In a world divided by war and destiny, two teens from opposite sides of history are drawn together by an ancient bond—one that could change their lives and the fate of the spirit animals forever.
Nemae has never truly belonged. A captive of a coastal tribe, she’s spent her life in servitude, keeping her bold spirit hidden. But when she starts dreaming of magnificent creatures—tall, powerful horses unlike any she’s ever seen—she realizes they might be more than dreams. The spirit animals of legend are calling to her, and she must decide whether to answer.
Across the ocean, Diego is eager to prove himself. On a Spanish expedition, he expects adventure and glory, not disaster. But when a violent storm leaves him stranded in an unfamiliar land, survival means learning a new way of life—and guarding the secrets that could cost him everything.
When Nemae’s world and Diego’s world collide, they uncover a connection between humans and horses as old as time. But with rival tribes and dangerous enemies closing in, they must risk everything to protect the spirit animals who have found their way to America, to the country where their ancestors were born.
Perfect for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Home of the Spirit Animals is a sweeping YA historical fantasy filled with adventure, survival, and the power of the wild.
The author loved horses even before her memory took root. Growing up in rural Washington State, a relative placed Cyd atop a palomino Belgian when she was a toddler. Although always partial to palomino Belgians, as a teenager her half-trained Quarter Horse was partial to Cyd and Cyd alone. She was often found up the cherry tree next to his pasture, pen and tablet in hand failing to draw him, but succeeding at writing poems and stories.After receiving her PhD in Social Psychology, Ms. Raschke enjoyed writing in the corporate world. Eventually moving to Newburyport, Massachusetts, she and her husband raised two sons. Cyd's contributions to her community have been recognized with the Bush Point of Light award, and as one of three co-founders of the Newburyport Black History Initiative, the 2024 Award of Excellence by the American Association of State and Local History.One inspiration for Cyd's story was to correct assumptions that wild horses are not native to America. In fact, fossils and artifacts have proven that Equus first evolved in North America. She set the novel in Texas after learning the story of Mustang Island and visiting Hill Country where she saw how ideal the land would be for horses to thrive. Early colonists inflicted many sins upon native lands, but returning Equus to its original home was not one.Of Alaskan Native and Scandinavian heritage, Cyd feels a sense of loss shared by many descendants of Indigenous Nations. Her Alutiiq grandmother died shortly after Cyd's mother was born, breaking maternal connections to their ancient lineage. Despite two years of research, this novel might fall short regarding some facts about native culture, but it has given the author a chance to acknowledge a legacy worth preserving.
