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Water Horse
For the last twenty years, Esclin Aubrinos, arros of the Hundred Hills, has acted jointly with Alcis Mirielos, the kyra of the Westwood, and the rivermaster of Riverholme to defend their land of Allanoth against the Riders who invade from Manan across the Narrow Sea. He has long been a master of the shifting politics of his own people and his independently-minded allies, but this year the omens turn against him. The Riders have elected a new lord paramount, hallowed servant of the Blazing One, a man chosen and fated for victory.
The omens agree that Nen Elin, Esclin’s stronghold and the heart of Allanoth, will fall when a priest of the Blazing One enters its gates. Esclin needs a spirit-bonded royal sword, a talismanic weapon made of star-fallen iron, to unite the hillfolk behind him. But the same vision that called for the sword proclaimed that Esclin will then betray it, and every step he takes to twist free of the prophecies brings him closer to that doom.
The omens agree that Nen Elin, Esclin’s stronghold and the heart of Allanoth, will fall when a priest of the Blazing One enters its gates. Esclin needs a spirit-bonded royal sword, a talismanic weapon made of star-fallen iron, to unite the hillfolk behind him. But the same vision that called for the sword proclaimed that Esclin will then betray it, and every step he takes to twist free of the prophecies brings him closer to that doom.
557 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2021
12 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Scott
100 books449 followersScott studied history at Harvard College and Brandeis University, and earned her PhD. in comparative history. She published her first novel in 1984, and has since written some two dozen science fiction and fantasy works, including three co-authored with her partner, Lisa A. Barnett.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
Scott's work is known for the elaborate and well-constructed settings. While many of her protagonists are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, this is perfectly integrated into the rest of the story and is rarely a major focus of the story. Shadow Man, alone among Scott's works, focuses explicitly on issues of sexuality and gender.
She won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction in 1986, and has won several Lambda Literary Awards.
In addition to writing, Scott also teaches writing, offering classes via her website and publishing a writing guide.
Scott lived with her partner, author Lisa A. Barnett, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for 27 years, until the latter's death of breast cancer on May 2, 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 14, 2021
Rep: bi mcs, gay mc, lesbian mcs
March 31, 2021
Melissa’s Scott’s The Water Horse is a rich and deep epic fantasy full of the deep worldbuilding, immersive writing, intriguing magic, and strong characters that I come to expect and crave in her writing. Just as importantly, the novel provides a framework and exemplar of a story where heroism, valor, strength of character and rising to the occasion are not trampled and mocked and denigrated as in some grimly dark regions of the Grand Duchy of Fantasy. Instead, in The Water Horse, they are virtues that can save a person, a city, a people, and a land. That's a message, and thus a book stunningly well suited to our times.
July 10, 2021
A word to the wise - read the advertising blurb thoroughly and keep a printout of the List of Major Characters / Glossary found at the start ready at hand. The book dives straight into an assassination attempt on Esclin Arros (Ruler of the The Hundred Hills) and I found the sheer number of characters appearing in the first two chapters a little discombobulating. To be sure, the author writes complex multi-character epic fantasy sagas ... and this one does not even attempt to spread things out over a trilogy of books - nope - she just stacks layer upon layer of political brinkmanship, brutal violence, shifting alliances and betrayals, paranormal phenomena and mystical powers, and of course the forging of a magical sword of deliverance.
Once I got past the 'feeling-a-little-at-sea' by the halfway mark, I got quite caught up with how several key characters (not just Esclin and his longtime lover Kelleiden) manage to outwit a skilled and war-honed invading army/machine (think prudish/moralistic Vikings here folks). The female characters (Talin, Viven, Alcis, Leicinna) are drawn equally strongly as the male one with sympathetic characters dispatched/killed as frequently as antagonistic ones. The climatic ending was suitably cataclysmically breath-taking with a decent attempt to 'wind up' many character arcs (I wanted more of Traher but was sadly disappointed) as well as feature once more the magical essence of the Water Horse. 4 solid stars.
