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Tales of Valdemar #16
Shenanigans
This sixteenth anthology of short stories set in the beloved Valdemar universe features tales by debut and established authors and a brand-new story from Lackey herself.
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.
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.
336 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2022
88 people are currently reading
3670 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 13, 2023
Another great collection of Valdemar stories, many are funny or lighthearted. They cover many different aspects of life and even time periods.
May 20, 2023
Mixed bag. Some good and some ordinary. But all stories about Valdemar are welcome.
January 2, 2023
Generally, this is a good collection of stories set in the world of the Heralds of Valdemar but I have to admit that it did not work for me. I get that the stories are about tricks and "shenanigans" but the theme really grated on me from about the halfway mark. While these stories aren't interconnected, it did make me puzzled that we had a whole bunch of stories about prank day or similar at the Collegium. Each one kind of implied that there had been no prank days for so long and then they brought it back, which just made me question what the timelines were and what I was reading. True, they could have each been set after a long dry spell because the last prank day was a nightmare, but it got a little tired as far as a story for me to read. By the time the last one rolled around, I was thinking "another prank story?"
I also found that a lot of the stories needed more context. Sure, they are short stories. Sure, we should be familiar with the world of the characters. But in some cases, it has been a very long time since some of these major characters featured and some our memories (i.e. mine) are not as good as they once were for names and the like. I also think that, with the number of short story collections, it's hard to keep track of which characters were in previous stories because there are just so many to go back to.
As with all short story collections, there were some that I truly enjoyed that would have rated higher than a 3 star. There were also some that rated lower.
If you are a fan of the Valdemar series and have enjoyed the short story anthologies to date, you'll likely enjoy this one.
*Received ARC via NetGalley.
I also found that a lot of the stories needed more context. Sure, they are short stories. Sure, we should be familiar with the world of the characters. But in some cases, it has been a very long time since some of these major characters featured and some our memories (i.e. mine) are not as good as they once were for names and the like. I also think that, with the number of short story collections, it's hard to keep track of which characters were in previous stories because there are just so many to go back to.
As with all short story collections, there were some that I truly enjoyed that would have rated higher than a 3 star. There were also some that rated lower.
If you are a fan of the Valdemar series and have enjoyed the short story anthologies to date, you'll likely enjoy this one.
*Received ARC via NetGalley.
February 23, 2023
I always look forward to visiting Valdemar and usually I am not disappointed in the storytelling. Not so with this book of anthologies written by accomplished authors who obviously love the land of Valdemar as much as many of us. Many of the stories felt like repeats of other stories in the book, just different characters. How many Trainee practical jokesters do we need? I found myself struggling to get though this book, not feeling for any of the protagonists and will wait for a full novel from the master herself, Mercedes Lackey.
July 11, 2024
One of the weaker Valdemar anthologies. A couple stories were decent, but the rest were barely readable.
November 2, 2023
Received as a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
The first few stories were, I think, maybe a little less good than the others, but not by very much. If anything, the overall quality was really very high and inclines me to borrow or purchase earlier and future entries in the Valdemar Anthologies series.
Some of these authors are at least somewhat familiar names to me, some all new, and I do look forward to following their careers elsewhere where possible.
Full rate :):)
The first few stories were, I think, maybe a little less good than the others, but not by very much. If anything, the overall quality was really very high and inclines me to borrow or purchase earlier and future entries in the Valdemar Anthologies series.
Some of these authors are at least somewhat familiar names to me, some all new, and I do look forward to following their careers elsewhere where possible.
Full rate :):)
December 1, 2022
What a breath of fresh air reading fantasy that is light and fun! Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar has a very classic fairytale world feeling about it. In this collection, we often follow scrappy, exuberant heroes on fun adventures. If you want some good animal companions, this anthology has got you covered. Each story introduces you to a different cast of characters and different setting within the broader Valdemar world.
My personal favorite short stories in the collection are the school-time “Fool’s Weekend” and “The Companion Sting,” a caper.
This anthology presents the perfect chance to either get re-immersed in Valdemar or to get a birds-eye view of it for the first time. I really enjoyed the reading experience.
Many thanks to DAW and Netgalley for this e-ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
My personal favorite short stories in the collection are the school-time “Fool’s Weekend” and “The Companion Sting,” a caper.
This anthology presents the perfect chance to either get re-immersed in Valdemar or to get a birds-eye view of it for the first time. I really enjoyed the reading experience.
Many thanks to DAW and Netgalley for this e-ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 7, 2022
Shenanigans is another good addition to the treasury of Valdemar tales.
I found a couple stories less able to hold my complete interest than others, and a few were wonderful. I was also delighted to return to familiar friends like the Dann family (by Fiona Patton).
Anthologies are almost by definition a mixed bag of stories usually developed around a theme and this one is no different. Reading enjoyment as with so many things in life is subjective. We all have preferences and opinions.
I think this has a bit of something for everyone and would definitely recommend it.
I received this ARC from DAW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#Valdemar #Shenanigans #NetGalley
I found a couple stories less able to hold my complete interest than others, and a few were wonderful. I was also delighted to return to familiar friends like the Dann family (by Fiona Patton).
