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Heralds of Valdemar

by Mercedes Lackey

The Heralds of Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey has 7 known books (7 published). It is best read in publication order, starting with Arrows of the Queen (1987).

Books
7 known books (7 novels)
Published
7
First published
1987
Status
completed
Shelved under
Fantasy
Start here: Arrows of the Queen (1987) — then read straight through in publication order.
Book one
Cover of Arrows of the Queen
Arrows of the Queen (1987)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. Arrows of the Queen

    Novel
    Arrows of the Queen opens Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1987. It precedes Arrow's Flight in the reading order. The series ran from 1987 to 2003 across 7 books.
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  2. Arrow's Flight

    Novel
    Arrow's Flight is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1987 at 320 pages. It follows Arrows of the Queen and precedes Arrow's Fall in the reading order.
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  3. Arrow's Fall

    Novel
    Arrow's Fall is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1988 at 320 pages. In the reading order it comes after Arrow's Flight and before Brightly Burning.
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  4. Brightly Burning

    Novel
    Brightly Burning is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2000 at 445 pages. It follows Arrow's Fall and precedes Take a Thief in the reading order.
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  5. Take a Thief

    Novel
    Take a Thief is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2001 at 435 pages. In the reading order it comes after Brightly Burning and before Exile's Honor.
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  6. Exile's Honor

    Novel
    Exile's Honor is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2002 at 432 pages. In the reading order it comes after Take a Thief and before Exile's Valor.
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  7. Exile's Valor

    Novel
    Exile's Valor is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2003 at 402 pages. It follows Exile's Honor as the final entry in the series.
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The order the story's events happen in, novellas slotted where they belong.

  1. Brightly Burning

    Novel
    Brightly Burning is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2000 at 445 pages. It follows Arrow's Fall and precedes Take a Thief in the reading order.
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  2. Exile's Honor

    Novel
    Exile's Honor is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2002 at 432 pages. In the reading order it comes after Take a Thief and before Exile's Valor.
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  3. Exile's Valor

    Novel
    Exile's Valor is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2003 at 402 pages. It follows Exile's Honor as the final entry in the series.
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  4. Take a Thief

    Novel
    Take a Thief is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 2001 at 435 pages. In the reading order it comes after Brightly Burning and before Exile's Honor.
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  5. Arrows of the Queen

    Novel
    Arrows of the Queen opens Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1987. It precedes Arrow's Flight in the reading order. The series ran from 1987 to 2003 across 7 books.
    View book

  6. Arrow's Flight

    Novel
    Arrow's Flight is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1987 at 320 pages. It follows Arrows of the Queen and precedes Arrow's Fall in the reading order.
    View book

  7. Arrow's Fall

    Novel
    Arrow's Fall is a novel in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series, published in 1988 at 320 pages. In the reading order it comes after Arrow's Flight and before Brightly Burning.
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Key facts about the Heralds of Valdemar series

The Heralds of Valdemar series has 7 books on our list. Since all 7 are out now, you can read the whole list today.

Start with Arrows of the Queen, since it opens the publication order in 1987. Arrow's Flight is book 2, from 1987. Arrow's Fall is book 3, from 1988.

Brightly Burning is book 4, from 2000. Take a Thief is book 5, from 2001. Exile's Honor is book 6, from 2002. Exile's Valor is book 7, from 2003.

However, the story's own timeline begins with Brightly Burning. Use the order switch above to see that timeline. Since the catalogue marks the series as complete, we list no next book.

The books came out between 1987 and 2003, while their length runs from 1 to 445 pages. That is a run of 16 years.

Mercedes Lackey has 120 books on our list. Additionally, they write Vows and Honor, Diana Tregarde and The Last Herald-Mage, plus 22 more series. We shelve the books under fantasy.

About the Heralds of Valdemar series

Heralds of Valdemar is the original branch of Mercedes Lackey's sprawling Valdemar fantasy universe — the books that introduce the kingdom of Valdemar, its telepathically-Chosen Heralds, and the intelligent, soul-bonded Companions (horse-shaped beings who select each Herald and share their mind). The core is the Arrows trilogy, following Talia, a runaway farm girl Chosen by the Companion Rolan and thrust into training as the newest, and youngest, Herald, eventually becoming the Queen's Own — closest advisor and protector to the reigning monarch. Around that trilogy, Lackey later added books filling in other Heralds' stories from the same era: Take a Thief follows Skif, a young thief who becomes one of Talia's fellow trainees, before his Choosing; the Exile's Honor / Exile's Valor duology tells how Alberich, a captured Karsite soldier, was Chosen against every expectation and became the Heralds' feared but respected Weaponsmaster (he appears as Talia's own instructor in the Arrows books); and Brightly Burning stands furthest apart, set generations earlier, following Lavan Chitward, a Herald whose uncontrolled Firestarter Gift makes him one of the most dangerous — and tragic — figures in Heraldic history.

Together these seven books established the tone, magic system, and found-family emotional core (young outsiders Chosen into belonging and purpose) that every later Valdemar sub-series builds on.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in Heralds of Valdemar?

Seven: the original Arrows trilogy (Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall, 1987-1988), plus four later-written companion books set in the same era — Brightly Burning (2000), Take a Thief (2001), Exile's Honor (2002), and Exile's Valor (2003).

What order should I read Heralds of Valdemar in?

Start with the Arrows trilogy in publication order (Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, Arrow's Fall) — that's the classic entry point to Valdemar as a whole. The four companion books can follow in any order, though readers who want strict in-world chronology should read Brightly Burning, then Exile's Honor/Exile's Valor, then Take a Thief, before the Arrows trilogy.

Do I need to read Heralds of Valdemar before other Valdemar series?

It's the natural starting point since it's the original trilogy Lackey wrote, and it establishes Valdemar, the Heralds, and the Companions that every later sub-series (Last Herald-Mage, Mage Winds, Collegium Chronicles, and more) assumes you already understand.

What are Companions?

Companions are intelligent, telepathic beings who appear as unusually beautiful white horses but are something far stranger; each one 'Chooses' a single person to become a Herald, forming a lifelong mental bond. The nature of Companions is a running mystery gradually explored across the wider Valdemar series.

Is Heralds of Valdemar finished?

Yes, as a discrete unit — no further books have been added to this specific group since Exile's Valor (2003), though the wider Valdemar universe (Collegium Chronicles, Herald Spy, Family Spies, Founding of Valdemar, and others) continues to expand.

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