Eclipsed by Shadow • The Golden Spark • Into the Dark
Announcing 2 Giveaways of Eclipsed by Shadow ebooks on LibraryThing
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Giveaway #2 will be open from Dec. 18 – 23rd
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Book II of The Legend of the Great Horse continues John Royce’s sweeping historical fantasy about horses and horsemanship, and I am very much looking forward to learning why 16-year-old Meagan Roberts was flung backward into time. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to label this trilogy as a work of juvenile fiction. It is much more than that.—E.A. Lovitt, Amazon ‘Hall of Fame’ Top 100 Reviewer
The Golden Spark, Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, by Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer E.A. Lovitt:
E. A. Lovitt |Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer
“CLOTHED WITH THUNDER”
Book II of The Legend of the Great Horse continues John Royce’s sweeping historical fantasy about horses and horsemanship, and I am very much looking forward to learning why 16-year-old Meagan Roberts was flung backward into time. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to label this trilogy as a work of juvenile fiction. It is much more than that.
In this middle volume, Meagan travels to Mexico with Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, the Spanish Conquistador who brought about the fall of the mighty Aztec Empire, partially through his employment of horses, which the Aztecs had never seen. Meagan wins the approval of the Spanish Captain by caring for his war stallion during a storm at sea.
Her next time-jump lands Meagan in the court of Louis XIV of France, the Sun King. His Manège du Grandes Ecuries du Château de Versailles (the Riding School of the Grand Stable of Versailles) influenced the development of equitation in 17th Century Europe. Although the author accurately portrays Louis XIV’s passion for elaborate equestrian performances, the King’s relationship with Meagan, who is posing as an English stable-hand, is scarcely believable. Although Louis spoke French, Latin, Spanish, and Italian, I don’t believe he ever learned English (he had no reason to), and he was an absolute monarch who distanced himself from ordinary people behind an impenetrable thicket of court etiquette. One had to be a nobleman just to empty the King’s chamber pot.
However, Meagan’s relationship with Nero, the high-strung dressage gelding is the highlight of this adventure in time. The horses are the true nobility in this book, not their sometimes cruel and ignorant masters.
John Royce saves the best for last: Meagan’s final time-jump in The Golden Spark lands her in with the family of a horse trainer in Regency England. The description of our heroine’s participation in a neck-or-nothing foxhunt is alive with the colors, scents, and sounds of a spectacle that has now been voted into extinction in the country of its origin. This author’s narrative is the next-best thing to actually saddling up and following the hounds.
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.
“I am a priest, child. What are they going to do? They have gotten themselves into a corner here on this beach, and chances are they will need me to get out, so to speak.” …
“After God, we owe it to the horses.”
“My Brother has not heard the Captain’s orders. That can be the only explanation.” An uncomfortable moment passed as the men contemplated each other. “Unless his wine has made him forgetful.”
“The flesh is weak, Padre Giaollo. I meant nothing.”
“The English-speaking woman is to be left alone by strict order of the Captain. You are a brave man.”
“No! No, Padre Giaollo. Allow me to repent.”
“Oh, is it now understood?”
“Yes, yes! And I will watch carefully for signs of disobedience in the others. I will be vigilant, Padre Giaollo.”
“Then I will say nothing of it. Perhaps, Brother, this time could be used in prayer?”
“Yes, of course.” Bowing his head, the priest turned to go.
“Wait there, my Brother! Spirits only dull the mind.” Macario held out his hand, and the first priest reluctantly placed the bottle into it. “To temperance, amigo!” Macario toasted him, and upended the bottle in a swig.
“God be with you, Padre Giaollo.”
“And also with you. Good night.” Macario offered the bottle to Meagan.
“Thank you, but no,” Meagan refused politely.
“The ‘thank you’ is accepted, the ‘no’ is not. It is a sin to drink alone, señorita, and I am a man of God. Now hold up your glass.”
Meagan consented and sipped the fiery liquid. “You speak English well, Padre Giaollo.”
“Macario! Please, call me Macario! Why would I not speak English, por Dios? It has all the good words and twice the bad! By my lights, I cannot understand why anyone speaks anything else.”
“But the ship and the soldiers, aren’t they Spanish?”
“As the days are hot, hang their mothers … but not I. I am Italian by birth, schooled in Oxford before I joined the seminary.” He spit onto the beach. “Rot all Spaniards!” he shouted, waiting for the chorus of returned insults. “Foul devils,” he said, turning back to Meagan with a grimace. “They will rule the world, of course.”
“Why are you here?”
“The Church likes Her lofty hand in others’ affairs, and She can be a persuasive wench. And you? From England, have you said?”
“No, not really.”
