Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Being industrious, cloth merchant Archer Chitward and his needle-working wife Nelda move their family from the wooded village of Alderscroft to the big city of Haven. The two adults and three of their children (Sam, Macy, and Feoden) are extremely pleased with the move because their ambitions lie with the Guilds. The other child, teenage Lavan hates leaving behind his beloved woods, especially since he wants nothing to do with the family business.
Lan is enrolled in the Collegia, an exclusive school where the wealthy older students bully and humiliate the newcomers. Lan detests the school and loathes the pupils, who constantly pick on him, until he explodes and causes the emission of a monster blaze. Lan, who loved pretending to be a Herald, has the potential to become the greatest of them all, but no one seems to want to train him how to control his fiery nature even with war imminent.
BRIGHTLY BURNING is a wonderful addition to Mercedes Lackey's Valdermar universe. The characters, especially the angst-laden Lan and his companion Kalira are fully developed and intriguing characters who make this fantasy world seem like an actual society. The story line is exciting, but tries to showcase too much, never deciding between an out of control Carrie-like rage vs. the problems and controversy of inter-specie relationships. Still, with the talent of Ms. Lackey, fans of the series will feel that the newest book burns brightly.