Read this series last year and already can't recall much about it except that it is full of angst with a capital A. The hero is packed off to live with his aunt and falls for another of her male students and all ends unhappily except that he turns out to be the most superly talented magically endowed person ever. 
 Have read a few of these Herald of Valdemar books, and I like the Companions (intelligent and empathic horses) but I do find the wallowing in emotions a bit wearing.