Anthologies are almost by definition a mixed bag of stories usually developed around a theme and this one is no different. Reading enjoyment as with so many things in life is subjective. We all have preferences and opinions.
I think this has a bit of something for everyone and would definitely recommend it.
I received this ARC from DAW and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
#Valdemar #Shenanigans #NetGalley
September 25, 2022
A lively collection of stories that reunite us with familiar characters from previous collections.
All my favorites are here and new stories and characters to love. And of course the theme holds true. I would save this book for times when you need a laugh to get out of your deep thoughts.
The Collegium features heavily as a place that pranks should be and would be expected as the youngest learn the steadiness of their new roles.
Bards, Healers, and Heralds all feature heavily in this, as do Companions who can certainly contribute, and do here, to the Shenanigans.
Another great collection, highly recommended.
All my favorites are here and new stories and characters to love. And of course the theme holds true. I would save this book for times when you need a laugh to get out of your deep thoughts.
The Collegium features heavily as a place that pranks should be and would be expected as the youngest learn the steadiness of their new roles.
Bards, Healers, and Heralds all feature heavily in this, as do Companions who can certainly contribute, and do here, to the Shenanigans.
Another great collection, highly recommended.
December 24, 2022
Last week’s Into the West – and Beyond before it – focused on the very serious adventure of the Founding of Valdemar. Kordas Valdemar and Company’s epic journey gave series fans a much better idea of just how much blood, sweat and tears went into the creation of the place that we all love. But that’s certainly not all there is to Valdemar.
Shenanigans, the sixteenth book in the Tales of Valdemar subseries (after last year’s Boundaries), presents series readers with a treat of a present for this holiday season, as the stories within are exactly what the title names them – shenanigans.
While there’s a bit of derring-do, Shenanigans is a collection of marvelous, funny and often marvelously funny stories set in all the periods of Valdemar history among all of the many peoples and creatures that make the place so much fun to read about for so many glorious years.
In spite of the blurb, most of the stories in Shenanigans do not revolve around the Companions and their Chosen. Some do, of course, or it wouldn’t be a Valdemar collection, but quite a few of the shenanigans in the collection thereof are more slice of life stories, and there are a fair number that feature people with telepathic “gifts” that are not Chosen and may not even wish to be.
Of course, there are also several stories set among the students of the Collegium, because, well, students and pranking make for a fun story no matter what world they’re set in.
Which leads to my two favorite stories in the collection, “Pranks for the Memories” by Dee Shull and “Fool’s Week” by Anthea Sharp. The stories are similar, but they are still both excellent. It’s spring. The students are restless. (Probably every teacher everywhere is nodding their head at THAT idea). In “Pranks” one student mentions a family tradition of a week of pranking. In “Fool’s Week”, someone remembers that there used to be a traditional “fool’s week” at the Collegium until the practice, not unsurprisingly, got out of hand.
It’s suddenly in hand again, to the point where even the teachers are participating. And it’s hilarious!
The other standouts – at least for this reader – come in pairs. “All Around the Bell Tower” by Stephanie Shaver and “A Bouquet of Gifts, or The Culinary Adventures of Rork” by Michele Lang. Both are stories about young girls who have gifts that the people around them can’t quite identify – and that give them each more than a few problems. What each child needs is someone to both listen and understand. The story in “Bell Tower” is a bit more traditional Valdemar in that it’s her Companion that finally brings help in the persons of both themself and their accompanying Heralds. In “A Bouquet of Gifts” we get a much fuller than usual portrait of the helpful hertasi as Rork the chef, as he sets up a feast for a returning friend, also makes a new one – along with a menagerie of mischievously ‘helpful’ creatures and animals.
We saw a lot of the hertasi in Into the West and it’s lovely to see them again here.
And then there are the two stories that include both romance and adventure in equal measure – if on nearly opposite ends of the socioeconomic strata. “A Cry of Hounds” by Elisabeth Waters and “One Trick Pony” by Diana Paxson. “Hounds” is set in the King’s Court of Valdemar. Lord Repulsive’s father is dead, and Lord Repulsive himself is trying to marry off his 12-year-old stepdaughter. In reality, he’s selling his 12-year-old stepdaughter and trying to keep the King from finding out that the child is only 12. Because he will not approve the marriage once he learns, and he will not be amused when he discovers the deception. And he is not. Lord Repulsive gets what’s coming to him with the help of his castoff brother, his sister-in-law and every dog she talks to with her AnimalSpeech. And he deserves every bit of it. (Lord Repulsive really is repulsive. It’s not his real name but “if the shoe fits” or in this case, more like “if the Foo shits”…)
Last but not least there’s, Diana Paxson’s “One Trick Pony”, which mixes a bit of the bittersweet memory of heartbreak and the horrors of war into its story about a man who has found peace after grief and war by gardening, and the way that peace is invaded by a woman who reopens his heart and a newly born Companion who is learning the limits of their own power one prank at a time.
Escape Rating B: After the necessary seriousness of Into the West, the mostly lighthearted tales of Shenanigans were an absolute delight. As with most collections, not every single story hits its mark, but more than enough of them to make Shenanigans a treat for Valdemar fans. Certainly something to tide us all over as we wait for Gryphon in Light, coming in June.
Originally published at Reading Reality
Shenanigans, the sixteenth book in the Tales of Valdemar subseries (after last year’s Boundaries), presents series readers with a treat of a present for this holiday season, as the stories within are exactly what the title names them – shenanigans.
While there’s a bit of derring-do, Shenanigans is a collection of marvelous, funny and often marvelously funny stories set in all the periods of Valdemar history among all of the many peoples and creatures that make the place so much fun to read about for so many glorious years.
In spite of the blurb, most of the stories in Shenanigans do not revolve around the Companions and their Chosen. Some do, of course, or it wouldn’t be a Valdemar collection, but quite a few of the shenanigans in the collection thereof are more slice of life stories, and there are a fair number that feature people with telepathic “gifts” that are not Chosen and may not even wish to be.
Of course, there are also several stories set among the students of the Collegium, because, well, students and pranking make for a fun story no matter what world they’re set in.
Which leads to my two favorite stories in the collection, “Pranks for the Memories” by Dee Shull and “Fool’s Week” by Anthea Sharp. The stories are similar, but they are still both excellent. It’s spring. The students are restless. (Probably every teacher everywhere is nodding their head at THAT idea). In “Pranks” one student mentions a family tradition of a week of pranking. In “Fool’s Week”, someone remembers that there used to be a traditional “fool’s week” at the Collegium until the practice, not unsurprisingly, got out of hand.
It’s suddenly in hand again, to the point where even the teachers are participating. And it’s hilarious!
The other standouts – at least for this reader – come in pairs. “All Around the Bell Tower” by Stephanie Shaver and “A Bouquet of Gifts, or The Culinary Adventures of Rork” by Michele Lang. Both are stories about young girls who have gifts that the people around them can’t quite identify – and that give them each more than a few problems. What each child needs is someone to both listen and understand. The story in “Bell Tower” is a bit more traditional Valdemar in that it’s her Companion that finally brings help in the persons of both themself and their accompanying Heralds. In “A Bouquet of Gifts” we get a much fuller than usual portrait of the helpful hertasi as Rork the chef, as he sets up a feast for a returning friend, also makes a new one – along with a menagerie of mischievously ‘helpful’ creatures and animals.
We saw a lot of the hertasi in Into the West and it’s lovely to see them again here.
And then there are the two stories that include both romance and adventure in equal measure – if on nearly opposite ends of the socioeconomic strata. “A Cry of Hounds” by Elisabeth Waters and “One Trick Pony” by Diana Paxson. “Hounds” is set in the King’s Court of Valdemar. Lord Repulsive’s father is dead, and Lord Repulsive himself is trying to marry off his 12-year-old stepdaughter. In reality, he’s selling his 12-year-old stepdaughter and trying to keep the King from finding out that the child is only 12. Because he will not approve the marriage once he learns, and he will not be amused when he discovers the deception. And he is not. Lord Repulsive gets what’s coming to him with the help of his castoff brother, his sister-in-law and every dog she talks to with her AnimalSpeech. And he deserves every bit of it. (Lord Repulsive really is repulsive. It’s not his real name but “if the shoe fits” or in this case, more like “if the Foo shits”…)
Last but not least there’s, Diana Paxson’s “One Trick Pony”, which mixes a bit of the bittersweet memory of heartbreak and the horrors of war into its story about a man who has found peace after grief and war by gardening, and the way that peace is invaded by a woman who reopens his heart and a newly born Companion who is learning the limits of their own power one prank at a time.
Escape Rating B: After the necessary seriousness of Into the West, the mostly lighthearted tales of Shenanigans were an absolute delight. As with most collections, not every single story hits its mark, but more than enough of them to make Shenanigans a treat for Valdemar fans. Certainly something to tide us all over as we wait for Gryphon in Light, coming in June.
Originally published at Reading Reality
December 18, 2022
Any time that there's an anthology with a couple of dozen short stories, you--perforce--actually have a couple of dozen separate reviews.
Very happy that my local library got this book for me on release day. Have thoroughly enjoyed these "Tales of Valedmar."
"Tricks and Traps" Four stars. Hertasi vs. bandits.
"A Brother's Promise" Four stars. Herald + Haven street kid + hijinks. Valdemar spirit for the win
"Causing Trouble" Three stars. Someone misuses their gift. Have read this premise better in other anthologies. Still a solid contribution.
"All Around the Bell Tower" One star. Lit fic-y pretensions in terms of jumping POV. LGBTQ agenda in the story. Not to my taste.
"Reminiscent" Four stars. Welcome update on characters from previous stories. Good hijinks. Baaaad puns (with goats). Interesting world building update. Exactly the sort of story that I look forward to when I put an advance hold in from my local library.
"Life's Little Pranks" Two stars. Update on previous characters. Read more like a "next diary chapter" than an independent story. If I wasn't already familiar with the characters, I wouldn't have cared.
"Fools Week" Four and a half stars. Exactly the sort of good fun that an anthology with the theme of "Shenanigans" was looking for.
"The Companion Sting" Four Stars. Classic Valdemar--Street kids with hearts of gold get a shot at redemption. Needs a follow up . . . what was up with that plot that they foiled?
"Love, Nothing More, Nothing Less" Three and a half stars. LGBTQ content. This story doesn't stand on its own without its predecessors, but if you assume that most of the readers have read the predecessors, it's a welcome next episode.
"A Cry of Hounds" Four Stars. I love this set of short stories and highly welcome this next episode in the lives of these characters. I don't think this was one of the strongest in this series by Elisabeth Waters, but it's still very good.
"Fowl Play" Four stars. The continuing adventures of the Dann family of Iron Street is a highlight of these anthologies. Patton does not disappoint in this edition.
"The Boy Who Cried Kidnap" Four stars. This short story just works on its own. Nice contribution in an anthology when so many of the others depend on context.
"Trap Spell" Three stars. Vale story. Wasn't written as clearly as it might have been.
"One Trick Pony" Four and a half stars. Loss. Healing. Redemption. Love. Companions. This is the essential essence of Valdemar in a couple of dozen pages. I've never met these characters before and Paxson is already making my hear ache for them. Ow.
"Companion's Lesson" Three and a half stars. Senior heralds still have learning to do.
"Bouquet of Gifts" Two and a half stars. I never cared for the Sparrow / Cloudbrother stories. Glad to see Sparrow making only a cameo appearance in this one. Am I the only one who thinks that Vale stories just don't measure up against Valdemar?
"Of Ghosts and Stones" Three stars. Heralds and gifts meets police procedural. Solid, readable short story.
"Pranks for the Memories" Four stars. Prank War! Props for specificity and creativity in the pranks described
"Shin'a'inagins" Four stars. Lackey's own contributions are always solid. Her deft characterizations helps us invest in these characters within a couple of paragraphs.
Very happy that my local library got this book for me on release day. Have thoroughly enjoyed these "Tales of Valedmar."
"Tricks and Traps" Four stars. Hertasi vs. bandits.
"A Brother's Promise" Four stars. Herald + Haven street kid + hijinks. Valdemar spirit for the win
"Causing Trouble" Three stars. Someone misuses their gift. Have read this premise better in other anthologies. Still a solid contribution.
"All Around the Bell Tower" One star. Lit fic-y pretensions in terms of jumping POV. LGBTQ agenda in the story. Not to my taste.
"Reminiscent" Four stars. Welcome update on characters from previous stories. Good hijinks. Baaaad puns (with goats). Interesting world building update. Exactly the sort of story that I look forward to when I put an advance hold in from my local library.
"Life's Little Pranks" Two stars. Update on previous characters. Read more like a "next diary chapter" than an independent story. If I wasn't already familiar with the characters, I wouldn't have cared.
"Fools Week" Four and a half stars. Exactly the sort of good fun that an anthology with the theme of "Shenanigans" was looking for.
"The Companion Sting" Four Stars. Classic Valdemar--Street kids with hearts of gold get a shot at redemption. Needs a follow up . . . what was up with that plot that they foiled?
"Love, Nothing More, Nothing Less" Three and a half stars. LGBTQ content. This story doesn't stand on its own without its predecessors, but if you assume that most of the readers have read the predecessors, it's a welcome next episode.
"A Cry of Hounds" Four Stars. I love this set of short stories and highly welcome this next episode in the lives of these characters. I don't think this was one of the strongest in this series by Elisabeth Waters, but it's still very good.
"Fowl Play" Four stars. The continuing adventures of the Dann family of Iron Street is a highlight of these anthologies. Patton does not disappoint in this edition.
"The Boy Who Cried Kidnap" Four stars. This short story just works on its own. Nice contribution in an anthology when so many of the others depend on context.
"Trap Spell" Three stars. Vale story. Wasn't written as clearly as it might have been.
"One Trick Pony" Four and a half stars. Loss. Healing. Redemption. Love. Companions. This is the essential essence of Valdemar in a couple of dozen pages. I've never met these characters before and Paxson is already making my hear ache for them. Ow.
"Companion's Lesson" Three and a half stars. Senior heralds still have learning to do.
"Bouquet of Gifts" Two and a half stars. I never cared for the Sparrow / Cloudbrother stories. Glad to see Sparrow making only a cameo appearance in this one. Am I the only one who thinks that Vale stories just don't measure up against Valdemar?
"Of Ghosts and Stones" Three stars. Heralds and gifts meets police procedural. Solid, readable short story.
"Pranks for the Memories" Four stars. Prank War! Props for specificity and creativity in the pranks described
"Shin'a'inagins" Four stars. Lackey's own contributions are always solid. Her deft characterizations helps us invest in these characters within a couple of paragraphs.
October 16, 2022
Shenanigans is the 2022 addition to the Valdemar anthologies, which allow other authors to play in the world of Mercedes Lackey. This volume brings back some of the previous authors as well as some newer authors to round out the adventures of Heralds, Bards and Healers throughout time within Valdemar. This volume of the anthology series is a lighter read than some of the others that had heavier harder, which by the Shenanigans, each of the stories has some form of character shenanigans occurring.
As Valdemar is one of my favorite worlds, reading it since the late 1980s, I generally enjoy the play within the world from the Companions to the hertasi, and the gryphons to the bondbirds, and all of the various cultures of the Shin'a'in to the Karse. The fact that within the Valdemar series from book 1 Lackey created a well represented diversity and equality of all genders, sexuality groups, and some of the difficult social topics that we deal with today have been presented and talked about within these books and anthologies.
This time was no different, as familiar previous authors brought back characters and continued on stories that had a good stopping point, but revisiting and learning more about them also brought laughter. The new authors that contributed brought new mixes into the world and enhanced Valdemar and the diversity.
The only part that I wish the previous authors had done was in two of the stories to give anyone new to the anthologies a little more about the characters that have such a rich history, hidden in previous anthologies. While I knew these characters, some of what was in the story would have made less sense to me without having read the previous short stories, and in some cases, clear back to Volume 1 of the anthologies.
Regardless, it was an enjoyable afternoon read, and perfect for someone looking for a book where they can stop and start depending on their need of the day.
Thank you Mercedes Lackey and DAW/Penguin Random House for the ARC opportunity.
As Valdemar is one of my favorite worlds, reading it since the late 1980s, I generally enjoy the play within the world from the Companions to the hertasi, and the gryphons to the bondbirds, and all of the various cultures of the Shin'a'in to the Karse. The fact that within the Valdemar series from book 1 Lackey created a well represented diversity and equality of all genders, sexuality groups, and some of the difficult social topics that we deal with today have been presented and talked about within these books and anthologies.
This time was no different, as familiar previous authors brought back characters and continued on stories that had a good stopping point, but revisiting and learning more about them also brought laughter. The new authors that contributed brought new mixes into the world and enhanced Valdemar and the diversity.
The only part that I wish the previous authors had done was in two of the stories to give anyone new to the anthologies a little more about the characters that have such a rich history, hidden in previous anthologies. While I knew these characters, some of what was in the story would have made less sense to me without having read the previous short stories, and in some cases, clear back to Volume 1 of the anthologies.
Regardless, it was an enjoyable afternoon read, and perfect for someone looking for a book where they can stop and start depending on their need of the day.
Thank you Mercedes Lackey and DAW/Penguin Random House for the ARC opportunity.
April 21, 2023
Originally posted at www.archeddoorway.com
I probably say this every time I review one of these books and that is that I’m not normally a big fan of anthologies. They tend to be hit or miss with the stories and then just as I’m getting into a story it ends! I always make an exception for Mercedes Lackey’s anthologies because in all the years I’ve been reading them I’ve yet to find one that disappointed me in any way. Until I read this one. While there were plenty of stories in Shenanigans that I enjoyed but overall I do have to say that as a whole this book disappointed me.
A large part of that is I just didn’t enjoy the theme that all the stories were written around. I’ve never been a fan of pranks and I tend to skip every story or video I see about people playing them on people. Then throw in that suddenly they’re talking about a ‘prank day’ in a bunch of the stories at the collegium that has never once been mentioned in over 30 years worth of Valdemar books when we know if such a thing ever existed, even if it had been banned, Skif would have had a field day with it. I was also disappointed that some of my favorite ongoing stories from previous anthologies weren’t included in this one and can’t help but feel like they weren’t in the anthology because they couldn’t be made to fit the theme.
Don’t get me wrong I think pretty much every author in this book is amazing and all the stories were well-written! The theme of them all the stories and the fact that my favorite characters weren’t in them just made it difficult for me to enjoy. I feel like I’m going to be in the minority of Mercedes Lackey fans so like always I would tell everyone to read the book and judge it themselves. Just don’t expect Shenanigans to stand out the way the rest of her anthologies have over the years.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I probably say this every time I review one of these books and that is that I’m not normally a big fan of anthologies. They tend to be hit or miss with the stories and then just as I’m getting into a story it ends! I always make an exception for Mercedes Lackey’s anthologies because in all the years I’ve been reading them I’ve yet to find one that disappointed me in any way. Until I read this one. While there were plenty of stories in Shenanigans that I enjoyed but overall I do have to say that as a whole this book disappointed me.
A large part of that is I just didn’t enjoy the theme that all the stories were written around. I’ve never been a fan of pranks and I tend to skip every story or video I see about people playing them on people. Then throw in that suddenly they’re talking about a ‘prank day’ in a bunch of the stories at the collegium that has never once been mentioned in over 30 years worth of Valdemar books when we know if such a thing ever existed, even if it had been banned, Skif would have had a field day with it. I was also disappointed that some of my favorite ongoing stories from previous anthologies weren’t included in this one and can’t help but feel like they weren’t in the anthology because they couldn’t be made to fit the theme.
Don’t get me wrong I think pretty much every author in this book is amazing and all the stories were well-written! The theme of them all the stories and the fact that my favorite characters weren’t in them just made it difficult for me to enjoy. I feel like I’m going to be in the minority of Mercedes Lackey fans so like always I would tell everyone to read the book and judge it themselves. Just don’t expect Shenanigans to stand out the way the rest of her anthologies have over the years.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have been reading Mercedes Lackey since I first discovered the Valdemar books over 30 years ago. And while I've read almost everything she's written, I will happily read anything about Valdemar, including the 16 anthologies of Valdemar stories by various authors.
Of course, there are some that I like more than others, either because of the writing style of the author, because sometimes the short story format leaves me a bit unsatisfied (wait, how did we get to this point, and what happens next?), or just because the topic that the author chose doesn't grab me. Regardless of this, however, I always find something to like in each story - if nothing else, a window on something in the Valdemar universe that I hadn't looked through before.
I also enjoy the anthologies for the opportunity to read a story focused on some group of characters that are not prominent in the novels - this anthology, for instance, has a number of stories focusing on hertasi, and on characters of less clear identity.
As you might infer from the title, these stories are written around the theme of "shenanigans," so there's generally a prank of some sort in the story, either intentional or inadvertent. I think this gives a lighter touch to most of the stories, and makes them a fun read.
I try never to miss anything by Lackey, or this series of anthologies about Valdemar, and I'm delighted that I had the opportunity to read this one. Truly a good read!
I have been reading Mercedes Lackey since I first discovered the Valdemar books over 30 years ago. And while I've read almost everything she's written, I will happily read anything about Valdemar, including the 16 anthologies of Valdemar stories by various authors.
Of course, there are some that I like more than others, either because of the writing style of the author, because sometimes the short story format leaves me a bit unsatisfied (wait, how did we get to this point, and what happens next?), or just because the topic that the author chose doesn't grab me. Regardless of this, however, I always find something to like in each story - if nothing else, a window on something in the Valdemar universe that I hadn't looked through before.
I also enjoy the anthologies for the opportunity to read a story focused on some group of characters that are not prominent in the novels - this anthology, for instance, has a number of stories focusing on hertasi, and on characters of less clear identity.
As you might infer from the title, these stories are written around the theme of "shenanigans," so there's generally a prank of some sort in the story, either intentional or inadvertent. I think this gives a lighter touch to most of the stories, and makes them a fun read.
I try never to miss anything by Lackey, or this series of anthologies about Valdemar, and I'm delighted that I had the opportunity to read this one. Truly a good read!
May 26, 2025
"I'm home wherever you are."
Tricks and Traps: Hadara (gryphon) life bonded to Kitha (melded with a hawk in a Change Circle) and a prank war
A Brother's Promise: Herald Rinton/Linx & his brother Menkil (thief); Rinton finds him a job with a City Guardsman
Causing Trouble: Laya looking after Ari
All Around the Bell Tower: "I am shattered across the past and future."
Reminiscent: a young apprentice suddenly manifests a Fetching gift
Life's Little Pranks: Darkwind training Nwah; Kade (her life bonded) at Haven with Leena
Fool's Week: Collegium tradition, for one week in the spring time, the various Collegia would play pranks upon each other
The Companion Sting: Kari and brother Adgen (thief)
Love, Nothing More, Nothing Less: Dreyvin/Simen choose each other
A Cry of Hounds: Lena & husband Keven take in his sister Sara
Fowl Play: a chicken becomes a watchman
The Boy Who Cried Kidnap: boy who tells tales manages to save girl
Trap Spell: Hawk brother Winterwink k'Vala & Roli (adopted by hertasi) I think are tripping
One Trick Pony: Andry (family gone, finds Deira), Companion
Companion's Lesson: Heralds Marjom & Witman teach a class with their Companion's help to help charges relax
A Bouquet of Gifts, of The Culinary Adventures of Rork: scones lead to a girl being Chosen
Of Ghosts and Stones and Snow: a ghost steals a necklace
Pranks for the Memories: another prank war
Shin'a'inagins: a pack horse is actually a crazy fast racehorse
Tricks and Traps: Hadara (gryphon) life bonded to Kitha (melded with a hawk in a Change Circle) and a prank war
A Brother's Promise: Herald Rinton/Linx & his brother Menkil (thief); Rinton finds him a job with a City Guardsman
Causing Trouble: Laya looking after Ari
All Around the Bell Tower: "I am shattered across the past and future."
Reminiscent: a young apprentice suddenly manifests a Fetching gift
Life's Little Pranks: Darkwind training Nwah; Kade (her life bonded) at Haven with Leena
Fool's Week: Collegium tradition, for one week in the spring time, the various Collegia would play pranks upon each other
The Companion Sting: Kari and brother Adgen (thief)
Love, Nothing More, Nothing Less: Dreyvin/Simen choose each other
A Cry of Hounds: Lena & husband Keven take in his sister Sara
Fowl Play: a chicken becomes a watchman
The Boy Who Cried Kidnap: boy who tells tales manages to save girl
Trap Spell: Hawk brother Winterwink k'Vala & Roli (adopted by hertasi) I think are tripping
One Trick Pony: Andry (family gone, finds Deira), Companion
Companion's Lesson: Heralds Marjom & Witman teach a class with their Companion's help to help charges relax
A Bouquet of Gifts, of The Culinary Adventures of Rork: scones lead to a girl being Chosen
Of Ghosts and Stones and Snow: a ghost steals a necklace
Pranks for the Memories: another prank war
Shin'a'inagins: a pack horse is actually a crazy fast racehorse
February 13, 2023
In the sixteenth anthology of short stories set in the world of Valdemar, featuring tales by new and established authors alike, the theme has created stories that are simply superb fun. From the first story to the last, each tale is selected carefully and written to resonate with the theme, Shenanigans, in a way that is positive and beautiful. The authors have created engaging characters, each full of depth and fun plots that carefully explore the idea of tricks and jokes to help solve a problem or lead to some kind of insight into the world of Valdemar.
What makes these anthologies so excellent is that each one will find favor with old fans of the Valdemar books but will also be enjoyable to new readers. Even if you aren’t familiar with Mercedes Lackey, I think readers will love the fun stories, especially in this particular anthology. There is whimsy, delight, and love as well as joy and laughter. Every story perfectly suits the theme. New and old fans alike will love the stories full of superb fun.
What makes these anthologies so excellent is that each one will find favor with old fans of the Valdemar books but will also be enjoyable to new readers. Even if you aren’t familiar with Mercedes Lackey, I think readers will love the fun stories, especially in this particular anthology. There is whimsy, delight, and love as well as joy and laughter. Every story perfectly suits the theme. New and old fans alike will love the stories full of superb fun.
April 16, 2023
This was a fascinating failure. None of the stories was actually bad - they ranged from "slight but pleasant" to "kind of fun actually". The problem was the theme - shenanigans, obviously - that was too... suggestive? broad? tonally restricted? that led to the stories having an incredibly small emotional range with very few exceptions, and a really shocking amount of repeated elements. It seemed like every other story involved livestock in inappropriate places, urban-legend school pranks, and extremely obvious uses of Gifts. It ended up being genuinely kind of blurry and confusing. There were a couple better ones, but it's illustrative of the problem that, skimming the table of contents, the titles all read so close to exactly the same that I can't even use them to jog my memory about the stories.
Anyway, painless but more than usually skippable.
Anyway, painless but more than usually skippable.
February 27, 2024
These were fun!
I think some of the authors took the theme a *little* too literally (I audibly groaned whenever the title was shoved into a TELL, NOT SHOW sentence), but I gave each one their due read.
There are some returns and some newbies, and the returns are given juuuust enough context that new readers won't feel left out, but can fit without being wordy (hi, Elizabeth Waters/Cry of Hounds- my fave of the bunch).
Every story is perfectly bite-sized, especially Fiona Patton's Fowl Play (I'm a sucker for those Guards; their banter is perfection).
If you want heavy intrigue or deep discussions, skip this. Prank wars take up the majority of the stories, with the rest centered on harmless cunning. If you like the usual edge-of-your-seat mixed with slice-of-life, this is not the book for you.
If you need a bit of silliness or clever twists, look no further! It's very stress-free!
I think some of the authors took the theme a *little* too literally (I audibly groaned whenever the title was shoved into a TELL, NOT SHOW sentence), but I gave each one their due read.
There are some returns and some newbies, and the returns are given juuuust enough context that new readers won't feel left out, but can fit without being wordy (hi, Elizabeth Waters/Cry of Hounds- my fave of the bunch).
Every story is perfectly bite-sized, especially Fiona Patton's Fowl Play (I'm a sucker for those Guards; their banter is perfection).
If you want heavy intrigue or deep discussions, skip this. Prank wars take up the majority of the stories, with the rest centered on harmless cunning. If you like the usual edge-of-your-seat mixed with slice-of-life, this is not the book for you.
If you need a bit of silliness or clever twists, look no further! It's very stress-free!
October 12, 2022
Shenanigans Edited by Mercedes Lackey is an absolutely delightful collection of short stories set in the heralds of Valdemar Universe.
What I Loved
-World building for the universe that I already loved.
-Kindness as a core theme
-Pranks in the The Collegium
My only issue with this collection is that I now crave much longer stories for a few of the new characters presented to me in the world.
Who would I Recommend this book for
Shenanigans is a wonderful read both for existing fans of the heralds of Valdemar universe and for those wanting a friendly place to enter that world for the first time.
What I Loved
-World building for the universe that I already loved.
-Kindness as a core theme
-Pranks in the The Collegium
My only issue with this collection is that I now crave much longer stories for a few of the new characters presented to me in the world.
Who would I Recommend this book for
Shenanigans is a wonderful read both for existing fans of the heralds of Valdemar universe and for those wanting a friendly place to enter that world for the first time.
