Daughter of the Centaurs (Centauriad, #1)

Jan 21, 2012 Phoebe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: intergalactic-academy-reviews, dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, post-apocalyptic

Full review at the Intergalactic Academy

At first glance, Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo contains all the ingredients for a great YA novel. It’s got an intriguing premise–it’s the story of Malora, the last human on Earth, and how she comes to join a society of centaurs after the apocalypse destroys human society. The setting is very detailed. While it nominally takes place somewhere on the African continent, the centaur society contained within is very well-developed and, initially, appea...more Full review at the Intergalactic Academy

At first glance, Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo contains all the ingredients for a great YA novel. It’s got an intriguing premise–it’s the story of Malora, the last human on Earth, and how she comes to join a society of centaurs after the apocalypse destroys human society. The setting is very detailed. While it nominally takes place somewhere on the African continent, the centaur society contained within is very well-developed and, initially, appears to be rigorously thought-through. Malora, twelve at the outset of the novel but fifteen during the bulk of the action, is a practical, hardened survivor, not unlike Katniss Everdeen. She’s the type of heroine many YA readers (myself included) love.

Unfortunately “many promising components” does not a “good book” make. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy Daughter of the Centaurs for all I hoped that it would be a rousing and fresh YA tale. My first problem was with the narration. I was immediately struck by how simplistic it was. Though it makes some sense that the novel is told in present tense–Malora herself is a character who lives very much in the present–the story nevertheless felt as though it was being told at an odd arm’s length. The descriptions of characters felt muffled; their reactions far removed from the novel’s events. Events and worldbuilding, when not imparted through dialogue, were described in a plodding, methodical, almost clinical way.

The first several chapters still held some promise. Malora is part of a tribe of humans who utilize very primitive technology to keep afloat. She learns how to train horses from her father. When her tribe is destroyed, she takes to the plains, raising and breeding a herd of horses. These chapters are the novel’s best, and while not exactly riveting, the relationships between Malora and the “Ironbound Furies,” as the horses come to be called, are quite well-realized.

But I can’t say the same about her relationships with any of the centaur characters.

Klimo’s very evidently done a great deal of work with her centaur society. She’s developed laws, class stratification, a job system, architecture, entertainment. And, as Malora comes to join the Highlander society, we get to learn all about it. For roughly two hundred pages, she’s given a tour of the centaur world, where she asks bland questions about the underpinnings of this world and where Orion, her centaur host, obligatorily answers them. I love rich worldbuilding, but I found this incalculably boring. Eventually (after the novel put me to sleep), I realized why–there is no conflict between the characters here. The stakes are kept very, very low. We never fear for Malora’s safety. We never worry that she’ll be “turned out,” despite vague warnings to that effect. She encounters obstacles, but those sort of . . . roll off her back with little impact on the plot’s development. In truth, when she’s told, at one point, that she cannot choose blacksmithing as her career, I failed to feel even the slightest flame of sympathy for her. In fact, I felt nothing. What did it matter, anyway? I had no idea what Malora liked (beyond horses) or wanted (beyond being with her horses, who she inexplicably left behind with another caretaker for all we’re told she cared).

This general lack of conflict was very strange considering the social stratification, sexism, and racism inherent in Klimo’s centaur society. The centaurs are broken up into two groups, the noble Highlanders, and the peasant Lowlanders, but the peasants seem to accept their poverty with nary a neigh of protest. The women are all subjugated, forced to cover up in fear of “inflaming” the passions of the male centaurs–but other than some vague mumblings about how sad it would be if Malora had to cover her long red hair, this is summarily accepted, as well. Worst of all were the race of cat people willingly indentured for life to the centaurs. The Twani were one of the worst examples of a “happy slave” race I’ve ever seen in either sci-fi or fantasy. While there is ample opportunity for someone to comment on how messed up it is that these half-cat creatures very literally work themselves to death–and that the centaurs have plentiful chances to liberate them, but instead choose to take advantage of them–it never happens. Instead, we’re asked to just accept the fact that these plucky catmen wish to live in service of the centaurs because of some memory of racial debt. Dated and offensive, tropes like these really need to go.

Because of all of the above, I had quite a bit of trouble with my time spent in centaur society. I suppose that I was supposed to find it all rich and captivating, but instead I was unsettled and disquieted. There was opportunity here to eventually reveal the society as dystopic–and Klimo almost does, near the novel’s end. But instead we’re suddenly plunged back into truly trifling matters. The conclusion concerns not, say, societal overhaul, or Malora’s rejection of the centaur who has made her his (ugh) “pet,” but instead a horse race. Really. And, while I’m fond of horses myself, I did not much care whether Malora won, or lost, at this juncture. I’d gone cold to her, and her concerns–and the novel did little to convince me to feel otherwise.

