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The Rose Legacy #1
The Rose Legacy
This sweeping, emotionally-resonant fantasy from beloved author Jessica Day George is perfect for fans of Princess Academy and Black Beauty .
When orphaned Anthea Cross-Thornley receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she wonders if she will finally find a true home. But she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses--animals that have been forbidden in her kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea's strange ability to sense the horses' thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when her family and kingdom are put at risk, can she embrace The Way and the exciting future it might bring her?
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
When orphaned Anthea Cross-Thornley receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she wonders if she will finally find a true home. But she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses--animals that have been forbidden in her kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea's strange ability to sense the horses' thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when her family and kingdom are put at risk, can she embrace The Way and the exciting future it might bring her?
A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
94 people are currently reading
3115 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Day George
26 books5,911 followersJessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she had a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel. Right now she has a Coton de Tulear named Sunny). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld: Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.
She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
March 27, 2018
Why hello there, little book I've worked on for Lo, these many years!
If you are wondering, this is the story that started as "Horse Brigade." I actually used it as a reading piece several years ago, so some of you lucky people might have heard the first couple of chapters! It got bumped aside for the Castle Glower books, but now it's ready to take the stage. It has horses, and intrepid young girls, and even tiny pet owl. Basically: everything you need for a great time!
Final proofread, December 2017!
Read the ARC aloud to the kids, 2018.
If you are wondering, this is the story that started as "Horse Brigade." I actually used it as a reading piece several years ago, so some of you lucky people might have heard the first couple of chapters! It got bumped aside for the Castle Glower books, but now it's ready to take the stage. It has horses, and intrepid young girls, and even tiny pet owl. Basically: everything you need for a great time!
Final proofread, December 2017!
Read the ARC aloud to the kids, 2018.
December 23, 2017
When I was young, I was absolutely horse-crazy and read every horse story I could get my hands on and asked for a horse for Christmas every year (never received one, but still...). If I had had this book then, it would have blown my mind, but since the author wasn't yet around, I suppose it's definitely worth the wait: a fantastic action-adventure in a Victorian-type, steam-punk-y world where horses are viewed as better off dead, since the rumor is that they were once carriers of a deadly plague. However, when Anthea, the delightfully dauntless protagonist, is shuttled off to live with yet another relative, she discovers the larger truth and her place in it. Love this fast-paced, page-turning story with its engaging, fascinating characters - both human and...not! It's a new favorite! Magnifique! My 10-year-old self is so grateful :).
Want to read
February 2, 2018My daughter would LOVE this one!
March 14, 2025
Welcome to an official Charlotte’s BookNook book review! Make sure to go follow my YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@charlottes_bookn...) if you haven’t already. I post video reviews and all sorts of clean bookish content! Now let’s get this review started.
4.75 stars, but I didn’t want to round up on Goodreads and have it appear as a 5 star aka a new favorite book. It was close, though!!
I liked: The atmosphere(!!), the character names😂, the creative and fresh kingdom system, no magic, plot, chapter length, bonds between characters, the hint on middle grade romance, the plot twists, the horse content as someone who doesn’t like animal books, the refreshingly great writing style and word choice, the ending
I did not like: The surface level characters, the main character mainly (but she wasn’t insufferable and doesn’t change the flow of the story or my review) , the very few chapters that felt a bit slow,
Language: Hell was used as a curse word, not the place.
LGBTQ+: None
Romance: A sweet romance was hinted at between two teen characters. You can tell the boy cares for the girl and holds her hand to comfort her as well as gives her a gift and kisses her on the cheek goodbye, but that’s about it.
Violence: A character is shot, pain described shortly. Horses are entangled in wire and the wounds from that are described a bit more, still brief. A character is close to death and is delusional.
Religious Views: no religion is visible in this book, but some phrases hint at a spiritual belief among the people.
Authority Roles: Pretty decent. A lot of the adults where Anthea lives aren’t in the story much, but when they are, they’re respectable. The previous adults Anthea has lived with aren’t, but that’s part of the plot line. A parental figure is found evil. A married couple are opposites and one seems a little evil but it’s not confirmed.
Favorite character: Jilly
Would I recommend: yes!! I love this book! I would recommend to ages 11+ who can handle a bit of violence.
Will I continue the series: Most definitely!! I’m looking forward to learning more about the Jilly plot twist and seeing the spark of romance between two characters grow!
4.75 stars, but I didn’t want to round up on Goodreads and have it appear as a 5 star aka a new favorite book. It was close, though!!
