Every book of Angela Dorsey’s that I have read feature horses in a fantasy role. Sola Eclipsed is no different. Thirteen year old Sola lives in an interesting world. Humans are lowest on the pecking order; Shadow Elves are highest. Somewhere in between are dwarves and other creatures.

Sola and her grandmother are struggling to make a living in their world. Humans are allowed to trade in town but they make very little money and the rent is due to Landlord Stye, an evil dwarf. Sola is devastated that she can’t help her grandmother. She has no aptitude for the beautiful carvings that her elderly grandmother can create to sell. And it seems she is not much use for anything else.

Going against her grandmother’s wishes, Sola follows her to town one morning. She is amazed at the array of creatures and people – all unsmiling, unkind – that make their way to town. In amongst the melee she finds herself suddenly to blame for a Shadow Elf falling off his horse. Sola knows he could have her killed or imprisoned and the fear spurns her into action. But when she interacts with the beautiful red horse that he was riding, she finds she has some connection with the animal.

Sola is grateful to escape that day with her life. But it seems she can’t hide from the commotion she created on the way to town that day.

A sudden chance at employment has her in amongst those she so desperately wishes to avoid. And yet… it seems that this chance meeting is an opportunity for young Sola to utilise the connection she feels with not only one beautiful red horse, but many horses.

Sola Eclipsed (Talismans of Thunder #1)

Sola Eclipsed is just the start of this young teenager’s story. It is made up of fantasy, adventure and some mystery thrown in. Add horses to the mix and young horse fans are bound to enjoy the start to the Talismans of Thunder series.

Author – Angela Dorsey
Fiction – teen
In my library – As a Kindle version.

Wild Pony Island by L.B. Shively is a short story for young horse enthusiasts. With the main focus a young boy stranded on an island and a pony stallion, it is bound to capture their imagination. Young Simon misses his trips out in the dinghy with his papa. Because his father is sick, he finds that he is sad and cooped up inside when he’s desperate to be out on the water.

In a rash decision, Simon decides to take the dinghy out by himself one night, promising himself that he’ll be back before his parents notice he is gone. But things quickly go awry. Simon finds himself stranded on an island, cold, wet, hungry and alone. Or so he thinks.

A pony stallion seems to arrive out of nowhere, pointing Simon toward a place where he can be protected from the elements. The young boy makes a quick shelter and then considers how he is going to get back to his family.

He knows enough to make a fire.  Although he is able to dry off and ward away the cold, he is hungry and also thirsty. At the right time the stallion pony captures his attention and draws him away toward water. In time, he shows the young boy where he may secure food on the island, too. It seems that this wild pony island is a place where one wild pony is able to look out for the boy and help him to meet his needs.

In time Simon is surprised and pleased to find that he is not alone.  Thankfully he is found and will be brought safely home. As he leaves with his father, Simon is amazed to find that it is not just one pony that lives on the island. There is a herd to accompany the stallion that had so carefully looked out for him. Wild Pony Island is a short, entertaining read full of adventure.

Author – L.B. Shively
Fiction – children’s
In my library – as an eBook it is.