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Summary: This is Something!!!
Review: As soon as I got this book, I couldn't put it down. Thirteen year old Talia, who escapes from the world of cruelness in her books is so easy to understand (for me). This book touches how hard to believe in something good, when you only know bad. This is a masterpiece!!!
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Summary: LOOK NO MORE FOR A GREAT BOOK!
Review: 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!
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Summary: A wonderful adventure!
Review: This was an exciting begining to a wonderful series of adventure and action. This is what fantasy is all about. This captured my interest, and led me to read almost every other novel she's written so far (still a few more to go). It's origional, unlike any other book I've read, and really captivates the reader.
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Summary: Best of the Best!
Review: Okay, to start off this is above all my fav book of all times! Mercedes Lackey is the best, no competition! Arrows of the Queen is a book for people who like the more, developing, emotional kinda books instead of pure action and carnage. I love this book and have read it many times, enjoying equally each. I cried, yes cried, at times, laughed and spewed a few indecent words while reading this book, even though I know what happens. The rest of the trilogy is great, but nothing can ever top Arrow's of the Queen. That is, if you're looking for a more thoughtful book. I do agree Misty's other books are quite good(Except the lacking in a couple of her newest novels), but still, this book is above all in the way she wraps you into the lives of the characters, makes you wish you were there to help to hold hands(Okay, maybe that's just me....). Anyway I hope people take this to heart and get this book. Though if you want to read the whole series, at least start with the Mage War trilogy. Then this even though it's not techniclly in chrono order but who cares! Enjoy! ...
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Summary: Fant-abulous Reading! One of my favorite books!
Review: If there was one book that got me hooked on fantasy in general and Mercedes Lackey in specific, it was this one. From page one, I was hooked. As a book-aholic myself who was frequently looked at sideways for reading rather than playing, I "bonded" with Talia right from the start. Lackey keeps the story simple and sweet, with just the right amount of romance and action. The very idea of Companions sets the imagination spinning deliciously and the Bonds among the Heralds, their Companions and each other makes people believe in human beings' basic goodness again. The friendships Talia forms keep giving the reader a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
The later pieces of the trilogy are somewhat darker and more graphic, but this one fits the bill for "excellent fantasy."
Buy it and you won't regret it.
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Summary: Great for young readers, adults may want to give this a miss
Review: P>Obviously strongly influenced by Ms. McCaffrey's Menolly, Talia is oppressed and controlled and unappreciated by her family, who is narrow minded, unsupportive, and possessed of a "men rule, women are enablers" mentality. She runs away, or rather, is rescued, by a white horse which leads her into a situation where her talents can be appreciated and used.On the surface it's a good story, and one which teenagers, and many adults who live dysfunctional lives, can identify with. The problem is that if you are a reader looking for more than an escapist fantasy, and expect a character-driven author to be at least somewhat competent with characterization, you will be greatly disappointed. Her "good" characters are possessed of all the same Good Traits; compassion, self sacrifice, humility and tolerance, and seldom possess any real (gasp) character flaws except things like excessive humility. None of them ever deliberately do anything that Isn't Nice to any fellow person or creature. By contrast, the villains are the repository of every Evil to which the human character has laid claim. Sadistic to the extreme, they spend all of their time torturing and dominating anything they can get power over. The names change from book to book, but all the villains have pretty much the same personality. The plots can all be boiled down to: "Bad Guy does Bad Things to Good people until the Good Guys manage to stop him.
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Summary: This was the worst book I've ever read
Review: I love fantasy novels and I saw these books online so I bought them. They absolutely sucked! I kept reading them because I thought "this will get better" but it never did!...I was so mad at the end of the series I was thinking "I actually wasted my time reading these! I couldv'e been reading a good book!" Well I thought to myself "Maybe it was just this series that [was bad]" So I tried another Lackey book and it [was bad] too. I only read like the first three chapters and I couldn't read any more of it. I encourage you DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!...The plot was completly predictable Ordinary girl, gets called to do extraordinary things...the books went in the completely predictable pattern, I absolutely hated it.
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Summary: Wonderful light reading!
Review: 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'.
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Summary: Fantastic Fantasy!
Review: 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.
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Summary: Great, but not enough plot
Review: Although it is the first valdemar book, it was the fourth valdemar book I ever read. I really like the story [what there is of it] and I don't agree with some other reviewers that the characters are black and white. {Although they are more so in this book than the other two}.
Unfortunatly, there is almost no plot after fifty pages. I enjoy the obsesive details about the Collegium, but many people don't. Just remember, This book was written almost 20 years ago, and don't compare it to M. Lackey's later works. It is my view that every book should stand for itself.
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