By Sandy Amazeen Jan 15, 2007, 2:43 GMT
When a half-dead mare made her way to Deeping Farm in the Uplands of Oc, fourteen-year-old Larkyn took it upon herself to nurse the animal back to health. A difficult birth killed the little mare and left Larkyn with a remarkable winged foal to care for. Winged horses were rare treasures, owned by Duke with their care and bloodlines carefully regulated. To have one show up on a remote farm was unprecedented but what’s worse, by the time horsemistress Philippa Winter arrived at farm, the little colt had already bonded with Larkyn. Ordinarily only girls from “good” families were chosen to bond with the winged horses, never had a lowly farm girl gone to the Academy. Then there was the little matter of Tup’s bloodlines, his appearance simply couldn’t be accounted for. Worse, the heir apparent Lord William has taken an inordinate interest in Tup and threatened to confiscate Deeping Farm if Larkyn fails to comply with his wishes. Learning the nuances of ladylike decorum while training to become a rider is just the beginning of the many challenges facing Larkyn as she struggles to make a place for Tup and herself.
This first in a trilogy about winged horses and the women who ride them does an admirable job of setting up an escalating power struggle. The main antagonist is the new Duke as he attempts to circumvent biology and time honored practices leaving the horsemistresses on the defensive. Strong character development, politics and magical horses all add up to what promises to be a lively and engaging trilogy.
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