Changes: Volume Three of the Collegium Chronicles (A Valdemar Novel) (Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles)

this is a good next step in mags life at the collegium (sp). i was a little disspointed not to see more hints or an explanation of who he is and why he's so important but i still enjoyed it. there are things in here that originated from the late herald mage series so if you want to understand it deeper read that series but be forewarned if you dont mind homosexual love it wont be for you but i think the stories were facinating and very deep. am wished for number four and praying for mor about mags past this story starts with the games and shows the real start of mags spy training. what they are hoping to find is who the new assassins are and how they can catch them. in the end both mags and his lady love is in danger. the web stone is used again to help find the kidnapped girl and mags is hell bent on asking why they recognise him and want him along with his lady love.

This book continues "The Collegium Chronicles". The Chronicals start out with "Foundation" We meet Mags, an orphan who was a virtual slave in a gem mine. Mags is Chosen by a Companion and taken to Haven, Valdemar's capitol city to be trained at the new Collegium. Mags catches the interest of influential people in Valdemar, including the King's Own, who becomes his mentor--but quietly. Foreigners in Valdemar apparently recognize Mags, and even attempt to kill him! Why? "Changes" continues Mag's growth in fitting in, finding friends, and even a girl whom he loves. All the while, however, skilled assasins are stalking Mags, and Amily. Amily is the daughter of the King's Own, so trying to harm her to hurt her father and thru him, the Kingdom makes sense...but Mags is, or was, as far as he knows, just a poor orphan who was lucky enough to be Chosen. Why target him? This book explores deepening relationships, and answers some questions. It then raises many more. In her own world, Lackey has no equal. In the fantasy genre, she has few peers. I recommend all of her books highly.

While I have some real problems with this book, I cannot agree with the one and two star reviews either. However, I have the benefit of knowing that this is not the end book of a series; if it had been, I would have been bitterly disappointed. The book is better than the first two with some of the mysteries being, at least partially, solved and others remaining for the future. The solutions do not necessarily result in happy ever after endings but provide realistic resolutions to the problems involved. Sadly, we see less and less of the Collegium and more of the city of Haven. There are, however, some matters that keep this from being on a par with earlier works by this author. 1) The matter of Bard Marchand is handled almost as an afterthought, as if the author was just tired of him and decided to make an end. There really is not sufficient explanation of his motivation in the actions he took (I am trying not to spoil this book for those who have not read it). 2) Mags' age? Mags was 11 or 12 when he was chosen. We have his own word for the fact that he had not yet reached puberty. He came to the collegium in the fall and the unusually cold winter started at the beginning of that book. The second book covered the balance of that winter and into spring. For the most part, we see Mags as an exceptionally mature young boy throughout. The third book starts with the exceptionally hot summer that follows so Mags should be about 12 or 13, maybe 14, at a stretch. But he is now acting and is being treated as if he were 17 or 18. The romance with Amilly is between young adults and not children and Amilly's father is treating Mags as an approved suitor. Ridiculous. 3) Mags' accent. When he came to the collegium, Max spoke with an uneducated accent and vocabulary. Perfectly natural, but it should be something the collegium is seeking to train him out of, not tacitly condoning. He should be required to use proper diction and vocabulary just to give him much needed practice in using the language properly. Heralds are required to interact with the nobility, to act as judges and to represent the crown. Failure to speak well will be a handicap when he becomes a young man but nobody seems to be doing anything about it. In the end, I have given it four stars but I think there is a decline in quality overall. For the rest, the book was fair and I am looking forward to the next - final? - volume.

A strong, suspenseful plot and well-developed characters in this story of Mags. Court Intrigues and attempts by foreign infiltrators to trick Valdemar to its disadvantage make this story a page turner. Mags continues his development and his training as Nickolas' partner, in a job that was far more dangerous than he ever imagined. Mercedes Lackey remains a compelling and compulsively readable writer.

If you enjoyed the first and second books of the collegium series Foundations and Intrigues you will enjoy this continuation of Mags' journey. Settled in to his life at the Collegium, Mags continues to ferrite out the mystery of his origins and the weapon like assassins that have been stalking Haven. All of the favorites from the earlier books are still with us and they are growing up. In this chapter of the story, Mags is in his first test as a spy under the tutelage of Herald Nikolas. His courtship of Amily continues and she has her own character arc development that giver her more depth and we understand her more as the book progresses. The pace is steady and the action is satisfying. You get enough teaser of the mysteries of previous books to keep reading, but no conclusions so you are guaranteed to read the fourth book.

I enjoyed reading this well written, suspenseful story. The characters are fully developed and mature with each story in the series. New characters blend seamlessly with old characters. The plot is well-paced and intricate. There is no cliffhanger. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

I won't spoil it for you as to how, but Kirball figures heavily into how this story resolves itself. In Changes, the third volume of the Collegium Chronicles, young Mags is growing up. He's apprenticed to Herald Nikolas and making time with Amilly, and using swear words straight from the lips of Roman Moronie. Yes, Mags's patois is still in full effect. His friends Bear and Lena are growing up too, although they start out still whiny they both grow backbones by the end. Fair warning, they get more resolution to their stories than Mags does. We finally get a notion where Mags is from, and if you are a longtime reader of this series you've heard of it, and the actions of these instigators are very likely a logical progression from an act committed by a popular Herald in a previous series. Lackey can get a little fuzzy with the continuity, but when she is on it, she right ON it. Some mysteries remain for unlocking in subsequent volumes. There is a strong hint to how many there will be in this one, when Mags and Herald Soren are hammering out the details of his schooling and it is mentioned that there were meant to be five years of Collegium. If we are following Mags through his school career and each book covers a year, then there are probably to be five volumes. The main plot of the book follows Mags and Nikolas as they go undercover to find the rest of the infiltrators who are plotting against Valdemar. There is a personal wrinkle that eventually presents itself and which I won't spoil. I'll just say that when that subplot seems resolved, there's more, and it's good. There are also asides with supporting characters. I was entertained for all the wrong reasons when CSI: Haven showed up to investigate a murder house Mags discovered while tailing the bad guys. Just try not to imagine that opening guitar riff played on lutes when they appear on the scene. I was more intrigued when Mags had to employ dubious methods to get intel from a gang of kiddies, and I hope there's a followup to that, because there was more character development in that foray than in any of Mags's interactions with his friends. In spite of the skullduggery this turned out to be a rather rom-comish entry, kind of like Order of the Phoenix was for Harry Potter, but I liked it. I can get into the 'damsel in distress' story if it's done with panache. I will definitely be getting Volume Four of this series.

I loved the book. Mags is now my favorite valdemar character, only Alberich comes close. This book was great but it DIDN'T COME CLOSE to finishing the story. This would be great if I knew for sure that Ms Lackey plans to write the rest of the story. Got the feeling at the very end that she was rushed and had to just get it out as far as it's gone. Sure hope we do eventually get the rest of the story. Sure hope it's not 5 years before the next installment. Sure hope there isn't a 10 year gap in the story itself and when we get the story again Mags is middle aged and we've missed things like marrying Amily and having kids...

zeer goed en snel geleverd

This book has so many elements combined. I enjoyed the human/Companion and the people relationships, the adventures and the romances.

Thoroughly enjoyed this novel

I am a very big fan of Valdermer series since I read "Arrows of the Queen" and every book since as been a wonderful adventure that I wish to share with my grandchildren .Mags has been a great New Character but the way the story keeps slipping old favorites into the story made it even more intriguing since Vanyel😊

Le livre est en excellent état, a été livré dans un bon délai, bien empaqueté pour le protéger des chocs. Je n'avais pas de demandes particulières quant à ce livre car c'est la deuxième fois que je l'achète: le premier a été perdu dans le métro et jamais retrouvé, donc, je connaissais le résumé, le format et le reste. mon achat correspondait à ce qui était indiqué quant à la qualité du produit.