I've read this author before and I love horses too.
This book is indeed magical. Even though there were places that didn't make sense and that was a little silly at times, I still loved every minute of it. It was a change of pace for me.
A delightful book for anyone who loves horses and magic will love this one.
The cover and author are what made me choose it.
This book will leave you thinking about the characters long after the book is finished. I sure hated to say goodbye.
I could picture these beautiful horses in my mind it's that easy.
5 stars for a wonderful read. I recommend this novel.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this beautiful story. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Welcome to my new segment “Freshly Foaled Fiction” where I read and review current ya horse books that you can get for your young readers to enjoy today!

And today we're reading Out of the Valley of the Horses by Wendy Orr. This book comes out on April 16th and is intended for ages 8-12. I was lucky enough to enjoy an Arc before the release date.

First impression: this is some pretty excellent pandemic fiction. The author is super candid that she wrote this during the pandemic and it was pretty clear but very subtly written. Honey is a toddler and her brother is just a baby when her family packs up their converted ice cream van to escape bad stuff happening in the real world, and accidentally gets trapped in the Valley of the Horses, a mystical world where they live pretty ok but ingenuitive lives for seven years.

But then a series of bad things happens, and the magic stops protecting them, and Honey’s dad gets really sick. Their paradise becomes a prison, and the only way to save Honey's dad is to find a way back to the real world. So Honey sets off on a journey to save her family.

I liked this book a lot more than I expected. The writing is really good for the age range and I loved how visual the descriptions are. I mean a converted ice cream truck, anyone? The characters are likeable, and the fantasy universe is thoughtfully laid out. I think it's going to be a really moving story for kids, and maybe a good way to dialogue about living through such a strange time. But you should expect that your kids are going to have a lot of questions about appendicitis.

Overall this one's unexpectedly a Win for me. Make sure to pick up a copy for the young horse enthusiast in your life, and I'll catch you next time.