MERCEDES LACKEY

New York Times-bestselling author Mercedes Lackeys Herald Spy series, set in the beloved fantasy world of Valdemar.Herald Mags, the King of Valdemars Herald-Spy, has been developing a clandestine network of young informants who operate not only on the streets of the capital city of Haven, but also in the Great Halls and kitchens of the wealthy and highborn. In his own established alternate personas, Mags observes the Court and the alleys alike, quietly gathering information to keep Haven and the Kingdom safe.His wife Amily, is growing into her position as the Kings Own Herald, though she is irritated to encounter many who still consider her father, Herald Nikolas, to be the real Kings Own. Nonetheless, she finds it increasingly useful to be underestimated, for there are dark things stirring in the shadows of Haven and up on the Hill.Someone has discovered many secrets of the women of the Court and the Collegiaand is using those secrets to terrorize and bully them. Someone is targeting the religious houses of women, too, leaving behind destruction and obscene ravings.But who? Someone at the Court? A disgruntled Palace servant? One of the members of the Collegia? Someone in the patriarchal sect of the god Sethor? Could the villain be a woman? And what is this person hoping to achieve? It isnt blackmail, for the letters demand nothing; the aim seems to be the victims panic and despair. But why?Mags and Amily take steps to minimize the damage while using both magic and wits to find the evildoer. But just as they appear to be on the verge of success, the letter-writer tires of terror and is now out for blood.Mags and Amily will have to track down someone who leaves few clues behind and thwart whatever plans have been set in motion, and quicklybefore terror turns to murder.

From a High Tower is the newest adventure in Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series, featuring a retelling of Rapunzel’s not-so-happily-ever-after ending.

The fourteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series continues the reimagined adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a richly-detailed alternate 20th-century England.While Sherlock is still officially dead, John and Mary Watson, Nan Killian, and Sarah Lyon-White are taking up some of his case-loadand some work for Lord Alderscroft, the Wizard of London.Lord Alderscroft asks them to go to Dartmoor to track down a rumor of evil magic. Not more than four hours later, a poor Dartmoor cottagerarrives seeking their help. His wife, in a fit of rage over the childrenspilling and spoiling their only food for dinner that night, sent them outon the moors to forage for something to eat. The children are moor-wiseand unlikely to get into difficulties, but this time they did not come back,and their tracks abruptly stopped. The man begs them to come help.They would say no, but theres the assignment for Alderscroft. Why not kill two birds with one stone? But the deadly bogs are not the onlymires on Dartmoor. And these are not the only missing children.

Mags was a Herald of Valdemar. But he had once lived the brutal life of a child slave. When he was Chosen by his Companion Dallen, his young life was saved, and he slowly adjusted to being well fed, educated, and treasured as a trainee in the Heralds Collegium at Haven. Singled out by the Kings Own Herald, Mags would thrive in his secret training as a spy. His unusually strong Giftan ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Giftedmade him a perfect undercover agent for the king.Sequel to Mercedes Lackeys Closer to Home, this adventure continues Magss journey as Valdemars herald spy.

The Nebula Awards Showcase volumes have been published annually since 1966, reprinting the winning and nominated stories of the Nebula Awards, voted on by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). The editor, selected by SFWAs anthology Committee (chaired by Mike Resnick), is American science fiction and fantasy writer Mercedes Lackey. This years Nebula winners are Ursula Vernon, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nancy Kress, and Jeff VanderMeer, with Alaya Dawn Johnson winning the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Book.

In this third novel of the Family Spies series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amilys youngest child must follow in his parents footsteps to protect both his family and the realm.Thirteen year old Prince Kyril and Mags and Amilys fourteen-year-old son Tory "share" the Gift of Farsight--although neither of them are Chosen. They are self-trained, though currently, their shared Gift only allows them to see what is happening with their immediate family members.After much debate, the Heralds Collegium has decided to test and train them anyway. Thats when the surprises start. They do not share a single Gift; they have two complementary Gifts working together in a way that the Heralds have never seen before. Tory is the Farseer--Kees Gift is to extend his range beyond a few dozen feet.Their Gifts become crucial when Mags gets a desperate message from his cousin Bey, the head of the enigmatic assassin-tribe, the Sleepgivers. Beys eldest daughter has been kidnapped, but he doesnt know why or by whom. Hes calling in the debt Mags owes him to find his daughter before its too late.Tory is certain that if anyone can find her, he can. But that will mean traveling out of Valdemar into an unknown, dangerous country.And it will mean taking a Royal Prince with him.

In this new series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily must continue to protect the realm of Valdemar while raising their children and preparing them to follow in their footsteps.Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife Amily are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Justyn, has the Gift of animal Mindspeech--he can talk to animals and persuade them to act as he wishes. Justyns dream is to follow in his fathers footsteps as a Herald Spy, but has yet to be Chosen by his horse companion.Mags is more than happy to teach Justyn all he knows. He regularly trains his children, including Justyn, with tests and exercises, preparing them for the complicated and dangerous lives they will likely lead. Justyn has already held positions in the Royal Palace as a runner and in the kitchen, useful places from which he can learn to listen. As the next stage of Justyns training, Mags proposes that Justyn joins a group of traveling players and musicians, to get experience away from home and out in the world. Justyn joins the troupe, and he starts collecting information for his father. And the patterns he finds are unsettling....During the troupes travels, Justyn witnesses growing rural unrest about an indigenous community of Valdemar, known as Hawkbrothers. When the troupe settles for a season at a fortified manor of a local lord, Justyn watches the unrest grow increasingly hostile. The manor lord dismisses Hawkbrothers as inhuman--and has a local militia to back up his hatred. When a child goes missing, the locals immediately blame Hawkbrothers, and Justyn finds himself in a dangerous position.He enlists the help of a local stray dog, who knows a lot about the towns goings-on, despite being a bit...odd. Justyn must find the missing child and warn the Hawkbrothers community of the trouble headed their way--before tensions turn deadly.

Saved from a harsh life of destitution as an enslaved orphan, Mags has been recruited by the Kings Own Herald as a spy. In this special appointment, Mags has thrived - he is well fed, educated and treasured for his unusually powerful Gift, an ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, regardless of whether they are Gifted. This makes him the ideal undercover agent for the king.

New York Times #1 bestseller Mercedes Lackeys epic Valdemar series continues in this collection of three novels set in the classic fantasy universe. Exiles of Valdemar tells the story of Alberich, the youngest captain in the army of Karse.EXILES HONOR follows the story of Alberich, the youngest captain in the army of Karse with a secret special power of foresight. When he is injured in battle, he is unwillingly taken to Valdemar and begins training as a Herald. He switches allegiances and joins in the battles against Karse.EXILES VALOR Alberich falls in love with another female Herald, Myste, and struggling to keep track of Valdemars enemies in his new position as Weaponsmaster. This book also tracks the early years of the very young, new queen of Valdemar, Selenay.TAKE A THIEF This book reveals the untold story of Skif, the popular character of Lackeys first book, Arrows of the Queen. Skif is a homeless pickpocket until he is chosen to become a Herald for the queen. However, one day he returns to his new home where he is training to find that it has been burnt down and his comrades and mentor dead. He teams up with Alberich, the Weaponsmaster and protagonist from the EXILE books to take revenge on the criminal who killed his friends and becomes a hero of Valdemar.

Vanyel has been born with near-legendary abilities that, if left untrained, may prove a menace not only to Vanyel but to others as well. So he is sent to his aunt, Savil, one of the fame Herald-Mages of Valdemar. Soon he will become the focus of frightening forces and raw magic. And by the time Savil seeks the assistance of a Shinain Adept, Vanyels wild talent may have already grown beyond anyones ability to contain, placing Valdemar in desperate peril.

Herald Mags and his network of young informants gather information to keep Haven and the Kingdom safe. But someone has discovered secrets of the women of the Court and Collegia and is using those secrets to terrorize them. Mags and his wife, the Kings Own Herald, Amily, put their magic and wits to work to find the evildoer. But just as they appear to be on the verge of success, the letter writer tires of terror and is now out for blood.

Karse and Valdemar have long been enemy kingdoms, until they are forced into an uneasy alliance to defend their lands from the armies of Eastern Empire, which is ruled by a monarch whose magical tactics may be beyond any sorcery known to the Western kingdoms. Forced to combat this dire foe, the Companions of Valdemar may, at last, have to reveal secrets which they have kept hidden for centuries... even from their beloved Heralds.

When a man is caught stealing from a walled garden owned by a strange woman, he bargains away his youngest daughter in return for food for his family. The woman, rumored to be a witch, takes the golden-haired child and locks her away in a high tower. Sixteen years later, Giselle has lived an isolated life, but her adoptive mother has trained her in Air magic, and Giselle must use her new skills on a quest to avenge her broken heart...

Set around three thousand years before the rest of the Valdemar series, this is the ancient history of Velgarth and the story of Skandranon Rashkae, a gryphon with gleaming ebony feathers, keen magesight and acute intelligence. He is the fulfillment of all that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he created these magical beings to be his champions, the defenders of his realm.

The thirteenth novel in the magical alternate history Elemental Masters series continues the reimagined adventures of Sherlock Holmes in a richly-detailed alternate Victorian England.The threat of Moriarty is gonebut so is Sherlock Holmes. Even as they mourn the loss of their colleague, psychic Nan Killian, medium Sarah Lyon-White, and Elemental Masters John and Mary Watson must be vigilant, for members of Moriartys network are still at large. And their troubles are far from over: in a matter of weeks, two headless bodies of young brides wash up in major waterways. A couple who fears for their own recently-wedded daughter hires the group to investigate, but with each new body, the mystery only deepens.The more bodies emerge, the more the gang suspects that there is dangerous magic at work, and that Moriartys associates are somehow involved. But as they race against the clock to uncover the killer, it will take all their talents, Magic, and Psychic Powersand perhaps some help from a dearly departed friendto bring the murderer to justice.

The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdoms ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all agesand all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talentscombined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and moremake them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.Join Elizabeth Vaughan, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Brozek, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill, and others in twenty-two original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, to Valdemar, where:A Herald must crack an ancient code in a historic tapestry in order to arbitrate a dispute over land and lineageA Healers daughter flees the noble family that has trapped and enslaved her mother, and must seek help to free her motherA young woman who hides her clairvoyant powers from her towns Karsite priests ForeSees a threat, and must risk revealing her Gift to save her communityA Herald finds his assistant has been abducted by a man upon whom he had levied a heavy fine, and must foil the kidnappers plans to save his charge

The long-awaited founding of Valdemar comes to life in this new series from the New York Times bestselling author and Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.Baron Valdemar and his people have found a temporary haven, but it cannot hold all of them, or for long. Trouble could follow on their heels at any moment, and there are too many people for Crescent Lake to support. Those who are willing to make a further trek by barge on into the West will follow him into a wilderness depopulated by war and scarred by the terrible magics of a thousand years ago and the Mage Wars. But the wilderness is not as "empty" as it seems. There are potential friends and rapacious foes........and someone is watching them.

The ongoing saga of Valdemar enters a new era with this epic trilogy, from the New York Times bestselling author and Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.On the border between Valdemar and the deadly Pelagirs Forest, the gryphon hero Kelvren returns from a near-fatal self-sacrifice that won him the approval of Valdemars ground troops but caused a diplomatic crisis. Frustrated by his lack of a heros welcome, Kelvren is talked into helping with an expedition by his old friend, Firesong. Firesong struggles with his own age and mortality, and he intends to solve a vast mystery at the center of legendary Lake Evendim as his crowning achievement. Just getting the multicultural fleet underway is a challenge, but what awaits them is a situation none of them could expect.

Born of the Clan of the Hawk, Tarma saw her entire tribe slain by brigands. Vowing blood revenge upon the murderers, she became one of the sword-sworn, the most elite of all warriors. Trained in all forms of death-dealing combat, she took to the road in search of her enemies.Born to a noble house and sold into a hateful "marriage", Kethry fled lifes harshness for the sanctuary of the White Winds, a powerful school of sorcery. Unlike other sorcerers, Kethry could use wordly weapons as well as magical skills. And when she became bearer of a uniquely magical sword that drew her to those in need, Kethry was led to a fateful meeting with Tarma.Vows and Honor chronicles the adventures of Tarma and Kethry, swordswoman and sorceress, bound by a blood oath to carry on their mutual fight against evil. Together they will set forth to fulfill a destiny neither could have imagined...

In this new series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily must continue to protect the realm of Valdemar while raising their children and preparing them to follow in their footsteps.Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife, Amily, the Kings Own Herald, are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Peregrine, has the Gift of Animal Mindspeechhe can talk to animals and persuade them to act as he wishes. Perrys dream is to follow in his fathers footsteps as a Herald Spy, but he has yet to be Chosen by a Companion.Mags is more than happy to teach Perry all he knows. He regularly trains his children, including Perry, with tests and exercises, preparing them for the complicated and dangerous lives they will likely lead. Perry has already held positions in the Royal Palace as a runner and in the kitchen, useful places where he can learn to listen and collect information.But there is growing rural unrest in a community on the border of Valdemar. A report filled with tales of strange disappearances and missing peddlers is sent to Haven by a Herald from the Pelagirs. To let Perry experience life away from home and out in the world, Mags proposes that his son accompany him on an expedition to discover what is really going on.During their travels, Perrys Animal Mindspeech allows him to communicate with the local wildlife of the Pelagirs, whose connection to the land aids in their investigation. But the details he gleans from the creatures only deepen the mystery. As Perry, Mags, and their animal companions draw closer to the heart of the danger, they must discover the truth behind the disappearances at the borderbefore those disappearances turn deadly.