Series: The Founding of Valdemar #1
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Publisher: DAW
Released:
June 15, 2021
Received: NetGalley

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar world has been going on for years – thankfully. Now fans are about to learn more about the early days, with the introduction of a new series: The Founding of Valdemar. And it all starts with Beyond.

Duke Kordas Valdemar has known for a long time now that the Empire’s exploitative hand would eventually reach his Duchy – and beyond. He knows better than anyone all of the reasons why this would be a horrible fate for all.

His family knows the cost and risk as well, which is why Kordas’ father heads out looking for magicians with a slim hope they’ll find a solution. The solution is not an expected one, but with time running out, there isn’t much time to consider the alternatives.

“And the Emperor’s dunderheaded idiot Knights of the Throne would refuse to ride a mare or a gelding. This made absolutely no sense at all, of course. If Kordas had been an enemy commander, one of his first moves would be to send a loose, wild mare in heat out onto the battlefield as soon as the Knights put in an appearance, but in the Empire, when masculine ego came into play, logic flew right out the window.”

Is it possible for the Founding of Valdemar to be both everything and nothing like what I expected it to be? I love that even after all of these years, Mercedes Lackey is still finding ways to surprise her readers.

Trust me when I say: Valdemar fans are not going to want to skip this latest series. The world may not (yet) be the one we’re familiar with, but it is so intriguing and compelling. Better yet, it was so much fun looking for the details that would eventually lead to the stories we know so well.

I loved the inclusion of court intrigue in this story. I know I’m a sucker for any combination of magic and politics, but I just can’t help it! I love the way Lackey develops the character and the threats simultaneously.

I can’t wait to see what will happen next! Add this series to one I’ll be keeping up with (worth it!).

Thanks to DAW and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.