Review of Beyond, Mercedes Lackey’s Novel – Portals and Great Escapes

Are you wondering if Beyond, Mercedes Lackey’s first Founding of Valdemar book is worth reading?
If the prisoners in The Great Escape were the entire population of a duchy and the Gestapo were the evil East Empire, you’d get an approximation of Beyond, Mercedes Lackey’s first Founding of Valdemar book. Except this novel has a happy ending.
The Great Escape meets The Scarlet Pimpernel.
In Beyond, Duke Kordas Valdemar implements a three-generation plan to get him and his duchy out of dodge before the evil emperor comes to take everything from them.
Getting out of dodge involves experimental magical portals, subterfuge, and the Duke acting a part (reminiscent of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Shevraeth in Court Duel).
Add in court intrigue, a group of mages affectionately referred to as “preserved nuts,” an intriguing magical system, an eclectic cast, and a main character you can’t help but respect, and it’s no wonder this is a great read.
I really enjoyed this book. It is excellently written, and the characters are well-rounded and have emotional depth and satisfying transformation arcs.
The twists and turns keep the pace moving, and the stakes build steadily as the book progresses.
This post is a six-minute read.
What I Liked
Until a month ago, I had never heard of Lackey, much less Beyond. But I found mention of it somewhere and was intrigued. So, I took a break from binge-reading Brandon Sanderson’s books and gave it a whirl. I’m so glad I did.
There are few better things than discovering an excellent and prolific author. Granted, I can’t speak to Lackey’s other 139+ books, but this first foray into her written world proved promising.
If I like the others as well as this first one, it’s something to celebrate. I’m thoroughly looking forward to reading more of her works.
There’s plenty to love about Beyond. And while I don’t usually sit down and think through all the elements I like in a book, it’s a good practice.

The Concept
I love stories about daring escapes, heists, underdogs tricking powerful bad guys, and risky rescues. Beyond weaves all of these elements into a cohesive story.
All these elements contributed to my thorough enjoyment of the story.
Characters with Emotional Depth
The characters in the novel are an eclectic mixture–delightfully eccentric and human. By human, I mean they have flaws, fears, secrets, and realistic reactions to events.
Duke Kordas was my favorite character, but he’s well supported by ancient stuffed-bread-baking mages and pig farmers with more to them than meets the eye. I loved that the Duke was a man of the land, wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, loved horses, and jeopardized his safety to rescue those who couldn’t rescue themselves.
Magical Elements

Another cool part of the book was the magic. I didn’t get how it all worked, but I understood what I needed to understand. It made sense and didn’t require me to stretch too far.
It also added intriguing elements to the story.
Twists and Turns
There were plenty of great twists and turns in the novel. I don’t know how many of them would be a surprise to people who’ve read other books in her world, but I thoroughly enjoyed them.
For example, I wasn’t expecting some of the intrigue, the addition of more people to rescue, and other plot complications.
What I Didn’t Like
I can’t think of anything off the top of my head that I didn’t like about Beyond. Lackey writes beautifully, her story is character-driven, well-plotted, has good pacing, and does a great job showing the internal world of multiple characters.
FAQS

What is the story of Beyond by Mercedes Lackey?
In Beyond, Duke Kordas Valdemar implements a three-generation plan to get him and his duchy out of dodge before the evil emperor comes to take everything from them.
Getting out of dodge involves experimental magical portals, subterfuge, and the Duke acting a part (reminiscent of The Scarlet Pimpernel or Shevraeth in Court Duel).
Add in court intrigue, a group of mages affectionately referred to as “preserved nuts,” an intriguing magical system, an eclectic cast, and a main character you can’t help but respect, and it’s no wonder this is a great read.
Will there be a third book in the Founding of Valdemar series?
Yes, it’s already out! Valdemar, the third book in the Founding of Valdemar series, was released on December 26, 2023. In this novel, Kordas and his people face dangerous magicians using dark magic and twisted methods.
What order should I read Valdemar books?
Although there are different schools of thought about this, many fans agree that reading in publication order is the way to go. By reading in publication order, you’ll get to see the world unfold naturally, gaining complexity and richness with each new book.
How many books are in the Valdemar series?
There are 40 books in the Valdemar world. They are divided into the following series:
- The Arrows trilogy
- Vows and Honor Series
- Last Herald-Mage Series
- Mage Winds Series
- Mage Wars & The Mage Storms Series
- Valdemar Prequels
- Collegium Chronicles
- Herald Spy Series
- Family Spies Series
- Founding of Valdemar Series
- Kelvren’s Saga
What to Read Next
If you enjoy fantasy, this book is well worth reading. I loved the story’s concept, characters, plot, and pacing. It came to a satisfying conclusion and left me wanting to read more books by Mercedes Lackey. Plus, this one functions perfectly as a standalone. So you’re at no risk of being left hanging at the end.
Other books I’ve read and enjoyed include the Queen’s Thief series. Check out my reviews of the first three books here: The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.
I’m also obsessed with The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. By obsessed, I mean I’ve read/listened to it 6 times in the past year and re-read my favorite parts before bed every night for a couple of months. This doesn’t usually happen to me.
Find more great books by superpowering your search through the magic of subgenres or by using fantasy tropes to find books with your favorite story elements.
You can also read some of my original fantasy stories by heading to my short story shelf.
What about you? Have you read Beyond or any other books by Mercedes Lackey? Hop into my Facebook group to chat (or rant) about books, and/or join my email list for a roundup of some of my favorite young adult fantasy series:
