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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Fifth in the Collegium Chronicles, a subseries in the Valdemar main series, which revolves around Mags and his Companion, Dallen.
My Take
This one takes up where Redoubt, 4, left off, with Mags rescued and about to increase his knowledge about his dead parents and the family to which he's related. It has its adventures, and the encounter with family is interesting, but it doesn't advance the story a great deal. It's more of a fill-in for Mags. To learn more about the people from whom his parents fled.
I did appreciate Healer Raynard's point when he responded to Herald Farnten's protest, when he said he wanted to learn more from Bear about using herbs for healing. That Farnten doesn't use his Gift to Fetch to grab an apple from across the room.
I do love how well Lackey paints a scene. I always feel as though I'm right there with her characters---whom I also love. Lackey has such terrific characters who exemplify friendship, loyalty, and love. She's also very evenhanded in her mix of the sexes as well with women having important jobs as well as the men. I can feel the wind bristling through their clothes, the smell of the forests they ride through, the fear of battle, the taste of that stew Jakyr fixes...
Ooh, interesting tidbit Dallen dropped about Tylendel. I may have to go back and do some rereading of the early Valdemar stories. And Mags and Amily finally hook up, all the way, now that they're out from under everyone's spying eyes! It's sweetly, sadly, funny how worried Mags is about making it good for Amily, and he asks Jakyr for advice. Mags also discovers a new skill he has with his Gift of Mindspeaking.
Good life lessons in here in which Lackey, er, Mags and Dallen debate the security of a known place against the insecurity of learning the truth about the world. The differences between the mine, being in Haven and training to be a Herald, and what would have probably been expected of him with his birth family.
Lots of back history here about Mags' being rescued from the mine and his family and their culture as well as more about Jakyr, how the people of Valdemar are compensated for losing their children to the Heralds, and more about Valdemar's laws. There's a lovely bit about a particular village's independence and how that independence will affect them. You'll be laughing and rolling on the floor, even as you reflect on our own having to pay taxes...sigh… Mags brings up a good point too: how it costs more to protect such a distant place than their taxes could possibly cover. I did enjoy Jakyr's response to this. The incident is also another example of what happens when you allow bullies to take over.
I dunno...in going through my notes, I'm already wanting to re-read this one!
The Story
The memories forced on Mags in Redoubt, 4, are plaguing him in his dreams, and his not being on the Kirball team hurts him in his heart even as he realizes what playing means for him. Worse is his realizing that the assassins will never stop as long as he's alive.
It's this last that sends Mags, Bear, Lena, Jakyr, and another Bard as Lena's mentor out into the world. A bit of providence, as Dean Caelen and the rest send them to ride Circuit around the mine where Mags was originally found and near where his parents were murdered. An opportunity Mags can't resist to learn more about his past and to protect his friends.
It's this last that puts Mags to his greatest test yet. The threat that will force him to choose exile.
The Characters
Mags, a Herald Trainee, is a Kirball star and a secret spy for Nikolas; Dallen is his Companion. Mags' Gift is Mindspeech, being able to speak to anyone at all mind-to-mind. Meric Aket Inaken is who he was before his parents were kidnapped and killed.
Bear and Lena Tyrall are married. He's a Healer Trainee without a standard Gift other than that of working with herbs and she's a Bardic Trainee. Master Bard Lita is Dean of Bardic Collegium, the head of the Bardic Circle, and she has a tumultuous past history with Jakyr (Bard Purchel will be getting a crash course as dean to see how he'll do). Herald Jakyr is the Herald who helped Dallen rescue Mags from Pieters. He'll be Mags' mentor on this trip. Jermayan is his Companion.
Nikolas is the King's Own Herald teaching Mags how to be a spy and Rolan is his Companion; the self-effacing Amily is his unGifted daughter whom Mags knows he loves. Herald Caelen is the Dean of the Collegium and one of the very few who know about Mags' extracurricular activities for Nikolas. Herald Cende assists the Chief Magistrate of Haven. Father Seneson is a language expert.
Princess Lydia sneaks off to join them on occasion. Prince Sedric is mentioned. Gennie is a friend and captain of Mags' Kirball team; Jeffers is also on the team. Halleck is another Herald Trainee. Ard Ardson is the Wagonmaster in Haven.
Efan Sevanol is a Scentmaster. Sergeant Milles organized the supplies for the caves where the six will be staying.
The House of the Sleepgivers is Mags' family, a once-great clan, and Bey is both heir and Mags' cousin. The current Shadao is Bey's father who inherited when Mags' parents ran off. Mags' father, Shadao Meric Beket Inaken, had the Gift of Empathy and his mother had Mindspeech.
Cole Pieters was the sadistic brute who abused and used toddlers on up to teens to mine jewels. An idiot. His son Endal has more smarts. Loran is the interloper living at the Waystation; the Headman declares his village independent of Valdemar.
The Cover
The cover is consistent with previous ones: a diagonal design forming the background (this one is black and gray with a Companion running against a storm of arrows) and a rounded-corner insert of a textured gray with Mags and Lara preparing to shoot their arrows, and Bear holding a torch for them to see as snow falls. It's very much a hint of events to come with the chill of winter and the threat of attack.
The title is that part of the country where the six are being sent: the Bastion.
My Take
This one takes up where Redoubt, 4, left off, with Mags rescued and about to increase his knowledge about his dead parents and the family to which he's related. It has its adventures, and the encounter with family is interesting, but it doesn't advance the story a great deal. It's more of a fill-in for Mags. To learn more about the people from whom his parents fled.
I did appreciate Healer Raynard's point when he responded to Herald Farnten's protest, when he said he wanted to learn more from Bear about using herbs for healing. That Farnten doesn't use his Gift to Fetch to grab an apple from across the room.
I do love how well Lackey paints a scene. I always feel as though I'm right there with her characters---whom I also love. Lackey has such terrific characters who exemplify friendship, loyalty, and love. She's also very evenhanded in her mix of the sexes as well with women having important jobs as well as the men. I can feel the wind bristling through their clothes, the smell of the forests they ride through, the fear of battle, the taste of that stew Jakyr fixes...
Ooh, interesting tidbit Dallen dropped about Tylendel. I may have to go back and do some rereading of the early Valdemar stories. And Mags and Amily finally hook up, all the way, now that they're out from under everyone's spying eyes! It's sweetly, sadly, funny how worried Mags is about making it good for Amily, and he asks Jakyr for advice. Mags also discovers a new skill he has with his Gift of Mindspeaking.
Good life lessons in here in which Lackey, er, Mags and Dallen debate the security of a known place against the insecurity of learning the truth about the world. The differences between the mine, being in Haven and training to be a Herald, and what would have probably been expected of him with his birth family.
Lots of back history here about Mags' being rescued from the mine and his family and their culture as well as more about Jakyr, how the people of Valdemar are compensated for losing their children to the Heralds, and more about Valdemar's laws. There's a lovely bit about a particular village's independence and how that independence will affect them. You'll be laughing and rolling on the floor, even as you reflect on our own having to pay taxes...sigh… Mags brings up a good point too: how it costs more to protect such a distant place than their taxes could possibly cover. I did enjoy Jakyr's response to this. The incident is also another example of what happens when you allow bullies to take over.
I dunno...in going through my notes, I'm already wanting to re-read this one!
The Story
The memories forced on Mags in Redoubt, 4, are plaguing him in his dreams, and his not being on the Kirball team hurts him in his heart even as he realizes what playing means for him. Worse is his realizing that the assassins will never stop as long as he's alive.
It's this last that sends Mags, Bear, Lena, Jakyr, and another Bard as Lena's mentor out into the world. A bit of providence, as Dean Caelen and the rest send them to ride Circuit around the mine where Mags was originally found and near where his parents were murdered. An opportunity Mags can't resist to learn more about his past and to protect his friends.
It's this last that puts Mags to his greatest test yet. The threat that will force him to choose exile.
The Characters
Mags, a Herald Trainee, is a Kirball star and a secret spy for Nikolas; Dallen is his Companion. Mags' Gift is Mindspeech, being able to speak to anyone at all mind-to-mind. Meric Aket Inaken is who he was before his parents were kidnapped and killed.
Bear and Lena Tyrall are married. He's a Healer Trainee without a standard Gift other than that of working with herbs and she's a Bardic Trainee. Master Bard Lita is Dean of Bardic Collegium, the head of the Bardic Circle, and she has a tumultuous past history with Jakyr (Bard Purchel will be getting a crash course as dean to see how he'll do). Herald Jakyr is the Herald who helped Dallen rescue Mags from Pieters. He'll be Mags' mentor on this trip. Jermayan is his Companion.
Nikolas is the King's Own Herald teaching Mags how to be a spy and Rolan is his Companion; the self-effacing Amily is his unGifted daughter whom Mags knows he loves. Herald Caelen is the Dean of the Collegium and one of the very few who know about Mags' extracurricular activities for Nikolas. Herald Cende assists the Chief Magistrate of Haven. Father Seneson is a language expert.
Princess Lydia sneaks off to join them on occasion. Prince Sedric is mentioned. Gennie is a friend and captain of Mags' Kirball team; Jeffers is also on the team. Halleck is another Herald Trainee. Ard Ardson is the Wagonmaster in Haven.
Efan Sevanol is a Scentmaster. Sergeant Milles organized the supplies for the caves where the six will be staying.
The House of the Sleepgivers is Mags' family, a once-great clan, and Bey is both heir and Mags' cousin. The current Shadao is Bey's father who inherited when Mags' parents ran off. Mags' father, Shadao Meric Beket Inaken, had the Gift of Empathy and his mother had Mindspeech.
Cole Pieters was the sadistic brute who abused and used toddlers on up to teens to mine jewels. An idiot. His son Endal has more smarts. Loran is the interloper living at the Waystation; the Headman declares his village independent of Valdemar.
The Cover
The cover is consistent with previous ones: a diagonal design forming the background (this one is black and gray with a Companion running against a storm of arrows) and a rounded-corner insert of a textured gray with Mags and Lara preparing to shoot their arrows, and Bear holding a torch for them to see as snow falls. It's very much a hint of events to come with the chill of winter and the threat of attack.
The title is that part of the country where the six are being sent: the Bastion.
kivt's review against another edition
3.0
really weird how much better these are than the more recent mags books. still not great. did lackey fire her editor or something?
0uterspacebookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
mbs1236's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A cozy read
catherine_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The final book of "The Collegium Chronicles" finds Mags trying to come to terms with what happened to him at the hands of his kidnappers. But he has many allies in Haven, and they come up with a plan to protect him: send him and his friends to a remote stronghold called the Bastion, where they should be safe from the assassins. Once there, the story that Mags has died would be spread throughout the kingdom, hopefully reaching the ears of the people after him and sending them back to wherever they came from.
The Bastion is the place where Mags' parents were murdered by bandits. Mags hopes that he'll be able to find something that will help him discover who his parents were, and thus learn who he really is.
I enjoy all of Lackey's books, and this is no different. My only quibble is that Mags' rescue from Cole Pieters' mine, which happened in the very first book, is entirely recapped in this book. Readers don't really need that. I'm pretty forgetful these days, and I remembered everything about those scenes. Aside from that, it's a satisfying read that brings readers to a conclusion, but leaves the door open for future adventures.
The Bastion is the place where Mags' parents were murdered by bandits. Mags hopes that he'll be able to find something that will help him discover who his parents were, and thus learn who he really is.
I enjoy all of Lackey's books, and this is no different. My only quibble is that Mags' rescue from Cole Pieters' mine, which happened in the very first book, is entirely recapped in this book. Readers don't really need that. I'm pretty forgetful these days, and I remembered everything about those scenes. Aside from that, it's a satisfying read that brings readers to a conclusion, but leaves the door open for future adventures.
riley_97ri's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve loved these series of books very much, it’s been great seeing a more in-depth look at the training of herald and their relationships with bards and healers and the people.
As for this book, I warn you it’s had a slower start then the others, the real conflict on happing till the last third of the book.
It dose well to strengthen character relationships and character arks, but it light on actual evens outside the last part of the books.
All in all a solid end to this series. I’m looking forward to the Trilogy that comes after this one.
3.5/5 stars
As for this book, I warn you it’s had a slower start then the others, the real conflict on happing till the last third of the book.
It dose well to strengthen character relationships and character arks, but it light on actual evens outside the last part of the books.
All in all a solid end to this series. I’m looking forward to the Trilogy that comes after this one.
3.5/5 stars
loquitacass's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kayteeem's review against another edition
3.0
Just about exactly what you would expect from the fifth book in this series. If you like the world and the characters from the first books, you've probably already read this one too.
I was a little disappointed that everything that happened while Mags was kidnapped was only ever told as memory/flashback; the escape and return could have made an interesting story.
I was a little disappointed that everything that happened while Mags was kidnapped was only ever told as memory/flashback; the escape and return could have made an interesting story.
fyrekatz's review against another edition
5.0
Wow this book blew me away. I love Mercedes Lackey book but
this one flew right by and left me with a smile on my face.
Full Review on Blog soon! :)
this one flew right by and left me with a smile on my face.
Full Review on Blog soon! :)
alboyer6's review against another edition
4.0
While I didn't get into #4 as much in the series, this wrap up to the Collegium Chronicles left me wanting the first book in the next series. Reading a Valdemar book for the first time in a while was just really nice.