Brightly Burning marks Mercedes Lackey's return to the kingdom of
Valdemar, and introduces us to a portion of the otherwise
unchronicled reign of King Theran. The book's principle figure is
Valdemar's most powerful herald, Laven Firestorm, who comes of age
during Valdemar's war with its long-time enemy, the kingdom of Karse.
Sixteen-year-old Laven Chitward's world is turned upside down when
his mother is selected as a textile guild representative in the small
rural community where he was raised. Moving to the capital city of
Haven rips him away from his friends and boyhood pleasures, and
nothing in Haven seems to fill that void. Unable to fit into the
nouveau riche society, and unwilling to follow his parents into the
textile guild, he finds himself adrift and depressed. His father
enrolls him in a special school that will allow him to choose a trade
that interests him, rather than be apprenticed against his will.
There he finds himself terrorized and tortured by the boys in the
sixth form until, with an awful roar, the gift of fire awakens deep
within him and extracts revenge for his sadistic treatment. With the
help of a unique herald, an empathetic healer and a special
companion, Laven soon learns to keep his gift under control and
eventually, to direct his awful firestorm as far as he can see. When
the kingdom of Karse attacks, Laven is hurried to the border to
assist his king and country by repelling the invasion. During the
final battle Laven earns the name Firestorm and becomes one of the
most famous heralds in the history of Valdemar. Brightly Burning is a
distinct and unforgettable coming-of-age story. With a compelling
cast of characters and lively dialog, Mercedes Lackey once again
demonstrates her adroit mastery of fantasy fiction. --Robert Gately
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