The Loneliness of Horses

by Andrea Thalasinos

The Loneliness of Horses is a multigenerational narrative focusing on two women, Evie and Belle, whose lives intertwine across two centuries. In 1972 Northern Arizona, Evie, a young mother escaping her troubled past, finds solace in rescuing a wild horse during a history drought. Her journey leads her to Nova Scotia, where she becomes an equine therapist and forms bonds with Vietnam War draft resisters. Years later, she meets Logan, a troubled boy haunted by his fathers’ death, who claims to be guided by his imaginary grandmother.

In 1778 New Scotland (Canada), Belle, a Highland Scot displaced during the Scottish Clearances, defies her father to journey across the Atlantic with her beloved horses. Landing in a tumultuous British North America, Belle challenges her husband’s authority and forms an unlikely friendship with Acadian locals, despite political tensions and tragedy. Evie’s live parallels Belle’s through shared connections to horses and themes of displacement and resilience, culminating in Logan’s story where past and present converge through shared spiritual connections. The novel explores themes of survival, kinship, and the enduring spirit of women across time and place.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Canada, Literary Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

Published March 21, 2025

Reviews

[Aren Virnoche · Rating 2 out of 5]

a good story but seems disjointed at times

Bouncing between the two time frames and then the passing of time in each was not smooth. Then I missed the connection between the two time frames. Also there was resolution in one time zone but. It the older time frames. Would not recommend.

[Wisconsin Alumni]

Andrea Thalasinos ’81, MS’84, PhD’88
Author

From the author:
The novel showcases the remarkable journey of two women, Evie and Belle, whose lives connect across the vast expanse of time. Set in different centuries, their stories illustrate how resilience and compassion transcend generations. Evie, a mother in Arizona during the 1970s, and Belle, a woman in Nova Scotia in the 1770s, navigate their unique challenges while finding strength through their bond with horses.

[Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Description:
In 1972 Evie has a young kid, two mustangs, a stolen lamb, and an abusive ex. She flees Arizona for Canada and shacks up with a dickhead. In 1778 Belle absconds from her father's house in Scotland to nick her sister's fiance in Canada (who’s also quite the dickhead), taking two horses on the perilous sea crossing with her.

Liked:
There's loads going on here, the scenery is lush and there's a love of animals that provides a (slightly shaky) throughline for the book. I liked that Evie goes to bat for what she believes in, although she evidently doesn't believe in herself enough to lift a finger for her own peace of mind.

Disliked:
Very much in need of a good edit pass. The narrative seems to shift between the two main timelines at random, and jumps forward and backward in time for Evie's - also shifting to another character at one point in the middle, before we've been introduced to him in either of the main narratives. At least one named horse just goes completely missing in the middle of the book, and action is often interrupted by flashbacks to random conversations with Evie's neighbours, almost all of whom are utterly unnecessary for the plot. The link between the two timelines never really coalesces, and hints of a ghostly presence are pretty much just dropped halfway through. There's a lot of compelling material here, but it's so disorganised it becomes difficult to care.

Would recommend if this passes through the hands of a loving editor. Otherwise, unfortunately not.

[Jodell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to fess up and say this should have been two books not one and I skipped all the chapters of one of the intertwined books and I only read Evie's story. And I loved everything about Evie and her menagerie of animals. I mean I loved her. The only thing is she forgot herself she never gave herself the love, attention, and care, that she gave to wounded rescued animals, horses, displaced people and troubled children.

Evie, I know you're not a real person but there are a lot of women like you out there who live with a man like you did. Here is what I'd say to you and them:

Imagine another year of not being considered, of not being heard, of not being seen, Imagine five more, ten more, twenty more spirit shattering soul crushing years. And know sometimes goodbye is a blessing.

[Robin Elsbeth Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed "The Loneliness of Horses", a moving tale of two strong women, one in 1970's Arizona and the other in late 18th century Cape Breton, following the removal of the French in British North America. Through the author's detailed descriptions of human-animal relationships, I learned a lot about horses, as well as other animals. I was especially drawn into the parts of the story that were set in rural Cape Breton, having been a visitor to the island this summer, and was caught up in the life challenges of Evie and Belle, the two main characters who lived in different time periods. Since I am a sucker for happy endings, I appreciated the story's resolution. Thank you, Andrea Thalasinos, for an interesting, engaging, and entertaining read!

[Leisa Fail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the start of this book and Evie's storyline but I felt it was jumping back and forth between the two separate stories and I'm not sure where they ended up joining? I feel like I missed the point of this book somewhere along the way.
The dates at each chapter helped but there was a random chapter somewhere early on about the veteran trying to get back to Evie.
I would have loved it being two separate books.
The horse details and storyline were spot on and I did enjoy the read when I could gather the timeframe and context amongst the story

[Heidi Zahnleuter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. LOVED. THIS. This was the horse book we all needed!! I was hesitant because I don’t usually like books that jump between two storylines, but this time I just couldn’t wait to see what each character was up to while I was gone. Big 10/10!!

[Lynette Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story but drags on

Loved the theme of this book, but going back and forth between centuries was a little confusing. And, I felt like the last 3rd of the book dragged on and was quite disjointed.

[TL Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding!!!!!!!!

This book was far deeper than I expected, telling a lot about humans and animals and insights into both that far exceeded my expectations I loved it!

[Winona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, 12 Willows Press and author Andrea Thalasinos for this eARC

A beautifully written dual-timeline historical fiction about compassion, courage and resilience set against a beautiful scenery.
I loved the writing and the animals. While I did not always agree with Evie and Belles choices they always tried to do their best in any situation.