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Tales of Valdemar #6
Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar
In March 1987, a young author from Oklahoma published her first novel, Arrows of the Queen. This modest book about a magical land called Valdemar was the beginning of a fantasy masterwork series that would span decades and include more than two dozen titles. Now readers can take a journey to the world of Valdemar-including Tanya Huff, Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, and Judith Tarr-each adding their own special touches.
Included in this anthology are:
Finding the Way by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun by Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune.
Unintended Consequences by Elizabeth A. Vaughan
The Education of Evita by Mickey Zucker Reichert
A Charm of Finches by Elisabeth Waters
Healing in White by Kristen Schwengel
Songs of a Certain Sort by Brenda Cooper
Otherwise Engaged by Stephanie Shaver
Heart’s Choice by Kate Paulk
Heart’s Own by Sarah A. Hoyt
The Time We Have by Tanya Huff
A Bard by Any Other Name by Fiona Patton
Change of Life by Judith Tarr
Lack of Vision by Nancy Asire
The Groom’s Price by Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders
Included in this anthology are:
Finding the Way by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun by Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune.
Unintended Consequences by Elizabeth A. Vaughan
The Education of Evita by Mickey Zucker Reichert
A Charm of Finches by Elisabeth Waters
Healing in White by Kristen Schwengel
Songs of a Certain Sort by Brenda Cooper
Otherwise Engaged by Stephanie Shaver
Heart’s Choice by Kate Paulk
Heart’s Own by Sarah A. Hoyt
The Time We Have by Tanya Huff
A Bard by Any Other Name by Fiona Patton
Change of Life by Judith Tarr
Lack of Vision by Nancy Asire
The Groom’s Price by Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders
338 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2010
79 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
437 books9,440 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
June 10, 2016
This is a collection of short stories from the Lackey’s Valdemar universe. Some of the stories are better than others. My favorites were Heart’s Choice by Kate Paulk and Heart’s Own by Sarah A. Hoyt. Although both stories are written by different authors, they take place in the same village (not just world, which is a Valdemar world anyway) and employ the same set of characters, even the same family, a year apart from each other. Both stories deal with the same fundamental theme: Who is human? What sets a human apart from an animal? If a guy has fur and a tail, is he human or is he an animal? If a man can’t talk, is he a human or a subspecies? If, when angry or provoked, he bites instead of punches with his fists, is he human then?
Both these stories are heartwarming and very well written, but the overall quality of the entire collection is rather average, like a mixed bag of fan fiction.
Interesting fact: Mercedes Lackey was the author who introduced me to fantasy as a genre. In the beginning, I adored her Valdemar novels and devoured all of them, many more than once. Then, like most first love affairs, I got disillusioned with her writing. Now, I’m on the fence regarding her stories, and specifically her Valdemar tales.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For those unfamiliar with Lackey’s Valdemar backlist, a bit of a background. Valdemar is a quasi-medieval country, and most stories set there, this collection included, deal with the Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions.
The Companions are intelligent magical beings, super noble and dedicated to the good of Valdemar. They are shaped like white horses. They find people, mostly teenagers, with some kind of magical gifts and bond with them for life. The Chosen ones become Heralds of Valdemar, as dedicated to the kingdom and its monarch as their Companions. The Heralds are professional heroes, absolutely incorruptible and very well trained in martial arts and other more brainy disciplines. They roam the kingdom like knights, dispersing justice, fighting bandits, and helping those in need. They are also habitually the ones who sacrifice themselves for the good of the kingdom.
Valdemar also has a cohort of Bards, who make songs for the good of the kingdom. Here lies my first very serious objection. I grew up in Soviet Russia, where all the ‘bards’ also made songs for the good of the kingdom. Of course, there were no kings, but the Communist ruling party came close in its unchecked power, and the artists and writers had no choice but to praise the communists and their party. If they didn’t, they ended up unemployed, in prison, or worse. Since then, I’m allergic to the arts that glorify the ruling body of the country. It’s never sincere. The artists are forced to do it out of fear of reprisal. Nothing noble about that.
So I hate the whole situation with the Bards of Valdemar. The poor bards can’t criticize their king or queen. Most of them don’t even want to. They were raised by the crown; they studied at the crown-subsidized collegium, and they were so brainwashed (my interpretation), they don’t know otherwise.
The same is true for the Heralds. None of them realizes that there are other choices, that they can doubt and question and explore and take a different path. They are all marionettes of the crown, decent people totally controlled by their rulers. The Companions fill their heads with patriotic drivel mixed with love. Because their propaganda is intertwined with love, the Heralds believe that the Companions and the crown are infallible, and every deviation from their worldview is a crime. This whole caboodle makes me sick. Patriotism should never be enforced.
I want to free them. I also want to write a story about a Herald who starts doubting. Or a Bard who starts mocking the system, but I don’t think they would have a nice future in that universe. Neither would my stories, so I don’t write them.
I don’t think Lackey intended such a reading. For her, it was all straightforward. She wrote it all as if it was a good idea, not a satire – hence my disappointment.
Both these stories are heartwarming and very well written, but the overall quality of the entire collection is rather average, like a mixed bag of fan fiction.
Interesting fact: Mercedes Lackey was the author who introduced me to fantasy as a genre. In the beginning, I adored her Valdemar novels and devoured all of them, many more than once. Then, like most first love affairs, I got disillusioned with her writing. Now, I’m on the fence regarding her stories, and specifically her Valdemar tales.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For those unfamiliar with Lackey’s Valdemar backlist, a bit of a background. Valdemar is a quasi-medieval country, and most stories set there, this collection included, deal with the Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions.
The Companions are intelligent magical beings, super noble and dedicated to the good of Valdemar. They are shaped like white horses. They find people, mostly teenagers, with some kind of magical gifts and bond with them for life. The Chosen ones become Heralds of Valdemar, as dedicated to the kingdom and its monarch as their Companions. The Heralds are professional heroes, absolutely incorruptible and very well trained in martial arts and other more brainy disciplines. They roam the kingdom like knights, dispersing justice, fighting bandits, and helping those in need. They are also habitually the ones who sacrifice themselves for the good of the kingdom.
Valdemar also has a cohort of Bards, who make songs for the good of the kingdom. Here lies my first very serious objection. I grew up in Soviet Russia, where all the ‘bards’ also made songs for the good of the kingdom. Of course, there were no kings, but the Communist ruling party came close in its unchecked power, and the artists and writers had no choice but to praise the communists and their party. If they didn’t, they ended up unemployed, in prison, or worse. Since then, I’m allergic to the arts that glorify the ruling body of the country. It’s never sincere. The artists are forced to do it out of fear of reprisal. Nothing noble about that.
So I hate the whole situation with the Bards of Valdemar. The poor bards can’t criticize their king or queen. Most of them don’t even want to. They were raised by the crown; they studied at the crown-subsidized collegium, and they were so brainwashed (my interpretation), they don’t know otherwise.
The same is true for the Heralds. None of them realizes that there are other choices, that they can doubt and question and explore and take a different path. They are all marionettes of the crown, decent people totally controlled by their rulers. The Companions fill their heads with patriotic drivel mixed with love. Because their propaganda is intertwined with love, the Heralds believe that the Companions and the crown are infallible, and every deviation from their worldview is a crime. This whole caboodle makes me sick. Patriotism should never be enforced.
I want to free them. I also want to write a story about a Herald who starts doubting. Or a Bard who starts mocking the system, but I don’t think they would have a nice future in that universe. Neither would my stories, so I don’t write them.
I don’t think Lackey intended such a reading. For her, it was all straightforward. She wrote it all as if it was a good idea, not a satire – hence my disappointment.
January 6, 2018
This is book is an anthology of stories based off of the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey. I love this series and these short stories are great. A word of caution,if you're looking into starting this series, don't read the anthologies first, you need the basis of the novels for the anthologies to make sense.
Re-read 2018
Picked this up to read since I'm not feeling 100% and wanted something that wasn't too involved. I love Mercedes Lackey's books, and appreciate that she allows other authors to play in her worlds. It gives you a chance to read their writing style and maybe see if you'll enjoy their own work.
Re-read 2018
Picked this up to read since I'm not feeling 100% and wanted something that wasn't too involved. I love Mercedes Lackey's books, and appreciate that she allows other authors to play in her worlds. It gives you a chance to read their writing style and maybe see if you'll enjoy their own work.
October 20, 2011
Some of the stories were decent, a couple were actually good, but many were truly terrible. The editing was bad as well: in one story, a character's name changed spelling halfway through. Overall, most of the stories were just poor fanfiction, not decent stories in their own right.
July 30, 2023
Love it.
As always - there are some stories that I love and some that I don't. Some are just perfect as they are and for some I just want more and/or come back to the characters after a time jump (which is why I really love the two stories that are told over several of these anthologies).
On to the next one! :)
As always - there are some stories that I love and some that I don't. Some are just perfect as they are and for some I just want more and/or come back to the characters after a time jump (which is why I really love the two stories that are told over several of these anthologies).
On to the next one! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2010
"Finding the Way" - Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon
This short story is set after the Mage Wars, and is about the Pathfinder hertasi Sherra helping Vesily find her Chosen, through the swamp Gripping Mire. I liked the resolution of it. (Though it kind of, unfortunately, reminded me of a particular plot point in the Twilight series at the end. >_< Damn you, Twilight.)
"In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun" - Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune
This concerns Mindhealer Hedion prior to the resolution of diplomatic entreaties between Valdemar and Karse, when the Karsite priests still had red-robes who controlled demons. Hedion is driven to exhaustion to help people along the border and he is the stronger Mindhealer there is, of two. Hedion's plight and drive reminds me of Vanyel and how much burden and selflessness he felt when he became the remaining Herald Mage in his time. Hedion meets the Companion Rhoses and his Chosen Gaurane, whose backstory is blanketed in mystery. I'm ambivalent about the ending of this story. It's a good resolution for Hedion's story, but I wonder if they intend to bring back Gaurane in another anthology. I hope so!
"Unintended Consequences" - Elizabeth A. Vaughan
The wife of a Rethwellen lord who was involved in Prince Consort Karathanelan's treasonous plot is told about her husband's act and death. This story is far shorter than the previous two, but I thought it packed a nice emotional wallop. Likey.
"The Education of Evita" - Mickey Zucker Reichert
One of the most realistic stories in the series. Hard lessons for Evita. While I found Camayo's tone fatherly to Evita, rather than deep friend-like as I'm used to Companions being to their Chosen, it definitely made sense in the story. A good story, also, about human nature.
"A Charm of Finches" - Elisabeth Waters
A murder of crows! I like that this story focuses on an Animal Healer (Maia) and how she finds out about religious fraud abound and goes about trying to make it right.
"Healing in White" - Kristen Schwengel
I'm still a little unsure of the relationship between Shia and Teo by the end of the book. The Sighting Shia does, and healing, reminds me a bit of the healing in Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce when the plague befalls the city. Anyhoo, back to this story, it's intriguing seeing the combination of a Herald in training and Healer in one person.
"Songs of a Certain Sort" - Brenda Cooper
Twins Rhiannon the Bard and Dionne the Healer get caught in a bad situation and Rhiannon has to leave her twin behind to get help. I really liked how the author wrote about the other females in this story, though "Rhi" felt forced to me.
"Otherwise Engaged" - Stephanie Shaver
Set in Selenay's time as Queen with Elspeth the Brat, but Talamir still alive. I'm not familiar with Grier the Healer, who is noble born and Lelia the Bard and this short story felt a bit jumbled in my mind. The foreshadowing is quite strong. One of the weaker stories in the bunch, I reckon.
"Heart's Choice" - Kate Paulk
A story with Ree, the hobglobin and Jem, the human! :D They've progressed further in time in this short story; Jem is already a man. I do love how the Valdemar Universe is accepting of non-heterosexual relationships. Ree and Jem get called in to deal with the pup of hobglobins who killed a cow and injured the Mayor's son in the fight. (The hobglobins were killed in the fight.)
"Heart's Own" - Sarah A. Hoyt
Another Ree and Jem story, continuing a year and a half after the previous one. (I wonder how the two authors know each other.) This story deals with the town's reaction to Meren, the pup rescued in the previous story and Ree and Jem raising him, as well as their adopted daughter Amelie. This story was really touching.
"The Time We Have" - Tanya Huff
Ah, another Jors and Gervais story. I haven't read any of Tanya Huff's novels, though I know people who have and recommend it. The connection felt a little forced here, but another realistic story.
"A Bard by Any Other Name" - Fiona Patton
This story is hilarious. It features the Danns again, of the Watchguard. A poet is vandalizing the walls with their love poems and it's up to them to find out who. Again, hilarious. I could feel the energy of a character so much!
"Change of Life" - Judith Tarr
A matter-of-factly written story, with a matter-of-fact narrator. Marlys is preparing for her sixth and final daughter's wedding and a Companion comes to the village. Though there's no big flashy adventure in this story, I really liked it. It was soothing.
"Lack of Vision" - Nancy Asire
A story featuring Perran, a traveling judge of Karse. I don't recall if he's featured in past anthologies, but I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me a bit of the stories in Oathblood where Kethry and Tarma have to solve "whodunit" mysteries. I like the title.
"The Groom's Price" - Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders
Intriguing choice of having a Shin'a'in Chosen by a Companion, and this short story is a little more open with the Companion's ability to use magic to disguise themselves. Set after the Mage Wars, we see a cameo by Quenten in Rethwellen. It was an okay read, though not one of my favorites.
This short story is set after the Mage Wars, and is about the Pathfinder hertasi Sherra helping Vesily find her Chosen, through the swamp Gripping Mire. I liked the resolution of it. (Though it kind of, unfortunately, reminded me of a particular plot point in the Twilight series at the end. >_< Damn you, Twilight.)
"In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun" - Rosemary Edghill and Denise McCune
This concerns Mindhealer Hedion prior to the resolution of diplomatic entreaties between Valdemar and Karse, when the Karsite priests still had red-robes who controlled demons. Hedion is driven to exhaustion to help people along the border and he is the stronger Mindhealer there is, of two. Hedion's plight and drive reminds me of Vanyel and how much burden and selflessness he felt when he became the remaining Herald Mage in his time. Hedion meets the Companion Rhoses and his Chosen Gaurane, whose backstory is blanketed in mystery. I'm ambivalent about the ending of this story. It's a good resolution for Hedion's story, but I wonder if they intend to bring back Gaurane in another anthology. I hope so!
"Unintended Consequences" - Elizabeth A. Vaughan
The wife of a Rethwellen lord who was involved in Prince Consort Karathanelan's treasonous plot is told about her husband's act and death. This story is far shorter than the previous two, but I thought it packed a nice emotional wallop. Likey.
"The Education of Evita" - Mickey Zucker Reichert
One of the most realistic stories in the series. Hard lessons for Evita. While I found Camayo's tone fatherly to Evita, rather than deep friend-like as I'm used to Companions being to their Chosen, it definitely made sense in the story. A good story, also, about human nature.
"A Charm of Finches" - Elisabeth Waters
A murder of crows! I like that this story focuses on an Animal Healer (Maia) and how she finds out about religious fraud abound and goes about trying to make it right.
"Healing in White" - Kristen Schwengel
I'm still a little unsure of the relationship between Shia and Teo by the end of the book. The Sighting Shia does, and healing, reminds me a bit of the healing in Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce when the plague befalls the city. Anyhoo, back to this story, it's intriguing seeing the combination of a Herald in training and Healer in one person.
"Songs of a Certain Sort" - Brenda Cooper
Twins Rhiannon the Bard and Dionne the Healer get caught in a bad situation and Rhiannon has to leave her twin behind to get help. I really liked how the author wrote about the other females in this story, though "Rhi" felt forced to me.
"Otherwise Engaged" - Stephanie Shaver
Set in Selenay's time as Queen with Elspeth the Brat, but Talamir still alive. I'm not familiar with Grier the Healer, who is noble born and Lelia the Bard and this short story felt a bit jumbled in my mind. The foreshadowing is quite strong. One of the weaker stories in the bunch, I reckon.
"Heart's Choice" - Kate Paulk
A story with Ree, the hobglobin and Jem, the human! :D They've progressed further in time in this short story; Jem is already a man. I do love how the Valdemar Universe is accepting of non-heterosexual relationships. Ree and Jem get called in to deal with the pup of hobglobins who killed a cow and injured the Mayor's son in the fight. (The hobglobins were killed in the fight.)
"Heart's Own" - Sarah A. Hoyt
Another Ree and Jem story, continuing a year and a half after the previous one. (I wonder how the two authors know each other.) This story deals with the town's reaction to Meren, the pup rescued in the previous story and Ree and Jem raising him, as well as their adopted daughter Amelie. This story was really touching.
"The Time We Have" - Tanya Huff
Ah, another Jors and Gervais story. I haven't read any of Tanya Huff's novels, though I know people who have and recommend it. The connection felt a little forced here, but another realistic story.
"A Bard by Any Other Name" - Fiona Patton
This story is hilarious. It features the Danns again, of the Watchguard. A poet is vandalizing the walls with their love poems and it's up to them to find out who. Again, hilarious. I could feel the energy of a character so much!
"Change of Life" - Judith Tarr
A matter-of-factly written story, with a matter-of-fact narrator. Marlys is preparing for her sixth and final daughter's wedding and a Companion comes to the village. Though there's no big flashy adventure in this story, I really liked it. It was soothing.
"Lack of Vision" - Nancy Asire
A story featuring Perran, a traveling judge of Karse. I don't recall if he's featured in past anthologies, but I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me a bit of the stories in Oathblood where Kethry and Tarma have to solve "whodunit" mysteries. I like the title.
"The Groom's Price" - Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders
Intriguing choice of having a Shin'a'in Chosen by a Companion, and this short story is a little more open with the Companion's ability to use magic to disguise themselves. Set after the Mage Wars, we see a cameo by Quenten in Rethwellen. It was an okay read, though not one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2021
A real mixed bag. Some good, some just okay. I've never read anything in the series, so I was not very familiar with the setting. I am also not a horse-lover, which the series seems to be geared toward, so YMMV.
April 26, 2016
An anthology of fifteen tales of young adult fantasy in a theme of finding your path in Valdemar.
Series:
"Heart's Choice" and "Heart's Own" (Heart)
The Stories
Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's "Finding the Way" is an unexpected pairing of a hertasi with a Companion in which the hertasi teaches the Companion patience so she may survive until her Chosen is ready. Twisty little tale!
Rosemary Edgehill and Denise McCune's "In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun" is a rather depressing tale of the unique talents of a Valdemaran Healer and the struggles he attempts to survive. It comes right in the end…rather uniquely, although a bit on the vague side. Still, a good story.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Unintended Consequences" is a very short story of traitors and a mournful death which ends unexpectedly well.
Mickey Zucker Rechiert's "Education of Evita" is an excellent tale of the confidence of youth with its resulting embarrassment of reality as Evita learns the consequences of judging from naiveté.
Elisabeth Waters' "A Charm of Finches" is one of those stories that exemplifies why I love stories about Valdemar. Its people are basically good and do what they can to help people. Maia has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech and manages to save several people now and who knows how many would have been harmed in the future through her gift of seeing through birds.
Don'cha just love that…a charm of finches so directly opposite a murder of crows…
Kristen Schwengel's "Healing in White" sees Shia Chosen by Eodan. Shia is a unique combination: a talented Healer with strong Gifts in Mindspeech and Empathy with a touch of Foresight and Sereth, the head of the Healers' Collegium, is furious that they have lost her to the Heralds! At which Herald Merchan, Dean of Collegium, reminds her that the Companions are always right with their Chosen choices…that someone with the right combination of Gifts is always Chosen when they are needed…
Brenda Cooper's "Songs of a Certain Sort" takes a rare perspective with its warped household trapping and taking its way into becoming. Talk about getting what you wished for…
Stephanie Shaver's "Otherwise Engaged" is a sad tale of unrequited love and an unwanted death sentence.
Kate Paulk's "Heart's Choice" is a lovely tale of tolerance and love when an unusual pair of sentient beings rescue a hybrid cub when its parents are killed. It's also the first half with Hoyt's "Heart's Own", providing the happy ending.
Sarah A. Hoyt's "Heart's Own" is the happy ending for Paulk's "Heart's Choice" when Rem's unease is answered in every way necessary.
Both are so well done that each story feels as though it is written with the same voice.
Tanya Huff's "The Time We Have" is such a sad story with its necessary ending and it feels as though an important chunk is missing. Wherever did Jors meet the lady with a braid?
Fiona Patton's "A Bard by Any Other Name" is an odd story of young love and bad poetry with a suggestion of a Bardic Gift revolving around a young graffiti artist.
Judith Tarr's "Change of Life" is absolutely lovely!! With a most unexpected lease on hope and requited happiness. You go, girl!
Nancy Asire's "Lack of Vision" is a story from Karse of a hanging judge required to adjudicate a murder trial with an inside look on achieving justice.
Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders' "Groom's Price" is the journey of Keth're'son shena Tale'sedrin. A Chosen who resists his Companion's choosing. For no Shin'a'in uses magic…no matter who is part of his bloodline.
The Cover and Title
A very Valdemaran cover with its Companion's head in profile poking through a shield hole against a heraldic-looking banner. In light royal blue and gold. The title is accurate in that each tale is one of Finding the Way.
Series:
"Heart's Choice" and "Heart's Own" (Heart)
The Stories
Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon's "Finding the Way" is an unexpected pairing of a hertasi with a Companion in which the hertasi teaches the Companion patience so she may survive until her Chosen is ready. Twisty little tale!
Rosemary Edgehill and Denise McCune's "In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun" is a rather depressing tale of the unique talents of a Valdemaran Healer and the struggles he attempts to survive. It comes right in the end…rather uniquely, although a bit on the vague side. Still, a good story.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Unintended Consequences" is a very short story of traitors and a mournful death which ends unexpectedly well.
Mickey Zucker Rechiert's "Education of Evita" is an excellent tale of the confidence of youth with its resulting embarrassment of reality as Evita learns the consequences of judging from naiveté.
Elisabeth Waters' "A Charm of Finches" is one of those stories that exemplifies why I love stories about Valdemar. Its people are basically good and do what they can to help people. Maia has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech and manages to save several people now and who knows how many would have been harmed in the future through her gift of seeing through birds.
Don'cha just love that…a charm of finches so directly opposite a murder of crows…
Kristen Schwengel's "Healing in White" sees Shia Chosen by Eodan. Shia is a unique combination: a talented Healer with strong Gifts in Mindspeech and Empathy with a touch of Foresight and Sereth, the head of the Healers' Collegium, is furious that they have lost her to the Heralds! At which Herald Merchan, Dean of Collegium, reminds her that the Companions are always right with their Chosen choices…that someone with the right combination of Gifts is always Chosen when they are needed…
Brenda Cooper's "Songs of a Certain Sort" takes a rare perspective with its warped household trapping and taking its way into becoming. Talk about getting what you wished for…
Stephanie Shaver's "Otherwise Engaged" is a sad tale of unrequited love and an unwanted death sentence.
Kate Paulk's "Heart's Choice" is a lovely tale of tolerance and love when an unusual pair of sentient beings rescue a hybrid cub when its parents are killed. It's also the first half with Hoyt's "Heart's Own", providing the happy ending.
Sarah A. Hoyt's "Heart's Own" is the happy ending for Paulk's "Heart's Choice" when Rem's unease is answered in every way necessary.
Both are so well done that each story feels as though it is written with the same voice.
Tanya Huff's "The Time We Have" is such a sad story with its necessary ending and it feels as though an important chunk is missing. Wherever did Jors meet the lady with a braid?
Fiona Patton's "A Bard by Any Other Name" is an odd story of young love and bad poetry with a suggestion of a Bardic Gift revolving around a young graffiti artist.
Judith Tarr's "Change of Life" is absolutely lovely!! With a most unexpected lease on hope and requited happiness. You go, girl!
Nancy Asire's "Lack of Vision" is a story from Karse of a hanging judge required to adjudicate a murder trial with an inside look on achieving justice.
Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders' "Groom's Price" is the journey of Keth're'son shena Tale'sedrin. A Chosen who resists his Companion's choosing. For no Shin'a'in uses magic…no matter who is part of his bloodline.
The Cover and Title
A very Valdemaran cover with its Companion's head in profile poking through a shield hole against a heraldic-looking banner. In light royal blue and gold. The title is accurate in that each tale is one of Finding the Way.
October 21, 2015
I much prefer Mercedes Lackey's own analyses and explanations as well as her love stories and development of a unique magic system. Though I knew this was a collection of short stories by different authors, the voices were so very different that it felt disjointed and false. Several of the stories involve the same power--Mindspeech--which becomes boring after a few reads. Though some sideways characters like the Shin'a'in received some attention, most of the characters were just regular people without much depth. I much prefer Lackey's style over this collection. Plus, I read her series for the Heralds; no offense, Bards and Healers.
September 3, 2020
This is another excellent selection of stories set in Mercedes Lackey's world of Valdemar, with a few excursions to other well-known locations such as Karse and the Dhorisha Plains. I enjoyed all of the stories greatly, and there is a good mix of lengths from a very short story to the near-novella written by ML herself. If you enjoy other books of Valdemar, and especially if you like characters introduced by other "Tales of Valdemar" books, you'll enjoy this one too.
September 8, 2012
No more than a couple of mediocre stories among the really good ones, and two more Jem and Ree stories makes this anthology extremely satisfying to me.
January 19, 2021
This was yet a other great anthology and, like the previous ones, full of great writers, fitting their stories seamlessly within Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar world.
I loved that, once again, there were two writers who told stories of Jem and Ree, one following the other, as if written by the same hand - and there was another City Guard story, too - Yay!
As I've read each new anthology, its been amazing to have these vignettes of the lives of those who, even if they were only mentioned briefly in one of Mercedes books, were the type of characters that I always wanted to know more about, and I'm certainly getting the opportunity!
I'm loving them all - both the characters mentioned before, and those brought new to the Valdemar world and, while I know that there are at least six more anthologies to go, I'm reading them at such a rate that they'll be finished all too soon for my liking.
I'm just hoping that the other series that have been written by Mercedes, that I bought along with these anthologies, will be just as funny, sad, hauntingly emotional, and all-round great reads, as the Valdemar books have been for me.
So, on to number 7 of the books: Under the Vale.
I loved that, once again, there were two writers who told stories of Jem and Ree, one following the other, as if written by the same hand - and there was another City Guard story, too - Yay!
As I've read each new anthology, its been amazing to have these vignettes of the lives of those who, even if they were only mentioned briefly in one of Mercedes books, were the type of characters that I always wanted to know more about, and I'm certainly getting the opportunity!
I'm loving them all - both the characters mentioned before, and those brought new to the Valdemar world and, while I know that there are at least six more anthologies to go, I'm reading them at such a rate that they'll be finished all too soon for my liking.
I'm just hoping that the other series that have been written by Mercedes, that I bought along with these anthologies, will be just as funny, sad, hauntingly emotional, and all-round great reads, as the Valdemar books have been for me.
So, on to number 7 of the books: Under the Vale.
July 23, 2021
Very rarely do I write reviews for stories I disliked.
The Education of Evita was infuriating enough to warrant one.
The story orbits the just world fallacy, that humans are in the situations they are in by their own merits and faults. And thus, the poor are poor because they are lazy and want free handouts. Also definitely only poor because they refuse to get along with each other. It's ironic that the story rails against the notion of just try peace, when it reinforces that concept with a segment about a hostile people who are, wait for it, poor because they're hostile! What if they just tried peace!
Not only does this cynicism sour the entire story, but it quite frankly ruins the entire point it was trying to make. Sometimes you can't have peace. Sometimes it's not about weapons. But all this is ruined by its own self righteous idea that it will all shake out if we would just stop being so nice to the undeserving.
Overall, the collection is enjoyable. This story however? Avoid if you're in anyway marginalized.....
The Education of Evita was infuriating enough to warrant one.
The story orbits the just world fallacy, that humans are in the situations they are in by their own merits and faults. And thus, the poor are poor because they are lazy and want free handouts. Also definitely only poor because they refuse to get along with each other. It's ironic that the story rails against the notion of just try peace, when it reinforces that concept with a segment about a hostile people who are, wait for it, poor because they're hostile! What if they just tried peace!
Not only does this cynicism sour the entire story, but it quite frankly ruins the entire point it was trying to make. Sometimes you can't have peace. Sometimes it's not about weapons. But all this is ruined by its own self righteous idea that it will all shake out if we would just stop being so nice to the undeserving.
Overall, the collection is enjoyable. This story however? Avoid if you're in anyway marginalized.....
May 25, 2024
My review is broken into pieces following each individual story in the order I read them in. I read 5 stories from this anthology.
“Songs of a Certain Sort” by Brenda Cooper: Rhiannon rescues a group of women while suffering little herself. Nice to know Valdemar’s got some real-world problems like women trafficking to deal with - and I am being sarcastic here.
“Unintened Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan: I’m very amused at the assumption that Alberich’s an executioner. This one was short and sweet.
“Otherwise Engaged” by Stephanie Shaver: Was honestly a tad confused by this one.
“Heart’s Choice” by Kate Paulk: Originally thought that was going somewhere COMPLETELY different. But hey, now we got a little queer family of humans and hobgoblins.
“Heart’s Own” by Sarah A. Hoyt: I’m enjoying the continuation of Jem and Ree’s story. Completely understand the complications of raising a little boy who’s only part human.
“Songs of a Certain Sort” by Brenda Cooper: Rhiannon rescues a group of women while suffering little herself. Nice to know Valdemar’s got some real-world problems like women trafficking to deal with - and I am being sarcastic here.
“Unintened Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan: I’m very amused at the assumption that Alberich’s an executioner. This one was short and sweet.
“Otherwise Engaged” by Stephanie Shaver: Was honestly a tad confused by this one.
“Heart’s Choice” by Kate Paulk: Originally thought that was going somewhere COMPLETELY different. But hey, now we got a little queer family of humans and hobgoblins.
“Heart’s Own” by Sarah A. Hoyt: I’m enjoying the continuation of Jem and Ree’s story. Completely understand the complications of raising a little boy who’s only part human.
July 11, 2019
More Companions
I discovered Arrows for the Queen in the mid 80's. I have purchased every Mercedes Lackey book published that has any connection to Valdemar. The collections of stories written by various authors are great. You learn more little tidbits about old friends and you sometimes make new ones. If you love intrigue, perilous tasks or some really worth prose, pick up one of the story collections. If you love the stories, then pick up the first book in the Valdemar series. I strongly suggest you read the books in order. Even though they move through several time periods I believe it is the only way to meet all the inhabitants of this universe.
I discovered Arrows for the Queen in the mid 80's. I have purchased every Mercedes Lackey book published that has any connection to Valdemar. The collections of stories written by various authors are great. You learn more little tidbits about old friends and you sometimes make new ones. If you love intrigue, perilous tasks or some really worth prose, pick up one of the story collections. If you love the stories, then pick up the first book in the Valdemar series. I strongly suggest you read the books in order. Even though they move through several time periods I believe it is the only way to meet all the inhabitants of this universe.
December 31, 2024
A few strong stories, one stand-out, and several "meh" or less skillfully done ones.
The stand-out 5 star one was "Change of Life" by the wonderful Judith Tarr.
Other strong stories were "Lack of Vision" by Nancy Asire, "A Bard By Any Other Name" by Fiona Patton, "The Time We Have Left" by Tanya Huff, and "Finding the Way" by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon.
No surprise, probably, that the well-established authors have the strongest tales.
The average rating of all the stories was 3.3 stars.
Recommended for established Valdemar fans, but otherwise not a good introduction to that universe.
Final note: Any chance of getting Judith Tarr to write an entire Valdemar novel?
The stand-out 5 star one was "Change of Life" by the wonderful Judith Tarr.
Other strong stories were "Lack of Vision" by Nancy Asire, "A Bard By Any Other Name" by Fiona Patton, "The Time We Have Left" by Tanya Huff, and "Finding the Way" by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon.
No surprise, probably, that the well-established authors have the strongest tales.
The average rating of all the stories was 3.3 stars.
Recommended for established Valdemar fans, but otherwise not a good introduction to that universe.
Final note: Any chance of getting Judith Tarr to write an entire Valdemar novel?
January 20, 2024
3.5 Uneven quality in the stories but some are good. Enjoy meeting characters from earlier stories in new adventures. Does make me want to get back to the novels though! Maybe after I finish the few library books I still have out, plus finish Heather Cox Richardson’s book on the Reconstruction following the Civil War. Started this one ages ago but only recently got back to it, two more sections to go there.
December 29, 2018
Read again
Always finding something O missed when I re-read these anthologies.
Decided to read these back-to-back to get a better understanding of some of the recurring characters, and their stories.
Much like Tanya Huff did with her recent Dann family compilation. Even if she did leave a couple stories out! 😉
Always finding something O missed when I re-read these anthologies.
Decided to read these back-to-back to get a better understanding of some of the recurring characters, and their stories.
Much like Tanya Huff did with her recent Dann family compilation. Even if she did leave a couple stories out! 😉
October 26, 2020
I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist.
October 11, 2023
I Think We Go This Way...
TalesValdemar6
Unusual sightings. Uncommon points of view. Continuing stories.
That is the gift and challenge of these collections; picking your footing as one traverses a dangerous trail. Some of the authors delight in their offerings. Others, I skip and go back to later. But anthologies introduce many voices - these voices speak of Valdemar!
TalesValdemar6
Unusual sightings. Uncommon points of view. Continuing stories.
That is the gift and challenge of these collections; picking your footing as one traverses a dangerous trail. Some of the authors delight in their offerings. Others, I skip and go back to later. But anthologies introduce many voices - these voices speak of Valdemar!
June 5, 2019
What's kind of fun is that because I'm reading these in such quick succession, it's easier to follow the continued stories. I'll admit that Ree and Jem just make me smile. And sometimes I recognize other names, which is fun.
December 12, 2020
If you love the stories of Valdemar, you'll enjoy these stories about extra characters, all in keeping with Mercedes Lackey's vision of her Valdemar world. They are stories of hope, of encouragement, of ... finding the way to the life they were meant to have.
October 1, 2017
The first story, done by Lackey and her husband, was really good. I love the different take on the Hertasi. This is a wonderful collection, makes me want to write a Valdemar story of my own.
March 16, 2018
This was a selection of short stories, each one enjoyable.
April 30, 2018
Short stories by many authors that take place in the world of Valdemar. All good, I wished several of them could have been longer.
November 19, 2018
I love how several of the short stories are the same people from the other short story books. but yet their adventurer could be read on its own.
April 7, 2019
Definitely the weakest of the collections I've read thus far.
February 12, 2022
I find these short stories comforting. A warm blanket on a chilly day. Reading several Valdemar anthologies in a row, the stories sometimes continue, and quite successfully at that!
October 14, 2022
Reread
January 17, 2011
I've been a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey's work since I was fourteen, so writing an objective review was always going to be hard. So I thought I'd just come out and say it: I love Mercedes Lackey's books; they are my literary chocolate, I can reread them time and again and no one is going to take them from me, so there! Well, now I've got that rather adolescent statement of my chest, here is a more mature, but probably equally fangirlish piece by me on why you should read Mercedes Lackey over on Fantasy Literature. All this being said, here's my review for the latest Valdemar anthology Finding the Way, you can be the judge whether I'm succeeded in being objective!
For the past three years early December marks the publication of a Valdemar anthology (the previous three were published in 1997, 2003 and 2005 respectively) and Finding the Way is the latest in the series. And it's at once one of the best and one of the more frustrating of the anthologies. To be honest however, the points that frustrated me most were mostly subjective and not tied to the writing itself, so it might not bother people not familiar with the other anthologies. The biggest niggle is that all the authors are returning contributors. There isn't one new author in this bunch of stories. On the one hand, this makes it possible to have recurring characters - which is great - but on the other hand, exploring new authors through familiar universes is one of the attractive side benefits of these kinds of anthologies. And while having recurring characters and storylines is great fun, for a die-hard Valdemar fan it is also an opportunity lost to explore a new corner of Velgarth or something new and unique to the universe. The last thing that really bugged me was the fact that there were some continuity mistakes and typo's that weren't caught before printing. I know mistakes happen, but it was distracting, because my eye kept snagging on the typo's and stopping me reading.
Any collection of stories will have duds and Finding the Way is no different. But, with only two stories out of the fifteen that really didn't click for me, the number of disappointments is very small. The stories that didn't work for me were Mickey Zucker Reichert's The Education of Evita and Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sander's The Groom's Price. Zucker Reichert has had stories in all six anthologies and her stories are always rather 'hit or miss' for me and this time it was a miss. I just found the titular character of Evita annoying and I couldn't get past that. Williamson and Sanders' story just didn't do it for me, which was a shame because it was a Shina'in story and I've enjoyed Williamson's previous contributions a lot.
While all other thirteen stories were highly enjoyable, my favourites were the titular story by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon, Finding the Way, Elisabeth Waters' A Charm of Finches, Kate Paulk's Heart's Choice and Sarah A. Hoyt's Heart's Own. The Lackey/Dixon story is a story about an Hertasi, the little lizard-like non-humans that live in the Pelagirs. They are one of my favourite non-human races in the Velgarth universe, so I enjoyed this closer look immensely. Waters' A Charm of Finches is a continuation of last year's A Storytelling of Crows and I adored this look at Gifted people not part of the Collegia. Paulk and Hoyt's stories were both great new Jem and Ree stories. I love these two characters and it's a unique view of life after the Mage Storms.
All in all, this was another fun addition to the Velgarth universe. I wouldn't recommend it to people new to the Valdemar books; I'd recommend starting with either the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy or the Last Herald-Mage series, but for any Valdemar fan, this will be a must-read regardless of any flaws. Some of the stories will benefit from having read the previous ones, but most stand solidly on their own. I enjoyed this quick visit to Valdemar and I can't wait to go back for a longer stay with Intrigues later this year.
For the past three years early December marks the publication of a Valdemar anthology (the previous three were published in 1997, 2003 and 2005 respectively) and Finding the Way is the latest in the series. And it's at once one of the best and one of the more frustrating of the anthologies. To be honest however, the points that frustrated me most were mostly subjective and not tied to the writing itself, so it might not bother people not familiar with the other anthologies. The biggest niggle is that all the authors are returning contributors. There isn't one new author in this bunch of stories. On the one hand, this makes it possible to have recurring characters - which is great - but on the other hand, exploring new authors through familiar universes is one of the attractive side benefits of these kinds of anthologies. And while having recurring characters and storylines is great fun, for a die-hard Valdemar fan it is also an opportunity lost to explore a new corner of Velgarth or something new and unique to the universe. The last thing that really bugged me was the fact that there were some continuity mistakes and typo's that weren't caught before printing. I know mistakes happen, but it was distracting, because my eye kept snagging on the typo's and stopping me reading.
Any collection of stories will have duds and Finding the Way is no different. But, with only two stories out of the fifteen that really didn't click for me, the number of disappointments is very small. The stories that didn't work for me were Mickey Zucker Reichert's The Education of Evita and Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sander's The Groom's Price. Zucker Reichert has had stories in all six anthologies and her stories are always rather 'hit or miss' for me and this time it was a miss. I just found the titular character of Evita annoying and I couldn't get past that. Williamson and Sanders' story just didn't do it for me, which was a shame because it was a Shina'in story and I've enjoyed Williamson's previous contributions a lot.
While all other thirteen stories were highly enjoyable, my favourites were the titular story by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon, Finding the Way, Elisabeth Waters' A Charm of Finches, Kate Paulk's Heart's Choice and Sarah A. Hoyt's Heart's Own. The Lackey/Dixon story is a story about an Hertasi, the little lizard-like non-humans that live in the Pelagirs. They are one of my favourite non-human races in the Velgarth universe, so I enjoyed this closer look immensely. Waters' A Charm of Finches is a continuation of last year's A Storytelling of Crows and I adored this look at Gifted people not part of the Collegia. Paulk and Hoyt's stories were both great new Jem and Ree stories. I love these two characters and it's a unique view of life after the Mage Storms.
All in all, this was another fun addition to the Velgarth universe. I wouldn't recommend it to people new to the Valdemar books; I'd recommend starting with either the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy or the Last Herald-Mage series, but for any Valdemar fan, this will be a must-read regardless of any flaws. Some of the stories will benefit from having read the previous ones, but most stand solidly on their own. I enjoyed this quick visit to Valdemar and I can't wait to go back for a longer stay with Intrigues later this year.
