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Phantom Stallion #14
Moonrise
Samantha's latest adventure with her mustang friend, the phantom stallion, in the wildly popular series. oSet in the modern day Wild West, Phantom Stallion has cowboys, horse rustlers, and mustangs – exciting new territory you can't find in any other series. oDedicated fan base – will appeal to fans of the Thoroughbred, Ashleigh and Saddle Club Series.
208 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Terri Farley
128 books414 followersTerri Farley is the best-selling author of books about the contemporary and historic West. Her PHANTOM STALLION series has sold over 2 million books world-wide and it relaunches with new art & content in March 2023.
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 21, 2023
As I've stated in my previous reviews for this series, book 14 is the first of the Phantom Stallion books that I never got a chance to read when I was a horse crazy kid. It was exciting even as an adult to finally get the chance to read "Moonrise" for the very first time, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed it very much!
Sam had a lot of learning to do in this one after some out-of-control (and illegal) hunting dogs attacked her father's horse and made him fall off. He was fine other than sore muscles, but it shook him into realizing there was a lot about ranching that he hadn't taught Sam yet. It was great getting to see Sam rise to the occasion and embrace more responsibility, even when it's hard. I especially enjoyed her and Jake's dynamic as they start off the story with their typical sibling-like bickering (one moment, in particular, ended up being accidentally hilarious) but then are able to put that aside and work together for Jake to teach Sam to rope a calf for the first time. Sam and her best friend also did a great job camping out on the range alone together to catch and brand the young calves, having fun together, but also getting the job done and making their fathers proud.
I can't wait to see how much more Sam grows as the series goes on!
Content Advisory:
Slocum is, as always, not on his best behavior. He bought hunting dogs that are illegal in the state where he lives and keeps letting them get loose and act aggressively. He's also rude to Sam and even belittles his own son in front of her.
Heads up for young readers who may be sensitive to the topic of parental death and parents being endangered:
Sam's dad is on his horse when the hunting dogs first attack. They act like a pack, surrounding his horse and jumping at it. One even bites and bloodies the horse's nose (mild description of the injury and blood), making it rear and throw its rider. It's a scary moment for Sam to witness, especially when it takes a second for her dad to get up. He's okay, but later has a serious conversation with Sam about the reality that sometimes ranchers get killed while doing their jobs and that he needs to prepare Sam to take over the ranch if that should happen to him. Sam feels the weight of this reality because she already lost her mother in an accident a few years before the book series started.
Sam had a lot of learning to do in this one after some out-of-control (and illegal) hunting dogs attacked her father's horse and made him fall off. He was fine other than sore muscles, but it shook him into realizing there was a lot about ranching that he hadn't taught Sam yet. It was great getting to see Sam rise to the occasion and embrace more responsibility, even when it's hard. I especially enjoyed her and Jake's dynamic as they start off the story with their typical sibling-like bickering (one moment, in particular, ended up being accidentally hilarious) but then are able to put that aside and work together for Jake to teach Sam to rope a calf for the first time. Sam and her best friend also did a great job camping out on the range alone together to catch and brand the young calves, having fun together, but also getting the job done and making their fathers proud.
I can't wait to see how much more Sam grows as the series goes on!
Content Advisory:
Slocum is, as always, not on his best behavior. He bought hunting dogs that are illegal in the state where he lives and keeps letting them get loose and act aggressively. He's also rude to Sam and even belittles his own son in front of her.
Heads up for young readers who may be sensitive to the topic of parental death and parents being endangered:
Sam's dad is on his horse when the hunting dogs first attack. They act like a pack, surrounding his horse and jumping at it. One even bites and bloodies the horse's nose (mild description of the injury and blood), making it rear and throw its rider. It's a scary moment for Sam to witness, especially when it takes a second for her dad to get up. He's okay, but later has a serious conversation with Sam about the reality that sometimes ranchers get killed while doing their jobs and that he needs to prepare Sam to take over the ranch if that should happen to him. Sam feels the weight of this reality because she already lost her mother in an accident a few years before the book series started.
November 9, 2024
Set two weeks after Shy Boots and Tempest were foaled, nothing much happens here. The title refers to the Phantom's son New Moon, who has grown in more ways than one. Once again, he tries to overthrow his sire to take over the herd.
Yada yada.