Once I got past the 'feeling-a-little-at-sea' by the halfway mark, I got quite caught up with how several key characters (not just Esclin and his longtime lover Kelleiden) manage to outwit a skilled and war-honed invading army/machine (think prudish/moralistic Vikings here folks). The female characters (Talin, Viven, Alcis, Leicinna) are drawn equally strongly as the male one with sympathetic characters dispatched/killed as frequently as antagonistic ones. The climatic ending was suitably cataclysmically breath-taking with a decent attempt to 'wind up' many character arcs (I wanted more of Traher but was sadly disappointed) as well as feature once more the magical essence of the Water Horse. 4 solid stars.
June 1, 2021
Water Horse is a magnificent and haunting book, a fantasy epic that will sweep you away. Melissa Scott is a writer at the height of her powers, and this is a virtuoso performance from a modern master. The world is deeply felt from the secret places of the Hidden Rivers to the joyous spaces of the Westwood, from rocky, bloodstained battlefields to the farmsteads of folk too often forgotten in stories of war. Likewise, the characters shine. Esclin is the queer sorcerer-king more often seen as a villain in high fantasy, in this a fascinating, mercurial, and deeply committed ruler and father trying to twist his way out of prophecied defeat. Kelleiden is richly drawn as the master smith who loves him, as does Talan his irrepressible daughter and Alcis, his former lover who turns out to be the best general on the field. I mention these four, but all of the characters are memorable and draw in close to your heart. I have loved Melissa Scott’s work since the mid 1980s, and Water Horse may be her finest yet. If you are a lover of epic fantasy, queer heroes, or meticulously created worlds so real you could fall into them, you must not miss Water Horse. Meet me in the hidden caves of the nenns; I’ll be there in imagination.
April 16, 2021
A powerful tapestry of sword-forging and sorcery.
In some ways this feels like an extremely old school epic fantasy about war and statecraft… except that it doesn’t buy into the old school take on gender roles. Equality between the sexes is taken for granted in a way that feels entirely natural, as a background fact of this world, whether you’re at court or on the battlefield.
I’m all for fantasy that challenges and explores the genre’s problematic history with gender but sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and read a story where it holds no significance.
Also: bad-ass harpers, a compelling bisexual king as our protagonist (LGBT relationships are just as casually placed in the narrative as gender equality), intense politics and a clever magic system, all packed into a single epic volume.
This one crept up on me, and I’m still thinking about it days after I finished the final chapter.
In some ways this feels like an extremely old school epic fantasy about war and statecraft… except that it doesn’t buy into the old school take on gender roles. Equality between the sexes is taken for granted in a way that feels entirely natural, as a background fact of this world, whether you’re at court or on the battlefield.
I’m all for fantasy that challenges and explores the genre’s problematic history with gender but sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and read a story where it holds no significance.
Also: bad-ass harpers, a compelling bisexual king as our protagonist (LGBT relationships are just as casually placed in the narrative as gender equality), intense politics and a clever magic system, all packed into a single epic volume.
This one crept up on me, and I’m still thinking about it days after I finished the final chapter.
June 13, 2021
That was amazing! I have always adored Melissa Scott's writing from her Point of Dreams to Death by Silver but I think Water Horse might be even better!
I loved the Romans/ Brittains feel that this book had although it is definitely a fantasy I love the feel of ancient history seeped into every sentence. Scott is wonderful and has mastered the art of historical fantasy in a world like ours but filled with magic! I adored Arros Esclin and his Master Smith Kelleidon's chapters and their tale brought all the feels.
The scope and mastery of Water Horse is going to leave this story lingering with me long after I have finished the last page.
5 stars and my favourite in a long time! For anyone who enjoys a queer epic fantasy with a rich plot line and characters, you can get behind and cheer for!
I loved the Romans/ Brittains feel that this book had although it is definitely a fantasy I love the feel of ancient history seeped into every sentence. Scott is wonderful and has mastered the art of historical fantasy in a world like ours but filled with magic! I adored Arros Esclin and his Master Smith Kelleidon's chapters and their tale brought all the feels.
The scope and mastery of Water Horse is going to leave this story lingering with me long after I have finished the last page.
5 stars and my favourite in a long time! For anyone who enjoys a queer epic fantasy with a rich plot line and characters, you can get behind and cheer for!
