Black Horses for the King

Rating:
Summary: a disappointment for a fan of Pern and Arthurian tales
Review: My 12 year-old daughter and I discovered Anne McCaffrey this summer and enjoyed almost all the Pern books we could get our hands on. I am also a great fan of Arthurian stories (my favorites being T.H. White "The Once and Future King" and Mary Stewart's "Crystal Cave" and "Hollow Hills") so I eagerly picked up this book. I found the characters flat and the story was not compelling (and horses play a big part in my life). Since "Nerilka's Story" was my least favorite Pern novel, I wonder whether McCaffrey has a harder time with 1st person singular narrative.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: There is a good amount of action, but it is not overdone. This is not a book jammed with violence and action, so don't go in with those expectations. There's no bad language or inappropriate parts. The characters are deep and you can really relate to them. It's a good book, worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Story but no thrills
Review: This book is a quick read. The story is rather simple, but seems to be quite accurate with historical merit. She has avoided the cliche Arthurian stories providing a new view that I did find refreshing. Have no doubts - this story is FIRST a story about horses and quite a distant second it is a story about Arthur (Lord Artos). I wonder if she couldn't have told this tale in even fewer pages, but it did keep me interested enough to finish it quickly. If you have an interest in the farrier craft or the historical idea of bringing large horses into the service of early knights you will like this tale.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Story but no thrills
Review: This book is a quick read. The story is rather simple, but seems to be quite accurate with historical merit. She has avoided the cliche Arthurian stories providing a new view that I did find refreshing. Have no doubts - this story is FIRST a story about horses and quite a distant second it is a story about Arthur (Lord Artos). I wonder if she couldn't have told this tale in even fewer pages, but it did keep me interested enough to finish it quickly. If you have an interest in the farrier craft or the historical idea of bringing large horses into the service of early knights you will like this tale.

Rating:
Summary: I think this is a great book!
Review: This book is about King Arthur needing horses strong enough to fit his knights. I recommend you read this book. This story will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the Horse Lover
Review: This book would make an excellent gift for a horseman (or woman) that you know. It is an incredible historical fiction about the development of farriership (blacksmithing) in the world. The characters and plot are well thought out and balance the technical aspect of the book. Even a person with no knowledge of horses would find this to be an interesting novel. The hero is both relatable and human; he makes mistakes but learns from his experiences working with the horses. Arthur, the future King Arthur and a supporting character in this book, has never been characterized in such a realistic way; the character seems to come alive in the pages of this book.

Rating:
Summary: nothing special
Review: This was a good book, but nothing special. This book tells the story of Galwyn Varianus who works for his cruel uncle. It tells of how he meets King Arthur (Lord Artos) and of how he runs away from his uncle to help King Arthur in his quest to find big strong horses to carry his knights. As soon as they get the horses, this book focuses on the horses and we are allowed to forget King Arthur. Galwyn learns how to take care of the horses, which have hoof problems. These hoof problems create a need for Horse sandals, and Galwyn becomes one of the first farriers.

Rating:
Summary: Quite a good book, but not her best
Review: This was one of McCaffrey's better books, although not comparable to her "Dragonriders" series. It's of a completely different flavor. But still a very good book!

Rating:
Summary: My first McCaffrey Book
Review: This was the first book by Anne McCaffrey I read, before I even knew about her other, great Sci-fi books. I found it to have a great storyline, I loved the characters, and the characters of the horses. A great book for kids from about 12 to adults.