Daughter of the Centaurs could conceivably appeal to readers who really, really like horse books, and those who don’t mind dated societal metaphor without any accompanying social commentary in their fantastic fiction.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: People who will not get offended on behalf of the centaurs (as I did)

Shelves: disappointing-books, should-have-loved-it-but-didn-t, could-have-been-better, 2011-reads, reviewed

Imagine a world where humans are near extinction, mutant bat creatures stalk the skies like birds of prey, and centaurs rule as nobility within their own mountain fortress. That sounds like such a great fictional world, doesn't it? Wouldn't you want to read about such a strange yet dangerous place?

Well, I definitely did -- but once I started reading Daughter of the Centaurs my enthusiasm quickly dimmed to lukewarm feelings and then, finally, to a sense of disillusionment and confusion.

The author...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Cecelia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m just going to put this out there: Centaurs are super cool. And yes, you can judge me for my nerdiness. Greek mythology, Narnia, and Harry Potter – none of you did anything to cure me of this! And then came Kate Klimo’s Daughter of the Centaurs.

The first chapters of Kate Klimo’s book seem to promise something excellent. Deadly Leatherwings threaten Malora’s small settlement, and the scene is set with impossible choices and an interesting world. Then, everything goes south. Warning: if you lik...more I’m just going to put this out there: Centaurs are super cool. And yes, you can judge me for my nerdiness. Greek mythology, Narnia, and Harry Potter – none of you did anything to cure me of this! And then came Kate Klimo’s Daughter of the Centaurs.

The first chapters of Kate Klimo’s book seem to promise something excellent. Deadly Leatherwings threaten Malora’s small settlement, and the scene is set with impossible choices and an interesting world. Then, everything goes south. Warning: if you liked Daughter of the Centaurs, read no further.

Oh, how many things went horribly wrong? Let me count them:

1) Third person present tense. This is the goofiest narrative voice ever. It almost spoiled the first bit of the book for me (the only decent bit, as it turned out). It is awkward. It deadens any connection between character and the reader. It. Is. Terrible. Experiment: read some of the text aloud and tell me it doesn’t sound stilted. See?

2) Twani. One of the interesting things about Daughter of the Centaurs is that it’s not all centaurs all the time. There are humans, Leatherwings, horses, other unique beings, and the Twani. Twani are described as cat-like creatures whose life goal is to serve the centaurs. In fact, they work themselves so hard that they sometimes die. In servitude. No explanation. I'll move on before I get upset.

3) Total loss of tension. As mentioned above, Daughter of the Centaurs opened well. I could overlook the narrative voice and other small annoyances as long as the plot moved along at a strong clip and Malora was going places and doing things that furthered her journey. Unfortunately, almost as soon as Malora and the centaurs made contact, the book slowed down. It eventually stalled out in info dump territory. Class tensions weren’t tense. Family disagreements weren’t true obstacles. Shady characters never developed into sinister villains (or anything else, for that matter). The text meandered, told, and pontificated, but the thrill that drew this reader in? Disappeared completely.

4) The wise pet. Oops, I mean the faun tutor (and now it sounds as though we’ve fallen into Narnia, I know). This was something that made my skin itch. When Malora comes to live with the centaurs, one of the first beings she meets Honus, a combination tutor and pet. It is disconcerting and disturbing to see the objectification and ‘ownership’ of sentient beings throughout the book, especially when it is NEVER unpacked. If there was any self-consciousness evident in the writing at all, I could be reconciled to it. Instead, there is none. And it feels creepy.

This list is by no means exhaustive. For further insight, check out The Book Smugglers’ take. They were the ones who identified the narrative voice - I didn't even know what it was called. *le sigh* Another interesting note: according to Amazon, Daughter of the Centaurs is a young adult title. I found it to be very juvenile (and thus the label 'middle grade').

Kate Klimo’s Daughter of the Centaurs was not for me – in fact, I got to a point where I actively disliked it. I kept reading in hope… but I urge you not to make the same mistake.

