MicronPress – Page 5 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

5-Stars for “The Golden Spark”

Let me state at the outset that this is a rip-snorting tale and an overall fun read. The author is very proficient in his craft and there is little to quibble about the structure, pace, language, and overall writing of this book. I continue to be impressed with the quality of the writing and rhetoric.—Kilgore Gagarin, Amazon Vine Voice

Amazon Vine Voice reviewer Kilgore Gagarin gives 5 stars to The Golden Spark, Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy:

Amazon Vine Voice | Kilgore Gagarin

Second salvo in an excellent Young Adult series for horse afficionados

Let me state at the outset that this is a rip-snorting tale and an overall fun read. The author is very proficient in his craft and there is little to quibble about the structure, pace, language, and overall writing of this book. I continue to be impressed with the quality of the writing and rhetoric. I leave arguments over historical accuracy and the details of horsemanship to others.

The second in a planned three book series (The Legend of the Great Horse) continues to follow 16 year old Meagan Roberts through time as she is transported by the magic of the Great Horse. When last we saw our intrepid equestrienne, she, and her horse, were about to be executed for witchcraft in 1616 Western Europe. Escaping through time, Meagan finds herself transported to a ship captained by Spanish Conquistador, Hernan Cortes, in the year 1519. This section is reminiscent of some of the most violent parts of the first volume of the series (which is not a bad thing, but readers must understand that this is not a girl’s bucolic romp through time on the back of her winged horse). The use and impact of horses in the Spaniards’ battle (and slaughter) of the Aztecs gets this volume off to a stirring start. The author describes the scenes with neither condemnation nor approval. The conquest of the Aztecs is an historical fact, and Meagan, like us, is primarily an observer of the process.

The next two sections of the book find Meagan in France in 1666, then in England in 1816. In both cases, we see a less violent, more pedestrian look at the role of horses in the advancement of civilization. More time is spent on the societies of the time, primarily the integration of the horse in everyday life. Though less exciting than the opening section, the author continues to impress with fascinating details about horses and horsemanship. Being thoroughly ignorant in those areas, I found this to be continually interesting, to my surprise. As a child, I found Farley’s Black Stallion series to be thoroughly dull. Royce brings a detail, and supplies historic context, in a way that should be interesting to any reader. When next I have the chance to observe dressage I will bring with me a touch more understanding of the art, thanks to the author of this book.

Being the second volume in a series, I think this book can easily be read without having read the opening work (still recommended to do so). The historic segments easily stand alone as discrete stories of their time and place. Overall, this work contains a lot less violence than the first work, and is thus less problematically recommended for younger readers. The stirring fox hunt near the end of this installment probably won’t sit well with absolutist animal lovers, but the classic rendering of the rendering of the fox at the end of the hunt does not take place. Rather, the joy of riding raucously through the English countryside is the main focus.

I’m greatly looking forward to the eventual conclusion of this series, and expect that the trilogy will become at least a minor classic, if not a more respected work over time.

Tally ho!

Note: The book reviewer received a free review copy of “The Golden Spark” via LibraryThing’s “Early Reviewer” program. This review has been posted on that site as well.

» See original review online

The Golden Spark is the 2nd book of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, an award-winning time-travel adventure through history—on horseback! The story follows the journey of a modern horsewoman lost in the distant past.

The trilogy books have won multiple national awards including the 2009 Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the 2010 Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

Further information about this unique ‘creative non-fiction’ novel can be found at TheGreatHorse.com.

Book II: The Golden Spark – Adventure Finds Young Horsewoman Lost in History

A fun and unique “creative non-fiction” story for adults and teens, The Golden Spark follows the struggles of a young woman carried unwillingly through the Renaissance, who uses her knowledge of modern horsemanship to survive.

Here is the final publication Media Release for The Golden Spark – Book II of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy … being issued this Tuesday! [PDF]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robert Hall
Email: R_Hall@MicronPress.com

ADVENTURE FINDS HORSEWOMAN LOST IN HISTORY

Book Two continues ‘The Legend of the Great Horse’

BOSTON, MA April 5, 2011 | Micron Press is pleased to announce publication of The Golden Spark, the 2nd book of the award-winning time-travel trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse by John Royce. The book continues the journey of a modern-day teenager lost in history, delivering an entertaining adventure for horse-lovers … and those who don’t know a saddle from a bridle!

