Tempest

Tales of Valdemar #10

by Mercedes Lackey (Editor)

Twenty-four authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.

The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdom's ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all ages--and all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talents--combined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and more--make them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.

Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.

Join Elizabeth Vaughan, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Brozek, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill, and others in twenty-two original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, to Valdemar, where:

A Herald must crack an ancient code in a historic tapestry in order to arbitrate a dispute over land and lineage...

A Healer's daughter flees the noble family that has trapped and enslaved her mother, and must seek help to free her mother...

A young woman who hides her clairvoyant powers from her town's Karsite priests ForeSees a threat, and must risk revealing her Gift to save her community...

A Herald finds his assistant has been abducted by a man upon whom he had levied a heavy fine, and must foil the kidnapper's plans to save his charge...

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, Young Adult

387 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 6, 2016

About the author

Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.

"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.

"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.

"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:

"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."

Also writes as Misty Lackey

Author's website

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Final review, posted on Fantasy Literature:

Tempest (2016) is the most recent in a lengthy (like, around 20 books) series of light fantasy anthologies set in and around Mercedes Lackey’s well-known Valdemar, is a land where people called Heralds are “Chosen” (read: magically bonded for life) with telepathic white horse-like creatures known as Companions. Once bonded, the pair joins others in traveling and policing their kingdom against wrongdoing, threats and evils of all kinds. While I’m a relative newcomer to the world of Valdemar, I’ve read several other works by Lackey and was impressed by a couple of her short stories of the Companions. Brilliant and heroic telepathic horses! What’s not to like? And many of these stories feature non-Herald humans from all walks of life, as well as gryphons, kryees (huge, intelligent wolves), and firecats (think large, magical, sentient Siamese cats ... I sense a pattern here): a promising variety.

So I began this anthology of twenty-two short stories by Lackey and other authors (several of whom have had stories in the previous TALES OF VALDEMAR anthologies, but I was quickly brought down to earth. Every time I started getting interested in a story, it would just cut off. The majority of stories in this collection gave me the unmistakable impression of being the first (or, occasionally, a middle) chapter of a longer novel. It’s like reading an episodic tale where you’re only able to read one chapter. They don’t give me enough to make me care about the characters or what happens to them.

As I did some additional research I found that several of the authors whose stories appear in Tempest have also had stories featuring the same characters in previous anthologies in this series. I suspect that some of these authors are writing primarily to fans who have read their prior Valdemar tales, and presume that the reader has important background information from those earlier tales. While I don’t believe that excuses the fragmentary nature of these tales, readers who have been following the TALES OF VALDEMAR series may have a more satisfactory sense of continuity than I did.

A few of the stories that I enjoyed the most:

“BloodLines” by Phaedra Weldon: Herald Ryvic and his Companion are sent to Bell’s Valley, a town where Ryvic spent several years before he was Chosen, to settle a bloody feud involving a large number of people in the town, including Ryvic’s childhood friend Sves, who is now the acting mayor. Upon his arrival, Ryvik is promptly hit in the head by a large rock, which injures him severely, knocking him out for an entire day. When he finally comes to, Sves explains the feud, but the more Ryvic investigates the dispute the more he uncovers, not just prejudice against others who are different, but darker motivations as well, as well as more danger to his own life. A good reminder that we are all more alike than we are different.

“A Tangle of Truths” by Angela Penrose: Herald Arvil attends the first birthday party of Lord Brandin’s first son and long-awaited heir, joining guests from all over. When one of the baby’s gift’s turns out to have a horrifyingly deadly bit of magic attached to it, Lord Brandin is ready to start murdering guests. It’s up to Arvil to figure out the plot: the reason for the attempted murder and the person behind it. It’s light but fun, with a few enticing red herrings along the way.

“Unimagined Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan: While this story had an undeniably episodic feel to it (logically so, as the main character has appeared in previous collections), I found it much more appealing than most of the others. It’s a slice of life tale about Lady Cera of Sandbriar, recently widowed, and her efforts to rule her land well, overcome their lack of assets by entering into alliances and bargains with others … and avoid needing to get married again too quickly. I always admire a resourceful woman character who is willing to work to make life better, not only for herself but for the people around her.

“Unraveling the Truth” by Dayle A. Dermatis: another mystery involving a Herald tasked to settle a dispute that has stymied local officials. A prime piece of land is being claimed by three descendants of a man who died many years ago. Two of them want to oust the third, who seems to have the lesser inheritance claim. But Herald Syrriah decides to investigate further. Perhaps a lovely tapestry in the home on the property will provide a clue to settle the dispute…

There are several recurring themes in these stories: Underdogs who are able to prove themselves, or muster the fortitude to set off in a journey or quest to do so. Character finding ― or acknowledging ― their “Gift,” or even just realizing their own strengths. Resolving tangled legal disputes in a fair manner ― one of the primary functions of Heralds and Companions. Dealing courageously with opposition.

Though I didn’t find the writing style or plots in most of these tales memorable, they’re all reasonably well-written. But as a group they simply aren’t particularly compelling, especially where so many of them feel like unfinished works. I recommend this short story anthology primarily to dedicated Valdemar fans.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for a review.

[Ivy Reisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing that seems to tie this collection together most is that half of the stories feel like excerpts from larger works -- excellent, but excepts none the less. Coming of age themes run through several of the stories, even the coming of age of magical creatures. Many of them are lighter, cosy tales. For some, the description, at least on Amazon, isn't entirely accurate, and I've noted them as appropriate.

"A Small Quarrel" reads like the brilliant first chapter to what promises to be a fabulous novel, and then it just stops. It's hard to talk about it without spoiling it. It ties into the world brilliantly, clearly showing an encyclopedic knowledge of Valdemar. The characters are delightful. The plot, what of it is revealed, is tight and compelling. I want more. But it's unfinished, the main story point is not resolved. In its simplest form it's about a Herald on a quest to put down an invasion of Valdemar (and the enemy plan involving Bards is insidious) and he never puts down the invasion. I'd love to see this one finished, and I'll buy it the moment it's available if it ever is.

"Girl Without the Gifts" equally could serve as a beginning to a novel, but this one stands on its own. Yes, there is a major plot point left unaddressed, but that's fine for this one. It's not the main thrust of the story. It's a somewhat cosy story, with a delightful protagonist and a charming tale and theme. I would love to read more of what I can hope will someday be Herald Kaysa's story someday. A brave blind girl finds herself aiding a Companion.

"Unimagined Consequences" is a very cosy story. Some is left unsaid, and the better for it. It's not a high adventure, but a calm, humorous tale, and a very welcome contrast to the more serious "Girl Without Gifts" that preceded it. Well written and well placed. It's the tale of a Lady, a young suitor turned weaver, and a goat with pizzle rot.

"Feathers in Flight" was confusing at points. A griffon and a changechild deliver a letter. That's pretty much the plot. Details are released far too late and are at points unclear. One character has talons and writes. She's light for no longer being human, but is humaniod with half a bird head and possibly wings. The relationship with the characters was good, but it feels torn from the middle of a larger work.

"Blind Leaps" was a gem in the collection, possibly the best story there. It's the coming of age of a female kyree and her human bondmate as they find themselves craving more out of life. It's sweet. It's charming. It's a beautiful tale, and it stand out in that it would likely be ruined by extending it further.

"Haver Heartstone" is hilarious. A well-respected travelling merchant comes in to charm the town of Haven, and falls afoul of a particular Guard captain.

"Unraveling the Truth" feature a more mature Herald, who, while newly Chosen, is going through menopause. She must use her sense and her keen powers of observation to seek the truth of a land dispute hidden in a series of elaborate tapestries. It's one of the better cosy tales in this collection.

"Sparrow's Gift" feels like a sequel to another short story. I'd be eager to find the first (and if you know it, please leave a comment as to which collection it's in). In this one, Sparrow is a new mother, visited again by crows with a dire warning, only in this one, the enemy might be much closer than she could possibly imagine. Well written, literary fantasy, of a quality I never expected to find in this sort of a collection. Extraordinary.

"Harmless as Serpents" is another cosy coming of age story, this one of a Companion foal who finds his destiny near the Karse border. The characters here are exceptionally delightful. This is the best story in the bunch.

"The Apprentice and the Stable Master" isn't exactly as described. It's the tale of the Healer's daughter mentioned in the description, and her need is as described, but her action not so much. It more wraps itself up. A strong beginning with a fizzled ending, likely rushed for time.

"Unexpected Meeting" is the story of the assistant kidnapped by a man on whom was levelled a hefty fine, but it was not a Herald's assistant as described, but that of a Karsite guard. This is a bit of a nail-biter and quite good.

"A Trip of Goats" is the cosiest of the cosy stories, a tale in which our heroine walks her pets and has dinner. That's pretty much all that happens, but the characters and the setting are such as to make it quite amusing.

"The Ones She Couldn't Save". This is another where the story does not match the description, an honestly I can't blame the description writer here. The very first paragraph reads, "Riann never imagined playing a simpleton would someday come back to bite her in the backside. Then again, she never thought the day would come when she'd need someone to actually listen to her." This is the one described as a Gifted must risk detection in Karse to save her town. Only she's much smarter than that, and what she does isn't try to convince the townsfolk, but rather something a tad braver and far more clever. I won't spoil it, only say it's one of the better stories in the collection.

"One Last Night Manning the Home Station". Another cosy. Destiny (or Companions) don't always Choose the one waiting for the call, and sometimes at the worst possible time.

"Only Family Matters". A senior Healer, who can't tolerate all the yelling at the Collegium and the chance someone might ask him opinion, runs away to join the circus -- and cries a lot. This one was just maudlin.

"Medley". This one has a bit of a spoiler alert attached. It started as a promising story -- a town with some history that makes it fear Bards and the Bardic Gift -- and ends with a Herald making a sort of bland speech, miraculously winning everyone over to his side.

"A Tangle of Truths" is an excellent tale of intrigue and politics in which even the lift of an infant is at risk in the political manoeuvring between neighbours, villages, and nations. I loved this one.

"An Unwanted Gift". The title couldn't be better. A young man gets a Healing Gift he doesn't want. It's coming of age, and excellent in the telling.

"Dawn of a New Age" is a snapshot in time, in Karse, of two people caught up in the tail end of the reign of the corrupt Sun Priests. It is an excellent cosy.

"Bloodlines" here is another story that is solved with a mediocre speech. The Herald has no discernment, no real ability to question anything, and is mostly led by the nose through the entire story. It had some interesting twists and turns, but I expected more investigating from the Herald -- at least some attempt to dig deep and get to the truth, maybe deep enough to have actual presentable evidence to guide his actions.

"In Name Only" was a nail biter of a story. Two tribes meet to seal a peace negotiation, only someone is to sabotage the talks. I found the ending a little confusing and unsatisfying -- the character who is punished is not the one who seems to have commit the crime and I'm not sure why that decision was made -- but the bulk of the story was excellent.

"Ripples and Cracks" starts with a quick summary of the story of the griffin Kelvern from the Owl series, and picks up his story from his return home. It is the longest story in the anthology, and since this is the one written by Lackey, it seems strange to be at the back of the book. Still, it is perfectly on par with the Owl books and fans of that will adore this piece.

I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anthology of twenty-two short stories in a mixed bag of quality in this tenth in the Tales of Valdemar subseries as part of the Valdemar series.

Series
"A Small Quarrel" (Wil & Leila, ??)
"Haver Hearthstone" (Dann Family of Haven, 6)
"The Apprentice and the Stable Master" (Rhi & Dionne)
"Unexpected Meeting" (Perran and Levron)
"A Trip of Goats" (Lena's Animal MindSpeech, 2)
"Ripples and Cracks" (Owl Mage)

The Stories
Stephanie Shaver's "A Small Quarrel"…
…finds Herald Amelie having made good her escape from the town of Highjorune while Herald Wil and his daughter are on the road, bringing in traitorous bards, solving a murder, and unveiling imposters.

There's a flashback in here to Leila's "announcing" her pregnancy on that battlefield. It's an okay story. It does lead to Wil teaching young Ivy to defend herself.

The Characters
Herald Wil has Visions of the future and the past. Ivy is his four-year-old daughter. Vehs is Herald Wil's Companion; Aubryn allows Ivy to ride him. Both Companions babysit the girl.

Sergeant Bergen is one of the guards. Ferrin is the worst of the traitorous bards working with the Dark Lord. Madra is another who enjoys assassinating. Back in the day, she was known as Androa Baireschild, the sister of Healer Grier and Herald Kemoc Baireschild. Carris was a Bard removed for misuse of her gift.

Janny Wurts' "Girl Without the Gifts"…
…revolves around a young blind girl who only wants to prove herself when she finds the injured Companion, Lark. Tarron had been his Herald.

It was okay.

Elizabeth A. Vaughan's "Unimagined Consequences"…
…finds a lady desperate to provide jobs for her people and willing to bargain for the opportunity. It's an interesting story with several people helped, although the lady still has her personal problems.

Jennifer Brozek's "Feathers in Flight"…
…finds us following Hadara, a gryphon, and Kitha, a newly changed Shin'a'in Change-Child, on an adventurous journey to find acceptance. This was confusing and seemed to change the reasoning every few pages.

Ron Collins' "Blind Leaps"…
…is what Nwah, a kyree, must make up her mind about, for her friend, Kade, wants to leave the Pelagiris Forest, and she's frightened of change. I'm not sure what going into heat has to do with her decision.

Fiona Patton's "Haver Hearthstone"…
…is an absolute crack-up. I do love Patton's Dann short stories. This one is simply another pip, especially when a visiting watch captain insists that this fraud of a merchant be locked up. Oh, man, ROFLMAO. Haver has no problem sitting in a cell…he can do business there just as well as in the marketplace. Especially when the entire neighborhood comes to buy.

The Characters
Sergeant Hektor Dann and his older brother, Corporal Aiden Dann, are with the Haven City Watch. Constables Jakon and Raik are younger brothers; Padreic is the youngest brother and works the Watch as a runner. Kasiath is their sister with a Gift with birds; she's apprenticed to the Watchhouse Bird Master. Peachwing is one of her birds. Thomar was their granther.

The City Watch
Jons is the night sergeant. Willan Elbert is a captain from the Lower Devin District (who might be moving to their district) and a friend of their Captain Tortell and Daedrus. Nessa is the Watchhouse cook. Corporal Thacker.

Daedrus is an Artificer whom Hektor helped in Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar: "Haven's Own". Adele is Daedrus' niece. Lord Markus Indram is a friend of Daedrus'.

Haver Hearthstone is a traveling merchant. He has a number of aliases: Desmon Hearthstead, Brian Hearthease. Toby is his donkey. Fair Master Smith Linton holds a spot for him at the market every year. Bryce Linton is his cousin. Other customers include Mister Crendal, Mister Beecher, Camer Pond, and Paddy.

Holly Poll is annoyed by the enthusiastic lovemaking by Deem and Kiera. Jez is Holly's husband. Benj Granstil is a local iron merchant; Ruby is his wife. Miss Peggi and Miss Sally have new beaus. That ought'a pay back Ken and his friend. Bill and Sue March are herbalists.

Dayle A. Dermatis' "Unraveling the Truth"…
…finds Herald Syrriah pulling on all her years as a former lady of the manor to settle a dispute between two greedy family members who want the poor land (that's improved so much) that another distant family member owns.

I did love the back history Syrriah dived into and the answers she found that showed the jerks up, but it did seem pretty cut-and-dried to me from the start.

Michele Lang's "Sparrow's Gift"…
…tells of Sparrow's loneliness with her and Cloud Brother's new baby. Abilard is Cloud Brother's Companion. There's a magical attack on Sparrow, and it makes no sense. Oh, it's homey, but only makes me think huh, what?

Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox's "Harmless as Serpents"…
…is all about a young Companion overcome with how amazing he is, lol, and his encounters with Brother Junchan who is charged with finding rogue Vkandis priests. This particular one is in dread danger, and Kenisant learns a lesson.

Brenda Cooper's "The Apprentice and the Stable Master"…
…is about a cruel lord and how he treats his people, including Healers who should be respected. It's a good story, but it could have been better written.

The Characters
Marala is the daughter of Healer Kris, who is being trained as a Healer.

Lord Daving is the new lord and a cruel, unthinking, demanding little shit. Norsk is the Stablemaster. Kathlyn, a friend of Marala's; Linal; and, Beatrice are servants.

Healer Dionne and Bard Rhiannon finagled an invite.

Nancy Asire's "Unexpected Meeting"…
…finds a thief being fined, and he's upset at how it will ruin him. Cry me a river, dude. A good one.

Elisabeth Waters' "A Trip of Goats"…
…is cute and notes that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover!

The Characters
Lena, a.k.a., Lady Magdalena Lindholm, has Animal MindSpeech and is a novice at the Temple of Thenoth.

The Temple of Thenoth worships…
…the Lord of the Beasts. Sven-August and Maia (has MindSpeech) are novices. Lady Efanya is Sven-August's mother. The Prior is compassionate.

Guildmaster Jurgen is quite understanding, lol. Lord and Lady Melander are quite disapproving of their son's craziness. Arvid is their son and has a gift of MindSpeech.

Louisa Swann's "The Ones She Couldn't Save"…
…finds Rian discovering that the role she's been playing all her life is backfiring. No one will listen to her now when the village is in danger, and it's too dangerous with the cleansing fires looming for her to go back.

Brigid Collins' "One Last Night Manning the Home Station"…
…finds Yerra hoping that the Companion is here for her. That he appreciates how she's kept that WayStation up. Especially now that Marli has stolen the boy she loved.

As uncomfortable as it was to read, it was an excellent story with a life lesson learned.

D. Shull's "Only Family Matters"…
…is a battle over who will be the new Dean of the Healer's Collegium and how it affects one man, known for his neutrality. The lengths to which he'll go and find a true home. Family is what you make it. Nice.