I liked: The atmosphere(!!), the character names😂, the creative and fresh kingdom system, no magic, plot, chapter length, bonds between characters, the hint on middle grade romance, the plot twists, the horse content as someone who doesn’t like animal books, the refreshingly great writing style and word choice, the ending
I did not like: The surface level characters, the main character mainly (but she wasn’t insufferable and doesn’t change the flow of the story or my review) , the very few chapters that felt a bit slow,
Language: Hell was used as a curse word, not the place.
LGBTQ+: None
Romance: A sweet romance was hinted at between two teen characters. You can tell the boy cares for the girl and holds her hand to comfort her as well as gives her a gift and kisses her on the cheek goodbye, but that’s about it.
Violence: A character is shot, pain described shortly. Horses are entangled in wire and the wounds from that are described a bit more, still brief. A character is close to death and is delusional.
Religious Views: no religion is visible in this book, but some phrases hint at a spiritual belief among the people.
Authority Roles: Pretty decent. A lot of the adults where Anthea lives aren’t in the story much, but when they are, they’re respectable. The previous adults Anthea has lived with aren’t, but that’s part of the plot line. A parental figure is found evil. A married couple are opposites and one seems a little evil but it’s not confirmed.
Favorite character: Jilly
Would I recommend: yes!! I love this book! I would recommend to ages 11+ who can handle a bit of violence.
Will I continue the series: Most definitely!! I’m looking forward to learning more about the Jilly plot twist and seeing the spark of romance between two characters grow!
June 10, 2018
The beginning of The Rose Legacy, when Anthea gets off a train and steps into a new world, where nothing makes sense, and everything she knows turns out to be wrong, and the ground is constantly shifting beneath her feet, is flat-out spectacular. It may be one of the best metaphors for growing up I've ever read. (It's not a metaphor for growing up at all, which is probably why it's so powerful.) It's great.
...And then the book falls apart. She has a super-special bond with a horse that helps her overcome her reservations, all her memories come back, things fall apart and she comes up with a terrible plan. And then the book just - stops. No ending whatsoever. No payoff to the hasty politicking or the queen's ridiculous reveal or that it turns out that horses aren't that secret after all.
And let's not forget that Florian gets to narrate, too - WHY? - and his narration is so clunkily written: juvenile and awkward and awful.
Why couldn't I get the book that the first few chapters promised me, where Anthea feels like a fish out of water and has to learn to fit into a whole new world? I want more of her laughing at Finn and fighting with Jilly and throwing sponges.
All this said, I also read The Penderwicks at Last this weekend. And while that one is certainly more competently written - better pacing, more coherent storytelling - there's something more compelling about The Rose Legacy. It zigs where it should zag, and it throws rules out the window, and it's mostly unsuccessful - but the places where it does succeed are transcendent.
...And then the book falls apart. She has a super-special bond with a horse that helps her overcome her reservations, all her memories come back, things fall apart and she comes up with a terrible plan. And then the book just - stops. No ending whatsoever. No payoff to the hasty politicking or the queen's ridiculous reveal or that it turns out that horses aren't that secret after all.
And let's not forget that Florian gets to narrate, too - WHY? - and his narration is so clunkily written: juvenile and awkward and awful.
Why couldn't I get the book that the first few chapters promised me, where Anthea feels like a fish out of water and has to learn to fit into a whole new world? I want more of her laughing at Finn and fighting with Jilly and throwing sponges.
All this said, I also read The Penderwicks at Last this weekend. And while that one is certainly more competently written - better pacing, more coherent storytelling - there's something more compelling about The Rose Legacy. It zigs where it should zag, and it throws rules out the window, and it's mostly unsuccessful - but the places where it does succeed are transcendent.
October 13, 2018
I have no idea what I just read. But I finished it, so there's that I guess...
The problems started early. There is no explanation of why Anthea doesn't remember living in not-Scotland (it has another fantasy name, but like in Game of Thrones, these countries are analogs to England and Scotland, so that's what I'm going to refer to them as). The first few chapters are about Anthea freaking out that she's being sent into exile away from the snooty society of not-England and into the wilds of... somewhere beyond the Wall In The North (yep, there's a wall separating the two countries in the north). But then she gets there, finds out that horses are real and not plague-ridden and not going to kill her. Oh, and she has super-special-horse-princess powers that let her talk to the horses. So, in the space of maybe two paragraphs, she goes from being scared spitless of the situation she's been thrust into, to being this Great Horse Lady of the North and Nobody Take Her Horse Boyfriend Away!
Seriously - she has a horse, Florian, that she's "bonded" with and they are inseparable within seconds of meeting. Never explained why or how this happens, or even when they met before. Was Anthea a baby when she was taken from not-Scotland? How does a horse bond with a baby? Were there memory-wiping shenanigans afoot? Is this part of someone's nefarious scheme to separate her from her family? Never talked about. It's just mystical horse magic. Florian even has his own internal monologues at the end of certain chapters where he waxes eloquent (and awkward) to himself and other horses about Beloved Anthea. By the fifth time these asides happened, I felt like I was eavesdropping on something that ought not to be eavesdropped on. Something personal and private and... can you two get a room already?? I hesitate to read too much into it, given that this is a kids' book. But I do have to register a very very very confused... "HUH????"
So, very little explanation as to why Anthea was kept in the dark about her heritage and powers. Just, she's part of this family that she never knew about because... Reasons. Not much world building, even though it seems like there's going to be some eventually. All I got was shallow characters, shallow plot, shallow resolution (that resolution was waaaaay too easy, given the hostilities not-England supposedly had against not-Scotland) - but pretty horsies. Um... yay?
(Full disclosure: I grew up on a ranch riding horses, but horses weren't pets. They were a tool. A tool that you had to feed and take care of, to be sure. They were for herding cows, and going for rides for fun, if you wanted. I did have my own horse that I learned to ride on and that I have fond memories of. But I never understood the strange fascination that non-farm kids had about showing horses and braiding ribbons in their tails and reading princess-y books about them. So, it's entirely possible that this book is just not for me and that's my problem.)
I dunno - I like Jessica Day George's other books, but this one fell flat for me. I can see parts of this that could be charming. I could be persuaded to read a whole book from Jilly's perspective, for example. But there wasn't enough of her to make it worthwhile. This is not one that I'll be recommending, sadly.
The problems started early. There is no explanation of why Anthea doesn't remember living in not-Scotland (it has another fantasy name, but like in Game of Thrones, these countries are analogs to England and Scotland, so that's what I'm going to refer to them as). The first few chapters are about Anthea freaking out that she's being sent into exile away from the snooty society of not-England and into the wilds of... somewhere beyond the Wall In The North (yep, there's a wall separating the two countries in the north). But then she gets there, finds out that horses are real and not plague-ridden and not going to kill her. Oh, and she has super-special-horse-princess powers that let her talk to the horses. So, in the space of maybe two paragraphs, she goes from being scared spitless of the situation she's been thrust into, to being this Great Horse Lady of the North and Nobody Take Her Horse Boyfriend Away!
Seriously - she has a horse, Florian, that she's "bonded" with and they are inseparable within seconds of meeting. Never explained why or how this happens, or even when they met before. Was Anthea a baby when she was taken from not-Scotland? How does a horse bond with a baby? Were there memory-wiping shenanigans afoot? Is this part of someone's nefarious scheme to separate her from her family? Never talked about. It's just mystical horse magic. Florian even has his own internal monologues at the end of certain chapters where he waxes eloquent (and awkward) to himself and other horses about Beloved Anthea. By the fifth time these asides happened, I felt like I was eavesdropping on something that ought not to be eavesdropped on. Something personal and private and... can you two get a room already?? I hesitate to read too much into it, given that this is a kids' book. But I do have to register a very very very confused... "HUH????"
So, very little explanation as to why Anthea was kept in the dark about her heritage and powers. Just, she's part of this family that she never knew about because... Reasons. Not much world building, even though it seems like there's going to be some eventually. All I got was shallow characters, shallow plot, shallow resolution (that resolution was waaaaay too easy, given the hostilities not-England supposedly had against not-Scotland) - but pretty horsies. Um... yay?
(Full disclosure: I grew up on a ranch riding horses, but horses weren't pets. They were a tool. A tool that you had to feed and take care of, to be sure. They were for herding cows, and going for rides for fun, if you wanted. I did have my own horse that I learned to ride on and that I have fond memories of. But I never understood the strange fascination that non-farm kids had about showing horses and braiding ribbons in their tails and reading princess-y books about them. So, it's entirely possible that this book is just not for me and that's my problem.)
I dunno - I like Jessica Day George's other books, but this one fell flat for me. I can see parts of this that could be charming. I could be persuaded to read a whole book from Jilly's perspective, for example. But there wasn't enough of her to make it worthwhile. This is not one that I'll be recommending, sadly.
June 1, 2018
Basically, this is all my childhood horse fantasies in a book. 💖💖💖
Excuse me while I sigh dreamy eyed at the stars and fantasize about horses.
Okay, I'm back, but I'm still fantasizing about horses.
Remember those horse books you read as a kid? Haven't you wondered where all the modern horse books are? Because I have. And there aren't any. Until now.
And let me tell you, this book was worth the wait. Basically, it's all my childhood horse fantasies rolled into a single, beautiful book.
I literally sighed with happiness as I read this story. My nerd's heart beat a little faster and my inner ten-year-old self was transported back to a time when I thought buying a horse was a reasonable thing to request of my parents.
Remember when you were a kid and you just KNEW that you had a special connection with animals? One animal in particular? For Anthea, that becomes a reality when she arrives at her uncle's secret horse farm. The minute she slaps eyes on Florian, her entire world stops, shifts, and starts spinning in the other direction.
Plus, she has a special gift that allows her to communicate with horses. I mean, what kid doesn't want that ability? I do, and I'm not even a kid!
I've read other books from this author, and I've always enjoyed them. But I think she's hit something extra special with this story. It's beautiful. I can't wait for more people to discover it and realize what a gem they've stumbled across!
Highly recommended for kids ages 9-14 that love horses and adventure!
Content: clean, but there are some perilous situations.
Source: Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy!
Excuse me while I sigh dreamy eyed at the stars and fantasize about horses.
Okay, I'm back, but I'm still fantasizing about horses.
Remember those horse books you read as a kid? Haven't you wondered where all the modern horse books are? Because I have. And there aren't any. Until now.
And let me tell you, this book was worth the wait. Basically, it's all my childhood horse fantasies rolled into a single, beautiful book.
I literally sighed with happiness as I read this story. My nerd's heart beat a little faster and my inner ten-year-old self was transported back to a time when I thought buying a horse was a reasonable thing to request of my parents.
Remember when you were a kid and you just KNEW that you had a special connection with animals? One animal in particular? For Anthea, that becomes a reality when she arrives at her uncle's secret horse farm. The minute she slaps eyes on Florian, her entire world stops, shifts, and starts spinning in the other direction.
Plus, she has a special gift that allows her to communicate with horses. I mean, what kid doesn't want that ability? I do, and I'm not even a kid!
I've read other books from this author, and I've always enjoyed them. But I think she's hit something extra special with this story. It's beautiful. I can't wait for more people to discover it and realize what a gem they've stumbled across!
Highly recommended for kids ages 9-14 that love horses and adventure!
Content: clean, but there are some perilous situations.
Source: Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy!
June 21, 2020
I have to remind myself over and over that this is a children's book!
I love the first half. Very intriguing. But when they took the matters in their own hands, well...it did feel childish haha. I have to strain myself during this time.
But the ending was once again intriguing. And my curious mind need to know what will happen next.
I love the first half. Very intriguing. But when they took the matters in their own hands, well...it did feel childish haha. I have to strain myself during this time.
But the ending was once again intriguing. And my curious mind need to know what will happen next.
August 4, 2021
This is a middle grades story that horse lovers and fantasy lovers will enjoy. Anthea is an orphan who has been sent from family member to family member her whole life. She's been with an aunt and uncle for several years, but when her aunt is expecting, Anthea is sent away once again. This time she is being sent to a relative outside of Kalabar's Wall, which was installed hundreds of years before. The belief is that there was a plague that started with horses and killed many. I'm not sure how a wall will keep out the plague, but it was so long ago that is no longer the issue, especially as all horses have been destroyed. Anthea has only had one wish, to become a Rose Maiden like her mother, but being sent to live with the uncivilized has dashed those plans. When she arrives at the Last Farm, she finds a family she doesn't remember but are so happy to have her there. What she doesn't expect to find are horses, especially one that she is drawn to for some reason. She also finds out some information that challenges everything she has been taught and brought up to believe.
This is the first book I have read by Jessica Day George. It was intriguing and I really loved how horses were used to move this story forward. It combines a lot of popular elements such as a dystopia, Victorian-era orphan tales, and horses in a very different way, that had me turning the pages. There is a blend of past and present in this world, with royals and a class based system, but they had technology such as motor cars. I really liked the characters that Anthea meets at the farm. They were realistic and I could feel their discomfort yet yearning to get to know this lost relative. Anthea's character was caught between two worlds and I liked how she stuttered as she found her place. There is adventure, family, friendship and of course restoring someone to their rightful place. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I do want to read the next one, The Queen's Secret, to find out what is next for Anthea and her little band of renegades and horses. Great book for late primary and junior grade readers.
This is the first book I have read by Jessica Day George. It was intriguing and I really loved how horses were used to move this story forward. It combines a lot of popular elements such as a dystopia, Victorian-era orphan tales, and horses in a very different way, that had me turning the pages. There is a blend of past and present in this world, with royals and a class based system, but they had technology such as motor cars. I really liked the characters that Anthea meets at the farm. They were realistic and I could feel their discomfort yet yearning to get to know this lost relative. Anthea's character was caught between two worlds and I liked how she stuttered as she found her place. There is adventure, family, friendship and of course restoring someone to their rightful place. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I do want to read the next one, The Queen's Secret, to find out what is next for Anthea and her little band of renegades and horses. Great book for late primary and junior grade readers.
May 13, 2019
This book is wonderful. I've always enjoyed Jessica's stories, but this might be my favorite of hers. My only regret is that it didn't exist when I was a child--I think my younger self, who often daydreamed of horses and spent hours poring over books about various breeds and their origins and care, when she wasn't reading the Black Stallion series and a hundred other books about horses, that young girl would have latched onto this book as a childhood favorite and read it many times over.
As it is, I'm so happy I have a signed copy, and I will treasure it forever. Thank you for writing this book for us horse lovers who are also fantasy lovers, Jessica.
As it is, I'm so happy I have a signed copy, and I will treasure it forever. Thank you for writing this book for us horse lovers who are also fantasy lovers, Jessica.
August 22, 2025
Ahoy there me mateys! I read this author’s Silver in the Blood and while it wasn’t a favorite, I did want to try more of her work. I hear very good things about many of her series. This one deals with ponies and so I was looking forward to it. The cover makes me inner-child self squee with delight.
Sadly the book did not make me grown-up self happy. This despite the fact that the horse, Florian, can talk to Anthea telepathically. I may have liked it when I was seven but maybe not even then. The plot had many problems. The main character, Anthea, is petulant and stubborn and doesn’t use her brain (ever). The book uses a horrible amnesia trope. The “good” uncle in her life doesn’t explain ANYTHING to his niece or even act like an adult. People who are supposed to be dead aren’t. The evil people have no real motivation. The world-building is non-existent. The “romance” story was tacked on (no pun intended) and was just silly. The children’s grand plot to save the day makes NO sense and actually causes lots of horses to get injured. The politics and character machinations also make NO sense. The plot was all over the place as was the pacing.
Florian’s chapters from his perspective make him seem like an obsessive boyfriend stalker and are written in a bizarre manner. The special horse magic called “the Way” made no real sense in terms of how it worked and Anthea is basically told she can never leave the farm because of it. I never owned a horse and have limited experience riding (cause I be allergic) but even how the horses acted, thought, and were ridden did not seem to make logical sense. Seriously, not all riders should be thrown the first time they get on a horse. I wasn’t.
The first few chapters had such promise but this book broke down (no pun intended) quickly. I even read the blurbs for the next two books and they sounded even worse. I will try more of the author’s works but this book and the rest of this series walks the plank! Arrrr!
Sadly the book did not make me grown-up self happy. This despite the fact that the horse, Florian, can talk to Anthea telepathically. I may have liked it when I was seven but maybe not even then. The plot had many problems. The main character, Anthea, is petulant and stubborn and doesn’t use her brain (ever). The book uses a horrible amnesia trope. The “good” uncle in her life doesn’t explain ANYTHING to his niece or even act like an adult. People who are supposed to be dead aren’t. The evil people have no real motivation. The world-building is non-existent. The “romance” story was tacked on (no pun intended) and was just silly. The children’s grand plot to save the day makes NO sense and actually causes lots of horses to get injured. The politics and character machinations also make NO sense. The plot was all over the place as was the pacing.
Florian’s chapters from his perspective make him seem like an obsessive boyfriend stalker and are written in a bizarre manner. The special horse magic called “the Way” made no real sense in terms of how it worked and Anthea is basically told she can never leave the farm because of it. I never owned a horse and have limited experience riding (cause I be allergic) but even how the horses acted, thought, and were ridden did not seem to make logical sense. Seriously, not all riders should be thrown the first time they get on a horse. I wasn’t.
The first few chapters had such promise but this book broke down (no pun intended) quickly. I even read the blurbs for the next two books and they sounded even worse. I will try more of the author’s works but this book and the rest of this series walks the plank! Arrrr!
July 20, 2018
If I had just seen this book on the shelf, I probably would have passed it over. Not because I don't like the cover but because I don't really lean toward the animal books and the cover shows a girl riding a horse. I think it's a great cover but not really my style. However, knowing that Jessica Day George wrote it, I decided to give it a try. Everything I have ready by her I have loved-the Tuesdays at the Castle series being one of my favorites. So, I picked it up and read it. I loved it. It was fantastic-and while it is an animal story it also has a bit of fantasy involved which really appealed to me. There is one spot where the main character meets a horse-her horse-again after not seeing the horse for years and forgetting all about him. I had to stop reading for a moment because I was at work in the break room with other people and I didn't want to start bawling in front of them (although being book lovers themselves they probably would have understood)=). I loved all the main characters and I felt like the story was well thought out and paced well. I think little girls (and big girls=)) will love this one, but don't discount the boys bc there is a couple of good guy characters too. I'm excited to learn more about them in the future books (of which I hope there are many=)).
July 1, 2018
This was delightful. The horses were wonderful, definitely my favorite characters. I did like most of the humans, too. The story was sweet and, at times, humorous. The setting was lovely. I liked the farm by the sea the best.
July 10, 2020
Very nice for kids and I enjoyed it and read it quickly. I really enjoy this author for my kids. Not quite a 4, but a good book for my kids.
May 8, 2019
My fantasy series, "The Mist Trilogy," is often described as the horse-lover's fantasy. Well then, "The Rose Legacy" should be described as the horse-lovers fairy tale. I had so much fun reading this book. Not only was the story intriguing, but the author's knowledge of horses was right up my literary alley! All readers of "Behind the Mist," "Mists of Darkness," and "The Rising Mist" will love this book as well! M.J. Evans, Author
abandoned
February 10, 2020DNF @45%
Rating: 2 stars
1. Yeaaaah, no.
2. I don't think I have ever been a horse girl? I had a mild unicorn phase but most of what I wrote during the period focused a lot on the horns. But I do like stories about the Care and Feeding of Creatures and I liked Black Horses for the King, so I thought this was going to be enough to hold my interest.
3. Not so much, as it turns out. These are magic horses ft. non-explicit magic. Florian has an actual PoV and it's pretty obvious he's sentient. But apart from that, the horses are treated entirely like smart animals so there's uh- a bit of a dissonance.
4. That dissonance pales in comparison to Thea, who morphs into different characters as per the needs of the plot. It's not impossible to logically unify Wary!Thea with Hysterical!Thea and Horselover!Thea, but the transitions happen really quickly with minimal emotional exploration. I'm not a fan of having to justify an author's characterization for them, so this was something of a letdown.
5. I tried to hold on for a little longer but- ehhh. I can already predict the plot and have no particular interest in the characters, setting or prose.
6. I really liked Tuesdays at the Castle and Dragon Slippers so I was hoping that my dislike of Day George's other books was a fluke. I'm going to conclude that isn't the case- the problems I had with this book were very similar to the ones I had in the later Castle Glower books.
Rating: 2 stars
1. Yeaaaah, no.
2. I don't think I have ever been a horse girl? I had a mild unicorn phase but most of what I wrote during the period focused a lot on the horns. But I do like stories about the Care and Feeding of Creatures and I liked Black Horses for the King, so I thought this was going to be enough to hold my interest.
3. Not so much, as it turns out. These are magic horses ft. non-explicit magic. Florian has an actual PoV and it's pretty obvious he's sentient. But apart from that, the horses are treated entirely like smart animals so there's uh- a bit of a dissonance.
4. That dissonance pales in comparison to Thea, who morphs into different characters as per the needs of the plot. It's not impossible to logically unify Wary!Thea with Hysterical!Thea and Horselover!Thea, but the transitions happen really quickly with minimal emotional exploration. I'm not a fan of having to justify an author's characterization for them, so this was something of a letdown.
5. I tried to hold on for a little longer but- ehhh. I can already predict the plot and have no particular interest in the characters, setting or prose.
6. I really liked Tuesdays at the Castle and Dragon Slippers so I was hoping that my dislike of Day George's other books was a fluke. I'm going to conclude that isn't the case- the problems I had with this book were very similar to the ones I had in the later Castle Glower books.
October 11, 2022
Anthea, growing up in the southern kingdom of Coronam, has heard stories of supposedly disease-ridden creatures called horses that once lived in the exiled lands to the north all her life, but assumes they all died out long ago. As an orphan she is shunted around to various relatives until finally there is no one left but her uncle in the exiled lands. There she discovers horses are still alive, that she has a special connection with them, and that the history of Coronam is not as rosy as she has been taught.
I loved this book. The setup is so unique, and I loved the horse focus. I pictured Coronam as basically England, with the exiled lands as Scotland, which I think is the intention. I've never read a book with a world with such a different perspective on horses before. Anthea grows a lot as a character and the book has some good messages about how a winning country's bias can affect history taught in schools.
There are a few plot points not fully explained, but perhaps that was the intention. I would definitely like to see a sequel that explores the world further, but I'm not sure where the plot would lead.
I loved this book. The setup is so unique, and I loved the horse focus. I pictured Coronam as basically England, with the exiled lands as Scotland, which I think is the intention. I've never read a book with a world with such a different perspective on horses before. Anthea grows a lot as a character and the book has some good messages about how a winning country's bias can affect history taught in schools.
There are a few plot points not fully explained, but perhaps that was the intention. I would definitely like to see a sequel that explores the world further, but I'm not sure where the plot would lead.
September 18, 2018
This fell way short of JDG expectations. The plot was not very original and the horse's love felt...creepy? Very sorry I did not enjoy this more.
October 16, 2018
Awesome book for horse lovers, I loved it! Can't wait for next year for the second book to come out.
November 19, 2018
What a fabulous book! I got it for my daughter and she loved it so I figured I'd better give it a try too. We can't wait for the next one to come out.
January 28, 2025
I’ve already read the Tuesdays at the castle series. They were great, page-Turing and entertaining! Rose legacy is also all that! Five stars!
May 7, 2025
A lie told to protect two communities of peoples. Coronami and leanan. A wall made between the two communities to protect them. Each was told a different reason to build the wall.
Everyone inside the wall or the place they now call the Coronam thought that the horses died. The leanans didn't bother telling anyone about the horses. Anthea who had lived the first 3-4 years of her life in Lean has no memory of it. She has been taught the coronami history and she considers her uncle to be a lier . As time passes, She learns the truth. The actual truth. Not the lies in Coronami history that as shaped into truth. She gets to know that she sits next to a king (who doesn't look like a king but more like a normal teen ) at dinner. She knows nothing of lean but she somehow remembers Florian. Her Florian. She soon discovers she has the way. But she has done a grave mistake. A mistake that has put the Last Farm at risk. A mistake that has to be undone and for this she needs to set out on a journey. A journey filled with misery and mishaps but she still needs to move on. A journey that Reunites her with her mother (who she assumed was dead ) . A journey in which she had a near to death experience. But she will not stop. She has to move on. It's her only chance to save the Last Farm. But the real question is does she make it dead or alive? Does she even make it to safety?
Everyone inside the wall or the place they now call the Coronam thought that the horses died. The leanans didn't bother telling anyone about the horses. Anthea who had lived the first 3-4 years of her life in Lean has no memory of it. She has been taught the coronami history and she considers her uncle to be a lier . As time passes, She learns the truth. The actual truth. Not the lies in Coronami history that as shaped into truth. She gets to know that she sits next to a king (who doesn't look like a king but more like a normal teen ) at dinner. She knows nothing of lean but she somehow remembers Florian. Her Florian. She soon discovers she has the way. But she has done a grave mistake. A mistake that has put the Last Farm at risk. A mistake that has to be undone and for this she needs to set out on a journey. A journey filled with misery and mishaps but she still needs to move on. A journey that Reunites her with her mother (who she assumed was dead ) . A journey in which she had a near to death experience. But she will not stop. She has to move on. It's her only chance to save the Last Farm. But the real question is does she make it dead or alive? Does she even make it to safety?
May 29, 2020
This was a fairly quick, enjoyable read for me. I'm not really a horse person (nor was I as a little girl) but I do love Jessica Day George's books.
It was fast paced and I cared about all the characters. The tension was well paced and the actual writing flowed well.
The main reason I brought down my reading to four stars was that I wanted more from the book. There were parts of the world and plot that didn't feel fleshed out enough, with too many things left unexplained, or explained to quickly in a tell-not-show way. There was instalove between the girl and her horse, making her character change feel very rushed. The solution felt too easy at the end of the book.
Overall, I'm excited to read the rest of the series, because I did enjoy it while I was reading. I do hope we get more with them. It's also a book I will definitely have my girls read as they get just a little older, because I think most young girls would really enjoy it.
It was fast paced and I cared about all the characters. The tension was well paced and the actual writing flowed well.
The main reason I brought down my reading to four stars was that I wanted more from the book. There were parts of the world and plot that didn't feel fleshed out enough, with too many things left unexplained, or explained to quickly in a tell-not-show way. There was instalove between the girl and her horse, making her character change feel very rushed. The solution felt too easy at the end of the book.
Overall, I'm excited to read the rest of the series, because I did enjoy it while I was reading. I do hope we get more with them. It's also a book I will definitely have my girls read as they get just a little older, because I think most young girls would really enjoy it.
November 17, 2021
I'm generally a fan of Jessica Day George, and have read almost all her books. I don't think this trilogy is the strongest, but there's some fun stuff going on here.
1. Horses. If you like horses, this is something you will love. At times the bonds between the riders and the horses seem a little overdone, but hey, maybe horse psychology is exactly like that.
2. The author does this thing in her writing style where every chapter feels like it's got a cliffhanger ending, and the start of the next chapter jumps a bit instead of continuing on the previous build-up. It creates an interesting sense of pacing for sure, although sometimes I feel like I'm being lurched forward on a bumpy road (or bumpy horse ride?)
3. The mother - daughter relationship between Anthea and her evil mother Genevia is delicious and fun.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this enough to re-read it!
