This is a pairing of two stories that may not seem to have too much in common, but they do. At some point last year we acquired most of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series through a humble bundle deal. I had read a few of her books over the years, but none of Valdemar. I chose at random Burning Brightly, which turns out to be a rare stand alone in the series. What struck me was the similarities in the initial set up with another stand alone book in a different series, hence the double review. Both of these books provide a single book view of a character present or referenced elsewhere in the overall series, but in a different time frame to that reference.
Strikingly, both stories start with the main character, in their late teens, being required to move reluctantly to a city as the result of their parent’s careers, being required to go to a school (presented each time as an innovation) and not getting along with many of their peers at the school. Then the stories diverge
Clariel, by Garth Nix, is set in the Old Kingdom. It is set hundreds of years before the Abhorsen books and shows the Old Kingdom as a functioning country, although the cracks are showing. Clariel has been taken to the capitol city as a result of her mother’s ambitions in the Goldsmith Guild and is angry she cannot stay behind and become a member of the Forest Rangers. She is sent to a school for the children of high ranking Guild members and is shocked to discover that Charter magic is seen as socially unacceptable. She also learns that she is to be betrothed to the son of a high ranking Guild member, much to her dismay. Her parents have determined that she is to continue studying Charter Magic, and she learns that she is related to both the King and the Abhorsen more closely than she realised.
Her magic tutor uses her to help trap a Free Magic being that had been loose in the city, and her berserker nature is realised. Then things start to go really wrong! Clariel tries to do the right thing, using the tools she has to hand, but the decisions and actions of others mean that her tools are going to cause issues for herself and others.
The story does a good job of showing the humanity of Clariel, how she came to the decisions she did. It also shows the Old Kingdom in a different light from the Abhorsen books. The Kingdom has been safe from major threats for decades if not centuries, and those charged with its protection have become less vigilant. In many ways it is stagnating. The wealthy have too much power, those in power flaunt their wealth and do not seek to help others. The seeds of how it will fall are there. It is frustrating too, this is a story where established readers of the series will know what happens to Clariel, although her name is different here. It’s a prequel, the later story will have to unfold in a particular way.
Burning Brightly, begins in a very similar way. Lavan, the middle child in a largish family has also come to the capitol with his family because of his parents careers. He lacks the aptitude of his siblings for his parents work in the cloth business and longs to join the Guard. His parents send him to a newly established school for the children of various Merchant Guilds. While the school is interesting, Lavan is the target of a group of bullies and struggles.
When they try to publish him for avoiding them, his latent fire starting talent emerges and immolates them. He also acquires a Companion. Companions are the white, horse shaped, beings that help protect Valdemar. When they are ready they choose their companion, who becomes a Herald, helping to defend the kingdom and maintain stability. Companions do not choose those who are not inherently good, which causes issues for both the Herald College and the general Guard-as he has killed a few people.
The rest of the book is Lavan’s accelerated training to assist in the war with Krause, the neighbouring country and an ongoing issue with the parents of one of his bullies, who keep trying to gain revenge for the death.
As an introduction to Valdemar it was a mixed bag. I appreciated that it was a stand along (the interconnected books can be frustrating). It provides enough information to introduce the world, without too much detail and it is mostly free from the torture and rape plot points that pop up in the rest of the series.
Because i had not read other books, i did not go in to this “knowing” how it had to end, but like Clariel, it is not a happy ending as such.
