Brightly Burning (Daw Books Collectors, No. 1150) (Valdemar)
Brightly Burningmarks Mercedes Lackey's return to the kingdom of  Valdemar, and introduces us to a portion of the otherwise unchronicled reign of  King Theran. The book's principle figure is Valdemar's most powerful herald,  Laven Firestorm, who comes of age during Valdemar's war with its long-time  enemy, the kingdom of Karse.Sixteen-year-old Laven Chitward's world is turned upside down when his mother is  selected as a textile guild representative in the small rural community where he  was raised. Moving to the capital city of Haven rips him away from his friends  and boyhood pleasures, and nothing in Haven seems to fill that void. Unable to  fit into the nouveau riche society, and unwilling to follow his parents into the  textile guild, he finds himself adrift and depressed. His father enrolls him in  a special school that will allow him to choose a trade that interests him,  rather than be apprenticed against his will. There he finds himself terrorized  and tortured by the boys in the sixth form until, with an awful roar, the gift  of fire awakens deep within him and extracts revenge for his sadistic  treatment.With the help of a unique herald, an empathetic healer and a special companion,  Laven soon learns to keep his gift under control and eventually, to direct his  awful firestorm as far as he can see. When the kingdom of Karse attacks, Laven  is hurried to the border to assist his king and country by repelling the  invasion. During the final battle Laven earns the name Firestorm and becomes one  of the most famous heralds in the history of Valdemar.Brightly Burningis a distinct and unforgettable coming-of-age story.  With a compelling cast of characters and lively dialog, Mercedes Lackey once  again demonstrates her adroit mastery of fantasy fiction.--Robert Gately