Rating: 
Summary: From Tatters to Treasures
Review: Mercedes Lackey's Take a Thief is the tale of Skif, a young orphan reminiscent of Oliver Twist, making his way in the knock-and-tumble neighborhood between two of Haven's outermost walls. Skif is intelligent, good-hearted and creative enough to forage up three meals a day in a place where food is scarce and kindness almost unheard of. After a chain of events leave him homeless, Skif lands in the lair of Bazie, an Faginish ex-mercenary who trains thieves.If you've never read a novel of Valdemar before, take heart: Take a Thief stands alone and serves as a good introduction to that land. Lackey is a wonderful writer with particular talent for setting a scene and drawing you into the life of a sympathetic character. Though Skif speaks in heavy dialect, Lackey writes his speech with a skillful hand so that the dialect is not disruptive. The flaws in the story are few, but noticeable. Lackey draws her peripheral characters almost too well, so that one feels cheated when a character disappears from the scene and doesn't ever get another mention. The pacing of the book is perfect for the first 75% of the story, but then speeds up too much as it approaches the big climax. As a result the story wears a little bit thin towards the end as you begin to suspect that Lackey may be on a bit of a soapbox here. Still don't let that deter you. Though this book may only deserve 3 or 3 and a half stars for technical merit, it is still a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: 3 and a Half Stars
Review: This is certainly not the best Valdemar Novel, but it is an enjoyable read. Unless you hate accents. If you ever have any trouble reading accents, avoid this book, you'll never get past your annoyance. Me I like accents and I like this book. Light hearted and light reading yes, but it fills in more of the rich detail and character which most Valdemar fans are so fond of.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Intro into the Valdemar Series
Review: I had never touched a Mercedes Lackey series before this - in fact, the only fantasy series I read regularly before this was the Xanth series from Piers Anthony. With this book, the purple cover and beautiful horse caught my eye and made me lift it from the shelf. The book description made me buy it, and the ensuing story made me love it! Immediately, afterwards, I began devouring the rest of this great Lackey series, and have now finished them all - eagerly awaing Alberich's book in October. For the reader like me who finds it difficult to leap into a new fantasy world, this book is great at "teaching" you this great new world. As Skif learns, you learn - and trust me, it's a great series to leap into, with so much great possibilities in the future.
Rating:
Summary: The adventures of a young orphan
Review: This novel assumes that the reader is familiar with the Valdemar series and the Companions. It begins somewhat like Andre Norton's "Scent of Magic" with a young orphan, Skif, being used as child labor in a tavern owned and operated by unsavory relatives. He escapes from that life to join a gang of young thieves led by an older man who teaches Skif the finer points of picking pockets and cat burglary. The setting is similar to Charles Dickens' stories set in 19th century London. A tragic change in circumstances sends Skif on a quest for vengeance (while supporting himself as a thief). Finding himself in a situation where his life may be in danger, he seeks refuge in a temple but continues his cat burglary at night. His attempt to be a horse thief finds him chosen by a Companion, somewhat to the dismay of the Heralds, and puts him in a position to exact retribution for past wrongs. Skif seems to abandon people as the story moves along. What became of the young girl he protected from bullies at the school? Does he never go back to visit anyone who befriended him? Perhaps the Heralds need to teach Skif some social skills. The novel is suitable for teenage readers.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: okay, I have all of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series and I have to say that this book about Skif is def. one of the best. It goes through his life as a theif to the beginning of his stay as a Herald, before he meets Talia. He goes through rough times with a mean Uncle and the death of a friend, I have read this book once and now that I see it again I think I have to read it again or buy it!! PLEASE READ AND ENJOY!!!
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read
Review: "Take a Thief" was my first encounter with Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar. I dilligently trudged my way through the first half of the book, giving it a chance to get exciting. Luckily, I was more than rewarded. Once the book shifted away from Skif's life as a thief, I found it nearly impossible to put down, as I knew nothing of the lives and training of Heralds. Lackey does a wonderful job showing the true roughness of Skif's life and accents this with the written dialect she uses for his speech. It lent more crediblity somehow to Skif's situation. Looking back on "Take a Thief," now that I have read The Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy, it is fun to see younger versions of some of the characters in those books. Bottom Line: Fun for non-Valdemar fans and a real treat for lovers of Valdemar
Rating:
Summary: A great look at the history of a thief...
Review: I think that this book is a great look at Skif. I was always wondering why and how he had become a thief, but nothing was ever said in the previous books. This book really clarified all of my questions. Im a big fan of the series, so I might be a bit biased... :)
Rating:
Summary: Great Touch for Skif
Review: This book was great for Skif. I had hoped Lackey would tell us of Skif's past. I was most interested in him because he is a thief and that's my nickname (we have alot in common). I loved how the story twisted and kept you guessing what would happen next. I also loved how Cymry tricked Skif. The saying my friends use on me, "set a thief to catch a thief." This is one of Lackey's best. If you read this book be sure to read "Arrows of the Queen" also by Lackey. - Thief
Rating:
Summary: For anyone who Dreams of being Chosen
Review: If you are familiar with Valdemar, you will most likely greatly enjoy this book, despite the few oops in continuity. Skif has a wonderful history that has long been hinted at in the "Arrows of the Queen" series.
If you dream of being Impressed by the Dragons of Pern, or Chosen in Valdemar, your heart will love this book.
If you are looking to nitpick, I do not recommend it.
I DO, however, recommend reading the "Arrows of the Queen" series before reading this one, to better appreciate it.
My opinion. ~ Mare
Rating:
Summary: How do you keep a series going this long?
Review: Here's what you do. Instead of writing fantasy where everybody is a hero, except for the evil villains, you write fantasy where everybody is a real person, with real issues, and a real background...and then make them the heroes of the stories. In this case, Mercedes Lackey decides to give us some backstory about the scapegrace Skif. Skif becomes a Herald of Valdemar even though he isn't anything but a regulation, practicing thief. And of course, his skills are needed by the Heralds...or why would the Companion have selected him? Skif's story is gritty and detailed. You get a good feeling of what it must have been to be an orphan...it is much like "Oliver Twist"...not the musical, but the real, hard-edged book. This is a great story, in a great series, by a great writer. Write on! Bananaslug. at Baen's Bar
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