Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, 12 Jan 2007
Larkyn Hamley lives in the Uplands in the Duchy of Oc. Until recently she's lived a pretty normal life on the family farm with her three brothers. Until she finds Char. Horses are more than rare in the Uplands, and until now Larkyn has never seen a real one. But, here she is, and it's only the beginning. Char dies trying to give birth to her foal. Not just any horse, but a winged horse! Winged horses, by law, belong to the Duke. Their bloodlines are monitored. Winged horses are bred. They don't just show up on farms in the Uplands. Until now.
What Larkyn doesn't know is that winged horses bond for life with one female only. Usually those females are specially chosen, monitored, and trained. All Larkyn knows is that her new friend Tup needs to be fed and cared for, and Tup doesn't really like her brothers. By the time Mistress Phillipa Winter from the Academy arrives, it's too late. Larkyn and Tup are inseparable. There is really no choice to be made. She wasn't chosen, she's not prepared, she's far too young, and she may never fit in, but Larkyn is off to the Academy with Tup, to train for their service to the Duke.
It's quickly apparent that fitting in, while virtually impossible, is the least of Larkyn's problems. And, difficult as the situation is, Larkyn is the least of the Academy's problems. When the Duke dies, and his son takes over, there may be a lot more to worry about, for the entire Duchy.
This book is unbelievably absorbing! At first I found it mildly hard to follow, because it doesn't explain everything outright. Gradually, I realized that all my questions were answered as the story unfolded. By the end I not only appreciated the assumption of intelligent readership, I also realized how much more involved in the story I was, because of the way it was written. Not to mention that it is, plain and simple, a great story. All of the characters are very well formed, very real, and interesting. The Duke's son is incredibly disturbing, as are some of his habits, most of which are only alluded to (and trust me, that's a good thing). But he's kind of pitiful at the same time; you almost feel a little bad for him. Almost.
This is the first in what is planned as a trilogy. Good thing too, otherwise I would have some issues with Ms. Bishop. I hadn't had nearly enough by the end of this book. It doesn't so much end with an "OMG! What happens next?" but more of an "I want to know more. I want to spend more time here." I think I'll end up reading it over and over until the next one comes out!
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Horses for Flying Courses, 26 Aug 2009
The only thing that keeps the small Duchy of Oc safe from invasion are their winged horses. And the only ones who can ride them are the Horsemistresses, for no winged horse can stand men. As such they are zealously guarded, and their breeding closely monitored.
So how has an unwinged mare, found in the Uplands, given birth to a winged colt? By the time Horsemistress Philippa Winter arrives to investigate, the colt Tup is irreversibly bonded to young farm girl Larkyn. And nothing will part them now, not even the sinister Lord William, the brutal, bitter son of the Duke of Oc.
This is a book for horse lovers, and no mistake. The details that Bishop puts into the winged horses and the training at the academy are a real labour of love, and make this a very easy world to get involved in. Add to that the twists and turns of political intrigue - at school level, right the way up to the duke - and this story swiftly draws the reader in.
Lark is a likeable farm girl, Tup is a sweet, unusual horse, Philippa provides the strict mentor role, Hester is the supportive friend, while Sweet and William provide tension on two separate levels. It's good ol' fantasy stuff, with an enjoyable world and magnificent beasts. It'll be interesting to see where Bishop takes them all next.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
great read, 27 Dec 2008
I bought this book as a reccommedation from another book I bought, of course I kept it on my wishlist for a long time. When I finally took the plunge and bought it [I also bought the next in the series 'Airs & Graces'] I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I didn't think it was much in the first chapter or two, but the chapters were short and time flew by and suddenly I had finished this book. Lark [Larkyn Hamley] is a charachter that grows on you along with Phillipa Winter, you can tell who the villans are from quite early on but this doesn't detract from this delightful little book. If you have read Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen series you will enjoy this.
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by Toby Bishop
by Toby Bishop
by Moira J. Moore
by Caroline Stevermer
by Lisa Shearin
