Beyond (The Founding of Valdemar, #1)

by Mercedes Lackey

the Emperor’s dunderheaded idiot Knights of the Throne would refuse to ride a mare or a gelding. This made absolutely no sense at all, of course. If Kordas had been an enemy commander, one of his first moves would be to send a loose, wild mare in heat out onto the battlefield as soon as the Knights put in an appearance, but in the Empire, when masculine ego came into play, logic flew right out the window.

“Wonderful beasts, wonderful. Big! Bigger is better. Bigger is always better. And gold, like real gold. We thought it was all bragging, but no, they look like gold. They’re going to look great in a parade.”

I think the Emperor is modeled on Trump!

“Do you know what they’ve given up here, in the Palace? In the City? They’ve given up empathy. They’ve given up sentiment, fond thoughts of the little things that make life worth living, that make it special and wondrous and joyful.”