Daw, Nov. 2003, 24.95, 448 pp.
ISBN 0756402069
Once he was a loyal soldier in the Karsian army. Through an unusual set of circumstances he was chosen to be the Companion of Kantor, a magical being that looks like a horse but is so much more. Alberich had to prove to the Heralds of Valdemar that he was worthy of joining them. He accomplishes that during the Tedral War. Now with Tedral defeated and Karse involved with its internal problems, Valdemar is temporarily at peace.
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King Sendar has been dead for six months and his daughter Queen Selenay rules the country. The council is urging her to marry and begat an heir but none of their choices motivates her to get married. Alone and lonely, with only her companion to confide in, she falls for Prince Karath of Rethwellian when he comes to pay a condolence call. None of the Heralds trust him; Alberich has reason to believe he is a traitor but all he and his allies can do is wait until the prince consort makes a move. They must also protest the queen without her knowing that they suspect her husband is planning something dreadful once their child is born.
Anytime a Valdemar book is published it is a cause for celebration and EXILE'S VALOR, the sequel to Exile's Honor, is no exception. The novel focuses on the first year of the queen's reign and how her master Herald Alberich, who is also her spy master watches over her and makes sure she is always protected even when she is unaware of the danger. Mercedes Lackey makes Valdemar seem so real that readers will believe it actually exists.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
