Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent introduction to a fantasy series, February 11, 2000
By A Customer
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. :)
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33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
New friends are the best..., August 9, 2000
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.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Read for the (good guy) characters, NOT for the plot, July 20, 1997
By A Customer
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.
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