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Valdemar (Chronological) #25-27
Exiles of Valdemar
EXILE’S HONOR – follows the story of Alberich, the youngest captain in the army of Karse with a secret special power of foresight. When he is injured in battle, he is unwillingly taken to Valdemar and begins training as a Herald. He switches allegiances and joins in the battles against Karse.
EXILE’S VALOR – Alberich falls in love with another female Herald, Myste, and struggling to keep track of Valdemar’s enemies in his new position as Weaponsmaster. This book also tracks the early years of the very young, new queen of Valdemar, Selenay.
TAKE A THIEF – This book reveals the untold story of Skif, the popular character of Lackey’s first book, Arrows of the Queen. Skif is a homeless pickpocket until he is chosen to become a Herald for the queen. However, one day he returns to his new home where he is training to find that it has been burnt down and his comrades and mentor dead. He teams up with Alberich, the Weaponsmaster and protagonist from the EXILE books to take revenge on the criminal who killed his friends and becomes a hero of Valdemar.
EXILE’S VALOR – Alberich falls in love with another female Herald, Myste, and struggling to keep track of Valdemar’s enemies in his new position as Weaponsmaster. This book also tracks the early years of the very young, new queen of Valdemar, Selenay.
TAKE A THIEF – This book reveals the untold story of Skif, the popular character of Lackey’s first book, Arrows of the Queen. Skif is a homeless pickpocket until he is chosen to become a Herald for the queen. However, one day he returns to his new home where he is training to find that it has been burnt down and his comrades and mentor dead. He teams up with Alberich, the Weaponsmaster and protagonist from the EXILE books to take revenge on the criminal who killed his friends and becomes a hero of Valdemar.
912 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2018
26 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
432 books9,556 followersMercedes 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
"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
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 1, 2025
Exile and Thief
In my teen years, I devoured the Valdemar books after I read The Queen’s Own trilogy for the first time and I decided late last year to revisit all the books for nostalgia’s sake. Some of the books that have been written and published since I first read books set in this world were a new discovery for me and I enjoyed some more than others and in my reading/revisiting journey I’m coming across books that I forgot that I really enjoyed. Exile’s Honor and Valor and Take a Thief were some of the books that are set in this world that I forgot I really enjoyed. I especially liked getting some of the scenes from Selenay’s pov in Exile’s Honor and seeing her thought process and character growth.
In my teen years, I devoured the Valdemar books after I read The Queen’s Own trilogy for the first time and I decided late last year to revisit all the books for nostalgia’s sake. Some of the books that have been written and published since I first read books set in this world were a new discovery for me and I enjoyed some more than others and in my reading/revisiting journey I’m coming across books that I forgot that I really enjoyed. Exile’s Honor and Valor and Take a Thief were some of the books that are set in this world that I forgot I really enjoyed. I especially liked getting some of the scenes from Selenay’s pov in Exile’s Honor and seeing her thought process and character growth.
September 28, 2022
Beloved
There are books and series which fill your heart, who's characters live in your heart and mind. The Heralds of Valdemar are in mine.
There are books and series which fill your heart, who's characters live in your heart and mind. The Heralds of Valdemar are in mine.
October 14, 2018
Actually three books in one: Exile's honor, Exile's valor, and Take a thief. Written later than the Heralds of Valdemar series but takes place prior to those events. Enjoyed re-reading and it had been such a while it was like a new look at the background to the characters of Alberich and Skif who later make an impact in the Heralds series. More and more I enjoy the author's world building skills, and to be honest it is hard to pick up other books from my pile when I sort of want to stay in that world.
August 15, 2022
J'ai adoré découvrir l'histoire d'Alberich, le Maître d'Armes du Collegium. On en apprend beaucoup sur son passé dans les deux premiers tomes. On apprends également comment est mort le père de Selenney (la Reine de Valdemar dans toutes les trilogies qui suivent) et comment est mort son mari.
Dans le troisième tome, on en apprend plus sur l'histoire de Skif, un personnage présent dans la Trilogie des Hérauts de Valdemar et dans la Trilogie des Vents. Mais il me semble que quelques détails changent par rapport à ce qui nous est dit de son passé dans la Tri3des Hérauts de Valdemar...
Dans le troisième tome, on en apprend plus sur l'histoire de Skif, un personnage présent dans la Trilogie des Hérauts de Valdemar et dans la Trilogie des Vents. Mais il me semble que quelques détails changent par rapport à ce qui nous est dit de son passé dans la Tri3des Hérauts de Valdemar...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2019
This is an omnibus edition eBook with Exile's Honor, Exile's Valor and Take a Thief.
The first two books tell the story of Alberich the Karsite captain who becomes the weaponsmaster for the Heralds of Valdemar who are the hereditary enemies of Karse. How is Alberich to keep his honor in a country not his own? And how can he contribute to his new home?
The final story in this collection tells us the life of Skiff, an orphan who takes to thievery to survive.
The first two books tell the story of Alberich the Karsite captain who becomes the weaponsmaster for the Heralds of Valdemar who are the hereditary enemies of Karse. How is Alberich to keep his honor in a country not his own? And how can he contribute to his new home?
The final story in this collection tells us the life of Skiff, an orphan who takes to thievery to survive.
July 2, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
It starts with the story of a young Captain Alberich and how he came to be chosen. It leads through his first few years - the Tedrel Wars, the death of King Sendar, Seleney’s marriage and the birth of Elspeth.
The third book focuses on Skif - a young thief - how he survives life on the streets before being Chosen
It starts with the story of a young Captain Alberich and how he came to be chosen. It leads through his first few years - the Tedrel Wars, the death of King Sendar, Seleney’s marriage and the birth of Elspeth.
The third book focuses on Skif - a young thief - how he survives life on the streets before being Chosen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2023
I really like this author's writting, and the character development and World building is amazing!
We were first introduced to Heralds Alberich and Skif in "The Heralds of Valdemar" series first book "Arrows of the Queen" but here we saw how it all began for them, their humble begginings, individual struggles and allegiances, and how they became Heralds!
I recomend this series, to everyone!
We were first introduced to Heralds Alberich and Skif in "The Heralds of Valdemar" series first book "Arrows of the Queen" but here we saw how it all began for them, their humble begginings, individual struggles and allegiances, and how they became Heralds!
I recomend this series, to everyone!
March 28, 2019
Brilliant
I found it filled in so many gaps and explained why the Heralds valued both Alberich and Skif so highly.
I found it filled in so many gaps and explained why the Heralds valued both Alberich and Skif so highly.
November 27, 2019
Delightful
I have given this book 5 Stars as I always enjoy them and no matter how many times I have read them, I find them well crafted and delightful.
I have given this book 5 Stars as I always enjoy them and no matter how many times I have read them, I find them well crafted and delightful.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews