Review: Eye Spy (Family Spies #2) by Mercedes Lackey

Overall, this was probably the best new Valdemar book I’ve read and enjoyed in years. That’s not to say that it has no flaws, but overall, Abi is a great, solid character with some truly excellent and original adventures. I’m not going to lie: Part of my enjoyment might be because this is the firstContinue reading “Review: Eye Spy (Family Spies #2) by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: Seasons (Tales of Valdemar #13) edited by Mercedes Lackey

Seasonal celebrations were the theme of this collection of tales set in the fantasy world of Valdemar, which acted less as glue holding the collection together and more as an awkward way to pretend all of these stories belonged together. Especially in the cases of the “continuing” stories that feature characters from previous collections. IContinue reading “Review: Seasons (Tales of Valdemar #13) edited by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters #13) by Mercedes Lackey

I’m not going to lie. I significantly prefer the fairy tale retellings in this fantasy series to the Sherlock Holmes pastiches featuring Nan and Sara. I didn’t dislike this book, but I found myself not as invested in the main characters as I could have been. Both women gain new skills and mastery over theirContinue reading “Review: The Bartered Brides (Elemental Masters #13) by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: The Hills Have Spies (Family Spies #1) by Mercedes Lackey

I haven’t been a huge fan of the first two Valdemar collections starring Mags, but I’ll admit that he’s a lot less annoying as an adult. Luckily, his son Perry is completely different and much easier to handle despite his young age. I enjoyed this adventure featuring both characters, especially the parent-child dynamic aspect. DespiteContinue reading “Review: The Hills Have Spies (Family Spies #1) by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: Choices (Tales of Valdemar #12) edited by Mercedes Lackey

What should have been a comforting visit to my favorite land was tempered by the fact that the majority of the stories in this collection were continuations of stories in previous anthologies. I have a decent memory for things I’ve read ages ago, but even with that, some of these tales were hard to diveContinue reading “Review: Choices (Tales of Valdemar #12) edited by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: Pathways (Tales of Valdemar #11) edited by Mercedes Lackey

While I usually call out two specific stories in anthologies, my favorite and the one I’d most like to see expanded into a novel, I’m unable to do that with this Valdemar collection. I enjoyed most of the stories, but none of them jumped out to me as amazing. A few of the stories alsoContinue reading “Review: Pathways (Tales of Valdemar #11) edited by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: Closer to the Chest (Herald Spy #3) by Mercedes Lackey

It’s taken quite a few books, but I think Lackey is back on her stride with her long-running Valdemar series. While I still noticed a few editorial discrepancies, I enjoyed this novel a lot more than any of the previous books that featured Mags and Amily. This particular story acts as a culmination to whatContinue reading “Review: Closer to the Chest (Herald Spy #3) by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: A Scandal in Battersea (Elemental Masters #12) by Mercedes Lackey

The novels of Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series take two forms. The first is re-imagined fairy tales set in Edwardian England (and Europe beyond). The second is a more of a traditional (historical) urban fantasy series that centers around a group of magicians, psychics, and mediums in London, starring two plucky young women and theirContinue reading “Review: A Scandal in Battersea (Elemental Masters #12) by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: TEMPEST edited by Mercedes Lackey

Favorite story: “Harmless as Serpents” by Rosemary Edghill & Rebecca Fox Perhaps because they are such alien creatures, stories where a point of view character is a Companion always intrigue me. Throw in tantalizing details about the mysterious land of Iftel, the realistic aftereffects of Karse’s religious upheaval, and multiple laugh-out-loud moments, and this was easilyContinue reading “Review: TEMPEST edited by Mercedes Lackey”

Review: CLOSER TO THE HEART (Herald Spy #2) by Mercedes Lackey

This book had the awkward job of pushing along a trilogy plot that I don’t quite understand and a relationship that is already solid. I keep reading Valdemar books because this world has such a special place in my heart, but at this point the drama and intrigue is no longer there for me inContinue reading “Review: CLOSER TO THE HEART (Herald Spy #2) by Mercedes Lackey”