Book Review: Ariel’s Journey

I think I’ve mentioned before that I love to read. And that one of my favorite genres is fantasy fiction. Another is historical fiction – and I usually really enjoy reading young adult fiction as well.  That’s why when I had the opportunity, through Parent Reviewers, to read and review the book Ariel’s Journey by Doug Kane and Christy Wood, I immediately got excited about the chance to read a book that combines all three of these genres.

What it is:

Ariel’s Journey (The Ice Horse Adventures, Book 1) was written by Doug Kane and Christy Wood. It’s aimed at young female readers – in fact the major (human) characters are all young girls who are 12-14 years old, and the rest of the main characters are horses. It’s therefore sure to be a draw for any young girl (or woman!) who loves to read (hmm, like myself perhaps…).  Here’s a synopsis of the book:

Five very different young women sent to the woods to learn about Icelandic horses, beautiful, fluffy, stocky horses with an uncanny ability to survive harsh climates and dangerous terrain. But this summer camping trip reveals their true power the horses and their young riders must travel centuries into the past to save the village of their ancestors. Uncovering amazing abilities, girls and horses work together to challenge a ruthless enemy, rescue a young princess, and realize their destinies include a prophecy only they can fulfill. Will the girls develop the trust and friendship necessary to battle together? Are the horses going to survive a battle plan sure to end in disaster? Can the young princess be saved before the evil chieftain destroys her? Can true love cross the distance of seven hundred years? Their very lives will depend on the magic only the Ice Horses can provide, and the courage hidden within their hearts.

A mesmerizing story about triumph, spirit, and friendship, Ariel’s Journey is an enchanting tale that transcends, time, age, and place.
Beautifully written, and resplendent with vivid imagery, Ariel’s Journey is filled with action, adventure, charming characters, and the
unmistakable magic of the Ice Horses. With its artful blend of fantasy and reality, Ariel’s Journey delivers a touching message of hope,
perseverance, and love.

The book is 168 pages (paperback version) and will be published on November 1st by Blue Ink Press.

Here’s my take on it:

I had never heard of ‘Iceys’ (Icelandic horses) before reading this book, but finished it wanting to learn as much as I can about the breed. Smaller than ‘average’ horses, yet intelligent, sturdy and able to easily keep up with their larger counterparts, the Icelandic horses are definitely one of  the  major focuses of this book. But, interwoven with that, is the story of five courageous young women (teenagers even) who cross through time and other barriers to work together and complete a dangerous quest.

The book starts off as a fairly simple story – the common conflict between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, in this case as related to the equestrian and typical high school worlds. In an attempt to defuse the hatred between two of the girls, parents organize a trail ride for the girls to travel on together and hopefully learn to get along.

A simple trail ride then turns into so much more as the small but powerful horses that the girls ride on the trip reveal themselves to have not only intelligence but other astonishing powers as well.  And they transport the girls into a past world so much different from their own.

I found the book to be an easy read that immediately draws you into the story and the plight of the five young heroines and their horses. The actual plotline is somewhat simplistic – there’s a young woman in danger and the travelers from the past much band together to save her, and her village from the evil chieftain of a nearby village. Even so, I didn’t think it was at all predictable, and in fact was rather surprised by several turns of events as the storyline played out. The existence of the Icelandic horses and their uncanny abilities definitely plays a huge part in the story and in how the girls are able to achieve their quest.

There are two plot points that I thought could possibly have been explored further.  The first is the change of heart in the two teenaged antagonists – who can’t stand the sight of each other before the trail ride, but end up to be the best of friends at the end. I don’t doubt the plot line, but wish that the authors had explored that transformation in more depth. Also, there is a romance woven throughout the book as well, and I really couldn’t see any purpose for that storyline, as the main plot would not have been at all impacted if the romance had been left out. I can only imagine that this storyline will be played out further in future volumes – the book is the first in a series of eight, with the second book due out next year.

The bottom line:

I really enjoyed reading Ariel’s Journey, the two issues above notwithstanding – they don’t really take away from the storyline at all, and do allow for a certain amount of speculation on the reader’s part. Overall, the book achieves its goals and provides an entertaining and educational introduction to the characters and the storyline sure to be developed further as future books are published. I certainly will be waiting anxiously to read the second book and find out how the five girls are getting along, once they return to school, 4-H and their ‘normal’ lives.  I love when I finish a book feeling a connection to the characters, and definitely can’t wait to find out ‘what happens next’ in this series. 

Where can you find it?:

Ariel’s Journey is available at Amazon and wherever else books are generally sold. The list price is $8.95.  For more information about the book, the entire series or Icelandic horses in general, you can visit http://www.icehorseadventures.com.

This post courtesy of: