Arrow's Flight (Heralds of Valdemar, #2)

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Arrow's Flight (Valdemar: Arrows of the Queen #2)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 9,907 ratings · 113 reviews

Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Valdemar, this unique and exciting novel continues the story of Talia. Having mastered the powers necessary to a guardian of the kingdom, she faces the final preparation for her initiation as adviser and protector of the Queen.

Paperback, 318 pages

Published September 1st 1987 by DAW (first published 1987)

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Mar 24, 2013 Allie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, valdemar

So Talia finally becomes a Herald and heads out for her "internship" (a remarkably urban term for a fantasy novel). Snores ensue. She and her sponsor, Kris, begin a purely physical relationship while snowed in - an entrapment which lasts for the entire middle third of the book - and continue this relationship despite Talia and Kris both acknowledging that she is, in fact, in love with another man (whom, by the way, she has maybe interacted with for a total of two hours).
Oh, and Talia's Gift goe...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Willfor rated it 3 of 5 stars

I JUST finished this one. The way I saw things heading in from the last one ... well, I wasn't sure where it was going originally, but it set even more things up that I'm expecting to see in the next one.

I knew from about the beginning that this book would mostly focus on Talia's internship after she got her whites, so I knew that would probably be the end goal. I just didn't realize there was so much baggage to be worked out from the beginning. That's basically what this whole book was about, r...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Anne Hromalik rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Book 2...

This is not the first 2nd book of a trilogy I've read to suffer from 'dark gloomy valley of emotional despair' syndrome. 1st books are about beginnings, new things and getting to know characters. 3rd books are about resolutions and endings. Middle books are about... slogging through.

Do they have to be? I'm not so sure, but I also don't know if I've read enough to give an accurate judgment. What I *DO* know is I did not enjoy this se...more Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Book 2...

This is not the first 2nd book of a trilogy I've read to suffer from 'dark gloomy valley of emotional despair' syndrome. 1st books are about beginnings, new things and getting to know characters. 3rd books are about resolutions and endings. Middle books are about... slogging through.

Do they have to be? I'm not so sure, but I also don't know if I've read enough to give an accurate judgment. What I *DO* know is I did not enjoy this second book nearly as much as I enjoyed the first.

Positively, I still think the flow of the writing is pleasant, and the pace of world-building enjoyable. Negatively though, I feel like the minor flaws of the first book have grown to cause greater problems in the second. Plot-related challenges to the characters crop up quickly, and just as quickly are put to rest-- for example, the 'problem' of Elspeth not yet having been Chosen and thus her status as Heir in flux was brought up with grave seriousness, and then resolved in the space of ten pages. Moreover, the narrative contradicts itself in her Companion Gwena's status-- one sentence she is stated as Grove-born, and then a few later it is recalled that she was just a shyer member of the Companion herd. (Also? At the end of the book, when the narrative explains extensively to the reader about the two stages of the Truth Spell? All well and good, except this is the SECOND time we the readers see the The Truth Spell in action. After NOT explaining the two stages and just assuming that the reader remembers Book 1's explanation the FIRST time, not only was it confusing to suddenly find the exposition, but it felt demeaning. I am not an absent-minded reader, and I did not forget between that last time Talia used the Truth Spell and this one. Oh, and the book just assumes the reader knows why Kris can't use the second level of the spell but Talia can-- and that's not explained in either Truth Spell Usage plot point. I'm guessing it has to do with the sort of Gift he has, but I COULD HAVE SWORN exposition in the first book placed The Truth Spell as something all Heralds could do to all levels.) The vague and impersonal statement of 'Oh there are Court Intrigues' returns full force, only this time Talia is taken away from those intrigues further as she rides circuit. And then suddenly, for no apparent reason, her shields collapse because of a few poked questions concerning her gift. She was so confidently in control of her gift at the end of Book 1 that the disintegration of her control seemed not only out of character, it did not *logically* make sense. She was amongst THRONGS of people in the capital, and she was exposed to far more than just the Collegium's set of relatively stable minds. Moreover, why had she not discovered or picked up on those rumors while she was in the capital from her Empathy? Moreover moreover, when Talia is taught to shield in Book 1, the event happens within a paragraph and sounds unbelievably easy. Especially because Talia moves through a number of wild emotions throughout the rest of Book 1, and her shields do not waver much. Is it because she is at the Collegium that her shields do not fail before her circuit ride? If so, it would be beneficial to the narrative to say so, because as it is right now the collapse of Talia's mind feels very fabricated.

The circuit-riding itself feels like one long rabbit-trail to the whole of the story so far, especially with how unbalanced it is-- we spend a large part of the narrative sitting with Talia and Kris snowed into their Waystation for chapter upon chapter, and then we watch as they resolve far more interesting village-life events in a handful of pages each. This was the very definition of 'slogging' through long periods of emotionally unpleasant periods for the characters, and I'm sadly surprised to find it after Book 1 felt so warm and radiantly comforting in mood. I understand from an objective point of view that this is the classic 'cocooning' process of character development, the sinking them to depths of hardship before elevating them back up as better people, but after seeing so many narrative choices made in Book 1 in the name of giving the reader a sense of comfort and enjoyment, not to mention many a glossing over of similar emotional growth trends in characters (cf. Talia's growing acceptance of others into her life during her education as a Gray, Elspeth's change from Brat to kind girl) to suddenly decide to write in painful detail this strange emotional shattering feels betrayingly out of step with the previous storytelling. And to hold the reader's head in it for over half the book? We are dancing now with issues of making narrative choices between readerly enjoyment and being 'true to life' in character growth. I would not object so much to the affair, except that so many choices previously have obviously been made in favor of the idealizing the fantasy instead of being 'realistic' (Just take a minute to examine any character presented so far, and it's easy to see the stark strokes they are painted in, either Good or Bad. I would be hard pressed to call any of them 'true-to-life' or 'realistic', but because it's easy to figure out who is good and who is bad, the story is more idyllic) that to send Talia into this dark emotional valley to slowly climb her way out feels completely out of step with everyone else. All the more so because she feels like the only character in the book changing. The narrative has narrowed immensely to focus almost exclusively on Talia and Kris, with a few minor players here and there, and though Kris plays a huge part in it all he merely plays the role of 'rock to cling to' instead of taking on any growth himself. He certainly *helps* Talia in her struggles, but does he struggle himself? His character seems more or less the same at the beginning and at the end, just closer in friendship to Talia. And as for Talia herself, because the emotional spiral felt so fabricated to start with, unfortunately it never felt triumphantly resolved at the end either. The fact that, despite always being under stress and tension because of her shields, she is written with an unwaveringly calm public face I think contributes to this, not to mention the disconcordance with how easily and powerfully she used her Gift in the previous book. Though I can certainly relate/empathize with the feeling of having to 'put on a strong face' in situations when I am in emotional turmoil underneath, I felt like I had lost empathy with the actual *character* of Talia because my willing suspension of disbelief about how her Gift and shields were working had been broken. Oh, and what about Rolan? The first book describes him as an emotional refuge and haven, one that Talia ran to often and took shelter in. Where was he in all this emotional struggle? Did he suddenly lose his ability to provide comfort and love to her? Book 1 establishes Companions as hugely supportive to their Heralds, and I saw very little of that in Book 2, to the point where my believe suspension again was broken.

Also, something must be said concerning the 'floating 3rd person' writing style. I don't recall it ever happening in Book 1, and though it only happened in Book 2 with jumps between Talia and Kris mid-scene (there were in both books POV jumps from scene to scene, but nothing WITHIN the scenes), it happened QUITE A BIT. From some research, it seems the jury is still out on the correctness of writing in this manner, but I contend, at least from what was presented in this book, that it had a narratively weakening effect. I had heard Lackey often used this 'Head-Hopping' writing style, and I've heard Steven King uses it as well, two successful authors, so who's going to argue with that? But I maintain that to switch heads mid-scene means to have to switch bundles of thoughts and emotions, which is flow-distruptive. It bothered me to no end to be jumping back and forth between them mid-scene, often having to backtrack to figure out whose head I was in at the moment to then figure out what THEIR pre-existing knowledge conditions were. And OFTEN, the emotions were just similar enough that the characters muddled together in my head despite trying to keep them separate-- it was hard to separate Talia and Kris after awhile, especially with how long it was just the two of them in that Waystation. On one hand, I can at least say hey, nice piece of symbolic writing... oh, except for the fact that they're not *supposed* to be life-mates, so they shouldn't necessarily be blurring together into one 'general' character. And second, if their characters DID end up just running together, that does not say much for the character defining work put into them.

