This was a good addition to the Collegium Chronicles. It was good to see Bear, Lena and Mags developing into their adult roles. Both Bear and Lena have parent problems and seem to get a handle on them in this volume. Bear's healer family can't understand how he can be a healer without the healing gift even though he has proved his abilities to those in Collegium. Lena has to deal with a father who is so self-centered that his only goal in life is to do what is necessary for himself to remain center stage. Lena finally decides that there is no way that she can ever gain his attention and approval and learns to stand up for herself.

Mags is the main character in this series. His problem is not family-centered. Although he would like to know about his parents and heritage because some of the bad guys seem to know more about him than he does himself. The bad guys are determined to destabilize Valdemar by killing the king and discrediting the heralds. Mags isn't about to let that happen no matter the cost to himself.

Mags grows to realize that his place is as a spy for Valdemar. He won't be one of those heralds parading around in their whites and telling the laws. He knows that his mindspeaking gifts make him really suitable for a career as a spy as does his temperament. He is determined to protect Valdemar and his friends.

The one part of this story that I had some trouble with was the fact the Mags speaks in a dialect that must be as hard for Lackey to write as it is for me to read. For example: "I was hopin' ye could git me through them County Graces horsecrap wi'out hevin' t' strain m'skull." What made it most annoying for me is that he can speak with letter-perfect grammar and diction but is retaining the dialect to develop his persona as a "thick-as-a-brick games-player."

I recommend this volume to those who have read the first two. I recommend all three books to those, like me, who are fans of Valdemar and wonder about the early days of the kingdom. ( )

Can I have the next book now? I like that this isn't her usual trilogy, but ugh. I wanna know how it ends. I've missed series where a new Herald is Chosen and all their adventures after. Please write more Valdemar books taking places in those gaps, Mercedes Lackey. Totally want to know what else happened since the founding and after Vanyel. ( )

This trilogy is set two generations after Vanyel’s life as the Collegium is being built to deal with the influx of new Heralds and the expansion of Valdemar’s size. Mags is a former slave, rescued from a terrible life in jewel mining, and has to learn to navigate his new status. It’s a lot about him getting cuddles and dealing with making friends; did not feel very high stakes. ( )

I like the books Mercedes Lackey writes, she is good at creating a believable world and people to populate it. While her writing is not the strongest I do find it engaging ang and enjoyable. I like a series I can live inside of and her books are ones that have characters I feel invested in and a world I believe could exist. ( )

I love Mercedes Lackey. Me love her long time.
But goodness gracious. This book is so repetetive. We're three books into this series now, OK? Everyone loses their temper and has a misunderstanding. Lena locks herself in her room and cries. Bear gets unreasonably jealous of Mags. Mags gets depressed and self-sacrificing. Lather, rinse, repeat. The greater part of the action happens in the last 1/10th of the book.

Who are Mags parents? Where is he from? What's the secret of his mysterious past? Who are the mysterious foreigners, and what is their devious scheme, their datardly goal? Don't ask me, I assume we find out in book 4 or 5. Scratch that - I have a slim hope that we find at least SOME answers in books 4 or 5.

Book 1 - Unknown badguys with unknown goal. DEFEATED. Answers: none.
Book 2 - 2nd wave of unknown badguys with unknown goal. DEFEATED. Answers: still none.
Book 3 - 3rd wave of better unknown badguys with unknown goal. DEFEATED. Answers: surprise! none.

What a dirty dang trick. Don't know if I even want to read book 4 now, knowing that book 5 is supposed to be released this year. How many dang books will there be before ANY of the questions - more in each book - are answered?

OK, OK, I still like these books. I seem to have a soft spot for Misty's heroes and heroines with a penchant to fall into crippling depression. Mags, Vanyel, Talia/Dirk... Probably because I've struggled with depression myself since I was a teen. I love me my emotionally fragile yet also incredibly strong willed heroes. But in all honesty, the 3rd star is mostly because I love Mercedes Lackey. Otherwise might be a 2 star review... Which just breaks my heart. ( )