#13: Mercedes Lackey, Brightly Burning [JRI: 2000]

[kareila]

Standalone novel that tells the story of Lavan Chitward, a Herald with the rare power to summon fire. He speed-runs the Vanyel story arc: (a) neglected and bullied teenager (b) whose Heraldic Gifts are awakened by tragedy (c) and who ultimately sacrifices himself to save Valdemar from invasion, (d) becoming a legend for future generations. All that's missing is the element of romance - his Companion forms a platonic lifebond with him instead, which, weird choice but ok.