Not recommended.(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Victoria rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Despite its rather cheesy cover, the description of this book really attracted me to it. Centaurs in a post-apocalyptic world? Sounded terrific! Unfortunately, its execution failed to be as intriguing. The book opened not with mythical half-human, half-horse creatures but with a ragged group of human survivors (the “People”). Malora, a young girl obsessed with her father’s horses, and with a mother who spoke only in platitudes, witnessed a tragic attack by Leatherwings (monstrous humanoid bat-ty...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Hylary Locsin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the distant future, twelve-year-old Malora is the daughter of Thora and Jayke, the leaders of the last tribe of the People. Malora’s tribe relies on their horses to hunt and bring game to feed the People, and no horse is faster than her father’s, Sky. Malora wants nothing more than to learn to become a hunter herself and have her own horse like Sky to look after. Malora’s life changes, however,...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the distant future, twelve-year-old Malora is the daughter of Thora and Jayke, the leaders of the last tribe of the People. Malora’s tribe relies on their horses to hunt and bring game to feed the People, and no horse is faster than her father’s, Sky. Malora wants nothing more than to learn to become a hunter herself and have her own horse like Sky to look after. Malora’s life changes, however, when Leatherwings, vicious creatures with horrible human heads and large bat-like wings, murder all of the men in the tribe while they are on the hunt. Thora knows that the Leatherwings will return to finish off the rest of the tribe, so she sends Malora and Sky, the only horse that survived the attack, away from the tribe and into the wild. After three years on her own, Malora is now fifteen and the keeper of a large herd of horses thanks to Sky meeting with several wild mares in the bush. Malora knows every horse and protects them from predators, all the while wondering if she herself will ever encounter any other People. One day as Malora and the herd are travelling in the north, they catch the attention of Orion and his cousins, a travelling party of centaurs from the luxurious city of Mount Kheiron. Orion intends to capture the wild herd to serve his father, the leader of Mount Kheiron, in an annual race, and is shocked to discover Malora amongst the horses. None of the centaurs have ever laid eyes on one of the People, who were rumored to be long extinct, and both Orion and Malora are shocked to learn that not only are they able to communicate, but have more in common than they would have ever thought.

Combining fantasy with a post-apocalyptic future, this first installment in a new series for young adult readers will appeal to fans of Greek mythology, but holds particular interest for horse enthusiasts. The author’s love for horses is apparent in every aspect of the novel. Everything about the horses, from the way they eat, to the noises they make, to their general behavior is described in depth. Horse lovers are sure to relish these details. For readers who aren’t equine aficionados, however, the plot of the novel itself might not be as exciting. Malora is a likable if somewhat underdeveloped character. While the story primarily focuses on her, there is little exploration into her personality apart from being a robust and skilled huntress. She shows little vulnerability and it’s unclear if she has romantic feelings for any of the handsome male centaurs she becomes close to in the story. Far more interesting is the centaur civilization of Mount Kheiron, a luxurious but strict city divided into the haves (the Highlanders) and the have-nots (the Flatlanders.) Malora is lucky enough to become the “pet” of Orion, the son of Mount Kheiron’s leader, or Apex, so she has a rags-to-riches experience in the fanciest part of town. Hopefully in the next installments in the series, more about how Mount Kheiron was established will be explained so that the reader will fully understand how the distinction between Highlanders and Flatlanders came about. For horse fans, Daughter of the Centaurs is an enjoyable and different kind of read than they may have experienced. For those who aren’t as excited by things on four legs, this story might be one to pass by. The sequel, A Gathering of Wings, is set to be released May 28, 2013.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really like Greek mythology so the centaur aspect of it was entertaining for me. On the other hand, I am not a horse person, so the very detailed accounts of flanks, muzzles, and whinnies didn’t appeal to me. I think there are some clever ideas in the novel, but they got too muddled down by horse minutia. I would easily recommend this book to someone who loves all things equine. If that wasn’t the case, however, I probably would select something else. (less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first the book seemed pretty good. It had a interesting plot and it went at a decent pace, but then they got to mountain where the centaurs lived and it kind of went down hill from there. The pace slowed down to a crawl and the plot didnt seem to go anywhere. In fact, plot wise, it went the opposite way. And the end of the book was sort of disappointing..or i guess anticlimactic is a better word for it.
*semi-little spoiler*
During the book you hear about a prophecy, one talks about the last...more

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Jul 12, 2012 MaryBookSwarm rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh, I had such high hopes for this novel. Centaurs, bat-like creatures, nearly-extinct humans, a dystopian society in a fantasy world? Yes, please.

Except...I didn't quite understand how this future Earth came to be. Humans dying off, sure, I can totally dig that but centaurs with fully developed societies? And the other creatures that have the ability to speak and think? How did they come to be? *shrugs* I don't know. And I'd like to. It would add to the believability of this future world and th...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Jenn rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

was very excited when I received my review copy of DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS. I thought the concept was exciting and different and I loved the idea of a book about centaurs. Unfortunately, DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS wasn't for me. There are some nice elements but, as a whole, I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would.

If you've read my interview with Kate Klimo, you may remember that this book is set in the future -- a future where there are few humans, who live a very primitive lifestyle, whi...more was very excited when I received my review copy of DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS. I thought the concept was exciting and different and I loved the idea of a book about centaurs. Unfortunately, DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS wasn't for me. There are some nice elements but, as a whole, I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped I would.

If you've read my interview with Kate Klimo, you may remember that this book is set in the future -- a future where there are few humans, who live a very primitive lifestyle, while centaurs thrive. I didn't realize this when I started reading DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS but I thought it was an interesting way to give the author some extra room to play around. And play around she does! There are some lovely moments where characters refer back to authors and historical figures that the reader will instantly recognize. I particularly liked the way they talk about ROMEO AND JULIET, but there are dozens of these little asides that will tickle you. They're actually my favourite part of the book.

I also think that Kate Klimo did a nice job of writing Malora. Her time with the People (the humans) is well written and provides a solid base for Malora's actions and opinions later on in the book. Her bonds with the horses was also really nice, which is good since she spends a significant portion of the book roaming around with them.

Unfortunately, there were also things I didn't like about DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS. I found many of the other characters to be shallow and one-dimensional. I realize that I'm much older than the intended audience but I wish the characters had been a little less stock. They're almost all predictable, which made it difficult for me to connect with them. I also found the pacing challenging. I had to force myself to read certain chapters and then I flew through others because there are definitely some great scenes. For me, at least, the slower sections outweighed the gripping chapters.

I'm sad to say it but I don't think I can recommend DAUGHTER OF THE CENTAURS. I can see why some people might like it but there's not enough good stuff for me to suggest it. I appreciate Kate Klimo's effort to create a unique world -- and she has succeeded in many ways -- but it didn't click for me.

http://www.tyngasreviews.com (less)

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Mar 23, 2012 Kira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When the Leatherwings hit her village, Malora is forced to flee with her family's horse, a few provisions, and the clothes on her back. Three years later, she, and the horses she rescued along the way, fall into a trap set by her people's enemies, the Centaurs. Forced to become their "guest" and adopt their ways, Malora feels unsettled. She likes most of them, but their ways are strict and stifling to her. When a group of rogues start attacking people on the trade route that the centaurs use, in...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Gaby rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, arcs, coming-of-age, fantasy, ya-fiction

In Daughter of the Centaurs K.K.Ross created a world where human civilization has declined and the remaining humans seem to have lost access to technology and machines. Malora and her family live in what seems to be a tribe - they must hunt or grow their own food. Their group survived some sort of war and have no other communities to trade with. Their entire survival depends on their ability to set aside food for the upcoming seasons. While humans coexist with hostile mythical creatures, the hum...more

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Mar 03, 2012 P.E. at Tantalizing Illusions rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reading slump, so I'm doing a quickie review just for Goodreads.

1. I'm surprised not more people like this book. It's not the best book ever, but it's much better than some way higher rated books IMO.

2. Cover is pretty good. Fantasy-ish but also attracts paranormal fans.

3. Characters- i felt really distant from them. It's written in 3rd person so at the beginning when a lot of tragic events happened, I didn't really feel anything. Overall I don't really care for any characters too much, but I di...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Malora is a young girl who is looking at a future that she desperately wants. Her ‘people’ do not number many, and her mother is the town’s healer. She takes care and cures almost everyone of everything it seems, which brings her mother both praise and the whisperings behind her back that she may just be a witch in disguise. Although Malora is supposed to follow in her mother’s footsteps, a healer is the absolute last thing this girl wants to be.

Her father, Jayke, is a master horseman. Upon the...more Malora is a young girl who is looking at a future that she desperately wants. Her ‘people’ do not number many, and her mother is the town’s healer. She takes care and cures almost everyone of everything it seems, which brings her mother both praise and the whisperings behind her back that she may just be a witch in disguise. Although Malora is supposed to follow in her mother’s footsteps, a healer is the absolute last thing this girl wants to be.

Her father, Jayke, is a master horseman. Upon the amazing horse named, Sky, her father rides free and hunts with bow and arrow. He has the scars to prove his hectic, hard life and tries his very best to discourage his daughter from following in his footsteps. He explains to her that she’s far too small and young to be able to ride Sky, or tame any beast in order to become a hunter by trade. But Malora refuses to give up. She wants the open range, she wants that life, and she will do anything to get it.

When she finally convinces her father, she waits for him to return home from his latest journey to begin training - only to witness a horrific sight. As her father and his companions arrive, the sky suddenly fills with blackness. Creatures - larger than eagles or man, himself - attack. Leatherwings, as they are known, cause the entire village destruction, leaving only Malora and Sky to fend for themselves - as if Malora is the very last human being left on earth.

As she learns how to deal with Sky, Malora finds herself all alone in the world, roaming through the wilderness and riding across the plains wondering what it is she’s to do next with her life. When a band of centaurs capture the young girl and bring them into their city, Malora is soon stuck inside a place that offers both a chance at life and a sacrifice that may be too large for the young girl to make.

The locations are the most beautiful and most memorable part of this book. As Malora rides on the back of Sky and ‘feels’ as if she is the only one left on land - a reader can almost feel the wind in their hair, and the fear and excitement that comes with absolute freedom. A very creative, expressive tale to begin what should be an extremely interesting series as it unfolds a bit more.

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
(less)

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Feb 23, 2012 Felicia Chien rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book: Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo
Pages: 362
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Random House

Short Synopsis: Some time in the future, earth will be populated by half- animal, half-human centuars. Due to a horrible attack on the human population, Malora, daughter of the plains maybe the only human left.

My Thoughts: The story itself was a bit different than what I'm normally used to, but the characters really do pull you into the story.

In the future, the population is a mix...more Book: Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo
Pages: 362
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal
Source: Sent from Random House

Short Synopsis: Some time in the future, earth will be populated by half- animal, half-human centuars. Due to a horrible attack on the human population, Malora, daughter of the plains maybe the only human left.

My Thoughts: The story itself was a bit different than what I'm normally used to, but the characters really do pull you into the story.

In the future, the population is a mixed race of People and Centaurs; half-human and half-animal creatures. This story follows a young girl named Malora and her life among The People. She loves being with her friend Aron, her mother Thora, and her father's horse, Sky.
But things aren't all fun and games in Malora's world. There's work to be done around the place, and The People fear that their population may be dwindling. As Malora rides out one afternoon with Sky, she comes across multiple horrible creatures, called the Leatherwings. Malora races back to The People to tell them of the awful creatures.
At first, no one believes Malora, but as another attack happens, The People decide to go into hiding. One night, while the village is under attack, Thora tells Malora to take Sky and run south, away from the village, and to never return. Malora reluctantly goes, even though she wants to stay and help her mother.
As Malora rides away from the chaos, she travels many days and comes across a different kind of creature, called the Centaurs. Half human and half horse, Malora is in awe of these creatures. Malora befriends the creatures and in turn, the Centaurs take Malora under their care, and she must learn their ways and do what they say, in order to survive, or she may be turned out and left for dead.

A very different book than I am normally used to. If you're really into horses, than this is probably the book for you. I also wasn't really used to the narration style, and there were some points where it felt a bit slow to me.
There's a lot of Centaur vocabulary that gets a bit confusing, but the story is very original. It was interesting to read what Malora must go through as she gets attacked by the Leatherwings, and what she has to face, in the world of Centaurs.
There were a couple things I wasn't too fond of though. I hated the fact that the Centaurs considered Malora as a "pet." And it also didn't really feel like Malora acknowledged the loss of her family, her friend Aron, and the rest of her race.
I liked reading about the relationship between Orion and Malora, and was glad that she found friends among the Centaurs. I also kind of wished that Orion stood up for Malora a bit more, when it was necessary. Overall, the story itself is not one that I'm usually accustomed to, but the characters are what stand out.

Would I recommend this book: Maybe

Rating: I give this book a 3/5.(less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Amy Jacobs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

Forget the vampires. Forget the werewolves. No zombies. Welcome to the new supernatural in the dystopian world. In Daughter of the Centaurs, we are introduced to just that -- Centaurs. These are those half human/ half horse people from long ago legends and fables. I was curious about this one. Not only is the cover kind of pretty, but it features the dystopian world with a different twist in the paranormal we have grown accustomed to.