1. Horses. If you like horses, this is something you will love. At times the bonds between the riders and the horses seem a little overdone, but hey, maybe horse psychology is exactly like that.
2. The author does this thing in her writing style where every chapter feels like it's got a cliffhanger ending, and the start of the next chapter jumps a bit instead of continuing on the previous build-up. It creates an interesting sense of pacing for sure, although sometimes I feel like I'm being lurched forward on a bumpy road (or bumpy horse ride?)
3. The mother - daughter relationship between Anthea and her evil mother Genevia is delicious and fun.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this enough to re-read it!
February 14, 2025
The overall book was interesting enough to keep me reading. My daughter, who is the target age for this, loved it!
The plot felt quite rushed in the beginning, with a lot of backstory revealed too quickly in the first quarter.
The only fantasy aspect was the ability of some characters to communicate with the horses telepathically.
It does finish with a satisfying ending and could be read as a stand-alone novel and not a trilogy. I am going to continue the series to see how the story progresses.
CAUTION: near the end of chapter 18, the character Perkins says
"Then they'll probably find some long-lost sacred tablet that says that horses are the devil's pets and we have to destroy them all or burn in hell!"
The above quote is frowned upon by another character as being inappropriate language. But I want to mention it if you are giving this book to a younger reader.
The plot felt quite rushed in the beginning, with a lot of backstory revealed too quickly in the first quarter.
The only fantasy aspect was the ability of some characters to communicate with the horses telepathically.
It does finish with a satisfying ending and could be read as a stand-alone novel and not a trilogy. I am going to continue the series to see how the story progresses.
CAUTION: near the end of chapter 18, the character Perkins says
"Then they'll probably find some long-lost sacred tablet that says that horses are the devil's pets and we have to destroy them all or burn in hell!"
The above quote is frowned upon by another character as being inappropriate language. But I want to mention it if you are giving this book to a younger reader.
March 23, 2018
I enjoyed the premise and the characters (the horses, especially Florian, the humans, and the little owl, Arthur). Anthea has been passed from one home to another and then exiled beyond the Wall. It's a harsh life, she thinks, after arriving at Last Farm. She rebels and complains. And it's treason! Meanwhile Florian is trying to reach Anthea, but they are kept apart because no one, including Anthea, understands what he wants. Well, he is a stallion and impossible to control since Anthea arrived. Then the letters [no spoilers about them] complicate the plot, and Anthea and her companions start on a perilous quest; there's danger and and betrayal and suspense all the way. The ending is satisfying and leaves you expecting more.
January 18, 2019
The Rose Legacy book 1
by Jessica Day George
This is the kind of book that my sister and i love to read, just like Jessica we both had a crazy love for horses when we were younger.
Anthea had want to become a Rose maiden all her life but when her ant and uncle sent her into exile beyond the wall she discovers more then just her long lost uncle Andrew and cousin Jilly, she finds herself on the last farm as they called it surrounded by horses, something the people all thought had died out a long time ago, and that's not all this lost kingdom also has a king call Finn that clamed that he was the rightful king.
now Anthea has to choose to save what her dad had loved and become a horse maiden with the power of the way. a bond that not all riders have to talk and feel the feelings of horses.
or will she turn her back to become a Rose Maiden and endanger the life of the last horses in the whole world.
highly recommend this book to horse lovers
by Jessica Day George
This is the kind of book that my sister and i love to read, just like Jessica we both had a crazy love for horses when we were younger.
Anthea had want to become a Rose maiden all her life but when her ant and uncle sent her into exile beyond the wall she discovers more then just her long lost uncle Andrew and cousin Jilly, she finds herself on the last farm as they called it surrounded by horses, something the people all thought had died out a long time ago, and that's not all this lost kingdom also has a king call Finn that clamed that he was the rightful king.
now Anthea has to choose to save what her dad had loved and become a horse maiden with the power of the way. a bond that not all riders have to talk and feel the feelings of horses.
or will she turn her back to become a Rose Maiden and endanger the life of the last horses in the whole world.
highly recommend this book to horse lovers
December 29, 2019
I wanted to love it, and I do like it, but it doesn't have the same magic that George's other books have. I didn't become attached to the characters and the world, maybe because the characterization and plot felt a little scattered. I'm not really sure who Anthea is, and her transition from an uppity, sheltered girl to a tough horse maiden felt rushed. I'll read the next installment, and probably the next, however.
May 17, 2019
Upper elementary chapter book. I think a 5-star read for any age appropriate young lady who loves horses. Still enjoyable for an adult.
April 15, 2020
G8 horse girl energy even if I’m too old to admit that I just read this.
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