[Red Calypso]

Quiet, even if you don't read any of the Valdemar/Herald books, I recommend picking up the Tarma/Kethry books. I love their stories.

*goes to read the wall of text, then I'll comment*

I agree with a majority of what you say. I think Misty wrote herself into a corner the minute she invented lifebonding. I mean, it takes all the romance out of it. "Oh hey, I don't know you but we're destined to be together. Let's get married." Uh, yeah...thanks but no thanks. I'd rather see a relationship like Elspeth's and Darkwind's. They didn't even LIKE each other at first.

I also think she has no grasp of mental illness. Look at Mags. He goes from majorly suicidal (not without reason) to perfectly normal without any kind of help, except for a snide "Stop being a coward" from Rolan. God, I wanted to kick Rolan a few hundred times for that. I also think she either hates teenagers or has no concept of how hormonally unstable they are.