This was in fact a hard read to get into. It has a lot of narr...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Bluerose's Heart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: clean, fantasy, little-no-romance, young-adult-12-and-up

I don't recommend picking it up unless you're willing to give it at least 100 pages. There were many times I was tempted to give up on it, because it was just weird and a bit boring. Since I agreed to review it, I told myself to give it 100 pages. Somewhere between 75-100 pages, it got interesting enough that I kept reading. It did get better. I still won't pretend like it was my favorite book ever, but I am curious where the author will take the story in the following books. It's hard on the fi...more I don't recommend picking it up unless you're willing to give it at least 100 pages. There were many times I was tempted to give up on it, because it was just weird and a bit boring. Since I agreed to review it, I told myself to give it 100 pages. Somewhere between 75-100 pages, it got interesting enough that I kept reading. It did get better. I still won't pretend like it was my favorite book ever, but I am curious where the author will take the story in the following books. It's hard on the first book in a series, because there's so much background information that needs to be told. This book definitely seemed like a "set-up" book.

Also, Centaurs are secondary in the story to horses. This really is a book about horses, for the most part. The Centaurs could have been replaced by any other creature and it probably wouldn't have changed much at all as far as the story goes.

There is some violence, but not much. There's mention of dead bodies, and bones. Malora goes hunting a few times. At one point, she snares some squirrels and then bangs their head against a wall to finish them off. Again, that's just some details I could have done without. It wasn't enough that I wouldn't read it based on that alone, though.

The highlights of the book were definitely Zephele and the Twani! Zephele is a female centaur, and she was just unique and fun. I enjoyed reading about her. The Twani were also fun creatures to read about. When they were first mentioned, they just seemed so weird, I didn't know what to think of them. They grow on you, though. Although, I didn't hate the main character, Malora, I didn't overly like her either. I just really didn't feel anything reading about the characters. I like books that transport me into the book. When I'm told a character is happy, I want to feel that. When a character is crying, I want to feel some sympathy and tears of my own. I just didn't get that with this book.

It was a pretty clean book. "A**" is used a few times, and "pi**". That was all as far as language, though.

Overall, I'd say if you really like reading about horses, give Daughter of the Centaurs a try.

*My copy is an ARC.(less)

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Jan 19, 2012 Lindsay Stares rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

New Release! I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review.

(NB: It looks like the author's name on the cover changed between when the review copies were released and the final book release?)

Premise: Malora wants to grow up to train horses like her father before her, but when disaster strikes their tiny settlement, she and the horses must learn to survive alone in the wild. That is, until she meets travellers from a city of centaurs, who are rather surprised that any hu...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Kavanand rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Daughter of the Centaurs is really cool concept: the last human, a teenage girl, meets a tribe of human/horse hybrids and becomes a part of their community. Unfortunately, the interesting premise wasn't enough to make this book work for me.

Malora is one of the last remaining humans. When she's 12, her entire tribe is wiped out by terrifying creatures called the leatherwings (which seem to be bat/human hybrids). She lives on her own and brings together a herd of horses. One day, she meets a tribe...more Daughter of the Centaurs is really cool concept: the last human, a teenage girl, meets a tribe of human/horse hybrids and becomes a part of their community. Unfortunately, the interesting premise wasn't enough to make this book work for me.

Malora is one of the last remaining humans. When she's 12, her entire tribe is wiped out by terrifying creatures called the leatherwings (which seem to be bat/human hybrids). She lives on her own and brings together a herd of horses. One day, she meets a tribe of Centaurs, who capture her horses to take back to their chief. She agrees to go back to their city with them, and she experiences a new and very alien (to her) culture. Unfortunately, I never felt any connection to Malora. When she first sees the Centaurs, she thinks about how it would be nice to have people to talk to, because she's so lonely. But the few years that she's spent alone with the horses is only one chapter of the book, so I never really got a true sense of how lonely she was.

There are other issues with plausibility. Malora's entire tribe was wiped out by another human/animal hybrid, but she doesn't seem at all scared when she encounters the Centaurs, creatures who are totally alien to her. Yes, she's tough, but wouldn't a sense of self-preservation make her a bit scared?

I also thought the interaction between her and the Centaurs lacked any real tension. When two very different cultures meet, there's usually a clash or at least a lot of suspicion. But other than some Centaurs being a bit unnerved and uncomfortable around her, Malora doesn't experience much in the way of trouble or prejudice. It just all felt too easy to me.

The parts of the book I enjoyed involved Malora's interaction with her horses, but unfortunately there's a big chunk of time in the book where we don't see the horses. The author has some interesting ideas, and there are some plot points that might figure in future books (like conflict between the Highlander Centaurs and their less privileged brethren the Flatlanders). I just wanted more dramatic tension.

