Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Horse Dreamer (Equinox Cycle Book 1)

Top positive review

Intriguing, magical, and entertaining!

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016

I was throughly entertained with this book - read it in one (long, ha!) sitting as I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
This is a story of a teenage girl's courage facing a life altering event and how she learns to go on living; as well as discovers more about an enchanted world in which she keeps finding herself.
I can't really say more about that or I'll give too much away. The reader really needs to experience the story as the plot unfolds.
This book is different from Marc Secchia's other stories and his language use and rhythm of story telling is to me more complex than the Shioni, Shapeshifter, and other series/books... That being said, I throughly enjoyed it.
The first time I read it - and I am enjoying it even more the second (more slower) time around - I was at first distracted by the complex word play in the dialogue between Zaranna and her family - they like to play with words - a lot. But... once I fell into the rhythm of the story I found that I enjoyed it and laughed quite often at some of the more creative phrases.
Mr Secchia and his daughter have created a wonderful plot and magical world together. Well done!
Looking forward to reading the continuation of this story.

4 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Kelly

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2016

I haven't finished it yet, it was very confusing. Is she actually experiencing being a horse or not???

69 total ratings, 24 with reviews

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From the United States

Kindle Customer

Engaging story. I couldn't set it down.

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

Cooking dinner, reading, going to bed, reading to 3:00 AM just had to keep reading. Looking forward to more about this world and it's magic.

Helpful

Kindle Customers

Amazing

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book and every other by this author sucks me in. I feel like I'm missing something whenever I close a book by him. Breathtaking.fantastic. if you ever feel like you need a new world. Read this let your dreams carry you to your next destination.

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Kindle Customer

Stunning new world

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2018

Great read for those who enjoy a fight between good and evil as it spans the universe. Diverse characters that do not seek to deceive the reader yet surprise at every plot twist. Looking forward to the evolution of Zara and Alex as they work to put evil in its place.

Helpful

Brenda

Fantastic story

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017

This is a fantastic story of two worlds. The real world has it's beginning with a major car accident that leads to the dream world. This is a very complex story, but I highly recommend it.

One person found this helpful

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envchemist

A Great Canter through two worlds!

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2017

I enjoyed this. I thought it was particularly interesting to find that this was a father/daughter team. The story is familiar - the rescue of a prince by a hero/heroine who appears not to have a chance. There's a twist though-our heroine lives in two worlds: the real world and the one that appears to be a dream. In the real world Zaranna is a double amputee who was injured by entities from the fantasy land. Her future enemies try to destroy her before she even knows there is a place called Equinox. As the story unfolds Zaranna learns more about why she has the power to visit Equinox and how her family hasn't been forthcoming about who they are...

Helpful

A.Barnard

One of the Best I've Ever Read

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016

I honestly couldn't put this book down. It was a mental and physical struggle just to HAVE to put it down to get daily tasks done. I loved every inch of it; from Zaranna's disability to her new body as a horse. None of it was ridiculous, everything was set up perfectly. Honestly one of the best books I've ever read. I'm a forever fan of Marc Secchia's.

One person found this helpful

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HLGStrider

This feels like it will be almost impossible for me to review ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2016

Verified Purchase

This feels like it will be almost impossible for me to review coherently because this book has a LOT going on. Seriously, a lot a lot. It provides an extremely elaborate world, backed up by our own world but across two continents, with multiple fantasy races (humanoid and non-humanoid) with their own factions ... and a breathless busy style with a rambunctiously voiced heroine who quips constantly.
I really enjoyed it.

Content wise, there is a bit of high level flirting, some intense moments (basically they get the worst out of the way right off the bat as the character endures a catastrophic car accident within the first chapter ... but other traumatic incidents are peppered within) and there is some incidental nudity (characters shift between worlds, arriving without clothes) but more on the awkward side than anything else. Probably for me this would be a PG13 but it depends on a young reader's sensitivities.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kelly

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

I haven't finished it yet, it was very confusing. Is she actually experiencing being a horse or not???

Helpful

Josh Middelkamp

More than it seems.

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2016

The biggest hurdle with this book, I think, is getting over the first impression. There's a lot to like for readers who might otherwise be put off by what appears to be a young adult prancy girly pony fantasy. Which this sort of is -- and really isn't.

We have a coming of age story. Literal crippling tragedy. Teen love. A fantasy world. A brewing war, and a reluctant heroine. A whole pile of potential clichés -- but the story successfully juggles some dark moments, knows when to make fun of itself, keeps a quick pace, puts heart in the right places, and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

There are definitely many story elements that Secchia has used in his other books, and I suspect his regular readers will be especially appreciative. Shapeshifting makes an appearance, with believable commentary on coping with an unfamiliar form. A cripple finding freedom by escaping to fantastical alternate world. An exotic yet well-considered system of magic. An exceedingly non-traditional family tree. A vaguely likable lecherous old man. Hot dragon action.

Secchia doesn't hold punches where vocabulary is concerned. I suspect many younger readers will be checking for word definitions, and a few older readers as well. Above all else, the phrasing feels right -- often beautiful, concise, and constantly exuding the author's style. The prose and story are very easy to follow with very few exceptions. I scratched my head during a few of the verbal exchanges where the intentionally over-the-top wit is rewarding once you got a feel for it.

One aspect in particular I thought was a nice touch is that once Zaranna begins spending more time in her alternate world, the narrative heavily favors following the events happening there, except where the "real world" is pertinent. I never got the feeling that the I was being dragged away from the action. There were a few unusually bi-polar moments from several characters late in the story -- swings from violent anger to absolute forgiveness that seems a touch over-dramatic -- but overall I thought the balance was well handled.

I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and I doubt I'll be waiting long. The quality and rate of publishing from this author continues to astound me.

2 people found this helpful

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Chris

The Horse Dreamer (Equinox Cycle Book 1) ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016

I was gifted this book to read and review. I enjoyed this story tremendously! It is very well written and keeps you so into it that you do not want to put it down, even when your eyes wont stay open! For anyone that enjoys fantasy I strongly urge you to read The Horse Dreamer!

One person found this helpful

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