Welcome to Litsy!

#AutumnPlease Day 7

Pulled out an old favorite with a flowing #scarf on the cover 🧡

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

Any #valdemar fans? I started re-reading the series earlier this year. I've read about half of them over the years so there will be about 19 mainline books that will be new to me. I'm intending to read them all in publication order so I started with the very first one: Arrows of the Queen. This is an excellent intro to the Valdemar kingdom and how Heralds work.

1. If it's YA I cdc typically see the twists coming. Adult books are a lot more difficult.

2. Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. I've been reading them since I was 12 (there are over 30 books now!). It was my gateway into fantasy novels and even though some of the earlier books feel a bit dated I will always adore them.

3. Fake dating! And morally gray characters. 🧡

4. Litsy!

@CrowCAH

#WonderousWednesday @Eggs

Always a good read. I saw RBdigital was carrying these, so I expect that's what I'll be up to for a bit. Although there are lots of good things, and lots of queer themes, I'm not sure I can in good conscience recommend then as #queerfantasy, or #queerbooks since, as expected for the times, the more explicitly queer characters tend to meet tragic ends. But then, the whole Valdemar series is a delicate balance of joy and tragedy for most characters.

Love this #litsylove #winterswap package from @Kaila-ann lots of chocolate noms and that cup is so cute! Cannot wait to read the book. I‘ve neglected to read enough Lackey in my life so I‘ll enjoy this one!

How have I never read her before? This sounds like everything I would have loved back in the day. Looking forward to digging in. Also, thanks eBay.

I just finished Arrows of the Queen, the first book of the Arrows Trilogy. This was Mercedes Lackey‘s debut novel and the first of many more books to come. The book has more world building in my opinion than storyline which was completely fine with me. Perhaps the author‘s intent was to set up the reader for the many books to come. Overall a great read! This has now become one of my favorite books of 2019. #80sfantasy #heraldsofvaldemar #talia

Now reading page 165.

I‘m trying to understand what Talia‘s real “gift” or powers are. I‘m underwhelmed by what she can do especially considering that she‘s the STAR of the book. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#heralds #valdemar #collegium

Has anyone read this book? I haven‘t finished reading it yet but the book has a remarkable semblance to Harry Potter. What‘s more interesting is that it was written BEFORE the Harry Potter books. Which makes me think, did JK Rowling get her ideas from older YA fantasy? #jkrowling #harrypotter #yafantasy #arrows #heralds #talia #mercedeslackey #trilogy #highfantasy

So far so good! Can‘t believe this book has negative reviews. And I can‘t believe a ya book published in 1985 has LGBTQ themes. #highfantasy #lgbtq #ya #yafantasy #horses

Would you consider Arrows of the Queen as a high fantasy book? Just wondering.....
#highfantasy #mercedeslackey #ya

Finally settling down for some #24b4monday reading. I‘ve decided it‘s going to be a Valdemar reading weekend; it‘s been entirely too long since I spent quality time in this world.

Decided that I needed to reread this today. Actually, that I need to reread all of my favorite Valdemar books. They were my intro to fantasy, thanks to my first year college roommate who kept telling me I HAD to read these books. I was curious, especially when said roommate didn‘t even blink when I came out to her (it was 1995, and she was from India by way of the Midwest) and said she was fine with it, she read fantasy novels.

Who knew “freezing fog” was a thing?? Continuing my #nostalgia listen with this audiobook from #Scribd.

Listening to this on audio is a surprisingly emotional experience. This passage made me tear up then laugh, first at her realization that she has value, and then to her reaction to bawling on the queen‘s shoulder. In general though, I‘d forgotten how much I identified with Talia as a girl even younger than she, whose recently-divorced mother was becoming deeply entrenched in conservative religion and checking out from life with her three children.

“Few Hold girls could read, and none did so for pleasure.” So surprised and excited to see this audiobook available on Scribd.

@brandybear22 asked me tonight about books that are essential to knowing me. She already knew Stone Butch Blues, Matilda, Ender‘s Game. I thought of the tagged book, first in a trilogy and the first adult fantasy novel I ever read, and the Vanyel trilogy, both by Mercedes Lackey. I went into my LibraryThing Favorites to make sure I wasn‘t missing anything obvious. They were my first six entries 😊
How about you, what‘re your #essentialbooks?

I enjoyed this to point but it's a debut novel and shows. The plot as it were was all over the place and I'm glad this wasn't my intro to Lackey. I will be reading more Valdemar however. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1130371430?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

I'm so excited to finally dip into Valdemar at last! I've read a ton of Lackey but somehow never one single volume of Valdemar yet.

My husband and I have strict rules for making book collecting a challenge. We each have a list we carry, and any book needed for a series or set has to be bought in person.

It's taken me YEARS, but I've completed my Valdemar set (until a new book releases). I have every book first edition, first print. Those that were released only in paperback I also have the hardcover book club compilations. Except the anthologies, everything is signed.

1 Rogue (I don‘t read many comics, but I loved her when I was a teenager)
2 Talia the Queen‘s Own of Valdemar
3 The Iron Giant
4 Artemis Fowl
5 hmm... I can‘t think of one.
6. Consider yourself tagged
#tuesdaytidbits

This is my favourite fantasy book from a lot of years. It's a trilogy in the Valdemar series all about Talia a young lady who has no confidence and need a to learn about that.

Loved it and wish they would write more about her

This is the first time I have finished a fantasy book, or at least fantasy of this kind. I was pleasantly surprised to find feminist themes, thoughtful considerations pertaining to ability and disability, and the inclusion of a lesbian couple among the Herald heroes. I was really skeptical at first, but I'm won over and looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Signs that I'm probably not getting out of bed for the rest of the evening except to begrudgingly brush my teeth.

Anyone else going to #GenCon this weekend? I drove stock out for work and am going to hang out tomorrow and meet Mercedes Lackey!

I love a character who appreciates a #library as much as I do.

#sizzlinsummerbooks
@Tiffy_Reads

This was my second read and I didn't like it nearly as much as I did the first time.

The main character, Talia, was kind of a Mary Sue the main romance felt forced and random; the pacing of the story itself was weird. On the plus side, the world-building was good, the concept was really interesting, and there were several women loving women!!! It wasn't completely without its merits, but just wasn't really an enjoyable read for me.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Rereading the series that got me hooked on fantasy novels! Always a treat to revisit Valdemar :)

There are a billion ways I could have gone for the #kickassheroines prompt (I've always read mostly about girls and women). When I looked to my shelves, these tattered copies caught my eye. I read these over and over in high school. Talia wasn't necessarily a physically kickass heroine (though she can withstand torture like no one else), but she has great mental strength and gets herself through some impossible situations. #seasonsreadings2016

My well-loved Valdemar books - countless rereads here!

Lately I haven't been reading too many books where I #WishICouldBeThere but as a teen I really wanted to be in Valdemar. Obviously with Heraldic or Bardic powers, not as my mundane self. #booktober @RealLifeReading

It is down-right embarrassing how many books I have where horses play an important role, and yet the companions in Valdemar still always struck me as the most like full size My Little Ponies. #80sToy #octphotochallenge (toy from http://toysofthe80s.tumblr.com, which was fun to have an excuse to peruse!)

when my world imploded at the age of 11, this book got me through some very dark times. My copy of it is so battered I had to rebind and clear-tape the bejeezus out of it. I love this book. The Collegium series is weak as hell but the original stories are dear to me.

This book was the first new book I ever bought and I still think it was worth it. It's a short novel about a girl who finds herself in extraordinary circumstances and after accepting that she is "living in a tale"'does her best to help people and help save her kingdom. 4/5 stars