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Chronicles of Alsea #5
Vellmar the Blade
Lead Guard Fianna Vellmar is the daughter of a champion, trained to handle blades since she was old enough to grip a knife. Her sword skills have caught the eye of Lancer Tal herself, earning a promotion to the most elite warrior unit on Alsea.
With one dream already achieved, Vellmar sets her sights on another: the Global Games. In the annual competition of the world’s best athletes, she aims to prove herself the finest blade handler of all — until a stunning turn of events forces her to choose between life and glory, mercy and pride.
Vellmar became a legend not for winning a championship, but for losing it.
Themes: action · adventure · competition · female warrior · lesbian · strong female characters · warrior
With one dream already achieved, Vellmar sets her sights on another: the Global Games. In the annual competition of the world’s best athletes, she aims to prove herself the finest blade handler of all — until a stunning turn of events forces her to choose between life and glory, mercy and pride.
Vellmar became a legend not for winning a championship, but for losing it.
Themes: action · adventure · competition · female warrior · lesbian · strong female characters · warrior
152 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2016
35 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Fletcher DeLancey
26 books317 followersFletcher DeLancey spent her early career as a science educator, which was the perfect combination of her two great loves: language and science. These days she combines them while writing science fiction.
She is an Oregon expatriate who left her beloved state when she met a Portuguese woman and had to choose between home and heart. She chose heart. Now she lives with her wife and son in the beautiful sunny Algarve, where she writes full-time, teaches Pilates, tries to learn the local birds and plants, and samples every regional Portuguese dish she can get her hands on. (There are many. It’s going to take a while.)
She is best known for her science fiction/fantasy series, Chronicles of Alsea, now comprised of four novels and a novella. Among them, the Alsea books have won an Independent Publisher's Award (2017 bronze medal), a Golden Crown Literary Society Award, a Rainbow Award, and been shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award.
Fletcher believes that women need far more representation in science fiction and fantasy, and takes great pleasure in writing complex stories with strong, believable women heading up the action. Her day is made every time another reader says, “I didn’t think I liked science fiction, but then I read yours.”
She is an Oregon expatriate who left her beloved state when she met a Portuguese woman and had to choose between home and heart. She chose heart. Now she lives with her wife and son in the beautiful sunny Algarve, where she writes full-time, teaches Pilates, tries to learn the local birds and plants, and samples every regional Portuguese dish she can get her hands on. (There are many. It’s going to take a while.)
She is best known for her science fiction/fantasy series, Chronicles of Alsea, now comprised of four novels and a novella. Among them, the Alsea books have won an Independent Publisher's Award (2017 bronze medal), a Golden Crown Literary Society Award, a Rainbow Award, and been shortlisted for a Lambda Literary Award.
Fletcher believes that women need far more representation in science fiction and fantasy, and takes great pleasure in writing complex stories with strong, believable women heading up the action. Her day is made every time another reader says, “I didn’t think I liked science fiction, but then I read yours.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 12, 2018
I usually don’t give five stars to short stories or novellas, because they don’t have the wider scope of a novel. (I did once, due to the affection to old friend characters, but I usually don’t).
But Vellmar the Blade really deserves the full score. I’d like to describe this expanded novella as chiseled, because indeed it seems to me like a compact, delightful, chiseled artwork.
The story is very simple, no more than some episodes in the life of a secondary character, an athletic competition and the events that surround it by Vellmar’s point of view.
There’s no major adventure here, or facing a big crisis, or a great angst.
But everything is meaningful, significant for the characters inner being.
The more I read books, the more I realize that what I really love, as a reader, is depth in characters psychology.
Fletcher DeLancey is very talented in doing that. All her characters, Tal, Salomen, Lanaril, and now Vellmar, have their own personality, tone and color, and they are so richly described!
Also, there’s continuity with the previous books. Tal and Salomen are immediately them, true to their own selves from the previous books. And the mood of Alsea is pretty much the same, in its search for nobility and glory.
And lastly, romance lovers won’t be disappointed…
But Vellmar the Blade really deserves the full score. I’d like to describe this expanded novella as chiseled, because indeed it seems to me like a compact, delightful, chiseled artwork.
The story is very simple, no more than some episodes in the life of a secondary character, an athletic competition and the events that surround it by Vellmar’s point of view.
There’s no major adventure here, or facing a big crisis, or a great angst.
But everything is meaningful, significant for the characters inner being.
The more I read books, the more I realize that what I really love, as a reader, is depth in characters psychology.
Fletcher DeLancey is very talented in doing that. All her characters, Tal, Salomen, Lanaril, and now Vellmar, have their own personality, tone and color, and they are so richly described!
Also, there’s continuity with the previous books. Tal and Salomen are immediately them, true to their own selves from the previous books. And the mood of Alsea is pretty much the same, in its search for nobility and glory.
And lastly, romance lovers won’t be disappointed…
December 14, 2018
Currently re-reading the Alsea series, and had to rethink my review of this one. First, the story telling style is annoying, not sure why it couldn’t have just been written as part of the actual storyline, which would have then also avoided all of the future reveals, which I found annoying (especially the Lancer one).
Second, it suffers from my now having read Outcaste, where Vellmar is not such as shining example of all things good hearted, and I can’t re-read this without that knowledge.
Vellmar’s background is fleshed out here, and the scenes with her family were good and I was more happy to see Lanaril again, as she is a favourite of mine in the Front series, although she wasn't as fleshed out here as she could have been (and I also wish she’d been paired with someone else).
Salomen and Tal also get a fair bit of 'screen time' and aren't just obligatory cameos. As I said before, I could have done without was the Princess Bride type framing of telling a story within a story, and I don’t actually think this adds anything to the on-going series. 3 stars because it’s Fletcher
Second, it suffers from my now having read Outcaste, where Vellmar is not such as shining example of all things good hearted, and I can’t re-read this without that knowledge.
Vellmar’s background is fleshed out here, and the scenes with her family were good and I was more happy to see Lanaril again, as she is a favourite of mine in the Front series, although she wasn't as fleshed out here as she could have been (and I also wish she’d been paired with someone else).
Salomen and Tal also get a fair bit of 'screen time' and aren't just obligatory cameos. As I said before, I could have done without was the Princess Bride type framing of telling a story within a story, and I don’t actually think this adds anything to the on-going series. 3 stars because it’s Fletcher
September 4, 2016
I read Vellmar the Blade a few years ago as an online version and really liked it. This published version has been expanded and polished and I liked it even more. DeLancey skillfully weaves the familiar and completely new characters, thus creating another great story in my beloved series Chronicles of Alsea. In the series order, this is fifth part, while the fourth part (Catalyst) is still in the making. But since Catalyst will deal with two characters from the first part of the series (The Caphenon) -- Ekatya Serrado and Lhyn Rivers -- I guess that the reverse order of reading these two parts will not affect the reading experience. Anyway, this novella is a delight to read just like the rest of the series and I recommend it heartily.
5 stars
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
5 stars
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
August 27, 2016
*I received this book from NetGalley and Ylva Publishing in return for a fair review.*
For better or worse I need to start off with a little unfortunate bit of warning. Though it is one that may or may not already be known(though GoodReads currently is ‘messing’ with people by having the series count wrong). While this specific story is the fifth 'thing' released in this series, which includes the short story Projection, it is actually the sixth 'thing' in the series (including short story), or 5th in series order (not including short story). Meaning that there will be a book published later which slots in, chronologically, before this story here.
There’s a blog post, I believe, that mentions what’s going on – that this was done and ready so it got released. Now I do not know how much of the actual fourth book is getting revealed here, maybe nothing much, but I do keep coming across references to things I have no clue about, so there might be more than ‘nothing much’. So if you can wait until book four is released before reading this here, and care about reading things ‘in order’, then that’d probably be best. Otherwise, this is/was a great story (and, again, ‘nothing much’ might have actually been revealed here – well, beyond the stuff one part of the story was giving away, but I’ll mention that next).
So, after that seriesparagraph section, I move to the structure of this story. There is a bit of ‘Princess Bride’ story telling gimmick going on here, and I specifically mean the part where an older man is telling a story to a kid (two here), nothing more than that. The story alternates – two kids are in bed with a ‘bed time story’ being told to them by their father (grandfather in Princess Bride). The story? Vellmar the Blade.
