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She Who Rides Horses #2
A Clan Chief's Daughter
Set 6,000 years ago on the Eurasian steppe, She Who Rides Horses (Book Two): A Clan Chief’s Daughter continues the story of Naya, the first person to ride a horse.
In book one, Naya and a magnificent chestnut red filly, brought together through a mystical encounter, begin a relationship destined to change the future of humans and horses alike. In book two, Naya must contend with the consequences of the forces she and the filly have unwittingly set in motion. Daughter of a clan chief, Naya returns to her people after a winter spent in the company of the wild horses, only to discover that danger threatens. Enemies of Naya’s father seek to exploit the horses Naya has tamed in order to undermine his leadership. Plagued by nightmares of what could happen to the filly and her herd at the hands of men seeking power and control, Naya must decide whether protecting the horses and remaining loyal to her father require the sacrifice of her heart’s desire.
Based on extensive interdisciplinary research, She Who Rides Horses imagines an encounter between a girl and a horse that is both timeless and grounded in fact. A story filled with adventure, peril, love and betrayal, the saga of Naya and the red filly, begun in book one and continued in book two, portrays fundamental shifts that occurred when humans went from living as herders and hunter/gatherers to becoming mounted nomads, capable of spreading their language, lifestyle and beliefs across a huge swath of Eurasia and beyond. The domestication of the horse altered the course of history, contributing to the rise of patriarchy and accelerating the diffusion of new assumptions about the relationship between humans and the natural world that we are still contending with today. This is how it may have all begun…
In book one, Naya and a magnificent chestnut red filly, brought together through a mystical encounter, begin a relationship destined to change the future of humans and horses alike. In book two, Naya must contend with the consequences of the forces she and the filly have unwittingly set in motion. Daughter of a clan chief, Naya returns to her people after a winter spent in the company of the wild horses, only to discover that danger threatens. Enemies of Naya’s father seek to exploit the horses Naya has tamed in order to undermine his leadership. Plagued by nightmares of what could happen to the filly and her herd at the hands of men seeking power and control, Naya must decide whether protecting the horses and remaining loyal to her father require the sacrifice of her heart’s desire.
Based on extensive interdisciplinary research, She Who Rides Horses imagines an encounter between a girl and a horse that is both timeless and grounded in fact. A story filled with adventure, peril, love and betrayal, the saga of Naya and the red filly, begun in book one and continued in book two, portrays fundamental shifts that occurred when humans went from living as herders and hunter/gatherers to becoming mounted nomads, capable of spreading their language, lifestyle and beliefs across a huge swath of Eurasia and beyond. The domestication of the horse altered the course of history, contributing to the rise of patriarchy and accelerating the diffusion of new assumptions about the relationship between humans and the natural world that we are still contending with today. This is how it may have all begun…
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2025
54 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Sarah V. Barnes
2 books17 followersCritically acclaimed, award-winning novelist Sarah V. Barnes is both a historian and a horsewoman. Her first novel, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe, received the 2022 Best Indie Book Award for Historical Fiction, among other prizes. A Clan Chief’s Daughter represents the second installment in the She Who Rides Horses trilogy. When not writing stories, Sarah practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops. Sarah holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, her dogs, and her horses near Boulder, CO.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 22, 2025
A Clan Chief’s Daughter by Sarah V. Barnes is a compelling story for lovers of historical fiction and character-driven narratives. This emotional tale carries readers through the Pontic-Caspian steppe with ease, building a world for us to get lost in alongside the characters. As the second installment of the She Who Rides Horses series, this book builds on Barnes’ previous work with style. The characters we grew to love in the first novel face new challenges and grow from them. Naya’s world grows ever bigger as we take this journey with her.
Barnes exposes her characters to the reader with precision. In this novel, we are given a closer look at Naya’s father, Potis, the chief of their clan. I appreciated seeing how complicated his character was and seeing the struggle he faced with balancing tradition and ingenuity within their clan. This book felt more philosophical than the first in a lot of ways, mostly through the characters’ growing complexity.
Readers are forced to reckon with difficult choices alongside Naya and her family. I think it will be quite effective with younger readers, as it reflects what we experience in our daily lives. People are complicated and must make difficult choices beyond what “feels good” on top of dealing with horrible situations. There are a lot of poignant discussions that parents and young readers could have together about this story, making it a great choice for a read-along.
The world-building continues to be a leading reason why this story is so compelling. Barnes is a detail-oriented writer, creating clear images with her words. I really got a feel for Naya’s world as she continues her journey. However, there were some points where the amount of detail made the pacing feel a bit slower. Through the middle of the narrative, I didn’t quite feel the tension I personally enjoy seeing in a story, but I found enjoyment in Naya’s character. For historical fiction lovers, this lighter pace will probably suit their reading choices quite well!
