By the Sword (Valdemar)

After reading all the rave reviews about this book on this site, I was expecting an intense, compelling book that I would be unable to put down. What I got was a well crafted, enjoyable story with vivid characters. I just couldn't give it 5 stars because, IMHO, it just isn't up there with books from Martin, Goodkind, Jordan, or Rawn. It was slow in parts, took a little too much suspension of disbelief in others, and didn't focus enough on some of the more interesting elements, such as Kero's interaction with the sword and her reluctance to use her Mindspeaking abilities.
Not that I didn't enjoy the book. I enjoyed it very much. Lackey's characters are always engaging, even if they are painted in either black or white a lot of the time. Very rarely does she use any grays in her characterization. Still, she is a master of character interaction. That is probably the most enjoyable part of her writing and she doesn't let the reader down in this book.
The story Lackey weaves is an enjoyable romp, but I was expecting it to have a little grittier of an edge to it. I mean, she's a mercenary, but we never see the hard edge that these people carry. Guess I'm just spoiled from having read Elizabeth Moon's DEED OF PAKSENARRION trilogy, which was a hard core mercenary book. I know Lackey writes for younger readers, but it would have added a touch of realism and tension to the book to have the danger of being a mercenary a little more real.
All in all, though, I enjoyed reading the book. It was a fun romp through the world of Valdemar, while not actually taking place in Valdemar. Fans of Lackey's work will enjoy this book, but don't go in expecting anything other than her usual fare...

Kerowyn is sick of being the housekeeper of her father's manor and tired of her boring life where the absolute catastrophe would be the food getting knocked over. That's why when her home is attacked by hired soldiers, she sets off to save her brother's new bride from lack of something to do. She goes to her Grandmother Kethry's tower, who is that one and only Kethry from the Oath breakers series except older. There Need the sword who seems to have a mind finds her and demands in a way that she be handed down to Kero. After saving her sister in law she goes back to court where she is heroine but an embaressment. So when Tarma, Grandmother Kethry's friend offers to teach her the art fo fighting and survival she jumps at the chance. There she meets Daren a prince come to learn from Tarma as well he not only becomes her friend but helps her take the last step in growing up. After two years she gets sent to become a mercenary soldier and begins her own quest in using Need to help her become another heroine and legend of Valdemare.
Martin
Recommended authors:
Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks, Philip Pullman and Deborah Chester.

Kerowyn (or Kero for short) has always know that she was not meant to be a "lady." She despises everything about them, rather spending her time learning how to fight and using her own gifts and talents. And when her brother's bride is kidnapped one night her talents are put to the test. She visits her grandmother Kerthy, for help on her rescue, and her whole life is turned upside down. She is now bonded to a mysterious sword, a sword that is ment to help all women in danger and will never harm a woman, a sword that can heal and gives her mysterious battlepower. By the Sword chronicals Kero's life with the sword. From a young headstrong teenager of 15 to a seasoned warrior and mercenary. If you're interested in books of fantasy with strong female charecters this is for you! Keroywn is a likeable main charecter that works hard for breaking sterotypes and becoming independant. I was impressed with this book, it's very well written and fast paced. This is the first book by Mercedes Lackey that I've read but it will certainly not be the last.

I began reading Lackey's books with the first one out "Arrows of the Queen" and I loved it (I was about 14, probably the perfect age for that book). I have read all the rest as they came out. Generally I like them, but over the years I have grown impatient with the way her characters are almost always put-upon and almost always sort of emotionally fragile and sorry for themselves. Don't get me wrong, they are still good books! But I often wished the characters were a little more positive in outlook. I have grown to like this book best of all of the author's books - and that's saying a lot, because I like most of them a lot! And the reason I like this one best is because Kero is a character that has real inner strength and courage. Many of Lackey's characters could not function if they were not propped up by some Companion or other magical support. Kero stands on her own. A great character!

Mercedes Lackey is one heck of a gifted writer. Her books, like this one, are woven very tight, with few holes, unlike the numerous explanatory gaps that I have seen in many other fantasy books. That, I suppose, is what makes a lot of fantasy/sci fi writers either good or catastrophically bad. Lackey, however, makes her little world believable. Her characters have unusual depth and are like real people, all with their quirks and differences, and not shying from life. Like I said, she writes brilliantly, and I love her sense of humor in her writing style! I can guarentee you that the (perhaps?)formidable size of the book completely belies the reality, for it will seem a short read. Not hard to understand at all, and hilariously funny at the same time.

I've only recently started to read Mercedes Lackey books, and I'm still rather confused about whether to like them or not, due to several annoying quirks that constantly show up.
'By the Sword' follows Kero, a strong-willed fighter, throughout her life from "lady of the house" to an intelligent and skilled mercenary.
The characters are fairly well developed. Kero is an exceptionally strong female, and all of the supporting characters have a point and a purpose. (Although they are *all* a tad annoying after awhile).
The plot is fairly well strung as well. The military work done in the book, while basic, was very interesting to read. Also, unlike the other Lackey books that I've read, the pace of the book remained constant.
My biggest problem with 'By the Sword' was, however, the occasionally annoying plot twists. I found Darren's "newfound" magic power at the end to be a bit irritating, and what irritated me the most was when Kero and Darren acquired Companions at the end. *Why* exactly? To tie the end of the book together in a sudden and pointless plot point?
Nonetheless, this was a good read. I don't reccommend it if your looking for something terribly intriguing though.

After completing an English essay on this book <part of my semester project of analyzing the works of female fantasy authors>, I feel qualified to review this book. In a few words - it is excellent. At times, the plot is a little slow and bogged down in the political feuds <very very difficult to remember>, but it is truly memorable. I'm not going to recite how the characters are great, the story complex but fulfilling, and that whole bit. But I will say this - Kerowyn is typical of Lackey's heroines/heroes - the misfit and outcast who finds her place in society after years of searching - but her story still rings true for so many today. Lackey uses a fantastic setting in the world of Velgarth to merely have the reader suspend biases, and reassess views of homosexuals, racial relations, and women <also a very typical thing for all of her books>. I found this book, in all its excellency and fantasy plot, extremely relevant, and I'm sure other readers will feel the same.

I absolutely loved the first two books in this cycle, "Oathbound" and "Oathbreakers," but I thought this one fell far short of the mark. Endlessly repetitious and filled with obvious observations, I found myself impatiently skimming through just to get to the end to discover how it all turns out, without getting bogged down in repetitive detail. I never really bought the central love story and the opportunities to deal with Kero's hesitancy about her magic were not explored nearly as much as they could have been.
I see from the other reviews that I am obviously in the minority here, so take my review with a grain of salt. I just wanted someone to put out a warning that this may not be up to the Lackey standards you expect. My advice is to go back and read the first two books instead.

Misty Lackey is one of my favourite authors, although sometimes she can have books that are really bad, but makes up for that when she writes excellent ones like By the Sword. Kerowyn, the main character is a likeable girl who has a strong personality. THis 492 page book chronicles her life since the death of her parents at 14 to her being involved in romance, war, and strategy when she is older. I think this book is a classic that I would recommend to people who love a good fantasy and a story about a strong minded girl. Although some of it is sad because you might not like some of the decisions Kero makes, this is an excellent book, and I don't think any other Lackey books can top it.

This is the story of Kerowyn, a nobleman's daughter. Kero must choose between a dismal and structured life of a proper 'nobleman's wife' and the life of a mercenary soldier. Kero chooses to become a warrior.
Alienated from her family, and friends, Kero battles evil with the help of her mystical sword Need.
I liked this book because Kero is believable and likeable. She is not entirely selfless (She is a mercenary after all) and does not seek to 'change the world,' instead; this is the adventure of a likeable woman in an extraordinary fantasy setting.
One of Lackey's best books!

Absolutely love this book. Waiting for an audible version too.
I've used this book on many occasion to addict others to the works of Misty. I realize it's smack in the middle of the Valdimir series, but I find it a great place to put someone who has never read Misty's work before because it is easily a stand alone piece.

This was one of my favorites of the Valdemar series. It offers readers a nice break from the traditional plot of her books--following a Herald through training etc. I'm not saying those weren't good books, they were! But this offered a refreshing diffrent perspective. Kero was a wonderful character to follow, and when I finished I found myself wishing she had more books. There were a few spots in the middle that were a touch slow, but in all it was great. I advise any fans to go and read it, some might like it less than others, but it's still worth the read. And if you've read it, and liked it, go and get the Oathbreakers series (based on Tarma and Kethry) It's just as good.

One of the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey, this is the story of Kerowyn, why she became 'famous,' and how she became one of the Heralds of Valdemar. I am a big fan of Lackey's Valdemar stories, good versus evil with the use of a little mind magic and some very hard work. I think a teenager would like these stories if they would read long enough to get 'into' the story. I high recommend this series.

In this story Kerowyn finds her calling somewhere other than being another brainless female court ornament! After training for fighting with her Aunt's bloodsister (Tarma and Kethry, from the Oathbound trilogy), Kero goes on many adventures that take her far and wide! This is a very good book with a very good ending! I really liked the characters, and the plot, and so on. I would recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of genre, and especially for anyone who likes (or like me, is in love with) the Valdemar series!

Okay, this book was about Kerowyn and how she became to be a Herald. She starts out as the lowly sister who escalates to lowly mercenary then to mercenary Captain before finally becoming a Herald. It had some really colorful characters. Kerowyn was really cool and was terribly funny. Eldan seemed rather dull, though. And I really HATE Daren. He was just so pompous. In the later books he's all nice and funny, but here his character is the stereotyped rich boy. The book had a really good pace until the middle where she just sort of looks around Karse.... it's a tad odd to me. I don't know. I loved the ending though! It was superb.

The plot and the characters were excellantly portrayed!I cried when Kero had(I hardly ever cry about things I know are fictional)to make an abrupt departure from Eldan. I bought this book a while ago but reread it often and I advise you do the same thing too!

Mercedes Lackey's `Valdemar` book series continues to meet and exceed my expectations. If you like medieval settings and/or seemingly ordinary people meeting extraordinary challenges this is a book for you.
I would rate as a get and read.

The plot and the characters were excellantly portrayed!I cried when Kero had(I hardly ever cry about things I know are fictional)to make an abrupt departure from Eldan. I bought this book a while ago but reread it often and I advise you do the same thing too!

Mercedes Lackey's `Valdemar` book series continues to meet and exceed my expectations. If you like medieval settings and/or seemingly ordinary people meeting extraordinary challenges this is a book for you.
I would rate as a get and read.

Every 'Valdemar' book I've immersed myself in has taken me to a wonderful world that I wish really existed.

Kerowyn, like her grandmother before her, is a strong woman, but still very much a woman, as her attraction to a certain Herald shows. She is also a woman not led around by her hormones (Thank goodness.)

A book that should be recommended to all teen and pre-teen girls as a role model.

I enjoyed reading about Kerowyn's adventures and struggles as she grows up. I especially liked her involvement with Eldan, and hope to see at least one sequel that reveals more of their developing relationship, and how they would work together on a herald's assignment(on the embassador trip to Karse with Talia, perhaps?).

yeap... its like the best book ive read from mercedes lackey besides the black swan... (dont u love her cover of the books)??
newez, this is a great book about this really great character kerowyn, u have to read this, i totally admit that at first, its sortta strange but then it s like bamm wow....
go for it

Good characters, good story, well-written, better than any Mercedes Lackey has written set in that world. (Next best are Oathbound/Oathbreakers, which precede this book and can really be taken as a "trilogy".) Loved Kerowyn, same way I loved Tarma & Kethry.

Kerowyn is an unbelieveable woman, she inspired me to be all I can be, and that I am "destined for greatness" (Warrl) I wish I could live her life within my own. She is courageous, honest, loyal, trustworthy, etc. She is amazing!