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| Review Summary |
A child loses his mother, lives for a time with mean-spirited relatives, finds a family unit of thieves, and becomes a thieve's apprentice. After a time, he experiences great loss, and vows to see justice done. Rescued from this dangerous emotional turn of event by Companion Cymry, Skif finds a place that is willing to accept him, a heart ready to love him, and a man ready to help him seek revenge and serve the Queen's justice at the same time. But can Skif really let go, and believe in this new 'family', eventually he will, but before he does, we get to see, just how does a thief prove he is worthy of the Companion's Choice, in his own eyes as well as others.
The journey is heartwarming and adventurous, and we meet the man behind the weapon when Alberich is introduced, prepping us for the begining of his story. Exhile's Honor.
B, Resident Scholar
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Take a Thief focuses on the early life of Herald Skif, the only thief to be chosen by a companion. Orphaned at an early age, forced to work for an abusive uncle and cousin in a disreputable tavern, Skif was forced to steal just to feed himself. While hiding out in the attic of a highborn's mansion, another thief stumbles upon Skif. Deek takes the boy to his manager Bazie and Skif becomes a part of an adopted family of thieves the only family he's ever known. While Skif's out on a job, the owner of their building has the place torched and his family perishes. Skif vows vengeance and locates the arsonist but before he can discover who hired him, the man is murdered and Skif is whisked off to the Collegium.
Lackey is an adept-class storyteller. Take a Thief examines the brutal reality of the stark separation between the poor and the highborn. Skif is a wonderful character and exploring his life is well worth the time. My advice is to invest it.
Kelly Steed, Resident Scholar
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This book details Skif's teen years, before and at the point where he is Chosen by his companion, Cymry. In the process, he learns of a plot, and with the help of new allies foils it, in the process truly beginning to become a Herald.
Jenett, Resident Scholar
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Daw, Oct 2001, 24.95, 351 pp.
ISBN: 0756400082
On Valdemar during the reign of Queen Selenay, his cold Uncle Londer Galko raises orphaned Skif as if the lad is a criminal. Though Skif laboriously works long hours at his uncle's Hollybush Tavern, his guardian sees the lad as a grudge earning his supper or dying.
Required to attend school due to the royal edict, Skif eats breakfast there and becomes efficient at hiding food to dine on later. His ability leads him to meet Deek, a pickpocket, and from that encounter, Bazie, an adult who cares what happens to his charges. Skif joins Bazie's family of young thieves and becomes one of the best at robbing from the wealthy as he could sneak in and out of a home like a ghost can walk through a wall. When Skif steals a horse left unattended, the “magical” steed abducts him instead. Now his adventures take a new spin especially when someone murders his beloved mentor and Skif must work with the Heralds and Alberich if he is to see justice is served.
For long time fans of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, TAKE A THIEF is quite a treat as Skif first appears in the mid 1980s Heralds of Valdemar trilogy. The story line is well written and fits quite nicely in the Valdemar Universe circa 1376 AF. Skif may be young, but is a survivor who given the opportunity heroically thrives. The support cast provides depth to the plot while insuring continuity to the main tales. Ms. Lackey's latest fantasy epic lacks nothing except many sub-genre fans will scramble for other books describing life during the reign of Queen Selenay.
Harriet Klausner
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- an adult (general)
Spying & Investigations
Yes
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
Age:
- a teen
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- mind reading
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- slaver
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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