book query

[tigriswolf]

Which is the best book to enter the Heralds of Valdemar by?  I just started reading Foundation (and I already adore Mags, so please tell me if he comes to a bad end, so I can stop) and I feel like I'm missing something.

Comments

Warning: links contain spoilers...

[fictionalfemme.livejournal.com]

That's actually a really difficult question to answer, but back when I started reading the books, I started with Arrows of the Queen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrows_of_the_Queen).

Also, relevant to some of the things happening in the Collegium trilogy, you might want to read the Herald-Mage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Lackey#The_Last_Herald_Mage") trilogy.

Re: Warning: links contain spoilers...

[tigriswolf]

Thanks!

[averzierlia.livejournal.com]

he never dies so that's a plus

Uh, I think you should be fine starting there? I started with Last-Herald Mage trilogy, but the only books you should read in order are the...well, here, this (posted below) is the timeline in the 'verse'. They all tie into each other, sometimes in small ways and sometimes in big - LHM is a fine start because it doesn't reference much, CC references LHM but not much else. From Vows and Honor and on, they all tie in, I'd read them in the order listed BUT you can start with Arrows of the Queen and read on from there, then go back and do V&H and Kerowyn's Tale. I haven't read the second two Mage Wars books, or the Owlknight Trilogy, but I've read all the others.

Personally, I think LHM or AotQ lays down the best world foundation for understanding everything. LHM is referenced heavily in AotQ (which is the first books in the series written) so you could start with those. DO NOT start with Mage Wars they're confusing as fuck. So personal preference for me is starting with LHM, which I will warn you up front has major character death, suicide attempt, and rape.

But I'm pretty sure sticking with Foundation would be fine :)

TIMELINE
The Mage Wars
The Black Gryphon
The White Gryphon
The Silver Gryphon
The Last Herald Mage Trilogy
Magic's Pawn
Magic's Promise
Magic's Price
The Collegium Chronicles
Foundation
Intrigues
Changes
Brightly Burning
Vows & Honor
The Oathbound
Oathbreakers
Oathblood
Exile's Honor
Exile's Valor
Take a Thief
Kerowyn's Tale
By the Sword
Heralds of Valdemar
Arrows of the Queen
Arrow's Flight
Arrow's Fall
The Mage Winds Trilogy
Winds of Fate
Winds of Change
Winds of Fury
The Mage Storms Trilogy
Storm Warning
Storm Rising
Storm Breaking
The Owl Mage Trilogy
Owlflight
Owlsight
Owlknight

tl;dr - you're good sticking with the book you have.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you so much!

[ocean22193.livejournal.com]

I went by timeline. Though I started with the books that are (currently) at the end of the time line. After that I started the Mage Wars trilogy and continued on. And don't worry Mag's story is a trilogy (so far) he's still around (though I'm only half way through the most recent book).

[tigriswolf]

Thanks!

[romyra]

First series I read was the Arrows of the Queen Trilogy, then I read The Last Herald Mage series, the rest fell into place, I have actually never read some of the foundation books because they were boring me.

This is my read through;

1. Heralds of Valdemar - This sets the world nicely.
Arrows of the Queen
Arrow's Flight
Arrow's Fall

2. The Last Herald Mage Trilogy - The best set of books.
Magic's Pawn
Magic's Promise
Magic's Price

3. The Collegium Chronicles: Brightly Burning - a wonderfully sad tale

4.Take a Thief - great story
5.Exile's Honor- great story
6.Exile's Valor- great story

7.Kerowyn's Tale: By the Sword- a very strong female protagonist that I liked

8. The Mage Winds Trilogy- heavy but good reading after you have read the ones before.
Winds of Fate
Winds of Change
Winds of Fury

9. The Mage Storms Trilogy- Sequel to Mage Winds and very good.
Storm Warning
Storm Rising
Storm Breaking

10. The Owl Mage Trilogy - good series but it took me a long time to read all 3 for some reason. It was easy to put them down and walk away where as with the Last Herald Mage I had to be begged to eat and take bathroom breaks! I have actually re-read that series in its entirety 6 times.

Owlflight
Owlsight
Owlknight

I haven't read some of the others even though I keep meaning to.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!

[lizzie-marie-23.livejournal.com]

I've personally only read LHM, but it was absolutely brilliant. Since I know nothing about the rest of the books, I'd say that what everyone else has been saying looks good. Have fun as you discover this brilliant series.

[tigriswolf]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

[ladyjanelly.livejournal.com]

LHM for me, was the best of them (if you'd like the warnings that I remember from that series, let me know. There will be spoilers). Arrows was good. I read most of the others as they came out, but they didn't make that strong of an impression.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you! I'll finish Foundation and then decide how I feel.

[dreamlittleyo.livejournal.com]

I've only read the "Last Herald Mage" books out of this series, and that quite a while ago, but I absolutely adored them and I don't remember being confused along the way at all. I could definitely feel that I was not seeing the whole picture, but it was never enough to trip me up or take me out of the story.

So obviously I can't weigh in on whether or not "Foundation" is a solid place to start, limited as my experience is, but! There's my two-cents worth anyway. *wink*

[tigriswolf]

Thanks! So far, Mags is awesome enough to keep me interested.

[jya-bd-cp-ttgb.livejournal.com]

The Gryphon trio is the first story of the World, not just the country of Valdemar. First Valdemar books are The Last Herald Mage trilogy. Vanyel was a key piece of Valdemar history, and some of the stuff he did directly affects all the books written after him. Arrows of the Queen series is only necessary once you get ready to read the Exile books and Takes a Thief, but even then, Lackey Josses herself in those three because they were written so long after AotQ and she obviously only glanced at what she'd already written. Vows and Honor/Oaths books only come into play with By the Sword, which only plays with the end of the second Exile book and the Winds/Storm trilogies.

[tigriswolf]

Thank you!

[cxw1065.livejournal.com]

Whichever order you read them in, DO read them-- they are great-- well worth the effort you've put into finding out which order to read them in.

I hope you enjoy!

[tigriswolf]

Thanks!

[acidquill.livejournal.com]

So so glad you decided to read the Heralds! :D I actually started a little - okay, a lot backwards. Read Owlflight first then the other two in that arc (though Owlflight is my fav among the 3). Skipped to Brightly Burning (that one was rough, needed boxes of tissues by the end) & Take a Thief and the two Exile's... that 'precede' Thief. Only read Last Herald Mage last year I think? But love it :) Haven't gotten around to any of the others yet.

Er, so that was kind of a long way around saying, you can pretty much start anywhere if you're comfortable with a...fluid concept of time. It's pretty easy to go back and build the timeline/character lineup as you go along.

[tigriswolf]

The problem with something this massive, though, is that I really do prefer starting things from the beginning. But when something is written out of order, what is the beginning? *crosses arms and pouts*

[acidquill.livejournal.com]

That's the only thing er, not bad certainly, but confusing(?) about the Valdemar verse. Lackey writes amazing books that you can fall head over heels for...and then goes back and writes prequels. And prequels of prequels. All after the 'last' book in the timeline.