I received an ARC from Amazon Vine. (less)

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Jan 04, 2012 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Daughter of the Centaurs by K.K. Ross is the first book in the Centauriad series for young adults. It is scheduled for release on January 24, 2012. Malora is a headstrong and independent teen that wants to follow in the footsteps of her father, a horse wrangler and hunter. Despite her mother's wishes that she follow her path and become a healer, Malora does everything she can to follow hr dream. Unfortunately, huge bat like creatures called leatherwings attack and soon Malora is on her own and d...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Dee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well...hmmm...where do I start? I've enjoyed a quiet afternoon finishing this book that I started yesterday. I haven't read a book like this where the whole time I was reading, I kept saying in my mind, "What?" Then I would invariably go back a couple of pages to reread a bit in case I missed something. I guess I forgot to reread the description of the book.

Here are a couple examples:

With primitive medieval-type settings and mythological characters, my mind was set in ancient times. But then 2 o...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: girl-adventure-magic, dystopian, fantasy

I think this whole book could have been condensed down to be the start of a first book and not the whole book. The beginning was ok and you got too know and see where she grew up and get a taste of her old life. Meeting the Centaur's could have been cut down and then the time spent with them put into a couple chapters instead of taking up the whole book. I kept putting it down and forcing myself to go back and pick it up. I asked myself why I was having so much trouble, it's an ok story and then...more

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Dec 14, 2011 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-challenge, netgalley, first-read

This story is both sad and happy. Malora lives a simple happy life with her mother and father and the other settlement residents until a leather winged beast attacks their settlement and first takes all the men and horses but one. The beasts come back and attack the women and children and as a last ditched effort to save her daughter, Malora's mother send her out into the bush away from danger. While Malora is out in the bush she rescues and cares for a flock of horses. She returns to her settle...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Dot rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Oh, geez. First, I'll give some props. I always loved the Walter Farley and Marguerite Henry books, and I liked the main character's interaction with her horses. It was an enjoyable part of the plot line.

Having the story set in future Africa (I'm assuming, due to the types of animals that show up) was kind of interesting, although I'm a bit curious as to how hippos are somehow not dangerous to humans, since they're considered totally aggressive and kill humans all the time. I think the girl on...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Ravwrin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In a world where dystopian meets fantasy this book was an interesting concept. We follow a young human girl into the bush of what could be an African savanna of modern time after her whole village is decimated. Her only companion left from her father and the village she loved is a horse. Along the way the two pick up more horses and she finds herself taking care of a whole herd of horses she lovingly thinks of as her boys and girls. She and the herd are trapped by a group of Centaurs. They take...more

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Aug 26, 2011 W. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review: Centauriad #1: Daughter of the Centaurs by K.K. Ross (for ages 12 and up)

Twelve-year-old Malora is one of a small tribe of people. In the far future, humans are nearly extinct. Yet they eke a meager living from the brutal plains where they live. Much of their heritage becomes forgotten or lost in the struggle to survive.

Though they live a rough life without technology, books or many of the modern comforts we take for granted, life is good, until a flock of viscous birds attacks the men r...more Review: Centauriad #1: Daughter of the Centaurs by K.K. Ross (for ages 12 and up)

Twelve-year-old Malora is one of a small tribe of people. In the far future, humans are nearly extinct. Yet they eke a meager living from the brutal plains where they live. Much of their heritage becomes forgotten or lost in the struggle to survive.

Though they live a rough life without technology, books or many of the modern comforts we take for granted, life is good, until a flock of viscous birds attacks the men returning from a hunting trip.

Young Malora witnesses the atrocity, which plunges her community into chaos. Things go from bad to worse when the predators return and attack the village again and again.

Malora’s mother sends her out alone into the plains during one such attack, after requiring her promise never to return. Malora is on her own except for her father’s favorite horse, Sky. She does her best to keep herself and the horse safe alone in the wild.

Malora can’t keep her promise and, in time is drawn back to the village. What she finds plunges her into despair. While she’s dealing with this emotional blow, she is attacked and captured by Centaurs.

The Centaurs are the civilized beings in this future, at least on the surface. Malora goes from captive to a friend of sorts on the journey back to the centaurs’ city.

Ms. Ross does a remarkable job of world building with this novel. Even though the history of how the humans became almost extinct, and the centaurs became the dominant species is far-fetched, I found the story line believable. The story drew me in and I found myself alternating between cheering for Malora and wondering why she didn’t run away.

The inconsistency of the prose did detract from the story. The narration felt as if there was more than one author. Parts of the story were confusing, and in several instances, I found myself going back several pages to clarify the action.

