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Warhorse of Esdragon #3
The True Knight
The stallion, the swan, and the sorceress
Titch had trained all his life in the ways of honor and of arms. Now he saddled his late father's warhorse, belted on his heirloom sword, and set off to win his knighthood. Unfortunately, his first challenge pitted him against a formidable foe on a glossy black charger, and winning wasn't in the cards for Titch -- though he'd see that horse again.
Wren was an apprentice magician, a shape-changer and healer. She chanced upon the wounded warrior, bushed and left to die. She took Titch in, nursed him back to health, then sent him on his way -- though she'd see that youth again.
For a mad queen and an impossible quest would reunite Wren and Titch and the magical stallion Valadan. Together they would search out an enchanted swan, which Wren must somehow transform into a prince. Should she fail, she would pay with her life.
The penalties would be higher yet should she succeed!
Titch had trained all his life in the ways of honor and of arms. Now he saddled his late father's warhorse, belted on his heirloom sword, and set off to win his knighthood. Unfortunately, his first challenge pitted him against a formidable foe on a glossy black charger, and winning wasn't in the cards for Titch -- though he'd see that horse again.
Wren was an apprentice magician, a shape-changer and healer. She chanced upon the wounded warrior, bushed and left to die. She took Titch in, nursed him back to health, then sent him on his way -- though she'd see that youth again.
For a mad queen and an impossible quest would reunite Wren and Titch and the magical stallion Valadan. Together they would search out an enchanted swan, which Wren must somehow transform into a prince. Should she fail, she would pay with her life.
The penalties would be higher yet should she succeed!
323 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 29, 1995
7 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dexter
21 books66 followersSusan Dexter’s favorite subject for her books is fantasy and throughout her life has worked as a librarian, teacher, and writer.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
Susan received her first award, the Merit Award, in 1976 from the Lawrence County Open Arts Show. She also received the Distinguished Award from them in 1982 and 1983. The Wizard’s Shadow was listed among the “Books for the Teen Age” in 1993 by the New York Public Library.
She now lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania in the vintage house that her book sales enabled her to buy and restore.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 6, 2012
Oh dear. Does she really have to make me cry with the ending of each book? Each novel in this series was simply fantastic and I would really have read about 10 more. Titch was just so solid and Wren, lovely and kind. It was such a comfort read.
Anybody recommend which of hers to pick up next?
Anybody recommend which of hers to pick up next?
March 21, 2019
I'm really enjoying this series. This volume didn't hit my particular "buttons" in quite the extent that The Wind-Witch did, but it was still a solidly enjoyable read with likeable protagonists who are worth rooting for and some nicely askew approaches to standard tropes to keep things interesting.
In this book, I really appreciated how Titch's interactions with Gerein were used throughout the book to give Titch a foil to show his "true knight" status against without making Gerein a straight-up villain. He's a scoundrel and a knave, but he's comes through in a pinch just often enough that Titch doesn't seem stupid for continuing to be associated with him.
On Wren's side, Alinor is also a great wild card in the mix. I love that Alinor is still a falcon with a raptor's instincts and not just a human character in bird form.
In this book, I really appreciated how Titch's interactions with Gerein were used throughout the book to give Titch a foil to show his "true knight" status against without making Gerein a straight-up villain. He's a scoundrel and a knave, but he's comes through in a pinch just often enough that Titch doesn't seem stupid for continuing to be associated with him.
On Wren's side, Alinor is also a great wild card in the mix. I love that Alinor is still a falcon with a raptor's instincts and not just a human character in bird form.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2021
Another wonderful re-read that hits very differently in my fifties than in my twenties! This time around I was particularly caught by the resonant portrayal of trauma and anxiety, and the themes of mercy and honor. Wren and Titch are both wonderful characters, Alinor the falcon is a delight, the villains are surprisingly complex, and I hope that the poor swan-prince and his bride found a quiet place of happiness.
September 3, 2020
I absolutely loved this book as a teen. One of my all time favorites!
November 1, 2024
And here the horse choose the boy who wants to be a Knight.
The horse helps and he is proven to be a True Knight in the end.
YA
The horse helps and he is proven to be a True Knight in the end.
YA
March 26, 2019
Technically this is the third book in a series, but like Discworld or Witch World, the series is really a setting in which a number of books take place.
All right, the magical horse Valadan, half wind by descent, reappears, but given the time span between this and other stories, it's unsurprising that even his motives are distinct to this book.
It opens, however, with a raging Queen Melcia, having killed her husband the king -- they both had kingdoms, and this was an arranged match to join them -- descending on his mistress and their daughter Savrin, ordering them both drowned, and raging she can not bear to see her husband's face in the girl. Her mother is drowned, but Savrin, thrust into the waters, turned into an otter.
The next chapter opens with Titch challenging a passing knight to a fight. He has his sword from his father, and his horse, though Gray is aging, but he has yet to win to being a knight like his father -- and the man has a splendid horse. He loses, and guides Gerein to an inn where he can stay. There, Gerein forbids him to ever take the iron bit out of the horse's mouth, and Titch learns Gerein is being pursued by men after an accidental death.
It goes on from there. It involves Queen Melcia being as jealous and possessive about her son as her husband, a wizard whose apprentice, Wren, has a falcon but no memory of her past before she was transformed into an otter (the wizard turned her back), a swan seeking its mate, a prince who hates being freed from an enchantment, the effects of iron on magic, a tournament, men who leave Titch to die in the cold, Wren's ability to cure tooth ache, and a trial by combat, along with much more in a tale full of adventure and twists.
(Savrin's backstory, BTW, comes out of Celtic legend.)
All right, the magical horse Valadan, half wind by descent, reappears, but given the time span between this and other stories, it's unsurprising that even his motives are distinct to this book.
It opens, however, with a raging Queen Melcia, having killed her husband the king -- they both had kingdoms, and this was an arranged match to join them -- descending on his mistress and their daughter Savrin, ordering them both drowned, and raging she can not bear to see her husband's face in the girl. Her mother is drowned, but Savrin, thrust into the waters, turned into an otter.
The next chapter opens with Titch challenging a passing knight to a fight. He has his sword from his father, and his horse, though Gray is aging, but he has yet to win to being a knight like his father -- and the man has a splendid horse. He loses, and guides Gerein to an inn where he can stay. There, Gerein forbids him to ever take the iron bit out of the horse's mouth, and Titch learns Gerein is being pursued by men after an accidental death.
It goes on from there. It involves Queen Melcia being as jealous and possessive about her son as her husband, a wizard whose apprentice, Wren, has a falcon but no memory of her past before she was transformed into an otter (the wizard turned her back), a swan seeking its mate, a prince who hates being freed from an enchantment, the effects of iron on magic, a tournament, men who leave Titch to die in the cold, Wren's ability to cure tooth ache, and a trial by combat, along with much more in a tale full of adventure and twists.
(Savrin's backstory, BTW, comes out of Celtic legend.)
March 24, 2009
This was a lovely end to the series. We’ve seen Valadan paired with someone who was totally undeserving, with a Witch who had heart and valor, and finally with a knight. The story in basic is one with the son of a knight trying to find a way to his Knightly destiny, and the bastard daughter of a Witch and a Warrior King trying to find her past, with a few truly well created villains along the way.
I really wish there had been more of these books; I’d never read the series, but HAVE read her ‘Sword of Calandra’ series, who also had Valadan within, so I think it is time to reread that series and see if there are clues to what happened after this book ended.
I really wish there had been more of these books; I’d never read the series, but HAVE read her ‘Sword of Calandra’ series, who also had Valadan within, so I think it is time to reread that series and see if there are clues to what happened after this book ended.
May 3, 2023
Another winner.
This is my third reading of The True Knight and I am as in love with Valadan now as when I first read The Prince Of Ill Luck. Because writers can only produce a finite number of stories and Esdragon and Valadan dont really exist I can only visit these people and places by rereading the stories. The mark of a great story is how well it stands up to a reread. Susan Dexter writes great stories.
I would highly recommend this book as well as all of the Esdragon/Valadan books.
This is my third reading of The True Knight and I am as in love with Valadan now as when I first read The Prince Of Ill Luck. Because writers can only produce a finite number of stories and Esdragon and Valadan dont really exist I can only visit these people and places by rereading the stories. The mark of a great story is how well it stands up to a reread. Susan Dexter writes great stories.
I would highly recommend this book as well as all of the Esdragon/Valadan books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews