Boundaries

November 1, 2021

This is the 15th anthology of short stories set in Lackey's popular, long-running Valdemar universe--a high-fantasy world where majority-whiteness is implied. (Valdemar was first introduced in Lackey's 1994 The Black Gryphon.) The collection includes a new Valdemar story by Lackey; the other tales are contributed by Fiona Patton, Angela Penrose, and Elizabeth Vaughan, among other established fantasy writers. Many of the Valdemar books have focused on the border conflict with neighboring Karse (sparked by conflicting views on magic, religion, freedom, and opportunity), and several stories in the present volume turn their attention to war, its aftermath, and its effects on the survivors, who mourn their losses and dream of brighter futures. Other stories are highly readable explorations of aspects of Valdemar lore that might not be big enough for a full novel (peeking into Valdemar's everyday life and less-developed eras and places). The stories presume some knowledge of Valdemar, its magic, and the enchanted beings (including telepathic horses) that make the series such a treat for animal lovers. VERDICT Even occasional visitors to Valdemar or readers of Lackey's recent foundation novel Beyond will enjoy the trip to this popular world.--Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, LLC, Duluth, GA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 24, 2021
The latest Valdemar anthology returns to Lackey's popular fantasy world, presenting stories set throughout the series' time line. Many of the tales focus on the Heralds of Valdemar--people with psychic ""Mind-Magic"" gifts who are chosen by and bonded to a Companion, a magical spirit that takes the form of a psychic white horse. Some stories focus on Heralds or their loved ones dealing with combat scars, such as Dayle A. Dermatis' ""Hearts Are Made for Mending,"" where a Herald struggles with agoraphobia after witnessing her mentor's death. There are also stories set in Valdemar's neighbor Karse, such as Kristin Schwengel's ""A Time for Prayer,"" set during the patriarchal status quo of the earlier novels, with a woman who disguises herself in order to become her village's Sunpriest; or Lackey's own ""Boundaries,"" where a wounded Herald discovers the coming transformation of Karsite religion and politics when a Sunpriest nurses him back to health. All in all, this collection will appeal primarily to fans of Lackey's long-running series, while readers new to her universe may want to start elsewhere.

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