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Publication Order of Valdemar: Heralds Of Valdemar Books
Valdemar is the name of a book series that explores the universe of Valdemar, which is a kingdom in the world of Velgarth. The kingdom began centuries in the past when a baron called Valdemar fled from his homeland to escape a tyrant emperor. He traveled west with his family until they couldn’t go any further. After reaching a spot that’s now called Haven, they decided to build a castle and settle down. It wasn’t long before the surrounding people realized what a good person Valdemar was, and they would go to him to find protection. So his territory continued to expand until he was no longer seen as a baron but the people’s king.
“The Black Gryphon” is the first book in the Valdemar series, and the setting is the age when the kingdom has not yet been founded and its organization of Heralds has not been formed, and magic is still a wild an uncontrolled force. It tells us the story of Skandranon Rashkae, a fine specimen of the gryphon race. Gleaming ebony feathers, keen mage sight, majestic wingspan and high intelligence are some of his defining characteristics. He is also bold, courageous and crafty, and he fulfils everything that a human sorcerer known as Urtho had wanted to achieve by creating these magical creatures to become his champions and defenders.
However, trouble is looming in paradise because an enemy called Maar has once again started advancing on Urtho with a large force that is spearheaded by some magical creatures. These are cruel birds that are ready and willing to perform whatever evil that their creator demands of them. One of Urtho’s seers wakes up from a terrifying vision of devastation caused by a magical weapon being handled by common soldiers from Maar’s troops. Skandranon is therefore sent on a spy mission across the enemy lines, hidden by Urtho’s powerful spell of silence.
The author has done a good job of developing the characters, which are engaging even though they may sometimes show signs of being a bit flat. The development of these characters are not particularly unique, and we see them trying to find confidence and learning how to request for help when stuck. These characters also learn that they can’t always get any mate they want. The story is presented in a unique way, and fans of the series will find comfort in its familiarity.
The author has a tendency to switch between the character’s points of view, which can be a distraction if a reader isn’t used to this. This is a great book that you can read over and over without getting bored. The author is also an expert at building words, and magical beings like the Gryphons have been developed in very interesting ways. These are flying birds that can speak and even think like humans. You can liken them to raptors, but they are much larger. Even though the book is about war, its main focus is on the daily lives of the civilians during their downtime, which is quite refreshing.
“The White Gryphon” is the second book in the Valdemar series. It has been ten years since the magical Cataclysm, which destroyed the twin strongholds of the two world’s most powerful Mages, killing Urtho, creator of the gryphons, and sending his forces into exile. His people, both human and nonhuman live a city that has been carved from a shimmering white cliff near the western ocean. At first the city is secure, until a fleet of Black Kings shows up in the harbor, with envoys who tell the residents that they have encroached on someone else’s kingdom.
The people are desperate not to give up their new home and so Skandranon and his friend Amberdrake agree to go back with the envoys to see the Black Kings in the hopes of negotiating an alliance. However, things take a nasty turn when a highly placed noble who’s against such an alliance is found killed. Skandranon and his friend now realize that they are facing mysterious enemies who won’t hesitate to do anything to destroy the White Gryphon community, including using the deadly blood magic.
Since it has been ten years after Urtho’s kingdom has collapsed, we find Skandranon has taken a leisurely attitude towards life. In fact, he’s now fat and feeling bored with his life. However, when his new home is threatened, he has to get back in shape in order to protect his people. As the events unfold, it appears as if luck is also on his side, and the reader is kept wondering when his luck will finally run out. The good thing is that he has his friend Amberdrake by his side, and so his chances of success are much better.
Unlike the first book, The White Gryphon doesn’t focus so much on the daily lives of the people at their new settlement. The Black King’s territory is also not explored much, which could make the story a bit more interesting. The saving grace is that there is a lot of action, which keeps the reader interested to turn the next page. One thing that the author could have done better is to provide more suspense in the book. That’s because when you read the story, it’s almost as if you already know what is going to happen next. It’s as if the triumphant conclusion of the story is a foregone conclusion, and you don’t expect any twists and turns in the story.
The author also appears to ignore the men’s partners, who seem to be treated as mere sideshows. A character like Zaneel could have made a bigger impact on the story by being given more say. All in all, the interaction between the characters was good, and the author introduces us to a very interesting culture. The reader is taken through the scenario of a group of people reacting to a new culture, and the author has done a good job of keeping up with the fantasy feel of the story. If you enjoy reading the first two books, the good news is that there are other books in the series for your reading pleasure.
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