This is up there with my very favorite Valdemar books. I started reading Valdemar stuff when I was nineteen or twenty so I very much appreciated the perspective of an adult approaching the Land of Magical Horses and Sunshine with rather more skepticism than most of the series' protagonists.There's the usual epic battle, personal tragedy, and Herald-school hijinks, but the meat of the book is the series of ethical issues Alberich is faced with, and they're approached in a thoughtful way. It's eas...

I'm behind on my blogging, so this will be fast. I have to say that, of all the Valdemar books, I think the 'Rein of Selenay' timeline is, by far, the best.And the "Exile's" series are the best of the best.These follow the fortunes, and lack thereof, of Alberich, a Karsite refugee and former captain in their army, as he makes a place for himself in Valdemar. Alberich has been a soldier since he was a child, and has taken to heart the ideas of honor, service, and his religion. And yet the priests...

First in the Exile Duology subseries within the Valdemar fantasy universe (and taking place in 1355 AF) revolving around Alberich, a captain in the Karsite army. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Valdemar books on my website.My Take"That was the way of things, in the armies of Karse. You rose by watching your back, and (if the occasion arose) sticking careful knives into the backs of your less-cautious fellow . . ."Poor Alberich. His whole life he's been told how demo...

There will be Spoilers for the "The Last Herald Mage" trilogy and "Arrows of the Queen"!This book was such a joy to read (despite all the heartbreak in it). Meeting Alberich and the fact that we get a Chosen who is an adult was the first thing I squeed about. And then the rescue?! The rescue with Kantor saving him from the burning hut and racing to the border to get him medical attention and the whole thing in the healers house? *SQUEEEEE* That was a very good start to this book. :)I love all th...

This was truly a wonderful book, more than I ever expected from a book that focused on Alberich. Being a big Valdemar fan and having read almost every other book set in the world, I had somewhat unintentionally avoided this particular series for many years due to an issue that I expected to make me struggle with staying immersed in the story, and that was Alberich's way of speaking. From seeing him in the Arrows series as well as the other subsequent books in the timeline, his backwards speech p...

Alberich has long been one of my favorite Valdemar characters, so to read his story was more than a delight. His character is one of the more unique in Valdemar, and his circumstances are vastly different from any other. Of course this set of books set you up for what was the first written stories in the entire series, and a few small things change as Valdemar lore became more updated. I love this background information though, and it just adds to the entire immersion in the world. As always the...

Really, really good. I know I read this several times after it came out, but it's been years since I last visited it. It may, in someways, be the best book in the series. A great blend of philosophy, plot, character development and all the other things really good fantasy can bring to a book!

This was classical Mercedes Lackey. I loved Alberich as a character to follow. There was also a lot about the companions in this book which I loved. You definitely need to have some tissues ready when reading this book, Lackey really knows how to pluck at the heart strings.

I love this series and really enjoy this book. I love the Alberich back story and I enjoyed the...religious aspects, strangely. Vkandis Sunlord's worship felt like a commentary on Christianity. The "old school" that follows the Word vs the "new school" that follows interpretation. The way that free will can lead to extreme power abuses... it's all very interesting to me.

Re-read 2019I felt like re-reading Herald Alberich's duology since it has been awhile. He is one of my favorite characters in Lackey's Valdemar series. Re-read 2017This book is the first in the duology about Herald Alberich the weapons master during the Arrows of the Queen trilogy. He's originally from Karse the "archenemies" of Valdemar and this book tells the story of how he came to be a herald and a part of the collegium. I loved the book, I was always fascinated by this gruff, slightly stand...

I had determined long ago that I would not spend time on this author - I felt her books far too emotionally manipulative, as I remember it, and yes, you're cheering along with the heroes, but the way they're written, there's really not much choice. I had read the Arrows of the Queen trilogy and then I think I tried one other book, the title of which I can't remember at the moment, and that sealed it. I'll admit, though, that I had a weak moment or 2 as stress built with the approach of a new ter...

The problem with books that are chronologically set before the time of the latest books is that the author has to choose how much backstory to reveal and how obvious to make it...in this case a little too obvious. She really pounds the point home that he has to tougher than anything his students will face outside in order to help them survive - tougher! survive! aarrrrgggghhhhh!! Nice fleshing out of part of the world she created, maybe not requiring sooo much paper to tell it though.

Like many Lackey's books, this one is stuffed with inner monologues, contemplations, and explanations. Too many of them slow the action and slide the quality of the prose down to barely acceptable. On the other hand, the plot is interesting, and the protagonist a truly fascinating man. Alberich is a Karsite, a former officer of a Karsite army, chosen by a Companion to become a Herald of Valdemar. As Karse and Valdemar have been enemies for decades, Alberich's position in Valdemar is precarious a...

I had read this before, and had obviously liked it, as I'd shelved it with the original Arrows trilogy and the Vows and Honor duology, which I still think are her best work (other series and stand-alones of Lackey's I have relegated to my shelves in the basement). It's only the second time I've read it and I'd forgotten it, so it was almost like reading it for the first time.Sometimes I think Lackey employs a not-very-proficient ghost writer; her work is so uneven. Some, though never by any stre...

Alberich is a Karsite Captain who has hidden his talent for getting glimpses of the future. In Karse, that can send you to the fires. Then one day he can't keep it hidden any more. As he is about to be burned, his new, white horse rescues him. And speaks to him? Badly injured, he carried away and stays conscious just long enough to realize he his in Valemar and this is a demon horse he is riding. Kantor, his new Companion stays on the edges of his mind as he is healed and then introduces himself...

Alberich, a mounted officer in Karsite, on a white horse given to him by the Sunpriest's has been having visions of things that are going to happen in the very near future. Not sure if he's being a heretic in following them, he does know that he is saving the lives of the villagers when he acts upon them. The last time he does he is found out by a black robed priest and is to be burned, but his horse, a companion in disguise rescues him and gets him across the border into Valdemar.After being he...

Heralds of Valdemar Prequels: 1Author is trying to cram historical background for her (then) main series with bare regard for characterization, much less plot, which is criminal, because the setup for the main character has so much potential. The beginning is interesting, but Alberich settles in to his new country with only token protest. Then there's timeskips to cover all the span the author intends. Lazy storytelling with lots of deus ex to move things along. The first skip is four years and

I'd always wondered about Alberich's backstory; it didn't disappoint :)

Thanks, I loved it!

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series provides one of the cornerstones of my reading history. After discovering her when quite young, I still follow new additions to the series - nearly twenty years later! I read and re-read these books over and over again throughout my youth, but I haven't re-read this series in its entirety in a long time - and never as an adult. There are some new books added to the series since the last time I read them, so this re-reading project is pretty exciting for me since...

This 2002 novel was the first of a modern trio of books revisiting the Collegium in the period leading up to the original Valdemar books (the Arrows of the Queen trilogy). This volume recounts how Alberich became a Herald, leaving Valdemar's enemy Karse for exile in Haven as Weaponmaster Second. In the process, he finds a way to fit in, to build his reputation, and to become part of the history of that era.The book is enjoyable, and a nice insight into one of the more myserious / forboding chara...

This is the first book by Mercedes Lackey that I recall reading, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is solid fantasy - not extraordinary, but just good and satisfying, like chocolate cake - and excellent escapist reading.This was my first introduction to the world of Valdemar, and I'm impressed that I never felt that there was something I should have known but didn't. I'm also impressed that, with the exception of names and a few random words (like "chava"), the author doesn't use a

I'm a fan of Lackey's Valdemar books, and was excited to see a new one when I first saw this in stores, yet the first time I tried it, I couldn't even finish it. There are books in the series I'd recommend that could make you a fan of them: such as the books about Vanyel (The Last Herald Mage trilogy starting with Magic's Pawn) or about Talia (Heralds of Valdemar trilogy starting with Arrows of the Queen). Then there are the books that if you do find you love this world, I could recommend buying...

Alberich is a great character and I thoroughly enjoyed the religious philosophy in this book as well as Alberich's soul-searching concerning his honor. I worry sometimes that honor is a concept that is fast getting lost in today's world, so it was wonderful to see a whole book set around this theme. I know it made me think a bit harder about faith, power, corruption, tolerance, and greed, just to name a few concepts that are highlighted by the book. Of course, all the philosophy made the action

Now, this is what well-drawn characters look like! For the most part, I'm generally inclined to steer clear of prequels that follow the background of characters that aren't central to a later sequence of books. (See: many of Anne McCaffrey's "later" novels.) However, I was out of reading material so I gave it a shot. And it was well worth it. This follows Weaponsmaster Alberich's story before and as he became a Herald from Karse. The characters are well-developed and unique. The story was wonder...

Having previously read a number of the Valdemar books in the order they were published, rather than in the order of the history, it's interesting to go back and now re-read the series in the order the adventures take place. I can see now the little hints that are dropped that will later lead into something more and concepts that are expanded on later in the series' timeline. There are some good lessons in this book...tolerance, acceptance, understanding, and, most importantly I think, a governme...

Outstanding writing; this fantasy book is easy to follow and makes you want to keep reading. It's about a soldier in the Karsite army who has the gift of Foreseeing, which is a magical ability forbidden by his culture. In intro, he is found out and put to the stake to be burned. Luckily, his companion (sentient horses who speak via telepathy, although he doesn't know it at that point) rescues him and takes him to Valdemer, where he starts a new life. Good book about honor, morals, showing the ki...

After writing Take a Thief, Lackey jumped backwards in time again to write Alberich's origin story as a Herald, and it was surprisingly great. I loved Alberich's uncertainty and doubts especially as war with Karse heats up. He's such a good character that even the author writing herself into the book can't ruin it.The last quarter was really hard to read this time because my own dad died this year, and the subplot with the children also really hit hard.I do feel like the story could have been st...

Read it before I think, but many years ago. Thought it was slow, nothing happens until more than halfway through. Liked the character of Alberich, he's certainly not like any other character in the Valdemar world and this book gives insight into him in other Valdemar books. There's a second book but I'm not sure I'll read it. This one was okay but not great. Still worth reading if you're into the series and would like insight into Alberich.

2.50/5* Well, it's so OK it's average... Mostly it's about Alberich, and other than when he gets Chosen in the first few pages, there's really not a lot of action until the last 30 or 40 pages, as per each ML book. Anyone who's read the Arrows trilogy knows who dies already and who loses which limb.Apparently Alberich is also attracted to... drumroll please... Myste, a play on Misty... Mercedes Lackey's nickname, and Myste is described JUST like Ms Lackey. Huh, fancy that.