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The de Granville Trilogy #1
Blood Red Horse
You need three things to become a brave and noble knight:
A warhorse.
A fair maiden.
A just cause.
Will has a horse—a small chestnut stallion with a white blaze in his brow. Ellie is a fair maiden, but she’s supposed to marry Will’s older brother, Gavin. And as for the cause, King Richard is calling for a Crusade. The Knights of England must go to the Holy Land to fight.
Will and Gavin will go. Blood will be shed. Lives will be taken. But through it all, two things will be constant—Ellie, and a blood-red horse called Hosanna. . . .
Audio CD
First published February 1, 2004
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About the author
K.M. Grant
11 books57 followersK. M. GRANT was inspired by her own family history to write How the Hangman Lost His Heart. Her ancestor, Colonel Francis Towneley, or Uncle Frank, was the last man in Britain to by hanged, drawn, and quartered. His head was passed down for generations of her family until it was finally reunited with his body just after World War II, when it was buried at St. Peter’s Church. It was Uncle Frank’s colorful legacy that showed her how exciting history could be. K. M. Grant is also the author of the de Granville Trilogy. She lives in Scotland and works as a broadcaster and journalist.
She has recently published her first novel for adults as Katharine Grant. The separate name is to ensure the distinction between works appropriate for young audiences and works with adult material. For more information, see The History Girls: Naming myself, by Katharine Grant.
She has recently published her first novel for adults as Katharine Grant. The separate name is to ensure the distinction between works appropriate for young audiences and works with adult material. For more information, see The History Girls: Naming myself, by Katharine Grant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
July 5, 2007
Overall good, and a good message (hey, Muslims are people too! And you know war? What is it good for? I mean, aside from proving one's love to God/Allah/Baby Jesus? ABSOLUTLY NOOTHINGGG.) but a pretty tough read for the age intended (10+), and at times seemingly neverending... Or maybe it's just that one battle seems about the same to me as any other. Anyway, I never suspected I would like a book about the crusades, and I definitely never thought I would take interest in a book where a horse played such a central role, but I really got sucked in. It did what good books should, take you somewhere totally other, make you examine things you otherwise might not have (and in this case, I certainly wouldn't have). There's some really great imagery (how blood clashes with Hosanna's own coloring). Most of the powerful moral message shiz comes at the very end, so stick it out.
Not sure the rest of the trilogy is in my future. I don't think I have it in me. The book stands on it's own, anyway.
Not sure the rest of the trilogy is in my future. I don't think I have it in me. The book stands on it's own, anyway.
July 23, 2010
How about that cover! That cover had me at hello. With the crusaders coming on and the golden keyhole doorway? The title and tagline--"Two boys. One girl. The adventure of a lifetime"--didn't hurt either. I passed it on an endcap in a bookstore almost exactly four years ago. I actually completed an about face when I saw it, coming to a screeching halt to admire the general loveliness. The book came out in 2004, but it took me a couple of years to cotton onto it. I'll tell you one thing though--I didn't leave the bookstore that day without purchasing a copy. BLOOD RED HORSE is the first in the De Granville Trilogy written by Scottish author K.M. Grant. I love a good yarn set during the time of Richard the Lionheart and have run across few really excellent YA versions. This is one of them. Yet I don't think I've ever talked to anyone else who's read this book or the trilogy. It's a shame because it's well written, well researched, and equally appealing to boys and girls as it features such a strong trio of main characters and not a little fighting on the grand scale. When I first read it, the sequel Green Jasper had just come out and so I was able to scarf that one down immediately following this one. It was just as good as, and even more complex than the first.
Gavin and Will de Granville have been battling each other since they came into this world. As the elder brother, Gavin is heir to their father's lands and title and destined to be betrothed to Ellie. An orphan daughter of their father's friend (and an heiress in her own right), Ellie was raised alongside the brothers. She is best friends with easygoing Will and yet has known her whole life she would one day marry prickly Gavin. Taken together, the relationships between these three young people are complicated in the extreme. Then there is Will's horse Hosanna. Deep red in color, with an unusual white star on his forehead, this smallish warhorse captures Will's heart instantly and will be the instrument of bringing so many disparate lives together. When the Crusade enters the picture, another level of fear and uncertainty come into their lives. At seventeen, Will is knighted, Gavin and Ellie are officially betrothed, and the two boys set off with their father Sir Thomas on the adventure of a lifetime, leaving Ellie behind to manage their home at Hartslove and ensure it will still be around for them to return to. If they return at all. In their absence, Ellie learns quite a lot of things the hard way. Among them, the ability to write. And so she begins writing letters to Will, hoping they reach him and bring him some small measure of comfort in a foreign land so very far away.
Grant tells a ripping good story. A story of the two brothers who went away to war, of the girl they left behind, and of the wonderful warhorse Hosanna. Will and Ellie are only twelve when it begins, and Gavin just a couple of years older. But by the end the three have grown into adulthood and faced the kind of challenges and grief many people twice their age haven't handled. The chapters alternate between Gavin and Will's experiences in the Holy Land, Ellie's struggles at home in England, and the story of a young man named Kamil who is servant to the Saracen leader Saladin and who is destined to have his own encounter with the blood red horse. Because of this structure, the pace never gets tired, and I found myself always eager to find out what was happening on each front. For those of you who are not keen on talking animals or magical beings, never fear. Hosanna neither talks nor shifts nor casts any kind of spell on those around him but that of loyalty and steadfastness. He is certainly the glue that binds them together and he links the young men's different stories quite nicely. The love triangle exists as an undercurrent here, gaining much more momentum and richness in the next volume, which is my favorite. But I love that they are brothers and that the girl they have the good sense to love so much is worth it. Ellie is strong and good and she does what it takes to look after those in her care. She makes the hard decisions and she makes them after taking everything into account. And the brothers are somehow adversarial, unsure, outrageous, and true all at the same time. You think you know who they really are and then they surprise you. This is just a wonderful start to a beguiling trilogy set against a a fascinating and harrowing period of history. It deserves far more attention than it's gotten.
Reading Order: BLOOD RED HORSE, Green Jasper, and Blaze of Silver
Gavin and Will de Granville have been battling each other since they came into this world. As the elder brother, Gavin is heir to their father's lands and title and destined to be betrothed to Ellie. An orphan daughter of their father's friend (and an heiress in her own right), Ellie was raised alongside the brothers. She is best friends with easygoing Will and yet has known her whole life she would one day marry prickly Gavin. Taken together, the relationships between these three young people are complicated in the extreme. Then there is Will's horse Hosanna. Deep red in color, with an unusual white star on his forehead, this smallish warhorse captures Will's heart instantly and will be the instrument of bringing so many disparate lives together. When the Crusade enters the picture, another level of fear and uncertainty come into their lives. At seventeen, Will is knighted, Gavin and Ellie are officially betrothed, and the two boys set off with their father Sir Thomas on the adventure of a lifetime, leaving Ellie behind to manage their home at Hartslove and ensure it will still be around for them to return to. If they return at all. In their absence, Ellie learns quite a lot of things the hard way. Among them, the ability to write. And so she begins writing letters to Will, hoping they reach him and bring him some small measure of comfort in a foreign land so very far away.