Naya is fully the star of the show in this installment. We see a young girl who feels a bit lost; readers will grow to root for her as she comes into herself. There is a balance between her journey and Awija’s certainty that I enjoyed seeing play out on the page. Awija, Naya’s grandmother, often shares stories of their clan, showing the threads of connection between the past, our traditions, and the changes we must make as we come into our own personal power.
Beyond the detailed writing and character building, seeing generational connections is what really touched my heart about A Clan Chief’s Daughter. I think my enjoyment of these novels was heightened by reading them back-to-back, so having the She Who Rides Horses duology together for personal reading or a lesson plan would give so much more to the reading experience.
Barnes exposes her characters to the reader with precision. In this novel, we are given a closer look at Naya’s father, Potis, the chief of their clan. I appreciated seeing how complicated his character was and seeing the struggle he faced with balancing tradition and ingenuity within their clan. This book felt more philosophical than the first in a lot of ways, mostly through the characters’ growing complexity.
Readers are forced to reckon with difficult choices alongside Naya and her family. I think it will be quite effective with younger readers, as it reflects what we experience in our daily lives. People are complicated and must make difficult choices beyond what “feels good” on top of dealing with horrible situations. There are a lot of poignant discussions that parents and young readers could have together about this story, making it a great choice for a read-along.
The world-building continues to be a leading reason why this story is so compelling. Barnes is a detail-oriented writer, creating clear images with her words. I really got a feel for Naya’s world as she continues her journey. However, there were some points where the amount of detail made the pacing feel a bit slower. Through the middle of the narrative, I didn’t quite feel the tension I personally enjoy seeing in a story, but I found enjoyment in Naya’s character. For historical fiction lovers, this lighter pace will probably suit their reading choices quite well!
Naya is fully the star of the show in this installment. We see a young girl who feels a bit lost; readers will grow to root for her as she comes into herself. There is a balance between her journey and Awija’s certainty that I enjoyed seeing play out on the page. Awija, Naya’s grandmother, often shares stories of their clan, showing the threads of connection between the past, our traditions, and the changes we must make as we come into our own personal power.
Beyond the detailed writing and character building, seeing generational connections is what really touched my heart about A Clan Chief’s Daughter. I think my enjoyment of these novels was heightened by reading them back-to-back, so having the She Who Rides Horses duology together for personal reading or a lesson plan would give so much more to the reading experience.
January 5, 2026
A Clan Chief’s Daughter is a sweeping, immersive tale that blends historical depth, adventure, and emotional resonance. Sarah V. Barnes masterfully continues Naya’s story, exploring the complex interplay between loyalty, love, and the responsibility that comes with power. Set 6,000 years ago on the Eurasian steppe, the novel captures the monumental shift from hunter gatherer life to mounted nomadism, illustrating how the domestication of horses transformed human society.
Barnes’ storytelling is remarkable for its attention to both historical detail and character development. Naya’s struggle to balance her devotion to her father, the safety of the horses, and her own heart’s desires creates compelling tension, while the vivid descriptions of the steppe and the mystical bond with her red filly transport the reader to another time. The book is at once a story of personal courage and a meditation on cultural evolution, reflecting the beginnings of human social, political, and environmental change.
At its core, A Clan Chief’s Daughter combines adventure, romance, and historical insight into a seamless narrative that will captivate readers of historical fiction, animal stories, and epic sagas alike. Barnes delivers a story that is as emotionally compelling as it is enlightening, reminding readers of the profound connection between humans, animals, and the forces that shape civilizations.
Barnes’ storytelling is remarkable for its attention to both historical detail and character development. Naya’s struggle to balance her devotion to her father, the safety of the horses, and her own heart’s desires creates compelling tension, while the vivid descriptions of the steppe and the mystical bond with her red filly transport the reader to another time. The book is at once a story of personal courage and a meditation on cultural evolution, reflecting the beginnings of human social, political, and environmental change.
At its core, A Clan Chief’s Daughter combines adventure, romance, and historical insight into a seamless narrative that will captivate readers of historical fiction, animal stories, and epic sagas alike. Barnes delivers a story that is as emotionally compelling as it is enlightening, reminding readers of the profound connection between humans, animals, and the forces that shape civilizations.
October 24, 2025
A Clan Chief’s Daughter: She Who Rides Horses by Sarah V. Barnes is a captivating, deeply imaginative continuation of a saga that bridges prehistory and myth. Set six millennia ago on the vast Eurasian steppe, it follows Naya, the courageous young woman whose bond with a wild red filly heralds the dawn of humankind’s partnership with the horse an alliance that would reshape civilization itself.
In this second volume, Barnes expands both the emotional and historical landscape of Naya’s story. Returning to her clan after a winter among the horses, Naya confronts the political and spiritual consequences of her discovery. As rival tribes seek to harness her gift for power, she must navigate loyalty, love, and destiny in a world trembling on the edge of transformation. The prose is lush yet grounded, weaving anthropology, myth, and heart into a narrative as sweeping as the steppe itself.
Richly researched and emotionally alive, A Clan Chief’s Daughter recalls the immersive world-building of Jean M. Auel’s The Clan of the Cave Bear and the spiritual depth of Mary Renault’s historical epics. Barnes transforms early human history into an intimate reflection on courage, kinship, and the origins of our relationship with nature a visionary blend of fact and fable that feels both ancient and immediate.
In this second volume, Barnes expands both the emotional and historical landscape of Naya’s story. Returning to her clan after a winter among the horses, Naya confronts the political and spiritual consequences of her discovery. As rival tribes seek to harness her gift for power, she must navigate loyalty, love, and destiny in a world trembling on the edge of transformation. The prose is lush yet grounded, weaving anthropology, myth, and heart into a narrative as sweeping as the steppe itself.
Richly researched and emotionally alive, A Clan Chief’s Daughter recalls the immersive world-building of Jean M. Auel’s The Clan of the Cave Bear and the spiritual depth of Mary Renault’s historical epics. Barnes transforms early human history into an intimate reflection on courage, kinship, and the origins of our relationship with nature a visionary blend of fact and fable that feels both ancient and immediate.
December 21, 2025
A Clan Chief’s Daughter deepens its mythic foundation into a powerful meditation on loyalty, leadership, and the irreversible consequences of human progress.
Naya’s return to her clan after a winter among the wild horses is not a homecoming but a reckoning. She arrives changed carrying knowledge that cannot be unlearned and the novel excels in showing how insight becomes burden. Her bond with the red filly remains luminous, yet it is now haunted by the looming reality of human ambition and control.
The political tensions within the clan are rendered with quiet precision. Threats to her father’s authority emerge not through spectacle, but through familiar human impulses: fear of loss, hunger for power, and the temptation to weaponize innovation. The horses themselves become more than symbols of transformation; they embody the moral cost of domination.
What distinguishes this novel is its refusal to romanticize history. The rise of mounted nomadic life is portrayed as a turning point weighted with trade-offs ecological, emotional, and social particularly for women and the natural world. Barnes’s interdisciplinary grounding gives the story credibility, while her restraint gives it power.
This is historical fiction that feels both ancient and urgently modern, inviting readers to sit with the uncomfortable truth that progress is rarely innocent and never free.
Naya’s return to her clan after a winter among the wild horses is not a homecoming but a reckoning. She arrives changed carrying knowledge that cannot be unlearned and the novel excels in showing how insight becomes burden. Her bond with the red filly remains luminous, yet it is now haunted by the looming reality of human ambition and control.
The political tensions within the clan are rendered with quiet precision. Threats to her father’s authority emerge not through spectacle, but through familiar human impulses: fear of loss, hunger for power, and the temptation to weaponize innovation. The horses themselves become more than symbols of transformation; they embody the moral cost of domination.
What distinguishes this novel is its refusal to romanticize history. The rise of mounted nomadic life is portrayed as a turning point weighted with trade-offs ecological, emotional, and social particularly for women and the natural world. Barnes’s interdisciplinary grounding gives the story credibility, while her restraint gives it power.
This is historical fiction that feels both ancient and urgently modern, inviting readers to sit with the uncomfortable truth that progress is rarely innocent and never free.
August 25, 2025
I read A Clan Chief's Daughter by Sara V. Barnes and was quite pleased by her rendering of the tale. I'm pleased by the way she starts out with the Awija getting her boys to the old Clan Chief before he died. Then she describes the boys, which were really grown men, one the new clan chief and another a wise man. A caution was placed on the cattle herders because men in wolf costumes herded away the cattle and sheep which were needed because of the harsh season. They had men follow the herders and they came back with who was in the raid. In this book the daughter (Naya), doesn't actually ride the red horse or make plans to, but she's put upon by several men to marry. She doesn't want to marry any of them. But she's kind of enamored by Aytal who's wounded her by an arrow. Then taken care of her and her mother during a harsh winter. It continues with the killing of Naya's father. Then pursued by Wailos hiding in caves and bears finding them. It's pretty good reading with many descriptions given by the author. In what we may believe is true to the sources of the tale, look at what she says at the beginning.
August 26, 2025
Conflict
A daughter wishing to please her father after her twice brother had died after their birth. A time in which life was hard on the steep lands with strong tribal rules. A time before horses were tamed and one girl had visions of riding horses.
A daughter wishing to please her father after her twice brother had died after their birth. A time in which life was hard on the steep lands with strong tribal rules. A time before horses were tamed and one girl had visions of riding horses.
September 28, 2025
can’t wait for book3!
I really enjoyed the first book, eagerly red this book (book 2) and now can’t wait for book 3!!! Highly recommend both!
I really enjoyed the first book, eagerly red this book (book 2) and now can’t wait for book 3!!! Highly recommend both!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews