Rating: 
Summary: Yet another sign that it's time to give Valdemar a rest.
Review: I've been patient with Mercedes Lackey. I read "The Last Herald-Mage" trilogy and overlooked its flaws---such as her tendency to narrate too much and give the characters so much internal monologue that you get sick of their whining before they ever utter an actual line of dialogue. Despite that, the LHM trilogy was damned good---exciting, refreshing, emotionally captivating. I liked it so much that I immediately sought out the other Valdemar novels, in the hope that some or all of them would be as good.Maybe I just imprinted on the LHM trilogy, but none of the others, to date, has come anywhere near it in quality, IMNSHO. "Mage Storms" came close, but even that one amplified the flaws seen in LHM. Now, with this latest trilogy, I am utterly convinced that LHM was the peak of her creativity within the Valdemar-related series, and the rest has all been downhill from there. This newest trilogy is the best example of it that I can describe. The premise is interesting. This time we get a better look at the common folk of Valdemar, who live out on one of the harsher borders of the country---the one bordering the weird and dangerous Pelagiris Forest (home of Lackey's most popular characters, the Tayledras). The story focuses on a young boy, the son of trappers who hunt the Forest despite the fears of the more conservative and superstitious villagers. When young Darian's parents disappear during the chaos of the Mage Storms (this series takes place a few years after that trilogy), Darian falls to the village for care. From the start, there are problems. The villagers don't quite know what to make of the intelligent, spirited boy, and Darian, grieving for his parents, looks upon the village-folk with contempt. He even scorns the village mage's efforts to train him in the use of his innate magic. Then, however, an army of magic-twisted barbarians invades from the north, conquering the village and leaving little Darian as the whole town's only hope. Unfortunately, the plot is all-too-predictable from here. Darian is the same stock character seen in most of Lackey's Valdemar stories---a bright young misfit with lots of unrealized potential and a few obvious attitude problems. Indistinguishable, in many ways, from Vanyel, or Elspeth, or Skandranon. The story's conflict is stock as well---a supposedly overwhelming force which must be countered by teamwork among unlikely allies. The resolution is no different from what we've seen in other ML works, either: the stock misfit uses the stock allies to ovecome the stock enemies, and there's a stock happy ending (that's not a spoiler; if you've read any other Valdemar novels, you know what to expect). What's worse about this particular book is that on top of all the stock footage, the plot rambles more than usual. We're treated to pages upon pages of tedious description of the minutia of village life, for reasons I can't begin to fathom---after so many Valdemar novels, don't we know what this fantasy world is like, by now? It makes an already tiresome formula that much more exasperating. (For the record---I've now read all three books of this series. The "story arc" of the whole trilogy is also a stock plot.) I recognized the usual formula when I read the "Arrows of the Queen" trilogy; it's been a Valdemar staple from the very beginning, so I suppose I shouldn't be so disappointed to see it yet again. I guess I just couldn't give up hope that somehow, at some point, Lackey would really flex the talent-muscles I've caught glimpses of in her other works. Call me an optimist---or a fool. It's obviously not going to happen in this trilogy. My belief: it's time for the Valdemar books to change... or end. Or be relegated to the "young adult" section, where formula novels have a useful place, and stop taking up space among the adult books. ML can do better than this, but I've given up hope of seeing that happen as long as she continues to write this kind of stuff. She has no reason to change, you see---because Valdemar fans will eat up anything with her name and a white horse on the cover, she's got no incentive to do better. So since she's not going to do better any time soon... I am. These are the last Valdemar books I'm ever going to read again.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, not her usual quality.
Review: Mercedes could have eliminated about 50 pages of Darien's repeated whining and excuses in the beginning and it would have been a 4 star book. Good basic idea, skim alot of the beginning 50-75 pages, then get to the good read.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, not her usual quality.
Review: Mercedes could have eliminated about 50 pages of Darien's repeated whining and excuses in the beginning and it would have been a 4 or 5 star book. Good basic idea, skim alot of the beginning50-75 pages, the get to the good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Very cool. I thoroughly enjoyed this book
Review: This is NOT a stand alone book. It is the first book in a new Valdemar trilogy, beginning with Owlsight. An excellent novel, if a little bit juvenille. A bit like Arrows of the Queen in writing style, but lacks in no area. Owlsight (the sequel), is more involved, but this book is a necessary prequel. I am anxiously awaiting Owlknight (the final volume), and having read all the Valdemar novels thus far, this series rates up there with the Mage Storms for entertainment value.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but a little redundant
Review: I thought the book was good, but there were some parts that were repeated, but from different views- it got me a bit confused, expecially for a 12 year old. I would recommend reading the "black Gryphon" or her other books to get used to her style of writing and avoid getting confused.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: As an owner of every one of Mercedes Lackey's books on the Valdemar Timeline, I must say that this and Owlsight rank up there with all the others! I give every one of her books five stars, and want to tell her that she has thousands of fans. I felt very connected to Darian and Keisha (Owlsight). I can't wait for Owlknight to come out so that I can snatch it off the shelf. Congrats on another winning trilogy, Ms. Lackey!
Rating:
Summary: Little, lost, and lonely...
Review: is exactly how Darian feels. I think that this was a great story and I can't wait to read Owlsight. A bit slow-paced but overall is in league with all her other Valdemar novels. I only wonder: Will he ever find his lost loved ones? That's a question for the next part of this adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book is very good, with of course, the Hawkbrothers who are everybody's favourite characters. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: Yay, Misty!
Review: I love the Valdemar books, and all Mercedes LAckey's works in general. Although this book was not as good as some, like Magic's Pawn, it's still a great book! But, what did you expect? I mean, Mercedes Lackey wrote it; its gotta be good!
Rating:
Summary: Read!
Review: I loved this book. I am a major Mercedes Lackey fan and have read most of her books. I first started reading them when I saw one (The Lark and the Wren) on my sister's book shelf and from then on I was hooked. This book was much better than I expected. Her last trilogy The Mage Storms wasn't that great so I wasn't sure about this one untill I started reading and was snagged. I can't wait to read the next books Owlsight and Owlknight. Other books of hers that are cool are The Last Herald-Mage trilogy. I have read those books over and over. Her Bardic Voices and Bardic Choices books were good too, except for the last one Four and Twenty Blackbirds. I hope she keeps on writing her Valdemar books after this trilogy since I love them so much. If you are a Lackey fan you should also check out Tamora Pierce, Terry Goodkind, Robin Mckinley, Sherwood Smith, Andre Norton, Dennis McKiernan, or\and Ursala Le Guin books.
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