Horse of Flame

Rating:
Summary: Another Russian-based fairy tale
Review: The Horse of Flame is actually a sequel to The Shining Falcon, though it stands up pretty well on its own. Based heavily on Russian folk-lore and mythology, it contains plenty of magical trials, court intrigue, and (as always) True Love. It seemed slightly less fresh than The Shining Falcon, though, and I did not find the protagonists, Princess Marya and her consort Emelian, to be nearly as delightful as Finist and Maria. The title also seemed inappropriate, as the horse in question was not a terribly major character.

Despite its few faults, The Horse of Flame is a very fun fantasy adventure book and a decent sequel to The Shining Falcon. Those who liked the first will probably want to read it (though Finist and Maria are given less attention), and it is also recommended to fans of Lackey's The Firebird.