Thirteen-year-old Talia is a member of the Holderkin, a puritanical and patriarchal group of people in the country of Valdemar. Although reading is considered an unwomanly activity, Talia loves to read and secretly dreams of becoming a Herald, or at least going to live with them. All she knows about them is whatever she's been able to figure out from books: they're kind and noble, they keep the peace in Valdemar, and they ride Companions, gorgeous and intelligent white horses. When the Elders tell Talia that it's time for her to be married, she runs away and accidentally stumbles upon one of the Companions she has dreamed about for so long. He doesn't have a Herald with him, so she figures she'll take him back to where he belongs and hopefully convince someone to give her a job. So begins Talia's new life as a Herald trainee.

This book has been a comfort read for me for almost 20 years now. I'll warn you now, there are many layers of love and nostalgia in play here, and I can't even vaguely review this like it's my first time through.

I have a fondness for school stories and for stories in which a mistreated child finds a welcoming and loving new family. Arrows of the Queen fits both of those categories. A good chunk of the book is devoted to Talia adjusting to her new life and classes, learning to trust people and make friends, and dealing with school-related problems. She's shy and sweet and not entirely convinced that she deserves others' love and affection. When several of the Blues (students at the Collegium who aren't Bardic, Healers, or Heraldic) begin bullying her, she doesn't tell anyone, because her past experiences with her family taught her that other people would probably believe her bullies before they'd believe her.

Lackey's writing tends to lack subtlety and paint a very black-and-white picture of the world. Although readers were told that Heralds are human and therefore not perfect 100% of the time, there was very little evidence of that. None of Talia's bullies were Herald trainees, and all the Heralds and Herald trainees were welcoming and kind – pretty much the only thing keeping Talia from making a bunch of friends right from the start was her own fear of exposing too much of herself. There were a few lesbian characters in the book and, again, readers were told that not all Heralds were accepting of this and kept their distance, as though being attracted to the same sex was an illness you could catch, but there was no actual evidence of this in the way anyone behaved on-page. Everyone was kind and accepting.

I suppose this could be viewed as one of the book's weaknesses, but, to be honest, it was nice to read something in which “good” and “bad” were fairly easy to identify and nearly everyone was kind and friendly. I think it's part of the reason why this book is a comfort read for me – bad stuff happens, but for the most part this story is a warm, fluffy blanket of protection. I enjoyed seeing Talia slowly make friends and become more self-confident. Although there were definitely villains (in one instance, they came close to killing Talia), most of them weren't around enough to even have names.

There was a bit of a darker storyline involving attempts to steal the throne, although Talia tended to be so wrapped up in school and figuring out what she needed to learn in order to become a useful Monarch's Own Herald that she was rarely directly involved in any of that. At one point, she and another Herald trainee actively investigated one aspect of the situation, only to hand everything over to an adult Herald when they realized it was too much for them to handle. Later, Talia became accidentally involved in another aspect of the situation while practicing using her empathic abilities – she didn't hear the full story and the importance of her own part in it until later on. Basically, the political aspects of this book involved lots of instances of adults doing stuff way, way in the background, with Talia's path occasionally intersecting with theirs. I found the “school story” aspects to be much more interesting and appealing than the political aspects.

All in all, I enjoyed this book just as much this time around as the other dozen or so times I've read it. Yes, it has its flaws, but somehow it manages to consistently make me happy. I'm a sucker for friendly characters, a fantasy school, and magical companion animals.

(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

I spent some of my grow up life on a small farm. I had the required evil Shetland pony, a lovely Welsh pony, a fun Appolossa named JR, and a couple other horses now and then. I had to share them with my siblings, of course, but in my mind they were MINE. I was little. 

I like horses despite the Shetland who plotted my murder. I like magical horses even better. 

Here are some wonderful Romances with Magical Horses-- Talking Horses, Unicorns, Peguses, Demon Horses, Horse Shifters, Kelpie (water horse), Hippocampus, The Nuckelavee, Winged Unicorn, Wind Horse, Wihwin, Uchchaihshravas, Horse Familar, Horse from a Tattoo. You know, the usual...

My lists are never in any particular order. Enjoy! 

1. Protector Of The Flight by Robin D. Owens 

If horses could fly...

Then Calli Torcher might ride again. But a devastating accident left her in such pain, she thought the chimes and chanting in her ears were a hallucination... until she found herself transported to another world, meeting the Lladranans who had Summoned her.

Lladrana was a parallel, magical earth filled with exotic creatures, noble humans and magic all threatened by an encroaching evil.

And when the mighty volarans stopped obeying the Chevaliers, the flying horses' unexpected rebellion had thrown Lladrana into an uproar. In desperation, the sorcerers had sought help from afar and gotten Calli. If she could fulfill this mission, perhaps she would also finally find all she had longed for a mate, a home, a family. But against this great darkness, she had no battle experience, no strategy plans. She had only a bond with horses

2. Unicorn Valley (Box Set) by Lena Austin

Lionel, one of the last Unicorn Valley Gryphons, is forced to choose his mate from among other shifters. What he doesn’t count on is falling in love with the Werebitch Teema, who has a few needs and demands of her own. Lionel’s foster brother Brolly falls for a shape -- and gender -- shifting Immortal, and Shadow, the future Unicorn Herd Stallion, loves an Elf. As if things couldn’t get any stranger, their mercenary Unicorn uncle Jamir is falling in love with both Moontyger and the Dragon Li Chin -- at the same time. 

Not everyone loves everybody in Unicorn Valley, but they try.

3. Lord's Fall by Thea Harrison

Before she met Dragos, half-human/half-Wyr Pia Giovanni was alone and on the run. Now she’s mated, pregnant and heading south to repair the Wyrs’ frayed relationship with the Elves. Being separated from Dragos is painful, but for the good of the Wyr demesne they need to figure out how to be partners—in more places than just the bedroom.

In New York to preside over the Sentinel Games, Dragos is worried about his mate, but knows that finding two replacement sentinels is essential to show the rest of the Elder Races just how strong and brutal the Wyr demesne can be. But as the Games heat up, Pia’s negotiations with the Elves take a turn for the dangerous, straining her bond with Dragos and threatening everything they hold dear…

4. Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, ReganCooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.

5. Light My Fire by G.A. Aiken

The trouble with humans is that they're far too sensitive. Forget you put a woman in the local jail for a few months--and she takes it so personally! And yet she is the one trying to assassinate the queen. And now I'm trapped with Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight. . .gods! That endless name! 

But what am I to do? I am Celyn the Charming with direct orders from my queen to protect this unforgiving female. 

Even more shocking, this unforgiving female is completely unimpressed by me. How is that even possible? But I know what I want and, for the moment, I want her. And I'm sure that she, like all females, will learn to adore me. How could she not when I am just so damn charming? 

6. Apparition by C. L. Scholey

Half Castian and half Tonan, Doss is considered nothing more than a Tonian hybrid. A being to be feared with the power to kill by penetrating what is supposed to be impenetrable. Loathed by many feared by more, Doss has spent the last seven hundred years alone, shunned by the Tonans on his planet. He preferred it that way until a nude female rider on a huge black stallion fleeing for her life catches his eye. If left alone both beast and human would be killed by their pursuant, an enraged Tonan warrior. When the scent of the female invades his nostrils Doss is captivated. He must have the female human and will go to great lengths to secure her safety.

Zoe hates both Castians and Tonans. The promise of salvation from dying Earth, on planet Ulsy, had been nothing more than a lie. Human males were slaughtered and human women were captured to lure secrets of the Castian planets, Bagron and co-planet Dargon, from enslaved warriors with the promise of sex. When met with the six foot six hybrid warrior who moved like an apparition in battle to save her and her beloved stallion, Caveat, Zoe is unsure what to do. She has no idea of his intentions, but from the shiver that runs down her spine she is certain she’s about to find out.

7. Lord of Legends by Susan Krinard

He is Arion, King of the Unicorns. Powerful, seductive, he could possess any female he desired--until now. He is condemned to live as a man, and it is only the enchanting Lady Mariah Donnington's innocence that can release him from his curse.

Abandoned on her wedding night, frightened of her hidden, otherworldly heritage, Mariah is instinctively drawn to the mysterious stranger she discovers imprisoned on her husband's estate. But as the secret of Arion's magical identity unfolds, their friendship burns into a passion that cannot, must not, be consummated. For to do so would destroy them both....

8. The Soft Edge of Midnight by Stella Price

Karsten Morris is different. As a member of The Agency he’s one of their 
most successful operatives, always claming its luck that brings him through. 
It’s true enough, as a stallion unicorn in full control of his powers, luck is 
the least of what he’s got going for himself. An old race from The Glimmer, 
he’s been cut off from his realm and has lost all hope of ever going home, 
or finding a mate, an elusive and possibly extinct mare unicorn. 

Illori Swain is starting a new life. After a horrific ordeal in Africa, being the 
personal good luck charm for a rogue Fallen Angel, she’s determined to 
put the past behind her and start over, even forget about her own nature 
if needed. As the last female unicorn left in the worlds, shes resigned 
herself to the fate her sisters choose. Until one fateful day in Glasgow. 

Karsten recognizes the mate he thought he’d never find and Illori hopes 
for a future with foals and love. But nothing is ever cut and dry. 

Sammael, a Fallen Angel and hunter for Lucifer, is charged with finding 
and dispensing with the Mare unicorn. Lucifer isn’t so forgiving these days, 
and Sammael is already on thin ice, but when the hunter finds out there’s 
some competition coming from the bowels of hell, his plans have to 
change. 

Nybras, Devil of the Maze and Keeper of the Pleasures of Hell is 
unsatisfied with his role in the mess of things below. When he hears 
of the new mission Sam is charged with, he takes action. 

When Nybras gets his hands on Illori, Karsten and Sammael have to 
create an uneasy partnership in order to save the girl and neutralize the 
threat to their respective ways of life. It won’t be easy, but when is 
anything ever worth it easy?

9. A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

10. Running Free by Jorrie Spencer

A year and a half ago, if someone had told Zach that he’d be guardian to the creature he distrusts most—a wolf shifter—he’d have laughed. A half-broken horse shifter as father figure? No way. 

Now, he’d kill to protect the pup he found lost in the woods—and he has. Which, unfortunately, has attracted the attention of Wolf Town’s alpha. 

Sally prefers to keep a low profile among her fellow shifters in Wolf Town. Yet when she’s asked to investigate a pup living outside the safety of the pack, she can’t bring herself to refuse. 

From the moment Zach meets the new piano teacher, his world tilts. Her scent gets under his skin. Her touch retrieves missing pieces of his memory. But even as their blazing attraction flares out of control, trust is the hardest to give, and the one thing they both need if they’re to save the boy from another attack.

I would love more! Let me know if you have any.  Vote on my Goodreads list: Magical Horses in Romance Novels