Generally speaking, I also saw some dismaying signs of what I disliked so much in The Obsidian Trilogy beginning to appear-- a marked tendency to attempt dramatic irony that falls flat, a feeling of fabrication of issues, and a mishandling of climactic moments (Okay, seriously, those two messenger heralds at the end? How much more stilted in terms of forcing the plot can you get? 'You realize you just punished him, Talia.' 'Yes, and I would do it again.' 'Well okay then! Kudos!' Glad you two could suddenly appear for a dialogue line or two in order to vindicate Talia and then JUST VANISH.) I might not be so disappointed with Book 2 if it weren't for how Book 1 really seemed so different from The Obsidian Trilogy stuff, far removed and not making the same mistakes. Also too, a definite feeling of some 'long-term goal', in this case shepherding Elspeth through 'Court Intrigues' (It feels very much like a meaningless buzzword-phrase at this point) to becoming true Heir and eventual ruler, which then disappears into the background for hugely long periods of time while Talia's journey to become properly trained as a Herald in order to do that meanders on for years. I fear for the final book is going wrap up the 'Court Intrigues' Plot A very suddenly and shortly, and only when the nested Plot B of Talia's Herald Training is, further meanderingly, resolved... though I hope I'm wrong.

So, in sum, Book 2 was disappointing. Not necessarily on its own merit, but rather when set next to its predecessor, its flaws become more obvious and sad. Book 1 was SO GOOD at stretching willing suspension of disbelief without breaking it; Book 2 did not manage the same level of finesse. The increasing contradictions in world-building or scene-building logic were frustrating, and further tore at the believability of the narrative. Finally, the long drawn-out unpleasant descent into Talia's emotional psyche felt claustrophobic and suffocating in its 'true-to-life'-ness to an audience who in Book 1 had grown used to the narrative making choices that instead idealized the fantasy. Then, there were so few characters in Book 2, and those that were there presented simply, without real complexity. Finally, Narrative flow was at times difficult to follow due to the head-hopping, and the pace swung between relentless meandering and sudden stutters of 'OHTHERE'SAPROBLEMYAYWEFIXEDIT!'. I do hope the 3rd book redeems the series for me.(less)

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May 20, 2012 Kelsey Dean rated it 3 of 5 stars

The world that this story takes place in is cool, characters are mostly likable, and it's great that the author is clearly supportive of LGBT people and does not allow for slut-shaming or anything of the like in this world. However, the story for this one was weak, less exciting, and so much more angsty to me. I really got fed up with Talia and her need to be coddled by everyone all the time (or else her self-confidence implodes), combined with her aversion to talking to and listening to other...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Miss Clark rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one. Ever.

Shelves: rubbish-and-the-like

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 02, 2010 Kristina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

Out of all the novels in this trilogy, this has to be my least favorite. But I still enjoyed it, and the series, a lot, so my saying that it’s my least favorite isn’t something bad, really.

In this installment of the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, Talia is sent out on her 18 month intership and the entire book revolves around the duties a Herald is likely to perform on circuit. To be honest, it was a refreshing change of scenery from the Collegium – there were only so many situations Talia could fi...more Out of all the novels in this trilogy, this has to be my least favorite. But I still enjoyed it, and the series, a lot, so my saying that it’s my least favorite isn’t something bad, really.

In this installment of the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, Talia is sent out on her 18 month intership and the entire book revolves around the duties a Herald is likely to perform on circuit. To be honest, it was a refreshing change of scenery from the Collegium – there were only so many situations Talia could find herself in, and a lot of them were starting to repeat. So when I say the change of scenery is a nice change, I mean it.

Right off the bat, a new friendship is unveiled. Kris and Talia are bound to become closer, as he is her “mentor”, of sorts. It doesn’t help, however, when he asks (very bluntly!) Talia about the rumors spreading in Court about her. This dampers the mood immediately, and Talia is suddenly cast into self-doubt and a depression that eats away her soul. In fact, after the first 50 pages, the entire novel was basically Talia being suicidal/depressed, angry, and weak. Am I being harsh in saying she’s weak? Hell no. If I were her, I would have tried my best to reverse the predicament she was in. All she did was reflect on it and allow the doubt to eat away at her. I wanted to reach into the book’s pages and slap her silly. I mean, I’m glad that she had something she wasn’t sure of/skilled at, since a lot of things just came easily to her in the first book, but it was getting me depressed while I was reading about it.

Back to Kris and Talia... I love that they both love someone so much they don’t want to hurt that person, and sacrifice their own feelings (however insignificant) because of that. I love Kris; I’ll admit. He’s funny, arrogant, gallant (at times), and understanding/patient (well, after he reevaluates his perceptions of others). He screamed different, very much like Skif did in the first novel [pertaining to how all the characters sounded the same]. Near the end of the novel, the Midsummer’s Eve scene with him had to be one of my favorites. It was such a nice, loving, thoughtful scene, and I have to admit that I got misty eyed. So sweet!

I have to admit that I hated the lack of action. By action, I merely mean that half of what we read is just them riding, and Talia being emo in the corner (okay, not the corner). There were only about... four scenes that deviated from the monotonous circuit up north, not including the snow-in that occurred. Two of those scenes were stuck in the back of the book, as if Mercedes Lackey just thrust them in without careful planning at all. I also disliked the lack of time (what can I say, I’m a stickler for time!) sequence. One moment, we’d finish up a scene and in the line break, we’re months ahead. Sometimes it was hard to distinguish when a time jump would happen, and I’d have to re-read again to check what month I was reading about.

Upon this re-read, I found some things I had missed in previous reads, which got me really excited. Knowing how the third book goes, I was able to foreshadow a few events (two in particular stuck out; the Weatherwitch and the flowers), so I was happy I was able to pick those events up that I hadn’t in earlier reads.(less)

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Jun 17, 2010 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: yafantasy

Much as I liked Arrows of the Queen, my review of it sounded an awful lot like damning with faint praise. I actually enjoyed this one a whole lot better. Either the writing was not quite as self-conscious and cliche or I just got used to it and ignored it in favor of reading the story.

The story of this book was much stronger than the story of its predecessor. There's more of an actual conflict, rather than just Talia being scared and not wanting to trust anyone. This actually has to do with gift...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

My least favorite of the Arrows series, one that I couldn't find, and therefore skipped and didn't miss, for several years after I read the other two. It kind of drags in several places, and seems to retread the same ground several times. Lackey lays several hints and bits of information that are paid off in the third book, and carries forward plot threads that were started in the first book but not tied off until the third. That's not a problem; what is a problem is the several bits of informat...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-fiction

I just started reading this author, and I think I have mixed feelings. At times during this book and the first book, it seems that the plot randomly speeds up and slows down in order to get to the interesting parts. Lackey does do well with Talia's character development, but readers don't see very much with other minor characters, with the exception of Elspeth.
That being said, there are some surprisingly adult themes in these books, which I think are intended for a more teen/young adult audienc...more

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Jun 04, 2010 Bibliotropic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: valdemar

It's strange, but in between Arrows of the Queen and this novel, the style has become so much closer to the way Lackey writes the rest of her books. Less narration-in-the-guise-of-dialogue, less voice of god telling about the behind the scenes stuff that readers need to know but that can't be explained in any other way. The story is driven more heavily by character interaction than before, and that's what I like most about her Valdemar novels. The style is still less refined than in later books,...more It's strange, but in between Arrows of the Queen and this novel, the style has become so much closer to the way Lackey writes the rest of her books. Less narration-in-the-guise-of-dialogue, less voice of god telling about the behind the scenes stuff that readers need to know but that can't be explained in any other way. The story is driven more heavily by character interaction than before, and that's what I like most about her Valdemar novels. The style is still less refined than in later books, but it's getting there. The seeds have been planted and the plant is growing.

In this second book of the trilogy, Talia has earned her Whites and is off on her first circuit, a year and a half in the field with a mentor to guide and help her learn the more practical aspects of being a Herald. We get a clearer view of just what a Herald does here, the real nitty-gritty of the lives they lead and the work that they do, and much in the same way that Arrows of the Queen gives us a good look at just what training to be a Herald can be like, this is good groundwork for later books in that we know more about the little bits of Heraldic life, the less-than-epic events that sometimes get overlooked in the larger picture of the history of Valdemar.

If this book has any one failing it's in the pacing, and even then there are understandable reasons why the author dwells on just about everything that happens for a month and then skips half a year. It can throw the reader a little bit, and make you read back to make sure that no, you didn't actually miss anything, but as jarring as it can be sometimes, there are reasons for it. To give equal time to everything would mean the underplaying of some important things and giving too much attention to other more trivial things.

I'm still enjoying the reread of this series, and I'm seeing things that I missed before and appreciating all the familiar and much-loved aspects that little bit extra.

