Riddle of the Rusty Horseshoe

My Little Pony: Ponyville Mysteries #3

by Penumbra Quill

Join the Cutie Mark Crusaders--Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo--as they read mysteries, legends, ghost stories, and every other kind of tale that makes a mane stand on end. From Ponyville School classmates to Rainbow Dash to the Princess of the Night herself, you never know who else...or what else...awaits as they set out to solve seeming supernatural mysteries around Ponyville.

©2017 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

Genres: Childrens

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2017

Reviews

[Sassafras Patterdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book because it was written about on Equestria Daily - we learn some of Scootaloo's backstory, specifically that she lives with her lesbian aunts!!! I was so excited about the first explicitly out lgbtq pony characters i had to buy the book immediately. it was a really cute read, and i was so excited to learn about Scootaloo's family! The moment where her aunts exchange a kiss?! i about started crying. such a cute pony book and i'm really glad to have it in my library

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Note: this review will prove that I know way more about My Little Pony Friendship is Magic than a grown person really should, but in my defense I have a 6 year old daughter (...and it is a pretty good show if I'm being honest...)).

Short version -
This is book 3, you should probably read in order. It is a little on the scary side for some kids. You find out some of Scootaloo's backstory.

Long version -
The 6 year old picked this up at the library and being a huge MLP fan we checked it out. It was on a "New book" display but I wish somewhere on the cover or title page it had indicated that this the 3rd book in a series. I think it would be best to read them in order and jump in a book 3. Obviously, this involves characters from the TV show (the Cutie Mark Crusaders to be specific) but also involves a new family that has moved to town and moved into the creepy house and picks up in the middle of their story. So that was a bit of a problem. So the 3 stars might not be entirely fair, but I was confused as to who these new ponies were.

This book features Scootaloo as the main character and provides some additional information to her backstory, which I have wondered about (look, my daughter watches the show A LOT and I can't help but wonder about things). Scootaloo is a pegasus pony and through the 7 seasons of the show we discover that she has special needs (her wings are too small to allow her to fly) but this doesn't seem to be much of a problem since she lives in Ponyville (on the ground) and not in Cloudsdale (in the sky) and therefore doesn't need to fly a lot. It is also implied that her parents are not super supportive of her (not sure if they are just busy and don't have a lot of free time or are terrible parents - could go either way). In this book you find out that her father is an Earth Pony (so maybe she is only 1/2 pegasus) and she is currently living with her lesbian aunts while her parents are away. Which (as far as I know) is the first LGBT character in this world. So that was pretty cool. I also appreciated that it was presented as no big deal, just her father's sister and her partner.

This story is a bit on the scary side (I had to read ahead to assure my daughter that everything works out ok and that the Olden Pony is not in fact real) and of course the solution to the problem is friendship (no surprise there really). I have to say that reading this book aloud is difficult mostly because of the character names (Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Lilymoon, Ambermoon, Princess Twilight Sparkle, etc) but if you (or someone you know) is a fan of MLP, especially the CMCs, then this is an enjoyable book.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

Another fun Ponyville adventure. Lilymoon and the Cutie Mark Crusaders have been spending more time together. One night, they decide to tell spooky stories, but when the spookiness comes to life, they must face their fears and accept help from an unlikely source.

The third book focuses on Scootaloo's struggles with the changing friend group dynamics and encountering her biggest fear. The story builds well upon the first two books.

Themes of making new friends, getting to know others, facing your fears, and accepting change.

Such a fun series. Definitely interested to see what happens next.

[Haaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good sequel in the Poneyville Mysteries series.

I definitely liked reading from Scootaloo's perspective this time around. It's a fun way to do a series. The dangerous creature in this book is the Olden Pony. It's doesn't seem that scary but she does a lot of damage around town.

The cause for all the trouble was very interesting and the solution they came up with was ridiculous but made sense in an amusing way.

I'm glad that Ambermoon is joining the friends.

The unnamed Pony in the beginning and end seems to be related to the Moon family but I might be wrong. I know just enough to make me wonder but also still be unsure. On to the next book!

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My five year old got so scared by the Olden Pony, the ghost/phantom in this book. It was mostly fun-scared, but definitely crossed over into too-scared-to-go-to-bed, so we stopped reading it at bedtime. Overall she really enjoyed this, though, and I liked the resolution where everyone in town pitches in. I would be okay with reading others in this series.

[Paweł · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wciągająca, chyba najlepsza część serii. Mam nadzieję, że reszta zostanie u nas wydana, bo skoro już Twilight się zaczęła niepokoić tym, co się dzieje, to znaczy, że coś się dzieje (masło maślane i know).

Fajnie, że historia z odcinka została zakończona w taki sposób, chociaż miałem nadzieję, na mroczniejsze rozwiązanie

[나는 바보다]

또한 첫 번째와 두 번째만큼 훌륭합니다! 기본적으로 이 책의 내용은 Scootaloo가 Rainbow Dash의 무서운 이야기에 나오는 조랑말인 Olden Pony를 본다는 것입니다. Scootaloo는 모든 조랑말이 그녀를 무서운 조랑말이라고 말할까봐 걱정합니다. 그녀는 너무 무서워 잠들기까지! Scootaloo는 Olden Pony와 Rusty Horseshoe에 대한 미스터리를 풀기 위해 친구들이 필요합니다! 빠른!

[Sarah Hall]

Book 3 of 6

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of adventure and powerful magic. A fast paced book that may be scary for young children.