June 9, 2021
NEW MELISSA SCOTT NEW MELISSA SCOTT AHHHHHH!!!
November 21, 2021
Yer basic epic fantasy, except without hetero-male dominance. Competently written, and Scott clearly has the rules of EF down pat. If you only read one epic fantasy, this will do. And it's mercifully light on inns and stew. a lot of logistics, wine, and riding.
The harper subplot was good.
I don't see the suggested connection to the Fisher King, and the only Elric-like parts are that he has white hair and a sword - but it ain't no Stormbringer.
But I am left with nagging thoughts.
The annual slaughterfest doesn't make sense, unless both sides have a need to keep their population down.
There are at least three kinds of magic here, but no suggestion that anyone has ever said, "we all have magic, let's compare notes."
What was the big deal about the royal sword? I kept expecting it to turn into, at the very least, the good side of Stormbringer, or Excalibur, or to turn Esclin into Drizzt, or whatever. In the end we get that it
My final three points are about epic fantasy in general.
Prophecies are unquestioned - WHY? Are there never conflicting prophecies? Are they never wrong?
When will we see a bad guy who isn't bwah-hah-hah cruel, just an tough, pragmatic opponent?
And how does our hero end up ?
SUMMARY: Worth reading, well executed but mostly unmemorable. As good as many, better than some, but it's a big step up from here to Guy Gavriel Kay, to name only one at the next level. I prefer Scott's other work.
The harper subplot was good.
I don't see the suggested connection to the Fisher King, and the only Elric-like parts are that he has white hair and a sword - but it ain't no Stormbringer.
But I am left with nagging thoughts.
The annual slaughterfest doesn't make sense, unless both sides have a need to keep their population down.
There are at least three kinds of magic here, but no suggestion that anyone has ever said, "we all have magic, let's compare notes."
What was the big deal about the royal sword? I kept expecting it to turn into, at the very least, the good side of Stormbringer, or Excalibur, or to turn Esclin into Drizzt, or whatever. In the end we get that it
My final three points are about epic fantasy in general.
Prophecies are unquestioned - WHY? Are there never conflicting prophecies? Are they never wrong?
When will we see a bad guy who isn't bwah-hah-hah cruel, just an tough, pragmatic opponent?
And how does our hero end up ?
SUMMARY: Worth reading, well executed but mostly unmemorable. As good as many, better than some, but it's a big step up from here to Guy Gavriel Kay, to name only one at the next level. I prefer Scott's other work.
June 12, 2024
Another fantastic work by Melissa Scott, I spend the last half hour of reading this just bawling my eyes out. The worldbuilding and reality and beauty in her stories is always top notch and this is no different.
The exploration of transient relationships being no less valid or real then traditional marriages, people who have changed and grown closer or further apart. Communities that raise children, polyamory, societies that love and cherish and support each other.
About halfway through I realised something that I'd never consciously noted in her works but is a detail that just makes them that much more of a pleasure: the food and drink. Watered wine to soothe and relax after a hard day of work on a campaign, stopping to break out bread and preserve, characters conscious of the foraged herbs in their rations. Looking back on the Points series and even the far-future Dreamships I realised that the attention to detail with food pulls you in so much more.
Lastly with this book I've gotta say the focus on logistics and timescales is always present and has potentially revisited the way I read any fantasy. Stuff like sending a scouting party ahead of the main force is so common but Melissa hones in on how they are still limited by the speeds of their horses, by their need to rest and recuperate. Splitting forces to stable them at separate towns so as not to diminish the local food supply. Just. Perfect.
The exploration of transient relationships being no less valid or real then traditional marriages, people who have changed and grown closer or further apart. Communities that raise children, polyamory, societies that love and cherish and support each other.
About halfway through I realised something that I'd never consciously noted in her works but is a detail that just makes them that much more of a pleasure: the food and drink. Watered wine to soothe and relax after a hard day of work on a campaign, stopping to break out bread and preserve, characters conscious of the foraged herbs in their rations. Looking back on the Points series and even the far-future Dreamships I realised that the attention to detail with food pulls you in so much more.
