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giantsdancefarm's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 but I couldn't possibly drop back to a 3.
One of my absolute favorite series as an adolescent, before I ever was privileged to learn to ride but dreamt about it constantly.
Now that I've had my own horses for over 45 years, I certainly recognized a number of errors and inconsistencies, but I'm going to ignore those or maybe write them off as practices which have been changed since the books were written. I'll also admit that though I've owned two Thoroughbreds off the track (OTTB) the horse racing world is not my favorite discipline of the horse world.
I intend to go back to read the whole series now that my library is finally sort of open (still in online order with no contact pickup because of COVID-19).
FYI I'm going to be posting a similar if not very same review for many of these books with possible minor changes in rating and details specific to each book in the series. Or I may not if feeling lazy.
One of my absolute favorite series as an adolescent, before I ever was privileged to learn to ride but dreamt about it constantly.
Now that I've had my own horses for over 45 years, I certainly recognized a number of errors and inconsistencies, but I'm going to ignore those or maybe write them off as practices which have been changed since the books were written. I'll also admit that though I've owned two Thoroughbreds off the track (OTTB) the horse racing world is not my favorite discipline of the horse world.
I intend to go back to read the whole series now that my library is finally sort of open (still in online order with no contact pickup because of COVID-19).
FYI I'm going to be posting a similar if not very same review for many of these books with possible minor changes in rating and details specific to each book in the series. Or I may not if feeling lazy.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit that I use to like the Island Stallion books just a fraction better than I liked the ones featuring the Black.
saphirablue's review against another edition
2.0
Well, that has been disappointing. :(
I really liked the beginning with the exploring of the tunnel systems and the adventure like vibe I got from it. But later? When the time on the island has come to an end and Steve decided to forsake an entire breed of horses because he wants his (wild and barely tamed) horse with him? Knowing what will happen to the other horses when a certain character learns of the existence of this herd? Seriously? The whole seesaw between "It's better for the herd to let Flame here." and "Nooo. He's mine. I have to take him with me." really started to get on my nerves in the end and Steve became very unlikeable for me then. And when Pitch did it for the artefacts too? Yeah. Not a happy reader I've been.
I really liked the beginning with the exploring of the tunnel systems and the adventure like vibe I got from it. But later? When the time on the island has come to an end and Steve decided to forsake an entire breed of horses because he wants his (wild and barely tamed) horse with him? Knowing what will happen to the other horses when a certain character learns of the existence of this herd? Seriously? The whole seesaw between "It's better for the herd to let Flame here." and "Nooo. He's mine. I have to take him with me." really started to get on my nerves in the end and Steve became very unlikeable for me then. And when Pitch did it for the artefacts too? Yeah. Not a happy reader I've been.
satyridae's review against another edition
2.0
I started a Black Stallion re-read several years ago, and though I've been buying the books as I come across them, I've failed to keep up with my re-read. Probably because I knew that this was next in line, and I never liked the Island books as well as the ones about the Black. My memory served me well- this is a clunky, painful book. The two human characters are dorky beyond all belief, and the horses are either angels or demons. The plot about the Conquistadores is also clunky. Clunky, clunky, clunky. And yet... I read the whole thing again.