Humble Bundle: Mercedes Lackey - Valdemar and More

[DNSB]

Hmmm... for myself I would suggest reading the series in internal chronological order. OTOH, I've read the whole series multiple times so no spoilers left.

So tempting to say there no one true way to read the books.

For a new reader, I would suggest starting with:

• The Last Herald-Mage trilogy (Vanyel's story)
• The Vows of Honor trilogy (Karma and Kethry's story)
• By The Sword (Kerowyn's story)
• the Alberich duology (Exile's Honor & Exile's Valor)
• Take a Thief (Skif's story)
• The Heralds of Valdemar trilogy (Talia's story)
• The Mage Winds trilogy (part 1 of Elspeth's story)
• The Mage Storms trilogy (part 2 of Elspeth's story)
• The Darian's Tale trilogy (Darian's story)

You can take a look at Books by chronological order for the full list in internal chronology order or Books by publication order.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

You can take a look at Books by chronological order for the full list in internal chronology order or Books by publication order.

That doesn't take into account any of the short stories and gives you less information. This list from the same Wiki is the expanded edition of the the chronology.

https://valdemar.fandom.com/wiki/Chr...panded_Edition

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

That doesn't take into account any of the short stories and gives you less information. This list from the same Wiki is the expanded edition of the the chronology.

https://valdemar.fandom.com/wiki/Chr...panded_Edition

I am quite aware of the existence of that page. I was attempting to avoid burying @ownedbycats in too much information and limiting myself to the books in the Humble Bundle.

[Aleron Ives]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For a new reader, I would suggest starting with:

Did you omit The Mage Wars for a specific reason? It appears to be first in chronological order. (The Founding Of Valdemar also comes before The Last Herald-Mage, but it isn't included in the bundle.) You also omitted Collegium Chronicles, The Herald Spy, and Family Spies, which are included.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I am quite aware of the existence of that page. I was attempting to avoid burying @ownedbycats in too much information and limiting myself to the books in the Humble Bundle.

Now everyone has a choice of whichever list they prefer.

[DNSB]

Basically, I gave some of the books/series in the order I felt was the best for a reader new to Mercedes Lackey's books. My personal opinion is that the Mage Wars and the Founding of Valdemar trilogies are not the best introductions to the overarching series.

@ownedbycats asked for a recommendation of which trilogies to read first not for a list of the entire series/subseries in chronological or publication order though I did supply links for those. For the devoted completist, you can also check the link of almost everything in the Valdemar universe supplied by @JSWolf.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Basically, I gave some of the books/series in the order I felt was the best for a reader new to Mercedes Lackey's books. My personal opinion is that the Mage Wars and the Founding of Valdemar trilogies are not the best introductions to the overarching series.

@ownedbycats asked for a recommendation of which trilogies to read first not for a list of the entire series/subseries in chronological or publication order though I did supply links for those. For the devoted completist, you can also check the link of almost everything in the Valdemar universe supplied by @JSWolf.

When I first read the series, I read the three Arrow books first. That how long ago I started the series.

1. Arrows of the Queen
2. Arrow's Flight
3. Arrow's Fall

[Aleron Ives]

Originally Posted by DNSB

My personal opinion is that the Mage Wars and the Founding of Valdemar trilogies are not the best introductions to the overarching series.

OK, seeing as you're not the first person to recommend skipping The Mage Wars, I think I'll opt for publication order for my first foray into Valdemar.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

OK, seeing as you're not the first person to recommend skipping The Mage Wars, I think I'll opt for publication order for my first foray into Valdemar.

I don't recommend skipping The Mage Wars. If I was starting the series now, I'd do chronological order.

[MegDreamsofBooks]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

OK, seeing as you're not the first person to recommend skipping The Mage Wars, I think I'll opt for publication order for my first foray into Valdemar.

As someone who read them in publication order originally, I support this idea. I rather liked the mystery of Vanyel and the Founding that happened by reading Arrows, Tarma & Kethry, and Mage Winds first.