I’m not specifically sure how far in the future this story is being told, but the way the kids and the father act, their part of the story is far in the future of the events of both Vellmar, and the rest. Their specific part of the story consists of kids mumbling stuff, one or the other talking about how they want warrior like stories, bickering with each other, and the father saying stuff. It was an okay little gimmick, though I could have lived without it. To a certain extent, while it did take me out of the story too much for my own enjoyment/pleasure, it did have an interesting little tidbit of them discussing something that had occurred long ago in a manner subtlety different that what actually had occurred.
The other part of the story is Vellmar’s. And she’s preparing for, then competing in a world games (the kids section called it Global Games or something like that, though I’ve a vague feeling that Vellmar’s people called it something subtlety different).
Vellmar’s section was exciting, thrilling, and, strangely enough, caused a few misty moments on my part. There was a bit of action – sports action, a bit of family interaction, and a tidbit here or there of a tiny bit of romantic stuff (don’t go in looking for that though). Some action with some cats, which, I really enjoyed for maybe obvious reasons (maybe not so obvious reasons).
If only for the romance part, I’d suggest putting this off until the other book appears (though, for all I know, that aspect won’t even get a mention in that book). For all that I love the story, I have to say such. Though I did love it, and if a reader doesn’t mind reading things out of order, I do recommend it, tentatively (it has to be tentatively, since I haven’t read that fourth book yet either).
August 1 2016
For better or worse I need to start off with a little unfortunate bit of warning. Though it is one that may or may not already be known
There’s a blog post, I believe, that mentions what’s going on – that this was done and ready so it got released. Now I do not know how much of the actual fourth book is getting revealed here, maybe nothing much, but I do keep coming across references to things I have no clue about, so there might be more than ‘nothing much’. So if you can wait until book four is released before reading this here, and care about reading things ‘in order’, then that’d probably be best. Otherwise, this is/was a great story (and, again, ‘nothing much’ might have actually been revealed here – well, beyond the stuff one part of the story was giving away, but I’ll mention that next).
So, after that series
I’m not specifically sure how far in the future this story is being told, but the way the kids and the father act, their part of the story is far in the future of the events of both Vellmar, and the rest. Their specific part of the story consists of kids mumbling stuff, one or the other talking about how they want warrior like stories, bickering with each other, and the father saying stuff. It was an okay little gimmick, though I could have lived without it. To a certain extent, while it did take me out of the story too much for my own enjoyment/pleasure, it did have an interesting little tidbit of them discussing something that had occurred long ago in a manner subtlety different that what actually had occurred.
The other part of the story is Vellmar’s. And she’s preparing for, then competing in a world games (the kids section called it Global Games or something like that, though I’ve a vague feeling that Vellmar’s people called it something subtlety different).
Vellmar’s section was exciting, thrilling, and, strangely enough, caused a few misty moments on my part. There was a bit of action – sports action, a bit of family interaction, and a tidbit here or there of a tiny bit of romantic stuff (don’t go in looking for that though). Some action with some cats, which, I really enjoyed for maybe obvious reasons (maybe not so obvious reasons).
If only for the romance part, I’d suggest putting this off until the other book appears (though, for all I know, that aspect won’t even get a mention in that book). For all that I love the story, I have to say such. Though I did love it, and if a reader doesn’t mind reading things out of order, I do recommend it, tentatively (it has to be tentatively, since I haven’t read that fourth book yet either).
August 1 2016
August 28, 2016
This was kind of a placeholder book in the series, which is why it's also out of order (for those of you wondering why you're reading book 5 when book 4 hasn't come out yet). We're following the new Lead Guard, Fianna Vellmar, as she finally enters the Games that she's been avoiding so she doesn't have to compete against her mother. In an interesting twist, we also hear bits of the story as told by a father to his children centuries after the events have occurred. I found that an enjoyable addition, because we get to see how time has changed how some things are remembered. The story is an interesting further look into life on Alsea, showing us even more about the culture and relationships on this world. While entertaining, it doesn't actually sate the appetite for more stories, simply whets it more. We also get some intriguing hints about things that occur around this time, and in the future for our beloved characters. So yes, this is an excellent addition to the Chronicles, but we definitely want more.
August 20, 2016
Very much a complimentary story in the Chronicles of Alsea series, Vellmar the Blade focuses primarily on the titular character, Fianna Vellmar, the Lead Guard for Lancer Andira Tal. The story is set during the Global Games, Alsea's version of the Olympics, and follows Vellmar's path through the games, spending some time developing her friendships, family relationships, and a romance along the way.
While not as long as The Caphenon or the Without a Front duology, this book covers a fair amount of ground in its 139 pages and makes use of a very creative device to cut some length from the story; if you've seen The Princess Bride, it's a device you're probably familiar with. Between each of the main story's chapters, there's a mini-chapter in which a father tells his children a bedtime story: the story of Vellmar the Blade. It's a touching little slice of life that allows the author to cover a lot of ground, time-wise, with very few pages by using the father's storytelling to creatively parcel out exposition. DeLancey literally tells you rather than shows you, and she somehow manages to make it every bit as entertaining as the main event. It never comes off as a contrivance, which is a neat trick!
The only complaint I have with this novella is that it wasn't a novel. There are worse things than having been left wanting more, though, and there's another full-length novel on the way. Well worth the time for anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the Chronicles of Alsea series. As an added bonus, my Kindle copy came bundled with the Projection short story, which is also set in Alsea. It was previously (and presumably still is) available on the Ylva website, but it's nice to have an official version of it available for those of us who buy from Amazon.
5 stars, though does require knowledge of the previous books to understand what's going on.
While not as long as The Caphenon or the Without a Front duology, this book covers a fair amount of ground in its 139 pages and makes use of a very creative device to cut some length from the story; if you've seen The Princess Bride, it's a device you're probably familiar with. Between each of the main story's chapters, there's a mini-chapter in which a father tells his children a bedtime story: the story of Vellmar the Blade. It's a touching little slice of life that allows the author to cover a lot of ground, time-wise, with very few pages by using the father's storytelling to creatively parcel out exposition. DeLancey literally tells you rather than shows you, and she somehow manages to make it every bit as entertaining as the main event. It never comes off as a contrivance, which is a neat trick!
The only complaint I have with this novella is that it wasn't a novel. There are worse things than having been left wanting more, though, and there's another full-length novel on the way. Well worth the time for anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the Chronicles of Alsea series. As an added bonus, my Kindle copy came bundled with the Projection short story, which is also set in Alsea. It was previously (and presumably still is) available on the Ylva website, but it's nice to have an official version of it available for those of us who buy from Amazon.
5 stars, though does require knowledge of the previous books to understand what's going on.
August 17, 2016
Vellmar the Blade is the fifth book in the Chronicles of Alsea series. Unlike the other books, this is told in the form of a 'bedtime story' for kids, presumably set in an unspecified Alsean future where the name Vellmar draws pure adulation from Alsean kids and her exploits are the stuff legends are made of.
Because this is set in a time in the far future when Vellmar is a legendary figure instead of a lowly guard, it serves as a kind of epilogue to the entire series. At the same time, it gives us a vignette of Vellmar's life that shows a very human and compassionate side of her that's different from the famous warrior's military exploits, similar to those 'Honest Abe' anecdotes that get repeated for posterity.
There is also an added element: a surprising love story that was started sometime in the past (not in the current book), effectively aborted, and continued here. The thing is, one of the characters involved is an important figure in Alsea, who was developed in the first book in such a way as to imply that she might be getting her own story. And since that hasn't happened yet (in the published books 2 and 3), and being that Vellmar is book 5, there's a big possibility that it's happening in Book 4, which hasn't been published yet. If it doesn't, I would be sorely disappointed. But if it does, then it's just been completely spoiled by the current book, which settles that bit of unfinished business.
Personally, if I had known, I would have chosen to wait and read the books in their correct chronological order, the better to appreciate the nuances of that relationship. However, avid fans who can't wait to get back into the world of Alsea can pick this up and have their fill, but know that this isn't just a 'filler' book, but possibly the ending to an amazing series.
