tnanz's review
5.0
OH THIS WAS VERY GOOD!!!
Perhaps I just haven’t had a new Valdemar book in a very long time, but this felt fresh and raw and new in a completely delightful way. I absolutely adored the consistency of the world building which Lackey has always been brilliant at but must have been a challenge in this precursor novel. We are a bit light on some of the characters (I don’t feel like I really get Isla) but others are drawn in beautiful detail. I think Lackey’s strength (well, one of them) is something of a gift for characters that want to do better. It doesn’t feel preachy, it doesn’t feel overly optimistic, it just feels real and nice and warm. This book was like a balm, reminding me so strongly of what I want to be in this world and keeping me thoroughly entertained the entire time. God I wish I had a pile of new Mercedes Lackey books to read, she is just a master of fantasy fiction.
Again, not sure if this is just me, but this book also felt SPICY in a way that I’m not used to. The characters are filled with righteous anger that I think is common to many of her books but they are also very pissed and dogged and ready to fuck things up to fix them in a way that I adored but felt pretty different from her prior books.
Perhaps I just haven’t had a new Valdemar book in a very long time, but this felt fresh and raw and new in a completely delightful way. I absolutely adored the consistency of the world building which Lackey has always been brilliant at but must have been a challenge in this precursor novel. We are a bit light on some of the characters (I don’t feel like I really get Isla) but others are drawn in beautiful detail. I think Lackey’s strength (well, one of them) is something of a gift for characters that want to do better. It doesn’t feel preachy, it doesn’t feel overly optimistic, it just feels real and nice and warm. This book was like a balm, reminding me so strongly of what I want to be in this world and keeping me thoroughly entertained the entire time. God I wish I had a pile of new Mercedes Lackey books to read, she is just a master of fantasy fiction.
Again, not sure if this is just me, but this book also felt SPICY in a way that I’m not used to. The characters are filled with righteous anger that I think is common to many of her books but they are also very pissed and dogged and ready to fuck things up to fix them in a way that I adored but felt pretty different from her prior books.
helenamt's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
becomingmari's review
4.0
its good, a big dragging/long, but pretty good! Mercedes Lackey is using some updated language in this book too, we love to see it. I still wish the Gays were the main character but enjoyed this one.
skyelerbear's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book hit the spot - the perfect cozy fantasy, full of world building. Lackey’s descriptions of the idyllic Valdemar - the herb scented smell of the air, the delight of a hot toddy on a cold night, the feeling of eating fresh bread after exhaustion - filled my heart and soul. We learn all about Valdemar, the magic system, and the beautiful royal family. For my first ever Mercedes Lackey book, “Beyond” has me addicted! I can’t wait to read the rest of this series! I learned a lot about horses (clearly Lackey loves animals), but the ending is what got me truly excited. What’s better than a story of life on the frontier? An exciting but cozy life
Spoiler
- complete with comfortable boathouses.lyrrael's review against another edition
3.0
A return to the cozy comfort of a good Valdemar read. OTOH -- and mind you, this is hidden for spoilers -- what the actual fuck was that ending? He melts the capitol and the -entire reason- for the rest of the series. Wtf?? I'm still going to read on because I can always do with more *adult* Valdemar stories (looking at you Mags) but why do that? :|
ros_lanta's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Beyond. It was a fast paced, gripping story, albeit without the emotional impact of certain other books in the Valdemar series.
This is the first book in the Founding of Valdemar trilogy, and so tells events which are broadly already known from books set hundreds of years later (albeit it is not the earliest book in the chronology). It does feel somewhat different from later books, partly due to the absence of the Companions. The worldbuilding of the Empire seems to be to be in fairly broad strokes, befitting a place that you know from the very beginning the intention is to leave entirely.
I probably wouldn't recommend this as a place to begin with Valdemar. A new reader would have the advantage of not knowing what would happen, but there might not be enough holding their interest to convince them to read further in the series. There also probably isn't enough explanation of the magic system for someone unfamiliar with it.
For an existing reader though I think this a decent book, not earth-shattering but it pulled me nicely out of a near-slump and I'm happy with that.
This is the first book in the Founding of Valdemar trilogy, and so tells events which are broadly already known from books set hundreds of years later (albeit it is not the earliest book in the chronology). It does feel somewhat different from later books, partly due to the absence of the Companions. The worldbuilding of the Empire seems to be to be in fairly broad strokes, befitting a place that you know from the very beginning the intention is to leave entirely.
I probably wouldn't recommend this as a place to begin with Valdemar. A new reader would have the advantage of not knowing what would happen, but there might not be enough holding their interest to convince them to read further in the series. There also probably isn't enough explanation of the magic system for someone unfamiliar with it.
For an existing reader though I think this a decent book, not earth-shattering but it pulled me nicely out of a near-slump and I'm happy with that.
meijhen's review against another edition
4.0
Liked this one immensely. It doesn't follow the formula so many of the Valdemar books have, which is refreshing, and Ms Lackey's prose is engrossing as always.
emeraldreverie's review
2.0
Distinctly Valdemar. Someday we'll discover why the imagination of the fantasy genre (too frequently for white folks, esp) fails to break any barriers and just reconfigures the kyriarchy and says "hmm bad?"
circlesarah's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0