Foundation

Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles, Book 1

By: Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The long-awaited brand new novel in the best-selling Valdemar series.

In this chronicle of the early history of Valdemar, Mercedes Lackey's best-selling world, a 13-year-old orphan named Magpie escapes a life of slavery in the gem mines when he is chosen by one of the magical Companion horses of Valdemar to be trained as a Herald. Thrust into the center of a legend in the making, Magpie discovers talents he never knew he had - and witnesses the founding of the great Heralds' Collegium.

©2008 Mercedes Lackey (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great story of learning to trust.

Love how Mags learns that he can trust those around him after he is saved from his terrible conditions

Another story of hope and growth

This is probably my 14th or 15th Lackey book, so obviously I love her work. If you are a fan, this will not disappoint. If you are new to Valdemar, the world the stories take place in, it's not a bad place to start. It does make references to things that take place in other times,but I think all the books do that. None the less the story stands alone. These are srories of being different and that difference being recognized and revered. Valdemar is a great place to send your teenager to get them addicted to reading. Some books have violence and references to sexual matters, but not graphic. It wouldn't hurt to read them first for yourself ... don't worry you'll like em too, I'm 60 and still enjoy them.

So good!

Fantastic performance. Great story! Can't wait for the next one, grabs you right away and doesn't let go.

T

Foundation: we: Valdemar:Collegium Chronicles book 1 I have reD this series is books in the past and I found them very enjoyable and entertaining. I could not wait to start each new book. I am an ardent fan of all Ms. Lake's work. Her books are always a good read . They are hard to put down.

love this book

Love this book. Love the author. can't wait to hear the other books. Great read

Before Harry Potter there was....

Any additional comments?

The first series of Valdemar came way before Harry Potter but they still had many things in common. Magic. Friendship and loyalty winning over the odds. Pain and lonliness endured because enduring was all you could do.

The baby with no name became named Magpie until it eventually shortened into just Mags. He was an orphan presumed to be the child of bandits. Dispite being a child and being good with all the jobs they gave him he was treated worst of the worst. Bad blood. Until he is rescued and taken into a life he literally, could not have imagined due to his complete ignorance of how the world should be run.

The narrator did an excellent job of creating distinct character voices although some have said it is hard to understand the Mags. Reading the actual book is much the same way but the voice and form of speaking is keeping with the character. I got a feel for the Mags accent and didn't have much trouble understanding him.

This series is a bit heavier than Hogwarts with sexual themes (very non graphic), as well as physical and emotional abuse. A little slow paced with action befitting the scenes (Curball Games).

Try the sample and see if it sucks you in. It did for me.

Love Lackey

I've listened to this multiple times and enjoyed it every time! Lackey is a superb storyteller and her Valdemar series is at the top of my favorites list!

Good Story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

that's a toss up between herald trainee mags and King's own Herald Nicholas

Which character – as performed by Nick Podehl – was your favorite?

King's own Herald Nicholas

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The hidden herald

Any additional comments?

I think Nick Podehl did a very nice job with his work on this entire series and should be among the first under consideration to be asked to read all future Heralds Of Valdimar books that require a male reader.

A lovely story

Brim full of the joys of pursuing a dream and finding more than she ever expected, of the power of friendship, and the dangers of pissing off a righteous cat, this is a treasure of of a book. I can't wait for the author's next venture.

Grit your teeth and get past the mispronunciations

The story is decent, I missed Valdemar and this was a good visit back to it in a new time period. I saw ahead of time that this series, Collegium Chronicles, is 5 volumes instead of the standard 3 so I didn’t really expect the story of the main character to go from start to finish within this one volume. I was satisfied with his progress and the ending made me want to get the next story right away.

That said, holy crap. The narrator does excellent voice acting but cannot pronounce basic English-language names or words. Liam is pronounced Lye-um as if he’s never heard the name before. Minutiae is pronounced by enunciating each vowel separately, and worst of all Collegium is said “college-ee-um” instead of coll-ee-jum.

And he calls Vanyel “vahn-yell” emphasis on yell. Like he’s never heard of Vanya or it’s variations in Russian.

I just pretend I’m listening to a talented alien actor who has mastered most of my particular human language. It works for me.