I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar
by
Mercedes Lackey
It is part of the Tales of Valdemar #6, series and is a fantasy in Paperback edition that was published by DAW Books on December 7, 2010 and has 352 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Unnatural Issue, "The River's Gift", Foundation, Intrigues, Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit, Owlknight, Charmed Destinies, Changes, Beauty and the Werewolf, Invasion, Home From the Sea, Dead Reckoning, Conspiracies, Bedlam's Edge, Crown of Vengeance, Redoubt, Harvest Moon, World Divided, Elemental Magic: All New Tales of the Elemental Masters, Sacrifices, Steadfast, Burdens of the Dead, Bastion, Victories, Blood Red, The House of the Four Winds, Games Creatures Play, Closer to Home, Born to Run, Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, Chrome Circle, Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar, Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar, Arcanum 101, A Tangled Web, Winter Moon, Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar, Elementary: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters, No True Way: All-New Tales of Valdemar, From a High Tower, Hunter, Closer to the Heart, Silence, A Study in Sable, Elite, Closer to the Chest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, A Scandal in Battersea, The Hills Have Spies, The Bartered Brides, Dragon's Teeth, Eye Spy, Breaking Silence, Pathways, Passages, Magic's Pawn, The Black Gryphon, Magic's Promise, The Serpent's Shadow, The Oathbound, The White Gryphon, The Silver Gryphon, Beyond, Spy, Spy Again, Oathbreakers, The Lark and the Wren, The Gates of Sleep, Phoenix and Ashes, The Wizard of London, The Robin and the Kestrel, Oathblood, Take a Thief, Exile's Honor, The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley, Owlflight, Brightly Burning, Exile’s Valor, Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crucible, Choices, Into the West, Into the West, Sun in Glory and Other Tales of Valdemar, The Fire Rose, The Case of the Spellbound Child
An anthology of fifteen tales of young adult fantasy in a theme of finding your path in Valdemar.
Series:
“Heart’s Choice” and “Heart’s Own” (Heart)
The Stories
Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon‘s “Finding the Way” is an unexpected pairing of a hertasi with a Companion in which the hertasi teaches the Companion patience so she may survive until her Chosen is ready. Twisty little tale!
Rosemary Edgehill and Denise McCune‘s “In Burning Zones We Build Against the Sun” is a rather depressing tale of the unique talents of a Valdemaran Healer and the struggles he attempts to survive. It comes right in the end…rather uniquely, although a bit on the vague side. Still, a good story.
Elizabeth A. Vaughan‘s “Unintended Consequences” is a very short story of traitors and a mournful death which ends unexpectedly well.
Mickey Zucker Rechiert‘s “Education of Evita” is an excellent tale of the confidence of youth with its resulting embarrassment of reality as Evita learns the consequences of judging from naiveté.
Elisabeth Waters‘ “A Charm of Finches” is one of those stories that exemplifies why I love stories about Valdemar. Its people are basically good and do what they can to help people. Maia has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech and manages to save several people now and who knows how many would have been harmed in the future through her gift of seeing through birds.
Don’cha just love that…a charm of finches so directly opposite a murder of crows…
Kristen Schwengel‘s “Healing in White” sees Shia Chosen by Eodan. Shia is a unique combination: a talented Healer with strong Gifts in Mindspeech and Empathy with a touch of Foresight and Sereth, the head of the Healers’ Collegium, is furious that they have lost her to the Heralds! At which Herald Merchan, Dean of Collegium, reminds her that the Companions are always right with their Chosen choices…that someone with the right combination of Gifts is always Chosen when they are needed…
Brenda Cooper‘s “Songs of a Certain Sort” takes a rare perspective with its warped household trapping and taking its way into becoming. Talk about getting what you wished for…
Stephanie Shaver‘s “Otherwise Engaged” is a sad tale of unrequited love and an unwanted death sentence.
Kate Paulk‘s “Heart’s Choice” is a lovely tale of tolerance and love when an unusual pair of sentient beings rescue a hybrid cub when its parents are killed. It’s also the first half with Hoyt’s “Heart’s Own”, providing the happy ending.
Sarah A. Hoyt‘s “Heart’s Own” is the happy ending for Paulk’s “Heart’s Choice” when Rem’s unease is answered in every way necessary.
Both are so well done that each story feels as though it is written with the same voice.
Tanya Huff‘s “The Time We Have” is such a sad story with its necessary ending and it feels as though an important chunk is missing. Wherever did Jors meet the lady with a braid?
Fiona Patton‘s “A Bard by Any Other Name” is an odd story of young love and bad poetry with a suggestion of a Bardic Gift revolving around a young graffiti artist.
Judith Tarr‘s “Change of Life” is absolutely lovely!! With a most unexpected lease on hope and requited happiness. You go, girl!
Nancy Asire‘s “Lack of Vision” is a story from Karse of a hanging judge required to adjudicate a murder trial with an inside look on achieving justice.
Michael Z. Williamson and Gail Sanders‘ “Groom’s Price” is the journey of Keth’re’son shena Tale’sedrin. A Chosen who resists his Companion’s choosing. For no Shin’a’in uses magic…no matter who is part of his bloodline.
The Cover and Title
A very Valdemaran cover with its Companion’s head in profile poking through a shield hole against a heraldic-looking banner. In light royal blue and gold. The title is accurate in that each tale is one of Finding the Way.