March 26, 2011
I am in love with all things Velgarth, the world that the Kingdom of Valdemar exists in. I snatch every book up that I find, though I still am missing three books, and I devour them almost instantly. Finding the Way is the new fifteen story anthology that explores the world of Heralds, Healers, Bards, and other citizens of the land. Mickey Zucker Reichert, Fiona Patton, Rosemary Edghill, Larry Dixon, Elisabeth Waters, and Mercedes Lackey all continue to draw upon their creative talent to expand the mythology of Velgarth and Valdemar.
Now I know for a lot of people anthology can's be headache inducing if all the stories don't work for them. I know some people that if they even dislike one story, the whole collection is ruined for them. Thankfully I am not like that, not that I didn't enjoy every story in this one, because I did for one reason or another. For the most part this was a collection of 15 wonderful stories that allowed me to revisit my favorite fictional land. Now I didn't love them all, but there were none that fell flat for me this time around.
What I absolutely loved this time around was that quite a few stories allowed me to revisit some fantastic characters introduced in other anthologies. I got to visit with Jem and Ree in the stories "Heart's Choice" by Kate Paulk and "Heart's Own" by Sarah A. Hoyt. They are a couple of young men, one completely human the other a changechild, who are trying to forge a life together after the Mage Storms. They continue to face challenges, not only because they are shaych (gay) but because of Ree's obvious difference in appearance. What I love about them is that despite the prejudice and the odds, they are slowly building a life with a new daughter and a relationship, if somewhat strained, with Jem's father, the local lord. They face more difficulties in these two stories, but by the end they are stronger for it and even more committed to each other.
The other two stories that really stood out for me, were "Unintended Consequences" by Elizabeth A. Vaughn and "The Time We Have" by Tanya Huff. The first was the shortest story in the collection, about nine pages long, but it had one of the strongest emotional punches for me. Lady Cerararatha's husband was one of the Rethwellan lords that tried to assassinate Queen Selenay and sit her husband on the throne. Faced with the shame and possible execution as a traitor, Lady Cera's mind instantly goes into overload. Will she be allowed to to stay in Valdemar? Will she be sent back home to Rethwellan, where she would face an unknown future? Or is something else in store for her that she can never predict? When the two women, one the wife of a traitor the other the queen of the land, finally come face to face they connected by the betrayal of their husbands.
In "The Time We Have" we find out how lifebonding doesn't always go the way you would want it to. Herald Jors is riding circuit when he is caught up in struggle against bandits that have been pillaging and killing their way across Valdemar. One of those bandits happens to be a beautiful young woman that for one reason or another Jors is not able to get out of his head. It's by going after her that the Herald is able to end the reign of terror that the bandits have been spreading, but it's also through her that he suffers the biggest loss of his life. Herald Jors and Mirgayne were destined to be lifebonded, but the bonding is cut off way before it's time.
Where "Heart's Choice" and "Heart's Love" helps keep alive that helpless romantic side of me, "Unintended Consequences" and "The Time We Have" broke my heart and made sad for the characters involved and for anyone who has been caught up in a relationship out of their control. I think both are feelings and situations that most of us find ourselves in at one time or another. We have all come out with scars, but it's that true belief in love that allows us to find our peace and strength
Now I know for a lot of people anthology can's be headache inducing if all the stories don't work for them. I know some people that if they even dislike one story, the whole collection is ruined for them. Thankfully I am not like that, not that I didn't enjoy every story in this one, because I did for one reason or another. For the most part this was a collection of 15 wonderful stories that allowed me to revisit my favorite fictional land. Now I didn't love them all, but there were none that fell flat for me this time around.
What I absolutely loved this time around was that quite a few stories allowed me to revisit some fantastic characters introduced in other anthologies. I got to visit with Jem and Ree in the stories "Heart's Choice" by Kate Paulk and "Heart's Own" by Sarah A. Hoyt. They are a couple of young men, one completely human the other a changechild, who are trying to forge a life together after the Mage Storms. They continue to face challenges, not only because they are shaych (gay) but because of Ree's obvious difference in appearance. What I love about them is that despite the prejudice and the odds, they are slowly building a life with a new daughter and a relationship, if somewhat strained, with Jem's father, the local lord. They face more difficulties in these two stories, but by the end they are stronger for it and even more committed to each other.
The other two stories that really stood out for me, were "Unintended Consequences" by Elizabeth A. Vaughn and "The Time We Have" by Tanya Huff. The first was the shortest story in the collection, about nine pages long, but it had one of the strongest emotional punches for me. Lady Cerararatha's husband was one of the Rethwellan lords that tried to assassinate Queen Selenay and sit her husband on the throne. Faced with the shame and possible execution as a traitor, Lady Cera's mind instantly goes into overload. Will she be allowed to to stay in Valdemar? Will she be sent back home to Rethwellan, where she would face an unknown future? Or is something else in store for her that she can never predict? When the two women, one the wife of a traitor the other the queen of the land, finally come face to face they connected by the betrayal of their husbands.
In "The Time We Have" we find out how lifebonding doesn't always go the way you would want it to. Herald Jors is riding circuit when he is caught up in struggle against bandits that have been pillaging and killing their way across Valdemar. One of those bandits happens to be a beautiful young woman that for one reason or another Jors is not able to get out of his head. It's by going after her that the Herald is able to end the reign of terror that the bandits have been spreading, but it's also through her that he suffers the biggest loss of his life. Herald Jors and Mirgayne were destined to be lifebonded, but the bonding is cut off way before it's time.
Where "Heart's Choice" and "Heart's Love" helps keep alive that helpless romantic side of me, "Unintended Consequences" and "The Time We Have" broke my heart and made sad for the characters involved and for anyone who has been caught up in a relationship out of their control. I think both are feelings and situations that most of us find ourselves in at one time or another. We have all come out with scars, but it's that true belief in love that allows us to find our peace and strength
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