Black Horses for the King - Softcover

McCaffrey, Anne

3.86

3,295 ratings by Goodreads

9780345422576: Black Horses for the King

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345422570 ISBN 13: 9780345422576

Publisher: Del Rey, 1998

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Lord Artos--later to rule as the legendary King Arthur--knew he could defeat the Saxon invaders if only he could find a race of horses swift and strong enough to carry warriors in full regalia fast and far. And so he set out for the Continent, in search of the famed horses of the desert.

The key to Lord Artos' plan was the young runaway Galwyn Varianus, whose gift for horse-trading was second only to his skill with horses. What no one expected was how crucial Galwyn would be to the upcoming battles--as he mastered the secrets of the iron shoes that would protect the desert horses' delicate hooves . . .

This fast-moving historical fantasy by bestselling author Anne McCaffrey--the story of King Arthur as it has never been told before--is about the beginnings of the British cavalry, as recounted by a boy growing up in exciting and perilous times.

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Review:

Anne McCaffrey is back with this precious, well-researched yarn that follows a Celtic lad in service to King Arthur. Set in fifth-century Britain, McCaffrey's first historical novel for young adults rejects a fantastical, Hollywood treatment of King Arthur in favor of realism and solid storytelling. Take away the Round Table and the usual knights-in-shining-armor hoo-hah, and you're left with an engaging, endearing chapter from the life of Artos, Comes Britannorum, a young war leader in search of horses strong enough to carry his armored warriors into battle against the savage Saxons.

The story is told through the eyes of polite, earnest young do-gooder Galwyn Varianus, who has fled the service of his cruel, brutish, seafaring uncle to take up with the charismatic Artos. Galwyn quickly proves his value with his affinity for languages and horses, and he accompanies Artos and the Companions (proto-Knights of the Round Table) as they execute their plan: acquiring and then breeding a handful of fabled Libyans, the horses of the book's title, and then mastering and disseminating the knowledge of horseshoe-making. The action revolves around Galwyn's role in this plan and never rises above the pace of, say, an after-school special. But rich details, McCaffrey's obvious love of the subject matter, and involving characters go a long way to make up for the story's slow trot. (In particular, you'll find yourself waiting eagerly for the comeuppance of one character, a sneering rider named Iswy, Goofus to Galwyn's Gallant.) --Paul Hughes

From the Publisher:

Anne McCaffrey is best known for the dragons she invented in her Dragonriders of Pern series. What many people don't know is that her first love was for horses--and it still is! A number of years ago, she realized her dream of building a horse farm, and each year I go to visit her in Ireland, I see improvements and get the guided tour of all the horses. This last visit, Anne showed me where some of her most beloved horses are buried--and I was moved at how choked up she got just pointing out the spot (and a gorgeous spot it is, too, with views across the fields down to the Irish Sea). So it was no surprise to me when Anne wrote Black Horses for the King, a tale of King Arthur from the point of view of the boy who helped him build his cavalry and brought the art of farriery (shoeing horses, for those who aren't familiar with the term) to the British Isles. Anne even ran her own farriery school in Ireland for a while. So I know that the details in this book are correct, and the subject is about as near and dear to the author's heart as one could get.
--Shelly Shapiro, Executive Editor

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