Book One of the Collegium Chronicles - A Valdemar Novel

I started reading Mercedes Lackey with this series. I always look to see if there is a new book in the Valdemar series. It is because of this series that I will always look at any new book written by Mercedes Lackey and I rarely do not buy a book she has written

If you like the Heralds of Valdemar books, you will enjoy this latest Mercedes Lackey book. It is at least as well written as her early books and fills out the story of Valdemar a bit more. There are some threads that aren't tied up neatly which, along with her tendancy to create Valdemar books in groupings of three, lead me to believe there will be another book soon to provide more on Mags and the foundation of the Heralds Collegium. Worth getting now despite the wait it inspires for the next book. :)

Likeable characters, intriguing story, definitely not a rehash of previous storylines.

This is the start of another Valdemar series and it starts, as they all tend to do, with a young child who is living in horrific conditions and has no idea what his gift is. In this case, the child is known as Mags and he is working as a slave in a mine that produces gemstones. After the obligatory description of how harsh life is, and how Mags manages to find ways to eke out some privileges within the system he’s operating in, a White horse shows up and Mags finds himself as a Herald Trainee and is whisked away to Haven – the capital of Valdemar. Unusually for this series, I was missing the Companion telling Mags that he CHOSE him, not sure what happened to that formulaic portion of all the other stories.

Once Mags arrives at Haven, he is acclimated to his new surroundings in an amazingly quick amount of time. Within the span of two or three months he manages to find friends, get involved with the top tier of Valdemaran society, get noticed by the Kind’s Own Herald, makes good friends, and starts realizing that there is some sort of illicit scheme going on that he needs to spy on to protect Valdemar. Not bad for a country bumpkin who has never lived outside of the mine in which he spent the vast majority of his life to date, right?

If you have read the other Valdemar books, this book will take you over familiar ground. It is a blend of Take a Thief; Exile series; and various other Valdemaran books recalibrated and rehashed for the most part. There are references to the Collegium being built, and to the turmoil it causes within Heraldic circles as well as the construction process itself, but those are merely echoes in the background. As usual, the Companions play a somewhat mysterious but exceedingly important support role while Mags is finding his way in the new environment.

The overall writing is good and so this is a gripping and exciting read. Even though most of it was familiar, it was still fun to read about how Mags gets involved in spying on the supposed diplomats and their guard. However, it was definitely disconcerting when a fight breaks out and it turns out that Mags has developed a style of fighting very similar to Judo with no one teaching him anything like that. Especially, as he is proficient enough in it – at the age of 12 or 13 – to be able to defeat a group of six hardened bodyguards!

This is obviously the first one in a series as the ultimate confrontation leaves behind many more questions that it resolves. I will not address them in this review, as that would mean that I would have to reveal many plot points that it is much more fun to read yourself. I am looking forward to the next book in this series that I am hoping will resolve many, if not all, of these questions.

One of my favorite parts of the Valdemar epic saga are the Collegium so I love that there is now an entire series based on them! Foundation is the first in a (so far) five book series set in the Collegium. While Mags is the center of the series from the Herald Collegium, the Bardic and Healer Collegiums are also at play through Mags' two best friends.

Mags has spent his childhood as little more than a slave, a paid worker in name only. He has been neglected and abused his entire life and seen those around him treated the same way. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that he had a natural knack for finding the "sparklies," life would have been even worse for him. But no matter how bad it has been for him, he has still remained kind and loyal, often sacrificing what little he has for others. And then one day, his entire life changes when a white clad Herald and a seemingly crazed horse come charging into the mine to claim him. At first, he is terrified, completely uinaware of what is happening to him. He doesn't realize that this will prove to be the best thing to ever happen to him.

I love Mags,one of my all-time favorite characters in the Valdemar series. He is uneducated, but far from unintelligent. When he is finally exposed to knowledge, he soaks it up like a sponge, ever aware of how little he knows about the world around him. He has lived a life of mere survival, never experiencing anything other than mistreatment at the hands of the mine's owner.

This is one of my favorites, full of mystery and intrigue and emotional characters!

NOTE: The books in this saga were not published in chronlogical order, but it is on her website here, about 3/4 of the way down the page.

My Recommendation: Admittedly, I am a Mercedes Lackey junkie, but this is one of my all time favorite series within the entire saga.

FTC Disclosure: Regardless of how I received this book, this is an honest review based on my own opinions.

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon.com. Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Mags is a miner - a horribly mistreated, hungry teenager forgotten by the rest of the world. Imagine his horror when he is Chosen by a Companion. He is whisked away into a world he thought only existed in holy books, and naturally he feels distrustful. It seems the Mags is always going to be a source of contention.