Oh, and Linc Slocum buys a pack of three deer hunting dogs from Louisiana. However, the dogs go after Sam's Dad as he's riding on his big Appaloosa. They go after deer ... and the Mustangs. Would dogs trained to go after deer really go after horses -- especially a horse being ridden?
I highly doubt it. If the dogs were completely feral, yeah, but they'd just come from Louisiana about a week or two before.
It's just all a bit blah, really. Things are hinted at, but not much comes into fruition. I'd read the book after this, Kidnapped Colt years ago without reading this one. Looks like I didn't miss anything.
Yada yada.
Oh, and Linc Slocum buys a pack of three deer hunting dogs from Louisiana. However, the dogs go after Sam's Dad as he's riding on his big Appaloosa. They go after deer ... and the Mustangs. Would dogs trained to go after deer really go after horses -- especially a horse being ridden?
I highly doubt it. If the dogs were completely feral, yeah, but they'd just come from Louisiana about a week or two before.
It's just all a bit blah, really. Things are hinted at, but not much comes into fruition. I'd read the book after this, Kidnapped Colt years ago without reading this one. Looks like I didn't miss anything.
April 8, 2025
A little slow at the beginning but I liked it when it got going...
I hope to continue the series soon! P. S. But seriously, these books are kinda difficult to get! lol
I hope to continue the series soon! P. S. But seriously, these books are kinda difficult to get! lol
December 10, 2012
Linc Slocum is an idiot, and I don't like him.
January 21, 2026
In the grander scheme of this series, this book doesn't actually have much by way of big events or plot points. This book doesn't really build off of any previous plot points nor does it introduce anything new; no new characters or horses or events that change much. You could honestly probably skip this book and read it later and you'd not be lost.
That being said, I did like the pace of this book. I admit, I really like the Phantom and his cast, but I find that I enjoy books where he ends up being the side plot. He and New Moon (who is hinted at being a bigger plot on the blurb than he really is) are both a bit of a side plot in this book, but I didn't dislike that.
I liked that this book really focused on Sam's dad preparing her to step up, and of course, I like that Sam is able to give Slocum some comeuppance.
That being said, I did like the pace of this book. I admit, I really like the Phantom and his cast, but I find that I enjoy books where he ends up being the side plot. He and New Moon (who is hinted at being a bigger plot on the blurb than he really is) are both a bit of a side plot in this book, but I didn't dislike that.
I liked that this book really focused on Sam's dad preparing her to step up, and of course, I like that Sam is able to give Slocum some comeuppance.
September 25, 2020
My rating system
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
4 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
When a pack of vicious hunting dogs is found running loose on the range, Samantha is worried they might attack the Phantom Stallion's new foals.
But the Phantom is busy protecting his herd from New Moon, a rival stallion and the Phantom's fully grown son. If Sam can't help the horses, will the stallions learn to band together in time?
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
4 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
When a pack of vicious hunting dogs is found running loose on the range, Samantha is worried they might attack the Phantom Stallion's new foals.
But the Phantom is busy protecting his herd from New Moon, a rival stallion and the Phantom's fully grown son. If Sam can't help the horses, will the stallions learn to band together in time?
August 3, 2024
The blurb focuses on the Phantom's fully-grown son Moon challenging him, but honestly that makes up only a small portion of the story. Most of it has to do with Sam learning how to run the ranch and training in certain skills she'll need if/when she takes over from her father. I love seeing how her family and friends support her in this.
Also love seeing Slocum get his comeuppance, hehehe.
Also love seeing Slocum get his comeuppance, hehehe.
October 1, 2024
3.5 stars
Ooops, Terri forgot Jen's mom's name for a book :)
Okay, this is so sweet! The time Sam spends with her dad, that he's trusting her more and teaching her... even Jake is nice to her!
Linc's lesson is awesome! :)
Ooops, Terri forgot Jen's mom's name for a book :)
Okay, this is so sweet! The time Sam spends with her dad, that he's trusting her more and teaching her... even Jake is nice to her!
Linc's lesson is awesome! :)
Read
June 16, 2008Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!
February 10, 2009
Awesome book!! ends great
July 11, 2009
FANTASTIC! I can't wait to read the series. No matter how much older I keep getting I'm in love with this series.
Want to read
August 30, 2009totally want read!!!!! after the other books
September 25, 2010
See the first book in the series for a full review.
Read
September 27, 2010loved it
November 30, 2014
A great series for the young horse-lover! I read the whole series as a kid and each book keeps you interested and racing for the next!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews