THE LEGACY OF THE LOST RIDER

In Henry’s fantasy novel, the Great Races can earn the nobility fame and fortune and the riders danger and death—but one young woman may have a chance at victory.

Inesca has just buried her father when corrupt sheriff Roegur comes with his thugs to steal his possessions. The most important possession left to her is the stallion Nycor, a fierce horse who will only let Inesca ride him. She narrowly escapes the clutches of the sheriff but soon finds herself at the mercy of Lord Beristo. Inesca strikes a bargain with the lord: If he allows her to keep her steed and only let her ride him, then she’ll be his competitor in the prestigious Great Races. If Inesca fails, she’ll lose her precious horse. The Great Races are also quite perilous, and they could cost Inesca her life. She has to worry about danger not only from other lords and riders, but also from within her own house, as Jirro, Lord Beristo’s only other rider, has decided she’s his enemy. As Inesca trains, she also begins to investigate her father’s past. At first, she does her best to track down Sir Coltar, who rides with the Royal Council, and remind him of the oath he made to her father 20 years ago. Soon, she also suspects she may have a connection to Lord Edgerr’s two best riders. Over the course of Henry’s novel, she presents a fantasy world that is full of intrigue and a story that offers plenty of unpredictable turns. The horse racing scenes are particularly well written, with easy-to-follow, fast-paced action: “Inesca felt Nycor tremble under her with excitement as the horses beside them rushed into a sudden gallop.” Inesca is shown to be a fierce hero, and the story is well supported by the varied cast of characters, including engaging enemies. The end is satisfying and ably plants seeds for future stories in series.

An exciting horse-racing adventure that’s also about the love of family.