If you've read others of the Lackey books, and aren't reading them in chronological order, the start of 'Foundation' may seem very similar to others, such as 'Take a Thief'. Mags is the downtrodden, mistreated main character who is of course elevated to Herald-trainee status. It's not a complaint from me, just an observation. I enjoyed the new settings, and I love a character who doesn't give up, even when it seems like the situation will never end.

It's great that there is more than one person saved, and that Mags is able to make a difference. It's not just 'pluck one person out and make him a Herald', the other kiddies in the mine get a chance too. Not that they will become Heralds, but they get a second chance at life, not like the rest of the people in downtown near the Collegium.

Bear seems to collect with him the underdogs from the other Collegia. Although he stays reclusive, he still manages to make friend by mistake. The first half of the book seems to just be Mags settling in, with very little 'action'. It's nice to get to know the character intimately in this way.

I'd recommend this novel for adults, although teens would also probably enjoy it. It's not overly sexual or violent, it's quite subtle once you are past the pages on the mine. A great book, which I think on its own is equal to many of the other Lackey novels.

To be honest with you all, I didn't actually finish rereading this book. I had reread it quite recently as it was, and the story was still fresh in my mind. I did go back over it to look at the specific content and character development though. I really wanted to get onto the new book in the trilogy 'Changes', because I'd just borrowed it from the library.

A previous reviewer called Lackey's work the, "comfort food" of fantasy, and I can't say that I disagree with that statement. They're light, they're easy, and once you've read them, it's a world that is very comfortable to settle back into...so long as you stick with the foundational (I'm sorry I couldn't help myself) novels set there. I had stepped away from Lackey because there is only so much I'm willing to put up with to stay in a comfortable world.

Because this was the beginning of a school story (more or less), I was intrigued. And, given that the weather has just turned stormy, I felt like reading something comfortable. Foundation fit the bill.

Mags, our newest Chosen, is cut from cloth very similar to that which gave us Skif in earlier novels: he's scrappy, he's uneducated, and as time goes on, it turns out he's got a knack for spying. There really isn't a lot here that's new, so readers familiar with Valdemar might find themselves skimming through the first two thirds of the book because, though the characters are many, they and the story itself are old hat. Exploring the investiture of the Herald's Collegium is interesting, as are the peeks into culture and the high holidays (though this is something that will appeal more to returning readers than newbies, I'd wager).

New readers will find endearing characters, an approachable (if basic) plot, and a world that coming back to feels like slipping into your comfy clothes on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Is this (or any of the Valdemar books) groundbreaking? Absolutely not, but it's easy and sometimes it's just right.

A previous reviewer called Lackey's work the, "comfort food" of fantasy, and I can't say that I disagree with that statement. They're light, they're easy, and once you've read them, it's a world that is very comfortable to settle back into...so long as you stick with the foundational (I'm sorry I couldn't help myself) novels set there. I had stepped away from Lackey because there is only so much I'm willing to put up with to stay in a comfortable world.

Because this was the beginning of a school story (more or less), I was intrigued. And, given that the weather has just turned stormy, I felt like reading something comfortable. Foundation fit the bill.

Mags, our newest Chosen, is cut from cloth very similar to that which gave us Skif in earlier novels: he's scrappy, he's uneducated, and as time goes on, it turns out he's got a knack for spying. There really isn't a lot here that's new, so readers familiar with Valdemar might find themselves skimming through the first two thirds of the book because, though the characters are many, they and the story itself are old hat. Exploring the investiture of the Herald's Collegium is interesting, as are the peeks into culture and the high holidays (though this is something that will appeal more to returning readers than newbies, I'd wager).

New readers will find endearing characters, an approachable (if basic) plot, and a world that coming back to feels like slipping into your comfy clothes on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Is this (or any of the Valdemar books) groundbreaking? Absolutely not, but it's easy and sometimes it's just right.

Foundation is two books, one exciting and a pleasure to read, one awful. The first book, consisting of the first quarter and second half of the story, is classic Valdemar.

The story follows the same basic pattern as Talia in Arrows of the Queen with elements of Skif's story: poor abused child is Chosen and brought into a world beyond his/her imagination and ends up serving his/her Monarch and country in a major role.

For once I would like to see the story of a fairly normal/average youth with no notable issues or problems. Not an orphan, not desperately poor or filthy rich or abused, just a youth on the path to a normal life who finds him/herself Chosen and thrust into the Collegium and Heraldic Circle.

Most of the book has the usual Lackey flow of storytelling and action. It is what one expects of a Valdemar book, not great literature, but a great read. It draws the reader into another world, one familiar to Valdemar fans and comfortable, but different enough to draw interest.

Parts of the book serve as a transition for Heraldic tradition, from the one-on-one mentoring process we see in Vanyel's story to the Collegium/schoolhouse training of Talia and Skif's experience.

Like all transitions, there are bumps in the road, bumps that, of course, hit the main character in the bum as he learns to be a Herald during a time of upheaval.

Although the pattern of the story so closely matches Talia's experience, the details of change in the Heraldic Circle, new characters and political maneuvering bring the familiar pattern a whole new life.

However, the second quarter of the book is terrible.

Especially bad is the Choosing scene. From the time the Companion arrives to the time Mags arrives at the Collegium, The story is rushed, choppy and uninteresting. the story is written like bad fan-fiction. A long-time reader like myself (I began reading the series before the second book, Arrow's Flight, was released) might wonder if Lackey has burned out on Impression scenes and just wanted to provide readers the Cliff Notes for the event and newly-Chosen pattern following.

The early relationship between Mags and his Companion is inconsistent with everything Lackey has established about the Herald/Companion relationship. Companions are far too helpful, explain everything to a newly Chosen Herald, and Mags has his full Gift almost immediately (and finds out he's had it for a long time). Also, he and his Companion can see through each other's eyes, an ability that is supposed to be unique to Talia and Rolan.

The rest of the book gives promise to the rest of the trilogy.

If Lackey can avoid falling into the hole she dug herself in the second quarter of Foundation, and avoids following the rest of Talia's journey, giving the new character a completely different story, this could be a decent Valdemaran tale.

Mag's trilogy has plenty of promise, but isn't Lackey's best.

Unfortunately this series seems a bit too formulaic. It doesn't have the depth of world and character building of most of Ms Lackey's Valdemar series. The plot line of the horribly abused orphan child with nobody in the world who rises from the depths to become a person of prominence is a favorite contrivance, and when done well makes for great reading. Also, I love the trials of the underdog child thrown into an academy or school where he undergoes all the crap that adolescents and teens do to each other. The first book in Sherwood Smith's "Inda" series is a good example. With fleshed out characters and realistic personalities this makes for engrosing reading... In this case, it just didn't hit the mark. Things turned around too quickly and too easily. This is a book more for 10 to 14 year olds than most of the earlier ones. I will read the 2nd book, "Intrigues", but if it doesn't improve that will be all.

Foundation chronicles the first year of training for Herald Trainee Mags, an orphan who was discovered working as an indentured servant in a gem mine. Mags makes for an entirely different sort of naif than Talia did, being no longer innocent, in spite of his lack of experience in the greater world. Watching people do the right things for the right reasons constitutes an awakening for him, and not an entirely comfortable one. Mags's coming of age takes place in a general atmosphere of change, as there are an unprecedented number of Trainees, too many for the available Heralds to take on as apprentices, and a Collegium is being built to accommodate the burgeoning group. Not all Heralds are in favor of the new training method, as Mags comes to find out. He quite unexpectedly finds his place among them after using skills he learned in the mine.

I enjoyed jumping back into this world. Valdemar is as enchanting as it ever was, and Mags is easy to root for. The supporting cast is also fun. Dallen the Companion is a treat, but I especially liked Herald Jakyr. His flaws made him interesting. Mags's buddies Lena the Bardic Trainee and Bear the Healer Trainee round out a trio that reminded me of another fantasy trio, and I have a hard time believing that was an accident. Still, Collegium is not really like Hogwarts, with its carefully negotiated sense of danger just held off, such an effective mirror of ordinary life. Far from reassurances of safety that is not really guaranteed, the instructors at Collegium are constantly reminding the Trainees that they are being trained for dangerous jobs. Depth is not the attraction of this particular book, however, so Collegium need not be a mirror for anything. Foundation has the cozy sense of everything in its place - even when the mysterious assassin turns up - that makes most of the Valdemar novels such good comfort reading.

It is curious that the timeline states the year as 850 AF, yet Stefan, Jisa and Treven are apparently all long dead, people barely remember vrondi and nobody seems to know what a mage is. I'm just going to pretend that was a typo and the year is really 950 AF. The plot makes better sense in the context of 950 AF.

Bottom line, if you like the Valdemar novels and aren't holding out for another entry of the caliber of The Last Herald Mage trilogy, this is well worth picking up. I'm probably going to continue the Collegium Chronicles myself, though I waited for Foundation to go into paperback and I'll probably do the same for Intrigues.

This is the beginning of the latest series in Lackey's Valdemar world, which has always been full of warm and fuzzy. I was actually somewhat disappointed by this return although I was really eager to read it because I remember loving Valdemar.

Perhaps it's simply that I don't remember all the references made to previous stories. The Companion was too smug and cuddly, and the main character Mags was too cookie-cutter or something along those lines. I just didn't enjoy this book as much as Lackey's previous works.

This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book because I did. It was heroic, good triumphs over evil, and exactly the way I remembered Valdemar to be. Unfortunately, that also made it somewhat formulaic. Hopefully, the rest of the series will turn out to be more interesting.

Mercedes Lackey's been my go-to author for decent entertaining fluff for a long time now. She's not exactly a deep author, but if you want a decent yarn about a kid too special for his environment, who goes to a special place to reach his full potential and have adventures on the way, well, she's usually pretty fun about it.

But this is just appalling. It's all her normal tropes, sewn together by the most serviceable and convenient writing, with the most minimal effort she can possibly get away with. The last time I felt this author had phoned it in this blatantly was Piers Anthony's later Xanth novels. The protagonist's so badly maltreated in his childhood that the Companion has to literally do some kind of mindmeld where he magically brings him up to a reasonable stage for a kid that age, but once that happens he's just magically fine and ready to make friends and influence people. I found this to be tremendously lazy writing, which appropriately set the stage for the rest of the book, wherein nothing much happened at great length as he settled into the Collegium.

Frankly, I'm insulted that she put this crap out for the people who've read her for years to buy. I don't demand quality, but a little more than the bare minimum of effort would be nice.

In all seriousness... no, this is not her best book in my humble opinion. There are several I like better... but it's still good. Yes, it's similar in many ways to the other Herald book, but that is the POINT. That's why it's a Herald of Valdemar book! Without the similar storyline, it wouldn't fit into that category. That said, I'm looking forward to the next book immensely. I want to know what happens next.

One reviewer mentioned that Mags went from under-privleged, anti-social, abused child to happy, friendly Herald-Trainee rather quickly, but if you pay attention... he really didn't. Even he is confused by his new friends, having never had any. He doesn't understand most of the people he meets. And since he's from a completely different background, he shouldn't.

It's a quick read. I read it in four hours. It also seems to be set for a younger audience than some of her other books.*cough*Godmother books*cough* Sorry, I have a cold... It's still very enjoyable, and I hope anyone looking to read it ignores the naysayers and gives it the try it deserves.

So, I love Misty and all the Valdemar books. Including the ones that don't take place in Valdemar. I like Mags. I like him a lot, he is a fun character. I don't like his companion. In past books the companion's have tried to make their chosen think for them selves, and don't let them lean on the companion. But Dallen, he takes all the challenge out of his chosen's life. He tell Mags how to sit on a horse, tells him about buildings, and doesn't even try to have Mags stand by himself. I just finished The Last Herald-Mage books before I read this one, and Yfandies is so different, she makes Van think for him self, but Dallen is doing all Mags thinking for him.

I liked the book, but Dallan just got to me. There were inconsistencies in the time line and stuff, but those I can forgive. I didn't like the way she ended the book. That was just, not cool. There was only vague build up that was unexplained and the end was unsatisfying. It was to short and regardless of the fact that it is setting up the next book, it should have had a reasonable closing point. I can't remember a book that in the Valdemar Series that didn't have a reasonable closing point. I just didn't like how little meat there was in the book. The only character I really connected with was Mags. Everybody else was kinda flat...

I was really torn trying to rate this novel. Ultimately, I gave it 3 stars, though I can see where people less familiar with Lackey's work would give it 4. Certainly, if Foundation is your first or early foray into the world of Valdemar, I can see giving it a 4. But, having read all of the series many times, I was torn.

Mags is indeed a likeable character who overcomes significant odds by being Chosen. He has an interesting personality, and Lackey sets up the foundation of his personality very well. In particular, I like the relationship he has with his Companion, Dallen. The two have an older brother-younger brother thing going on that is really well developed.

I like the intrigue that Lackey introduces. She does know how to leave a reader wondering what will happen next.

That said - down to the meat and bones of why I gave it a 3. According to the timeline, King Randale dies only 52 years before the founding of the Collegium. (And really, I think that's generous given that Magic's Promise and Magic's Price took place over several years, but let's assume that Vanyel died in 798.) Thus, Trevan (?) should be King and Jisa should be King's Own - they were both young when Randale died. But, we seem to have a random, unnamed King and Nikolas is King's Own. To me, this simply doesn't make any sense, and it truly disturbs the Valdemar timeline. At the end of Magic's Price, it mentions that Bard Stefan lived a long time after Vanyel, and I would expect the founding of the Collegium to take place right around that Stefan dies - especially given that he was 17 years younger than Vanyel.

As a longtime reader of the Valdemar series, such errors seem neglectful on Lackey's part. I certainly hope some explanation - worked into a history lesson for Mags or something of the like - is forthcoming in the next Collegium Chronicles book.

This seems

Foundation: Book One of the Collegium Chronicles by Mercedes Lackey, the latest addition to the Heralds of Valdemar series, takes place during the first year of the newly created Heralds' Collegium. The newest Chosen, Mags, was an orphan forced to work in a mine finding "sparklies" along with other unwanted children when his Companion, Dallen, forces his way onto the mine owner's property, with the help another Herald and Companion, to claim him. From there, Mags begins his new life as a trainee, trying to find his place in an unfamiliar world. Unused to being shown kindness or having friends, he feels like an outsider among the many trainees (Herald, Bard, and Healer) crammed together in one building while two others are under construction.

Mags becomes unlikely friends with two Bard and Healer trainees, children of famous parents, who live under the pressure of high expectations. He even inadvertently befriends a powerful councilman who decides to take an interest in Mags. Meanwhile, foreign princes have visited the city and have their guardsmen looking into Valdemar's weapons training.

I have not read all of the Heralds of Valdemar series, but I know what to expect of a Valdemar book from the ones I have read. Foundation seemed incomplete to me. The climatic scene had little to do with the rest of the book, though I am sure it will be important in the books to come. Having said that, I did enjoy the novel. Mags is likable and sympathetic. His suffering and later loneliness due to the lack of family made me cry. It was also interesting to see the conflicts and issues related to the creation of the Heralds' Collegium. I am definitely looking forward to more of Mags and the continuation of his story. Maybe some of the questions left open at the end of Foundation will finally be answered.

This novel is like putting on a well worn slipper. Familiar and comfortable. The plot is similar to many of Lackey's stories, featuring mistreated youth who are freed from their suffering to discover they are meant for great things.

Foundation breaks no new ground but it was a quick and compelling read, with a setting I always enjoy. My main disappointment is the abrupt ending. Hopefully more books in this arc are forthcoming.

So for readers familiar with Lackey's Valdemar novels I highly recommend it. But readers new to this setting should start with another series, in particular, The Last Herald Mage trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price).

I had given up on getting any new Valdemar books, and I haven't looked for years. Now I've discovered that they're three more that I haven't read.

Of course, I love books with unfortunate teenagers making good. During the Valdemar drought, I've devoured about everything from G.A. Henty. And even a fair amount of H. Irving Hancock. But coming back to Valdemar is like coming back home. I was reading it at work. I can't get away with that tomorrow, and I need my sleep tonight, so I don't dare get the second one until tomorrow evening. Kindle is dangerous.

I wonder if the people who liked the books in their teens and find the new ones unsophisticated now have changed their tastes. I think that Mercedes has improved with age, but she's still writing the same books. I actually prefer the initial introductions to the character, like this one, to the more complex ones later in the trilogies.

I love the food descriptions. I love the thread of domesticity that runs through these books. People need to eat.
G.A.Henty and Harrie Irving Hancock feed them too. I tried to read some George RR Martin stuff - among many other things, I missed the domesticity.

Although Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol does it best. At least that I have read so far. And that book is about an old miser making good. I'm 55, I should want more of those.

I LOVE the Valdemar series and as others have said have been EAGERLY awaiting this newest installment. I was disappointed. It felt like it was written in a hurry. The only character that she took time to develop was the main character and even that felt off. As mentioned in other reviews the attention to detail and pre-established timelines was off... but the most frustrating thing for me was all of the loose threads still dangling when the book is finished. We are teased with some interesting plot development and then nothing is resolved. I know this is Book 1 of the Collegium Chronicles and there needs to be room to grow. However, I have read all of her other Valdemar series numerous times and she always ties up the plot at the end of each book so I am left feeling sad that I finished up but satisfied. Not this time. I hope the next books in the series improve.

Like many of Lackey's fans, I discovered the Valdemar books as a teen and from that point on, they were my constant companions. It started when I found copies of the Vows and Honor duology at the used bookstore and it was love at first read. By the time Brightly Burning came out, however, I was starting to notice the writing had changed; it no longer held me as tightly fascinated as before. Then Exile's Honor and Valor frustrated me because of the blatant Mary Sue character thrust into the center of things, despite how interesting it was to see Alberich's beginnings.

I drifted away from the Valdemar series, always keeping them on my bookshelf as a constant reminder to myself that "Lackey is my favorite author!" Gradually, I began to doubt that. I didn't realize it had been 5 years since the last Valdemar novel, but when I heard about Foundations, I was curious but also apprehensive. The premise sounded like any generic Herald's tale and the cover was reminiscent of Magic's Pawn, which made me pause. They couldn't think of something original for this new character? Nevertheless, after being a fan for so long, how could I not pick up the latest Valdemar book?

It is a tribute to how much I felt I owed Lackey as a fan that I managed to finish the book. I was highly disappointed in the writing, which seemed aimed at young adults, and found many of the characters very flat or unappealing. Mags' Companion annoyed me to no end with his lengthy explanations and repeated "taking over" to help his Chosen. When have the Companions ever done that? I know they've always been a support to the Heralds and in more recent books, a blind Herald was able to see through his Companion's eyes, but completely taking over a Herald's motor functions? That was just too much, in my opinion.

I also have to agree with other reviewers who point out the inconsistencies with the rest of the Valdemar timeline as well as the introduction of modern-day ideas into a novel set in Valdemar's past. Knowledge of heart disease and "Duck, duck goose"? At that point in the novel, I was completely turned off and was just trying to make it to the end. I hate to put down a book without finishing it--in fact, I think I've only done it two or three times--but I persevered because this wasn't really awful. It was just disappointing and at times, boring. I thought the number one rule of writing was "Show don't tell" but I was told so much I felt like I was back in school.

In summary, I don't think this is a good representation of the world of Valdemar, even if it shows the Collegium's beginnings. If you're new to this world, go with The Last Herald Mage or Arrows of the Queen trilogies. I'm not sure I can recommend it even to the die-hard Lackey fans but since some reviewers have enjoyed it, maybe that's up to you to decide. Certainly younger readers might not feel as frustrated as I was, but after the maturity and depth of Lackey's other books, I expected the same from this one. One thing is for sure, I will not be reading the follow-up books to this one.

Foundation (2008) is the first fantasy novel in the Collegium Chronicles subseries of the Valdemar series. This volume is set about 850 years after the founding of the Kingdom of Valdemar. The number of Herald Trainees has recently increased to the point that the King has ordered the establishment of a Herald's Collegium like those of the Bards and Healers.

In this novel, Mags is a thirteen -- going on fourteen -- years old orphan working without wages in a mine. He has been told many times that he has Bad Blood, so he tries to be as quiet and inoffensive as possible. Mags is also one of the most productive workers within the mine and is rewarded with extra slices of bread for finding more gems in the seam.

Cole Pieters is the owner of the mine where Mags works. He often tells the orphans how fortunate that they are to work in his mine. He claims that they would be starving in the snow if he had not provided them with work. His charitable efforts are offered at great cost to himself.

Dallen is a Companion, looking and -- mostly -- acting like a white horse with silver tail and hooves. Naturally, he really is not much like a regular horse, since his body is stronger and faster, his mind is more intelligent, and he can mindspeak with other Companions.

Jakyr is a Valdemar Herald, dressed in white and riding a Companion. His talents are in negotiation and are greatly in demand. He also fears close relationships.

Lena is a Bard Trainee. Her father is Tobias Marchand, a very famous Bard. Lena has been in his shadow for years and despairs of ever being allowed to just be herself. Lena is also desperately homesick.

Bear is a Healer Trainee, He does not have the Healing talent, but is quite skilled as a herbalist. He works in a greenhouse full of herbs and other plants. Master Healers visit him in his workroom to acquire healing potions and ointments.

In this story, Mags is aware of what happens to orphans that offend Master Cole. Some are beaten, but others disappear down cracks or under piles of rock. Mags tries to avoid notice by Master Cole or his children.

One day, Mags observes a sense of unease among the sons of Master Cole. They talk of a monster trying to get onto the property. Several days later, he comes out of the mine and finds Master Cole and a stranger dressed in white having a confrontation. Apparently the stranger is a Herald, who prevails over Master Cole by threatening to fetch the Guards to search the property.

Mags is trying to scuttle across the yard when the stranger comes to accost him. Then he is lifted over the gate, put on a white horse, and taken away from the mine. After a short ride, they stop and the horse he is riding introduces himself to Mags as Dallen, his Companion.

Mags has a lot of confusing information dumped into his mind. Among other thoughts, he learns that Master Cole is an evil man. He is also told that he is not really a Bad Blood. Naturally, Mags is immediately on guard against any traps or tricks in his relationships with Dallen, Herald Jakyr and the Guards.

Mags doesn't have any friends at the mine. After being installed within the Herald's Collegium, he attends classes with other trainees from the Herald, Bard and Healer collegia. He still doesn't have many friends, due to his country accent and lack of social graces.

Mags continues his usual behavior, standing back and observing all things around himself. He is also very distrustful of relationships with other people and even with his Companion. One day he encounters Lena and becomes her friend. In turn, she introduces him to Bear, who becomes another friend.

This tale leads Mags into some unusual associations. In turn, he is asked to do some unusual tasks, including spying on other trainees. He is a very busy boy with very powerful associates.

The story is very linear, suggesting that it is intended for young adults. The first part of the story -- within the mine -- is somewhat upsetting, but anyone who has read other Valdemar books will know that a Companion will appear at any moment and select Mags. Naturally, his work location might create some obstacles and the refusal of Master Cole to admit the Companion or Herald is not really a surprise.

Nonetheless, the story becomes more enthralling after Dallen first addresses Mags through their linkage. Of course, Mags has the talent of Mindspeak, which helps considerably in linking their minds. For example, Dallen is able to dump whole chunks of information into his mind while Mags is sleeping.

Hopefully there will be a sequel to this work. With any luck, this will be the first in a trilogy, since the author habitually produces such sets. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of Valdemar history, unusual adventures, and overcoming emotional handicaps. Anyone who has not previously read the Valdemar novels might want to start with Arrows of the Queen.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Mags is a carefully-chosen and virtually ideal narrator for a book that concentrates on teaching the reader about a time period and a group of people. Because of his isolation from society, his youth, and his lack of education, he has few preconceptions and everything has to be explained to him, and by extension to us, the readers. The one down-side to this is that much of the explanation comes in the form of thinly-disguised info-dumps, where Mags's magical horse-like Companion explains everything to him as it happens.

One of the truly fantastic things about this book, particularly if you read primarily to explore characters rather than for high-paced action, is the exploration of Mags's rather unique world-view. His childhood left him with an incredibly different perspective on life, and Lackey does an amazing job of conveying this. Similarly, she possesses a wonderful skill for conveying a world, and it's easy to imagine and see what's going on as you read.

If you're a long-time fan of Valdemar and have been looking forward to reading about the founding of the Collegium, this book will definitely not disappoint. There's a ton of information on the whys and wherefores, plenty of interesting side characters from around the Collegium and the surrounding institutions, and so forth. There's very little resembling a plot until perhaps two-thirds of the way through the book, but I'm guessing that if you're coming to this looking specifically for the Collegium background, that'll be okay with you.

The only problem is that if you really aren't familiar with the world, there are some unstated assumptions underlying the book that are likely to confuse first-time Valdemar readers.

I won't go into much detail at all on the plot since it doesn't rear its head until late in the book, and makes very little progress before the end, which means that almost any detail would give too much away. All I'll say is that it ends in a rather unsatisfying place, and while I'm sure the next book will help to answer some of the glaring questions it left me with, it would have been nice if they'd at least been raised before the end of this book.

Whether or not you'll want to read this book is highly dependent on your preferences as a reader. As for me, consider my rating to be a 3.5.

My biggest question was - why does Rolan show up as King's Own companion when it should be Taver? I thought Rolan didn't show up until Taver died in the Exile books, yet there Rolan is, speaking with Mags. Foundation comes before the Exile books in the timeline, but I have a feeling that whoever wrote the timeline didn't read some of the books.

There wasn't the big build up like in other Valdemar stories - but it wasn't a bad book. It's not up to the normal standards of Mercedes. But I love all things Valdemar and would take an average book to no more books at all.

I'm assuming there will be more, though so far I haven't found anything about upcoming sequels.

Let's face it... Once you starting reading Mercedes Lackey's books, you can't stop. Some of the more recent ones lacked the oomph of the classic trilogies, but this is a shift back towards the original couple of series. There is not, perhaps, as much conflict as one would normally expect to find in any novel, but it is a pleasant read nonetheless. I will happily read the rest of this series, when the opportunity arises.

The rescue of Mags from the mines that brings him to the new Heralds Collegium is the greatest adventure of his young life. Then meeting friends he could trust for the first time in his life.Life changes abound with mysteries to be explored in the rest of the trilogy,

Mags works in the jewel mines under Valdemar until, one day, a Herald shows up with a Companion (Companions are intelligent, psychic horses who really-really love their chosen people), takes Mags away from all of that and enrolls him in Herald school. At Herald school, Mags makes friends, manages to impress one of the King's chief advisors, and becomes the protoge of the King's Herald.

Author Mercedes Lackey has created some wonderful tales in the Valdemar universe. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Instead of plot, we get the poor orphan boy saved and finding love. He finds love from his Companion (Companions have got to be wonderful fantasies for teen girls who love horses and the idea of unreserved (and unearned) love), respect from everyone around him, and a host of talents that make him stand out despite his efforts to stay hidden.

There's nothing wrong with the poor orphan boy story. We all have fantasies, after all, about being recognized as wonderful. Still, it doesn't make a novel. Lackey gives us the basic tools for a plot--we have strange and dangerous visitors, Heralds angry over the way traditions are being changed, haunts, and Mags's own background--supposedly he was born of bandits. For me, at least, she simply didn't deal with the plants she put in place. Perhaps these will be dealt with later in the series and FOUNDATION is intended merely to start things off. Many writers have learned that it's sometimes necessary to delete the first couple of chapters--they had to be written to give the author the background to the story but the reader doesn't need them. To me, FOUNDATION felt like the chapters that should have been deleted.

Rehashing and messing with all the familiar characters was getting very old, I have not liked the latest Valdemar books despite being a fan for years. This book is in a new timeframe so all the characters are new. Other than that it is typical Lackey with its usual strengths and weaknesses. Overall I enjoyed it and hope to continue following Mags's story.

This book was a great addition to the series, but unlike most of the other books, it is not a story in its own. Too many questions are left unanswered at the end. Great characters, and the story was intriguing, but it just didn't go far enough! The 2nd book in the series better fill in some more blanks.

I really enjoyed this book with a different time setting and characters I did not know. Mags takes ignorance of the world and gains a completely new outlook. I especially enjoyed the problems that were being faced in Haven with the numbers of new Chosen coming to the city. Everything in Valdemar is not always joy and happiness.
I hope that the sudden ending leads to another book following Mags and Dallen quickly as I had a difficult time putting the book down even when finished.

I wanted to like this novel, really I did. Sadly, it disappointed me. The plot, what there was of one, meandered like a drunken sailor. The writing appeared hurried and far too "modern day" for a novel set in a historical context. I struggled to slog through to the end hoping a conflict was in there somewhere, but it read more like a diary than a novel. I won't be continuing with this series. I miss the old Valdemar!

Any good science fiction story needs at least on of three things: an exciting plot line, an original world, or interesting characters. Mercedes Lackey has managed to avoid all three of these like the plague in her latest installment of the Valdemar series.
The first two thirds of the book's plot can be summed up in one sentence: the main character was born into a bad situation, but the rest of the world is sweet and innocent. The rest of the plot involves a "mystery" that anyone familiar with the series will figure out the moment it gets introduced. The only real action in the story comes from a couple of bad storms, while the conflicts are so brief you miss them if you blink.
While the world of Valdemar is anything but unimaginitive, we learn nothing new about it during the entire course of the story. Everything is a rehash of the older novels. The only thing mildly new is that the Valdemar religion is somewhat akin to modern day paganism.
As far as the characters, there is not a great deal of depth to any of them. You never really get attached to any of them, ans there's hardly any personal conflict or growth, certainly none you don't see coming from a mile away.
In short, it really is a very empty novel. While it's certainly an easy read, no matter what you're looking for when you go into it, you're likely to come away disappointed.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
on 09/21/2008

Mags has been a virtual slave in a mine since he was a little tyke. To survive, he scrabbled for food and learned how to dig out "sparklies" to keep the mine owner off his back. The day the Herald arrives is both the most wonderful and most terrifying of Mags's life. After more than a decade of abuse and neglect, Mags is brought into a new life that defies comprehension. All that keeps him from panic is the gentle white horse with blue eyes... a horse that is as smart as any human... a Companion who has made Mags his Chosen, a future Herald.

Mags and Dallen must travel to Haven, the city where the Heralds are headquartered, and where the Collegium awaits Heraldic Trainees. Mags must overcome thick layers of defense in order to see the world as more than hunger and beatings. If he can, he'll find more than he imagined possible--both good and dangerous.

From grubby child worker to a Trainee in the middle of growing intrigue, Mags has the chance to do more than most people experience in a lifetime.

There is no doubt that Mercedes Lackey is extraordinarily talented. This novel is imbued with her spirit and a strong sense of justice. Depth of character, setting, and story are all present in this orphan's tale, opening readers to a new glimmer of understanding of those less fortunate and the appreciation for having what is needed.

There were some holes in the story that were distracting. As someone new to the world of Valdemar, it took some time to understand what constituted the bond between Companion and Chosen. The story is told from Mags's point of view, so the reader shouldn't be told everything right away, but there were basic questions I can't believe Mags didn't ask of Dallen. Other "holes" are things that I assume to be lead-ins to the next novel in the series.

Overall, I think fans of Mercedes Lackey will find this to their liking. It seems more targeted for a young adult, or even middle school, audience, but it's a good read whatever your age.

Misty Lackey is capable of writing Valdemar novels that aren't bildungroman - coming of age in Valdemar stories. She is also capable of writing Valdemar novels that aren't seemingly written for 13 year olds. This story is neither. After a promising start - the protagonist is a child slave, working in a mine - the story lapses into the same, tired plot line we have seen in the Owl Trilogy and a depressing number of her other, recent books. Combined with the annoying, frequent inconsistencies and lapses from facts established in earlier novels, and you have a two star mess.

I'm afraid this story will annoy serious fans and bewilder those new to the otherwise admirable Valdemar series. Skip it.

Like most Mercedes Lackey fans I anticipated the book's arrival.

I did like how the "First Years" of all three branches formed friendships, and hope that continues to grow.

Knowing this is the start of a new vein of Valdemar stories I expected a few snags,unfortunately it left me a bit lacking. There was no map that usually accompanies the books, I kept referring back to the time line due to the fact Stephan would have died about that time period, yet a vague reference was mentioned only once.

Remembering how much Talia did/accomplished in her first year was the only thing that kept me from crying foul.

I hope the following books in this new series knock the rust off her Valdemar lore and come up to the standards of Talia, Vanyel, and Skiff.