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alobearValdemar is the latest Mercedes Lackey book, the third in the most recent series about the founding of Valdemar. It's pretty long - but I have to say that not an awful lot actually happens. For the majority of the book, it's an episodic relation of what it's like for Kordas to be king of a new country, ten years after its initial settlement. So, there's a lot of estate management, minutiae of governing, settling minor disputes and making sure everything is running smoothly.
Which I really enjoyed!
There are some interesting new characters introduced, Kordas' sons get more of a look-in now that they're older, some of the relationships develop in engaging ways, there's emotion related to the death of a beloved cat, and things tick along for most of the book in a gently entertaining but very mundane fashion.
And then the Companions turn up with a lot of fanfare - and getting to see that 'first hand', as it were, after decades of being a fan of Valdemar books, was awesome!
Then in the last 90 minutes of the audiobook, there's suddenly a massive action climax, almost out of nowhere - which I actually found a lot less interesting than all the kingdom-building stuff. Everything to do with that plotline is then resolved incredibly quickly and it all feels a bit unnecessary.
But still, overall, a very enjoyable listen - and a great conclusion to the prequel series.
Which I really enjoyed!
There are some interesting new characters introduced, Kordas' sons get more of a look-in now that they're older, some of the relationships develop in engaging ways, there's emotion related to the death of a beloved cat, and things tick along for most of the book in a gently entertaining but very mundane fashion.
And then the Companions turn up with a lot of fanfare - and getting to see that 'first hand', as it were, after decades of being a fan of Valdemar books, was awesome!
Then in the last 90 minutes of the audiobook, there's suddenly a massive action climax, almost out of nowhere - which I actually found a lot less interesting than all the kingdom-building stuff. Everything to do with that plotline is then resolved incredibly quickly and it all feels a bit unnecessary.
But still, overall, a very enjoyable listen - and a great conclusion to the prequel series.
