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[ellid]

Many years ago I read a book, and I can't remember the name or the author. I would like to read it again. Here's what I remember:

- It's a fantasy.

- The main character was a messenger of some sort, working for the royal court. She wasn't young.

- The world had a tech level roughly equivalent to early modern Europe, only with telegraph lines...but I don't recall if they were electronic or semaphore.

- I *think* the author was a woman and her first name began with an M.

- It was definitely not Green Rider.

- It was published sometime in the 1980s or very early 1990s.


Does this ring a bell? Help?



UPDATE: It was indeed Sword of Winter, by Marta Randall. Thank you all so much!

Comments

[musikologie.livejournal.com]

If no one here knows it, you can use whatwasthatbook. :)

[beard5.livejournal.com]

It almost sounds like something by Martha Wells, but I'm not entirely sure. Mary Gentle, "Rats and Gargoyles" maybe? there was a messenger (memory) for the royal court, and a giant Babbage machine (I think) (possibly "Architecture of Desire" but I've only read that one once)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought. I'll check out Wells' work. Thanks!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Update - checked out Wells and it's not her. I'll check Gentle. Thanks!

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

Was it set in a winter setting? And she protected a young boy?

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Oooh - and there was an astrological element.

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

Sword of Winter by Marta Randall

[etienetteblue.livejournal.com]

Arrows for the Queen... At the moment the author's name eludes me. It's the first of a multi-series... takes place in a country called Valdemar... dang, I really should be able to remember the author's name. I think I've read them all.

[shalandara.livejournal.com]

Mercedes Lackey. And I don't think that is what she is thinking of. Telepathic white horses are kinda hard to miss in a description of the Valdemar books.

[etienetteblue.livejournal.com]

Maybe so but the rest fit. Oh well, can but try.