#ReadingValdemar: Our Loves, Hates, and Progress

May 31, 2019

Closing out every month, Melanie @ Grab the Lapels and I will be sharing some of the discussion we’ve hard around the Valdemar Universe. While each trilogy stands on its own, they are all interconnected and set in the same world. This discussion format gives us space to make connections between the series, explore the ideas Lackey presented in greater detail, and just generally fangirl.

 

15 16 books. 12 months. 5 series. What could go wrong?

In this discussion, Melanie and I have tried something a bit different. We’re at the time of the year where the books are more spread out, meaning the content of the books is further from our mind. This time we just both responded to four larger questions. It makes for a milder discussion but is still very enlightening. These discussion posts have been so much fun! I hope you’re enjoying them as much as we are.

 

Extremely mild spoilers below for Winds of Fate and Winds of Change.
Read at your own risk.


 

How did Winds of Change inform or change your impression of the fantasy genre?

 

Melanie: I don’t think I’ve read any fantasy that focuses more on a tropical setting. The Tayledras vales are inside protected domes. Even the weather is altered in there. While is was snowing outside the k’Sheyna vale, inside it was humid, full of wading pools, and everyone slept in trees. I’m used to every fantasy novel being some version of Merlin and King Arthur: medieval-feeling, castles, a looming scary mountain. Also, most fantasy I’ve read has a distinctly British feel to it. Made up countries are fairly obvious replicas of England, Ireland, maybe Italy if we’ve got some traveling characters. In one book I read, the characters made it to what had to be a Middle Eastern-type of country, but that seems rare.

Jackie: I love that you acknowledge the setting being so different from most fantasy settings. There are a few books that Tamora Pierce wrote which take place in tropical locations (Daughter of the Lioness duology, for example). However, I felt like Winds of Change informed my existing understanding of stereotypical fantasy rather than broke it down. Obviously, there’s the whole Faux-Medieval Europe thing in Valdemar, and we’re heading back there ASAP, despite this holiday in a more tropical climate. We’ve got a twist on the Lucky Novice in both Elspeth and Firesong. We’ve got both the Waiting Evil and Black and White Morality in Falconsbane’s existence. The “Here comes the Calvary” twist with the arrival of the k’Leshya claim. I found this book to be a bit tedious and predictable, but I love it anyway. These characters! <3

 

What could you have totally done without that happened in Winds of Change?

 

Melanie: There were some minor plot threads that didn’t make sense to me until they were used last second to save the day. I don’t like that. Mostly, I didn’t understand what was going on with Dawnfire: she was dead, she was put in a bird, she was saved by a goddess (I think) and then was a bird again? But wasn’t losing her personality to the bird’s? And then we get a random section in which Tre’valen decides Dawnfire is his soulmate, but I don’t remember them interacting? I have to use the Valdemar Wikia to remind myself about these characters because they were inconsequential until at the last minute they weren’t.

Jackie: Ugh. That whole Tra’valen/Dawnfire sub-subplot line was so confusing. Why did it matter? I think that whole plotline could have been removed and the story would have changed very little. I hope it comes back in the next book. I also felt like the magic lessons were overdone. I got bored with Darkwind and Elspeth being in a training montage for over half the book. The biggest challenge was that Lackey was telling during these scenes instead of showing. Ugh! A lot of this telling instead of showing really slowed down the pace. Finally, the whole Here Comes the Calvary bit made me roll my eyes a bit. It was too convenient.

Melanie: Not gonna lie, I love the training parts. Firesong is like “try this” and easy-peasy lemon-squeezy, something magical would happen. I get why nerdy kids go around waving their arms and pretending to banish things — and may even wear capes and have wands? I’m not sure what the kids are doing these days.

 

Did Winds of Change end in such a way that made you want to keep reading the third book in the trilogy, Winds of Fury?

 

Jackie: Yes! And this reaction surprised me. I didn’t really connect to the book until Chapter 14, 57% of the way through the novel. When Winds of Change ended, I felt like I could take a comfortable break away from these books but I definitely wanted to keep reading. There are so many unanswered questions! I desperately want to know what’s going to happen. Reading The Last Herald-Mage trilogy before this also drove me to ask many more questions from this book, mostly related to the connections with magic, what Herald-Mage Vanyel did before/when he died, and what is going to happen in the future of Valdemar. Don’t worry, I have an extensive list of questions I wrote down that I hope to have answered in Winds of Fury.

Melanie: I felt like this section of Valdemar could have been a duology because so much has happened, but that villain is a wiley one. He keeps escaping out the back door, which some hypothetical idiot has propped open. Honestly, I want to move on to Elspeth in Valdemar and maybe more with Firesong. He’s so Vanyel-like but from a third-person perspective, so I’m pumped when he’s around. What we do know is that Elspeth and Darkwind are going to Valdemar, which I’m assuming means there will be lot of “why aren’t you wearing many clothes?” and “why is your hair white?” and “don’t bring your griffon in the dining room.”

Jackie: You know, you’re right. I think the content of The Mage Winds would have been stronger as a duology. As we both pointed out, there were quite a few additional characters and sub-subplot lines this book could have done without. A duology would have made this story more concise. Great point!

 

How are you feeling about your progress and participation in #ReadingValdemar?

 

Jackie: I am extraordinarily thankful that you’ve welcomed me on this journey to read the Valdemar books, Melanie! I have really enjoyed getting to know not only a new-to-me author, but a female fantasy author. I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, but I find that most of what I read is written by men. This has been a breath of fresh air in my fantasy explorations. #ReadingValdemar has also been an anchor in my reading and blogging this year. With everything that’s been going on related to my job and buying a farm, I know I would have vanished from the blogosphere for a few months. Blogging and reading is something that brings me joy and keeps me sane. If I had dropped #ReadingValdemar, my mental state would be much worse right now. Thank you for helping keep me afloat!

Melanie: Liar, liar, pants on fire. You are the best kind of friend: you invited yourself “over”! I told you I was doing this ambitious, nutty reading thing and you said you were coming into my book house (which I picture being a hut made out of one big Mario Bros. mushroom). Honestly, I think I would be less happy with this project if I were doing it alone. I know that when I read the entire Anne of Green Gables series my readership starting dropping off. Either people had read Anne’s story already, or they hadn’t and didn’t want to read my review of the first book and then spoil the seven following. #ReadingValdemar is going to take about 2.5 years, so it’s quite a journey. A fantasy journey. A book trope happening to US.

 


 

It’s hard to believe that we’re over halfway done with #ReadingValdemar and almost halfway done with this year. Where did the time go? Coming up next we will finish up The Mage Winds trilogy with Winds of Fury

Haven’t been reading along thus far? That’s okay! Each trilogy for #ReadingValdemar can be read completely stand alone. You don’t need to read any of the previous trilogies to understand or follow along — though, as you can see from above, reading other books does enrich the reading experience. Feel free to join up and share your reflections on The Mage Winds trilogy as we continue #ReadingValdemar! 


What do you think?

  • Did you read Winds of Change? What do you think?
  • What do you think of our #ReadingValdemar journey so far? Are you following along? Why or why not?
  • Have you read a trilogy you thought would be better as a duology? Which one? Why?

8 Comments

  • Jorie May 31, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Hallo, Hallo —

    You might have felt I fell off the Earth – truth is, I keep seeing your updates for this RAL and I have been wanting to resume where I left off with it. Mostly between my migraines (4x in May) and some personal adversities arising in March/April – I just never had the chance to begin the books. This stemming off the fact I had migraines in Jan/Feb as well. I had a good bookish May despite all that chaos and fatigue – reading as much Fantasy as I had on hand to read and it set me into a pattern of wanting to read even more… therefore, despite the very late start, I’ll be beginning my route into this RAL starting in June. I forget which of my libraries has the novels but I’ll be moving between the audiobooks and the print editions – as I had originally planned whilst back-reading the discussion posts and contributing my own on my blog as well. I never even had the chance to tell you I created a graphic for my blog to celebrate the RAL, too!

    Initially I thought I could read the first trilogy during #WyrdAndWonder (this May) but with those migraines and the after effects they presented me with (intensive fatigue!) — I knew I had to push this goal into June.

    I wanted to drop by and let you know your straggling participant is finally able to focus on this series and after reading the #FantasyReads I have this May, I feel I’m in an even better position to attach myself into this world!! Thanks for inspiring me to endeavour to read this and I look forward to the next six months!!

    • Grab the Lapels May 31, 2019 at 4:15 pm

      Oh, Jorie! It sounds like you’ve had a h*ck of a time in 2019! I know some people read these books out of order. I was one of them when I was 16. However, now that I am reading them in order, I think it’s much more satisfying. Jackie, what do you think? Should Jorie jump in with THE MAGE STORM trilogy in July?

      • Jorie June 1, 2019 at 5:31 pm

        You mean I should forego the order of the RAL and move directly into MAGE STORM instead whilst you guys are reading it in July? Hmm.. that is something to consider. I hadn’t known I could jump round and read this out of sequence… if you think I ought to re-do how I’m approaching this I’m all ears! Would I be better to read the stories I’ve missed between the next stories we’re discussing if I finished them early? Almost like my own Valdemar shuffle? (laughs)

        • Grab the Lapels June 1, 2019 at 10:20 pm

          There is a Wikia that is full of all sorts of information. You could read the plots of the novels you have not yet read (they are full plot descriptions, spoilers and all) and then you could jump in with us with Winds of Fury or wait until July. Here is the Wikia: https://valdemar.fandom.com/wiki/Books_by_series

          Click on a title of a book to read the plot. You should have the reading schedule, so you know which plots to read. If you don’t, let me know!

          • Jorie June 1, 2019 at 10:21 pm

            Ooh this is brilliant!! Thank you!!!

            • Grab the Lapels June 1, 2019 at 10:27 pm

              You’re welcome! Let us know if you have questions. It’s a lot of info to take in.

              • Jorie June 1, 2019 at 10:57 pm

                I definitely shall! 🙂 I’ll explore this after I wrap-up my reviews and posts for #WyrdAndWonder – I have it earmarked to return and I can’t wait to carve out a path to re-join the group!!

  • Kim @ Traveling in Books June 1, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    So Tre’valen and Dawnfire…. I don’t remember if they come back in the next book, but they play a role in the Mage Storms trilogy. So spoilers…..






    Dawnfire started out as an impulsive young woman whose spirit ended up trapped in her bondbird’s body when her physical body died. Had her spirit remained in the bondbird she would have lost her self into the animal form. The Goddess saved Dawnfire’s spirit and turned her into an avatar (like an angelic-type figure). The same thing basically happened to Tre’valen, but without his spirit being trapped in a bondbird. So the two of them are now avatars of the Goddess who do Her work, whatever that might be.

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