Jessica Schlenker and Michael Z. Williamson's "Medley"…
…forces Herald Jeris to discover that playing can have consequences when he must rescue his daughter from an ugly fate. Another good one.

Angela Penrose's "A Tangle of Truths"…
…coils about Lord Brandin's fury, as Herald Arvil picks away at the snarl to find the true culprit in this nest of plotters. A good story with a nasty twist although a mixed bag of obviousness in the writing with that deus ex machina.

Anthea Sharp's "The Unwanted Gift"…
…truly is unwanted, as Tereck Strand finds his preferences turned all on end. Very good.

Dylan Birtolo's "Dawn of a New Age"…
…provides hope for a gay man and a gifted child who would otherwise face the cleansing fires of Vkandis. Another good one.

Phaedra Weldon's "BloodLines"…
…is a tale of bigotry, vengeance, and greed. A twisty tale that was very good.

Kristin Schwengel's "In Name Only"…
…refers, I think, to that seeming semblance of loyalty as a traitorous duo attempts to disrupt treaty negotiations while a pair of gryphons prove themselves. Another very good tale.

Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey's "Ripples and Cracks"…
…is a nightmare for Kelvren who has returned from victory, almost certain death, and a miraculous healing, only to find his own ready to take him down. Yes, life isn't fair, it just is, although I don't know why they couldn't have explained all this to him at the start.

This occurs shortly after the Mage Storms have started and the Change circles are feared. With reason. It's messy and reads all over the place.

The Characters
k'Valdemar Vale is…
…a base for the Hawkbrothers and meant to be a common point for Valdemar and the Tayledras to work with and understand each other. Kelvren Skothkar is a gryphon and the Wingleader of the gryphon population that includes Kurrundas. Rukayas was appointed the new Wingleader by Redhawk. Kelvren's friends include Darian k'Valdemar who is many things including the Owl Knight of Valdemar known as Darian Firkin, Nightwind is his trondi'irn healer, Snowfire is Nightwind's husband, Nightbird is Nightwind's sister, Firesong is a famous adept who always wears masks, and the human kestra'chern Silverfox.

Tyrsell is the kingstag of the dyheli. Sifyra is the dyheli Snowfire usually rides. Ayshen and his mate, Drusi, are hertasi. Kal'enal is a Velgarthian deity.

Valdemar is…
…a kingdom of peace and the primary location for Lackey's Valdemar series. Treyvan is a gryphon Adept. Lord Breon is doing his best to do damage control.

The Cover and Title
The cover is an eye-catching black, grey, and burgundy: black in the background, grey in the fonts and Indian-style graphics in the upper border and side graphics as well as the border rim of the inset shield in the center with a roped Companion fiercely fighting against the constraints. The burgundy is in the banners for the title and the editor's name, located at top and bottom, respectively. It's rather odd to see an orange, flame-styled bridle on the Companion. The cover also includes two small shields: one has a blue background and a white winged horse while the bottom shield is a red gryphon posed against a black background.

The title is a storm of events, a Tempest with All-New Tales of Valdemar.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Mercedes Lackey created the world of Valdemar, which has magic and telepathy as well as random mage storms, by now her world is well inhabited with characters created by other authors. Here's another anthology. If you have read one or two earlier books about the Heralds, riders doing the Crown's bidding, you'll enjoy this look at the land, and may recognise some of the authors. If you have not read any, the feel is similar to Anne McCaffrey's early Pern books with white horses instead of dragons.

Anyone who enjoys fantasy stories and animals will like this one; there is diversity - which includes a woman half turned into a bird of prey, riding a gryphon which can't see - as well as new characters like a brash yearling colt and a travelling merchant. My favourite tale is by great writer Janny Wurts, author of Stormwarden, who characteristically gives us a blind girl experiencing the world through all her other senses. Janny's stopped putting all her descriptions in threes, thankfully. Some stories are very adventurous and some not. I don't recommend reading them all in one sitting as they will blur - dip and savour. My sole complaint is that the tales often stop short. Perhaps they will pick up in another anthology.

I was sent an ARC and this is an unbiased review.

[Wyrd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all the books and short stories Mercedes Lackey has published for her Velgarth novels, including all the other "Tales of Valdemar" anthologies. Simply put, this collection of short stories from her and other contributors was an absolute mess, in need of the help of a good editor and unfortunately Mercedes Lackey is NOT that person. This may be her sandbox she created, but that doesn't mean she got the best out of her contributors.

Case in point Michelle Lang's story, Sparrow's Gift. This story felt like something originally intended for another world altogether, which then hastily used a "find / replace" to force it into the world of Velgarth. What was going on with peoples represented was confusing to what we know of the world of Velgarth and it's varying populations and cultures.

While many of the tales had some 'kernels' of stories that had promise, the pacing was all over the place, sometimes there was way too much emphasis on description and set up, and not on dialogue and action which would have made for a reading experience that was less mediocre and snore inducing, but rather something that transported the reader to a place where we felt gripped by these glimpses into the universe she created, and into the unique perspectives offered by the various contributors.

In fact not only could most of the other contributors benefit from an editor other than Mercedes Lackey, she would have greatly benefited from an editor herself.

Lackey and Dixon's joint collaboration, which saw a return to characters we met in the Owlflight series, was haphazard. It felt like it was meant to be another novel or novella, but what we got was the epilogue of a book that was unpublished after a very hasty explanation trying to explain world setting and events like the Star Wars opening credit scroll, except badly executed. The editing on it made it very hard to follow, I had to re-read her story several times trying to figure out what was going on with the political situation in Valdemar and it's neighbors, and I couldn't quite follow what was going on. As a fan of the series, this story indicates a great deal of unrest in Valdemar, and it was very frustrating not having a far clearer explanation in something so abrupt, especially as it could point to a future book from her.

A couple of the stories were perfectly fine, but the entire anthology just felt incredibly flat and suffered from the feeling of way too many stories cutting off abruptly. The only feeling I have after reading it ranged from apathy to frustration. This anthology has a pulse, but just barely.

[Morgan Dhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempest, edited by Mercedes Lackey, is yet another in what has become a long series of anthologies of stories set in Velgarth, the world of Valdemar and Heralds and mind-speaking spirits who look like white horses and magic-casting gryphons and other marvels.

It's a fairly strong anthology, with contributors from seasoned veterans like Fiona Patton, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill and Lackey herself, and relative newcomers. Several of the contributors have offered stories which focus on characters they have created and written about before in these anthologies, including Elizabeth Vaughan's stories about widowed ladyHolder Cera, and Patton's tales of the Dann brothers and their adventures as part of Haven's Watch.

Good light reading for anyone looking for a quick Valdemar fix.



*This anthology contains 22 stories, 17 of which were written by women, two of which were written by men, two of which were co-written by both a woman and a man, and one by an author who chose not to be identified by gender.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercedes Lacey is one of my favorite fantasy authors and I was eager to read this anthology for a review. Some stories were all right, but my favorites entertained me and were great additions to this book, including Mercedes’ own story. Tempest has many stories in it, cozy ones and intriguing ones that will take you into Mercedes Lacey’s Valdemar, with different authors putting their own spins in this fantastic world.

Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/12/bo...

[Lincoln Wert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly? The bulk of these stories feel like they're chapters in other stories. They seem mostly to be "middles" with no real "beginnings" or "ends" ultimately leaving me unsatisfied. Somr fun reads in there, but...eh.

[Melanie's · Rating 4 out of 5]

***THIS BOOK WAS PROVIDED TO ME BY THE PUBLISHER BUT THIS IS NO WAY INFLUENCES MY OPINION***

Apparently this is actually the 10th set of anthology stories but I read this without reading the previous books and it worked for me.

Tempest is an anthology, but all the stories are set within the same world, just written by different authors. For the most part this worked well, but as with all anthologies there were highs and lows.

Some of the stories didn't feel complete within themselves, but if this is an ongoing anthology series that could account for that (I wasn't aware of that fact at the time of reading). There were a few that felt more like an opening chapter than anything else, but the majority of them I enjoyed.

If you are looking for a slightly different set of short stories then I would pick this up, perhaps going back to the first in the series would have improved the rating, but I doubt it, as even with prior knowledge of the world, the stories themselves would not have been more complete.

Overall 4 stars from me.

V""V

[Ayse · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great installment in the valdemar universe. I really enjoyed the emphasis on karse in many of the stories. Having just read another collection of short stories that I didn't really enjoy, this one reminded me of a collection at its best. I am enjoying the short stories more than the long form novels of valdemar these days. My least favorite sadly was the one by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon about the gryphons. These stories have never really interested me, though the other gryphon story I really liked.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest, All new tales of Valdemar edited by Mercedes Lackey is 22 short stories where Heralds of Valdemar bring order to the kingdom. Heralds all have a secret gift they are born with, like Mindspeakers, Farseers, Empaths, Foreseers, and many more talents. They are chosen in their lifetime by Companions, horse-like creatures that they are bonded for life to. The Heralds and their Companions ride throughout Valdemar, bringing peace and defending their land. In these short stories, you will find fantasy, mythology, and wonder never brought before. I liked this book, because I love reading fantasy books, and the stories left me in shock, with plot twists and more. I would recommend this book to those who are okay with endings leaving you wanting more, and lovers of shakespeare, like Romeo and Juliet.

[CatBookMom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 10th book in the anthology series, though this isn't included in that listing (yet).

Part of what became a 6-book read-through, following the various stories as they developed over the years. Quite good, most of them.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have yet to be disappointed by these anthologies. :-) Filled with entertaining stories all over the timeline of Valdemar (and neighboring countries).

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like any collection of short stories by various authors, some good, some just okay and a couple just meh.

[Inferno Nightfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of the Tales of Valdemar books I loved this one.

I find myself going to past volumes and following each individual author's storyline as it unfolds, story by story giving us their particular view of the world Mercedes Lackey created. Some story lines had me going back to Finding the Way or Under the Vale, others sent me to No True Way or Crucible.

While I missed seeing a few old friends (Jem and Ree from the stories by Kate Paulk and Sarah A. Hoyt) there were new stories to take the place.

These anthologies are like visiting old friends and seeing a bit more of the action of their world and meeting new friends along the way. It is almost mandatory to have a copy of the previous books handy to jog your memory of the storyline.

[Elf · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a review solely for "Ripples and Cracks," which features Kelvren from the Owl Knight series. This short story is the second in the "Gryphon Kelvren miniseries" which began with the short story "Transmutation" in Anthology #3, Crossroads and other Tales of Valdemar.

So, let us proceed. This will contain spoilers, because I'm so very disgusted.

First: "Transmutation," the preceding story, was acceptable, if vaguely off-putting. The 'bad guys' were sketches; the 'good guys'--former protagonists in series stories--were stupid and/or patronizing; the entire reason why Kelvren found himself in such straits was... fairly ridiculous. Most offensive: the core problem of a gryphon's 'magical biology' comes completely out of left field, and renders what should be pathos for the suffering of our hero into bafflement, to this reader. Further, the magical system of this world is changed for the convenience of the plot. [Creating a node! Creating... A... Node!!!]

Worst, these stories did not have the same "Valdemar" flair found in the various series, which is best described as a good guy's tour of medieval royalty and villages, complete with 'good always triumphs' tone, etc. The strangely modern tone is slightly understandable--"Transmutations" was not written by Lackey--BUT! It was written by Larry Dixon, the co-author of the Owl series and her husband. This story read like a misanthrope's tour of Valdemar, despite the message I think the author meant to convey: hope is magic. I mean, I think that was the moral of the story--it was so hard to tell.

Now, on to "Ripples and Cracks." Lackey shares the author credit, so I hoped things would improve. After all, I loved the Owl series, and would love to return to that setting. So much potential!! An embassy of multiple races, hosted by the Tayledras! Firesong, Darien, Starfall, Snowfire, Kelvren, I could go on!

But, no. Nope. Strange tone again, stilted writing, contrived plot, and the characterization!

Again, every person we knew in the various series has apparently undergone some sort of personality transplant, at least in part. I say part because we get a few recognizable glimpses, but mostly they were stupidly cruel--especially whenever the writer required them to do or say something ridiculous to move the plot forward. Must be those darn change-circles! [Joke! The Mage Storms are OVER in the Owl series--and per book two, Darian was part of a Tayledras team, one of many, combing Valdemar to take care of leftover change-circles.]

Darian has apparently decided that Valdemar is filled with bigoted idiots who are afraid of anything that smacks of Outsiders [ahem, despite the aforementioned Tayledras having traveled throughout the Kingdom as problem-solvers!]. Therefore he's cut his hair, and he wears 'Valdemar' clothes instead of his hertasi-made Tayledras-type garb, rides a horse instead of a dyheli, and leaves his bond owl behind when he goes forth into Valdemar in his role as Knight. Yes, apparently Knight Darian must roam into Valdemar on the regular instead of acting as a leader of the Vale, which is perfectly and purposefully designed to be a place for various factions to meet. Despite the fact that he became a Knight to be taken seriously as a leader and better meet his responsibilities to the Vale. Ahem.

So, when Kelvren returns home from his hero's journey, he's taken prisoner by the Vale leadership. Stripped of his rank. Subjected to Tyrsell, the dyheli king stag, who rummages through his mind like it's a drawer of socks for DAYS, and damages Kelvren further. You see, they thought Kelvren was... something. An impostor? A Kelvren-shaped changebeast? Turned to the Dark Side?

Ah! And Kelvren wasn't actually healed by Treyvan at the end of the prior story! No, he was actually just sucking in magical energy that made him feel better, thus damaging himself worse! He just can't feel it! Nightwind displays the new Trond'irin ability from the prior story--staring into Kelvren's eyes for hours--to try to, um, [something-something] heal him somehow.

But no dice. He's still in a state of "ruin"--a gryphon magical biology problem, of course--and just by his mere presence, he endangers the Vale. You see, the magic he's sucking up constantly will deplete the Vale spells, and might make them and/or him go BOOM. Everyone in the Vale is afraid of him, and wants him out. He's screwed.

Oh, and his heroic acts in the prior story? Now it's being spun as "he's an out-of-control monster animal," and the Crown of Valdemar has to disavow him because it reflects badly on them? [mumble-mumble-hand-wave] Closed-minded Valdemaran peasantry, what can you do.

Darian at some point pulls the stick out of his keister, pledges brotherhood with Kelvren, and says he'll fix his reputation by hook or by crook! Just... it will take a while [this is where he goes into the 'look how much I had to change to make myself acceptable to those bigoted Vademarans!' song and dance] and Kelvren should probably Go Somewhere Else while Darian is doing this, so...

But hey, though Firesong can't *fix* this biology problem of his, he does offer a couple of solutions. First, Kelvren can... I dunno, just die. Two, he can leave and probably die anyway (and, he thinks, never finding a mate, because no female likes the male bursting into fire on their back!), but at least he'd be sucking up magic somewhere else, and thus Not the Vale's Problem. [I can't tell you how many novels of Valdemar include a suggestion that throwing a problem over the proverbial fence is a good option! /sarcasm]

Or! He can study mage craft, and Firesong will [I kid you not] make a *portable Heartstone* for him which, combined with his study, will help him regulate his magic-sucking... and then he'll go investigate Lake Evendim, where there's weird stuff afoot.

The End... for now. One assumes that a third tale will be forthcoming, one with Kelvren as the gryphon version of Sherlock Holmes, solving the Mystery of Lake Evendim.

I was so depressed by the end of this story, I thought I would cry. Instead, I chose to write this review and save others from my own grim fate.

Owl-Knight series lovers: this is not the story you were looking for! Abort, abort, abort! I'm going to pretend it doesn't exist and all is well in k'Valdemar Vale, which is filled with smart, kind people who care about each other and treat each other with respect--even if they look strange.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide variety of stories covering the somewhat grubbier parts of Valdemar - Gifts being misused, Heralds in danger, retribution and vengeance, and far more - but somehow it all makes it realer. Each author has taken the core, the heart of Valdemar and stepped off the map in a new direction, broadening the world and adding more depth to both characters and plots. Worth a read by any fan of Valdemar!

(I must admit that I lost my notes, so this review suffers from more brevity than detail.)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

These aren't complete short stories, but more like episodes in a longer story. Previous books contained reoccurring characters, and so does this one. For example, the story "Haver Heartstone" is about Hektor Dann, his family, and his home, and there have been several previous books with a part of his story in them. Which means, if you pick the stories up out of order, or start with this book, you miss background. Some work better as stand alone episodes than others.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for NetGalley:

A great collection of stories in the Valdemar Universe. I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous collections and the new stories too. Love these books.

[Liana Smith Bautista | Libervore Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review, which was first posted on book blog Will Read for Feels.

I’m a long-time fan of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series, and I love that this has expanded to include short story collections by an assortment of authors who clearly love the world Valdemar exists in just as much as I do. Plus, these volumes are always edited by Lackey herself and include at least one new story by her. The latest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, is no exception.

One thing that’s great about the Tales of Valdemar series is that a lot of the writers have contributed to previous collections, and that means that characters you meet and enjoy have a great chance of being revisited in later collections. This is the case with almost all of the stories in this collection, and the effects are occasionally bittersweet and occasionally humorous, but always chock-full of feels.

While I’m not sure I’d say this is one of my favorite Tales of Valdemar collections, I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read—in fact, I read it twice! Keep reading for more details on the individual stories in the collection; warning: mild spoilers ahead.

“A Small Quarrel” by Stephanie D. Shaver
This story is about a Herald who must weed out corruption and hunt an evil that threatens Valdemar, so it packs quite a bit of intrigue into a few pages. Rest assured, this can be read as a standalone, but if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar books, you’ll be familiar with Herald Wil and Bard Lelia’s story, and some aspects of this story may just make you inexplicably sniffly.

“Girl Without the Gifts” by Janny Wurts
The Tales of Valdemar collections frequently feature stories about ordinary folk who do extraordinary things to aid Heralds and Companions, and in doing so learn something about themselves or gain belief in themselves when before there was none. This is one such story, so you get quite a bit of feel good vibes early on.

