Eclipsed by Shadow [Paperback]

John Allen Royce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 21, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0972412131 | ISBN-13: 978-0972412131

Eclipsed by Shadow (Book 1 of the The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) begins an award-winning adventure into mankind's past. A teenage rider is carried into history by a Great Horse of legend ... with only her knowledge of horsemanship to survive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of those works that you will remember forever ... a wonderful way to get factual history into a great readable fiction novel. - Reader Views Literary Awards

"Thrilling and intelligent fantasy ... a great blend of academic and adventurous reading that is beach-ready." - US Review of Books

"A fast-paced, well-informed tale ... belongs in most libraries' adult and YA collections." -- Library Journal | Jackie Cassada, May 2008

"Smart dialogue and jaw-dropping action make Eclipsed by Shadow a surprise page turner." -- Lynne Scanlon, The Publishing Contrarian, February 2008

"This fascinating Young Adult book of the history of man's relationships with the horse is particularly well done ... 5 Hearts." -- Bob Spear, Heartland Reviews, May 2008

From the Publisher

Eclipsed by Shadow, the first book of the new trilogy The Legend of the Great Horse, arrives this Summer 2008 with a fresh and original look at the colorful role of horses in civilization.

Horseman and author John Royce has crafted a mix of history and horsemanship into a page-turning event. Lively writing combines suspense, mystery and humor into a startlingly realistic adventure through man's past--on horseback.

Educational, literary, fast-paced and vivid in detail, Eclipsed by Shadow brings to life man's ancient partnership with the horse. Readers travel through the pages of history to a time when primitive man stalked horses as prey, and witness the fascinating development of horsemanship in ancient and medieval cultures.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Micron Press (June 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972412131
• ISBN-13: 978-0972412131
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Allen Royce, Jr. is an American author and horseman. His debut title, Eclipsed by Shadow, won national honors including the 2009 Eric Hoffer Book Award for Best Young Adult Fiction.

Mr. Royce has lived 'from sea to shining sea' in his native America, and now resides in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Royce's 20+ years experience in competitive riding combined with a passion for history to spark the award-winning trilogy "The Legend of the Great Horse."

Other writing honors include the Mom's Choice Award (Gold Recipient) for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy, and a featured excerpt in the literary anthology, Best New Writing. Currently Mr. Royce is working to complete the final book of his trilogy adventure, to be released June 2012.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect blend of fantasy, suspense and history! November 30, 2008

By Rachel H

Format:Hardcover

Author John Royce masterfully blends fantasy, suspense and history in Eclipsed by Shadow, the first installment in a trilogy about a young girl, Meagan Roberts, as she discovers her horse, Promise, is "the Great Horse"--a seemingly mythical horse from a legend told to her by an old woman who stops by her family farm to see the newborn Promise. Royce tells the story through vivid imagery that engages the imagination as Meagan tries to save her horse from thieves, only to take flight on the back of her young horse and travel through history. But the darkness of the horse thieves is not escaped as Meagan discovers herself lost in the barbaric Medieval period and Ancient Rome. Through her time travels Meagan learns about the horse's role throughout history, from the horse as prey through weapon of battle. While much of the book focuses on Meagan's interactions with her horse, Royce equally develops the human relations in his lucid tale. The plot will captivate and leave the reader turning pages, determined to see Megan and Promise to safety.

The story provides carefully researched historical detail, both of society and of human interaction with horses. While the horse enthusiast will appreciate the careful accuracy on the equine element of the story, Royce also weaves his story in a way that will engage non-horsey young adult and adult readers alike.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book for fantasy, history and horse lovers alike. December 3, 2008

By Joe Calamari

Format:Paperback

Eclipsed by Shadow, the Legend of the Great Horse, is a wonderful juxtaposition of fantasy against historical fact. It mixes genres in a way that will thrill fantasy, history and horse fans alike. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting and I can't wait for more.

From the very first chapter it's obvious that the book is written by someone who really knows horses, horsemanship, and the history of the horse, inside and out. Only a true horseman would know that, "horsemanship is both subtle and vast", that "horses attracted both eccentrics and flies.".

Royce took me on a wildly exciting ride from present day, to 20,000 B.C, forward to 700, B.C. then on to Rome in 100 A.D and finally to Central Asia in 1240 A.D. While traveling with Meagan and her horse Promise, I learned about man's relationship with horses throughout history. It was a fascinating tour through history on horseback, full of facts and information, but presented in such a fast-paced and exciting way that I forgot that I was actually learning. I can't wait to saddle up and ride along with Meagan and Promise in book two.

Laurie Scott, Pennsylvania

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars History is a Tale of Horses November 16, 2008

By Tyler Tichelaar

Format:Paperback

"Eclipsed by Shadow" is an epic history of horses, complete with time travel, and educational material, but best of all, it is strong historical fiction.

The plot is pretty simple. Meagan learns from an eccentric neighbor lady that her newborn horse may well be "The Great Horse" of legend that has reappeared over the centuries. The Great Horse first originated as a horse meant to help Adam and Eve when they left the Garden of Eden.

I knew from what I had already heard about the book that it would include time travel and Meagan would experience how horses were used throughout the centuries by mankind.

When I started, I was a bit disappointed to see the first section went on for so long. I wanted to get right into the time travel, but once I started reading, I was thoroughly captivated by the plot and how well the author, John Royce, built up suspense in the first section. I actually think this was my favorite part of the book as Meagan learned about the legend of the Great Horse and also avoided having her horse stolen.

As for the time travel sections, the scene in prehistoric North America was brief and not quite as interesting as the later ones because after all it was prehistoric history, but I thought both the Rome and the medieval section were well done. Even though the book reads like a collection of short stories because of the different time periods that the characters do not cross over into, Royce successfully created some believable characters in each section.

Throughout, the book successfully blends fiction, character and plot with history and more than solely the history of horses. I am not interested in horses, but historical fiction, but I did come to appreciate the history of horses without ever being overly bored by the book containing too many details.

Anyone who loves horses or who loves history will love "Eclipsed by Shadow," and readers will be impatient to read the next two volumes in this trilogy about the Great Horse.

- Tyler R. Tichelaar, Ph.D., and author of "The Marquette Trilogy"