Rating: 
Summary: it was good, but....
Review: this book was pretty good, but not really what one expects from m.l. it seemed to be really thrown together just to get it done, etc. most of the characters really didn't get developed to the degree that they should have.... :( it was, however, a satisifing story, a vast impovement over the owl series. ;) there was some rather intresting twists and some more information that helps shed more light on the campanions....
Rating: 
Summary: Finally a book that is up to her original standards.
Review: This is an excelent telling of the legend of Lavan Firestorm. While not her best work, its pretty close to the top, esp when compared with other recent stories. The character development is great, as he changes from a reluctant son of two tailors to becoming a trainie, and finally the hero of Valdamaran legend. I would have preffered a longer story, but I don't there was enough story to make one of her usual trilogies or even a second book.Also, the artwork at the beginning of each story, by Larry Dixon, is probably the best I've seen from him.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: Brightly Burning was an insult to fantasy. It truly was, then again i'm not a real fan of Lacky's work. I find her dull and uninteresting. No offense to you Lacky fans but really. The only thing worth the 12$ is the cover, it's kinda pretty... but even then... it's a steep price for a little picture... Anyway, the plot was weak and the charaters undeveloped. I had a hard time sympethizing with these crude people. Nonetheless, i expected better. It really tells you not to judge a book by it's cover!
Rating:
Summary: She's done it again
Review: If you're like me, you cried when Vanyl and Talia were Chosen. I cried through this one, too. If you've read Queen's own, you know the story. If you haven't, this book can stand alone and be your introduction to the wonderful world of Valdemar.
Rating: 
Summary: Better....
Review: Well, Mercedes Lackey is definitely getting better. The Pawn/Promise/Price trilogy is still the best of the Valdemar books, however. It looks like she wrote this one herself, rather than co-writing with her husband. I don't want to insult her hubby or anything but her books are Always better when he is not co-authoring. I was rather upset with what she did with this character, or at least, that she did it so quickly. Three quarters of the book were used to make you get to know and enjoy the character, though it did go mildly slow through some of that. And then BAM, he was off to war, etc. I won't say more as I don't want to spoil it for folks. I just think this could have been a three book series like Pawn/Promise/Price was. I suppose, though, it might've been too much like that series if it had been. This is a good Valdemar book, but I don't think it's quite back up to the quality of the Vanyel / Arrows or even Mage Storm books.
Rating:
Summary: Mercedes Lackey's "Brightly Burning"
Review: "Brightly Burning" sets the soul affire once again for the world of Valdemar. The tale of Lavan Firestorm demonstrates Mercedes Lackey's captivating abilities as a storyteller. Lavan Chitward, at the age of sixteen, finds himself uprooted from all he has known. Unhappy in the large city of Haven, and unable to find his place among his family, Lavan's parents send him to a private school. There, Lavan is shocked by the corrupt and cruel way it is run. His anger grows as the situation worsens and he is unable to do anything. Lavan wishes desperately for a way to change things. Never in his wildest dreams could he imagine the shocking changes that follow. "Brightly Burning" captivates the imagination. Lackey, once again has done an excellent job to pull the reader into the tale. Although one could wish for her to have taken a little more time with her character development as she did with the Arrows of the Queen trilogy and The Last Herald Mage trilogy, overall the quality was excellent. Those who were disappointed by the Owl trilogy will enjoy this refreshing change.
Rating:
Summary: More please!
Review: Unlike some of your other reviewers, I quite liked the OwlKnight books - particularly the first two. Perhaps I like anything Valdemarean! This is a good story and fills in another piece of the history of Valdemar - though I wasn't too clear of where it came in the history. The story is reminiscent of the Vanyel trilogy: misunderstood youth comes into his psychic powers unexpectedly and manages (almost) to control them with the support of his Companion and other Heralds - and then heroically saves Valdemar at the cost of his own (and his Companion's ) life. I guess I have been spoilt by the Magic's Pawn (and Arrows)Trilogies because I felt that Lavan's character and the characters of those around him were not as well developed as some of Mercedes Lackey's other characters such as Vanyel,Amberdrake, Skandranon, Talia and their friends. For example, I felt that I ended up knowing very little about Lavan other that he could start fires. The Life-Bond with his Companion was interesting but meant that he didn't really relate too well to anyone else-even the family that befriended him. I was left with the sense that he was aimed at his destiny and never waivered - no side trips! Perhaps there wasn't enough story for a trilogy, but this was more like a novella or long short story than a full length novel. Having said all that, I couldn't put it down - its a 'must' for Lackey fans and I hope Ms Lackey will continue to give us glimpses of Valdemar. . .(how about a set of stories about Vanyel and the Karsites / demons? ) and another book about a more in depth character (how about Baron Valdemar?). Please?
Rating:
Summary: Brightly Burning
Review: I found this book to be very enthralling. It is the tender/tragic tale of Lavan Firestarter. He starts off as the unwanted middle son of a Merchant family and goes on to become one of the more celebrated heros of Valdemar. His Gift is awakened by a sudden explosion and from there becomes a great Herald. I wanted to read this in one sitting. It was that good.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, not great
Review: This was readable and okay, but not one of her best. I felt that Lan was the only fully developed character. The supporting cast were either villians or angels. Lan's life bond didn't seem real to me at all. The author always writes well, but this story didn't grab me and make me care about the characters.
Rating:
Summary: I cried!
Review: I got this book and just tore through it. I really liked it and even cried a bit at the end (people on the bus must have thought I was crazy!) I was under the assumption that he had died in his middle ages, not as a child so that startled me a bit. Overall a great book and good addition to the series!
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