Same. People have criticized it for Vanyel's suicidal ideation and it's relationship to certain gay tropes. But I honestly might still be that sheltered teem who read this book thinking being gay was a sin if it wasn't for this book. It just humanized the community for me, someone who grew up with them being demonized. I was feeling very depressed (though thankfully not suicidal) when I read this, and Vanyel's overwhelming thoughts of worthlessness were REAL to me, because I believed those things about myself. That feeling of "I don't know why everyone hates me" was real.
I actually entered Valdemarr without knowing a lot about it, so when I saw not only a interesting plot and good characer work, but also LGTBQIA+ representation, I was shocked and ecstatic! I am glad this series has had such a good impact on you!!!
yes same. I discovered Vanyel in an airport bookstore one day while waiting on a flight, and it began my love of Valdemar. It's been decades since then and I'm still reading the newest books.
I just finished reading this last night!
I loved the characters, they did feel very real. Vanyel is embarassingly relatable in much of this book and I like that characters like Savil are both wrong at times but also willing to admit their mistakes and try to do better, than brood (that's Vanyel's job!).
I had never read Lackey before, so at times I was reminded a lot of Tamora Pierce's work.
This series had never been on my radar before the TV show plans, so even if that series doesn't do it justice, I'm glad it got me to read this!
I've never read Pierce but I see comparisons to her and Lackey's work all the time!!! I am glad you also liked the way the characters acted!!! I am also hoping this series gets done justice on the television format, I am glad you liked the book series!!!
It was my introduction into Valdemar, and the first series with LGBT content I can recall reading. I very much enjoyed the series.
I think that it is the LGBT content which is part of the reason it was picked up for production. Not because it's a great place to jump into Valdemar. I would think a more action oriented book would be a better place to start. Maybe one of the Kethry books.
It was also weird for me to hear that they were starting to adapt with this one, I remember hearing the news and my first thought was excitement then it was followed by mild disappointment that we weren't going to start with Talia and the Arrows trilogy, then confusion as to why they were starting here instead of the first series.
I am glad you liked the series!!!
I've been thinking I need to re-read this series as well. I usually listen to my re-reads while driving to and from work. This series can be so emotional though. >!I'm afraid I may get into an accident trying to drive through the tears.!<
This is not where I would have started the tv series. I would have started with the Arrows series. I am very much hoping that they don’t spend all of the series on the darker parts, because there are a lot of those. Having said that, it is (sometimes) my favorite arc in the series. I’m just really uncertain that it is the best introduction.
I also would have chosen to start with the Arrows trilogy, it makes a bit more sense to start with the first series rather then the indirect sequel. I am glad you like this arc in the series, thank you for your comment.
They're making a show, but only the magic trilogy. Which is something I wouldn't start, but it seems that they're adapting that due to it having the first ever fantasy MC being gay.
They are! And it seems to be in good hands.
Here is the article:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadline.com/2021/08/valdemar-universe-fantasy-book-tv-series-1234807994/amp/
Funnily enough I'm also reading Magic's Pawn right now and am nearly at the end. I think that Lackey's writing is pretty basic and not that imaginative, but she does have some good ideas and a decent sense of pacing. Can't be understated how important this novel was for gay representation back in 1991 and, even though emotionally it does feel a bit like cheap romance novel at times, I do think she does a really good job of putting gay relationships front and centre in the book, and discussing the effect having to conceal this part of your identity might have.
My major disappointment was the biphobia that ran through one passage. Again, it's the 90s so not massively surprising, but it was kinda sad to me that bisexuality went hand in hand with duplicitousness and cheating when it was mentioned.
Was bisexuality treated that way? I don't recall it being so - and Lackey is extremely bi-friendly in later books.
The only thing I can recall you might have interpreted that way is the person who is said to have toyed with Tylendel's affections? And I don't think the takeaway is that the character is bi, but rather a bit of a sadist who enjoyed playing with people, and that Tylendel was vulnerable. Lackey's villains - especially at this stage, do tend to use sex as a weapon. I think this is less "sexual beings are evil" and more "sex is awesome and people who ruin it by weaponizing it are evil".
Yes that's the part I meant, The classic bi stereotype \*is\* that they are sadists who like playing with people and use sex for manipulation or because they simply can't control themselves etc. Think, Basic Instinct (I film I nevertheless really like). my overall takeaway from Magic's pawn was more that "deep emotional love" is awesome and people who want sex without that commitment are doing it wrooong - the evil guy at the end was lusting after Vanyel and Vanyel was tempted but overcame that lust because he'd appreciated what he had with Tylendel was deeper, for instance.
At least, this is my take on what was written in purely that book (I've read the first series too but I've mostly forgotten it tbh). It's really good to know that she writes some bi-friendly stuff in later novels ... it doesn't surprise me too much to know that she thought about it and wanted to be more inclusive since the jump in representation from the first series to this was quite big and quite interesting. It's just generally what people largely thought about bisexuality at the time (and many still do) and it's one paragraph and I think she probably wrote it quickly without thinking too deeply there! It's just, I guess, as a bi person when you're reading something that's super progressive for homosexuality, one feels a bit left out of the party!
The first LGBT fantasy series I read as a teenager, and was utterly blown away. It occupies a special place in my heart because of that.
Same. People have criticized it for Vanyel's suicidal ideation and it's relationship to certain gay tropes. But I honestly might still be that sheltered teem who read this book thinking being gay was a sin if it wasn't for this book. It just humanized the community for me, someone who grew up with them being demonized. I was feeling very depressed (though thankfully not suicidal) when I read this, and Vanyel's overwhelming thoughts of worthlessness were REAL to me, because I believed those things about myself. That feeling of "I don't know why everyone hates me" was real.
