Arrows of the Queen ( The Heralds of Valdemar - Book 1)

I discovered Mercedes Lackey's magical worlds nine years ago when my eldest daughter needed more difficult books to read because she was reading at an adult level but was only 12 at the time. I was blessed with discovering Mercedes by chance, having picked up just one of her books to pre-read to assure it was acceptable for my pre-teen daughter.

By the end of the year I had devoured 50 of her magnificent books and both my daughters were also devouring her books.

All but one of the books I read that year were perfectly suitable for my 11 and 12 year old daughters and they helped us bond as a family.

Mercedes creates worlds far better than Harry Potter (who we all also loved) and than the Twilight books.

Her characters stay with you and become people you converse about at the dinner table.

She is remarkably diverse in her writing although Valdemar is our favorite.

I have recommended her books more times than I can count and continue to do so.

I have seldom found a book worthy of a 2nd read but have read many of Mercedes books more than once, they join a short list of less than a handful of other individual books I read twice, such as Shogun.

We continue to adore her books and eagerly await each new treat.

It is not surprise that Mercedes Lackey creates a great new story. It would be surprising if she turned out something awful.

I love all of her Valdemar stories. The Valdemar stories are set in a fantasy world where a group of people who wanted their freedom leave their homeland to form Valedemar, a society where religious freedom (there is no one true right way) is one of the basic tenets of society. In order to prevent their country from falling into the hands of an unscrupulous king or queen in the future, the founding King Valdemar prayed for help. Help came in the form of Companions - a creature who looks like a horse with as much or more intellect as a human and mindspeaking ability, too. The Companions choose a life mate, a person who is typically in their teens when Chosen by the Companion who will train to become a Herald. In order to be a Queen or King in Valdemar, it is not only necessary to be the royal heir, but one must also be a Herald. Sadly, the current Queen's only heir is a spoiled brat and not likely to be chosen by any Companion!

Arrows of the Queen is the first part of three books about Herald Talia. Talia is living a harsh life where the women in her family have little to no value. Life is all hard work and no play - not even reading. Punishment for any disobedience is harsh. Talia realizes that she must escape when she reaches her 13th birthday only to be told that her family is going to force her to marry. Upon running away, she runs right into a Companion. Thinking she is returning the Companion to Haven, she makes her way to the Collegium in Haven where she discovers what it really means when a Companion Chooses you. She is now expected to be the most faithful companion and ally to the queen while learning how to ride her Companion, how to develop her talent (empathy), studying history, geography, etc., learning the etiquette expected of the nobility and training in self-defense, etc. She must do all this while those around her range from unknown but deadly enemies at worst to people who think she is far too young to do the job at best. Fortunately for Talia, her first task - taming the young heir to the throne so she might one day be suitable to be Chosen by a Companion - is one she understands quite well!

Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series provides one of the cornerstones of my reading history. After discovering her when quite young, I still follow new additions to the series - nearly twenty years later! I read and re-read these books over and over again throughout my youth, but I haven't re-read this series in its entirety in a long time - and never as an adult. There are some new books added to the series since the last time I read them, so this re-reading project is pretty exciting for me since it will include these new volumes, and will be in a new order. These books really just remind me of being young, reading them in the back seat of the car on family road trips... I think I was in 4th or 5th grade when I first started reading them, and they've always been a pleasure to re-read - and I am sure this will continue to be the case! The Valdemar series is broken up into (for the most part) separate trilogies. In my re-reading project, I am going to try to read them chronologically - not by publication date, but by their timeline within the series.

To read the series in publication order, this trilogy starts off the Valdemar series. Later, Lackey backtracks to fill in the blanks in histories first mentioned here (e.g., Vanyel's story, Lavan Firestorm's story, Alberich's story). But this is the real starting point for me and this series - I remember reading this first (incidentally torn at the bookstore between purchasing this series and John Lee's unicorn series). The description on the back is more appealing to a young girl and a love affair was born. I have since gone on to read (and re-read) most of Lackey's other books, but this one (well, the entire trilogy) inhabits a soft spot in my heartl I am not sure how much longer my tattered paperback version will last, but I am happy to see these books are now available on Kindle... if nothing else, that is a more resilient format! Talia is one of Lackey's most sympathetic characters and though I know how her story ends, I am looking forward to continuing it with the sequel, Arrow's Flight (The Heralds of Valdemar, Book 2).

Arrows of the Queen (1987) is the first Fantasy novel in the Valdemar series. It is set in Valdemar during the reign of Queen Selenay.

In this novel, Talia is a Holdergirl and has just turned thirteen. She can read, write and count. She is not pleased with the First Wife of her family.

