To Ride the Gods' Own Stallion

by Diane Lee Wilson

Sold into slavery by his father for lacking courage, Soulai feels useless until his encounter with a beautiful stallion forces him to reconsider his strength and sends him down a path where he, despite the challenges he will face, will be able to fulfill his own destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Animals, Fiction, Young Adult

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 2, 2001

About the author

Diane Lee Wilson has always ridden horses and has an extensive collection of horse books in her home in Escondido, California. She is the author of Black Storm Comin', a Booklist Editors' Choice, a VOYA Top Shelf Fiction Pick, and a Book Links Lasting Connection, and Firehorse, which received a starred review in Booklist, is a Booklist Top Ten Mystery/Suspense for Youth, and a winner of the ALA Amelia Bloomer Project.

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ti, the gods' own stallion, is given a strange color -- patches of silver and gold, but definitely with a white tail, a white neck, and a white marking in the shape of a flying hawk. He has one blue eye and one gold eye.

Jesus Christ, writers -- just make the horse a bay or something normal, will ya? I'm getting sick to fuck of writers making up weird colors for their horses.

So, what color is he? My best guess is palomino pinto. So, why didn't Diane Lee Wilson just say so? Well, both "palomino" and "pinto" are Spanish words -- and this is set in the latter part of the Assyrian Empire. Spanish needs about another thousand years to come about.

There is a dog, a mastiff type, in this story who plays a key role, but he is under-used and there are a lot of unanswered questions about him.

Although this is an adventure story that gallops along, there are three really big problems:

1) Our Protagonist's family treat him like shit, even after he's done good
2) The violence, especially the death of animals, gets to be a bit much
3) There is no ending to the story -- it just ends.

This was an ambitious story, and the author clearly did a lot of research on the Assyrian Empire and the artwork it left behind, but falls short of the mark. I've been reading in another book that one of the Hebrew words for sin means "to fall short of the mark." So, this is a book that sins against the reader.

And also sins against Ti, since we never know what happens to him.

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really surprised this book is not more well read or even voted for any lists - I'm adding to a list for best horse books, and this is one of those rare horse books that I'm sure will appeal equally for boys as it would for girls. What boy can resist a lion hunt?

For older kids who love horses, this is a sure bet. The ancient Assyrian historical context is brilliant but not overwhelming. And the action is sizzling - the lion hunts!!!! Oh my gosh the lion hunts!!!! The boar hunt is pretty amazing, too.

Soulai is probably about 12 years old, and starts out as a fearful boy, ashamed and forever doubting himself. Even the noble stallion he cares for disdains him. But he perseveres, learning to face his fears as well as face some tough decisions. He's bound as a slave to Habasle, a spoiled, cruel young Assyrian prince. But the dynamics between the two boys is complicated and keeps you guessing the whole time.

What's also interesting is the journey of change the stallion, Ti, goes through alongside Soulai and the Prince. The Prince's prize hunting dog, Annakum, a mastiff, also plays an important role.

The ending is unexpected and challenging (and even a little tear-jerking) - but I cannot imagine any other ending. This is not just an adventure about two boys, a horse, a dog and a couple lions (and other wild creatures) - it's also got a lot of emotional and moral depth to it. It really gets you thinking: adults will enjoy this book too (I'm 40, and I loved it - I know I would have loved it as a kid, too).

I loved the unexpected allies: I'm not going to name them specifically (to avoid spoilers), but here's a list of all the main characters - some good, some evil, some you won't be sure of until almost the end!

Prince Habasle - one of many princes, he's only met his father the King once in his whole life
Mousidnou - master of the King's stables where Soulai works
Naboushoumidin - keeper of the King's library (over 200,000 clay tablets)
Soulassa - Soulai's older sister
Jahdunlim - a trader who also barters slaves
Ashipu - a high priest

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soulai is sold into slavery by a father who doesn't value him. Torn from his family, Soulai struggles with his new life as the property of Prince Habasle, caring for his horses. Ti is a stallion marked by the gods for greatness, but Habasle's carelessness and Soulai's cowardice may rob him of his birthright. Soulai struggles with palace intrigue and his own heart as he tries to find his true place in life.

[Kellyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unusual story is set in BC 640 in Nineveh. The main character, Soulai, a thirteen-year-old boy, is sold into slavery by his father. Soulai becomes a stable boy for the Crown Prince’s horses. One horse in the stable, Ti, is an unusually gifted stallion that the Prince nearly kills. Soulai protects Ti and ends up proving he is a courageous person.

Unusual setting and story.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, another one my son read. He said that he really really loved this book, more than some of the other historical fiction novels he read. Now that might be because we briefly studied ancient Assyria and that is when this takes place. But still, I was amazed that he liked it so much. I think I'll have to read it some day.

[Jen (bookscoffeedogs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading to the kids and really liked it. There are a few ass and damn words in it, but a fun read for kids. We are doing 6th grade history and it came with the program. I was even happy to have read it.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't care for this one quite as much as her first book, but it was a good storyline about friendship.

[Quin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this book was a pretty good book considering it was for school and an overall good story about the bond between a boy and a horse.