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Horsemistress Saga #2
Airs and Graces
Since bonding with a winged foal by accident, Larkyn Hamley has risen from a wild country girl to become one of the finest students at the Academy of the Air. But Duke William, the new ruler of Oc, is obsessed with riding a winged horse himself, and his madness leads him to ignore his traditional duties to protect the Duchy.
Now it's Larkyn who must take flight to save her country, her Academy, and her own life.
Now it's Larkyn who must take flight to save her country, her Academy, and her own life.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 18, 2007
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 4, 2019
The awful genderqueer/trans rep and animal cruelty just for shock value continue in this thrilling 2nd installment.
I will say this, though: it had a lot of potential. There were a few things I liked about it, the writing was good, and it’s a good quality story overall.
It’s just not...great.
Also, it does have the most age-appropriate teen main character I’ve ever read about, and it’s not even YA. So that’s a plus.
I will say this, though: it had a lot of potential. There were a few things I liked about it, the writing was good, and it’s a good quality story overall.
It’s just not...great.
Also, it does have the most age-appropriate teen main character I’ve ever read about, and it’s not even YA. So that’s a plus.
May 8, 2023
Excellent read but the bad guys are winning. Hopefully, the third book has a good ending for us!
July 26, 2024
Really liked the story
My only complaint is that these books do not coin audiobook format. Aside from that I found the book never had a dull moment and had lots of drama.
My only complaint is that these books do not coin audiobook format. Aside from that I found the book never had a dull moment and had lots of drama.
November 5, 2012
Reviewed by Carrie Spellman for TeensReadToo.com
The Duchy of Oc has been a safe place for many, many years. Long enough that protection isn't something that people think about, much less anticipate needing. All of that is about to change.
On a quiet day in late summer, Aesk raiders invade the fishing village of Onmarin. Many people were killed, and two children were taken. If they're lucky they will survive to be slaves. The Aesks aren't known for their kindness.
Larkyn Hamly and her friend, Hester Beeth, happened to be in Onmarin on that day. They were visiting their friend Rosellen, the stable girl from the Academy of the Air. Rosellen was killed that day, and her little sister was one of the children who was taken. Larkyn and Hester escaped. Unharmed physically, but tortured emotionally, they are determined to have something done. Young girls, especially ones who should be focused on horsemistress training, can't do much. They must hope that the council will do the right thing.
The Duke's descent into madness has grown more frightening, and more dangerous. No one and nothing is safe from him, and no one seems to have the power to stop him. More than a few people don't even see the need to try.
Mistress Winter again becomes their hope. She's not only fighting for the people of Onmarin, she's fighting to keep her job, and keep the Academy running, free from Duke William's dangerous clutches. He will try to stop her, even destroy her and Larkyn, at every possible opportunity. Mistress Winter is left, with little support, to make potentially dangerous alliances and promises.
Larkyn is nearly alone as well. She must not only keep herself and her beloved Tup, her winged horse, safe from Duke William, but she must walk a fine line to keep her family's home from being taken away.
The Duchy of Oc seems to be balancing very shakily. It's clear that something must happen, but what?
The more I read, the more involved and in love I am with these books. They are completely absorbing. The world that is created is so rich and full and real. The characters are wonderfully interesting and well-developed. I feel like I live inside this world and I know these people. This is great fantasy at work.
I'm not ready for this series to be done yet, and thankfully it isn't, but I'm not sure I ever want it to end.
The Duchy of Oc has been a safe place for many, many years. Long enough that protection isn't something that people think about, much less anticipate needing. All of that is about to change.
On a quiet day in late summer, Aesk raiders invade the fishing village of Onmarin. Many people were killed, and two children were taken. If they're lucky they will survive to be slaves. The Aesks aren't known for their kindness.
Larkyn Hamly and her friend, Hester Beeth, happened to be in Onmarin on that day. They were visiting their friend Rosellen, the stable girl from the Academy of the Air. Rosellen was killed that day, and her little sister was one of the children who was taken. Larkyn and Hester escaped. Unharmed physically, but tortured emotionally, they are determined to have something done. Young girls, especially ones who should be focused on horsemistress training, can't do much. They must hope that the council will do the right thing.
