Scan barcode
A review by xeni
Crucible by Mercedes Lackey
3.0
Another year, another Valdemar short story collection to read. Reviews for individual stories:
Feathers in Need - Jennifer Brozek
A gryphon protagonist! Yes! There's not enough of those. And this seems to be right after the Mage Storms, which we never get enough glimpses of, imo. What does strike me as strange is how Hadara's recollections of being blinded seem to be during the first Kaled'a'in evacuation, and not from the second Mage Storms. How can she be a thousand years old? I wish the story had continued on after the confrontation. As always with these short stories I find them not enough!
The Highjorune Masque - Stephanie D. Shaver
I just love how creative these authors can be. Highjourne! We haven't visited Lineas since Vanyel's time, which for me was decades ago. And return to Wil's story. Oh I am glad to see he can be both herald and father! Also sad to say that Stefan's gift wasn't strong enough to last forever. But then he also didn't outlast the Mage Storm. I suppose that allowed a lot of corrupt bards to come into power. This short story is full of tension and dread! It's well written though a bit heavy handed with the villain bits.
---
Okay, I didn't do the rest of these 1 by 1:
Lost Song - Dylan Birtolo
Unresolved Consequences - Elizabeth A. Vaughan
Gifts of Rage and Despair - Ron Collins
A Bellowing of Bullfinches - Elisabeth Waters
She Chooses - Michele Lang
The Harvest - Kristin Schwengel
Before a River Runs Through It - Fiona Patton
Hertasi and Wyrsa and Magpies, Oh My! - Louisa Swann
A Fire in the Grass - Michael Z. Williamson and Jessica Schlenker
Never Alone - Dayle A. Dermatis
Down the Line - Brigid Collins
Ghosts of the Past - Angela Penrose
The Quiet Gift - Anthea Sharp
Healing Home - Kerrie L. Hughes
The Note - Phaedra Weldon
Vexed Vixen - Mercedes Lackey
Overall: Some of them were fairly annoying and simple stories, others were more interesting but still too simple for my tastes.
I prefer the stories that are continuing tales of previous Valdemar anthologies or the ones written by Lackey herself. I liked Vexed Vixen a lot because it featured a healer, one who has Animal Mindspeak. I always wish Lackey's books focused more on Healers or Bards so this is especially great. (And even better because it's also the second story we've had with Vixen so far!)
Feathers in Need - Jennifer Brozek
A gryphon protagonist! Yes! There's not enough of those. And this seems to be right after the Mage Storms, which we never get enough glimpses of, imo. What does strike me as strange is how Hadara's recollections of being blinded seem to be during the first Kaled'a'in evacuation, and not from the second Mage Storms. How can she be a thousand years old? I wish the story had continued on after the confrontation. As always with these short stories I find them not enough!
The Highjorune Masque - Stephanie D. Shaver
I just love how creative these authors can be. Highjourne! We haven't visited Lineas since Vanyel's time, which for me was decades ago. And return to Wil's story. Oh I am glad to see he can be both herald and father! Also sad to say that Stefan's gift wasn't strong enough to last forever. But then he also didn't outlast the Mage Storm. I suppose that allowed a lot of corrupt bards to come into power. This short story is full of tension and dread! It's well written though a bit heavy handed with the villain bits.
---
Okay, I didn't do the rest of these 1 by 1:
Lost Song - Dylan Birtolo
Unresolved Consequences - Elizabeth A. Vaughan
Gifts of Rage and Despair - Ron Collins
A Bellowing of Bullfinches - Elisabeth Waters
She Chooses - Michele Lang
The Harvest - Kristin Schwengel
Before a River Runs Through It - Fiona Patton
Hertasi and Wyrsa and Magpies, Oh My! - Louisa Swann
A Fire in the Grass - Michael Z. Williamson and Jessica Schlenker
Never Alone - Dayle A. Dermatis
Down the Line - Brigid Collins
Ghosts of the Past - Angela Penrose
The Quiet Gift - Anthea Sharp
Healing Home - Kerrie L. Hughes
The Note - Phaedra Weldon
Vexed Vixen - Mercedes Lackey
Overall: Some of them were fairly annoying and simple stories, others were more interesting but still too simple for my tastes.
I prefer the stories that are continuing tales of previous Valdemar anthologies or the ones written by Lackey herself. I liked Vexed Vixen a lot because it featured a healer, one who has Animal Mindspeak. I always wish Lackey's books focused more on Healers or Bards so this is especially great. (And even better because it's also the second story we've had with Vixen so far!)