One of the best parts of the Valedemar books is that the stories build upon a rich cast of characters that are referenced through out the saga, allowing for a lot of in-depth character development. In this book, Abi (the middle child of Mags and Amily, first seen in The Collegium Chronicles series prior to this trilogy) is the focus. The daughter of two Heralds, she’s trying to find her own place in the world, her own calling.
Another thing I love about this overall saga is the diverse representation… in sexuality, gender, and race. Abi is portrayed as aromantic, asexual, which I appreciated. I love all of the books of Valdemar. Part of that is the fantasy aspect, of course. But it’s also because the stories revolve around so much more than romantic relationships between characters. It’s about the quest for good over evil, the struggles with morality.
If you love a great fantasy with exquisite world-building, Mercedes Lackey is a genius at delivering both of these things.