This is the story of the Herald with the thieves past, Skif. An orphan in the care of his uncle, who treats him as nothing more than a servant, Skif escapes into the city and meets up with a small band of thieves. He becomes quite the pickpocket and cat burglar until Chosen. Then his adventures really begin.
Impressions: I think I actually enjoyed this Valdemar novel even more than Brightly Burning. Skif is a wonderful scoundrel and getting the peek into his past is a much enjoyed journey. As always, I enjoyed Lackey's writing.