Lastly with this book I've gotta say the focus on logistics and timescales is always present and has potentially revisited the way I read any fantasy. Stuff like sending a scouting party ahead of the main force is so common but Melissa hones in on how they are still limited by the speeds of their horses, by their need to rest and recuperate. Splitting forces to stable them at separate towns so as not to diminish the local food supply. Just. Perfect.
May 14, 2022
Melissa Scott creates an immensely detailed and complex fantasy land in Water Horse, and the payoff to the incredibly slow-burn build-up is satisfying, but for me, that amount of detail bogged down the reading experience. Excessive comments about clothing (what to wear to a battle, for instance), or cheekbones, gets wearing after a while. The characters leaned toward stock fantasy tropes, with the added queer sensibilities that are nicely a regular part of this world. I am a fan of those basic elements, fire, water, earth, air, and Water Horse certainly leans into that a bit. The Kyra of the Westwood was for me the most intriguing character, and her relationship with the land she governed. So all-in-all, worth reading, if not the most compelling fantasy novel I've read.
January 16, 2023
Very densely written book which I found slow going, and set aside for a while as I wasn’t in the mood for military fantasy with attendant death toll. And Scott is the sort of writer who takes war seriously- people you care about die and it’s not easy to predict who has plot armour.
But the book was rewarding- complex plot, complex people, religion but not caricature, love of all kinds. Rather difficult to sort out all the similar names of people, places, and titles, and people who were sometimes referred to by one name, or another, or title, or relationship. Eventually I stopped worrying and assumed if something was important I’d probably figure it out, which mostly worked, but I imagine some could find it frustrating.
But the book was rewarding- complex plot, complex people, religion but not caricature, love of all kinds. Rather difficult to sort out all the similar names of people, places, and titles, and people who were sometimes referred to by one name, or another, or title, or relationship. Eventually I stopped worrying and assumed if something was important I’d probably figure it out, which mostly worked, but I imagine some could find it frustrating.
March 27, 2023
I'm really not sure what happened here - I adore both Astreiant and the Lynes&Mathey series so I was almost certain I would love this as well, but for some reason I didn't connect with the story at all and ended up bored most of the time. It's likely a me-problem - this is an epic fantasy in a very traditional mould and I'm not the biggest fan of those, and the whole book is written with multiple POVs with fast-changing settings, and I always loved Scott's writing best when she gets really deep into characters' heads and allows the reader to explore one city in great depth.
Read
May 3, 2023Reluctantly giving up on this one. I think it was a combination of taking too long to get really going and me being less happy to deal with religious fanatics and underhanded treacheries. I own the book so If I change my mind I can fairly easily pick this back up. might have to start all over gain if I do.
I feel kinda bad about not finishing this one as it was a Christmas present. but we can't always tell if something is going to be as good as we hope. or that that someone else we buy something for is going to love it as much as we hope they do.
I feel kinda bad about not finishing this one as it was a Christmas present. but we can't always tell if something is going to be as good as we hope. or that that someone else we buy something for is going to love it as much as we hope they do.
October 27, 2021
Rich and satisfying fantasy
I loved that queer relationships as entirely normal in this book, poly as well. And gender roles not at all rigid. Interesting explorations of power and belief. Not everything is wrapped up or explained, all to the good. Excellent descriptions and vivid characters.
I loved that queer relationships as entirely normal in this book, poly as well. And gender roles not at all rigid. Interesting explorations of power and belief. Not everything is wrapped up or explained, all to the good. Excellent descriptions and vivid characters.
February 23, 2024
Probably more like 2.5-2.75. The characters were just so, so flat for me. They were all pretty much the same, honestly. But the world, mythology, and magic were delightful and creative so there’s that.
August 24, 2021
A complex and wonderfully clever tale that took me away from the real world.
August 21, 2021
Sigh. I do love the author, but I don’t think fantasy is her strength. She’s so good with a sci-fi story, in which a small number of protagonists have goals, all set against a carefully crafted world. This book has too many characters and the fantasy trope itself doesn’t achieve the level of power/familiarity that the genre needs.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews