Brightly Burning (original 2000; edition 2001)

In a way, a lot of the Valdemar books are boarding-school books. This is the only one that involves an actual school, though. The first third of the book is as much a bullying-revenge fantasy as anything, although I would very much not recommend it solely for that, as Lavan Firestorm is perhaps the most truly tragic character in a long line of tragic characters of Valdemar.

Beyond the actual arc, it's a charming book filled with Lackey's usual charming supporting cast. There's enough real drama to keep it moving - even the boarding school bullying is genuinely scary - and enough mundane detail to establish the characters involved. The last third is a war story, and it does an excellent job of establishing both the tragedy inherent in heroism and, perhaps surprisingly, of parenting.

I do get a little annoyed at books where the main character is a "poor little rich kid," tremendously privileged but with that privilege completely ignored in favor of the real but not all that critical disadvantages of, say, having wealthy, influential parents and living in the fashionable part of town. Lackey seems to trend in that direction (and when she goes the other way she goes a touch overboard) and it bugs me here more than it does when the privilege involved is that of feudal nobility, but that may be my personal peeve.

I read Brightly Burning before any other Valdemar book, and it was rather an odd introduction to the world - it's a standalone novel (perhaps moreso than any other,) but it's definitely aimed at the dedicated Valdemar reader and I liked it much better after having a better grip on the universe. It holds up tolerably well - it'd probably be better off classified as YA material, but it's solid YA material. ( )

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Lavan is an unremarkable young man who doesn't want to follow in his parents footsteps. Instead, his parents send him off to merchant school to see what can be made of him. Sadly, the bullying at the school is horrific, and poor Lavan can find himself getting angrier and angrier with no outlet. That anger has to find its own outlet somehow.

This novel (an old favourite) is everything that the Collegium Chronicles promised, but didn't deliver. Lavan is fleshed out in great detail, you love hearing his perspective on things. The level of description is just right, and even if you're familiar with the Valdemar series, you'll appreciate the background that is thrown in.

One of the more skilful literary techniques in here is the foreshadowing. You hear very little from Herald Pol at the beginning, but that little bit is very important. A bit more between each of those characters, perhaps something from Elenor would be good, but overall I love this novel as much as the first time I read it.

I'm not sure the life bond between Lan and Kalira is that convincing and fits in with the other things in the series. Elsewhere it has been said that lifebonds only occur between those with a tendency to depression and the other partner who can save them. Lan just gets super angry, not depressed most of the time, although there are hints when his gift first begins to show.

This novel is just after the Herald Mage series and it's obvious that Lackey has tried to tie it in as much as she can. So chronologically, it is between Magic's Price and Oathblood. The cover on the left is not the one I have. I have one which fits in far better with the rest of my collection of the novels.

I'd probably say this one was suitable for older teens and adults. The ending is sort of depressing and uplifting at the same time. ( )

Review by: bookdevourer1416

This book is the most amazing piece of fantasy I have read in a long time. it is the greatest. it has an amazing love triangle that is unbelievable. keep it it up Lackey!!!!!! Woot :) ( )

Definitely not one of my favourite Heralds or one of my favourite tales of Valdemar. Due to the fact that I found it difficult to care about the lead character, I found it equally difficult to care what happened to him, although I think it was intended that the reader feel strongly for the boy on the basis of his having so little control over his life and his gift. Perhaps Lackey hoped that readers would sympathize with the character's choices and understand his attitude and frustrations, but mostly, I just found it off putting. That being said, I have kept the book and found it of interest in so far as providing some insight into the history of Valdemar. ( )

I add my review of Mercedes Lackey's Brightly Burning belatedly and with some reluctance. Since March 2008, when I started posting goodreads reviews of every book I completed, my reading habits have improved--I finish more books these days, and those that I don't finish, I totally abandon with little guilt. Brightly Burning is the first novel to fall somewhere in between: I skimmed the last third.It starts with promise, though to be fair it's the same promise of every Mercedes Lackey book. The teenage protagonist, Lavan "Lan" Chitward has been forced to move to the big city by his social climbing parents. What's worse, Lan--a moody loner used to wandering the forest--is made to go to a school for wealthy children where bullying is the order of the day. At school, the torment of his peers slowly releases Lan's dark side, his pyrokinetic powers that he cannot control.Lackey spends a lot of time developing the beginning of the story. The awakening of Lan's powers is vividly and slowly described. Though I didn't find him a terribly sympathetic character (he's a bit of a sullen brat), the tension here was well-done and enough to power the story forwards.But it all fell apart for me when Lan is chosen by a companion to become a Herald of Valdemar.Sure, I expected it--after all, Lan is a legendary character mentioned in passing in the very first Valdemar novel. But after his choosing, the story becomes terribly well-worn. Things seem to just happen to Lan--he's not in control of his powers, but his companion keeps them conveniently dampened so that Lan can collect a coterie of fairly flat friends. There is a very undeveloped love triangle featuring Lan, a friend, and Lan's horse. No, I'm not kidding.And that was, actually, part of my problem with this story. Lan and his horse are supposed to be soulmates. Sure, this is an uncomfortable idea, and I hate to suggest bestiality, but there's something bizarre about being in a completely chaste but supposedly perfectly fulfilling relationship. With a talking horse.Without really exploring any of this, or Lan's powers, Misty rushes us off to war. The military plotline is as terrifically undeveloped and unheralded (heh) as everything that happened to Lan at the Collegium. I felt unmoved by the time the tragic, but predictable, ending came around, but to be fair, I'd been skimming for at least a hundred pages. ( )