Valdemaran courtly and political intrigue are some of my very favorite things, and I got both of those in spades in this novel. As an added bonus, Lackey also introduces us to other religious elements in the world, proving that just because a series has literally dozens of books doesn’t mean that the readers (and the author) aren’t always learning new things.
This novel definitely acts as a form of liberal resistance in 2017, focusing on gender issues. Some aspects get a bit preachy, but I have to remind myself that as a woman in her mid-thirties, I’m not necessarily the intended audience for this series anymore. The version of me first introduced to this world in high-school could have stood to learn from this novel, especially regarding the issues of bullying and self-worth.
I hope very much that my next visit to Valdemar involves a character other than Mags and his companions, so that we leave his occasionally dragging story on a much-needed high note.
Rating: 4.5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.
I was also introduced to Lackey in high school! My friends said I HAD to read the Vanyel books, so I did. Now that I am in my 30s, I’ve lassoed some folks into doing a read-along with me. This year, we’re reading 15 Valdemar Books, and I plan to finish them in the following years. We’d love to have you share your posts via our linky and join the conversation! #ReadingValdemar Here’s what we’re planning: https://grabthelapels.com/2019/01/06/reading-valdemar/