So, Arrow’s Fall was kind of a mixed bag for me. Some of it I found extremely frustrating and parts were very good, if anxiety inducing. I feel it was a satisfying “ending” to Talia’s tale. I say it like that, because she does survive and goes on to fulfill her Queen’s Own duties. But yeah, this review will make it abundantly clear how I felt about certain parts.
Kris really should have known to make it crystal fucking clear to Dirk that he and Talia weren’t a thing. Kris should have explained that they were just friends, instead of leaving Dirk to wonder. But noooo, Kris is too damn pleased with how Dirk’s acting in Talia’s direction, he didn’t even think to make it crystal clear to Dirk. I really, really hate these kinds of plot points. Love triangles annoy me to no end. It’s not even a proper love triangle, as Kris and Talia already had their relationship worked out… it’s just Dirk and Talia both refusing to actually talk to each other. And yes, I said both. Talia could have said something but instead she was waiting on Dirk to make a move he clearly wasn’t going to. I’m just so annoyed about this entire thing.
Finally, this is where Lord Orthallan comes to the fore in all his manipulative glory. Figures that he’d be in it for the crown he literally cannot have without outside help. Le sigh, so annoying. It’s really no surprise he’s been attempting to undermine Heralds and failing miserably. I’m not sure I suspected him of being behind everything it turned out he was behind, but as I did suspect him of a lot… I dunno, I call that a win for me.
Here we see a fine example of non-Valdemarans, and non-Heralds as I assume Lord Orthallan doesn’t actually believe Companions are what they are, not really understanding what a Companion is and therefore completely discounting them. Hulda has no clue Talia appearing without Rolan wouldn’t do anything to help her plan. No one in Hardorn knows Rolan was sent with Talia’s message or even thought to try and detain him… not that they could. Hulda’s original plan for Elspeth would have failed completely anyway, if Elspeth wasn’t ever Chosen and she just gives no shits about that and probably didn’t think it would be an issue. It’s just really interesting to me that no one outside Valdemar and the Heraldic Circle thinks about the Companions as important outside of being mounts for Heralds.
It’s also hilarious to me that Hulda is given to monologuing. She doesn’t even stop despite Talia calling her out on it. Ancar’s just a gross, sadistic human. Not even that interesting. “I consider myself an artist” please. He and Hulda together are just horrific. I hate them so, so much.
Dirk and Elspeth’s rescue attempt had me in tears. Rolan and the Companions coming to help made it worse.
The way Rolan addresses Dirk is odd, like he can’t just say Dirk’s name or originally didn’t bother to learn any of the Heralds’ names. Just weird. None of the other Companions seem to have issues talking about other Heralds by name, even if they don’t talk to them.
So yeah, Arrow’s Fall, a fitting end to the Heralds of Valdemar trilogy. I largely enjoyed it, even though it was also highly frustrating.
Favorite Line
"What is it," Talia asked the ceiling above her head, "what is it about would-be tyrants that makes them speak and posture like a third-rate gleeman in a badly-written play?"
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