I found 'Take a theif' a fantastic read. It was my first mercedes lackey book that i read and maybe not the best one to start with(if you want a good starting point then i suggest 'Arrows of the queen').
Take a Thief is very well written but can be slow or unclear in certain places, but it keeps the reader caught and I found this book to be an all nighter. The story focuses on Skif before he was chosen by a companion (magical hores). It tells of how he escaped his life of virtual slavery at his uncles hand, his acceptance into a group of theives, his quest for revenge when his fellow theives are killed, his first meeting with Alberich (a tough looking herald thats really a softy in the centre), being actually chosen, meeting and finding out who Alberich really is, being accepted by other trainees (training to be herald, Herald govern the land)and defeating the bady.
Reader cant really relate to Skif but we can feel for him and all readers might not agree with the death, murder or theivery but I still think it's an enjoyable book that is skillfully written by an enjoyable author.