Black Horses for the King

Galwyn works in service of his uncle - supposedly as an apprentice but in actuality as little more than a slave. Having lost his father, and his father's fortune, in ill-luck not of his own making, Galwyn would rather live his life on horseback than at sea. When Lord Artos makes an appearance on his uncle's ship and offers him a temporary position as his translator, Galwyn leaps at the opportunity. His uncle begrudges him the chance but is no match for Lord Artos. And so Galwyn's adventures begin as he shows his new employer, eventually to become King Arthur, his skills not only as translator but also with horses. Lord Artos is building an army to help the Britons defeat the Saxons and protect the new haven that was Camelot. Galwyn first aids Lord Artos in finding the big black war horses he needs to carry his heavily armored (and very large) soldiers, and then participates in the newly discovered method for shoeing the horses. No hoof no horse is the refrain, and a good deal of this book focuses on early farrier techniques and how they were developed. Black Horses for the King is an Arthurian story unlike the stories that have come before it. It's a horse lovers dream, and a refreshing change of pace from the traditional tales of King Arthur (eliminating Merlin's magical efforts and the love triangle with Guinevere and Lancelot). I loved the unexpected elements and found the farrier trade fascinating. Galwyn is a hard worker with a good attitude and a love for horses, I find him a courageous hero for the story who holds his own even among the greater personalities of Lord Artos, his Companions (as his soliders are called), and even the impressive Canyd, horse handler extraordinaire. The horses were an absolute delight, and we got to know several of them in detail through Galwyn. Plenty of action and adventure, and a really inspiring coming of age story, makes this an immersive read.

I collect every book I can find about Arthur and his universe. McCaffrey's book fits excellently into the collection. Although perhaps written for young adults, any reader will find this book will written, exciting and solid. McCaffrey's writing style, as always, carries the reader through the book in magnificent style.

I really enjoyed this book. So much I have read it twice. It is great for the horse lover because it tells about where farriring may have begun. I really like the characters and it gave me another point of view of King Arthur! I was sad when it was over and wished we could have learned more about the lives of the characters and the great war horses.

This book would make an excellent gift for a horseman (or woman) that you know. It is an incredible historical fiction about the development of farriership (blacksmithing) in the world. The characters and plot are well thought out and balance the technical aspect of the book. Even a person with no knowledge of horses would find this to be an interesting novel. The hero is both relatable and human; he makes mistakes but learns from his experiences working with the horses. Arthur, the future King Arthur and a supporting character in this book, has never been characterized in such a realistic way; the character seems to come alive in the pages of this book.

In a departure from her normal fare of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Anne McCaffrey gives us a hugely believable tale of King Arthur, and the true uniting of all the Britons. Told from the point of view of a young runaway, Galwyn Varianus, Black Horses traces Lord Artos', who is later thought to be King Arthur's, search for fast horses. These horses had to be big enough and strong enough for his knights to ride to give the Britons a fighting chance against the bigger armies of the Saxons. Historically accurate, Black Horses is a fast read, and an emminetly exciting story. Despite the lack of the mystical turn of the normal King Arthur tale, or perhaps because of it, Black Horses for the King takes the reader into a realm of fantasy both thrilling and moving. A highly satisfying story aimed at the young adult, Black Horses is a treat for all readers, young and old alike. King Arthur fans will enjoy this unique look at their favorite hero, and those who like more realism in their stories will like this likely view of a piece of history.

Black Horses for the King is an exciting book that everybody should read at least once. I had so much history in it and also a lot of parts that wanted you to know what happened next. I never put the book down until I finished it. I you are a big person on medievel times, king arthor, and horses you should read this book. You'll never forget the story of a young boy and these beautiful, aggresive horses that he loved so much.