Changes: Volume Three of the Collegium Chronicles (Valdemar, Book 3)

I’ve found Mercedes Lackey to be one of those authors who has the ability to create worlds that immediately draw me in and characters that I care about. This series gets better with each book.

The Kindle version was not available at the same time as the paper version--a snafu apparently, and at this point the hardback page still does not show a Kindle version available--yet here we are! Also, the reviews are not crossing over. I did write one over there, and I will modify it for the Kindle version.It sounds like the paper version suffered from poor proofreading and multiple typos. Honestly, I just read the book and though I'm sure there were errors, nothing was of note enough to pull me out of the story in the Kindle version.The following review is not of a spoiler-ish nature, but does presume that there is knowledge of the characters already.Basically, I was pleasantly surprised.I was waiting for the Kindle version so I had plenty of time to read the reviews as they came out on the paper version. Suffice it to say, they concerned me. I had been more disappointed by the second book, so I feared I would enjoy this one even less.However, a few things occurred with this book that made a significant difference...First of all it really hit me that this is more of a YA type read. I picked up the Arrows series back, as I recall, when I was YA (or close to it) and the third book was just coming out. It was instantly my favorite series, and my memories have remained quite fond. Many times I have gone back to re-read something and realized what was deep and meaningful may not have aged as well. Some of the newer Valdemar volumes were of a quality that have made me suspect this might be the case as I just found them a little 'phoned in' so-to-speak. (I have had far too much on my TBR to justify re-purchasing Arrows as yet to check and see, and my originals remain in storage for a couple more years).Mags is definitely one of the standard YA type characters--miserable childhood, whisked away etc. However, when I looked at him through the lens of a younger reader I found him much easier to identify with than I had in the previous books. The angsty issues really are just that and I'm sure I would have 'identified' just a bit more earlier in the series if I remembered the YA perspective. This YA bent seems supported by the barest mention of kissing (or more) or just what it is that the slatternly women do for a living.Second, one of my Least Favorite things about this series has been the dichotomy between the way Mags speaks either verbally or via mindspeech vs. the vocabulary he uses when 'thinking'. Most people 'think' in their 'out loud' voice to some degree. Not exactly perhaps--the way I write for example is certainly not exactly how I talk but there is not THAT much of a difference.Two things happened in this story that lessened the impact of that concern for me. Specifically, Dallen does tell Mags how he basically did a 'dump' into his mind to stabilize his gift in the beginning-- and that is why he appeared to learn so fast/well on how to control his gift. Some of the spillover surely included the vocabulary needed to process the information, even at the subconcious level. Also, Mags discusses how some of his diction remains part of his cover. As he becomes more of a 'spy' type trainee he is cultivating the dumb-hick persona. He does indeed give demonstrations of how he can speak more properly...Third, and related to the preceeding, is there is less of the 'Mary Sue' aspect to Mag's character. Yes, he comes out of the mine as a fabulous rider, fabulous mindspeaker etc. Turns out that was survival mode to a large degree given the 'help' from Dallen. Here, we actually get to see Mags going through the process of learning his role as a futrue Herald-- sometimes just sitting back and letting others think things through, and sometimes actually going through a process such as figuring out how to pretend to be deaf.In any case, some of the most grating aspects of the recent books were put into a perspective where I was able to let go and just sit back and enjoy the story.Yes, some of the interpersonal conflicts felt manufactured, and perhaps resolved easily. Yes, there is still a little too much introspective exposition resulting it a little too much 'telling'. Yes, there is a definite open ended ending--but not a cliff hanger (maybe I'm just assuming that there will be more to follow...). New characters are introduced and one can't help but wonder at the implication (the Heir shows up as does a character named Charliss. Hm, probably not THAT Charliss, but hm). To me, that just screams more to follow, but in a good way.So yep, this one got 4 stars out of me as I just sat back and enjoyed the story and found myself shushing family members and reading in the car to finish it. Recommended!JTG

While I have some real problems with this book, I cannot agree with the one and two star reviews either. However, I have the benefit of knowing that this is not the end book of a series; if it had been, I would have been bitterly disappointed.The book is better than the first two with some of the mysteries being, at least partially, solved and others remaining for the future. The solutions do not necessarily result in happy ever after endings but provide realistic resolutions to the problems involved. Sadly, we see less and less of the Collegium and more of the city of Haven.There are, however, some matters that keep this from being on a par with earlier works by this author. 1) The matter of Bard Marchand is handled almost as an afterthought, as if the author was just tired of him and decided to make an end. There really is not sufficient explanation of his motivation in the actions he took (I am trying not to spoil this book for those who have not read it). 2) Mags' age? Mags was 11 or 12 when he was chosen. We have his own word for the fact that he had not yet reached puberty. He came to the collegium in the fall and the unusually cold winter started at the beginning of that book. The second book covered the balance of that winter and into spring. For the most part, we see Mags as an exceptionally mature young boy throughout. The third book starts with the exceptionally hot summer that follows so Mags should be about 12 or 13, maybe 14, at a stretch. But he is now acting and is being treated as if he were 17 or 18. The romance with Amilly is between young adults and not children and Amilly's father is treating Mags as an approved suitor. Ridiculous. 3) Mags' accent. When he came to the collegium, Max spoke with an uneducated accent and vocabulary. Perfectly natural, but it should be something the collegium is seeking to train him out of, not tacitly condoning. He should be required to use proper diction and vocabulary just to give him much needed practice in using the language properly. Heralds are required to interact with the nobility, to act as judges and to represent the crown. Failure to speak well will be a handicap when he becomes a young man but nobody seems to be doing anything about it.In the end, I have given it four stars but I think there is a decline in quality overall.For the rest, the book was fair and I am looking forward to the next - final? - volume.

This is the third instalment of this series and just as enjoyable as the previous ones. I love the world of Valdemar, so vivid, unique and imaginative. A well written and entertaining story. I can't wait to read the next book. Highly recommend.

I am a very big fan of Valdermer series since I read "Arrows of the Queen" and every book since as been a wonderful adventure that I wish to share with my grandchildren .Mags has been a great New Character but the way the story keeps slipping old favorites into the story made it even more intriguing since Vanyel😊

Die Geschichten um Valdemar begleiten mich schon sehr lange Zeit. Auch hier findet sich wieder eine neue Geschichte um Herolde und ihre magischen Helfer. Kurzweilig zu lesen, wobei ich das Erzähltempo manchmal etwas langatmig fand. So langsam habe ich das Gefühl Mercedes Lackey gehen etwas die Ideen aus um ihre Welt zu gestalten. Andere ihrer Bücher haben mich mehr gefesselt.Dieser Band schließt natlos an seinen Vorgänger an. Mags arbeitet mehr mit Herold Nicolas. Dazu muss er auch seinen Freunden durch nicht einfache Situationen helfen. Aber wie gesagt das Erzähltempo fand ich etwas zu gemächlich.Ich tendiere durchaus zu drei Sternen, da die Ideen und das Tempo eher dieses Urteil verdienten, aber ich habe mich dann doch zu 4 Sternen durchgerungen.

Le livre est en excellent état, a été livré dans un bon délai, bien empaqueté pour le protéger des chocs. Je n'avais pas de demandes particulières quant à ce livre car c'est la deuxième fois que je l'achète: le premier a été perdu dans le métro et jamais retrouvé, donc, je connaissais le résumé, le format et le reste. mon achat correspondait à ce qui était indiqué quant à la qualité du produit.

zeer goed en snel geleverd