Shannon's Review - Arrow Of The Queen by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Arrows Of The Queen

Series: Valdemar #1

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Publisher:  DAW

Received: paperbackswap.com

Release Date: 1987

Pages: 320

Rating:

Shannon’s Thoughts:

A young girl, Talia,  is a dreamer.  A dreamer that wishes for a life more magical then she has.  She wishes to become a Herald.   Her wish is her calling. She knew she was meant for more important things like saving the Queen with new found powers as a Herald.

If what I read is true this is Mercedes Lackey first published book.  It feels very Young Adult which is not a bad thing, it is just an observation.  The book is enjoyable not too sweet and a good start for a series.

There is one scene that seemed kinda awkwardly put in.  The scene has Talia, now a few years older, talking about getting physical with another herald and using birth control.  It just seemed odd and quickly pushed through the book, and then rushing on with the rest of the book.

I am more a fan of Mercedes Lackey’s Tales Of 500 Kingdoms series.  Arrow Of The Queen is not a bad book nor the best book. You can really tell it is her first book.  I may read the more from the series.  I did like the characters and sometimes I did feel like I was in a nicer version of Game Of Thrones...way nicer.

Mercedes Lackey Official Websites:

Website

http://www.mercedeslackey.com/

Blog

N/A

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MercedesLackey/

Twitter

https://twitter.com/mercedeslackey

Five Fun Facts - Mercedes Lackey

Five Fun Facts

Mercedes Lackey

(photo borrowed from Goodreads.com.

1. Was apprenticed by C.J. Cherryh and Marion Zimmer Bradley.
2. Writes songs dedicated to Science Fiction/Fantasy genre groups and has won awards.
3. She is a fan of birds. Mercedes and her husband own parrots.
4. Became a writer because she was bored.
5. Her favorite fantasy author is Charles de Lint

Info collected from wikipedia, and The Arched Doorway.

Review - The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey

Title: The Snow Queen
Series: Tales Of The 500 Hundred Kingdoms #4
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Fantasy, Retold Fairy Tales
Publisher: Luna Books
Received: Purchased
Release Date: February 2009
Pages: 408
Rating:


What is it About?

The Snow Queen or Fairy Godmother Aleksia Of The Northern Lights is wrongly blamed for atrocities that have taken place. She now finds herself in a story and not directing it’s magic.

My Thoughts:

Aleksia, Fairy Godmother of the North, has never had an adventure of her own. Most of her time is spent directing other villagers stories , or fairy tales, with her magic. She finds herself in a adventure of her own trying to clear her name from being accused of wrong doings to her people.

Interesting to pick out which fairy tale is trying to be told through the villagers Aleksia helps. A little confusing to follow because of so many odd names. I was left happy with the ending but still trying to figure out who is who. The first book of this is series only stayed with one or two people, where this one had 4 or 5. It is not a simple tale but it all unfolds together in the end.
Still love the idea of this series. Which by the way you do not have to read in order.

Website:

Mercedes Lackey Official Website
http://www.mercedeslackey.com/

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Title: The Fairy Godmother       
Series: A tale of the Five Hundred Kingdoms
Author: Mercedes Lackey       
Genre: Fantasy, Re-told Fairy Tale
Publisher: Luna
Received: Swapsite
Release Date: November 2004   
Pages: 496
Rating:


What is it About?
Elena Klovis was suppose to be the Cinderella of her kingdom but her fairy tale threw her a curve ball and made her much more then a princess.

My Thoughts:

You never know what you are getting into when you start a thick book such as this one.  Will it move fast? Will it’s chapters be long?  For the most part the journey in the book was well paced.  The chapters were long and I sometimes felt like I needed an extra break to stop but I love the twist in this tale of Cinderella.

Elena Klovis also know as Ella Cinders in her home town starts out as your almost typical Cinderella story but her prince does not show.   Still left with her wicked stepmother and sisters she runs away looking for any life better then what she has.  When it seems that no one in her kingdom will take her in her Fairy Godmother comes for her with a proposition... become her apprentice.

I loved the way the world was brought together.  Instead of God or Destiny, they have what they call the “Tradition” and  it moves everyone in a way that you feel you have to act but Elena and her Godmother believe in changing the “Tradition” and they do just that.  They change the fairy tale to outcome that is better suited which is in goodness not evil.

There is an interview in my copy in the back that Mercedes Lackey did. She answers the question “Why do you think women like fantasy?”  she says (and I am paraphrasing) that woman are more likely to not settle for things to go wrong not the way they hoped.  They look for more, they hope for more.   I believe this is why re-told fairy tales are becoming so popular now and why I enjoy a good happy fairy tale.  

Now I don’t know if all of the books from this series are happy ones but I have a feeling I will enjoy them much the same as I did this one.
 

Website:
Mercedes Lackey’s Official Site
http://www.mercedeslackey.com

WWW Wednesday - July 6th 2011

WWW Wednesday is a event that takes place at  Should Be Reading Blog

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

WHAT I AM CURRENTLY READING:

The Fairy Godmother (Five Hundred Kingdoms) by Mercedes Lackey

This book is really a different take on the fairy tale Cinderella so far I am liking it alot.

Verita (Verita Trilogy) by Tracy Rozzlynn

This is Sci Fi which is a genre I am finding I like more then I thought I would. 

Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth

So far I found most of this eye opening but I don't know if it is going to have a real effect on my eating habit. Something has got to give though.

The Professor Was a Thief (Stories from the Golden Age) by L Ron Hubbard

This is one of Hubbard's mystery's .  I haven't actually started just yet so I don't know how it is going to be I have never read anything by him.

WHAT I JUST FINISHED:

My America: My Brother's Keeper: Virginia's Civil War Diary, Book One by Mary Pope Osborne

All the different My America and Dear America always seem so dark and end sadly.  This one isn't as sad because it is book one but still our history is so dark sometimes.

WHAT I WILL READ NEXT:


The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I read this once before when I was very young and hated it.  I don't remember any of it and I heard the vlogbrothers are reading it so I thought why not try it again now.


No Future For You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, Volume 2) by Brian K. Vaughan and Joss Whedon
I bought the second volume at Wizard World Comic Con and decided to read this part of the comic again.

WWW Wednesday - June 22, 2011

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?


WHAT I AM CURRENTLY READING:


Verita (Verita Trilogy) by Tracy Rozzlynn

YA/ Sci Fi interesting so far can't wait to see how it goes.

The Fairy Godmother (Five Hundred Kingdoms) by Mercedes Lackey

Only just got to the part that isn't similar to the Cinderella Fairy Tale.  I like it so far!

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

I have actually been participating in this for 7 weeks now..?  I think .. 7 or 6  but I always forget to put here because I am not actively reading it every day just every week.

Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything by Geneen Roth

I am listening to this on the computer.  It is hard not to do stuff and listen but I am trying very hard because I want to understand why I eat the way I do. 

The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size by Julia Cameron

Yes, it is done by the same author who does The Artist Way and yes it is very similar..  I felt I need something I could participate actively instead of thought driven like Women, God and Food.

WHAT I JUST FINISHED READING:

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

This was more historical fiction then I thought it was going to be it was okay and dark. 

The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1) by Joss Whedon

This actually probably the third time I have read this part of the comic but I wanted to read it again to do a review here.  Still love Buffy I just have to catch up.

WHAT I WILL READ NEXT :

Ellie and the Elven King by Helen Rosburg

I have had this a while and need to read it.  I got it from the first Faerie Con.

Taking Off the Wheels by Jason Carr


Met this author at the Philly book fest in April.  The book looks cute and I think it will be.