I found this book to be sweet and engaging without feeling like a saccharine fairy tale. This was something that enchanted me with its wit and charisma and a bit of danger, the blend of fantasy, mystery and magic in an archaic setting was easy to read and to enjoy. Mercedes Lackey has dozens of books under her belt so I wanted to start from the very beginning; this initial novel was a wonderful introduction to the realm of Valdemar and all the intense and magical things that can happen in it. I adored this tale so much that I read it during all my free time, of course once I finished I pounced on the second one, and I'm happy to say that so far I'm loving it too, this is a trilogy whose roots reach into many of Lackey's later books so I recommend starting her off with this story first, it's quite wonderful and makes for a great way to spend the time.
It all begins with young Talia, a wisp of a girl who loves to sneak horseback riding and reading into her chores, acts almost unthinkably useless to her parents and fellow Holderfolk inhabitants, girls after all should either marry off or live at the temple, both options are visions of horror for young Talia for she has bigger dreams, ones that make no sense to the simple but quite brute people she lives with. So running away to save her freedom doesn't seem too scary when it happens and luckily she meets Rolan. He is a snow white horse, one who's velvety nuzzle makes her completely melt in his presence, one that looks like an important animal, one she recognizes form her reading about warriors and the evil creatures who pursue them, suddenly her life feels like one of the books she reads, unfortunately with heroism comes danger, and with danger comes death. When Talia tries to return the horse to the collegium that houses the queen, heralds and important figures she realizes that this was no chance meeting, Rolan picked her because he felt something special about her, something that will change her life forever and help determine the future of the whole kingdom. Talia has a choice to make, she can stay but the price can equal her mortality, the new life she can enter is rewarding but dangerous and it has claimed many young and bright ones before her. She will have to face her heart and soul to find the right path for her, luckily she has Rolan, after all how can such a gorgeous creature hurt her.
I don't want to spoil too much but this was simply marvelous, I loved the book, it was such an easy and wonderful read that it felt like pure pleasure and not ever bit chore like ( for those new to this genre) some fantasy books can be overwhelming but this was straight dessert. Few parts moved me to tears, for some reason I felt not only attached to Talia but to her horse as well, Lackey had done an incredible job in her first book, she's someone who truly loves what she does, it really shows and I hits the reader back, I'm ready for more!
- Kasia S.
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