Customer Reviews

Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar)

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I made new friends when I read this book. Not the kind of friends that die at the end or live happily ever after so you never have to wonder about them again, but the kind who stick around for a while. The kind where you buy more books to find out where they are, how they're doing, and what adventures they've gotten themselves into.

Arrows of the Queen is the introduction to the realm of Valdemar. The main character of the tale, Talia, is a young girl who is raised in a very strict environment. She runs away and circumstances land her in a school for Heralds, where she begins learning how she can help and protect the people of her realm.

Only slightly disappointing is the plot. Simply put, not much of consequence happens. It's a sort of 'Guide to the Life of a Herald', which is ideal if you're planning to read more about the characters of Valdemar, but not if it's the only Mercedes Lackey novel you ever plan to collect. That's not to say that it doesn't have it's exiting moments, just that it isn't focused on them.

Character development is without a doubt the best quality of Arrows of the Queen. People like Jadus and Skif and Talia were so much fun to get to know that I read on the train and at lunch and every other available moment to finish the book well before the day was out.

The book is a lighter style of fantasy similar to Pern or EarthSea - the kind that you can enjoy on several levels without thinking too deeply.

I first picked this book up 5 years ago, I was 13 andimmediately clicked with the protagonist, Talia, who also happened tobe 13 at the start. Arrows of the Queen is an excellent intro to the world of Velgarth and the concept of Mind-Magic and supernatural beings. Outwardly the story is somewhat fairy-tale like and "sugary". Lackey does however do a wonderful job of developing characters. Sure the mean students seem evil, but look beyond that and catch that they are influenced by the power-struggles of their parents, and the "good" ones like Talia and Skif also have their flaws. The former has to overcome amazingly low self-esteem and the latter an ex-thief. Sure the Heralds seem too perfect, but that is the whole point. The Companions (supernatural beings in the form of white horses) choose them for their noble qualities and magical talent. Oh, but you say "White horses? How cheesy!" Perhaps if you look at it shallowly, then yes, but keep in mind this is Lackey's earliest attempt at this series of novels. If you read the trilolgies beyond, you will find the reason that Companions are white. I won't tell you what the reason is, but it can be found in the Mage Winds Trilogy. So get past the sugariness of the tale and enjoy the charming story for what it really is, a wonderful introduction. I encourage you to read this one and beyond. The novels that follow get increasingly more complex and grown-up and cover other regions and time-periods of Velgarth. There is even subtle sex in the next novel, Arrow's Flight. This novel will always hold a place close to my heart because it was my first into the world of magic and mystical beings. Please read it, even if you're not a 13-year-old girl. Your comments are appreciated. :)

Once again, another minority I-don't-think-Lackey- is-the-greatest-thing-ever-to-hit-fantasy opinion. That said, I will agree that this is one of her more charming trilogies, character-wise. Perhaps overly so: Talia & co. are all universally well-meaning, good-hearted, ethically conscious, etc. ad nauseam.

I'll be honest: I did enjoy the book, especially for some of its humor, but here (again) Mercedes Lackey tends toward melodrama, and all the endearments ("love," "kitten," and so on) start to grate after a while. Isn't there anyone in the trilogy who is not a) one of the hero types listed above or b) a malicious, ambitious, greedy and poorly portrayed megalomaniac villain?

Once again, she covers up her lack of a focused plot by focusing more on character relationships. This sort of psychotherapy-oriented tale isn't bad *per se*; however, Lackey takes it to extremes. Yes, we care about Dirk and Talia and who-knows-who-else. But yes, I would *also* like to see a villain who isn't another cardboard cutout; and make no mistake, I have yet to see *any* Lackey villain who is more than a cardboard cutout with a few unique quirks.

I'm not saying the lady can't write; she can. I only wish she'd take the time to polish her works, because there's obviously potential there for some really riveting stories, and she's just as obviously not quite there yet.

I realized the other day that everything about Valdemar makes perfect sense if you assume that Mercedes Lackey came up with the world when she was 13 years old. Her heroines are ALWAYS misunderstood adolescents from Oklaho--excuse me, the Boondocks, until a wonderful white horse comes and CHOOSES them because, despite the fact that no one around them ever realized this, they're really special and wonderful. And then they get trained to do great, heroic deeds. It's the perfect adolescent fantasy. Don't get me wrong; I actually quite enjoy her books. However, if you're looking for fantasy with a complex society or characters who aren't universally pure of heart, word, and deed, I would suggest Katherine Kurtz or Steven R. Donaldson. If, however, if you're looking for something to read while recovering from the flu, Mercedes Lackey is just about perfect

I have several friends who are big Mercedes Lackey fans, and have been trying to get me to read the Valdemar books for a long time. I was hesitant at first, because, looking at the synopsis, it appeared to be more suited to teenage girls who where overly fond of horses. This is not far from the truth, to be honest, but there is so much more here.

I am glad I finally decided to read this book. This is a very touching story. It is also very well written. The beginning seemed a little too pat (girl dreams of becoming a Herald, and by Chapter Two she has been Chosen), but the story really picks up when she reaches the Collegium. There is not alot of plot in this book, as others have noted, because the emphasis is on the characters, especially Talia. I think this works for the benefit of the story.

In short, I found this book, the first in the trilogy, to be very engrossing and very, very good. I look forward to reading the next book in the Heralds of Valdemar series.

I agree that Arrows of the Queen has no plot. But if that is turning you off from Mercedes Lackey, you don't understand the fantasy process. Arrows of the Queen is really just the first chapter of a much longer book. Read it, and then read through all the 22 other books (in order of course). In Arrow of the Queen nothing happens. That's because the purpose of the book is to introduce you to the characters, Valdemar, the political scene, and the ways of the Heralds. Arrows of the Queen is a very good book in that it endears you to the characters, so that once the plot starts getting interesting and the myriad subplots start to interweave a couple books later, the characters are old friends to you and you enjoy the books infinitely more. Sure, it doesn't work in mainstream fiction, but its a great strategy for setting up an epic quality to the tale.

These are among Misty Lackey's first books; the first novel (almost a novella, really) might be the first Valdemar book. And they have all the flaws of first novels. Lackey's writing improved considerably; the Last Herald Mage series, beginning with Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1), in particular, are a lot better written.

But we are introduced to Valdemar, Companions, Heralds and "Mind Magic" here, and at that level it's kind of fun. But Lackey's villains are cardboard cut-outs, and come from the James Bond "explain your evil plans in detail" school of bad guys and gals. And the plots have holes you can drive trucks, er... ride Companions through. As just one example, consider that the nasty bullies who nearly kill the heroine are let go because there is no evidence against them; two chapters later, we watch the heroine being taught the "Truth Spell," magic that compels the accused to tell the truth, whether he wants to or not.

The second book of the trilogy has some moderately racy sex scenes, and the third book has an extended torture sequence; not recommended for children. If you enjoy seeing early, less polished efforts from an author, or want to get the partially developed (and sometimes inconsistent - an ambassador from Karse?) backstory on Valdemar, then this trilogy is for you. But it's a guilty pleasure; it's really not all that good.

Talia is an imaginative young girl trapped in an utterly backward society that punishes her for wanting learn and be independent. When she discovers that her family is going to force her to wed, she runs away. Talia doesn't get very far before she meets a beautiful white horse named Rolan, a Companion of Valdemar. Talia, not sure of what exactly to do, decides to ride Rolan, and he takes her on a journey to Valdemar's capital of Haven. Once there, she discovers that she has been Chosen to become a Herald of Valdemar... and her training begins!

"Arrows of the Queen" is the first book in Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful introduction the world of Valdemar and to the lives of its Heralds. I loved reading about how Heralds are trained, especially in their "Gifts," special mind powers, such as Mindspeech and Foresight. Lackey's descriptions of the interactions between the Heralds and their Companions was also interesting, if not amusing at times. I would recommend this book to anyone who remotely likes fantasy or is a horse lover.

I know that some of you are thinking that this book had no plot. Did you totally miss the evil empire vs the side of light or what! This book introduces you to Heralds at their weakest moments and at their strongest ones. Mrs. Lackey's point from my view is to introduce you to this particular fantasy world and it's inhabitants. Now for some of you who just HAVE to start from the begining when you read any series. The best place to start would be:

Black Gryphon, White Gryphon, Silver Gryphon

Magic's Pawn, Magic's Price, Magic's Promise

Arrows of The Queen, Arrow's flight, Arrow's Fall

Oathblood/Oathbreakers (the 2 in 1 book is called Oathbound)<----- this will intertwine later on in other books.

Read By the Sword before you read the following set)

Winds of Fate, Winds of change, Winds of Fury

Storm Warning, Storm Rising, Storm Breaking

Owlflight, Owlsight, Owlknight.

And back to the basics with Burning Brightly. (this book actually falls in-between Silver Gryphon and the Magic's series as close as i can figure.)

I personally own every book this author has written in Fantasy and sci-fi (and the one romance that was just released). I have a hard time waiting until she comes out with another so that I might devoure it as hungrily as the rest! If you didn't like the arrows books then try something totally different like Oathblood and Oathbreakers which comes out in a set now called Oathbound. Or Burning Brightly which is a stand alone. I hope that you all will continue to try and read books from this author. *Yes my name is a play on one of her characters it's my fave name for all my rpg'ing and all my pals know me by it so....*

This book was fantastic! From the first page to the last I was captivated. I bought the second and third book at once and hide myself away until I finished reading them. The characters are strongly developed and the plot enjoys many different twists. From the first page I found myself a part of the story, from Talia's strict and controlled former life to her reactions to the new one presenting itself. I had never read any other books by Mercedes Lackey and I was glad that this was the first. It has developed a thirst for the books and the need from more stores of Heralds and Companion's. It is defiantly a fantasy in all ways. Apart from magic it includes a characters fantasy to be a part of a world she can only dream about. You find yourself drawn into the story, hoping that everything will be perfect. I find the book is similar to Harry Potter , Tamora Pierce and Trudi Canavan's books, with the story revolving around school, magic and achieving in situations where the main character is `different'. I loved it, if you are looking for a new and exciting book to read, try this one, you won't be disappointed.