A fun and unique “creative non-fiction” story for adults and teens (Ages 14+), The Golden Spark follows the struggles of a young woman carried unwillingly through the time of the Renaissance through early 1800’s, who uses her knowledge of modern horsemanship to survive.

Book II: The Golden Spark is the sequel to Eclipsed by Shadow, John Royce’s debut title which won the Eric Hoffer Award and a top recommendation by Library Journal. This well-informed, wholesome series illustrates the importance of horsemanship in our past and offers a positive message for today.

Available through bookstores and major online booksellers. For more information, please visit TheGreatHorse.com.

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The Golden Spark and other books of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy offer an exciting adult-level “horse story” for the kid in all of us!

Eclipsed by Shadow: “Excellent opening salvo in a new YA series”

This work is a crisply written taut tale that moves along nicely. I finished its 273 pages in one sitting. The main thrust of the book falls in two areas: horses and horsemanship; world history. I personally found the author’s expertise in horses and horsemanship to be the most compelling and interesting part of the book.—LibraryThing Early Reader

The following is a new review for Eclipsed by Shadow posted by a reader on LibraryThing:

LibraryThing | Reader Review

I checked this book out because I am expecting the second volume of this three volume series (The Legend of the Great Horse) as part of LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program. As a child, I was forced to read Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion series. I found those books readable, but generally a bit dull. So I come into reading this series predisposed to dislike it, but have been genuinely pleased to find the first volume of this work to be exciting, readable, and far from dull.

From the book’s description I expected a young girl’s lighthearted romp through history on the back of a winged horse. Accept that description at your peril. First, there is a lot of graphic violence (including references and threats to rape) so if you ARE looking for something lighter for your young ones (ages 11-16?) to read, this is not your book. The violence is not a criticism but a description for the potential reader to consider. Understand that if you’re going to write about the use of horses throughout history that much of it is in the service of warfare.

This work is a crisply written taut tale that moves along nicely. I finished its 273 pages in one sitting. The main thrust of the book falls in two areas: horses and horsemanship; world history. I personally found the author’s expertise in horses and horsemanship to be the most compelling and interesting part of the book.

Not formally being an historian, I’m loathe to criticize the historic aspects of this book, including accuracy and interpretation. I did find the settings interesting and compelling, but suspect that this is the area that will be most contentious amongst those who do have a deeper understanding of the specific time periods and the cultures in which the protagonist finds herself.

I found myself continually impressed with the quality of the writing. Rhetorically, this is a well written, well edited book. Whatever quibbles one might have with the slippery facts of history (or horsemanship), this is a finely tuned tale that leaves me anticipating the sequel with a positive predisposition.

» See original review online

Eclipsed by Shadow is the first book of the award-winning fiction trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse, a journey through history–on horseback!

The story follows the time-travel adventure of a modern horsewoman lost in the distant past. The title has won multiple national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

Further information about this unique and imaginative ‘creative non-fiction’ novel can be found at TheGreatHorse.com.

#23- Stolen Promise

Meagan stood quietly and lifted the window blinds. The early sky was gray and turbulent. Birds chirped in the cool pre-morning. She folded her hands on the window sill, ready for tears. Promise was gone, stolen. – Eclipsed by Shadow (excerpt)

That night Meagan cried herself to sleep. Police had been called and neighbors alerted, but nothing had been heard. Jennifer tried the phone number Pamela knew for Mr. Wells—it had been disconnected.

When she did finally sleep, Meagan dreamt of riding. She galloped with Promise across clear stretches of green. Fences rose up before them and she twitched in her sleep as she and Promise soared over … and then up into the bright sky. Meagan opened her eyes to the gray of early pre-dawn and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling remembering her remorse.

So the dream of the flying horse had finally returned. It gave her no comfort now; the vivid image seemed to mock her loss. Meagan stood quietly and lifted the window blinds. The early sky was gray and turbulent. Birds chirped in the cool pre-morning. She folded her hands on the window sill, ready for tears. Promise was gone, stolen. Even if found, the poor young horse could easily be traumatized. Please be safe, girl, Meagan prayed, putting her head in her hands. She happened to glance down to see a dark shape.

Promise was standing on the patio.