“France, then? You could be French. Ah, sweet Avignon, those blasphemers … begging your pardon if it offends, of course.” Macario took a swig and shouted, “God hates all Spanish and the dogs they lie with!” Catcalls were flung back. “They are all going to Hell,” he said offhand, listening to the returning curses.
“Excuse me, but they do not seem the kind of men one provokes.”
“I am a priest, child. What are they going to do? They have gotten themselves into a corner here on this beach, and chances are they will need me to get out…”
The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy is an adventure through history … the above excerpt is from the chapter “Dragons” set in 1519 AD during the invasion of Mexico. Meagan is an unwilling passenger aboard a Conquistador’s ship …
The Golden Spark (Book #2 of the Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) won the 2011 Written Arts Awards for best Science Fiction/Fantasy.
Quick Links:
» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.
» Read the 1st Chapter online.
» Check out Reviews for the trilogy.
» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.
Trapped in time, all she has is her will and her equine knowledge to try to guide her home … With a good focus on history and horses, THE GOLDEN SPARK is a fun and enjoyable read, highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review ~ Children’s Bookwatch
Midwest Book Review | Children’s Bookwatch
Trapped in time, all she has is her will and her equine knowledge to try to guide her home.
Book II: The Golden Spark is the second book in John Royce’s series (The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) following a young teenage girl who is lost in the Renaissance and trying to put it all together to find her way home.
With a good focus on history and horses, The Golden Spark is a fun and enjoyable read, highly recommended.
* Recommended for Ages 14 & Up
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.
Into the Dark, the final volume of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, is to be published on June 21st, the Summer Solstice of 2012.
Into the Dark, the final volume of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, is to be published on June 21st, the Summer Solstice of 2012.
Advance reading copies for Early Reviewers will be made available … for 1st notifications sign up for The Great Horse newsletter.
» Press Release 11/11/11 [PDF]
BOSTON, MA – November 11, 2011 | Into the Dark, the third and final book of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy by John Allen Royce, arrives next Summer 2012 to conclude the journey of a modern-day teen lost in history.
Publication is scheduled for the Summer Solstice (June 21st). Into the Dark completes the award-winning series, which offers a fresh and original look at the colorful role of horses in civilization. The tale follows the struggles of a young woman carried unwillingly through history, who uses her knowledge of modern horsemanship to survive humanity’s past.
The trilogy’s first volume, Eclipsed by Shadow, earned a Library Journal recommendation and won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction. Recently-released Book #2: The Golden Spark (2011) has already been named an Independent Publisher Highlighted Title and nominated for a Written Arts Award.
The author is a horseman over 20 years of experience in competitive riding, training horses and coaching students. Mr. Royce explains the enduring popularity of horses: “Horses have been with mankind since the beginning—the history of horses is the history of civilization.”
The opening scene from The Golden Spark (Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy … after Meagan escaped a medieval mob at the end of Book #1: Eclipsed by Shadow.
The opening scene from The Golden Spark, Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy … set in 1519 AD.
THE FLOOR ROLLED sharply and Meagan fell hard against a wall. A tide of cold water sloshed over her feet. All around in the darkness were piercing screams of horses and the thudding concussion of hooves. The floor rolled the other way and Meagan felt herself sliding. She leaned to stay against the wall, but there was nothing to hold.
Putting a hand out in front of her, she touched the soft hair of an equine coat. The tilt of the floor pressed her against the horse as saltwater and the smell of fish washed over her. Meagan felt for mane and grasped the hair tightly. The animal slipped and scrambled as the floor rose to its steepest before beginning to roll back. The horse’s body shook with a frightened whinny.
“Easy there, that’s a good horse.” Meagan felt around in the dark. The lead rope was tied to a heavy iron ring. She grasped it as the floor rolled past level and started its new tilt. She had moved again—but this time the sensation of flying had been replaced by a simple melt into this new place. What were the words she had said? “Promise, please take me home,” she said to the air, and repeated it, but there was no response …
The Golden Spark (Book #2) won the 2011 Written Arts Awards for best Science Fiction/Fantasy.
Quick Links:
» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.
» Read the 1st Chapter online.
» Check out Reviews for the trilogy.
» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.
Into the Dark is the title of Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, taken from the legend’s poem … Media announcement of Book #3 including publication dates coming Friday, 11/11/11!
Into the Dark is the title of Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, taken from the legend’s poem …
Eclipsed by shadow,
the golden spark
shall wing its rider
into the dark…
Media announcement of Book #3 including publication dates coming Friday, 11/11/11!
The new excerpt series from The Golden Spark, Book #2 of the trilogy, begins Thursday, November 10th …
The full excerpt series for Book #1: Eclipsed by Shadow
can be found on TheGreatHorse.com website!