4.4 stars
ARC from Netgalley
Because this is set in a time in the far future when Vellmar is a legendary figure instead of a lowly guard, it serves as a kind of epilogue to the entire series. At the same time, it gives us a vignette of Vellmar's life that shows a very human and compassionate side of her that's different from the famous warrior's military exploits, similar to those 'Honest Abe' anecdotes that get repeated for posterity.
There is also an added element: a surprising love story that was started sometime in the past (not in the current book), effectively aborted, and continued here. The thing is, one of the characters involved is an important figure in Alsea, who was developed in the first book in such a way as to imply that she might be getting her own story. And since that hasn't happened yet (in the published books 2 and 3), and being that Vellmar is book 5, there's a big possibility that it's happening in Book 4, which hasn't been published yet. If it doesn't, I would be sorely disappointed. But if it does, then it's just been completely spoiled by the current book, which settles that bit of unfinished business.
Personally, if I had known, I would have chosen to wait and read the books in their correct chronological order, the better to appreciate the nuances of that relationship. However, avid fans who can't wait to get back into the world of Alsea can pick this up and have their fill, but know that this isn't just a 'filler' book, but possibly the ending to an amazing series.
4.4 stars
ARC from Netgalley
July 24, 2016
I very much enjoyed the character of Vellmar in the previous book and was happy to read more about her and her family. And I loved the way it was told and the little girl, who I so want to see in a future book set 15 years into the future because she's going to make a fantastic warrior!
August 24, 2016
I was so happy to be immersed once again in the world of Alsea when I started this book. It was great to be reunited with favorite characters such as Lancer Tal and Salomen. This is a story, however, of Lead Guard Vellmar, who intrigued me in the previous books with her blade-wielding skills. This was such a wonderful read and pleasantly surprised me with her would-be future achievements (won't say more as this would be a spoiler). I just wish that this was a novel-length book because I can never get enough of this series. But I'll take anything that is offered :) Can't wait to read the next installment!
September 10, 2017
I loved this just as much as the rest of Fletcher Delancey's books. It's a great story.
February 15, 2017
*ARC provided by Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for an honest review*
There is only one word needed to descibe this book, brilliant!
Now while it might only need one word, I am going to ask you to allow me a few more to desciribe my personal experience with it becuase it is definitely something to experience.
I am not really a huge fan of Sci-fi and When I saw this book being offered for review on Netgalley my first instinct was to ignore but then i went to read the reviews of the other books in the series and I thought to myself, "So many people can't be wrong.", so I went back and put in a request...
I can happily say, with tail between my legs, that I have been humbled. You might have picked up from earlier that I haven't read the first four books in this series and you might think to yourself, " How can you be so sure that this is a good series if you have only read the most recent one?", well you would be right to ask that question.
The answer is this: I started reading this book with no prior knowlegde of the world that had been created by Fletcher DeLancey in her prior books and even with her foreign words, that at first meant nothing to me, I was completly enthralled by a story that she had barely begun to weave (and by barely I mean page one).
It is not easy to create not only a new world, but words and customs and foods that are unique to that world. I know a lot of people will say that all she did was base those things on our everyday experieces, and they are right but then i have to ask the question; aren't all of our imaginations based on our daily experiances?
DeLancey didn't just sprinkle a few random words here and there, she started to create an Alsean dialect, and anyone who has read Tolken and knows how he went about creating the Elfen and Dwarfish languages, or who has even watched Game of Thrones will be able to appreciate work put in. Not only that but you will be able to appreciate the way the story is written, so as to not confuse the reader with too much explanation or or lose you altogether by using too many foreign words that require you to keep flipping to the glossary.
If this doesn't make you want to read it then read it for the characters because the author has done such a fantastic job developing them that they are entities to be raved about on their own.
If you get anything from this painfully long endorsement, let it be this: Read The Chronicles of Alsea series!!!
There is only one word needed to descibe this book, brilliant!
Now while it might only need one word, I am going to ask you to allow me a few more to desciribe my personal experience with it becuase it is definitely something to experience.
I am not really a huge fan of Sci-fi and When I saw this book being offered for review on Netgalley my first instinct was to ignore but then i went to read the reviews of the other books in the series and I thought to myself, "So many people can't be wrong.", so I went back and put in a request...
I can happily say, with tail between my legs, that I have been humbled. You might have picked up from earlier that I haven't read the first four books in this series and you might think to yourself, " How can you be so sure that this is a good series if you have only read the most recent one?", well you would be right to ask that question.
The answer is this: I started reading this book with no prior knowlegde of the world that had been created by Fletcher DeLancey in her prior books and even with her foreign words, that at first meant nothing to me, I was completly enthralled by a story that she had barely begun to weave (and by barely I mean page one).
It is not easy to create not only a new world, but words and customs and foods that are unique to that world. I know a lot of people will say that all she did was base those things on our everyday experieces, and they are right but then i have to ask the question; aren't all of our imaginations based on our daily experiances?
DeLancey didn't just sprinkle a few random words here and there, she started to create an Alsean dialect, and anyone who has read Tolken and knows how he went about creating the Elfen and Dwarfish languages, or who has even watched Game of Thrones will be able to appreciate work put in. Not only that but you will be able to appreciate the way the story is written, so as to not confuse the reader with too much explanation or or lose you altogether by using too many foreign words that require you to keep flipping to the glossary.
If this doesn't make you want to read it then read it for the characters because the author has done such a fantastic job developing them that they are entities to be raved about on their own.
If you get anything from this painfully long endorsement, let it be this: Read The Chronicles of Alsea series!!!
September 5, 2016
Vellmar the Blade is a wonderful novella that's part of the Chronicles of Alsea, but can absolutely be read as a standalone piece.
Fianna Vellmar is lead guard to Lancer Andira Tal, taking her first shot at the global games. She's never entered the games before, not wanting to face her mother, the current and long-reigning champion at blade throwing. She's so close to the champion's spot that she can almost see it when her fate comes down to a split-second decision.
While I loved reading about Vellmar, having fallen for her in Without a Front, even more than that I loved that this is a story about storytelling. We go back and forth between a man telling his children at bedtime about Vellmar's legend and the events as they happened in real time. We see how facts become massaged over the years, so that the eventual story is a far cry from the original events. It's cleverly done, and also allows the author to present a tighter story because any of the less relevant scenes are skipped as we go between Vellmar's present and the bedtime storytelling future.
My only complaint is that I could easily read a full-length novel or three about Vellmar, and I hope we see more because I did a happy dance when a couple of details about her future were dropped.
I highly recommend Vellmar the Blade to anyone who wants a fast, gentle, fun read.
I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
Fianna Vellmar is lead guard to Lancer Andira Tal, taking her first shot at the global games. She's never entered the games before, not wanting to face her mother, the current and long-reigning champion at blade throwing. She's so close to the champion's spot that she can almost see it when her fate comes down to a split-second decision.
While I loved reading about Vellmar, having fallen for her in Without a Front, even more than that I loved that this is a story about storytelling. We go back and forth between a man telling his children at bedtime about Vellmar's legend and the events as they happened in real time. We see how facts become massaged over the years, so that the eventual story is a far cry from the original events. It's cleverly done, and also allows the author to present a tighter story because any of the less relevant scenes are skipped as we go between Vellmar's present and the bedtime storytelling future.
My only complaint is that I could easily read a full-length novel or three about Vellmar, and I hope we see more because I did a happy dance when a couple of details about her future were dropped.
I highly recommend Vellmar the Blade to anyone who wants a fast, gentle, fun read.
I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.
August 13, 2016
Fletcher DeLancey’s Alsea series is wonderful. Brilliant world building, well -done scifi, excellent stories and absolutely top class characters who have already become our friends.
"Vellmar the Blade" tells the story of Lead Guard Vellmar’s first Alsean ‘Olympics’ through the narration of a children’s bedtime story. It continues the world building by giving us more insight into Alsean society, while deepening and extending our knowledge of one of the secondary players.
DeLancey’s cast is wide and yet she manages to give them all depth, from the children listening to the protagonists visiting brother. Her writing engages us with the people, makes them real, and thus involves us in their lives. All our MC’s appear, however briefly, and we see another slice of their history and personal interactions, again adding depth to our sense of familiarity.
In the end this is actually a parable for the children; how losing can be more noble than winning, while for us its an insight into the past, and the future, of the Lancer of Alsea.
