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4.06 of 5 stars
"Eclipsed by Shadow" is the first volume of the new trilogy, The Legend of the Great Horse, which explores the ages of mankind when horses were eve... read full description

reviews

Sep 30, 2010
Jenna rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a historical fiction of horses as seen through the eyes of a 15 year old girl named Meagan Roberts. Meagan spends the first half of the book confused and the other on horse back just trying to stay alive.
Though the begging og the book is a little dry and slow, once her horse Promise comes home the story picks up and then is hard to put down.
Not a great lover of horses myself didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book and recommending this book to everyone over the age More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2010
Jules rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I don't know if I will have enough adjectives to describe just how much I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Although I would like to apologize to the author John Royce first. I've had this book for quite a while and have just now got a chance to share my review ~ it's one that was worth the wait though! And just in time to TOP my GIFT-WORTHY list..

Horse-crazy teenager Meagan Roberts is the proud owner of an amazingly rare Palomino Thoroughbred filly (girl horse) named "Promise". As More...
Dec 17, 2010
Lawane rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I was excited to win and looked forward to reading this young adult book. I am a retired elementary teacher and volunteer at the middle school library so I do read my fair share of books for kids! And because I am an historical fiction junkie, and like some fantasy as well, "Eclipsed By Shadow" was a win/win for me.

It was obvious from the beginning of this book that the author has a love for and great knowledge of horses and my interest was piqued throughout by that particul More...
Oct 13, 2009
Angela rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Owning a horse was the only thing that teenager Meagan Roberts could think about. Owning a legendary great horse never crossed her mind. In “Eclipsed by Shadow”, we see that Meagan’s horse, Promise is just that. Unwilling to heed the advice of Mrs. Bridgestone, the keeper of the legend, that if this Great Horse is rode it would bring darkness, Meagan rides Promise. Instantly she is transported to another place and time. 20,000 B.C. to be exact. She finds herself among a tribe that is hunting hor More...
Oct 01, 2009
Allison rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed July 13,2008 at Allison's Attic

John Royce brings to life the story of a young, horse crazed teenager named Meagan and her horse named Promise. Even as the summer solstice brings happiness in the birth of Promise, mystery surrounds her from that day forward. People start coming around Meagan’s house asking questions about Promise and wanting to purchase her. An older lady in particular talks to Meagan and her mom about the history of “The Great Horse.” She feels that Promise ma More...
Jul 14, 2009
Billy rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Eclipsed by Shadow: The Legend of the Great Horse
BY: John Royce
COVER ARTWORK: Marti Adrian
PUBLISHED BY: Micron Press
PUBLISHED IN: 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-9724121-3-1
Ages: Young Adult & Up



I was very impressed by this book, reading it in only two nights. The author, John Royce, has beautifully written a wonderful epic that combines fantasy with history, a mix between Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings and the Time Machine. He uses his grea More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jul 03, 2009
Jamie rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I received this book as one of the good reads giveaways, and I enjoyed reading it. There is a lot of promise in the story and because of it I hate to say much bad about it, but it almost seems as if it's a rough draft, waiting to be edited.

The facts about horses and the way the author describes them is beautiful. It shines through the author's writing that he loves horses. The historical facts were also wonderful. The writing in the first part of the story, before Meagan starts h More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jun 11, 2011
Jenny rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I went into it with the mindset of a middle school female reading this book. If you did not know much about the care of horses, it explains all the care that goes into horses. If you have had horses in the past, it brings back wonderful memories of the magnificent animal.

I loved how this book presented fascinating history in an exciting and suspenseful way. I am not a fan of reading history but Royce brought history to life with this book. I will remember ma More...
Dec 22, 2011
Christina rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I received this book from Librarything member giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. There are a lot of strengths to this novel. It's engaging, especially for anyone who has ever been enthralled by horses (I definitely was!). It is very well researched- I was fascinated by the history of horses and how different cultures interacted and thought of them. I really enjoyed the elderly lady that took interest in the Legend of the great horse. And More...
Jul 02, 2009
Paula rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I won an early reviewer's copy from Library Thing . . .

There are elements of this book that I really like and others that I believe make this a very flawed attempt.

Firstly, the story is written in two distinct parts. The transition between the parts is not smooth so that they read as separate stories rather than one continuous tale. If this is a young adult novel, as it says it is, the purpose for the hero to begin his/her quest must be clear to the reader at the very More...
Jul 07, 2009
Amy rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I won this book through one of the GoodReads giveaways.

This young adult book combined two of my favorite things, horses and history! As the first in a trilogy, I was hoping that it would entice me to read the other two. As a young adult novel, I was hoping that it had something different to bring to the genre. It succeeded in both ways. After a slow start, the book became more and more difficult to put down. The protagonist is a young girl/woman (age 15) who is taken on a strang More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Nov 30, 2010
Anne rated it: 4 of 5 stars
"Eclipsed by Shadow", the first book in the trilogy, "The Legend of the Great Horse" describes the adventures of the young girl, Meagan, and the spectacular mare, Promise, as they travel back in time. After introductory chapters in present day California, Promise brings Meagan back to 20,000 BC. After a brief sojourn with the earliest horses, Meagan moves back forward through history born on the back of each period’s incarnation of the Great Horse. She stops briefly at the Bl More...
Jul 12, 2009
Bev rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a must read book, I am 50 years old and it held my interest all the way to the end. You don't have to be a youth to enjoy this book. As I was reading Eclipsed By Shadow, I flet as though I was there, the wording is so descriptive, that I could visulize the characters, like I was right in the book seeing the story live.
I found that there was quite a bit of history with the different times, things I did not know, with and without horses.
I am looking forward so much to the seq More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Dec 17, 2010
Jules rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I don't know if I will have enough adjectives to describe just how much I LOVE THIS BOOK! Although I would like to apologize to the author John Royce first. I've had this book for quite a while and have just now got a chance to share my review ~ it's one that was worth the wait though! And just in time to TOP my GIFT-WORTHY list..

Horse-crazy teenager Meagan Roberts is the proud owner of an amazingly rare Palomino Thoroughbred filly (girl horse) named "Promise". As Meagan More...
May 17, 2011
Wendy rated it: 5 of 5 stars
“Eclipsed by Shadow” was a magical horse story that is suitable for both teenagers and adults alike. The equine and world history aspects were fascinating and well researched by the author. Some facts that I did not know were that horses existed back in 20,000 B.C. or when stirrups, saddles, and horseshoes were discovered. The ending left me breathless wanting to find out what time period Promise was taking Meagan to next.
Dec 02, 2010
Susanna rated it: 4 of 5 stars
The beginning seemed a bit slow, but after that the book was very interesting. I particularly liked the idea of the plot, that a teenage girl travels through time, and the bits of history about horses added information that I have never seen in other historical fiction books.
Book received through LibraryThing Member Giveaway; original review posted on LibraryThing.
Jul 12, 2009
J.T. rated it: 4 of 5 stars
For a person who feels great anxiety around horses because of all that power and strength, I have found John Royce's book, Eclipsed By Shadow, to be riveting and unpredictable. It's truly amazing to enjoy a well written novel and come away with new knowledge. This book is about a young girl who's love of horses is her only defense against the treatment of horses through the ages. Meagan travels through time to meet the "Greats" of the past and tries to survive all that she encounters. More...
Jan 03, 2012
Tona rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book has a lot of interesting facts about horses. Through out history there has been memorable horses. This book shows the lives of these Great Horses and the effect that they had in history. Meagan is lucky enough to have one of these Great Horses. With this Great Horse, she is transported through these times to see the lives of these amazing animals.
Jun 27, 2009
Audrey rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I learned a lot from this book, both about history and horses. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait to read the sequel. It's a fascinating and realistically written story, and it's definitely one to read over and over again.
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Nov 15, 2010
Jennifer rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a history packed gem. The detail in both the history and equine aspects are right on. LOVE THIS BOOK!
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Nov 28, 2010
Jeffrey marked it as to-read
I just won this book from First Reads. I hope to read and review this book as soon as it arrives. Looking forward to it. Thanks.
Jul 18, 2009
Taylor rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was original, informative, and interesting. I just felt some of the facts were just thrown in instead of actually party of the story. Other than that I thought it was great and I look forward to reading the next two.
Mar 18, 2011
Dick rated it: 2 of 5 stars
It was okay, but not something I would read again or recommend highly. I don't intend to purchase books 2 or 3 in the series. And I don't understand the high ratings given by Goodreads members.
Apr 28, 2010
J.M. added it
Saw this on the Goodreads Giveaways and thought it looked neat.
Feb 10, 2012
Desiree marked it as to-read
Feb 09, 2012
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Feb 06, 2012
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Feb 05, 2012
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Feb 04, 2012
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Feb 02, 2012
Rachel marked it as to-read