House of the Star

Gr 7—10—Princess Elen of Ymbria has always wanted to be a rider of a worldrunner-a magical horse that can travel safely on faerie roads between worlds. She is invited to Earth to stay at the House of Star, an Arizona ranch where these animals are bred. The only catch is that someone from the royal family of Caledon has been invited as well. Ymbria and Caledon have been at war for centuries and both worlds could lose access to the faerie roads if the fighting does not stop. Elen fears that the invitation is a trap to make her marry a Caledonian prince, so she runs away. She becomes lost and is saved by a worldrunner named Blanca who takes her to the House of Star where she discovers that the object isn't marriage, but friendship, and that the Caledonian prince is a princess. Elen immediately distrusts Princess Ria and is determined to prove that she is up to something. The two guests bunk with Sara, a girl from Earth who tries to help them get past centuries of hate and prejudice. Can their mutual love of horses save their kingdoms from destruction? Brennan creates a magical world based around a realistic ranch setting. The two main characters are complex and avoid the common clichés about princesses. Fans of fantasy and horses will find an intriguing premise and a galloping plot.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT