Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey is an American fantasy novelist known for the Heralds of Valdemar universe and for series that combine adventure with characters finding a place in demanding societies. Briarheart, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, reimagines the Sleeping Beauty tradition through Miriam, an overlooked older sister who trains to defend the princess Aurora. The novel brings Lackey's long experience with ensemble fantasy to a younger audience while emphasizing sisterhood, preparation, and chosen allies. Her broader bibliography includes Bardic Voices, Elemental Masters, the Serrated Edge books, and numerous Valdemar sequences. Lackey has also worked with collaborators including Larry Dixon, her husband and a frequent artistic and writing partner. Little, Brown describes Briarheart as fantasy for teenage readers, while her publisher biography places it within a career spanning more than fifty novels and several interconnected fantasy worlds.