Toby Bishop (1)

Winged horses are the creation of the goddess Kalla; in this world women ride the horses but only the high-born girls usually go to the Academy. Larkyn Hamley finds a lone pregnant winged horse; the horse is about to give birth and Larkyn helps. The foal bonds with her so she has to train.

She then has to survive the snobbish attitude and nastiness of the girls and teachers in the Academy. The story turns into a tale of hard work and survival.

It's not a bad story, I liked it but there were moments that dragged a bit.… (plus d'informations)

I really enjoyed reading this book. At first I thought it would be a bit childish, since the entire plot of the book is centered around winged horses, but it wasn't. There's a lot of intrigue involved, a lot of mystery, and a dose of suspense.

I am looking forward to reading the next two books, so I can find out how William's plan goes - though I hope it doesn't go well. I also hope to find out more about Pamella and what happened to her.

This book is a very good read, and ...moreI really enjoyed reading this book. At first I thought it would be a bit childish, since the entire plot of the book is centered around winged horses, but it wasn't. There's a lot of intrigue involved, a lot of mystery, and a dose of suspense.

I am looking forward to reading the next two books, so I can find out how William's plan goes - though I hope it doesn't go well. I also hope to find out more about Pamella and what happened to her.

This book is a very good read, and Toby Bishop does a great job telling the story. Everything comes together by the end of the book, and what questions may linger are likely addressed in the next two books (I'm hoping).… (plus d'informations)

"In the Duchy of Oc, the most precious of creatures are the winged horses blessed by the goddess Kalla. When one is born, it is immediately taken to the Academy of the Air to be trained and watched over.
But this time the Academy is getting more than it bargained for...
At Deeping Farm, far in the Uplands, young Larkyn Deeping finds a lone winged horse, starving, exhausted, and about to give birth. The headstrong Larkyn saves the newborn from death. But in the process, the coal-black foal named Tup bonds with Lark, which the horses only do with one woman for life.
So when Mistress Phillipa Winter arrives to inspect Tup, she has little choice but to take the farm girl to the Academy for a 'proper' education. There, Lark realizes that her unlikely good fortune may not be so lucky. For in the elite world of the Academy, Lark's kindness and honesty prove to be weak armor against the taunts and cruelty of the high-born girls already there.
Now, with Tup as her only ally, Larkyn Hamley is going to show everyone how high she can fly. Because if she falls, it's a long, long way down..."

It's quite good. There are actually two story-strands, Larkyn's and Phillipa's, so the story is more about the politics and plotting in the big picture than about Lark being bullied (and that's underplayed more than the blurb suggests).
The books (there's two so far) are shelved in SF/F rather than YA, which surprised me at first, but there's a fairly sexually twisted villain, and the horses will only bond with virgins (more accurately, with women who haven't borne children) and this is dealt with perhaps more straightforwardly than some YA selectors might want.

SPOILER!

My only complaint is that the Good King (Duke really) is being drugged and kept under the thumb of the villain and ... that's a bit too familiar a plot element. It makes me want to write something where the Rightful Ruler is actually an idiot or dangerous lunatic and the Evil Vizier is keeping him sedated for the safety of the realm.… (plus d'informations)

This book concludes Ms Bishop's Horsemistress Saga, a satisfying ending to the series. A vast knowledge of horses has helped this novel become much more believable, well written heroine[s] as this book has more than one. It did feel sad to leave this series behind, a world so beautifully developed. I'd love to see more from this author, especially if it's set in the same world as this.

I did find parts of this book immature, but compares satisfyingly with series such as Tamora Pierce's Protector of the Small and Wild Magic, Midori Snyder's Beldan Series and Sherwood Smiths Crown/Court Duel.… (plus d'informations)