Lackey delves into another legend of Valdemar, the legend of Lavan Firestorm, in an emotional storm felt long after the book is finished. Sixteen-year-old Lavan Chitward is a misfit among his family, talented members of the city of Haven's textile guild, and among his classmates at a local guild school. He only wants to be left alone, but the older students have other ideas.

When a group of bullies catches him alone after school one day, they beat him senseless and unleash Lavan's Gift as a firestarter, leaving several dead and others wounded. Lavan is devastated; he doesn't understand what happened or why the boys died, but he knows it was his fault. His resulting suicidal depression unleashes his Gift again, but this time, a Companion chooses him and her love pulls him back from the edge. Unfortunately, Lavan's mental stability is solely dependent on his Companion and her ability to shut down his Gift when necessary. With the war with Karse escalating, Lavan may be Valdemar's only hope.

Fans of the Valdemar series will find one major revelation in Brightly Burning, but on the whole, this title is to Lackey's fantasy world what Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern was to Anne McCaffrey's Pern. Lavan's tale is tragic, depressing and yet hauntingly beautiful as Lackey produces one of her strongest titles in recent years.

Reprinted from The Bookdragon Review, http://www.bookdragonreview.com



Recommended: Yes