For me these books rank up there with McCaffrey’s Pern, and I hope they will build into just such a substantial series.
"Vellmar the Blade" tells the story of Lead Guard Vellmar’s first Alsean ‘Olympics’ through the narration of a children’s bedtime story. It continues the world building by giving us more insight into Alsean society, while deepening and extending our knowledge of one of the secondary players.
DeLancey’s cast is wide and yet she manages to give them all depth, from the children listening to the protagonists visiting brother. Her writing engages us with the people, makes them real, and thus involves us in their lives. All our MC’s appear, however briefly, and we see another slice of their history and personal interactions, again adding depth to our sense of familiarity.
In the end this is actually a parable for the children; how losing can be more noble than winning, while for us its an insight into the past, and the future, of the Lancer of Alsea.
For me these books rank up there with McCaffrey’s Pern, and I hope they will build into just such a substantial series.
April 9, 2018
This is a fun, light read, but doesn't live up to its action-packed predecessors in the series. It is framed as a bedtime story being told to children generations after the facts of the story, but the actual story concerns characters from the first four Caphenon books. I dislike this framing, because it removes all the potency of not knowing the outcome of any given part of the plot. Compared to the other books in the series, this little novella is not bad, but it is a bit of a disappointment. But the information in it is important before you read Outcaste.
July 18, 2017
Wow, so glad Fletcher gave us a sneak peak into Vellmar, but now I need more Alsea. And have so many new questions about Lancer Tal and Lead Templar Lanaril. Not sure which one I like more. But since more books are coming I can just dream about them both. Thank You Fletcher for the stories and characters.
March 11, 2018
This a pretty good story and a good laugh.
It gives a lot of insight on a secondary character and that was truly enjoyable.
I just can't help but wish the romance part of arc had been more... more ;)
It gives a lot of insight on a secondary character and that was truly enjoyable.
I just can't help but wish the romance part of arc had been more... more ;)
September 25, 2016
I just finished this book and I have to say, Vellmar the Blade is a lovely counter piece to the earlier, more intense trilogy from the Alsea universe. If you want a taste of the world that this author has built for us, but you don’t feel ready for an epic adventure with angst, devious villains, fight scenes, moral dilemmas and an intense romance – then start with this novella instead.
That’s not to say this novella isn’t thrilling in its own right! It has an Olympic-style competition, a skilled warrior competing AND it sees more of the multifaceted relationships that we have seen in The Caphenon, Without a front: The Producer’s Challenge and Without a front: The Warrior’s Challenge. It is however a lot gentler and I think it brings more comedy, as well as an insight into what Alsea is like when it’s not at war or in political disarray.
Read it for the great characters, read it for the beautiful prose, read it for the underlying sexual tension or you know, just read it for the kittens. But do read it.
That’s not to say this novella isn’t thrilling in its own right! It has an Olympic-style competition, a skilled warrior competing AND it sees more of the multifaceted relationships that we have seen in The Caphenon, Without a front: The Producer’s Challenge and Without a front: The Warrior’s Challenge. It is however a lot gentler and I think it brings more comedy, as well as an insight into what Alsea is like when it’s not at war or in political disarray.
Read it for the great characters, read it for the beautiful prose, read it for the underlying sexual tension or you know, just read it for the kittens. But do read it.
January 14, 2022
A different kind of Alsea book
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: full-time writer, out of your comfort zone, unusual job, non-human characters, not a romance, butch character; UNICORN: second generation, faith (?) (Other categories might apply.)
DeLancey used yet another approach with this fifth book. The chapters alternated with a future setting, where the ensemble characters had "returned," and as "bedtime story" about one of the returned to children in the future. Also, it was primarily focused on one character instead of the usual ensemble. It was quite interesting that the storytelling methods had changed a few times.
All of that being said, it was another great read. I'm not totally clear on the significance of the future part (was it passed down through generations of one family, was it the story of a hero, or both?) I can't recall what was mentioned, if it was at all.
I liked the character of Vellmar clear back when she was introduced as a participant in the war, and I was happy to have her return as part of the ensemble. I hope that we'll get more time with the original "gang," but it will also be interesting to see where the series goes either way.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: full-time writer, out of your comfort zone, unusual job, non-human characters, not a romance, butch character; UNICORN: second generation, faith (?) (Other categories might apply.)