Kelder is the First Wife of Talia's father. She disapproves of Talia.

Selenay is the Queen of Valdemar. She is a Herald when not being the Queen. Her daughter and heir is the young (and spoiled) Elspeth.

Sherrill is a Herald trainee. She had been a fisherman's daughter.

Rolan is a Companion. He is horse-like, but has much more intelligence.

In this story, Talia is reading a new book about Vanyel -- a Herald-Mage -- while she is carding undyed wool. She is daydreaming about observing an army of Dark Servants marching into Valdemar and riding a companion to warn the Queen. Then Kelder calls her name.

Talia collects her things and walks sullenly toward Kelder. She wonders what behavior of hers will be punished this time. Kelder believes that Talia needs more punishment, but she has a different topic to discuss with her.

Kelder sends Talia into the house. She finds all eight of the other wives waiting for her. When Kelder sits down, she states that Talia has reached her thirteenth birthday. She is now old enough to marry.

Talia states that she doesn't want to be married. Her father's mother mentions the other possibility: becoming a servant of the Goddess. Talia says that she wants to be a Herald.

Kelder turns to the mother of her husband and chastises her for being too lenient toward Talia. While Kelder was otherwise engaged, Talia flees the house and runs through the farm to her hiding place. She crawls into the open space under a tree on the edge of the cliff.

Wrapping herself in the old rugs, Talia falls into another daydream. She envisions a Herald coming to rescue her. Then the tinkle of bells wakes her and she leans out to see a Companion.

She leans too far and falls down the cliff. She lands with her face in the dirt. She looks up and sees four silver hooves of the Companion.

The Companion is alone, without a Herald. Talia believes that he has run away from his Herald. She decides to return the Companion to his Herald.

After some indecision, Talia mounts the Companion and he heads for the capitol. On the way, Talia stays as waystations and eats porridge. Then she meets a Road Guard and is provided with food and various useful tools. She doesn't understand why he is treating her so nicely, but she accepts the offerings.

When she runs out of food, she meets another Road Guard. This one is a female. She cannot be a female, but she is.

The female Guard recognizes Rolan. Then she explains that Talia is entitled to food and bed in the inns on her way to the capitol. Talia is still muddled by it all, but agrees to stop at inns for the rest of her journey.

This tale takes Talia to Haven and the Palace. There Selenay tells her that she has been Chosen to be the Queen's Own. She is introduced to Sherrill as her mentor. She also meets Elspeth and is surprised at her arrogance and temper.

Talia meets many people who like and admire her. The next installment in this sequence is Arrow's Flight.

Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of daydreaming maidens, abused children, and the Companions. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

Talia is a free-spirited girl trapped in a puritanical society. She dreams of escaping and joining the famed Heralds, heroic agents of the Queen of Valdemar. Then, one day, her dream comes true. Chosen by one of the magical horse-like Companions, Talia is whisked away into a world of adventure, honor, and comradeship. But there are forces in play eager to see her fail her training. Can she learn to trust her fellow Heralds and accept her place among them in time to save her life?
In Arrows of the Queen, Mercedes Lackey introduces readers to the fantastical country of Valdemar. Woven through the tale of a frightened young girl are explanations of Valdemar's Heralds, Queen, and culture. But the characters are the true stars. Not only Talia, but numerous side-characters are made relatable and interesting. In a story where plot takes a backseat, reading about their interactions holds readers' attention.
And plot does take a backseat. Lackey's conflict is personal rather than epic, and some readers may be put off by the lack of world-shaking action.
But if you're a lover of vivid characters and coming of age stories (wrapped in a fantasy setting) Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen is for you.

The plot: young Talia is not like the other Holderkin girls--i.e., she actually has a *brain* and can think for herself. Always a bit rebellious, Talia had long been abused by her father's head wife (the Holderkin have several), who thinks Talia should fit the mold and be meek and compliant, like all the other girls. When they try to marry Talia off at the age of 13, she can't take it anymore and runs off. She hides in a dilemma--should she go back, and risk being beaten, punished, and probably married off to a cruel young man or a disgusting old lecher? Or should she run off, a lone young girl with few valuable skills? Then, suddenly, she sees a Companion--a legendary horse-like being with intelligence that rivals that of humans, something she had only read about in books. Having been kept completely in the dark about COmpanions by the isolated and harsh Holderkin, Talia figures the Companion has run away from Haven, the capital city, and decides to return it...little knowing that the Companion is hers, and she is now one of the legendary Heralds, with an almost impossible task in front of her: become a Herald, and make the Queen's incredibly bratty daughter into a real person again.

A fun novel, full of humor, emotion, adventure, and a little bit of romance. A great book for anybody who enjoys reading!

This book is mind-captivating, It lets you lock out the world and dip into a magical event in time. The scene is set well, and the character's personalities are exact, and to-the-point. This book engulfs your mind with energy and lets you empathise with the characters in the novel. It shows you another view of life in general, and how wonderful yet lonely it can be. It shows the stereotypes and trials that any person goes through in a hidden sort of way. This novel makes you want to be a part of the story, it lets you LIVE the fantasy, and leaves you wanting to hear more. There isn't one word to describe it. I kept turning the pages, over and over to see what happened. Every page of writing leaves you with more and more mystery and suspense. Pefect for ANYONE that likes fantasy. The best book I've read yet. And yet, I give the book a 9. Well, no book is absolutely perfect. The description could have been cut down a little. Therefore, I think to give this novel a 10 would be judging it unfairly. Francesca, 14 years old

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.

Talia, a thirteen year old girl from the outer borders of the Kingdom, is chosen by a Companion--a horse-like creature with human intelligence--to become a Herald of Valdemar. She will become a protector of the Kingdom and a direct advisor to the Queen, but first she must complete her training in weapons, schooling, and magic--and all the while, conspiracy threatens the kingdom and Talia's life. Arrows of the Queen is slightly immature and certainly idealized, but it remains an engrossing and inspiring fantasy and a pleasure to read. I recommend it.

I first read The Heralds of Vademar series when I was in my early teens, and look back upon them with nostalgia; I'm grateful to find that this first book lives up to my memories. It's not without fault, to be sure. The pace is sometimes inconsistent, skipping ahead months or years and throwing the reader off balance. Exposition is sometimes unrealistic and artificially complete, even given an outsider protagonist and plenty of excuses for infodumps. Talia and the Collegium can be too good to be true: Talia is superbly skilled and selfless, and the Collegium is a haven of pure friendships and universally enjoyable classes. Some of this perfection is logical, some is explained by setting or character role, some is simple wish fulfillment, but sometimes it is simply too perfect, exceeding explanation and becoming foolishly idealized.

So the book has marks of immature idealization; otherwise, it is compelling and intriguing concept headed by a realistically vulnerable protagonist. This book is self-contained, but it introduces the wider world of Valdemar, complex and detailed, augmented always by an edge of magic, promising room for infinite exploration (and infinite sequels). Most intriguing are the Heralds, the Collegium, and the magically bonded Companions; although idealized, these aspects welcome Talia with open arms and, through her, welcome the reader as well. Talia is a vulnerable character, and it's easy to identify with her insecurities; her Collegium schooling is lesson that she is unusually talented, therefore has unusual opportunities and challenges, and that she deserves and will receive unconditional love. Like Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, this premise is wish-fulfilling, comforting, and exciting; I can see why I loved this book so much when I was Talia's age, and I'm pleased that it holds a similar magic for me now. I was glad to return to this book, enjoyed it, and will certainly continue on with the series. I recommend it, and it's a good book to introduce the Lackey and the world of Valdemar.

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 read this because I really enjoyed Foundation, the latest Valdemar novel.*

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
on 10/01/2008

Talia would rather die than be wed at the age of thirteen. When she tells her father's wives that she wants to be a Herald, to be Chosen by the mystical equine Companions, the women are horrified. To Talia's complete shock, she is found that very day not only by a Companion, but by the most important Companion in the land.

Chosen to be the Queen's Own Herald by the Companion Rolan, Talia is overwhelmed by a world completely different from oppressive Holder life. Responsibilities far beyond those she imagined are now hers. As Queen's Own, she is to be the Queen's confidant. Her far more difficult task is to help reform "the Brat," the presumed Heir to Valdemar. Certain parties don't want the Brat to ascend to the throne and will go to extreme measure to see Talia fail. Clearly, there is more going on than young Talia can fathom.

This is the first novel of Mercedes Lackey's "The Heralds of Valdemar." She has built a highly detailed and complex world in which readers can be lost for hours. The characters are deep and scenery richly painted.

In this introductory novel, I was pulled in and sucked through to the end. It seems like some scenes may have been cut out to make a page count. This isn't as big an issue as it is in the next two novels (ARROW'S FLIGHT and ARROW'S FALL), but it may bother the readers who are more particular about such things.

Overall, I recommend it as a good, but not spectacular, fantasy read.

Foundation (Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles, Book 1)

Thirteen-year-old Talia lives an unpleasant life among the Holderkin. Her only escape is the world in her books about heralds. Talia wants nothing more than to be a herald and when her dream comes true she quickly that herald life, although thrilling and wonderful is a lot more complicated than she ever thought. She is to become the Queens Own, one of the most important positions for a herald. Her main task is to take care of the young spoiled Princess Elspeth, but even before she can do that she must start her training as a herald. This involves weapons practice, fascinating history classes, and complicated magic works. And to top it off Talia must endure the harsh treatment of people that would do anything to get rid of her.
I absolutely loved this book. Being my second Mercedes Lackey book, Arrows of the Queen is an amazing work of fantasy. The main character, Talia was very easy for me to relate to, even though our lives are very different. I'm definitely going to continue to read this trilogy (the other books are Arrows Flight and Arrows fall). Mercedes Lackey is a great author.

If you're looking for a deep, involved, gritty fantasy novel, Arrows of the Queen is probably not the one for you. The plot is not complex -- in fact, there is little or no plot. There characters are rather straightforward, and completely black and white. There's no way to sympathize with the villains, and the hero(ine)s do not have a dark side.
That aside, I loved this book.
While not complex, Mercedes Lackey's first novel is definitely enjoyable reading. It's a sweet, fun, fairy-tale-ish story, enjoyable for all ages (I read it the first time when I was 10). The 'plot' is that of a young girl named Talia leaving a horrible life, where she is not accepted, and achieving her dreams. The qualities that she was punished for in her old life are ones that she is rewarded for in her new life -- that of a Herald. It's quite fun to read, and an excellent introduction to Mercedes Lackey.
Lackey -does- get better later on. Her world becomes less sugary-sweet, and her characters more interesting. Talia isn't that appealing -- but wait until later Valdemar novels, where you meet the wonderful Kerowyn. However, Mercedes Lackey's books don't make sense without reading this one. And reading this enjoyable but not deep novel is no chore at all.
Yes, the world is unrealistic. Yes, the country of Valdemar is too perfect, and would never be possible, even with magic. Yes, there is too much divine interference. However, despite those many flaws, Arrows of the Queen is one of the funnest Mercedes Lackey novels I've ever read. And, yes, I mean 'fun'.

This is a book with many contradictions. I have read the Mage-Herald series before this so I was familiar with the story of Vanyel and Lendel and the land of Valdemar as well as what Heralds and Companions do, so perhaps I was a bit jaded.

On the surface, this is a very similar story to the Herald-Mage saga. In this volume - which is the first of a series of three - a child is growing up in a semi-abusive home situation. With the situation becoming intolerable they flee and encounter a magical being - the Companion - who brings them to the kingdom's capital city where they enroll in the Herald Collegium. Through a series of increasingly improbable happenings, the child grows up and learns of their Gifts - these being essential to their future job. The child then also manages incredible feats and is accepted in the community by the end of the volume.

If you think about it, this is the exact same outline between Vanyel's story as a Herald-Mage and Talia's story as the Queen's Own Herald in this series. There are references to Vanyel in this volume so it takes place after the first series. The differences are that Talia is female and apparently hetero-sexual (although she is very tolerant of the homosexual relationships that are common to Heralds, apparently). This book spends more time on the studying that Heralds do and described more of the Collegium curriculum. This is welcomed by me as it makes more sense than simply glossing over the five years it takes to gain "whites". Also, the book explains more about the relationships between the healers, bards and heralds which was sorely missed in the Vanyel series.

On the other hand, the main plot points are resolved in too pat of a manner. Talia is thirteen years old when the book starts and is maybe fifteen when it ends. She manages not only to get accepted in the most problematic position that Heralds have - while not being a full Herald yet!!! - and also solves the problme of what is ailing the Heiress to the throne, what is ailing the Heiress's nanny, completely changing the attitude of the Heiress, and unsuccessfully attempts to lose her virginity! In addition, there are assassination attempts that fail as regards her, but that succeed in killing very experienced Heralds and many more unbelievable episodes.

On the other hand, this book was totally engrossing. I seemed to always want to find an excuse to read "just another chapter" until the whole book was done. So, that is why I gave it a rating in the middle of the scale.

Not that great, in my opinion. Just not exciting. I like fantasy, but contrary to all the reviews that said "Anyone who likes fantasy will love this book", I didn't love this book. I prefer things a little...deeper, more involving. Like Sabriel and The Golden Compass. It also seemed too long; although it wasn't very long, really, I guess I just wanted it to end. It wasn't terrible, but it's far from the best fantasy I've ever read. And Arrow's Flight wasn't much better than this. Trying to think of something positive to say now, to be fair. I love the cover art. This book is probably best for girls age 13-18 who like not-too-serious fantasy with magic and strong (but not unrealistically strong) female characters, and especially for those who like horses. If you like horses and fantasy this is YOUR BOOK.