Grant tells a ripping good story. A story of the two brothers who went away to war, of the girl they left behind, and of the wonderful warhorse Hosanna. Will and Ellie are only twelve when it begins, and Gavin just a couple of years older. But by the end the three have grown into adulthood and faced the kind of challenges and grief many people twice their age haven't handled. The chapters alternate between Gavin and Will's experiences in the Holy Land, Ellie's struggles at home in England, and the story of a young man named Kamil who is servant to the Saracen leader Saladin and who is destined to have his own encounter with the blood red horse. Because of this structure, the pace never gets tired, and I found myself always eager to find out what was happening on each front. For those of you who are not keen on talking animals or magical beings, never fear. Hosanna neither talks nor shifts nor casts any kind of spell on those around him but that of loyalty and steadfastness. He is certainly the glue that binds them together and he links the young men's different stories quite nicely. The love triangle exists as an undercurrent here, gaining much more momentum and richness in the next volume, which is my favorite. But I love that they are brothers and that the girl they have the good sense to love so much is worth it. Ellie is strong and good and she does what it takes to look after those in her care. She makes the hard decisions and she makes them after taking everything into account. And the brothers are somehow adversarial, unsure, outrageous, and true all at the same time. You think you know who they really are and then they surprise you. This is just a wonderful start to a beguiling trilogy set against a a fascinating and harrowing period of history. It deserves far more attention than it's gotten.
Reading Order: BLOOD RED HORSE, Green Jasper, and Blaze of Silver
July 9, 2014
I liked the idea of this book: a YA novel focusing on a young knight who accompanies Richard the Lionhearted on the Third Crusade. And it wasn't badly done, but wasn't very good either. The characters, with one exception, are flat and exactly what you would expect. The story lacks any drama, and feels more like Grant is ticking off boxes in the considerable historical research she has done. And uniting it all is the disturbing notion that one particular horse is more worthwhile than any of the people that we are following.
I had some trouble with a couple of historical details. There's a reference to the plumbing in the castle in England. To be fair, Grant does say that her research showed the existence of some plumbing in great houses at the time. Even so, it was very rare, and would be worth some extra comment. It seems to me that it would be an oddity that the characters would appreciate - something that sets them apart. There's also the question of literacy. It's fine to have the nearby monks be literate, but the Granvilles also have a servant named "Old Nurse" who tries to teach the boys to read and write. The chances of some wet nurse in 1100 being able to read and write were practically zero.
Later, the younger son gets really mad that the older boy has "read" a letter for him. Again, I don't buy it. Neither of them could read, and the author of the letter is aware of that. Thus, the writer would know that someone else would have to read the letter, and would avoid touching on stuff that was confidential or embarrassing. And the recipient would also know that the letter would have to be read by others, and thus would not get offended if someone else read it. The anger at reading a private letter assumes a whole system of familiarity with reading and writing letters that is way more modern than the times in this book.
On a more troubling note, the centerpiece of this book is the Third Crusade. As loathsome and venial as the Crusades were, at least many of the knights involved were genuinely and deeply religious. Grant doesn't manage to convey this sense of devotion. Thus, there is no feeling of some great loss or fall at the disillusionment that follows when our young hero sees the events unfold. Instead, mostly he worries about his horse.
I did like the character of Kamil. He's a muslim boy whose entire family was killed by a knight. He starts out entirely bent on revenge, and it seems at the start that he is the 12th century analogue of a contemporary jihadist. But, unlike anyone else, Grant moves this boy through an interesting development and he is definitely the most interesting, and the most sympathetic, character in the book.
Finally, I have to wonder about the name of the book. The horse, named Hosanna, is red. But Kamil once notices how the red of his coat actually clashes with the color of blood. It's a good name, but it's also clearly inappropriate.
I had some trouble with a couple of historical details. There's a reference to the plumbing in the castle in England. To be fair, Grant does say that her research showed the existence of some plumbing in great houses at the time. Even so, it was very rare, and would be worth some extra comment. It seems to me that it would be an oddity that the characters would appreciate - something that sets them apart. There's also the question of literacy. It's fine to have the nearby monks be literate, but the Granvilles also have a servant named "Old Nurse" who tries to teach the boys to read and write. The chances of some wet nurse in 1100 being able to read and write were practically zero.
Later, the younger son gets really mad that the older boy has "read" a letter for him. Again, I don't buy it. Neither of them could read, and the author of the letter is aware of that. Thus, the writer would know that someone else would have to read the letter, and would avoid touching on stuff that was confidential or embarrassing. And the recipient would also know that the letter would have to be read by others, and thus would not get offended if someone else read it. The anger at reading a private letter assumes a whole system of familiarity with reading and writing letters that is way more modern than the times in this book.
On a more troubling note, the centerpiece of this book is the Third Crusade. As loathsome and venial as the Crusades were, at least many of the knights involved were genuinely and deeply religious. Grant doesn't manage to convey this sense of devotion. Thus, there is no feeling of some great loss or fall at the disillusionment that follows when our young hero sees the events unfold. Instead, mostly he worries about his horse.
I did like the character of Kamil. He's a muslim boy whose entire family was killed by a knight. He starts out entirely bent on revenge, and it seems at the start that he is the 12th century analogue of a contemporary jihadist. But, unlike anyone else, Grant moves this boy through an interesting development and he is definitely the most interesting, and the most sympathetic, character in the book.
Finally, I have to wonder about the name of the book. The horse, named Hosanna, is red. But Kamil once notices how the red of his coat actually clashes with the color of blood. It's a good name, but it's also clearly inappropriate.
June 12, 2007
Okay. This book was awesome... but I have to say it's a very specific drama... or at least it's not really going to hit all readers. If you like horses, you'll like this book. If you like history, especially English history, even more specifically history about the crusades, you like this book. When it all comes down to it, that's really what this book is about. But even if you aren't interested in those things, I must say you should really give this book a chance, because it was excellent.
The characters were all interesting and especially well developed. Some actions the characters commit may not seem believable at face value, but Grant has written it so you see why they are committing these actions... and you believe it, and maybe even agree with it.
The story also has a bit of poinancy right now because of what's going on in the Middle East. For me I think it better understands where many of the Muslims are coming from, thought-wise, and kind of got me thinking about how much our Christian values have changed... have their values changed? I love when a book makes you do that... makes you think.
One thing I would have liked to see more of was the relationships between Ellie and Will and Ellie and Gavin. I think those were shoved aside but seemed like they were meant to be dwelt upon more. But the relationship nearly every character had with the horse Hosanna made up for it. It's amazing and true how one extraordinary animal can change the hearts and minds of men so much. Even the reader finds themself falling in love with this horse, and worrying whether it will survive, or if it will heel, or what will happen to it next! Don't read this book if you stress out really easily. Lol, just kidding.
Seriously, when this book comes out, get it! It was an awesome read that was well worth it.
The characters were all interesting and especially well developed. Some actions the characters commit may not seem believable at face value, but Grant has written it so you see why they are committing these actions... and you believe it, and maybe even agree with it.
The story also has a bit of poinancy right now because of what's going on in the Middle East. For me I think it better understands where many of the Muslims are coming from, thought-wise, and kind of got me thinking about how much our Christian values have changed... have their values changed? I love when a book makes you do that... makes you think.
One thing I would have liked to see more of was the relationships between Ellie and Will and Ellie and Gavin. I think those were shoved aside but seemed like they were meant to be dwelt upon more. But the relationship nearly every character had with the horse Hosanna made up for it. It's amazing and true how one extraordinary animal can change the hearts and minds of men so much. Even the reader finds themself falling in love with this horse, and worrying whether it will survive, or if it will heel, or what will happen to it next! Don't read this book if you stress out really easily. Lol, just kidding.
Seriously, when this book comes out, get it! It was an awesome read that was well worth it.
September 12, 2014
Originally posted here.
I became curious about Blood Red Horse by K.M. Grant back when Angie did a Retro Friday review of it. It seemed like a very interesting, under-the-radar historical fiction novel. I was delighted when I found a bargain copy of it in one of the used bookstores in Manila. I thought the cover looked great and I liked the gold accents in the design. That copy has been patiently waiting in my TBR pile for years. Since I’ve been trying to be better about reading books that I have physical copies of, I picked it up when I was in the mood for historical fiction.
Blood Red Horse is set in the time period when Richard the Lionheart serves as the king of England and he leads his men on a crusade against the Muslim leader Saladin. To be perfectly honest, I know next to nothing about this part of history because it wasn’t included in the curriculum in schools back home in the Philippines. It doesn’t really matter since I was able to enjoy reading Blood Red Horse even though I’m not familiar with the historical setting of the book. I liked how the book starts with Ellie, Will and Gavin as young children and how we see them grow and develop throughout the course of the book. More so in the boys’ case as they march off to join the crusade with their father. The boys were thoroughly excited to be knights of the crusade, not knowing that war is such a bleak and miserable business. Ellie was left at home but she was destined to have adventures of her own.
Even at a young age, Will has the skills that make him a fine horseman. When he is finally permitted to choose a Great Horse, he sees something special in Hosanna, and immediately knows that he’s meant to have that particular horse even if Hosanna wasn't exactly meant to be a warhorse. With the title of the book being Blood Red Horse, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me that majority of the story focuses on Hosanna and how the horse influences everyone who gets to know him. However, I thought it was a bit strange how fixated everyone was on Hosanna. I understood Will’s fascination because Hosanna becomes his reliable and faithful companion for years, but everyone else that comes in contact with Hosanna? I just thought it was a bit much for a non-magical horse. (If Hosanna had magic, I think it would have made more sense why he inspires such strong emotions in people.)
I’m usually not a fan of stories about war and true enough, I didn’t really enjoy the passages that centered around the crusade because I found it such a sad experience for the boys and everyone involved. As expected, there's some violence in there but in an understated way. What I did like was how readers get to see two sides of the war, instead of being biased towards one side. They may disagree about their faith/religion but both leaders of the two groups, Richard and Saladin, see the other person as a brave and worthy opponent. As a result, there’s no clear villain in the story. What we have instead is two groups of people fighting for what they believe in. As I mentioned earlier, I also liked the character development of Ellie, Will and Gavin and I’m really curious what the next books will have in store for them. While I didn’t fall in love with Blood Red Horse, I did think it deserves more attention than it’s currently gotten. If you’re a fan of the historical period of Richard the Lionheart's reign or of stories about horses, then I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this book.
I became curious about Blood Red Horse by K.M. Grant back when Angie did a Retro Friday review of it. It seemed like a very interesting, under-the-radar historical fiction novel. I was delighted when I found a bargain copy of it in one of the used bookstores in Manila. I thought the cover looked great and I liked the gold accents in the design. That copy has been patiently waiting in my TBR pile for years. Since I’ve been trying to be better about reading books that I have physical copies of, I picked it up when I was in the mood for historical fiction.
Blood Red Horse is set in the time period when Richard the Lionheart serves as the king of England and he leads his men on a crusade against the Muslim leader Saladin. To be perfectly honest, I know next to nothing about this part of history because it wasn’t included in the curriculum in schools back home in the Philippines. It doesn’t really matter since I was able to enjoy reading Blood Red Horse even though I’m not familiar with the historical setting of the book. I liked how the book starts with Ellie, Will and Gavin as young children and how we see them grow and develop throughout the course of the book. More so in the boys’ case as they march off to join the crusade with their father. The boys were thoroughly excited to be knights of the crusade, not knowing that war is such a bleak and miserable business. Ellie was left at home but she was destined to have adventures of her own.
Even at a young age, Will has the skills that make him a fine horseman. When he is finally permitted to choose a Great Horse, he sees something special in Hosanna, and immediately knows that he’s meant to have that particular horse even if Hosanna wasn't exactly meant to be a warhorse. With the title of the book being Blood Red Horse, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me that majority of the story focuses on Hosanna and how the horse influences everyone who gets to know him. However, I thought it was a bit strange how fixated everyone was on Hosanna. I understood Will’s fascination because Hosanna becomes his reliable and faithful companion for years, but everyone else that comes in contact with Hosanna? I just thought it was a bit much for a non-magical horse. (If Hosanna had magic, I think it would have made more sense why he inspires such strong emotions in people.)
I’m usually not a fan of stories about war and true enough, I didn’t really enjoy the passages that centered around the crusade because I found it such a sad experience for the boys and everyone involved. As expected, there's some violence in there but in an understated way. What I did like was how readers get to see two sides of the war, instead of being biased towards one side. They may disagree about their faith/religion but both leaders of the two groups, Richard and Saladin, see the other person as a brave and worthy opponent. As a result, there’s no clear villain in the story. What we have instead is two groups of people fighting for what they believe in. As I mentioned earlier, I also liked the character development of Ellie, Will and Gavin and I’m really curious what the next books will have in store for them. While I didn’t fall in love with Blood Red Horse, I did think it deserves more attention than it’s currently gotten. If you’re a fan of the historical period of Richard the Lionheart's reign or of stories about horses, then I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this book.
April 4, 2017
HOSANNA IS A MARY SUE.
When I read this book as a young teenager it traumatized me. Now it's kind of hard to see why I had that reaction. Because people like... change over time? Gasp. Because not all "happy endings" are clear-cut and 100% pure joy? I honestly don't know. It doesn't seem all that traumatizing now. "Bittersweet" is as far as I would go, probably.
I still loved this book a lot, though. Listen. I love the crusades so much. The Third Crusade in particular is my specific weakness, and so many of the good things are here:
In conclusion: hell yeah.
Personally, I would have preferred to see some more of the Conrad of Montferrat vs. Richard vs. Comnenus vs. Philip IImoronic shenanigans political struggles, BUT the adventures of Will, Gavin and the Manic Pixie Dream Horse are pretty entertaining too. While I am really invested in how Will and Gavin's relationship evolves over time... I also find it pretty hard to forgive Gavin for his actions in the earlier half of the book. What an absolute twit.
I also think it's pretty funny that the book wants us to believe Richard was magnanimously writing letters bestowing honors upon his faithful crusaders while in Leopold's prison. Like, maybe he was? I certainly never met Richard the Lionheart. But also... like... really? The dude was King of England and spent like 6 months total of his life in England. Sounds like an attentive monarch to me, right?
Anyway. I'm excited to go on to the sequel because nobody except Robin Hood ever writes the story of what happens after the crusade ends. I'm READY.
When I read this book as a young teenager it traumatized me. Now it's kind of hard to see why I had that reaction. Because people like... change over time? Gasp. Because not all "happy endings" are clear-cut and 100% pure joy? I honestly don't know. It doesn't seem all that traumatizing now. "Bittersweet" is as far as I would go, probably.
I still loved this book a lot, though. Listen. I love the crusades so much. The Third Crusade in particular is my specific weakness, and so many of the good things are here:
• multi-faceted and complex POVs from both sides of the war
• the siege of Acre
• a Battle of Hattin cameo
• the fact that literally everyone, Christian and Muslim, has a crush on Saladin
• the Hashashin!
• the overwhelming (yet somehow constantly ignored) fact that the crusaders were never going to "win" in any lasting way
• Richard I "Coeur de Lion" -- or as I like to refer to him "the jock version of Saladin" -- Angevin
• gotta love all that infighting
• the all-pervasive (yet ALSO somehow constantly ignored) conflict between the crusaders' actual actions and the religious principles that were supposed to lay behind them
In conclusion: hell yeah.
Personally, I would have preferred to see some more of the Conrad of Montferrat vs. Richard vs. Comnenus vs. Philip II
I also think it's pretty funny that the book wants us to believe Richard was magnanimously writing letters bestowing honors upon his faithful crusaders while in Leopold's prison. Like, maybe he was? I certainly never met Richard the Lionheart. But also... like... really? The dude was King of England and spent like 6 months total of his life in England. Sounds like an attentive monarch to me, right?
Anyway. I'm excited to go on to the sequel because nobody except Robin Hood ever writes the story of what happens after the crusade ends. I'm READY.
February 23, 2010
This adventurous book is about the journey of two brothers, Gavin and Will de Granville, their father, Sir Thomas de Granville of Hartslove, and a horse, Hosanna. It takes place in the third installment of the Crusades. It starts when Gavin and Will are young, and Will (the younger of the two brothers) is finally able to choose his very own stallion. The young men soon fight in the Holy War led by King Richard the Lionheart. The journey to the Holy Land is tough and harsh; knights and horses lose their lives along the way. After a two year Crusade, the two brothers return home to find that things are not how they left them. Gavin finds that the steward who was left in charge was trying to seize control of the estate, so they release him of his duties. Will is made an earl and Gavin becomes a count and marries Ellie, to whom he was betrothed.
Tweens and adults alike can relate to this book in one way or another because at one time or another everyone has felt like an outcast. Hosanna the horse is the unsung hero of the story. Gavin and other trainers considered Hosanna an outcast because he was smaller than other stallions and seemed incapable of carrying out a horse's duties, but Will sees something special in Hosanna. It isn't until a jousting tournament that the people realize exactly what Hosanna is capable of accomplishing. Tween, as well as almost anyone, can relate to being underestimated and then proving people wrong when they come through with flying colors.
Tweens and adults alike can relate to this book in one way or another because at one time or another everyone has felt like an outcast. Hosanna the horse is the unsung hero of the story. Gavin and other trainers considered Hosanna an outcast because he was smaller than other stallions and seemed incapable of carrying out a horse's duties, but Will sees something special in Hosanna. It isn't until a jousting tournament that the people realize exactly what Hosanna is capable of accomplishing. Tween, as well as almost anyone, can relate to being underestimated and then proving people wrong when they come through with flying colors.
October 25, 2014
Over all I did not enjoy reading this book. I thought the language was was way to rich and thick for this type of book. I'm not one hundred percent sure if I read it right or maybe I just need to try it again. When I read it we had to write a sticky note for every single page of the book, It destroyed its chances of become a good book in my eyes. But the first time I read it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Overall my high expectations of this book were not reached nor in the ballpark of my expectations.
November 10, 2008
This book was amazing. I was clinging to it, barely willing to put it down for any reason. It was suspensful, amazingly written, and I connected with the characters.
April 10, 2011
Worst. Book. Ever. Lit teachers wouldn't know a good book if I throw it at their faces!
October 28, 2019
It was a great story with great characters. The first book involving a horse that I loved. However, i deducted one star because I felt it was too drawn out and could have been told quicker.
September 19, 2019
its a good book and it sets place in the dark ages.
January 28, 2023
The worst book I ever read.
February 18, 2019
A more tame version of Game of Thrones but equally compelling.
It’s brilliant. It includes an incredible message about empathy and morality. The character arcs are sublime. There was not one character I disliked reading about, even Gavin who was a bit of a bully. It was such a real, believable story I felt like I was falling into the book. This book can actually be left as a stand alone, and I thought it was but I’m very excited to read the other two!
It’s brilliant. It includes an incredible message about empathy and morality. The character arcs are sublime. There was not one character I disliked reading about, even Gavin who was a bit of a bully. It was such a real, believable story I felt like I was falling into the book. This book can actually be left as a stand alone, and I thought it was but I’m very excited to read the other two!
May 15, 2014
Okay, before I proceed to explain why I gave this book only two stars, I would like to make it clear that the de Granville Trilogy as a whole is absolutely fantastic, and definitely worth your time if you're into heroic fantasy/ historical fiction (or horses)!
However, "Blood Red Horse" by itself isn't that great... Let me explain.
It's too "fast" One of the main problems with this book is that it covers a relatively long time period (from 1185 to 1193) in just 200-something pages. As a result, the way the events are described turns out being superficial - the author barely touches on the important events in the characters lives, and the book doesn't really immerse you in its plot or its world, making it very difficult for you to connect emotionally to any of the characters. So, when one of the characters dies, you hardly feel anything.
The horse I really couldn't understand what was the big deal with the horse, Hosanna, who was described as having almost magical/divine properties. Now, I'm completely cool with that - animals with heightened spiritual qualities are definitely a great addition to any fantasy/historical novel - but the problem is that you don't actually feel the horse's power while reading the book. The author doesn't do a very good job telling us what makes the horse so special. Or maybe I just don't know anything about horses.
Will and Gavin As I mentioned earlier, the characters in this novel are rather underdeveloped - the two main ones especially. Will is your classic, archetypical hero that is 100% good and never, ever does anything wrong. Gavin is his foil - a bully that always gets in trouble and can't do anything right. Both Will and Gavin's respective qualities are exaggerated to the point where the characters no longer seem human.
Kamil Kamil is pretty much the Muslim version of Will - a hero with noble intentions, albeit a little more bloodthirsty.
No central conflict Unlike the next two books in the trilogy, there is no central conflict in this book to unite all of the described events into a single coherent novel. Will, Kamil, and Ellie experience some minor conflicts throughout the book, but they didn't seem to connect to one another very well, and there was no buildup or satisfying climax - it's just a rather bland description of what happens to Will, Gavin, and Kamil on crusade.
Despite my disappointment with this particular book, I must absolutely recommend it for one reason - the next two installments are absolutely thrilling! So, please, just try to survive this one - the next two are really worth it! Trust me. You won't regret it!
However, "Blood Red Horse" by itself isn't that great... Let me explain.
It's too "fast" One of the main problems with this book is that it covers a relatively long time period (from 1185 to 1193) in just 200-something pages. As a result, the way the events are described turns out being superficial - the author barely touches on the important events in the characters lives, and the book doesn't really immerse you in its plot or its world, making it very difficult for you to connect emotionally to any of the characters. So, when one of the characters dies, you hardly feel anything.
