Rating: 
Summary: Very good, but with a few inconsistancies
Review: "Brightly Burning" is a one of the best Valdemar books yet. Lackey lets you get swept away in the plot with very good writting.
Lavan is unhappy about moving to Haven. To prevent his mopping around the house all day, his parents enroll him in school, thinking that it will help him. But at the school, Lavan is bullied by older children who force the others to steal and do other embarrassing things. Lavan is about to be flogged when his Gift breaks lose. He is Choosen and becomes a Herald. He gets trainging for his unpredictable Gift that flares up when he is either angry or scared and becomes a valued Herald.
As he is in his training, Karse decides that they want a war with Valdemar. Lavan's training is sped up so he can use his Gift on the front lines. While he is holding a pass, his Companion is killed and he goes insane with rage, calling down a Firestorm on himself.
The book had one glaring inconsistancy: In the Herald Mage books, the Monarch's Own Companion is Taver, who then shows up in the Herald's Honor and Valor books, but in this one the Companion is Rolan, who isn't supposed to show up untill Taver is killed. Besides this, the book is very well written and is a must read for Mercedes Lackey fans.
Rating: 
Summary: VERY DISAPPOINTING
Review: Don't get me wrong--I'm a huge Misty fan. I have done at least my fair share of swooning over Vanyel. But her latest books (i.e. the Owlsight trilogy) have been huge disappointments. I came to Brightly Burning, not necessarily expecting an Arrows of the Queen or a Magic's Pawn, but hoping for at least a Winds of Change. I didn't get it. I agree with several other reviewers on this page--there was nothing new here. The lifebond between Lavan and Kalira was stupid. The good-natured but essentially superfluous best friend, the gruff but loving mentor and the fiesty but lovestruck young trainee/healer/bard/peasant girl appear in every Valdemar book that I can think of, and Misty has done nothing to make Tuck, Pol or Elenor individuals. The trait that annoys me the most in her latest books are the "coincidences:" Look, it's Vanyel's distant relative! Ha ha ha, now the readers in the know will secretly laugh with delight. The sad thing is that none of this would bother me nearly as much as it does if I hadn't read Misty at her height. As much as I hate to say it, maybe she should put aside her pen for a while until she gets some new ideas. Recycling the same old stuff over and over again doesn't just disappoint readers, it takes away from the dignity of the original (great) Valdemar novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Sad
Review: I found this book to be a very emotional book. At the end for about that last 45 pages or so, I couldn't stop sobbing. It was so good. You will continue to hear mentionings og the legendary Laven Firestorm for MANY books to come. If you like Lackey then read McCafferey. They are my 2 favorites. Also try Kate Forsyth. Her books will take you on an amazing adventure through a witch hating world. The author has only written that series of about 6 (I think)so far. I can hardly wait for more.
Rating:
Summary: READ, READ, READ!
Review: I read the owlflight series first as it was something I picked up in a libary, and was drawn to others written by Lackey. Buring Brightly stole my heart and I don't thing I have ever cryed this much over a single book. You will be touched when you read it and will never want to put it down until you have turned the last page. Laven is a brillently written character. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: READ, READ, READ!
Review: I read the owlflight series first as it was something I picked up in a libary, and was drawn to others written by Lackey. Buring Brightly stole my heart and I don't thing I have ever cryed this much over a single book. You will be touched when you read it and will never want to put it down until you have turned the last page. Laven is a brillently written character. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Back to the Collegium with Glee!
Review: I was really excited to read another book that dealt with the training of a Herald and how Haven was between Vanyel and Talia. The only other glimpse we've had of this period is during Oathbreakers--and we only saw White Foal Pass then. I was very please that Misty is writing characters that people can associate with. The plot moved well this time, and I couldn't put the book down. I lost 4 hours of sleep for 2 nights in a row so I could finish the book! Overall, I was very pleased with this book--however, even if I had to wait 2 years between Valdemar books, I wish Misty would spend more time developing the characters and exploring the possibilities. The Bullies of this book we're so 2-dimensional; I felt I was reading a play script that was missing quite a bit of character development. There wasn't even a motive for most of the behavior of the bullies or the lack of concern of the teachers. As a teacher, I find the 2-dimensional teachers and administrator just as offensive. There is no way you can go into any school in the world and not find at least one teacher who cares about their students. That's part of the gift of teaching--trust me, we're not in it for the money.It was great to see the Healer Collegium training fleshed out a bit, and it was great to not be "wowed" by the exotic as we have been with gryphons and Taledras for so long. I look forward to her next book and hope she continues the efforts set forth here. There have been so many stories she has either written songs about or referred to in the other books that could be great pieces to cry over!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The plot of Brightly Burning is basic: gifted but misunderstood child leaves home, joins the Heralds and saves the country, more or less in that order. It isn't a bad storyline, the same that made the Vanyel and Talia books so successful. In this case it's about Lavan Firestorm, the most Gifted herald in Valdemar history. Brightly Burning begins with Lavan's incompatibility with his merchant family, and the bullying he faces when he is sent to the city school. (Sound familiar already?). After being pushed to the limits by his tormentors, his firestarting abilities come to the fore. The story from that point on is one smooth ride to war and eternal glory, albeit with some bumps. Lackey has never exactly been lauded with critical acclaim, but she's reached the point where the word Valdemar can and does sell novels. Her strongest point has always been with her characters--real, likeable characters that breathe life and verve into cliched plots and an otherwise standard fantasy world. In this respect, Brightly Burning falls flat. Lavan fails to catch the reader's sympathy. Instead of being angst-ridden and tormented by his problems and abilities, he comes across as shallow and self-centered. Lavan wants to be Vanyel. He wants to be tormented and compassionate and sympathetic, but he just comes off flat and unrealistic. He appears no have no reason for existing outside of being in this book--which he doesn't. The only reason for his existence is his being the main character of the book. I saw no reason for this book to be written other than financial demand. Misty has nothing new to say about Valdemar in this book, or even about life in general; the same old themes are reiterated again. We don't even learn anything new about the Heralds; everything said has been said before. (the lifebond between Lavan and his Companion was pointless; while I could appreciate the principle of it, it did offend my sensibilities, and even more annoying, the only purpose of its existence appeared to be to keep Lavan from forming a relationship with anyone else. Nothing came of it.) But Valdemar has built up a large following over the years, one that persistently demands additions to their favorite series. There's a growing consensus that the books have been deteriorating of late; is that because Misty is tired of the same old and wishes to move on? The plot of Burning is closer to her old books than anything we've seen lately, but it appears to lack the passion that fueled those ones. There are twenty books in the series already; isn't that enough to make any story complete?
Rating:
Summary: Did Anyone See This!
Review: This book has a severly simple storyline, but i was quite taken to find out its ending. Near the end, Lavan is a truly amazing and powerful character, though i must agree that i am disappointed in the fact that Lavan hardly faced any of his own problems... But really, i do recommend this book and i feel that you should have no regrets after finishing it. After looking at other people's reviews I've analyzed that the older readers probably thought that reading about a "struggling teenager" is a pathetic waste of time, which is understandable, but the younger readers, such as myself, would find this an entertaining read so that could be a good thing to keep in mind.
Rating:
Summary: Very touching book
Review: This book is very good. It is the first book by Mercedes Lackey I have read. I got through it over a weekend and I kept wishing it would never end.
The story touched me deeply. I came to care for many of the characters.
The ending saddened me quite a bit even though I also had a feeling what was coming for the last 100 pages or so.
Now I think it is time to start reading more of Mercedes Lackey's books. If they are half as good as this they will be worth taking the time to read.
Rating:
Summary: i almost cried....
Review: This books would be five stars, except for some highly sad parts that would ruin the books for anyone who hasn't read it.
Brightly burning is one of Lackey's books, which all seem to be good. it demonstrates the hightly popular belief that life is not always fair, and that you not everyone has a happily ever after.
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