyl, the hero, is shaych, the slang term for “gay,” and unfortunately, the people of theocratic Karse are both ignorant and intolerant when it comes to sexual orientations outside heterosexuality. Bassyl must learn to deal when his secret becomes public knowledge, then something else happens that leaves him with big decision to make.
“BloodLines” by Phaedra Weldon
Here’s another story that condemns intolerance, this time of a different sort: xenophobia. A Herald is tasked with settling a dispute in a town where xenophobic furor has masked a darker corruption. This bit of intrigue just goes to show that things—and people—aren’t always what or who they seem.
“In Name Only” by Kristin Schwengel
Who doesn’t love a gryphon? And the one who is the main character of this story, Sheski, is a scrappy underdog determined to prove her worth. Of course I was going to enjoy this story!
“Ripples and Cracks” by Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey
This story features a supporting character from the OwlKnight trilogy, Kelvren Skothkar, gryphon Wingleader of the Hawkbrothers’ k’Valdemar Vale. There’s a bit of a prologue, but it gets right to the point and, once done, drops you straight into the action, so that’s all right. I’ll warn you that there’s a bit of heartache here that’s typical of Lackey’s heroic tales—it frequently seems to me that the more glorious the hero, the more pain they must endure for the sake of their heroics. But I was glad to see Kelvren and Darian again.