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Title: Exile's Honor: A Novel of Valdemar (Daw Books Collectors, No. 1235) by Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0-7564-0085-6 Publisher: DAW Books Pub. Date: October, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (48 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Another wonderful story from the world of Valdemar
Comment: In the last year I have become a fan of Mercedes Lackey, I have read all of the Valdemar books except for the Owl Trilogy and Burning Brightly. She has created alot of wonderful and beloved characters in her Valdemar books, Vanyel, Talia, Skiff, Elspeth, Keorywn, Tarma and Kethry, and Alberich, who finally gets the spotlight in this great novel.
It starts nicely with the short story that she wrote years ago showing how Alberich, Captain in the Army of Karse (the centuries old neighbor and enemy of Valdemar), was choosen as a Herald. Saved from being burned alive by the Vkandis Sunlord Priests for using "Witch Powers" by his Companion Kantor. From there she delves into Alberich's head as he comes to adjust to and love his new home in the land of the country he was raised to hate and fear. I loved how Alberich was torn in trying to remain true to his values of honor and loyality to both his homeland of Karse and his new home of Valdemar, trying to save Valdemar and at the same time not trying to hurt Karse too much is a balance he strives for throught the novel. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Vkandis Sunlord, the God of Karse, and how Alberich tries to understand what hand he played in bringing him to become a Herald of Valdemar. This is a nice companion piece to what we learned of the Sunlord in the Mage Storms Trilogy
Alberich is not the only one featured in this one, a young Princess Selenay is shown, which was a nice touch as we see how she came to be the great Queen and ruler of Valdemar in the later books. Alot of other familiar characters pop up such as Talimar, Lord Orthellen, Myste and more. Plus we also get to see Selenays' father King Sendar, who I liked very much. It was nice to see them and get alot of backstory information only mentiond off hand in other books.
If you love Lackey and Valdemar, you have to have this book. Its a keeper.
Rating: 3
Summary: Okay, but getting kind of old
Comment: I've been a fan of Mercedes Lackey for a long time. One of the reasons I've been a fan is because I always feel I connect with her characters. However, maybe I'm getting too old for her books, because I'm a bit sick of the formula she tends to use with each book. Namely, the main character is unhappy, or maybe things just aren't going swell for them, then a magical white horse comes and says "I choose you," and all is well and somewhat sappy. Not that this formula didn't work in the Vanyel and Talia trilogies. I have fond memories of both those triolgies and still re-read them today.
This formula seems out of place here, though. Alberich is a good character, one I have always enjoyed, but I don't think Lackey brought the sort of complexity of plot to this book that she could have. I for one would have liked to know more about Alberich's life in Karse. We all know what happens later: he is chosen and from then on he has the understanding and love that is necessary for him to "open up." Then comes the war, and he affirms his loyalty both to his country and to the Heralds, etc.
In my humble opinion, Lackey should have spent more time developing the character and context of Alberich. She glosses over his early time as a Herald, allowing him the make the choice of serving Valdemar instead of returning to a homeland that he obviously cares for greatly within only a chapter or so. Then she speeds a few years into the future, where our main concern is the Tedrel wars, a conflict that Lackey does not really set up before we are flung directly into the middle of it.
In short, it didn't really seem to me like Lackey took very much interest in developing a more complicated plot, instead relying on her age-old old formula. Maybe this would be interesting for a first time Lackey reader, but for me it's just old news. Quite frankly, it is not the formula I would have expected Alberich's life to take on. And the whole Yoda-talk thing Alberich has going on is getting a little old. He's a smart man; can't he figure out the order in which speaks one?
Rating: 3
Summary: Not so sure...
Comment: I am not done reading this yet, but I just got into the section where we first see Myste and she might as well be walking around with a sign that says Mary Sue on it. Written on her forehead. In red marker. Don't get me wrong, I love most of Lackey's Valdemar series. Like nearly everyone else who commented here, LHM was life-changing for me too. However, I think that naming her Myste was a cute little nod we could all stand in the other books when she wasn't ever really shown to us in a signifigant way, but now? The similarities between this character and what I know of the author herself are setting off some warning bells.
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Title: Sun In Glory (A Valdemar Anthology) by Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0756401666 Publisher: DAW Books Pub. Date: 02 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Exile's Valor: A Novel of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0756402069 Publisher: DAW Books Pub. Date: 04 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Take a Thief: A Novel of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0756400589 Publisher: DAW Books Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Joust by Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0756401224 Publisher: DAW Books Pub. Date: 04 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Elvenborn by Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey ISBN: 0812571231 Publisher: Tor Fantasy Pub. Date: 19 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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