SOLVED. Fantasy named for redhaired warrior queen female protagonist, pre-1990s? [s]

[Roxana]

I can't remember the name or many plot details, but it was the first in a fantasy trilogy (or possibly longer series - the plot was a cliffhanger and I never found the next one), published any time before the mid-90s (but based on what I remember it feels like a 70s/80s fantasy). It was a really thick volume in paperback.

I think the title was the protagonist's name, that I think started with an A (like Aurelieana or some fantasy silliness like that) and the cover was black with a partial - just waist-up or so, I think, leaning in from the side of the cover - portrait of the protagonist, who I know had really really red hair. Plot... I know it was set in a totally fantasy world, not on any version of the real world. Aurelia or Alienetta or whatever her name is, is some species...? that's like, super-elves or amazons or something...? and she may be some kind of queen or princess, and had some sort of magic powers, and I feel like she rides horses and she was definitely a Strong Female Character...? maybe she falls in love with a human and that's a problem? I can picture the cover really well, but barely remember anything about the story itself.

I know it's not Tamora Pierce (despite sounding like I'm badly describing Alanna) or Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Any bells rung?

[Aerulan]

Ok, long shot it doesn't fit some of the details (no elves or amazons among other difference) but it's been searched for several times before and title/character name is quite similar to what you describe so maybe take a look at
Aurian just in case

[SBC]

Maybe something by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (The Tales of Aeron?) or Ann Marston?

Alternatively, have you tried the 'redheads on the cover' lists?
eg https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

[Sarah]

This is another long shot - but what about something about Boudicca? Matches on red haired queen with horses, but not on all those other things.

Thinking of:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...

Probably not it, but wondering if that could help somehow.

[Sarah]

Or possibly The King's Peace (Tir Tanagiri #1), by Jo Walton? Not exact, but some elements fit.

[Roxana]

Aerulan wins the prize for today! I'm now 99% sure it was Maggie Furey's Aurian. Thank you!!

(I think what I was remembering as "super-elves or amazons or something" must have been Magefolk.)

[Aerulan]

You're welcome! :)