Brightly Burning

Rating:
Summary: My First Lackey Book
Review: This was the first book by Lackey that I read. It was wonderful. I was drawn into the story. I read it while driving cross country. I hated putting it down when it was my turn to drive. I tried to get my husband to read it out loud to me while I drove. He did not go for that idea. Out of the Valdemar series this is one of her best. You can read this one first without really missing much.

Rating:
Summary: Not up to Misty's usual high standards.
Review: We have a misfit adolescent, misunderstood by his/her family and put upon by his/her peers, who finds a place where s/he is loved, understood, and appreciated for what s/he is, and where the very qualities that got him/her in trouble at home are assets, among the Heralds of Valdemar. Where have we heard this before?

Lavan is a much less interesting character than either Talia or Vanyel, and the whole book has a paint-by-numbers feel. I've read on Misty's website that she's decided to take a vacation from the Valdemar books, and this book shows ample cause.

Lets hope that after a few years she comes back refreshed, because I'm sure there are more interesting stories to be told in this world.