Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Valdemar, this unique and exciting novel continues the story of Talia. Having mastered the powers necessary ...
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Sep 02, 2010
Kristina
rated it: 
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 Tali More...
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 Tali More...
Jun 17, 2010
Brittany
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
Mar 19, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
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
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Jun 04, 2010
Bibliotropic
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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,
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Jul 27, 2011
Amanda
rated it: 
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...
Lackey does a really great job of making this series unique due to the creativity behind Roland and the companion bond. The charact More...
Feb 08, 2012
Widdershins
rated it:
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
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Feb 06, 2010
Chuck
rated it:
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.
Good heroic fiction stuff.
Nov 28, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
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 enc More...
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 enc More...
Apr 14, 2009
Mela
rated it:
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.
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:
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.
Jul 16, 2009
Carissa
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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.
Jun 03, 2009
Awallens
rated it:
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 situati More...
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 situati More...
Aug 15, 2009
Erin
rated it:
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.
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.
Aug 28, 2010
Kathleen
rated it:
Talia has problems with her empathy in this book, which I liked because everything within her own power seemed to come far to easily in the first novel. Two people of opposite sex are snowed in on the road, make out, and it does not lead to everlasting love and babies. I really like Lackey's style.
Oct 06, 2010
Harmonybites
rated it: 
This is the sequel to Arrows of the Queen concluded in Arrows Fall. I loved the Valdemar stories as a teen and recently read them in a fit of nostalgia and found I still love them: good comfort food. The series deal with a kind of police force/military in a medieval setting bonded with magical horses the equal of their riders and full partners. The trilogy with Talia this is the middle book for is also a engaging coming of age tale in the classic mold, with an unappreciated child finding and gro
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Dec 08, 2009
Becca
rated it:
Same deal as with the first book, really. Equally addicting, equally annoying.
Slight spoiler: How is it that 2 main characters can have a conversation about one of them being in love with another character, then have sex like it's totally okay? I mean, these are not generally polyamorous characters.
Slight spoiler: How is it that 2 main characters can have a conversation about one of them being in love with another character, then have sex like it's totally okay? I mean, these are not generally polyamorous characters.
Sep 25, 2009
Kate
rated it:
This was another one I loved when I was little... but reread recently and found myself thinking "wait, wait... what?" The main character, Thalia, just annoyed my older self, among other things. Some books just don't age with the reader, so I'm going to sit back and remember how I loved these in my younger days.
Jan 13, 2009
Noah
rated it:
While a much more serious and adult novel than "Arrows of the Queen", the result can be a bit of a down, since the last half of the book is Talia being incompetent and not being able to do anything about it. Still, an important chapter in the character's story, and well written.
Dec 29, 2010
Klava
rated it: 
I really like the Valdemar books, but this was a real dissappointment. Why would you want to read about Talia's internship when you can read The Black Gryphon or Owlsight, knight, and flight?? This is the worst Valdemar book I have ever read.
Nov 01, 2011
Gail
rated it:
The continuation of Talia’s story—she goes off to her year of apprenticeship with the handsomest Herald around up in the snowy border country, faces lots of hardships and has to learn to handle her empathic talent.
Sep 09, 2009
Jennifer
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This series is meant for the younger reader and I adored it! I'm not much for fantasy or sci-fi books to be honest but I truly fell in love with the characters (this is my favorite book in the series)
Oct 18, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
she's not a great writer, but she's clean and mostly interesting. some sex talk, but nothing graphic... a little crass, a little slow, but valid life lessons
Jul 03, 2010
Arwen
rated it:
Read this way back in the day and I don't remember it that well. Obviously, if I had liked it better, I would have rated it higher.
Apr 12, 2010
Denise
rated it:
#2 in the Heralds of Valdemar Trilogy. Talia embarks with fellow Herald, Kris (her mentor), on her 18 month field experience along the border of Valdemar. Inclement weather, sullen townspeople and nagging doubts drag at her spirits. They endure the "blizzard of the century" isolated (for months) in a way station for Heralds. As their provisions dwindle and the temperature drops, real fear creeps into their minds and poses increasing dangers that threaten their lives, their friendship,
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Aug 22, 2009
Kels
rated it:
Not as good as the first and third books of the trilogy, but it contains important plot elements for the rest of the series
Dec 26, 2008
Crystal
rated it:
Empathy is listening to what another feels so that you can understand enough to not judge, to help them through.
Aug 02, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
First book that ever made me cry. I love it. Not my absolute favorite of the Valdemar books but definitely up there.
Aug 19, 2010
Nancy
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Started: July 25, 2010
Finished: July 27, 2010
Book #77 for the 2010 52 Books in 52 Week Ravelry Challenge.
Finished: July 27, 2010
Book #77 for the 2010 52 Books in 52 Week Ravelry Challenge.
Nov 12, 2009
Daniel
rated it:
Talia continues her growth as a Herald. An easy and fun read and I can't wait to continue the series.
Feb 04, 2012
Nancy
rated it:
I finished this book for the third time. I love all of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books.
