Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop

Winged horses are not new in fantasy and Airs Beneath the Moon published by Ace follows the same path many other stories trod. In spite of that, the story held my attention. Larkyn Hamley of Deeping Farm finds a starving horse and takes her home. The horse has a winged colt but dies in a difficult birth. The colt bonds with Lark, a bond that is for life. Winged horses are at the heart of the Duchy of Oc. They can only be flown by women and the Academy of the Air chooses a noble girl to bond with each colt. Lark has to leave home and try to survive in the hostile environment of the Academy. That is just the start of the story. There is danger to the Academy from the new Duke, a secret discovered by Lark, and surprising friendships in the making. While the book has a conclusion it leaves many things unresolved. It may be the first book in a series. If you like winged horses and strong heroines read Airs Beneath the Moon by Toby Bishop.