Thunder's Courage (Bella Sara Series #6) »

Journey to the world of magical horses . . .

Follow the valiant and powerful steed Thunder as he helps a young girl find the courage to face an evil sorceress who looms in Darkcomb forest.

Children's Literature

This fantasy of magical horses who fight evil is the sixth in the "Bella Sara" series for younger fantasy and horse lovers. Early on, the author interrupts her story to relate the underlying myth of the horse goddess, Sara, and how she saved a group of Caregivers from evil wolves and granted them immortality in the form of Valkyries. Back in the present, readers meet Sevi, a gifted young seamstress and designer who is about to come of age and must decide her future path in life. Should she try to revive the Caregivers or stay with her silk weaving family and perfect her gifts? The agony over her choice leads to adventures involving an evil spider-sorceress, her frightening accomplices, and the magical black stallion, Thunder. As is apparent, this mythology is linked to the Norse—this series and its byproducts originated in Denmark—and also suggests the chilling Swiss story Die Schwarze Spinne of 1842; mercifully, this one is much shorter. The characters are pleasant, though not well developed, while the hairy spiders readily evoke disgust. Least believable is the magnificent lightning-struck Thunder, who acts as deus ex machina, and the pencil illustrations are pallid. As an incentive to read on, a chapter from Book Seven (unrelated to this tale) is included, as is a code for the series website, where captivated readers can find a whole range of products to buy, interactive games, and further activities. It is quite an industry! Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft