Suivre l'auteur

This is one of the saddest books in the overall Valdemar saga, perhaps even more so than those of Herald Vanyel. But is also one of my favorites. The book is one of the few standalones within the saga, too.

Lan has been uprooted from his country home and friends, moved to Haven, the capital of Valdemar. His parents are artisan Guildmasters who seek to rise in their fields, but he’s left feeling as if he has no place. Even his siblings are following in their parents’ footsteps, but Lan wants nothing to do with either family business. All he wants is to be a member of the Guard, which his parents forbid, feeling it to be “beneath” them. It has left Lan an outlier in his own family. To make it worse, they decide to send him to a school, one in which the headmaster leaves all the discipline and order to a group of older students who love nothing more than to cruely bully the younger students. One thing leads to another, and a terrible accident occurs. But there’s a silver lining… he finally finds his path, even if he will probably always remain an outlier, this time from those who fear him.

The author laudably runs the gamut of relationships in this series, those that aren’t quite as “status quo.” She wrote of same-sex relationships, even throuples, long before those became more mainstream. But this one created a lifebond, a soul mate bond between people, between Lan and his Companion. A completely nonsexual lifebond, but one based on the purest of love and trust.

It truly is a beautiful read!

Janet

Even having read about Lavan in previous books, the story is a great read and the ending amazing.

Avis laissé au Royaume-Uni le 17 septembre 2019

I loved this tale. Full of great characters, good and bad. No one deserved such awful parents! Anyone who has read the Valdemar stories has already met the main character and so knows what the ending will be. It is still well worth reading as the details and other characters really enhance the main thread.

Wad Mabbit

Not your normal Herald story. Be prepared for a rough ride and a gripping finale

Avis laissé en Australie le 14 janvier 2024

This is a Gateway Esstential book. Number 3. That alone sets it apart as a remarkable read.

Mercedes Lackey has created a Masterwork here.

torleya

Fantasy da scoprire

Avis laissé en Italie le 12 juillet 2014

Questo libro è la chiara dimostrazione di come il fantasy sia un filone letterario tutto da scoprire.
Al di là delle saghe più famose, ho scoperto questa che pur non avendo raggiunto l'apice del successo è coinvolgente, originale e ben scritta.

sawamura

ヴァルデマール年代記が好きなら

Avis laissé au Japon le 8 décembre 2003

これも、読まないわけには行かないでしょう。
商人の息子だった主人公が、突然の能力に目覚め、
使徒として育って行きます。魔法と剣と友情の
ビルドゥングス・ロマン！
創元推理文庫「女神の誓い」「裁きの門」「運命の剣」あたりを
先に読んでおくと、世界観になじみがある分、取り掛かりやすいと
思います。