Valorian

Dark Horse #3

by Mary H. Herbert

Mass market paperback.

Genres: Fantasy, Horses, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Daniela (danis_bookpourri) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich kannte schon die vorher gehenden Bände der Reihe "Die letzte Zauberin" und "Die Tochter der Zauberin". Daher war mir die sagenumwogene Welt schon bekannt. "Valorians Kinder" erzählt quasi die Vorgeschichte / Legende, wie die großen Klane zur Magie gekommen sind und so bemerkenswerte Pferde haben.

Valorian ist auf der Suche für seinen Klan den Klauen des Königs zu entkommen damit sein Volk/Klan in Frieden leben kann. Dabei erhält er von den Göttern die Kraft der Magie, die er aber noch Lernen muss richtig einzusetzten.

Einige Handlungen waren zwar etwas zu kurz beschrieben, bzw. die schnell aufgelöst worden und der Bösewicht in dem Buch hatte dann auch ein recht schnelles Ende, aber letztlich ging es auch mehr darum, den Weg in die Freiheit von Valorians Klan zu zeigen, als ein Action-Spektakel auf zu zeigen.
Das Buch hat definitiv zusätzliches Interesse geweckt wieder mal in die Welt abzutauchen und noch die Folgebände zu lesen.

[Melina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one was hard to get through. I had to push myself to finish reading it. Why? Because I was interested in Valorian's story but the whole time I was reading it, it felt like I was being "told" the whole thing, and in a way I was because Gabria is supposed to be telling the story but still... I could not get past that. There's also a lot of summary. Some of it unnecessary and some of it that could have easily been rewritten as action. And a lot of things happen in that summary that make it hard to keep your "suspension of belief" button triggered. I think that in wanting a portray Valorian as a hero, the author forgot that he is also human. I didn't connect with him at all. And I think that if the author hadn't forgotten about that, I would have liked the book more.

[NAT.orious reads ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this books several times throughout my teenage years and what can I say... although I have grown a bit and sure as hell changed a lot I can only salute to my younger self for relishing this book at least three times. What starts off as a awkwardly written and seemingly not well thought through story slowly but steadily turns into a page turner that just won't leave you in peace. So what do bookworms like me do? Jup, we just leave everything and read it in one go. I am absolutely amazed by the fact that some stories never grow old or boring. Sure, Harry Potter still plays in an absolutely superior league, but this is as close as it gets.

Valorian is not particulalry content with his life. He loves his lifestyle - being a nomad and finding cause in having a stable socisal surrounging and a life that is moody but yet fulfilling. The issue lies with the outer circumstances of a tyran that - under a colonialist rule - squeezes every last bit of taxes in the form of animals and food out of the clans. They are left with barely enough to survive and even though they always make do, one can imagine, that happiness is not really a given here. Lucky for Valorian, that he dies. Quite literally. On the other side however, not only the riders of death await but a godess that blesses him with powers beyond his wildest imagination and sends him off on a quest that will only be the beginning of the greatest advenutre of his life. More than anything, Valorian wants new lands for his people so they may live in peace.

Enter said tyran, and the issues just hit you from every corner.

[Aria Nazari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valorian is a great tale. It's filled with action, adventure, magic, and the elements of fantasy is bound to captivate readers. I had no problem finishing this story. In fact, not reading the previous books beforehand, I was glad the book was a stand-alone. The only thing that kept me from loving this story completely was the fact that I didn't fall in love with any of the characters. I sympathized with them, but I wouldn't have been angry or upset if something terribly drastic happened to the main character. Overall, Mary H. Herbert is a fantastic story teller, and I recommend this book to anyone looking for a world filled with elements that goes beyond the imagination.

[Nenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself skimming this one. Too much of gorthlings and clan politics and overlords and tyrants. Perhaps a leisure read for some other day.

However, I did like it. I liked the fact that he was already married, and happily, and his wife wasn't "gloriously beautiful". But there was just so much that was simply god-given. Yes, he performed a feat for Amara, and deserved reward, etc, but it was somehow not satisfying enough. The pacing was off in this novel. And too much killing (32 people of one clan get killed in one scene!). Not a big fan.

Still, I just can't seem to give it below 4 stars for now. It's more close to a 3 star book.

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series. Very well written and very moving in parts.