In 2019, a retrospective in Tor.com described the Herald-Mage books as "powerful stories about strength, magic, duty, love, and queer identity". The reviewer lauded the series for promoting queer acceptance and felt that Vanyel's story evoked a strong personal connection.
In 2019, Tor.com published a retrospective on the Herald-Mage books, highlighting their themes of strength, magic, duty, love, and queer identity. The reviewer praised the series for its promotion of LGBTQ+ acceptance and felt that Vanyel's story resonated deeply with readers.