October 15, 2022
Yet another excellent entry into the series of Valdemar anthologies, some of the stories are both fantastical and fantastic!
I read past my bedtime (yet again) so that I could devour the stories as soon as possible; I particularly enjoyed the stories which revisited characters who had featured in a previous anthology, and those with Hertasi as main characters; the Hertasi stories were so much fun. Now all I need are the full length novels featuring these characters!
An enjoyable read regardless of it being the reader’s introduction to Valdemar or if you are a long time fan.
With thanks to Netgalley and Daw Books for my ARC.
I read past my bedtime (yet again) so that I could devour the stories as soon as possible; I particularly enjoyed the stories which revisited characters who had featured in a previous anthology, and those with Hertasi as main characters; the Hertasi stories were so much fun. Now all I need are the full length novels featuring these characters!
An enjoyable read regardless of it being the reader’s introduction to Valdemar or if you are a long time fan.
With thanks to Netgalley and Daw Books for my ARC.
October 22, 2022
As an avid fan of Lackey's Valdemar world, I loved most of the stories in this collection. New characters are introduced and the stories are centered around the theme in the title: shenanigans. For some, this takes the form of pranks and trickery. For others, it's subtler deceptions and swindles. Some tales made me laugh out loud and many left me wanting to know more of particular characters' histories and futures.
This collection will appeal most to prior fans of the series, but it's also an excellent introduction to Valdemar. Highly enjoyable!
Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This collection will appeal most to prior fans of the series, but it's also an excellent introduction to Valdemar. Highly enjoyable!
Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2023
I decided to read this because I used to read her series of Valdemar books years ago. Well, I didn't like it. Why? Maybe I just like a story that has more time to build a character and the setting and the dynamics of everything. Not a short story fan? Or maybe I just don't like the series as much anymore. Anyway, I'm leaning toward it being a little of both. Having said that, I am moving on to another book of short stories by Kelly Armstrong called Otherworld Chills. I read her series more recently and think I may have a better chance of actually liking them. I think it may be her last book of short stories set in her particular world.
December 10, 2022
This is a wonderful collection of short stories for fans of Valdemar. Numerous races and societies are represented, with each feeling genuine and distinct. This collection is truly a tribute to the unparalleled universe created by Mercedes Lackey. The stories run the gamut from lighthearted and funny to deeply beautiful, all in a short form that makes it easy to take a brief break for yourself to read them, If you are a fan of the Valdemar universe, even a casual one, do yourself a favor and read this collection. I highly recommend it.
December 17, 2022
I enjoy how many of the short stories are continuation of stories in previous anthologies. We get more in information in their lives. But in actuality I just love reading more stories set in Valdemar, I always have my favorites (those dealing with the chosen of course), but it is good to read about the average folks as well.
Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2022
Another good set of short stories. While I didn't enjoy them as much as the last few its still worth reading. It's a shame some of the older character stories didn't get a new tale but I can understand the need for fresh characters. It was a nice story collection and it was nice to read and stay home with the weather being so windy and rainy and have something else to do besides watch the same christmas reruns for the 12th time.
January 27, 2023
Another fun collection of short stories set in the Kingdom of Valdemar and the world of Velgarth. As with any short story collection there are less satisfying stories and those that always stand out. I was especially pleased to see that the overall theme linking numerous stories was playing pranks. A definite must read for any fan of Mercedes Lackey. I look forward to these collections every year and consider them a holiday treat for myself.
September 19, 2022
I always love compilation books especially featuring Mercedes’ lackey. I have all of her valdemar series and look forward to buying this one as well. I love short stories you get a whole story you can read at one time. It’s fun seeing what stories other authors create based in the same valdemar world. I highly recommend it!
January 7, 2023
Valdemar short stories. The original series was adult. Then she moved to young adult. Too many recently have been juvenile fiction. That's the problem with this anthology. Almost the entire first half is pure juvenile. The second half gets better, but even they are too simplistic. The better ones are almost all average, and only a couple above that.
February 19, 2023
Great fun in wonderland
Once again we get to frolic in the land of Valdemar, rich with Bards & Healers & Heralds & of course Companions. We visit other lands and peoples as well & explore gifts and dangerous places. Each story is well crafted and welcome muse to our parched souls.
Once again we get to frolic in the land of Valdemar, rich with Bards & Healers & Heralds & of course Companions. We visit other lands and peoples as well & explore gifts and dangerous places. Each story is well crafted and welcome muse to our parched souls.
November 11, 2023
Received as a Goodreads giveaway - thank you to Goodreads and DAW.
The usual mixed reviews for an anthology. The novella by Mercedes Lackey was the standout but there were several other very good stories. It was an interesting mix of Valdemar folk, not just Heralds and Chosen. Recommended to anyone wanting to spend some cozy time in Valdemar.
The usual mixed reviews for an anthology. The novella by Mercedes Lackey was the standout but there were several other very good stories. It was an interesting mix of Valdemar folk, not just Heralds and Chosen. Recommended to anyone wanting to spend some cozy time in Valdemar.
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