Kim Deister
By the Sword is one of my favorite books in the Valdemar saga, mainly because of the main character, Kerowyn. She is everything I love my fantasy heroines to be. She’s flawed but tough. She’s logical and practical-minded, more than capable of taking care of herself and others, and she has strong principles. I also love that it is a bit of a departure from most of the Valdemar books. Kero is a character born and raised in a country other than Valdemar, with different values and perspectives. There is also a lot more magic than there is in most of the books set in Valdemar, as at this point in the world’s chronology, there are no longer any mages in Valdemar. The perspective is so different, since those outside of Valdemar are a bit leery of the Gifts of Heralds, and of the Heralds themselves. Nor can it be denied that this is a bit of a feminist novel. After saving her sister-in-law, Kero thinks about how women are “supposed” to be… dainty and delicate and womanly. And she bucks against those ideals. Later, after losing her virginity, she reflects on how unsatisfactory it was, feeling as if she deserved more. With the long history of women and the idea of sexual pleasure, this was refreshing. The novel is also a commentary on women’s equality in all aspects of life… respect, jobs, pay, etc.