Year of the Horse by Justin Allen

…Though it lacks the richness or emotional heft of other recent YA books (Suzanne Collins, Kristen Cashore), Year of the Horse is a mostly enjoyable YA read that probably won’t have much cross-over adult appeal, an original and often humorous mix of historical western and fantasy with more success on the historical side than the fantasy side, with a strong central character. Recommended for YA readers with an interest in the time period and geographical setting, or for younger readers looking for a break from the usual medieval fantasy setting. Read the rest.