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.

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.

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.

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 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

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...

Latest in the Elemental Masters series where magic and fairytales collide on an alternate Earth of the early 1900s.

A SCANDAL IN BATTERSEA

Talia ha obtenido el rango de heraldo de la reina pero, ¿logrará vencer el desafío que le plantea su propio poder? No puede creer que por fin lo haya conseguido. Pero, aunque parece haber cumplido su gran sueño, su nueva situacion la obligara a enfrentarse a retos cada vez mas temibles. De momento, Talia debe dirigirse hacia el norte para patrullar Valdemar y admi-nistrar la justicia de los heraldos en todo el reino. Sin embargo, para hacer cumplir sus dictados en este territorio sumido en la inquietud, necesitara de toda su habilidad y valor, ya que si utiliza mal sus poderes especiales, tanto ella como el reino de Valdemar pagaran las consecuencias. El vuelo de la flecha es la segunda novela ambientada en Valdemar, un universo magico en el que Mercedes Lackey desarrolla una compleja interaccion entre los humanos, los seres sobrenaturales y sus fascinantes culturas y costumbres.

Escogida por el Compañero Rolan, un caballo mágico dotado de poderes extraordinarios, Talia, una joven fugitiva, se convierte en estudiante de la guardia de elite de la reina. Talia posee ciertas aptitudes de la mente que solo un Compañero como Rolan es capaz de percibir. Mientras tanto, en Valdemar se esta fraguando una traicion diabolica capaz de destruir a la soberana. Enfrentada a enemigos desconocidos que no dudan en emplear la magia y el asesinato, la reina debe recurrir a Talia y a los heraldos para proteger el pais y garantizar el trono a su heredera, una niña que corre el peligro de caer bajo el dominio de sus enemigos.

Talia ha obtenido el rango de heraldo de la reina pero, ¿logrará vencer el desafío que le plantea su propio poder? No puede creer que por fin lo haya conseguido. Pero, aunque parece haber cumplido su gran sueño, su nueva situacion la obligara a enfrentarse a retos cada vez mas temibles. De momento, Talia debe dirigirse hacia el norte para patrullar Valdemar y admi-nistrar la justicia de los heraldos en todo el reino.Sin embargo, para hacer cumplir sus dictados en este territorio sumido en la inquietud, necesitara de toda su habilidad y valor, ya que si utiliza mal sus poderes especiales, tanto ella como el reino de Valdemar pagaran las consecuencias.

La heredera al trono de Valdemar, Elspeth, ya tiene edad para casarse. Talia, heraldo de la reina, regresa a la corte y descubre que las intrigas diplomáticas rodean a la reina y su heredera, pues varias fuerzas combaten por controlar el futuro de Elspeth.Pero, en el mismo instante en que Talia esta a punto de descubrir al traidor que se oculta tras estos complots, es enviada a una mision al reino vecino; la reina le encarga que investigue el valor de la proposicion de matrimonio del principe Ancar. Horrorizada, Talia descubre que una magia distinta de la de los heraldos campa a sus anchas por el reino de Ancar, una brujeria antigua y malvada que puede destruir todo Valdemar a menos que Talia logre advertir a la reina a tiempo.