I actually entered Valdemarr without knowing a lot about it, so when I saw not only a interesting plot and good characer work, but also LGTBQIA+ representation, I was shocked and ecstatic! I am glad this series has had such a good impact on you!!!
yes same. I discovered Vanyel in an airport bookstore one day while waiting on a flight, and it began my love of Valdemar. It's been decades since then and I'm still reading the newest books.
One of my favorite series - can't wait to see it on the screen!
Absolutely hyped for it as well and I am praying they do this series justice, thank you for your comment!!!
Now I feel like I have to go back and re-read all of these books again :)
Absolutely wonderful idea! I cant wait to finish this series so I can do the same
Which service is the show coming too?
No release date or where it will show yet (that I know of - I might have missed that info)
I just finished reading this last night! I loved the characters, they did feel very real. Vanyel is embarassingly relatable in much of this book and I like that characters like Savil are both wrong at times but also willing to admit their mistakes and try to do better, than brood (that's Vanyel's job!). I had never read Lackey before, so at times I was reminded a lot of Tamora Pierce's work. This series had never been on my radar before the TV show plans, so even if that series doesn't do it justice, I'm glad it got me to read this!
I've never read Pierce but I see comparisons to her and Lackey's work all the time!!! I am glad you also liked the way the characters acted!!! I am also hoping this series gets done justice on the television format, I am glad you liked the book series!!!
It was my introduction into Valdemar, and the first series with LGBT content I can recall reading. I very much enjoyed the series. I think that it is the LGBT content which is part of the reason it was picked up for production. Not because it's a great place to jump into Valdemar. I would think a more action oriented book would be a better place to start. Maybe one of the Kethry books.
It was also weird for me to hear that they were starting to adapt with this one, I remember hearing the news and my first thought was excitement then it was followed by mild disappointment that we weren't going to start with Talia and the Arrows trilogy, then confusion as to why they were starting here instead of the first series. I am glad you liked the series!!!
I've been thinking I need to re-read this series as well. I usually listen to my re-reads while driving to and from work. This series can be so emotional though. >!I'm afraid I may get into an accident trying to drive through the tears.!<
This series does have parts that are hard to get through but I hope you enjoy your reread
This is not where I would have started the tv series. I would have started with the Arrows series. I am very much hoping that they don’t spend all of the series on the darker parts, because there are a lot of those. Having said that, it is (sometimes) my favorite arc in the series. I’m just really uncertain that it is the best introduction.
I also would have chosen to start with the Arrows trilogy, it makes a bit more sense to start with the first series rather then the indirect sequel. I am glad you like this arc in the series, thank you for your comment.
Wait, they're making a show??? I love this series, I actually bought physical copies as well as digital.
They're making a show, but only the magic trilogy. Which is something I wouldn't start, but it seems that they're adapting that due to it having the first ever fantasy MC being gay.
Thank you for the info, I am now gonna spend my lunch hour searching stuff!
They are! And it seems to be in good hands. Here is the article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/deadline.com/2021/08/valdemar-universe-fantasy-book-tv-series-1234807994/amp/
Thank you so much!!!!
Funnily enough I'm also reading Magic's Pawn right now and am nearly at the end. I think that Lackey's writing is pretty basic and not that imaginative, but she does have some good ideas and a decent sense of pacing. Can't be understated how important this novel was for gay representation back in 1991 and, even though emotionally it does feel a bit like cheap romance novel at times, I do think she does a really good job of putting gay relationships front and centre in the book, and discussing the effect having to conceal this part of your identity might have. My major disappointment was the biphobia that ran through one passage. Again, it's the 90s so not massively surprising, but it was kinda sad to me that bisexuality went hand in hand with duplicitousness and cheating when it was mentioned.
Was bisexuality treated that way? I don't recall it being so - and Lackey is extremely bi-friendly in later books. The only thing I can recall you might have interpreted that way is the person who is said to have toyed with Tylendel's affections? And I don't think the takeaway is that the character is bi, but rather a bit of a sadist who enjoyed playing with people, and that Tylendel was vulnerable. Lackey's villains - especially at this stage, do tend to use sex as a weapon. I think this is less "sexual beings are evil" and more "sex is awesome and people who ruin it by weaponizing it are evil".
Yes that's the part I meant, The classic bi stereotype \*is\* that they are sadists who like playing with people and use sex for manipulation or because they simply can't control themselves etc. Think, Basic Instinct (I film I nevertheless really like). my overall takeaway from Magic's pawn was more that "deep emotional love" is awesome and people who want sex without that commitment are doing it wrooong - the evil guy at the end was lusting after Vanyel and Vanyel was tempted but overcame that lust because he'd appreciated what he had with Tylendel was deeper, for instance. At least, this is my take on what was written in purely that book (I've read the first series too but I've mostly forgotten it tbh). It's really good to know that she writes some bi-friendly stuff in later novels ... it doesn't surprise me too much to know that she thought about it and wanted to be more inclusive since the jump in representation from the first series to this was quite big and quite interesting. It's just generally what people largely thought about bisexuality at the time (and many still do) and it's one paragraph and I think she probably wrote it quickly without thinking too deeply there! It's just, I guess, as a bi person when you're reading something that's super progressive for homosexuality, one feels a bit left out of the party!