Victoria Holmes

Horses and Ireland: what more could I ask for? In "Iar-Connacht" (modern-day County Galway) in 1588, fourteen-year old Nora Donovan rescues a spanish stallion (an Andalusian) and a 16-year-old Spanish sailor from a shipwreck. Nora risks her life to save both from English soldiers. Beyond this main plot, Nora is a brave and resourceful young woman, doing what she knows is right despite extreme risk to herself and indirect risk to her family. She also has a storng love for horses. Before meeting "Lir" the Andalusian, she had befriended a wild mountain pony she names "Dunlin" and tames her enough to ride without bridle or halter. The author's intimate knowledge of hroses makes the detailed descriptions of the animals and Nora's relationship wit them vivid and authentic.
I was thrilled to read of places we'd visited in Ireland such as Aughnanure Caslte and Killary Harbor. Holmes states in her Acknowledgements the names of people and real places: Errislannan Riding Stables, Sraith Salach. "According to tradition, the modern Connemara pony is descended from Andalusian stallions that swam ashore form the shipwrecked Spanish Armada in 1588." "Lir" and "Dunlin" are the fictitious ancestors of today's Connemara ponies.… (altro)

Not a bad read, although it was hardly the 'epic horse story' that the cover claimed. Sure, she rode horses, and was down at the stables a lot, and obsessed over the new horse, but it was more about the smugglers and wreckers than it was about the horses. Interesting enough a read, though not among the best (not among the worst, either, for that matter!) I've ever read. It had the potential for far more than it delivered. Though I suppose thats chronic with 'young adult' books. The main character was only 15, so I suppose, believably there's only so much that can happen to the story. But, had it been taken from an older character's perspective, the tale could have gone a lot deeper, and a lot longer. Over all, a nice simple read.… (altro)