Arrow’s Flight, by Mercedes Lackey, screams of Middle-Book-Syndrome. The second in the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, it picks up where Arrows of the Queen ends. Talia, Queen’s Own, leaves with her mentor Kris for her first patrol as a full-blown Herald. There are many trials ahead of her on the road, but the greatest challenge comes from within.
“She turned her attention back to those unsettling rumors. Poisonous, that’s what they were. Ugly, and poisonous. And true?”
BROKEN TRUST, SUBTLE PLOTTING, AND A LOT OF PLODDING (SPOILERS AHEAD)
Arrow’s Flight is chock-full of pacing problems. There is a great deal to unpack within this book: Elspeth’s companion (a mysterious companion that Talia doesn’t recognize at first), Lord Orthallen’s deliberate manipulation and isolation of Talia, Talia’s broken and near-uncontrollable Gift, and (of course) the ups-and-downs of her patrol and dalliances with Kris. Unfortunately, much of the book’s potential is lost when a snowstorm strands Kris and Talia at a Waystation. There is plenty of work done to regain control of her Gift, and growth between Tali and Kris’ relationship. That said, you the reader are also made to feel as if you’re slogging through snow from all the wasted pages spent at the Waystation. There is contrived drama when both characters are oh-so worried that the other may be infatuated with them when all either want is sex and friendship. But that isn’t the worst frustration wrought upon the reader.
Rolan is practically non-existent within Arrow’s Flight. Despite being Talia’s Companion, there is very little time given between the two. Rolan’s support appears to be an afterthought, used only when convenient. He isn’t allowed to become a fully-fledged character in the way Tantris, Kris’ Companion, is. While some of that is courtesy of Rolan and Talia’s inability to Mindspeak to each other, there isn’t a great deal of emotional conversation between the two of them. For a creature who chose Talia to be his Herald, Rolan seems to have no understanding of how to help her.
Talia is impressively easily broken by Lord Orthallen’s rumor mill. Presumably, after being Queen’s Own for as long as she has been by book 2, Talia would have had to deal with rumors previous to her patrol. But the rumor of her misusing her gift is the premise for the story’s main conflict, and it’s all set off by a rumor. I love the premise, and I love begging the question of “If you can read, and manipulate the feelings of others, when is it ethical to do so?” the fact that this question is all started off by a rumor feels contrived. It begs the question of what else is at work in Valdemar if the trust between Heralds is easily broken.
I’m interested to see what happens next in Arrow’s Fall, but not necessarily due to the events within Arrow’s Flight. It definitely feels as if Talia was manoeuvred out of the way so that big things could happen in the capital, but it’s a shame that the reader gets to feel as if we’re at a loading screen for an entire book.
3/5 stars
-L.J