The horse I really couldn't understand what was the big deal with the horse, Hosanna, who was described as having almost magical/divine properties. Now, I'm completely cool with that - animals with heightened spiritual qualities are definitely a great addition to any fantasy/historical novel - but the problem is that you don't actually feel the horse's power while reading the book. The author doesn't do a very good job telling us what makes the horse so special. Or maybe I just don't know anything about horses.
Will and Gavin As I mentioned earlier, the characters in this novel are rather underdeveloped - the two main ones especially. Will is your classic, archetypical hero that is 100% good and never, ever does anything wrong. Gavin is his foil - a bully that always gets in trouble and can't do anything right. Both Will and Gavin's respective qualities are exaggerated to the point where the characters no longer seem human.
Kamil Kamil is pretty much the Muslim version of Will - a hero with noble intentions, albeit a little more bloodthirsty.
No central conflict Unlike the next two books in the trilogy, there is no central conflict in this book to unite all of the described events into a single coherent novel. Will, Kamil, and Ellie experience some minor conflicts throughout the book, but they didn't seem to connect to one another very well, and there was no buildup or satisfying climax - it's just a rather bland description of what happens to Will, Gavin, and Kamil on crusade.
Despite my disappointment with this particular book, I must absolutely recommend it for one reason - the next two installments are absolutely thrilling! So, please, just try to survive this one - the next two are really worth it! Trust me. You won't regret it!
December 3, 2007
William and Gavin de Granville are adolescent brothers who live in Hartslove castle in England. Destined for knighthood, they both love riding horses and have natural competition between them. When William, the younger of the two, finally gets the chance to choose a Great Horse—a horse used in battle (Gavin already has one named Montlouis)—he ends up choosing a beautiful smaller horse instead. Everyone is shocked by this decision, as William has wanted a proper battle horse forever. However, Hosanna, as this horse is named, is not quite the typical horse and everyone begins to feel a special bond with him.
Soon, William, Gavin, and their father Sir Thomas must leave behind sweet and mischievous Ellie (who is to marry Gavin when they��re older yet gets along better with William) to join King Richard I on the Third Crusade. They battle the Muslim leader Saladin and one of his young emirs named Kamil. Kamil manages to steal the magnificent Hosanna because he is so beautiful and renames him Red Horse. Later Kamil realizes that Hosanna isn’t the typical horse (just as William had realized).
Blood Red Horse is the first book in the de Granville Trilogy. The author shows the reader how futile war is as she shows us the parallel lives of the de Granville boys and Kamil. The unique link between them all is Hosanna, the Blood Red Horse.
Soon, William, Gavin, and their father Sir Thomas must leave behind sweet and mischievous Ellie (who is to marry Gavin when they��re older yet gets along better with William) to join King Richard I on the Third Crusade. They battle the Muslim leader Saladin and one of his young emirs named Kamil. Kamil manages to steal the magnificent Hosanna because he is so beautiful and renames him Red Horse. Later Kamil realizes that Hosanna isn’t the typical horse (just as William had realized).
Blood Red Horse is the first book in the de Granville Trilogy. The author shows the reader how futile war is as she shows us the parallel lives of the de Granville boys and Kamil. The unique link between them all is Hosanna, the Blood Red Horse.
June 9, 2008
First in a trilogy set in 12th century England, this book introduces us to the de Granville brothers, William and his older brother Gavin, and the girl, Ellie, who has grown up in their household after her parents died. Ellie comes from a rich family, and is expected to marry Gavin--but she is better friends with William. It's also the story of a brilliant red horse named Hosanna, who becomes William's battle horse when he is knighted and sent off on Crusade to Jerusalem. Very good historical novel about honor, and war, and love--and horses. Hosanna is a spectacular horse, and even spends time as the mount of a "Saracen" or Muslim soldier in the battles. The crusades are depicted very realistically, with lots of horrific action and inaction, too, as they wait months for supplies or ships to arrive, etc. William and Gavin are headstrong and have a lot to learn as they become soldiers. I can't wait to read book two!
July 31, 2010
I read this book while I was going through grad school, and I absolutely loved it! It's the first part of a trilogy called the DeGranville Trilogy. I love a good Historical Fiction novel, and this one is set during the Crusades: Will has a horse—a small chestnut stallion with a white blaze in his brow. Ellie is a fair maiden, but she’s supposed to marry Will’s older brother, Gavin. And as for the cause, King Richard is calling for a Crusade. The Knights of England must go to the Holy Land to fight. Will and Gavin will go. Blood will be shed. Lives will be taken. But through it all, two things will be constant—Ellie, and a blood-red horse called Hosanna. . . .
December 9, 2013
For once, a book lives up to its billing. It's a grand adventure that takes place during the time of the Crusades. It's advertised for middle school students and it truly is. There are deep moral questions but also exciting battles, which are too vivid for younger children. Horse lovers will find a lot to love in this story. This is the kind of book that you remember for a long time, and would lend itself well to classroom discussions. I can imagine that if I had read it as a child, I would still remember specific scenes. A great choice for anyone who likes historical fiction or anyone who needs to be introduced to the joys of historical fiction.
Read
September 19, 2019*Spoilers* This is Not my work Nor do i own this Blood Red Horse (2004), a young adult historical novel by K.M. Grant and the first in the De Granville Trilogy, tells the story of several children growing up in the late twelfth century as the Crusades sweep them into conflict and adventure. It was followed by the books Green Jasper and Blaze of Silver.
The story opens at the estate of Sir Thomas de Granville in England, where his sons, Gavin and his younger brother William, and their ward the orphaned Eleanor live. Eleanor’s mother died in childbirth; Eleanor has already been betrothed to Gavin. She is, however, much closer to Will. The brothers, at odds with each other, always compete; Gavin, being older and stronger, usually wins, once even throwing Will into the horse trough. Will is sensitive to animals and loves horses.
Will, who wishes to defeat his brother in horsemanship, gains permission from his father to find a better horse. Will goes with the family’s groom, Hal, and Sir Walter, who watches over the boys, to find a new horse. Will is presented with two choices: A fine bay horse and an unusual red horse with a white star on its forehead. The red horse, Hosanna, is difficult and spirited, throwing Will off a few times; he is also undersized for a warhorse. However, when Will rides Hosanna, he feels a strange connection to the animal, and so he selects him. Will and Gavin joust on their horses, and for the first time Will wins. Hosanna proves to be quite formidable despite his small stature. Gavin and Will share a moment of affection as Gavin tells Will he will soon leave to fight and that Will must watch out for their home and take care of Ellie.
Two years go by and Gavin returns from the Queen’s service. He goes out fox hunting, treating his horses brutally, wearing them out, and injuring them. Despite protests from Will, who is resting Hosanna after a lot of work, Gavin takes him on the hunt and runs him too hard, injuring Hosanna. Sir Thomas orders Will to hand Hosanna over to the monks for care; while the horse is recuperating there, one of the monks notices the same mental and spiritual connection that Will did. When Hosanna is healed, he is brought back to Will.
We are introduced to Kamil, a young Muslim boy in the Holy Land. Kamil’s father was killed during an earlier crusade, and Kamil wishes to take revenge on the man who killed him.
In England, more time passes. When Will is seventeen, his brother Gavin, who has become a strong warrior, is hastily married to Ellie although they have no feelings for each other. This upsets Will, who does have feelings for Ellie. Gavin and Will’s father announces that King Richard, known as Lionheart, has declared a new crusade to take back the Holy Land and that he and his sons will take part. Will and Ellie have an emotional farewell; Will asks her to watch over the horses while he is gone.
Gavin, Will, and Sir Thomas travel by sea. Will is assigned to take care of the horses. Gavin is separated; when the family is reunited, Will becomes very ill. His father prays that if anyone must die pointlessly, it should be himself. Gavin brings Hosanna to see Will, and the next day Will has made a miraculous recovery—but Sir Thomas is found dead. When the boys join the crusader army, Will is chosen to lead the charge because Hosanna’s reputation precedes them, but when the time comes, the horse won’t move.
Kamil is also at the battle, fighting madly. When he sees Hosanna, he feels a strange attraction to the horse. He fights his way very close to where Will and Hosanna are, but cannot quite get there. Later, Kamil is lectured by the Muslim leader Saladin for his bloodlust.
Despite a letter from Ellie to Will assuring him that everything is fine at home, Ellie has problems. The constable in charge of the estate while the family is away, de Scabious, has less-than honorable intentions towards her. He spies on her while she learns to read and write from a kind monk Brother Ranulf, and accuses the monk of an inappropriate relationship with the married girl.
At the crusades, Will and Gavin are surrounded by Kamil and his men. A fight ensues; Gavin is wounded and his horse killed. Kamil takes Hosanna from Will and rides off. Kamil meets with another Muslim who agrees with his desire to kill all the Christians in revenge for his father’s death. Kamil is introduced to a conspiracy to assassinate Saladin, who is seen as too just and merciful towards the Christians. Kamil attempts to follow through with this plan, but as it turns out, Saladin knows of the plot and has Kamil’s co-conspirators killed.
Gavin’s arm is amputated due to his injury. King Richard offers two plans to his knights, but before a decision can be made, they spot a civilian caravan in the distance. The knights raid the caravan and steal everything, leaving the people with nothing. At home in England, Constable de Scabious tells Ellie that Gavin and Will are dead, and that she will now marry him. Saladin, a man of honor, orders Kamil to return ten horses, including Hosanna, to the Christians; Kamil reluctantly agrees.
During the battle the next day, King Richard’s horse is killed under him, and Will offers the king Hosanna. As the king rides off, Hosanna is shot with an arrow. The battle miraculously stops as all the soldiers, aware of how special Hosanna is, stare in horror. Gavin, Will, Kamil, and Richard gather around Hosanna and pray; Hosanna finds the strength to crawl. They help the horse from the battlefield. King Richard offers a salve to help the horse’s wound. Gavin and Will take a recovered Hosanna home.
The story opens at the estate of Sir Thomas de Granville in England, where his sons, Gavin and his younger brother William, and their ward the orphaned Eleanor live. Eleanor’s mother died in childbirth; Eleanor has already been betrothed to Gavin. She is, however, much closer to Will. The brothers, at odds with each other, always compete; Gavin, being older and stronger, usually wins, once even throwing Will into the horse trough. Will is sensitive to animals and loves horses.
Will, who wishes to defeat his brother in horsemanship, gains permission from his father to find a better horse. Will goes with the family’s groom, Hal, and Sir Walter, who watches over the boys, to find a new horse. Will is presented with two choices: A fine bay horse and an unusual red horse with a white star on its forehead. The red horse, Hosanna, is difficult and spirited, throwing Will off a few times; he is also undersized for a warhorse. However, when Will rides Hosanna, he feels a strange connection to the animal, and so he selects him. Will and Gavin joust on their horses, and for the first time Will wins. Hosanna proves to be quite formidable despite his small stature. Gavin and Will share a moment of affection as Gavin tells Will he will soon leave to fight and that Will must watch out for their home and take care of Ellie.
Two years go by and Gavin returns from the Queen’s service. He goes out fox hunting, treating his horses brutally, wearing them out, and injuring them. Despite protests from Will, who is resting Hosanna after a lot of work, Gavin takes him on the hunt and runs him too hard, injuring Hosanna. Sir Thomas orders Will to hand Hosanna over to the monks for care; while the horse is recuperating there, one of the monks notices the same mental and spiritual connection that Will did. When Hosanna is healed, he is brought back to Will.
We are introduced to Kamil, a young Muslim boy in the Holy Land. Kamil’s father was killed during an earlier crusade, and Kamil wishes to take revenge on the man who killed him.
In England, more time passes. When Will is seventeen, his brother Gavin, who has become a strong warrior, is hastily married to Ellie although they have no feelings for each other. This upsets Will, who does have feelings for Ellie. Gavin and Will’s father announces that King Richard, known as Lionheart, has declared a new crusade to take back the Holy Land and that he and his sons will take part. Will and Ellie have an emotional farewell; Will asks her to watch over the horses while he is gone.
Gavin, Will, and Sir Thomas travel by sea. Will is assigned to take care of the horses. Gavin is separated; when the family is reunited, Will becomes very ill. His father prays that if anyone must die pointlessly, it should be himself. Gavin brings Hosanna to see Will, and the next day Will has made a miraculous recovery—but Sir Thomas is found dead. When the boys join the crusader army, Will is chosen to lead the charge because Hosanna’s reputation precedes them, but when the time comes, the horse won’t move.
Kamil is also at the battle, fighting madly. When he sees Hosanna, he feels a strange attraction to the horse. He fights his way very close to where Will and Hosanna are, but cannot quite get there. Later, Kamil is lectured by the Muslim leader Saladin for his bloodlust.
Despite a letter from Ellie to Will assuring him that everything is fine at home, Ellie has problems. The constable in charge of the estate while the family is away, de Scabious, has less-than honorable intentions towards her. He spies on her while she learns to read and write from a kind monk Brother Ranulf, and accuses the monk of an inappropriate relationship with the married girl.
At the crusades, Will and Gavin are surrounded by Kamil and his men. A fight ensues; Gavin is wounded and his horse killed. Kamil takes Hosanna from Will and rides off. Kamil meets with another Muslim who agrees with his desire to kill all the Christians in revenge for his father’s death. Kamil is introduced to a conspiracy to assassinate Saladin, who is seen as too just and merciful towards the Christians. Kamil attempts to follow through with this plan, but as it turns out, Saladin knows of the plot and has Kamil’s co-conspirators killed.
Gavin’s arm is amputated due to his injury. King Richard offers two plans to his knights, but before a decision can be made, they spot a civilian caravan in the distance. The knights raid the caravan and steal everything, leaving the people with nothing. At home in England, Constable de Scabious tells Ellie that Gavin and Will are dead, and that she will now marry him. Saladin, a man of honor, orders Kamil to return ten horses, including Hosanna, to the Christians; Kamil reluctantly agrees.
During the battle the next day, King Richard’s horse is killed under him, and Will offers the king Hosanna. As the king rides off, Hosanna is shot with an arrow. The battle miraculously stops as all the soldiers, aware of how special Hosanna is, stare in horror. Gavin, Will, Kamil, and Richard gather around Hosanna and pray; Hosanna finds the strength to crawl. They help the horse from the battlefield. King Richard offers a salve to help the horse’s wound. Gavin and Will take a recovered Hosanna home.
June 28, 2007
This book isn't as beautifully written as some YA fiction, but that said, the author skillfully and naturally worked in lots of great words like "chivied" (I'm always on the look out for good vocabulary) and the story is compelling. My favorite aspect of the book is the way the author presented both sides of the third crusade fairly and without creating good guys or bad guys. As a middle school teacher, I also like the fact that the author's representaion of the fighting over the Holy Land between Muslims and Christians provides a great way to discuss the political climate in today's world.
July 9, 2008
Well written and fast paced. But I got the impression that the author was telling us there were more paths to God then through Christ alone? Didn't Jesus say "I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me"? Definitely not a "Christian" book, but an interesting historical read all the same.
March 13, 2012
This book easily goes down as the worst book I have ever read and probably ever will read. I forced my way through half of it and quit because I had had homework passes and didn't have to do the accompanying assignment. I do not recommend this book to anyone who would like to keep their brain cells. I feel horrible for writing such a horrible review, but it is my honest opinion.
August 2, 2007
Words cannot express how much I love, love, love this book.
September 18, 2022
so technically i never read this HOWEVER i still got a 90% on the test. (sry for the hardcore flex) ANYWAYS it was so bad!! do not read.
December 20, 2023
Blood Red Horse is a book about war, brotherhood, and a horse. It takes place during the third crusade and shifts in perspective between 4 main characters: Will, Ellie, Gavin, and Kamil and the plot largely revolves around the strength provided by Will's horse, Hosanna, the red horse the book is titled after.
One of the best things the book handles is its neutral perspective as to who is right or wrong within the Crusades. While it is mainly centered around the Christian battles and efforts, it follows the perspective of a Saracen emir, Kamil, who has a well-written character development arc. Through his perspective, we see the brutality of war and the path that hate-driven vengeance can take you down. Despite this, we also see the humanity on both sides of a war and the human characteristics shared even by enemies on the battlefield.
It also highlights that even though war is violent and bloody, there exists a difference between senseless killing and their respective causes while highlighting the natures of both Saladin and Richard, who are known for respecting each other's strength even though they were opposing leaders in the war. The book also highlights the pain caused by war and the brutality involved. It was also interesting to see the thought process behind battle decisions, and I wish this were covered more in-depth.
Another important subject the book tackles is the lack of power held by women, demonstrated by Ellie's perspective where despite her wealth and ownership of land, she is left with very few options regarding her future. While this sounds great in theory, in execution Ellie seems to spend most of her time crying to her Old Nurse while waiting for someone else to resolve this for her. Maybe this is better addressed in the next book which I assume she plays more of a role in.
Another place I felt the book was lacking was in Gavin's development. From the beginning, he was a hard-to-like character and it seemed like everything in his life had been given to him because he was the eldest son. On multiple occasions in the book, he shows terrible character and repetitively makes bad decisions while we are expected to feel pity for him when he regrets decisions he continues to make. Even toward the end when his supposed redemption arc begins, I found it hard to change my opinion of him when he continued to act pitiful and there was no justification for why he continued to be favored when he had done little of consequence leading up to then. This especially confused me when it came to the ending as I find it hard to understand the decisions that were made.
As for Will, his character almost exclusively revolved around his horse, and other than his devotion to his horse not much else was highlighted. I was a little disappointed by this as I felt he had a lot of potential to be a well-written in-depth character. It seemed like he was given every good quality while his brother was given all the bad ones, yet this ended up not making much of a difference in how it played out. He seems almost too good to be true and I would have liked to see some depth to the character. With how much he despised his brother in the beginning, it would have been interesting to see if he struggled with a bit of jealousy, or maybe even resentment of his father for not standing up for him. Granted, he was a child for most of the book and his perspective was easily the most fleshed out, even if it was a little reliant on his horse for him to have a personality.
Overall, I think it was a good read and I enjoyed the way it made me think about the way war affects those who experience it and about how I think about historical events given that people were living through these times. While I wish there was better depth to the characters, the overall messages and themes of the book were handled well and I think it serves what it was intended to do.
Song: Solider, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos
Not only does the song have religious undertones as the book does, but the horse, Hasanna, acts as all three and I believe he is meant to represent a Christ Figure.
One of the best things the book handles is its neutral perspective as to who is right or wrong within the Crusades. While it is mainly centered around the Christian battles and efforts, it follows the perspective of a Saracen emir, Kamil, who has a well-written character development arc. Through his perspective, we see the brutality of war and the path that hate-driven vengeance can take you down. Despite this, we also see the humanity on both sides of a war and the human characteristics shared even by enemies on the battlefield.
It also highlights that even though war is violent and bloody, there exists a difference between senseless killing and their respective causes while highlighting the natures of both Saladin and Richard, who are known for respecting each other's strength even though they were opposing leaders in the war. The book also highlights the pain caused by war and the brutality involved. It was also interesting to see the thought process behind battle decisions, and I wish this were covered more in-depth.
Another important subject the book tackles is the lack of power held by women, demonstrated by Ellie's perspective where despite her wealth and ownership of land, she is left with very few options regarding her future. While this sounds great in theory, in execution Ellie seems to spend most of her time crying to her Old Nurse while waiting for someone else to resolve this for her. Maybe this is better addressed in the next book which I assume she plays more of a role in.
Another place I felt the book was lacking was in Gavin's development. From the beginning, he was a hard-to-like character and it seemed like everything in his life had been given to him because he was the eldest son. On multiple occasions in the book, he shows terrible character and repetitively makes bad decisions while we are expected to feel pity for him when he regrets decisions he continues to make. Even toward the end when his supposed redemption arc begins, I found it hard to change my opinion of him when he continued to act pitiful and there was no justification for why he continued to be favored when he had done little of consequence leading up to then. This especially confused me when it came to the ending as I find it hard to understand the decisions that were made.
As for Will, his character almost exclusively revolved around his horse, and other than his devotion to his horse not much else was highlighted. I was a little disappointed by this as I felt he had a lot of potential to be a well-written in-depth character. It seemed like he was given every good quality while his brother was given all the bad ones, yet this ended up not making much of a difference in how it played out. He seems almost too good to be true and I would have liked to see some depth to the character. With how much he despised his brother in the beginning, it would have been interesting to see if he struggled with a bit of jealousy, or maybe even resentment of his father for not standing up for him. Granted, he was a child for most of the book and his perspective was easily the most fleshed out, even if it was a little reliant on his horse for him to have a personality.
Overall, I think it was a good read and I enjoyed the way it made me think about the way war affects those who experience it and about how I think about historical events given that people were living through these times. While I wish there was better depth to the characters, the overall messages and themes of the book were handled well and I think it serves what it was intended to do.
Song: Solider, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos
Not only does the song have religious undertones as the book does, but the horse, Hasanna, acts as all three and I believe he is meant to represent a Christ Figure.
March 15, 2019
I picked up a copy of this book while taking my granddaughter to storytelling at the local library. While she was listening, I was eyeing the shelves nearby and this cover stood out. I think, being next to her picture book level, that this was shelved with middle school books, but it is pretty complex for a ten year old. There are both violence and sexual matters, but handled fairly gently. A girl who has her reputation questioned because she spent time alone with a man, is about as detailed as anything sexual gets. The gentle hand in the violence doesn’t prevent the scenes from haunting my imagination however, dead horses being tossed into a stormy sea, body parts being amputated, captives being herded together and slaughtered. It does after all deal with the crusades and violence was everywhere.
My favorite part of the book was in the characters, the two brothers and their father’s ward, grow up together and there is a lot of times when I really came to care what was going to happen in their lives. I’m glad the story started when they were young and uncertain and followed in the events that led to the kind of decisive adults they were. It made the story feel important, that the characters went through something which mattered. The contrast between the two Christian brothers and the young Muslim boy was not really as extreme as one might expect and the story showed his growth and humanity well. The link between all the characters and the Blood Red Horse, who actually was colored in a way that clashed with red blood, was a bit extreme and magical. But if you love horse stories, as I always have, it gives you a magnificent animal to add to the favorites like King of the Wind and Misty and Seabisquit.
Overall, I say this is a good read, an interesting bit of history from a period most kids aren’t too familiar with, and an important chance in this current culture, to see the common dreams and humanity in both Christian and Muslim people. I haven’t read the next two, but this works well as a stand alone.
My favorite part of the book was in the characters, the two brothers and their father’s ward, grow up together and there is a lot of times when I really came to care what was going to happen in their lives. I’m glad the story started when they were young and uncertain and followed in the events that led to the kind of decisive adults they were. It made the story feel important, that the characters went through something which mattered. The contrast between the two Christian brothers and the young Muslim boy was not really as extreme as one might expect and the story showed his growth and humanity well. The link between all the characters and the Blood Red Horse, who actually was colored in a way that clashed with red blood, was a bit extreme and magical. But if you love horse stories, as I always have, it gives you a magnificent animal to add to the favorites like King of the Wind and Misty and Seabisquit.
Overall, I say this is a good read, an interesting bit of history from a period most kids aren’t too familiar with, and an important chance in this current culture, to see the common dreams and humanity in both Christian and Muslim people. I haven’t read the next two, but this works well as a stand alone.
September 30, 2018
I did not expect to like this book, since I do not care about horses and do not care about the Crusades. My main memory of them from school is that the Christians were bloodthirsty savages while Saladin knew 7 languages. It turns out this isn't entirely wrong but it's not entirely right either, and I was impressed a middle-grade book succeeded so well in giving me a more nuanced understanding of that time in history. As for the horse part...well, I never got into the horse part. The titular horse, Hosanna, is more a Christ figure than a horse anyway. Sometimes this manifests in odd ways --while Hosanna has no problems going into battle, it refused to take part in a massacre of prisoners -- and sometimes Hosanna serves more as an uber-service animal, helping the main characters deal with their Feelings.
I thought the characters were well developed, and developed more, over time, as the story went on. One common blind spot in many historical novels for kids is that the characters have too-modern a sensibility, and I think for the most part the author did a very good job of avoiding that -- my main problems were the book puts a too-modern emphasis on the importance of being able to read and write, and the main characters' father was more of a model 21st century father than 12th, and those are relatively minor in the scheme of the story.
The characters, especially the bad guys, are quite well drawn as actual people with actual grievances or world-views one might see in real life. Overall, I went into this book without very high expectations, and they exceeded them, and that's the definition of happiness. Four stars.
I thought the characters were well developed, and developed more, over time, as the story went on. One common blind spot in many historical novels for kids is that the characters have too-modern a sensibility, and I think for the most part the author did a very good job of avoiding that -- my main problems were the book puts a too-modern emphasis on the importance of being able to read and write, and the main characters' father was more of a model 21st century father than 12th, and those are relatively minor in the scheme of the story.
The characters, especially the bad guys, are quite well drawn as actual people with actual grievances or world-views one might see in real life. Overall, I went into this book without very high expectations, and they exceeded them, and that's the definition of happiness. Four stars.
November 22, 2023
4.25*
This novel was a random pick to read from my shelves. I have read it before, many years ago, and I remembered liking it, but the story had faded enough that I felt like I was reading it for the first time.
The book sits somewhere between middle grade and young adult, with the story being maybe a little too gruesome for middle grade, but it did not quite give me a young adult feel either. Either way, a label does not change that this was a well told tale that made me shed a few tears.
At the hard this is very much a story about a boy and his horse, or maybe a horse and his boy? This is a trope that has always appealed to me and probably is the reason why I picked up this book back in the day. As far as that aspect goes, this was a beautiful version of that trope!
As for the historical aspect, the crusades play a big part in this story and the reader is not shielded from the hardships that such undertakings took. It takes us right into the thick of it and of course it romanticises it slightly, as books tend to do, but it gives you a good idea how truly grueling these campaigns were and the cost of lives of men and horses it demanded. I liked that we see the crusades from both perspectives and that it does not choose sides. It just shows the human side. I appreciated that.
All in all, this is a wonderfully written novel and this time I fully plan to continue the trilogy, something I did not do last time I read this book.
This novel was a random pick to read from my shelves. I have read it before, many years ago, and I remembered liking it, but the story had faded enough that I felt like I was reading it for the first time.
The book sits somewhere between middle grade and young adult, with the story being maybe a little too gruesome for middle grade, but it did not quite give me a young adult feel either. Either way, a label does not change that this was a well told tale that made me shed a few tears.
At the hard this is very much a story about a boy and his horse, or maybe a horse and his boy? This is a trope that has always appealed to me and probably is the reason why I picked up this book back in the day. As far as that aspect goes, this was a beautiful version of that trope!
As for the historical aspect, the crusades play a big part in this story and the reader is not shielded from the hardships that such undertakings took. It takes us right into the thick of it and of course it romanticises it slightly, as books tend to do, but it gives you a good idea how truly grueling these campaigns were and the cost of lives of men and horses it demanded. I liked that we see the crusades from both perspectives and that it does not choose sides. It just shows the human side. I appreciated that.
All in all, this is a wonderfully written novel and this time I fully plan to continue the trilogy, something I did not do last time I read this book.
December 6, 2019
2.5
Much, much better than I'd anticipated. I had to read it, because I had to teach it, otherwise, I never would have. It's themes are clear and the plot is intricate enough to maintain a good pace, necessary when reading a nearly-300-page novel with 7th graders.
Regardless of how charitable I try to be when remembering who this is written for--middle schoolers--I can't overlook its flaws. The plot is predictable and the characters stock. Worse than that, the writing, at the sentence level, is infuriatingly poor. The sentences are often so unnecessarily long that it feels like their purpose is obfuscation. Just clause after phrase after clause, all piling up until all meaning is lost. And that was happening to me, an avid reader and teacher. For seventh graders, the labyrinthine sentences felt impossible sometimes.
Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised that it wasn't horrible, but I'm glad I only had to teach this one and not the whole trilogy.
Much, much better than I'd anticipated. I had to read it, because I had to teach it, otherwise, I never would have. It's themes are clear and the plot is intricate enough to maintain a good pace, necessary when reading a nearly-300-page novel with 7th graders.
Regardless of how charitable I try to be when remembering who this is written for--middle schoolers--I can't overlook its flaws. The plot is predictable and the characters stock. Worse than that, the writing, at the sentence level, is infuriatingly poor. The sentences are often so unnecessarily long that it feels like their purpose is obfuscation. Just clause after phrase after clause, all piling up until all meaning is lost. And that was happening to me, an avid reader and teacher. For seventh graders, the labyrinthine sentences felt impossible sometimes.
Overall, I'm pleasantly surprised that it wasn't horrible, but I'm glad I only had to teach this one and not the whole trilogy.
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