Where to Start Reading the Valdemar Series
With a series as vast and beloved as Valdemar, the biggest question for newcomers is always: Where do I start? Fortunately, Mercedes Lackey designed her world so that readers can enter through several different doorways. Here are the three most recommended starting paths depending on your reading style:
1. The Classic Route: Heralds of Valdemar (The Arrows Trilogy)
If you want to experience the world the way original readers did, start with the trilogy that launched the saga: Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, and Arrow's Fall. This trilogy follows Talia, a young woman chosen by a magical, telepathic horse-like Companion to become a Herald. Through Talia's eyes, you will learn the core rules of the kingdom of Valdemar, the nature of the Companions, and the structure of the Heralds. It is the absolute best foundation for the rest of the universe.
2. The Historical Route: The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy
For readers who prefer a high-stakes, emotionally intense story right out of the gate, starting with Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, and Magic's Price is a fantastic alternative. Set centuries before Talia's time, this trilogy follows Vanyel Ashkevron, the last Herald-Mage. It is a darker, more dramatic story that won the Lambda Literary Award, and it explains the historical loss of magic that shapes the era of the Arrows trilogy.
3. The Chronological Route: The Mage Wars Trilogy
If you absolutely insist on starting at the very beginning of the timeline, you can begin with The Black Gryphon, The White Gryphon, and The Silver Gryphon (co-authored with Larry Dixon). Set a thousand years before the founding of Valdemar, this trilogy deals with the prehistoric war between mages and features gryphons as major characters. However, be warned: because it was written later, it assumes a familiar knowledge of the world's magic systems and lacks the traditional Valdemar kingdom setting.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
While a chronological reading order is possible, most veteran fans and librarians recommend reading the books in publication order (or grouped by subseries in publication order). Mercedes Lackey frequently wrote prequel series decades after her initial books. Reading chronologically can spoil major mysteries, and the shift in writing style and world building can feel jarring. Reading in publication order allows you to watch the magic system, geography, and history of Velgarth expand naturally as the author created it.
Breakdown of the Valdemar Subseries and Arcs
To help you navigate, the Valdemar saga can be divided into distinct subseries. You should read within these groups rather than jumping between them randomly:
- Heralds of Valdemar (Arrows Trilogy): The core introduction to Talia and the Heralds (1987–1988).
- Vows and Honor: Set outside the kingdom of Valdemar, following the mercenary partners Tarma (a sword-shield) and Kethry (a sorceress). It includes the novels The Oathbound and Oathbreakers, plus several early short stories collected in Oathblood.
- The Last Herald-Mage: The tragic and heroic story of Vanyel Ashkevron, set in Valdemar's distant past.
- Mage Winds & Mage Storms: Trilogies that pick up after Talia's era, showing the return of magic and threats from the neighboring Eastern Empire.
- The Mage Wars: Pre-history trilogy co-authored with Larry Dixon, detailing the creation of gryphons and the cataclysmic end of the Mage Wars.
- Collegium Chronicles & The Herald Spy: A younger-skewing, school-focused sequence following Mags, an orphan who is Chosen to become a Herald-Spy. This sequence is set mid-timeline.
- Family Spies: Follows the children of Mags as they navigate new dangers for the kingdom.
- Standalone Novels: Works like By the Sword (which bridges the Vows and Honor characters with the Mage Winds trilogy through the mercenary Kerowyn) and Brightly Burning (the story of Lavan Firestorm, a young Herald with a tragic destiny) are excellent reads that fill in historical gaps.
Practical Reading Guidance and Caveats
Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind as you explore Velgarth:
Don't skip By the Sword: Though listed as a standalone "Kerowyn's Tale," this book is the crucial bridge between the early books (Arrows/Vows and Honor) and the later sequels (Mage Winds/Storms). Skipping it will leave you very confused when characters from Vows and Honor suddenly interact with Talia's world.
The Anthologies are Optional: The many Valdemar anthologies (such as Sword of Ice or Sun in Glory) contain short stories by Lackey and other writers. While they enrich the lore, you do not need to read them to understand the main novels. Treat them as delightful side journeys when you want more time in the world.
Watch the Tone Shift: The series transitions from traditional fantasy adventures in the early books to political intrigue, magical crises, and school-style growth in the later chronicles. Embrace the shift, and let yourself get swept up in the grand tapestry of Velgarth!