FANTASY TRILOGY-A fantasy story stretched into 3 books. (See JRR Tolkien.) JRR Tolkien-Creator of the definitive FANTASY TRILOGY, often imitated, never duplicated. That being said this is the first book of a FANTASY TRILOGY, so we know that it is of epic proportions. It doesn't leave me eager for more, it leaves me hoping for better in pts. 2 & 3. We have the standard guilds: Bards, Healers and Rangers-(oops, that's Tolkien, sorry). In this trilogy they're Heralds. The standard apprentice (of course, an outsider among her own people, but golly gosh, so misunderstood and golly gosh, she's capable of great power, why she may even be the most powerful among her guild) , the standard animal companion. I've read other of Ms Lackey's books and she is capable of much better. I'll continue on into the rest of the trilogy and hope it reaches the heights of the Gryphon series.

My sister came home from college with this book, something like 20 years ago. Then my mom read it, then I read it. We all loved the series and carried them with us wherever we went. It's true that everyone is good-hearted (except for the bad guys, of course), but it's a great adventure with well developed characters. Talia is plucked out of a life she is ill-prepared for and thrust into high court. She faces challenges, overcomes them with good sense and courage, and meets some wonderful friends along the way. Tales of friendship, love and courage are what make up this book. It's great for people of all ages, though particularly girls.

Arrows of the Queen was the first book Mercedes Lackey(Misty) ever wrote in the Heralds of Valdemar Series which later expanded to the Velgarth series. They are a bit unpolished because they were her first books but once they are read you will never forget the characters. This should be the very first book to read as Misty has explained through her website. They must be read in the order they were written or it can become very confusing. If there is a spark of loneliness or staunch determination to finish a task by yourself that is within your soul then you will love Talia just as all those I have seen read this story have. Good luck and happy reading.

Sometimes a book can't get more personal, or more touching, than this book, and every book in the Arrows trilogy.
Young Talia, scorned by the majority of her family, and forced to live a life she despises and dreads, dreams and reads about the famed Heralds and their mystical Companions.
One day, a lone Companion appears and Talia feels that she must return him to his home. Little does she know, however, that she has just been Searched by a Grove Born Companion: one of whom only Chooses Heralds who are bound to serve the Queen, and be her right hand person.
Her struggle through the entire book is one to take to heart, and certainly one to relate to.

This is the first Mercedes Lackey novel I've read, and I really look forward to reading more of them, especially about the Heralds of Valdemar. My only problem with the book was Talia's talents. What next for the girl? Can she cure the common cold too? Every chapter was a new expansion on her inherent skills. It got a little ... predictable at the end. I would like to see the nature of the Companions explored in greater depth. I do agree with other readers that it is definitely an adolescent girl's fantasy come true - which is not a bad thing by any means

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.

This is Mercedes' first published book-in 1987, suppose that made me a bit biased since that's the year I was born. I am a huge fan of Mercedes Lackey's writing, but admit that some of her books are better than some of the others. THIS is one of the best! I am very picky in what I read because so many books today seem similar, this is pleasantly different from the many other authors on the shelves. This book and the other two in the series were amazing! You feel for the characters and it is exciting to 'watch them grow up and gain experience'. This book taught me a lot and made my summer interesting. Loved the characters and the book! Recommend highly! Also love all the other Valdemar stories I've read so far-working my way through the series.

Well, unlike many other people, this was not the first Mercedes Lackey book that I read. I started with Magic's Pawn, and I believe that it is a much better book. For my tastes, this book was a little to light. It also had a startling resemliance to Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern. I enjoyed reading this book and I think that it would be great book for those begining to read fanticy. For those already into fanticy, don't be put off by the first book . . . they get progressively better as you go along. I have to say one thing in favor for this book, though. I was compleaty enthrolled when I read it.

I became a fan of Mercedes Lackey during my freshman year of college, when a friend suggested I read Magic's Pawn, about six years ago. Since then I've been hooked. I read all of the Valdemar books through Owlsflight, then lost touch. I'm now re-reading all the books in the order in which they were published, which put Arrow's of the Queen first on my list. Some of them I'm re-reading for the first time and it's amazing how much I've forgotten in six years. It's wonderful to be rediscovering these books. Some of those I didn't like as much before, I like a lot more now. I've changed a lot in six years and the time has given me a new perspective. I'm thirlled that I have found new things to love about these books. Arrows of the Queen is one of the books I haven't read in five years or so, and I have a new-found appreciation for it.

Never having read anything by Mercedes Lackey, I wanted to start with the first one. Lo and behold, it was a wonderful experience. Unlike a lot of fantasy, there wasn't much action in this series, but the character development was unsurpassed. Each character was unique and Ms. Lackey showed great ability in their interactions. The lack of action was more than made up for by the political intrigue and she actually makes you care for the main character and feel for her plight. All in all, a very good book.

