Mercedes Lackey - Brightly Burning

Pros: Unabashed wish-fulfillment fantasy; good start for those coming late to Valdemar
Cons: Unabashed wish-fulfillment fantasy; too-perfect elite society

I understand that this is part of a long-running set of books by Mercedes Lackey all set in the same fantasy world - Valdemar. While there are several full trilogies set in this world, Brightly Burning: the Legendary Story of Herald Lavan...

Pros: a little less melodrama than usual, which is good
Cons: covers very familiar territory, character and plot-wise

Although I've enjoyed some of Mercedes Lackey's previous books, I was a little reluctant to pick up this one. It's not she's gotten much worse as a writer exactly... Maybe it's the exact opposite--that she hasn't changed much at all. Maybe I've just...

Pros: Incredibly detailed, full-fleshed characterizations
Cons: Assumes that the reader knows too much about Valdemar and the Heralds

...are bound to get burned.

"Brightly Burning" was my introduction to the Heralds of Valdemar a few weeks ago when it was unexpectedly delivered by the Science Fiction Book Club.

I'd read several of Lackey's works before,...

Pros: Characters that make you care about them
Cons: none

Once again Mercedes Lackey has written a new Heralds of Valdemar book that left me in tears as I finished reading. I had just picked up OwlKnight and thought that was all I would find from Valdemar for awhile, but to my surprise there on the...

Pros: Characters, story
Cons: none

Once again Mercedes Lackey leads us into her fanciful world of Heralds and their Horse-Like Companions, this time to impart to us the legend of Lavan Firestorm.

Mercedes' Characters, as always, are deep, complex and faced with difficult...

Pros: Wonderfully fulfilling read, keeps your attention. Well crafted and no loose ends to tie up.
Cons: Can't think of anything I didn't like about the novel.

Mercedes Lackey has written many books and novella's set in the Valdemar world. I have not been disappointed in any of them, and that includes this one. Some authors can go on forever but they don't "grow" with the series. Mercedes Lackey helps to ...

Pros: likeable characters, tight writing, great classic storyline
Cons: perhaps a little predictable

Mercedes Lackey has the knack of writing stories that capture you and enfold you in their magic. Brightly Burning is just the latest in the many efforts by this wonderfully talented lady.
The land of Valdemar is the kind of place you wish you...

Pros: Characters, plot-line.
Cons: Hmm....

I first read this book when a friend shoved it at me, saying, "Rose, please read this book, it is REALLY good." I, being a fantasy reader, decided to give it a try. I had never read any other Mercedes Lackey books before, so I didn't know what to expect....

Pros: more Valdemar brought to life
Cons: lots of tissues required

Historic Valdemar at it's best. Mercedes Lackey brings us a character that she has only mentioned in her other books. Like all her books, she brings the characters to life and makes you believe these events really happen to real people. I always know...

Pros: well crafted, excellent material
Cons: none

Mercedes Lackey and her well crafted plots are guaranteed to keep you engrossed in her excellent stories about the awesome fantasy lands of Valdemar. She has the capability to keep the reader totally enthralled
with each story, in fact I had to...