“Unimagined Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan
This story continues the journey of the Lady of Sandbriar, and while it stands on its own merit, fans will recognize Cera from previous collections. What this story does well is give a picture of life in Valdemar, kind of a “day in the life” story of a Valdemaran noble. What it does better is show how a resourceful, determined woman can lead her people to success, if she’s willing to make the effort, take the time, rely on friends, and reach out and acquire new allies.

“Feathers in Flight” by Jennifer Brozek
This story starts with a hit of adrenaline, always a good thing. It features a creature borne of magic—a gryphon—and one whose life has been irreversibly altered by it—a changeling, who form a symbiotic relationship where they compensate for each other’s weaknesses and boost each other’s strengths. Be prepared for feels at the end.

“Blind Leaps” by Ron Collins
Here’s another pair of friends you’ll have met before if you’ve read previous Tales of Valdemar collections, the kyree Nwah and human Kade. It involves making a big decision about the course of their lives—and their wanderings—as well as a more personal decision on Nwah’s part.

“Haver Hearthstone” by Fiona Patton
This is like the old home collection, given how many familiar “faces” we see in this book. Here we check back with the brothers Dann, particularly Hektor, who is a sergeant in the Haven City Watch. There’s a little less mystery and a little more politicking in this story, in contrast to others featuring the Danns, but there’s still a bit of surprise at the end!

“Unraveling the Truth” by Dayle A. Dermatis
This one’s a cool story featuring one of the most important tasks a Herald does on circuit: settle disputes that can’t be resolved by the local officials. There’s a bit of mystery and quite a bit of politicking involved, but I quite enjoyed the way things worked out.

“Sparrow’s Gift” by Michele Lang
I always enjoy meeting new characters from the Valdemaran universe. The Tayledras woman here, whose mate is a Herald, is no exception. The story may start out fairly slow, but it builds up to the bit of intrigue that, when resolved, makes for a fully satisfying ending.

“Harmless as Serpents” by Rosemary Edghill & Rebecca Fox
Companions may be glorious, but they’re people too! And while that may seem a contradictory statement for anyone familiar with Valdemar’s Companions, I do enjoy a story that shows that not all Companions are dignified fonts of wisdom!

“The Apprentice and the Stable Master” by Brenda Cooper
This story might be a complete standalone at the moment, but for a cameo by two familiar characters, but I hope to see more of main character Marala in coming volumes! Some of the scenes in this story may seem harsh, but wait for the happy ending that reinforces the notion that in Valdemar, justice is meted out more often than not.

“Unexpected Meeting” by Nancy Asire
I do believe I’ve previously met the judge and his assistant who star in this story, but the tale stands well on its own. And what I find fascinating is how it depicts how justice is achieved outside Valdemar’s borders, where there aren’t Heralds who can whip out a Truth Spell at a moment’s notice.

“A Trip of Goats” by Elisabeth Waters
The Temple of Thenoth, Lord of Beasts, in Valdemar is a place I always look forward to revisiting in every Tales of Valdemar collection. Novices like Lena (the heroine of this piece) and Maia (a more minor character here than than she was in earlier stories) who have Animal Mindspeech are a favorite of mine, partially because this is one of the Gifts I sorely wish I possessed. Outside of this, there’s a good bit of putting snobs in their place as well as a healthy dose of humor to this tale.

“The Ones She Couldn’t Save” by Louisa Swann
I’m always fascinated by stories of Gifted people who lived in Karse prior to Solaris becoming Son of the Sun, in much the same way I’m fascinated by stories of those who lived in Europe during World War II. The main character of this tale, Riann, takes a rather extreme measure to make sure she goes undetected by Vkandis’s priests. It’s a bit of a parable, really, and illustrates how selfishness, even in the face of danger to one’s life, is still a choice—as is its opposite.

“One Last Night Manning the Home Station” by Brigid Collins
Of course, every collection needs to feature an earnest Herald wannabe, and this one is no exception. This story is about a girl named Yerra, who loves and admires Heralds and Companions and who wants beyond anything else to be Chosen by a Companion. A family squabble and a missing bride add to the drama in this story, whose moral lesson could be the chorus of a Rolling Stones hit.

“Only Family Matters” by D. Shull
Mental health issues, although not always mentioned as such, have featured prominently in stories of Valdemar, and I got all warm and fuzzy inside over this story, which didn’t just underscore the importance of seeing a MindHealer, but which also highlighted the necessity of one’s support systems.

“Medley” by Jessica Schlenker & Michael Z. Williamson
There are two things I love about this story. One is that you frequently read about Heralds’ promiscuity, but too seldom see the fruits of such efforts in a land where birth control doesn’t yet exist, and this story helps fill the gap. Two is how the story features Gifts developing early and how they can go awry when untrained—but also how it shows that the way Gifts are used are very much driven by intention.

“A Tangle of Truths” by Angela Penrose
We get a bit of a murder-mystery here (or rather attempted murder), which is always fun. The way the clues collected distract and then add up to a rather elaborate political conspiracy makes for a satisfying reveal at the end of it.

“The Unwanted Gift” by Anthea Lawson
Doubting Thomases are always fun to read about, mostly because it’s so satisfying when their misbeliefs are stripped away and they finally see the light! In this case, a know-it-all noble who doesn’t really buy into the various Gifts exhibited by Bards, Healers, and the like, finds out he actually wields one!

“Dawn of a New Age” by Dylan Birtolo
Here’s another bit featuring persecution in the name of the Sunlord, but it too has a happy ending—not to mention a cameo by the firecat Hansa! Bassyl, the hero, is shaych, the slang term for “gay,” and unfortunately, the people of theocratic Karse are both ignorant and intolerant when it comes to sexual orientations outside heterosexuality. Bassyl must learn to deal when his secret becomes public knowledge, then something else happens that leaves him with big decision to make.

“BloodLines” by Phaedra Weldon
Here’s another story that condemns intolerance, this time of a different sort: xenophobia. A Herald is tasked with settling a dispute in a town where xenophobic furor has masked a darker corruption. This bit of intrigue just goes to show that things—and people—aren’t always what or who they seem.

“In Name Only” by Kristin Schwengel
Who doesn’t love a gryphon? And the one who is the main character of this story, Sheski, is a scrappy underdog determined to prove her worth. Of course I was going to enjoy this story!

“Ripples and Cracks” by Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey
This story features a supporting character from the OwlKnight trilogy, Kelvren Skothkar, gryphon Wingleader of the Hawkbrothers’ k’Valdemar Vale. There’s a bit of a prologue, but it gets right to the point and, once done, drops you straight into the action, so that’s all right. I’ll warn you that there’s a bit of heartache here that’s typical of Lackey’s heroic tales—it frequently seems to me that the more glorious the hero, the more pain they must endure for the sake of their heroics. But I was glad to see Kelvren and Darian again.

[Jessica Patzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is broken into pieces following each individual story in the order I read them in. I read 6 stories from this anthology.

“The Apprentice and the Stable Master” by Brenda Cooper: So, might be because I’m reading the Rhiannon and Dionne stories all at once, but… it really seems like Cooper’s fond of putting her female characters in situations with brutal men to instantly incur sympathy. We’re pretty instantly ingratiated to Marala and Kris due to Lord Daving’s habit of having his servants beaten. It’s really not a bad little story, just, ya know, I’m noticing a trend.

“Unimagined Consequences” by Elizabeth A. Vaughan: A semi-cute continuation of Lady Cera’s adventures at Stonebriar.

“Dawn of a New Age” by Dylan Birtolo: This was alright. Bassyl isn’t at all in the center of things, so we don’t actually get to see Vkandis choose Solaris, but yeah. Just alright.

“Harmless as Serpents” by Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox: Interesting to get a story from a Companion’s POV. So… other than that, I guess that was interesting. I’m not entirely sure how they all ended up in Iftel, of all places, but okay. Literally looked at the map and was like “What? How? How? Hokay.”

“Feathers in Flight” by Jennifer Brozek: Kinda cute. Hadara and Kitha getting used to each other and their abilities together.

“A Tangle of Truths” by Angela Penrose: Interesting little tale of intrigue.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great anthology, by a set of authors who share that same vision of life, and magic, as Mercedes Lackey does.

These were super stories, once again, and I so enjoy finding out more about characters that I've grown to know, & love, reading these anthologies.

Knowing that there are only two more anthologies to go - so far - I was taking my time reading this one, as I was sad at them being the last of the Valdemar books but, yesterday, I got an email, informing me that Mercedes is releasing a new series soon - this time, set at the Founding of Valdemar!

I'm so excited to see when the first book, 'Beyond', is going to be released - although I suspect it to be sometime late this year, or early 22, as the book still isn't showing up on Amazon UK, as yet!

I'll be going on to read the next anthology, Pathways, but am happy to know that there'll be a new book some time soon!

Once I finish the anthologies, though, I guess there are always the other series that Mercedes wrote, that are sitting on my To Be Read, shelves, for me to read for the first time!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good anthology for sure, but I do think that I'm a bit tired of the Valdemar stories overall. It has been 30 years since Arrows of the Queen was first released. And I have been reading them fairly consistently since then.

Some of the stories, as in all anthologies, were good and others were ho hum. I was looking forward to the Lackey story at the end, but I found it a bit disjointed and confusing. Didn't help that I had to go look up who a few of the folks were because it's been that long since I read the Darian trilogy. But there was too much to cover in the short story for it to be effective.

[Maureen Caupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading several of Mercedes Lackey's books over the years. So when I saw a collection of short stories by various authors but all set in Lackey's magical realm of Valdemar, I was curious. It turned out to be collection of fun, engaging fantasy stories. Some pulled me right into the world and pulled on my emotions. I wished they could have gone on longer. Others weren't quite as engaging to me and didn't pull me into another world as completely. But overall I found it to be an enjoyable set of fantasy short stories.

[Paleowin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The annoying part of *most* of the reviews of this book is that they could be summed up by writing “I don’t like short stories because they are short and may or may not relate to previous stories”. Sure, I too prefer full length Valdemar books to short stories, but low rating just because you don’t care for or understand the style is misleading and useless as reviews. So, my review is, that most of the short stories are pretty good! Lots of them I’d like to be longer, but that’s how short stories work!

[Daný · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I’d consider myself a Lackey fan, her work of the past decade or so is more often miss than hit. Much of this anthology didn’t read as short stories but as episodes in serial novels that weren’t very comprehensible or fun if you hadn’t read the stories before them recently. As to her own story: why stick to a successful formula and world when you can make things unnecessarily complicated and turn previous well thought-out characters into flat ones. Not my favourite collection. There were certainly some fun parts in it but as a whole it doesn’t do what it promises.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always fun to see how other writers play in an established fantasy word and this book is certainly no exception. Valdemar has a rich history and worlds and characters to go back and visit or to create. There are some fine short stories in this volume that cover Herald's work, Gryphons, and stories before and after the latest Mage Wars/Storms. Really enjoyed myself on this one. Thanks to all the fantasy writers who deepened the lore that Mercedes lackey has created.

[Sanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely to read

This is another title in a series of anthologies inspired by the much beloved classic Valdemar-series.
It's been a while since I read or reread any of these and this anthology was new to me. Still, enjoyable as always. It's like a gust of something old and familiar with something new. I especially enjoyed the last story -naturally. It feels like coming home to read these. Everyone who participates in these - thank you!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before heading back to the novels, I thought I would like to try and catch up on reading more of the short story collections that are in my collection. I thought this one and the following Pathways were full of good stories and love that we are now having recurring characters in the Tales, some of which rank right up there with Lackey’s. And since I had so much fun reading these two, think I will continue in this vein the rest of the month as I still have four I have not read.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy the Valdemar anthologies, but for whatever reason, every story in this volume left me with a 'meh' feeling. None of the stories were bad, and some of them had fairly good premises, but there wasn't a single story which left me wanting to know more about the characters or what happened next.