I don’t know how she does it, but Stephenia H. McGee’s new release from Revell is so vivid and real in my imagination that it feels more like a movie than a novel!  “The Secrets of Emberwild” is a beautiful, sweeping, and unforgettable story that I adored from start to finish, and if you enjoy Christian Historical Fiction it should definitely be high on your to-read list as well.  

A unique element of this story is the incredible way one character is brought to life – his strong (ornery!) personality, his quirks and thoughts and feelings, and his regal bearing are so clear in my mind’s eye.  But the interesting part?  This character is a horse!!  Yes, Arrow the young stallion is as important a character as any person, and his sometimes larger-than-life presence takes over the story in delightful ways.  I love this, because so often the animals in novels are nothing more than props or accessories for the human characters.  

Of course the people in the story are well-drawn and realistic too, and the plot of the story is compelling enough to make it difficult to put down.  So even though I’m not a true ‘horse person’ as many claim to be, this story was utterly enchanting and I enjoyed every page.  

I highly recommend “The Secrets of Emberwild” to enthusiasts of both Historical Romance AND equines of all shapes and sizes.  

I received this book courtesy of Revell Publishing, in participation with a Revell Reads Blog Tour.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.