DeLancey used yet another approach with this fifth book. The chapters alternated with a future setting, where the ensemble characters had "returned," and as "bedtime story" about one of the returned to children in the future. Also, it was primarily focused on one character instead of the usual ensemble. It was quite interesting that the storytelling methods had changed a few times.
All of that being said, it was another great read. I'm not totally clear on the significance of the future part (was it passed down through generations of one family, was it the story of a hero, or both?) I can't recall what was mentioned, if it was at all.
I liked the character of Vellmar clear back when she was introduced as a participant in the war, and I was happy to have her return as part of the ensemble. I hope that we'll get more time with the original "gang," but it will also be interesting to see where the series goes either way.
May 10, 2021
I really enjoyed this update!! We've seen more and more of Vellmar in the previous few books and she's a character I liked from the start so I was excited to get a story focused on her. It's a shorter book compared to the previous ones in the series but it feels very complete/satisfying and avoids all the common pitfalls of novellas. I thought the format of framing the story as a bedtime story being told far in the future was a cool narrative choice and it worked really well, plus it was fun to get a few little hints about some future events. No matter my headspace when I start reading these books, I'm always completely sucked in and once I start I have a hard time stopping. Read this in one sitting. :D
January 1, 2017
Loved it
I have enjoyed this series and can't wait for more stories of Alsea and the powerful women who inhabit the planet. Though this story ends sounding like the finality of the series, I hope to be reading more of Lancer Tal, Salomen, Ekatya, Lhyn as well as Lanarial and Vellmar. Strong, confident and fiercely loyal women ready and willing to fight for what they believe and who they love.
I have enjoyed this series and can't wait for more stories of Alsea and the powerful women who inhabit the planet. Though this story ends sounding like the finality of the series, I hope to be reading more of Lancer Tal, Salomen, Ekatya, Lhyn as well as Lanarial and Vellmar. Strong, confident and fiercely loyal women ready and willing to fight for what they believe and who they love.
October 12, 2018
Oh stars, my heart!!! This was such a wonderful and fun story. I just wish it were longer instead of being a novella! Vellmar was an instant favorite for me after she showed up earlier in this series, and everything about this was just so perfect and lovely??? The reveals about her future! The vallcats! The romance! Ugh, I want a full novel! I can only hope one may be coming eventually.
September 6, 2018
That was a pretty quick and entertaining read. I hadn't really connected with Vellmar before this but the story was written in a great engaging, and quite different, way.
Parts of the book, the reminiscing particularly, made me feel sad to realise what was over but for what it was, the book was a thumbs up from me.
Parts of the book, the reminiscing particularly, made me feel sad to realise what was over but for what it was, the book was a thumbs up from me.
July 31, 2021
How can I finish each book in this series and say "this is my favorite"? Yet I do. This short book gives us the story we needed on Vellmar. Family history, her determination, her heart, everything we need to see the whole warrior. Thank you Fletcher DeLancey
August 6, 2023
This was an odd novella. It didn't really have much to add the overall storyline and had some weird timing (a bedtime story from the future essentially with some reveals). But I did like getting to know more about this character and it was a cute story.
April 12, 2024
“....and Lead Templar Satran was watching you. I saw it, VC. She was watching you like she had never seen you before. Like she had just realized she made a mistake.”
this was a much needed escape from the emotional damage i got from the previous book lmao. i had fun reading this
this was a much needed escape from the emotional damage i got from the previous book lmao. i had fun reading this
November 26, 2018
Another great character and story from a fantastic fantasy writer with strong a strong woman as the hero.
July 7, 2019
A very fast read. Charming in its way, but I didn’t much need the frame story. The romance feels kind of perfunctory. I was only surprised they didn’t turn out to be divine tyrees, again.
July 28, 2019
A fun read that fills in background stories for a couple of characters. Nicely done.
October 8, 2020
Amazing
Well written, have loved all your books so far. Read this one in one night, couldn’t put it down, awesome
Well written, have loved all your books so far. Read this one in one night, couldn’t put it down, awesome
September 5, 2021
more tea sis
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