This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite set within the Valdemar series. I love getting the story on "side" characters, who are often more interesting then the main characters anyway. Albrich is a character I always wanted to know more about! I only wish I had more than the two books to read about him! ( )

This follows Alberich as he settles firmly into his role as Weaponsmaster at the Collegium, and also Selenay as she years for romance. This one tends to suffer from having read the Arrow's and Mage War trilogies as a lot of it was heavily implied in those books, and this is just going in and filling in back story. In fact, a lot of Selenay's musings are very similar to Elspeth's, like mother like daughter. The story didn't pack as much of an emotional punch, as I knew exactly what was coming, and there was such a long build up to it, but it was neat to see Hurlee from the instructor's side after reading the short story in one of the anthologies. :) ( )

This book continues to develop on Exile's Honor's theme. Alberich develops more as a character and I for one am happy he finds love in the end. ( )

Much like Anne Rice, Mercedes Lackey either needs an editor for her Valdemar series or she needs to take a break. Althouh I like ths series once she reached the third trilogy she began to start getting her own created history confused. Characters frequently do and say things that go directly against how she wrote them in prior books etc. I still like Alberich though. ( )

Myste... Miste... Misty

Completely unintentional I'm sure. Then again, Alberich is hot I'd do the same. heh

On a more serious note: Alberich's syntax wasn't nearly as irritating this time around. I think having Selenay's girllish gushes helped. Everything seemed a bit fast paced though. I hope, Ms. Lackey has no pretensions of thinking she's hiding the culprit behind the plot. It is fairly obvious. ( )