The inconsistency was minor until the last few chapters where it grew pronounced enough I almost put the book down. I found the conclusion to the story rushed. The final pages wrap up the book quickly, in the process creating gaping holes in logic. Since the book seems to be the initial offering in a series, perhaps the questions left unanswered here will be address in future books.

This review was based on an ARC provided by the publisher.(less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Isa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, netgalley, read-2011, mary-sue

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. An entertaining if not entirely successful book.

The plot starts well enough then takes needless and sometimes absurd turns.
I got the sense that, by its subject matter, this book was meant to be Young Adult, but the writing is too simplistic. Don't get me wrong, you don't need big words to convey big emotions and there were certainly several descriptive passages that proved just that. But the characters' motives, the plot itself, were too simple and it was sometimes jarring to read mentions of...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Lori Vargas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story starts out with a young girl becoming of age learning her place in life. In the time it takes place females had a purpose and men had theirs. Malora wanted to do as her father be a horse trainer or take care of horses. Not the practice of her mother Thora which was like a healer mixing herbs and flowers. Large creatures appear one day and wipe out the men while hunting so Malora listens to her mother and learns quite a bit. She also learns much from her father before he died. Then one...more The story starts out with a young girl becoming of age learning her place in life. In the time it takes place females had a purpose and men had theirs. Malora wanted to do as her father be a horse trainer or take care of horses. Not the practice of her mother Thora which was like a healer mixing herbs and flowers. Large creatures appear one day and wipe out the men while hunting so Malora listens to her mother and learns quite a bit. She also learns much from her father before he died. Then one day her mother teaches her to use a bow and later puts her on their horse Sky and sends her away never to return. Malora then lives among the bush raises horses almost becoming one herself.Later she returns to find all her people are gone her mother sacrificed them to save her.So off she goes back to the bush . She kind of gets captured by centaurs and learns that they have killed off her People ancestors but they have vowed to keep peace. They keep her as a pet. Treating her well she learns to read and write and good things happen to her. Many other things go one in the story there are other characters as well . Its a fun story to read . I really enjoyed it.

First I must say I didn't want the book to end it was that enjoyable. I thought at first it was set in the past because of the the centaurs even though it stated some where in the future. The humans or The People were all destroyed by centarus. I love the twist of how they had the knowwledge of the past from books yet the people were so primitive until the Letterbacks came and left only one girl. Malora. Who found her place among the horses Living in the bush learning to fight and survive she meets centaurs who are civil and take her in . I can't say enough how I loved having a human instead of an alien coming into the city. They taught her to read and write. There was still upper class and lower class and of course money ruled all . Some fun, laughter, evilness or pranks going on . but they seemed to learn how to get along and get themessage of trust and peace in the end. I would love to have some of Orian's scents to help me sleep at night. I would really like to find out how Malora makes out at her Hand but I think she is best with the horses although giving Orion help with his work might be useful .
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Aug 20, 2011 Lynnea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mythology, paranormal, centaur, arc

Malora has lived in the Settlement with her mother, a healer, and father a horse trainer. One day all of the men are attacked and killed by a winged species called leatherwings. She takes over as horse trainer in her fathers absence. The leatherwings now having tasted humans attack the village and Malora's mother sends her out to save her. She survives in the wilderness with her horse and others that have joined her to become a herd. One day in a storm her herd is trapped in a box canyon and cap...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Alz rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-mg, fantasy, post-apocalyptic

The book starts off fairly interesting, with little Malora living in the Settlement with her family, wanting to raise horses like her father and being shunned by the other people for a variety of reasons. Malora is an outsider for all that she is a child, loves her parents who love her back, and it was pretty nice at first to read YA where the heroine 1) HAS parents who 2) actually care about her.

The book blurb is misleading and made for a weirdly-paced initial reading experience since there is...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So, Daughter of the Centaurs revolves in a world where Centaurs rule our world and humans are nearly extinct. It is very slow to start, but started picking up for me around page 75 or so. What frustrates me is the lack of back story, I expect a novel with a setting such as this to be slow in the beginning- but only because I'm learning about their world. I needed that set up.

I really liked Malora- she wants to train horses like her father until a tragic turn forces her to survive outside of her...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Jennavier rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a whole 300+ pages of borderline for me. What I mean is that while I liked the story and the heroine seemed nice I felt like there was a lot missing from this book. My biggest beefs are technical: the entire book is narrated in limited third present tense. I don't think I've ever experienced such a character-distancing voice. Secondly the author operated it like a first person voice. What I mean is that she told us the characters emotions, even when they didn't make sense with the c...more

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Daughter of the Centaurs (Centauriad #1)

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