4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Horse is a Horse, Of Course... Or Is It?, May 6, 2006
This review is from: Horse Passages (Paperback)
I'm talking about the young adult book, HORSE PASSAGES, by Jennifer Macaire.
I'll admit it... At first I hesitated to read this book. I've never been a huge, Horses Rule gal. But guess what-it's the human characters who rule this book (although the horses do make wonderful companions and add a necessary thrill to the story).
Jennifer Macaire seamlessly weaves in factual details about horses-riding them and their care-without ever losing focus of the story itself. As a non-horse-knowing gal, I enjoyed feeling a part of the herders' lifestyle. I never once felt as if I were an outsider looking in. Now that's good storytelling. And hey, if you ARE a Horses Rule gal or guy-you'll find even more pleasure from this book!
Orphaned twins, Meagan and Carl Cadet, share an honored path-they're horse herders. But the horses they herd are unique, for each horse grows beautiful clusters of unicorn-like horns made of living quartz. Like fingerprints, each is dazzlingly different from the other. The horses use these horns to travel through mystic passages, finding new planets for humans to colonize. Meagan and Carl are two fine, teenaged equestrians who make perfect caregivers for these unusual horses-if they can avoid the merciless Raiders....
Raiders stalk horse herders-capturing them to work their mines-using them until death finally takes the poor humans away from their endless misery. For once taken, no human is able to escape the brutal grasp of these mysterious aliens.
HORSE PASSAGES is divided into two books-both intertwined. Book I follows Meagan as she faces the terror that took both of her parents and her little sister-the Raiders. Carl is left behind, fearing the worst. He can't save her... Meagan must save herself.
Book II follows Carl as he faces his own frightening reality-falling off a horse during mid-passage. He will die, unless he follows the light....
Each twin's story in HORSE PASSAGES sends the reader into a whirlwind of emotions-just what I like! Each twin is well defined, written to be accessible and intimate with the reader.
HORSE PASSAGES is an exciting young adult read I highly recommend!
P.S. To Readers-there's a twist at the end of Book II... It's left a strong impression with me that I would say leaves me feeling both anxious and exuberant.
P.S. P.S. To Jennifer Macaire-I want more!!!!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
creative intriguing outer space tale, February 1, 2006
This review is from: Horse Passages (Paperback)
Their parents and their younger sister were abducted by the enigmatic Raiders, but their father managed to save his twins Carl and Meagan Cadet. They miss their family, but both know that no one has ever escaped from Raider captivity. Though dangerous they continue to herd the horses that somehow open passages between planets.
The Cadets are on Tauii 3 when the wild Jeffries bunch arrives on the scene with their herd. However an accident occurs with the youngest brother dying from a fall. The oldest Luke goes into depression, but the shy Meagan pulls him out of it. Not long afterward, Raiders arrive to capture Meagan and Luke and his herd; Carl, Luke's siblings and the Cadet herd escape. The Raiders take Meagan and Luke to join other prisoners working the mines on some isolated orb. Escape seems impossible, but each takes a turn encouraging the other to keep up the hope even as they begin to fall in love, but are too tired to do much more than sleep near each other.
HORSE PASSAGES is an action packed science fiction coming of age thriller that grips the audience from the moment the Jeffries and their herd land on Tauii 3. The story line is action-packed, but key cast members are not neglected as the audience will fully understand why Meagan stutters, what drove the Jeffries to behave like the world will end tomorrow, and slowly over the course of the tale learn much of what motivates the Raiders. Though why herders would continue to do this type of dangerous work is somewhat explained the benefits are not. Still Jennifer Macaire provides a creative intriguing outer space tale.
Harriet Klausner
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended as action/adventure science fiction novel and an altogether entertaining read, June 4, 2006
This review is from: Horse Passages (Paperback)
Horse Passages by Jennifer Macaire is the story Carl and Meagan Cadet and the Federation, a group devoted to saving the beautiful and magical horses who travel through galaxies. Readers will follow Meagan and Carl as they choose to join forces with the Jeffries brothers and pursue battle with the Raiders. Meagan and Luke Jeffries find themselves have to escape from the captivity of the barbaric aliens, something that has never before been done. An engaging novel taking place on a world far away, featuring an intimately detailed plot, Horse Passages is very highly recommended as action/adventure science fiction novel and an altogether entertaining read.
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