Title: Arrow’s Flight
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: Heralds of Valdemar #2, Valdemar #24
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw fantasy
Year: 1987
5th sentence, 74th page: “So that you have an excuse to carry arrows wherever you go,” Kyril replied.
HERALD’S CHALLENGE!
Talia could scarcely believe that she had finally earned the rank of full Herald. Yet though this seemed like the fulfillment of all her dreams, it also meant she would face trials far greater than those she had previously survived. For now Talia must ride forth to patrol the kingdom of Valdemar, dispensing Herald’s justice throughout the land.
But in this realm beset by dangerous unrest enforcing her rulings would require all the courage and skill Talia could command – for if she misused her own special powers, both she and Valdemar would pay the price!
Lackey is a unique writer. She takes insecurities and some (very) deep seated issues and turns them into a sort of power, or a hurdle to jump. It’s why I love her books, depression, anxiety, even a variety of forms of abuse are taken and help to shape her characters into stronger people. I know that it doesn’t always work like that in real life, but the idea that you can take all of those bad things and become a stronger person is somewhat inspiring. It’s what I’ve spent my life trying to do.
Arrow’s Flight takes the insecurity and unsurity of person that Talia felt in Arrows of the Queen and investigates what happens when these feelings are amplified. It asks what happens when others prey upon your insecurities? What happens when they get amplified tenfold? The addition of supernatural powers just helps to illustrate her point even better. I loved this take on a main character; the fact that she is just so damn vulnerable makes her a heck of a lot more relatable and loveable.
Not only were Talia’s insecurities explored, but through this journey, her strength and abilities were found. This, along with her growing sense of self and relationship with her mentor made Arrow’s Flight an incredible journey. The growing relationship between Kris was one of my favourites of the whole series. For all of Talia’s softness, she has a backbone and when Kris oversteps his bounds, she puts him straight back into his place. It’s a mixture of comradery, passion and familial love and it just works beautifully.
The juxtaposition between strength and vulnerability in this book is awe-inspiring and made me realise that I have flaws, but I have strengths too. And we can all use these.
Earth and Skye 
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