Arrow's Fall by Mercedes Lackey

By Holly White, guest reviewer

Arrow’s Fall is the third and final book of the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy, after Arrows of the Queen and Arrow’s Flight and is the culmination of the story of Talia, the Queen’s Own Herald.

In Arrow’s Flight, the Weatherwitch gave Talia the following prophecy: "You WILL reclaim what was yours, and no one will ever shake it from you again. You will find your heart’s desire, but not until you have seen the Havens. The Havens will call you, but duty and love will bar you from them. Love will challenge death to reclaim you. Your greatest joy will be preceded by your greatest sorrow, and your fulfillment will not be unshadowed by grief."  In Arrow’s Fall, we learn if the prophecy will be fulfilled.

Talia has returned from her internship circuit journey is now a full Herald. Her new responsibilities sometimes seem more than she even has time to accomplish in a day. Added to that, the Kingdom of Valdemar is facing a new threat:  bandits on the borders are attacking and massacring men, women, and children. Can someone in the Queen’s council be passing information about which villages are least protected?

Also, Talia’s protégé, the Queen’s daughter and Heir, Elspeth, is about to be forced into a political marriage. Talia continually experiences a vague feeling of uneasiness about Elspeth. Although Talia knows this feeling has nothing to do with the impending marriage, she can’t identify just what it IS about.

Meanwhile best friends Kris, Talia, and Dirk are also having a crisis. Talia is in love with homely Dirk, but Dirk thinks she loves handsome Kris. Dirk is in love with Talia as well, but, he is torn between his best friend and the woman he loves and he is fearful of rejection. Kris doesn’t realize that Dirk thinks Talia’s heart belongs to Kris. Also, Kris can’t see why Dirk and Talia don’t trust his uncle Lord Orthallen. Things come to a head when Lord Orthallen creates a rift between all three of them, causing each of them to be angry at both the others. This leaves all three of them bereft of their favorite two confidants in a time when each of them sorely needs a confidant.

Regardless of events in her personal life, Talia is still a Herald with duties to carry out. The Queen sends her on a state visit to a neighboring country to look over Prince Ancar, the intended of Elspeth. Talia leaves on the heels of an unresolved argument with Elspeth. To make matters more complicated, Dirk is sick in bed, with no visitors allowed so Talia must leave that situation unsettled as well as she leaves on another assignment . . . with Kris of all people.

When Kris and Talia arrive in the land of Prince Ancar, they find that something is not as it should be. By the time the truth dawns on Talia and Kris, they are trapped by an enemy who has an ominous ally in possession of a power like none they’ve ever seen. And before it’s over, Talia will give up all hope.
 
Will the bandits finally be defeated once and for all? Will Talia be able to mend her fences with Elspeth, Kris, and Dirk? Will Elspeth be saved from a political marriage? Will Kris and Talia escape Ancar’s country in time to warn the Queen and prevent an all-out war? Will the Heralds be able to defeat this new form of evil in the land of Prince Ancar? And how will the prophecy from the Weatherwitch be fulfilled?

Find out by reading Arrow’s Fall by Mercedes Lackey where the author expertly answers all these questions and brings the trilogy to a moving, but satisfying conclusion. If this kind of book intrigues you, please also see my previous reviews (Arrows of the Queen, Arrows Flight)  and/or my overview of the land of Valdemar. My next review will be on Oathbound, the first in Mercedes Lackey’s Vows and Honor trilogy, also set in the land of Valdemar.