Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA wonderful, touching collection of stories
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2006
It was with some sadness I awaited the arrival of Crossroads and other Tales of Valdemar. Mercedes Lackey's vibrant world introduced me to the world of fantasy, and I knew it was going to be the last of Valdemar for a while. I found this anthology to be a collection of moving stories exploring all aspects of living in Valdemar. Not just tales of Heralds, this collection spans the variety that can be found. I regret no stories of Tayledras, though Larry Dixon's gryphon story that opened the anthology moved me to tears.
Most of the stories dealt with war and its harsh realities. Perhaps it's a reflection of the era in which we live, perhaps it's because a good battle makes a good story. Either way, these tales go beyond just a story. They evoke a life, and a world, in which we all would want to live.
Mercedes Lackey brings us another tale of Tarma and Kethry, and I am glad, for to me, no Valdemar collection would be complete without these legendary figures. It was their books that got me to thinking about paganism, and their stories broadened an already wide world.
With works by such diverse authors as Michael Z. Williamson, Mickey Zucker Riechert, Tanya Huff, Fiona Patton, Judith Tarr, Brenda Cooper, and others, the authors' unique voices shine through united in a love of the world that Mercedes Lackey created. Like many others, I hope this isn't her last Valdemar book, but if it is, then it is a worthy grand finale.
Adept Starfeather k'Valdemar