But then, I freely admit that I'm a die-hard Valdemar fan, and your mileage may vary on these books. The things that I enjoy about them tend to be the very things that other people find tedious and dull. Still, I definitely recommend the series to people, and at least counsel giving them a try before making a final decision. Especially when the series gets going with the Winds and Storms trilogies, it's easy to get pulled into the world and get lost within it.

But that's a review for another day.(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Maria by: Wyatt

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy

Once again this book did not read like a stand alone but like part two of a three part book. I'm glad I don't have to wait for each one to be published. That would have driven me crazy. As it is, I feel like Talia is working through her problems, although I have to admit that I was very disappointed that she caved with Kris, regardless of the circumstances. I would have preferred that she wait for Dirk, especially since she knows Dirk is the one she wants and Kris doesn't need EVERY woman fallin...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Mynameisntcollins rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always seem to be drawn to books with strong heroines. And this one was no exception. Not only do we see Talia growing into her own as a Herald, the internal struggle that she goes through requires a great deal of strength to undertake and conquer. She deals with her fears admirably. However, as the second in a trilogy, her tale is still incomplete so Lackey leaves us slightly hanging, or sitting, on the edge of our seat as we anticipate the inevitable storm Talia and Valdemar have yet to face...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

It was a good follow up to book 1 but I kept waiting for some sort of plot to form somewhere. Granted Talia has grown a lot since the first book but I expected her to be doing more on her own than traveling around with Kris. I know she's setting the whole Dirk-Kris-Talia triangle up for the third book, but you'd think this genre could do without more love triangles.

Lackey does a really great job of making this series unique due to the creativity behind Roland and the companion bond. The charact...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Akanksha aKa Axe aKa Da_Bibliophile rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I'm from an essentially conservative country and we consider it an affront to our values if you talk about sex. What I loved in this book was the casualness with which it was displayed and how natural it seemed. I know, my parents would disapprove but it didn't seem wrong somehow....Talia and Kris share a relationship that in normal terms, in my country, would be scandalous. Dirk would probably kill Kris in such a scenario. The way these complicated stories were dealt with is nothing short of am...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Widdershins rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm enjoying the series enough to finish it and probably get something else by the same author, but it's all because of the world she's created. The characters are not very well developed and I frequently find myself ridiculously frustrated by why they just don't talk to each other about what's ailing them. I hope ML adds more depth to her plots and characters in the next story arc, because it's woefully thin here. On the other hand, I discovered why the series isn't YA - quite a bit of happy an...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Catherine rated it 2 of 5 stars

The pacing was pretty poor but still readable. It seems to have fallen under 'second book syndrome'.

Spoilers!!--

The relationship between Kris and Talia also seemed odd- the reader was constantly assured that they were incredibly close and the best of friends however any dialog with them seemed to show just the opposite! I also wish there would have been more interaction with Rolan and Talia. They're supposed to be close as well and yet we rarely see them interact in a scene.

Anyway! Still decen...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Shakes rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: couldnt-bring-myself-to-finish

This one is a snooze-fest! I couldn’t even finish it (and I’ll read nearly anything when I'm out of books). I was already kind of 'meh' on the series; this book provided me with a regret-free stopping point. I don't think I'll read any more of the Heralds series, though I'm still willing to give M. Lackey a go.

Below is not really a spoiler (but I hid it because I'm nice like that).

(view spoiler)...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-in-a-series, fantasy-science-fiction

Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar series provides one of the cornerstones of my reading history. After discovering her when quite young, I still follow new additions to the series - nearly twenty years later! I read and re-read these books over and over again throughout my youth, but I haven't re-read this series in its entirety in a long time - and never as an adult. There are some new books added to the series since the last time I read them, so this re-reading project is pretty exciting for me since...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Gwyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

And I thought the first one was mediocre. Arrow's Flight goes past mediocre into the realm of boring and downright bad. Probably 80% of the novel is spent with the two main characters--who weren't very exciting in the first place--trapped in a remote cabin by a snowstorm, doing nothing but shoveling snow and angsting. The heroine--if you can call her that--is an inconsistent and uninteresting character who experiences what is essentially a magical nervous breakdown and becomes borderline suicida...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Chuck rated it 4 of 5 stars

Continuing the trilogy . . .Talia has achieved full Herald status but must learn the Kingdom in order to fully reach her abilities and, long term, become an effective Queen's Own. The novel is largely her first tour of duty on "the Circuit," travelling throughout Valdemar, dispensing the Queen's Justice, settling disputes, and, generally, letting the people know the queen cares, and letting the queen know what is happening in her land.

Good heroic fiction stuff.

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Jan 01, 2013 James rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, lgbt

Having finished her training and become a full-fledged Herald and embarks on her first tour of duty in the country. She and her mentor Kris have several different adventures as Talia slowly learns to use her more unique powers - if I had one criticism of the book its that it seemingly dropped the main plot thread from the first book and felt more like a series of unrelated events the one story. Also, Talia gets embroiled in a very unconventional love triangle.

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Nov 28, 2011 Jeremy Preacher rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Arrow's Flight is more coherent a novel than Arrows of the Queen, I'll give it that. Since it's got a straightforward arc, the episodic feel to the various adventures works just fine, and the central conflict carries all the way through.

I'm not sure that makes me like it any better, though. The central conflict is based on the infuriating "two people refuse to actually talk about the obvious problem" trope which I just loathe. And once it's conquered, it shows up for an encore in an utterly poin...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Sherry rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the first of this series, despite the publishing date. However, I think you could stop there. Unless you are willing to read more than this trilogy, I would strongly suggest stopping there. This is a pretty good book. Less heavy on action. Heavier on Talia's control of her gift and her relationship with Cris. You could also stop at the end of this book, but I would suggest reading the third if you've finished this one.

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Apr 14, 2009 Mela Eckenfels rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of the Darkover Cycle

While "Arrows of the Queen" showed us how the life of a herald trainee looks like - especially of Queen's own - Arrow's Flight gave a brief example of the time of herald internship. So you can count this book as a background book on valdemar and the heralds.

Talia's strugle against and with her gift just spices the story up a little, but may also be ignored.

References to Marion Zimmer Bradleys Darkover Cycle are more than a bit obvious.

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Dec 28, 2010 Simeonberesford rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, valdemar, ebook, green, dragon

This the second book of a trilogy shows the dreaded mid trilogy droop Lackey's plot often seems rather linear which is what makes me think of them as suitable for young adults.. But I cant think of one that was marketed as such in this case I suspect it is because the conservative American market would find the implied message that its okay to have sex with people that you just think of as friends as dangerous.

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Jul 16, 2009 Carissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-fiction-fantasy

Of the trilogy, this is my least favorite, but the fact that I still really enjoy it makes that mean very little. Talia gets a little frustrating with her incessant need to go it alone, but it makes since for her character, which might be one of the reasons I get so annoyed with her. She still hasn't learned. But by the end of the book, she's starting to get it. And Kris . . . sigh. One of my all-time faves.

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Sep 01, 2012 Marco rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, english, lgbt

As for the previous book of the trilogy, the plot feels a little episodic at times. Despite the limitations, the book is entertaining and uplifting, a great example of the 70s/80s woman fantasy movement. The story features many of the themes that will make Harry Potter a success: an unpopular child that is rescued from an unloving family and sent to a school of magic when she discovers her magical powers.

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Jun 03, 2009 Awallens rated it 4 of 5 stars

this is the second book in Lackey's trilogy about Herald Talia. In this book, Talia is on her internship with Chris, her counselor and for lack of a better
word, boss. Talia has the gift of empathy and has not learned to use it properly, which causes all sorts of problems. Through the book, she must learn
how to use it and control it, with out hurting herself or others.
Again, I really liked this book, and what Lackey did with the characters, which were well-drawn. The situations were real— everyth...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Pam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

I thought this book (and series) would be appropriate for children or young adults. Boy was I wrong. This book has some of the same graphic details that made me hate "A Game of Thrones." There are about 50 pages that should be skipped over. Asides from that, I liked the progression from the first book and I'm excited to read the third.

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Aug 15, 2009 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Talia's coming of age continues--in some ways I like this one better than the 1st one, because Talia is less perfect and goes through some very real struggles.

I can't decide if I'm going to re-read the 3rd one or not, because Very Bad Things happen to Talia in that one, which isn't my idea of comfort reading.

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About Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts &...more Mercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.

"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as `my job.' My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of `story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the `folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.

"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't `not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a `high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL [`There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the `evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.

"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:

"There's no such thing as `one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."

Also known as Misty Lackey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/merced...(less)

More about Mercedes Lackey...

Books by Mercedes Lackey

Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1)

Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #1)

Magic's Price (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #3)

Magic's Promise (Valdemar: Last Herald-Mage, #2)

More…

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Arrow's Flight (Valdemar: Arrows of the Queen #2)

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