Bedlam's Bard

Rating:
Summary: Great Novel
Review: Mercedes Lackey's gift for creating characters that are easy to identify with is shown in full force in this book. Actually a collection of a shorter book and its sequel, Bedlam's Bard is different from most of Lackey's other works. While many of her books are set in the fantasy world of Valdemar, she does urban fantasy very well. It's refreshing to read a book of hers that is based on adults for once, without losing the growth of character that is characteristic of her work. The prose of this book is very fine, and it's worth reading more than once.

Rating:
Summary: Great Novel
Review: Mercedes Lackey's gift for creating characters that are easy to identify with is shown in full force in this book. Actually a collection of a shorter book and its sequel, Bedlam's Bard is different from most of Lackey's other works. While many of her books are set in the fantasy world of Valdemar, she does urban fantasy very well. It's refreshing to read a book of hers that is based on adults for once, without losing the growth of character that is characteristic of her work. The prose of this book is very fine, and it's worth reading more than once.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Change from Heralds
Review: Misty's books are all good, but the Heralds stories are getting a little old. Not so here. A whole new group of characters and some actions keep me reading through the first section of the book (actually, two stories in one book). The second part was a little slow and pretty predictable, but fun. I'd recommend it to a friend who liked Misty's work but wanted something a little different, but not to someone who hadn't read most (all?) of her previous ones.

Rating:
Summary: Bad ending
Review: Simply put I loved the book, but once again I am left feeling angry over the ending. It seems to me that Mercedes just doesn't know how to write the end of a story. If she intends for the story to continue , she should at least indicate that. She is one of the best story tellers out there. Will someone please teach her how to end a story?!

Rating:
Summary: BEWARE It's only a reprint.
Review: The original books are wonderful; but the publisher's idea to reprint two fairly recent books into one with only a small warning to faithful readers is terrible. I suspect that the same is happening with the other two 'new' paperbacks that are forthcoming; Fiddlers Fair and Oathblood.

Rating:
Summary: A shame it's a repeat. I was looking forward to new stuff.
Review: The original printing, (1993) I believe, rates a 9.5 but it's very unfortunate that the publisher puts a new cover on old material. When I saw this book I was stunned. I thought 'Wow a new adventure'. After the first 5 pages it was 'Wait! I've read this before'. I would really love to see a new book with these characters.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasies I've read in a while!
Review: The thing that first caught my attention was the Ren Fair setting. From then on, I was hooked. Great characters; a strong plot. It doesn't matter that this is a reprint -- it's a great start if you've never read these before. Grab a copy if you see it -- it's well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Two books in one...
Review: This is a 2-in-1 edition of "Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" and "Summoned to Tourney." As these are two of my favorite books, I quickly purchased it, but it may be an unpleasant surprise for those hoping for a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: About "Bedlam's Bard"
Review: This is a reprint of "Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" and "Summoned to Tourney" in one paperback volume.

Rating:
Summary: Quite possibly my favorite book...
Review: This is Mercedes Lackey (with help) at her finest. There wasn't a minute of Bedlam's Bard I did not enjoy. After finishing it, I didn't want to read anything else for three days and walked around relating everything I saw to the book: vacuum cleaners, microwave popcorn, math, morotcycles, guitars, music, punks, the color pink, elves, tarps, flutes, Beethoven, Mozart, Danse Macabre, Ren Faires, oak trees, school, college, everything! Impossible to get over, impossible to forget. The writing is brilliant, the plot creative, the characters stunning and loveable. (Gotta love the elves.) Highly recommended.