Arrows of the Queen is Mercedes Lackey's first venture into the world of Valdemar (and into the world of published writing, as well). It is centered around a young girl named Talia, a girl destined for doom until she happened to be found by a Companion -- a magical horse-like being who forms bonds with people, called Heralds, to help with the current Valdemar ruler's reign -- but not just any companion, the one specifically higher in rank than any other Companions or Heralds and who answers to the Queen alone: the Queen's Own Herald. The book documents Talia's training at the Collegium, where she recieves her training to become a Herald.

I just picked up a copy of Arrows of the Queen several days ago, and I must admit that I was enthralled by its somewhat unique plot. However, there are some shortcomings of the book.

For starters, the style of writing and some vague spots in its plot make it obvious that the book is Lackey's first published work. There are several places in the text where I had to reread a passage more than a couple of times over, wondering what in the world Lackey meant. The writing is fluid and straightforward, nonetheless, and kudos to her for that.

I admit, though, that the plot isn't exactly new to me. I've read several books where it revolved around a female heroine, bound by tradition to fit a mould of housewife but determined to make a difference and run away from those traditions. These themes are nice to read about, but there are plenty of books where the main character goes to a palace (the Collegium) and train to become a knight, or a Herald, or something of that sort, and are destined to become the monarch's right hand later on in life but must overcome certain barriers. Cliche, you might say. On a more personal note, I found the way that all the Heralds and Heralds-in-training sympathized with Talia (the main character) was a little bit irking, but that irk was repressed with the argument that I suppose that the Companions wouldn't have Chosen a bully to become a future Herald. Nonetheless, there will most probably be someone like a bully wherever a person goes, and though Lackey does personify the Blues (a different branch of training at the palace, such as the Herald's Collegium and the Bard's Collegium) as being bullies, not ALL Blues can be similarily-minded and not ALL Greys (Heralds-in-training) can be identical in thought....in my opinion.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story of Arrows and will be picking up a copy of the next book in the series, Arrow's Flight, from the library. I've never read Lackey before and that's maybe why I was so critical. There's a lot of potential in her first published work, and I have heard enough good things about her later books to keep me wanting to read more.

I recommend this book for any fantasy-lovers from the age of 9-14 (being in that age range myself).

Yeah, the good/evil dichotomy is very black & white, and the Heralds are uniformly brave and selfles and so on, but hey, that's the whole point--right? Companions go out looking for the best & the brightest, and the Queen's Own is the best in the kingdom--that's the setup for the whole story. And with all that as a given, Lackey does a good job of making the main characters less than perfect -- come on, don't you want to yell at Talia sometimes and say "Yes, people like you!"? -- especially Talia's long process of getting over her abusive background. Plus the whole idea taps directly into the teenage (especially teenage girl) longing to have someone who understands you completely AND a beautiful white horse AND escape from the mundane. It may not stand up to Lackey's later, more adult works, but as a young adult novel, or an escape for any age, it does exactly what it's supposed to. Plus it's gotta be the only first-fantasy-novel for young adults with positively-portrayed lesbian relationships, and I can't tell you how good THAT is for a young woman trying to find something to relate to other than "Ellen" or "Basic Instinct."

This series really is classic, must-read light fantasy. I first read them when I was in 7th grade, but I think they're really more suited to a high school - 20s audience. If you haven't experienced any of these books yet, you need to! While I can't say much for the technical quality of the writing and vocabulary (it's, what's the word... flat? repetitive? just plain bad?), the characters sweep you into their world with power unparalleled with ANY OTHER book I've ever read. The emotions pour through the page, so that you literally can not escape. This series, and the Last Herald Mage series, are the best of any of the Lackey books I've read (and I've read a lot). They most certainly should not be judged by some of Lackey's other books, some which combine the same simplistic writing with such ridiculous plots they're practically unreadable. This series, on the other hand, should be read by all fantasy fans everywhere- immediately!

As a veteran reader of Lackey lore, I highly recommend this book for all new fantasy readers and old soldiers like myself. This book follows the adventures of a young woman, Talia, who is considered an outcast by her conservitive family becasue, get this, she actually has a brain!
A lover of books (my kinda girl) and possessing an active imagination, she dreams of becoming a Herald of Valdemar. But when her father and step mothers try to get her to marry instead, her course suddenly becomes meshed with a Herald's Companion.
Now further out of favor than she has ever been before, Talia decides to "return" the Companion to its Herald. This decision leads her to the capitol of Valdemar where her adventures truely begin.
If you wish to find out exactly what I mean, get the book and start reading. The charming blend of loveable characters and masterful tale weaving will hold you, as many like to say, "way past your bed time".

This series, whether intentioned or not, is strictly for young adults. And by 'young adults' I mean the 10-15 age range. I realize that 'Arrow's of the Queen' is Madam Lackey's first attempt at a series, but unless it was specifically written for the aforementioned age group, I find it's simplicity annoying. Talia, our heroine, is a 13-year old Holderkin, a religious order analogous to the polygamous Mormons of old (and still some to this day...), who sees her eventual lot in life and wishes for something more. About to be married off to some old geezer as a 6th wife, she runs away and is found by a magical white horse, or 'Companion', and is whisked off to the Collegium to be trained as a 'Herald.' And that's all. End of plot. Or is it? Here are the main plot devices used in this entire 3 book series:
1. Crying: And lot's of it! Women cry. Men cry. Children cry. I'm surprised that the 'Companions' dont cry. They are the only ones who don't. Sometimes a whole page goes by without someone sobbing. Sometimes.
2. Sex: And lot's of it! It's apparently common knowledge throughout Vandemar that the Heralds are an extremely randy bunch. Sometimes a whole page goes by without someone or something having sex. Sometimes.
3. Exclamation!: And lot's of it! It is quite evident that in Vandemar the custom is to shout! All of the time! Even when crying or having sex!!! Sometimes a whole sentence goes by without rampant misuse of punctuation! Sometimes!
4. Pet Names: Ad nausea. The women, men, and 'Companions' continually spout such sickeningly sweet pet names as 'little bird', 'dearling', 'little centaur', 'cat-ling', 'beast', you get the drift. These little pet names are used so often in conversation that they became a distracting annoyance for me. There is one conversation in one of the books where Kris, a close friend and, of course, lover of Talia uses the pet name 'little bird' 4 times in almost as many continual sentences! Jeez. Sometimes a whole sentence goes by without the use of one of these "endearments." Sometimes.
There really is no plot in any of the 3 books in this series. Oh sure Talia has a couple of cardboard cutout enemies to deal with. But these 3rd rate bad guys such as Lord Orthallen, a co-councilor of Talia's, Hulda, the nursemaid of the Queens child, and Ancar, the Prince of a rival country, are given little play or development. As for sword and sorcery... There is none. And I mean in any of the 3 books of the series! There is exactly 1 sword fight in all three books. Magic of any kind, even the 'Gifts' used by the Heralds is given little development. The whole second book of the series, "Arrow's Flight", revolves around Talia's 'Gift'. At it's conclusion the reader stills knows next to nothing of the origins, use, or purpose of these gifts. I am completely baffled by this entire series. I questioned my sanity when I completed it. Why had I invested my time? Where was the return? Where was the 'suspension of belief' that even decent fantasy has? A feeling of empty ambivalence was my only answer to these questions.
I would have given this book, this entire series, 1 star, but I gave it 2 because I could only suppose that it was written for children. In that light, this sappy pabulum should appeal to girl's of age 10-15 and should be avoided by any age or gender above that mark.

As a veteran reader of Lackey lore, I highly recommend this book for all new fantasy readers and old soldiers like myself. This book follows the adventures of a young woman, Talia, who is considered an outcast by her conservitive family becasue, get this, she actually has a brain!
A lover of books (my kinda girl) and possessing an active imagination, she dreams of becoming a Herald of Valdemar. But when her father and step mothers try to get her to marry instead, her course suddenly becomes meshed with a Herald's Companion.
Now further out of favor than she has ever been before, Talia decides to "return" the Companion to its Herald. This decision leads her to the capitol of Valdemar where her adventures truely begin.
If you wish to find out exactly what I mean, get the book and start reading. The charming blend of loveable characters and masterful tale weaving will hold you, as many like to say, "way past your bed time".

