books 2006: Arrow's Flight, by Mercedes Lackey

[supercheesegirl]

Book 2 of the trilogy; I read the first one a few weeks ago. I still really like this series: this book told the story of Talia's internship out in the field, the last step before becoming a full-fledged Herald.

I find it kind of interesting that the world in these books is very much a medieval fantasy world, with peasants and a monarchy, but the characters have very modern sensibilities. Part of it is that the characters we know well are Heralds, and thus have to be better than everyone else. But the books are very feminist, and none of the characters think it's odd that women can be guards or heralds or healers or strong monarchs. There are people who don't like the queen, but no one seems to think that a man would do a better job. And not that that's unrealistic, but it's sort of unrealistic. Makes me almost not believe in the world, except for the fact that I very much like the world and the characters.

Comments

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

I have some issues with Lackey, but the sexual egalitarianism of her universe is actually very nice. Her Herald Mage trilogy is groundbreaking in what it does for non-straight heroes (who do have problems with prejudices against their orientation), and I like that even better.

One of my favorite bits with Arrows of the Queen is the beginning, in which Talia is hiding with a history book, and essentially producing mental fanfic with herself Mary Sued into the Herald Mage material (which Lackey wrote later). It's quite clear to me there that Lackey has pegged her audience and their relation to her books.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I do like it. And there are several lesbians in this trilogy as well--I like how it's there and it's a part of the story, but the characters themselves and their friendship with Talia is the focus.

I remember the scene you're thinking of, and I thought it was hilarious.

[skadi.livejournal.com]

Ha ha! Mercedes Lackey! (<3<3<3)

I actually like the way she wrote her world. There are so many books where women can't do this or that, and if it's fantasy (i.e. a created world), doesn't it make sense that at least SOME world in SOME place SOMEwhere decided men and women are equal?

I love Lackey - I really do - but some of her later books make me cringe. The world view (which is so incredibly difficult to find in fantasy lit) is really the only thing that keeps me coming back.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I really do like the books, and the worldview. I think one thing that makes it more palatable for me is that Talia comes from a background that is very suppressive of women, and she has to deal with that and come to terms with a fear of men because of it. If the whole universe was happy-egalitarian I don't think I would buy it, but there are definitely examples of non-equal cultures in the book, and our heroes have a different set of beliefs and are even more heroic by contrast.

[skadi.livejournal.com]

PLUS SHE HAS SEX WITH KRIS!!!!!


...okay, so that was like the first real sex scene I ever read. And it kinda affected me. Like, a lot. If you look at my copy of the book, that page opens really easily because I read it a lot. *snort!giggle*

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

Hee! Um, yeah, I can think of a few scenes in the Dragonriders of Pern series that were like that for me. :) Ah, adolescent memories...