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Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar)
Foundation - Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1 - Valdemar
Author: Mercedes Lackey
In this chronicle of the early history of Valdemar, Mercedes Lackey’s bestselling world, a thirteen-year-old orphan named Magpie escapes a life of slavery in the gem mines when he is chosen by one of the magical Companion horses of Valdemar to be trained as a Herald. Thrust into the center of a legend in the making, Magpie discovers tal...  more »

Mags had been working at the Pieters' -- mine, slaving in the dark, cold seams, looking for sparklies, for as long as he could remember. The children who worked the mine were orphans, kids who had been abandoned, who had lost their parents, or were generally unwanted. But Mags was different.

Mags was "Bad Blood," because his parents were bandits who had been killed in a raid by the Royal Guard. "Bad Blood" because he'd been found in a cradle in the bandits' camp. Blood so bad that no one had wanted to take him in except Cole Pieters. When he was big enough to see over the sides of the sluices he had gone to work at the mine. Mags knew nothing of the world beyond the mine, and was unaware of how unusual his paltry existence was. Then some strangers on huge white horses forced their way past the Pieters family and carried him away to Haven to become a Herald Trainee.

Suddenly the whole world opened up for him. He was warm and well fed for the first time in his life, and he had Dallen, his Companion, who seemed more miraculous than an angel. But the world of the Collegium was not all heavenly. There was political upheaval in Valdemar's capital, for the court had been infiltrated by foreign "diplomats," who seemed to be more interested in seeding discontent than in actual diplomacy... and Mags seemed to be the only one who'd noticed...
PBS Market Price: $8.09 or $4.19+1 credit
ISBN-13: 9780756405762
ISBN-10: 0756405769
Publication Date: 10/6/2009
Pages: 432
Rating:
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 44

4.2 stars, based on 44 ratings
Publisher: DAW
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Another visit to Valdemar and another bit of their history. This newest series looks to be right up there with her other work in this World. I enjoyed the characters, their interaction and their magic. Hope the next book keeps these characters and grows them up with the overall story line.
HWC
reviewed Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar) on + 636 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This one was good, but not as good as some of the others. It certainly felt "new", but it was strange how so few of the past books and people were even so much as mentioned. I liked Mags' character, but I felt like this one spent more time describing the food than moving the plot along. What there was of the plot was interesting, but nothing was resolved. Which IS different from her other trilogy's first books. I am looking forward to the next installment, but hardly dying to find out what happens next like I have been with some of her other books. The Companion-relationship in this one is more involved than some of the others, which was interesting. Still, I am looking forward to reading a non-Valdemar book after over a month of reading nothing but this series!
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reviewed Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar) on
Reminds me more than a little of "Arrows of the Queen", the very first Valdemar book--very similar set of character types, story set-up, and execution. Even some plot elements and scenarios closely mirror Talia's experiences. Original, this is not. However, it's better than some of the other Lackey books I've read in the last few years, and this might be a good book to hand to a young person as an introduction to the Valdemar series, much as "Arrows" is. Not too much weight from previous books, but hints are there if you look for them. An enjoyable but light read.
reviewed Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) (Valdemar) on
I found this book to be a good introduction to the world of Valdemar without requiring the recognition of characters from the back story that some of the other novels have required.


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