WILL SHE FIND THE LAST HORSES ON EARTH?
Serendipity lives inside a walled city. Before her mother died, she gave Seren an old figurine of a horse. Horses no longer exist in Serendipity’s world, but she is enthralled by the idea of them.
When Serendipity discovers a map that may lead her to the last place horses still exist, she starts on a journey that will take her far from everything she knows. Together with the orphan boy, Tab, and his beloved dog, Serendipity is soon on the run from the very person her mother tried to keep from her—a powerful and dangerous man who will do anything to make sure Serendipity never leaves the walled city again.
Intrigued? Read On:
The first book I’ve reviewed that isn’t fantasy, A Whisper of Horses is still just as magical. A sweet but powerful dystopian, this tale of a girl in a walled city is unique in its quirky style and lack of the usual dystopian grittiness.
I first read A Whisper of Horses when I was around ten or eleven. I had borrowed it from the library, along with about eight or nine other horse-themed books, but it was the only one that really stuck out. Even then, I knew the sort of book I truly loved, and A Whisper of Horses was just that kind of novel. Just last year, I happened to see it at a library book sale and immediately snatched it up. I’ll never be too old to sit down and enjoy the strange beauty of this book.
What I Love:
Zillah Bethell’s style in prose really stands out. In fact, it’s one of the things that makes this book extraordinary. She uses words like little bits of treasure, arranging and rearranging them to perfectly reflect the beauty of A Whisper of Horses.
Another part of A Whisper of Horses‘s beauty is its simple yet strong plot. It carries on through the story, a cord that holds together all the pretty bits and bobs of the novel.
Placed in post-apocalyptic Great Britain, A Whisper of Horses really plays with the settings, turning real places and people into distant myths. London becomes a ragged, classic dystopian society of its own, emptied of most of the population and worn into ruins. Wales is a nearly abandoned, lush wildland. The language has slowly changed in London, whether it be a turn of phrase or a location’s name.
What I Don’t Love:
I remember getting very angry at the ending. She came all that way and went through all that! But reading it again now, I actually loved it. So much. All the warm, cozy feelings of a well-written ending came gently whispering in to settle in my heart.
Honestly, I sat for ten minutes trying to think of something to dislike. The only thing that came to mind was one of the antagonists, Mordecai. He’s so hateful. So basic and hateful. I feel as though his character lacks a lot of depth. He’s just…a cruel and heartless cardboard cutout with a gun.
Content Warnings:
Three swear words, two deaths, a car fire, a wounded dog, and a mention of beating.
Two people say h***. One says d***ed. I really should have expected this–with author lives in Great Britain, after all. Honestly, I just went through the book and covered the words with whiteout so my younger sisters could read the book without that getting into their heads. I’m a little sad that the book has those words. Just three words that could so easily have been removed to make it more child-appropriate.
A woman dies of sickness and a man died of old age.
A car erupts into flames and the main character burns her hand.
A man throws a knife and it hits a dog. The dog doesn’t die, but spends a while healing. Poor little guy.
One side character is mentioned to have a bloodied face and bruises, and the others assume that he has been beaten by his captor.
Ratings:
Appropriate content: 3.8/5
Story construction: 5/5
Writing skill: 4.5/5
Ethics: 4/5
Other Information:
Christian: To the best of my research, no
Point of view: First person
Tense: Past tense
Romance: No
Series: No
Conclusion:
Not quite a horse story and a strange sort of dystopian, A Whisper of Horses somehow suits both genres. Ultimately, it is a story of hope, perseverance, and freedom. It is quirky, it is breathtaking, and it is truly a work of art. I would heartily recommend A Whisper of Horses and give it 4 out of 5 pound cakes.
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