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Fortune's Fool by Mary Pagones #4
Crawling Between Heaven and Earth
"Simon, you don't even know where Mongolia is."
I don't, of course, although that never struck me as a problem. "Do you?"
"No. But I'm not going there."
The Mongol Derby is the longest and most difficult horse race in the world. Frustrated with the direction of his eventing career, Simon O'Shaughnessy decides to take on the challenge of riding semi-feral horses over 600 miles in the wilds of Mongolia. Will he succeed?
I don't, of course, although that never struck me as a problem. "Do you?"
"No. But I'm not going there."
The Mongol Derby is the longest and most difficult horse race in the world. Frustrated with the direction of his eventing career, Simon O'Shaughnessy decides to take on the challenge of riding semi-feral horses over 600 miles in the wilds of Mongolia. Will he succeed?
- GenresHorses
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2017
43 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Mary Pagones
17 books104 followersAuthor of The Fortune's Fool series
Author of A Study in Scarlet Marquis: Sherlock Holmes and the Trials of Oscar Wilde
Author of Pride, Prejudice, and Personal Statements
Also writes m/m romance under the pen name of Quinn Wilde
Author of A Study in Scarlet Marquis: Sherlock Holmes and the Trials of Oscar Wilde
Author of Pride, Prejudice, and Personal Statements
Also writes m/m romance under the pen name of Quinn Wilde
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 7, 2017
Full disclosure--I am the author but I'm bumping this because I'm so excited to share it with the Goodreads community. Mongolia! Semi-feral horses! 600 miles of wide, open terrain! What could go wrong? Or rather, what could go right?
May 22, 2021
In which Simon hears about an equine challenge more difficult than any he has yet tried, and runs off to do it, leaving folks to pick up his slack. I adore Simon, but I also want to shake him some times. The Mongolian race elements are a highlight of this story, filtered through Simon's unique POV.
Onward...
Onward...
April 21, 2018
Best yet!
As always, great detail, great character development and an exciting storyline! I learned so much about Mongolia without even breaking a sweat lol
As always, great detail, great character development and an exciting storyline! I learned so much about Mongolia without even breaking a sweat lol
December 14, 2017
Unexpected and perfect!
After watching Simon struggle through his chosen career path in the first three books, he needed a chance to do something different. I never would have guessed where he would end up but it was perfect for his character. There are also a few loose ends tied up at the beginning that I needed to see work out. That made me happy! Tried to read this all in one sitting but the restaurant was closing and I had to come home and finish. I did knock it out in less than a half day because I couldn't put it down. Thank you Mary Pagones for another great read!
After watching Simon struggle through his chosen career path in the first three books, he needed a chance to do something different. I never would have guessed where he would end up but it was perfect for his character. There are also a few loose ends tied up at the beginning that I needed to see work out. That made me happy! Tried to read this all in one sitting but the restaurant was closing and I had to come home and finish. I did knock it out in less than a half day because I couldn't put it down. Thank you Mary Pagones for another great read!
October 25, 2021
This was great! Loved the Mongol Derby! Really cool to see the book take place in such a different vein yet still stick to its roots and core characters. This book was a nicely lighthearted compared to the sadness of the last book which works well in the series. Feel like the author did a great job of researching the Mongol Derby and represented it, the people and culture beautifully. I would have loved some of Phillips point of view through this book. Him on the other side and how it was to be the spectator across the world. His thoughts during it all would have really upped the stakes and the anxiety of whether Simon will make it through
October 11, 2018
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to like this. All the books have been great in the series - I mean, who doesn't love Simon? But this seemed a stretch. I'd heard of the Mongol Derby, had a friend who contemplated doing it, and it seemed about as practical an idea for her to do it as an eventing pro.
As it turned out, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved learning more about the race, and the way that was seamlessly weaved into the story. Loved seeing how the character grew. I loved it enough to even forgive the repeated misuse of "confirmation" hahaha. Definitely my favourite of the series so far.
As it turned out, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved learning more about the race, and the way that was seamlessly weaved into the story. Loved seeing how the character grew. I loved it enough to even forgive the repeated misuse of "confirmation" hahaha. Definitely my favourite of the series so far.
January 28, 2018
Simon rides again
Mary Pagones has turned out another fine book in the FORTUNE'S FOOL series. Simon O'Shaughnessy is a real, multi-layered character who takes life by the horns as s professional equestrian. The series presents the
challenges of any young person trying to survive in the horse show/ Eventing world, with the added layer of dealing with other people's homophobia. I look forward to the next book. Recommended for youth and adults.
Mary Pagones has turned out another fine book in the FORTUNE'S FOOL series. Simon O'Shaughnessy is a real, multi-layered character who takes life by the horns as s professional equestrian. The series presents the
challenges of any young person trying to survive in the horse show/ Eventing world, with the added layer of dealing with other people's homophobia. I look forward to the next book. Recommended for youth and adults.
December 18, 2017
Great read
Yet again a great read about a truly interesting character and how he comes about dealing with his life. Always moving forward and page turning!
Yet again a great read about a truly interesting character and how he comes about dealing with his life. Always moving forward and page turning!
April 12, 2018
Excellent
A refreshing perspective obviously written by an author who knows horses and horse people. Sequel please.
Don’t miss this one.
A refreshing perspective obviously written by an author who knows horses and horse people. Sequel please.
Don’t miss this one.
June 22, 2018
If your a horse person this is a good read
I've had horses since I was twelve. This book runs true for the love and frustration horses being to your life!
I've had horses since I was twelve. This book runs true for the love and frustration horses being to your life!
April 1, 2022
What an inspiring, heartwarming story!!!
What has Simon got himself into now? The Longest Most Dangerous Race in the World, the Mongolian Derby! After Freddie's death and Pearl's injury Simon is depressed and angry. At life, at the world and at himself. His solution? The Mongolian Derby! Riding semi-feral ponies, 600 miles, 6 or 7 days with wolves, wild dogs and motorcycle bandits, with guns! Will he finish? Will he even survive? Read this terrific book to find the answers. Highly recommended.
What has Simon got himself into now? The Longest Most Dangerous Race in the World, the Mongolian Derby! After Freddie's death and Pearl's injury Simon is depressed and angry. At life, at the world and at himself. His solution? The Mongolian Derby! Riding semi-feral ponies, 600 miles, 6 or 7 days with wolves, wild dogs and motorcycle bandits, with guns! Will he finish? Will he even survive? Read this terrific book to find the answers. Highly recommended.
December 9, 2017
Loved the book and love this series. The descriptions of Mongolia and the culture there, the people and the horses had an intense and vivid quality and a kind of poetic beauty. It added a layer of spiritual communion that true horse people have. A bond that is hard to describe but deeply felt. Looking forward to seeing where SOS will end up next.
January 21, 2019
I always love spending time with Simon. The Mongol Derby ws amazing.
February 17, 2018
I'll admit it, when I read the description and saw that Simon was going to take a break from the eventing world and participate in the Mongolian Derby I groaned. However, this was such an exciting adventure for Simon to go on that I found it to be a refreshing change of scenery. I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed getting to learn a bit about the Mongolian Derby.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews