Lady Of Horses (Hardcover)

Written about the Horse Goddess and a very powerful female character, she continues in the vain of her previous novel's, "White Mare's Daughter" and "The Shepherds Kings". Sparrow, an isolated, spiritual but strong female, is chosen by The Mare and is complelled to fulfill the destiny demanded by the Goddess to become a powerful Shaman and lead the Grey Horse People of her mother's tribe. Raised in a patriarchal society in the Tribe of the People, where men dominate and women are viewed as worthless and threatening, Sparrow must follow the Horse Goddess lead and learn the ancient lessons of the Gods. Set in the world of pre-historical times, the novel focuses on the physical and spiritual relationship between Humans, Gods and Horses. By daring to turn against the rules and demands of the men of her Tribe, Sparrow ultimately leds Tribes with different values and beliefs together. Through Sparrow's response to the Mare who has chosen her, Tarr leads the reader into the Tribe's world and the Spiritual World of the Horse Goddess. Characters arise from the pages of the book who are evil, wise, compassionate and loving. Walker, the People of the Tribe's powerful Shaman and brother of Sparrow, steals Sparrow's visions to control others in evil ways only to fulfill his desire to make the people do what he wishes and become the Maker of Kings. Keen, Walker's wife and best friend to Sparrow, becomes a strong and independant women with the aid of her friend and the will of the Horse Goddess. Then there's Wolfcub, who has always loved Sparrow secretly, but is bound by honor to return her to the Tribe after Sparrow rides the Mare away. Riding horses is an act forbidden to women by the Men of the Tribe and their Gods. And Old Women, a powerful Shaman who lives alone, she becomes the teacher and spiritual guide to a less then willing Sparrow. These four are but a few of the many characters in the story with which the readers becomes intimately involved.

Then there are the Horses. All aspects of the Horse world are brought intimately to life through Tarr's powerful, humorous and very real descriptions of their behavior, habits, relationships, and physical and spiritual nature. Readers become one with the horse, drawn into their world to the point of feeling the joy of riding on their broad and powerful backs, arousal at their definitive and playful courtships between Mare and Stallion, and understanding their thoughts, emotions and communication with the Humans that they allow the privilidge of being in their lives.

Don't start this book unless you have the ability to sit and read it straight through! As with many of Judith Tarr's novels, everyday life intrusions are as annoying as the flies that can torment the Horses. Lady of Horses is an all incompassing experience and it is with a sigh of both sadness and joy that you reach the final page and close the book. I never let go of a Judith Tarr Novel however, as this book, like her others are meant to past the test of time and be read and re-read for years to come.