Rating: 
Summary: THE LEGEND finally LIVES!!!!!
Review: I still have goose bumps...Herald Lavan Firestorm.....the man....the reason that there is nothing but ash at burning pines...This book is'nt like Mrs.Lackey's many earlier works, it focuses on one person:Lavan Firestorm.
In This book, an abused boy finds a great power within himself, and eventually learns that his gift, or "the dragon" as its reffered to, is vitally important to the survival of his kingdom.
Lavan goes through a very reality based struggle about using his gift against people and other living targets, but when it comes down to the wire.....
Well, i won't spoil it for you, if your a Lackey fan, get this book, and if you are'nt, read this book and you will be.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed again
Review: It's becoming rather a cliche to say "This wasn't as good as Vanyel's story." Practically nothing is. But come ON. At least can we have something aproaching Mage Winds or the first of the Free Bards books? Or even the one-shots "Oathbound" and "Oathbreakers"? (Warning: Angry diatribe follows.)
Most of my problems with this book have already been raised by other reviewers (that odd lifebond thing, the been-there-done-that quality to the plot, the disposable characters, the annoying females, the "in-joke" type references to horse-faced Ashkevrons and "Vanyel" name-dropping, the rushed ending), but here's one I haven't seen mentioned:
Was anybody else but me totally offended by the treatment of the woman who lost her son to Lan's Gift? Granted, her son was an incredibly nasty human being and brought his fate upon himself, but the way everyone simply took the mother to task as though she were a naughty, willful schoolgirl acting out on purpose -- for Pete's sake, she was the mother of a child that had been burned to a cinder! Some castigation for raising a bloody brat was in order, yes, but a little narrative sympathy would have been nice. Her child had just died a horrible death! As it was, I found the treatment of her overmoralizing and extremely, distastefully self-righteous.
Lackey's writing is becoming pat and trite, which literally hurts me. Where are the grey areas, the complex characters, the deeply troubling villains whom you can -- frighteningly -- almost see yourself in, the flawed heros? Where are the Tylendels!?
I more than loved "Last Herald-Mage" -- I evangelized it. I bought it for Christmas presents, I raved on websites, I posted on lists. (I am actually STILL plugging those books to friends and family.) When I was a teenager, those books changed my world view, made me question and ultimately discard my church-imposed prejudices. This one -- it took me four tries to even finish the first chapter (it didn't help that she couldn't decide whether or not to call him "Lan" or "Lavan" for about nine pages). Every "moral" point raised was slammed home with a jackhammer, and then repeated in plainer language just in case I was too stupid to catch it the first time, and then repeated again, this time with italics, oh yeah and then reiterated in the epilogue.
I think Ms. Lackey should take a break for a while, brainstorm up a character that she really loves, as she so obviously loved Vanyel, so that the can put that extra *whateveritis* into her writing again that made us love him too. Something profound is missing, and I mourn it.
Rating: 
Summary: it was okay
Review: I thought the beginning was great, but somewhere in the middle it lost a lot of life. I felt like some of the characters from the first half were abandoned when they shouldn't have been(his friend Owyn), and the ending felt very rushed. Not one of her best works.
Rating: 
Summary: What's the Problem?
Review: Okay, I will agree with some people who are likening Lavan to Vanyel. In some ways, they are similar characters, in that they are sent to Haven unwilling and do not fit in. However, if you think about it, how many novels are written about Joe Shmoe who fit in perfectly and never had anything happen to him?
And yes, the ending is somewhat rushed. I sympathize with Ms. Lackey, though. It can't be very easy to have everyone (editors, fans, etc.) pressuring you about the next Valdemar book. And then after being rushed in the writing of the book, to have the same people criticize it for sounding rushed!
I've seen other reviews making a big deal over the fact that Lavan and his Companion were lifebonded. What's the problem? Technically, all Heralds are bonded for life with their Companions, it's just that this bond runs deeper than other Herald-Companion bonds we have seen.
I enjoyed this book. I will recommend that any new Lackey readers begin with either the Last Herald-Mage Trilogy or the Arrows trilogy. Both lay a good basis for the world of Velgarth.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I have a great fondness for the Valdemar series, and I really enjoyed the book; however, I would have preferred that it had been part of a "trilogy" as most of the Valdemar series have been. That way I can really get into the characters and develop stronger feelings for them. I was, however, happy to have another Valdemar story to read, so I'll take them as I can get them!
Rating:
Summary: Yet another excellent book by Misty...
Review: It was good to finally read the story about Lavan Firestorm, the first documented mage with the Firestarter ability. In classic Lackey fashion, Lavan has a hard time finding himself and is very busy wondering why he is who he is. The Heralds and especially Lavan's Companion help him learn who he is. Lavan, being the very first major Firestarter has no one who is experienced with Firestarting to teach him how to control his gift. Lackey handles this pretty well. There's kind of a parallel with Vanyel without seeming so. Yet another must-read from Misty!
Rating:
Summary: Colorful
Review: Though the plot was predictable (or maybe I just have foresight), I enjoyed this book. I'd never read any of Lackey's books, but I loved the colors and textures I expireinced when I read about the textile mercants. The world is interesting, though I think I'd like to see that war from the other side's view, too.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: I have been a fan of the Valdemar series for 5 years. Although I do not believe this to be her best book, I am very relieved to have read it, after losing interest with her more recent books in this series. I think it is worth reading and worth buying, but I would much rather have Misty write a trilogy on the founding of Valdemar, and perhaps a trilogy on how Iftel came to be. I like her older books much better, and I feel that a trilogy about either of those subjects would bring her back to her old creativity and ingenuity. One of the things I like about her books are the words she creates for her peoples. I only found one such word in this book, Shaych, and again I was reminded of Vanyel, and it was unoriginal. I feel that this book would have done better if it was made in the same format as By The Sword..since it is not part of a trilogy. Even though it is Misty's usual 400+ page book, after the boy's self discovery, the book seemed to be rushed, and the characters less developed. Some characters seemed like they had a good start, but went down hill, lost importance, or became annoying. I understand the significance of the lifebond in the book, though it may be hard to catch, if you don't remember all that goes on with lifebonds. I also didn't get a sense that the boy wasn't aware of it, therefore he did not know what was happening to him. The pain of the actual lifebond seemed to effect all but him, though the despair of his lifebonded was there, it was subtle. Read for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: This was my first Mercedes Lackey book and I was not disappointned!! The book has a firm plot and believeable characters. I couldn't put it down!!!
Rating:
Summary: Trite
Review: While I felt this was a well-written books (as most of the Lackey books I've read) it was so similar to the Magic's Pawn series that it made difficult to read sometimes. Brightly Burning should have been a book that was good enough to stand on its own, its very disheartening to have it lean so heavily on Vanyel's books. What bothered me the most was that from beginning even to the very end was unoriginal and already-done in her previous books. Don't even get me started on that life-bond. Heh But, if you enjoy good writing, pick up the book anyway. While I didn't feel it was excellent quality, it is definitely worth the six bucks.
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