Helpful Score: 3
Another visit to Valdemar and another bit of their history. This newest series looks to be right up there with her other work in this World. I enjoyed the characters, their interaction and their magic. Hope the next book keeps these characters and grows them up with the overall story line.
HWC
HWC
Victoria (YSB) -
Helpful Score: 1
This one was good, but not as good as some of the others. It certainly felt "new", but it was strange how so few of the past books and people were even so much as mentioned. I liked Mags' character, but I felt like this one spent more time describing the food than moving the plot along. What there was of the plot was interesting, but nothing was resolved. Which IS different from her other trilogy's first books. I am looking forward to the next installment, but hardly dying to find out what happens next like I have been with some of her other books. The Companion-relationship in this one is more involved than some of the others, which was interesting. Still, I am looking forward to reading a non-Valdemar book after over a month of reading nothing but this series!
Reminds me more than a little of "Arrows of the Queen", the very first Valdemar book--very similar set of character types, story set-up, and execution. Even some plot elements and scenarios closely mirror Talia's experiences. Original, this is not. However, it's better than some of the other Lackey books I've read in the last few years, and this might be a good book to hand to a young person as an introduction to the Valdemar series, much as "Arrows" is. Not too much weight from previous books, but hints are there if you look for them. An enjoyable but light read.
I found this book to be a good introduction to the world of Valdemar without requiring the recognition of characters from the back story that some of the other novels have required.
June E. (Junicorn) reviewed Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar) on + 2 more book reviews
It is another great book into the land of Valdemar. This is set after the last herald mage series where there is no collegium yet and they are just starting to develop it but there are people that wish it to stay the same. The main character, Magpie as she is called, escapes from a life of slavery in a gem mine when she is chosen by a companion.
