Kim Deister
As anyone who knows me has long since discovered, I am a hardcore Mercedes Lackey fan, especially the Valdemar saga. I eagerly read and reread every book, and have for years. And while I know that this series has received some less-than-steller reviews, I have not had any of the issues that others have. I love Lackey’s fluid writing, the way she draws a reader into the world she’s created in Valdemar. For me, reading her books is an experience, one that is practically spiritual for me. This experience was no different with this novel. Mags and Amily are among my favorite characters in the saga, and I loved getting so much of them in this book. The murkiness of Mags’ past left him, and readers, with so many questions, and this book answered many of them. Because Mags is so much of a favorite for me, I loved watching his character grow and come into his own. It’s a great end to this series and part of the overall Valdemar saga, and it’s a great lead into the next series. My recommendation: If you are a fan of Valdemar, it’s a must read. If you are a fan of high fantasy, I suggest starting at the beginning. There’s a great chronological book order list on the Fandom page for Valdemar.