The Duke's descent into madness has grown more frightening, and more dangerous. No one and nothing is safe from him, and no one seems to have the power to stop him. More than a few people don't even see the need to try.
Mistress Winter again becomes their hope. She's not only fighting for the people of Onmarin, she's fighting to keep her job, and keep the Academy running, free from Duke William's dangerous clutches. He will try to stop her, even destroy her and Larkyn, at every possible opportunity. Mistress Winter is left, with little support, to make potentially dangerous alliances and promises.
Larkyn is nearly alone as well. She must not only keep herself and her beloved Tup, her winged horse, safe from Duke William, but she must walk a fine line to keep her family's home from being taken away.
The Duchy of Oc seems to be balancing very shakily. It's clear that something must happen, but what?
The more I read, the more involved and in love I am with these books. They are completely absorbing. The world that is created is so rich and full and real. The characters are wonderfully interesting and well-developed. I feel like I live inside this world and I know these people. This is great fantasy at work.
I'm not ready for this series to be done yet, and thankfully it isn't, but I'm not sure I ever want it to end.
January 5, 2016
Larkyn has finished her first year of training at the Academy and she and Tup (her flying stallion) are learning to master the flight saddle. Duke William continues to take the mysterious potion that is altering his body chemistry and masking his masculinity as he attempts to bond with yet another flying horse foal in his new breeding program. It seems to be working, even though the potion has undesirable side effects, for his new filly, Diamond, doesn’t reject him outright. Horsemistress Philippa Winter and the rest of the fliers, however, are horrified by his tampering and his neglect of his ducal responsibilities (particularly with regard to the coastal raiders). Philippa enlists the help of William’s brother, Francis, who makes a deal with Klee to rescue the children who were taken by the raiders. Philippa is captured and Francis suffers a nearly fatal wound. After her escape Philippa takes her concerns before the Council of Lords, but is disappointed when they are unable to come to a consensus – many of them would see a day when men, too, might become fliers. Philippa is eventually told that she will be sent down – to her family’s lands – in disgrace and on the day her sentence is to be commuted, she disappears.
Oc suffers greatly through William’s unhealthy obsession with the winged horses. He is a terrible and disturbing character and readers will be clenching their fists as they wait for the satisfaction of his eventual comeuppance (surely it will arrive in book #3!). Horse lovers will appreciate Larkyn and her friends’ devotion to their mounts as they complete their training. Will be racing through the final book!
Oc suffers greatly through William’s unhealthy obsession with the winged horses. He is a terrible and disturbing character and readers will be clenching their fists as they wait for the satisfaction of his eventual comeuppance (surely it will arrive in book #3!). Horse lovers will appreciate Larkyn and her friends’ devotion to their mounts as they complete their training. Will be racing through the final book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this is not a middle-grade book, but an adult or, possibly, a very mature YA novel. It's not inappropriate, but neither is it cheesy or angsty. Airs and Graces contains some mature themes, and the point-of-view rotates between several adults and teenaged Larkyn.
And morals. How wonderful to find a book that has good morals! Two or three ideas cropped up that went nowhere in this book, but that have potential to become beautiful subplots in book three. I really really hope they do.
I don't mind rotating POVs -- in fact, I often enjoy them -- but Toby Bishop likes her cliffhangers a bit too much. During the most tense parts of the book, she would end the chapter and switch to a different POV at the worst possible moment. This is ok on occasion, but every-other chapter for the middle third of the book is not much fun.
Finally, there was more emphasis on politics than I expected. Bishop wrote it well, though, and even the most political scenes were never dry. Which, granted, probably had a lot to do with the fact that everything related to the winged horses in some way. I'm definitely going to try to read book one, because I'm certain it will have more about the horses and less about politics.
I really want a winged horse now.
*Originally posted on poetree.
And morals. How wonderful to find a book that has good morals! Two or three ideas cropped up that went nowhere in this book, but that have potential to become beautiful subplots in book three. I really really hope they do.
I don't mind rotating POVs -- in fact, I often enjoy them -- but Toby Bishop likes her cliffhangers a bit too much. During the most tense parts of the book, she would end the chapter and switch to a different POV at the worst possible moment. This is ok on occasion, but every-other chapter for the middle third of the book is not much fun.
Finally, there was more emphasis on politics than I expected. Bishop wrote it well, though, and even the most political scenes were never dry. Which, granted, probably had a lot to do with the fact that everything related to the winged horses in some way. I'm definitely going to try to read book one, because I'm certain it will have more about the horses and less about politics.
I really want a winged horse now.
*Originally posted on poetree.
August 6, 2010
After arriving at the Acadmy of the Air and getting caught in the midst of political intrigue everything calms down. Or so it seems. While visiting a friend from school, the town they are staying in gets attacked killing many and having 2 children kidnapped. The Duke, William, is unconcerned with the attacks and kidnapping, thinking only of breeding winged horses that allow men to fly them. As political intrigue grows worse and enemies abound, Lark and Tup have to keep their heads down and their ears up to avoid death and war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2011
This book was the second in Toby's horsemistress trilogy. I now need to find a copy of the third. The plot really picked up during this novel, and while I am still annoyed at how a couple of the characters are handling their situations, I am more impressed with several others -- Larkyn, Francis, and the Baron of Klee's daughter. It is still such an interesting concept, and there is enough of a cliffhanger at the end to leave you wanting more. Anything else I say will give away spoilers, but I will be hunting down a copy of book three. This series is proving to be well-worth the time.
January 27, 2009
Book Two of the series wasn't as good as Book One, but it was still a nice book. I can't tell you what wasn't as good, jsut a little touch of something that was in the first one wasn't in the second. Plots were laid more bare, Bad Things Happened, and the main character kept going, determined as ever. The bad guy? Oh yeah, he going nutters. Enjoyable and looking forward to getting Book Three in soon. :)
October 18, 2014
Since bonding with a winged foal by accident, Larkyn Hamley has risen from a wild country girl to become one of the finest students at the Academy of the Air. But Duke William, the new ruler of Oc, is obsessed with riding a winged horse himself, and his madness leads him to ignore his traditional duties to protect the Duchy.
Now it's Larkyn who must take flight to save her country, her Academy, and her own life.
Now it's Larkyn who must take flight to save her country, her Academy, and her own life.
January 31, 2012
The second in the Horsemistress series is another beautiful read, full of adventure, threat and treason. Of course Larkyn Hamley and Phillipa Winter are in the middle of pretty much all of it! Along with the vile Duke William. I can't wait for the next in the series 'Air of Sea and Fire' it shall be arriving in about 3 days time, I'll let you know after what I think!
October 10, 2009
A good fantasy story based in the Duchy of Oc, that revolves around one common girl's story with the famous flying horses of Oc. Her trials that she has to deal with being a common-born girl amongst nobles, and her fight against a mad Duke, make a appealing story for horse lovers of all kind.
October 19, 2009
THe perverse Duke William continues in his obsession with Oc's flying horses in this sequel to Airs Beneath the Moon. Larkyn is caught up in the struggle to save the academy, her country, and herself from disaster.
June 9, 2013
This was a pretty easy read. I finished it in a day and a half. It is a good simple story. It isn't terribly deep and you won't find yourself falling in love or utterly hating any of the characters. It is a good one for any horse lover. I do recommend you pick it up for some light reading.
Read
July 13, 2009not bad
Read
January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
August 24, 2010
Engaging 2nd installment of the trilogy. Looking forward to seeing how it all resolves in the 3rd book.
November 7, 2012
The story gets better, but also stranger. This book ended well, but left me wanting for more. You definitely have to read the first book to understand what is going on in this one.
Want to read
April 26, 2015Need to get me a copy of the first book in this series before I read this one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews