Foundation: Book One of the Collegium Chronicles by Mercedes Lackey, the latest addition to the Heralds of Valdemar series, takes place during the first year of the newly created Heralds' Collegium. The newest Chosen, Mags, was an orphan forced to work in a mine finding "sparklies" along with other unwanted children when his Companion, Dallen, forces his way onto the mine owner's property, with the help another Herald and Companion, to claim him. From there, Mags begins his new life as a trainee, trying to find his place in an unfamiliar world. Unused to being shown kindness or having friends, he feels like an outsider among the many trainees (Herald, Bard, and Healer) crammed together in one building while two others are under construction.

Mags becomes unlikely friends with two Bard and Healer trainees, children of famous parents, who live under the pressure of high expectations. He even inadvertently befriends a powerful councilman who decides to take an interest in Mags. Meanwhile, foreign princes have visited the city and have their guardsmen looking into Valdemar's weapons training.

I have not read all of the Heralds of Valdemar series, but I know what to expect of a Valdemar book from the ones I have read. Foundation seemed incomplete to me. The climatic scene had little to do with the rest of the book, though I am sure it will be important in the books to come. Having said that, I did enjoy the novel. Mags is likable and sympathetic. His suffering and later loneliness due to the lack of family made me cry. It was also interesting to see the conflicts and issues related to the creation of the Heralds' Collegium. I am definitely looking forward to more of Mags and the continuation of his story. Maybe some of the questions left open at the end of Foundation will finally be answered. ( )

The writing style of this book is not even comparable to previous works of Lackey's such as Magic's Price series. The pace is choppy and the language is almost elementary in nature. Problems resolve unrealistically easily and the "hero" of the story is a teenager who goes from gem digger in a mine to star pupil in a matter of a week or two. It has some Harry Potter overshadowing going on that's almost laughable since it's not even close to setting up the relationships that abound in that HP series. ( )

From literally working in a hole in the ground orphan Mags is Chosen and brought to the newly founded Collegium to learn to be a Herald. Although isolated from his peer group by his deprived childhood, Mags does make friends, among them some of the most powerful people in Valdemar.

An interesting look at Valdemar's early days when Heralds weren't honored and revered by the citizens as they are (for the most part) later on. I hadn't bothered to pick this up after reading some lackluster reviews - I'm glad I did. If it isn't exactly Lackey's strongest work, it was interesting reading, and I'll look forward to reading more about Mags' adventures, as I'm sure he's bound to have some. ( )

If you like Lackey's other Valdemar books, you'll like this one. If not, not.

This is the first book in her new sequence, about the founding of the Herald's Collegium, about two generations after Vanyel. As usual, the hero is a mistreated youth who is Chosen and finds friends and a purpose in life. Mags is an orphan who was exploited by a mine-owner who wanted cheap labor. He turns out to have strong Mindspeech as well as the requisite good heart and more intelligence than most people give him credit for. In other words, a typical Lackey hero.

Lackey is very good at setups and characterizations, especially of misunderstood and downtrodden youth. Being the first book in a sequence, this is all setup and thus quite good. Here's hoping she doesn't blow it in the execution as she so often does. Regardless, I'll be reading the next book when it comes out. ( )

Great book! The latest in the Heralds of Valdemar series. Follows a new Herald trainee when the Herald Collegium is first started. As usual, lots of intrigue as a new Herald learns what it means to be a Herald of Valdemar. If you've never read the series before, start with Arrows of the Queen. ( )