Exile's Valor

I do love Lackey's Valdemar and picked up the earlier books eagerly. For me they're the equivalent of bookly comfort food. But I was disappointed in the earlier book centered on Alberich, Exile's Honor, and I'm afraid this sequel to it is no improvement.

It's a common criticism of Lackey that she's very black and white in her worldview and characterizations. That doesn't suit in fleshing out the supposedly intimidating Alberich, who hails from Valdemar's traditional enemy, Karse. It also doesn't help with the major plot-line of the book, which deals with the young Queen Selenay's first marriage; Prince Karathanelan practically has stamped on his head: I'm a walking disaster--which makes Selenay rather stupid for ever finding him show more appealing, especially given how much is made of her struggle not to have herself married off by her council. If you're new to Lackey and her Valdemar, I'd try Arrows of the Queen or Magic's Pawn as an introduction instead--I can't recommend this one to anyone but hardcore fans. show less

I don't think this is quite as strong a book as Exile's Honor, but I like it well enough. The primary plot (Selenay being a featherheaded teenager) is eyeroll-inducing at best, but I do like just about everything from Alberich's perspective, and his romance is charming and realistic, which is a nice change from all of the fated and sort of dire pairings we've seen so far.

Two small rants, though:

- Selenay is the Queen, had been raised from birth to rule, in an environment that has been firmly established to teach practical politics very, very well. How the hell is she not aware that a neighboring country has unmarried Princes of more or less relevant ages? They have treaties! Trade agreements! Ambassadors back and forth! The few pages show more she spends wondering if there are any eligible foreign men about undercut that entire plot for me. There's just no frigging way she's ignorant about such a fundamental detail.

- A lot of people gripe about Herald Myste, Lackey's admitted author-insertion character. I like her, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. The name is a bit over the top, perhaps, but she's a good character who fits a useful role in the story, and has many fewer Mary Sue qualities than, say, Vanyel (who is perfect in every way.) There are damned few middle-aged women who get to do awesome things in fantasy novels, and the more, the better. Especially when they get the guy in the end, too. show less

I needed something comforting, and here was a cozy story about Alberich learning how to thrive as Valdemar’s spymaster, watching as Selenay suffers depression after her father’s death and makes bad romantic choices.

Weaponsmaster Alberich is now part of the background now to most people. To some, though he's still the damned Karsite and to others, like Selenay's new consort, is a roadblock to his deepest desiree; to sit on the throne of Valdemar. But you can't be king in Valdemar without being a Herald and there was no way a Companion would chose the Rethwellian prince. There was the heir, though, and if regent was less prestigious than king, our devious Rethwellian would take what he could. But he'd underestimated the weaponsmaster...

With this book, we're getting into the near past history of the original Valdemaran stories and it's interesting to see how well Lackey has melded the two series together

This is the second of the duology with 'Exile's Honor' (number 19), and picks up a few months after the first book ends. The war from the first book having been fought (and won), the action in this book stays in the capital city of Haven, mainly in the castle grounds themselves, and concerns itself with domestic affairs.

Herald Alberich is Weaponsmaster to the Heralds, and also takes care of security, so he skulks around the less salubrious parts of the city to ferret out information that could threaten the kingdom. Stern, seemingly humourless Alberich also finds himself falling in love, all the while setting up defences to counter a possible plot against the queen.

The story in this second book has a very different feel from the first show more one, and the plot is not as strong; you can see it being contorted in places {which is why I'm giving it half a star less than I gave the first} to fit the storyline in the 'Arrows' trilogy - which were the first of the Valdemar books written (but come after this duology, chronologically). Apart from that, it flows along nicely enough, and is a pleasant read (if you're indulgent enough to ignore the holes in the plot)

(September 2010)
2.5 stars show less

I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist.

An enjoyable addition to the Valdermar Herald Chronicles. Alberich is one of my favorite Heralds, so far. Much scheming, some action, can't wait to find out if my guess about the inside traitor is correct. Wish I could see a game of Hurlee!