This series, whether intentioned or not, is strictly for young adults. And by 'young adults' I mean the 10-15 age range. I realize that 'Arrow's of the Queen' is Madam Lackey's first attempt at a series, but unless it was specifically written for the aforementioned age group, I find it's simplicity annoying. Talia, our heroine, is a 13-year old Holderkin, a religious order analogous to the polygamous Mormons of old (and still some to this day...), who sees her eventual lot in life and wishes for something more. About to be married off to some old geezer as a 6th wife, she runs away and is found by a magical white horse, or 'Companion', and is whisked off to the Collegium to be trained as a 'Herald.' And that's all. End of plot. Or is it? Here are the main plot devices used in this entire 3 book series:
1. Crying: And lot's of it! Women cry. Men cry. Children cry. I'm surprised that the 'Companions' dont cry. They are the only ones who don't. Sometimes a whole page goes by without someone sobbing. Sometimes.
2. Sex: And lot's of it! It's apparently common knowledge throughout Vandemar that the Heralds are an extremely randy bunch. Sometimes a whole page goes by without someone or something having sex. Sometimes.
3. Exclamation!: And lot's of it! It is quite evident that in Vandemar the custom is to shout! All of the time! Even when crying or having sex!!! Sometimes a whole sentence goes by without rampant misuse of punctuation! Sometimes!
4. Pet Names: Ad nausea. The women, men, and 'Companions' continually spout such sickeningly sweet pet names as 'little bird', 'dearling', 'little centaur', 'cat-ling', 'beast', you get the drift. These little pet names are used so often in conversation that they became a distracting annoyance for me. There is one conversation in one of the books where Kris, a close friend and, of course, lover of Talia uses the pet name 'little bird' 4 times in almost as many continual sentences! Jeez. Sometimes a whole sentence goes by without the use of one of these "endearments." Sometimes.
There really is no plot in any of the 3 books in this series. Oh sure Talia has a couple of cardboard cutout enemies to deal with. But these 3rd rate bad guys such as Lord Orthallen, a co-councilor of Talia's, Hulda, the nursemaid of the Queens child, and Ancar, the Prince of a rival country, are given little play or development. As for sword and sorcery... There is none. And I mean in any of the 3 books of the series! There is exactly 1 sword fight in all three books. Magic of any kind, even the 'Gifts' used by the Heralds is given little development. The whole second book of the series, "Arrow's Flight", revolves around Talia's 'Gift'. At it's conclusion the reader stills knows next to nothing of the origins, use, or purpose of these gifts. I am completely baffled by this entire series. I questioned my sanity when I completed it. Why had I invested my time? Where was the return? Where was the 'suspension of belief' that even decent fantasy has? A feeling of empty ambivalence was my only answer to these questions.
I would have given this book, this entire series, 1 star, but I gave it 2 because I could only suppose that it was written for children. In that light, this sappy pabulum should appeal to girl's of age 10-15 and should be avoided by any age or gender above that mark.

This is the first series I read by Mercedes Lackey. I fell in love with the characters, companions, and the country. This series introduces Talia. When Talia is chosen by Roland, she has no idea what is happening to her. She thinks she is just returning Roland to his rightful owner and then going back home. She is pleasently surprised to learn that she is never going to have to go home again. She is entered into classes that start to prepare her for what lies ahead. Enjoy this story. I sure did.

In a sentence, a first book in a standard medieval fantasy series with a female protagonist, but little else to set it apart from the crowd.

Arrows of the Queen suffers from a number of issues, but manages to do enough to make you want to continue the series. Pacing is the major issue here, as the major plot points are resolved with little build-up or difficulty, making it hard to know what the stakes are for the heroine Talia. As a coming of age story, it also is not great, as we get frustratingly brief glimpses into what should be important events for Talia. All that happens is a great deal of crying... If you are looking for action, look elsewhere; if you are looking for unique world building, look elsewhere; if you are looking for an interesting magic system, look elsewhere. What you have here is solid late 1980s/early 1990s American fantasy, of the Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Raymond E. Feist variety.

This particular Mercedes Lackey book is one of the first fantasy novels I read, a number of years ago. I loved it then and I still do, even though I no longer consider it her best work, although I really can't decide which novel or set of novels is. Just read them all and you will have a much fuller appreciation of the world she has created.

If you love fantasy, you'll love this book. Talia dreams of becoming one of the heroic Heralds of Valdemar, and leaving the farm her family owns. Then, while fleeing from the thought of a forced marraige, she is rescued by a Companion, the horse-like mages that Heralds ride. Little did she now that when she got on the back of that white "horse" her life would change forever.
Great book! I know my review stinks, but the series is a great read for young adults!

This book is entirely too much like Anne McCaffrey's Harper Hall trilogy. Let's see: young girl with abusive males in her past runs away from her overly restrictive home, gets lucky and ends up in a Hall with Healers etc, and happens to live in a world with Companions entirely too similar to McCaffrey's dragons (telepathic mind link & all). Oh and she finds she loves to sing (like Menolly) and she also suffers all sorts of bully problems (like Piemur deals with in _Dragon Drums_). And I think at one point the place is actually called a "Hold" too.
If you read this book and loved it, read Anne McCaffrey's series and you will see that the writing there is vastly superior to Lackey's. And those books were written 10 years earlier.
I hope the next books in this series make up for this oh-so-sweet (and completely predictable) first book.