I was a bit worried starting this one because it's the first of a trilogy and I didn't have the other two books handy. Fortunately/unfortunately I shouldn't have worried because while this wasn't a bad book, I won't be rushing out to read the remaining two.

The main problem is the characters - there's a lot of telling-not-showing here, and as a result I didn't feel connected to any of them. And I should have! There's a lot going on, a lot of tragedy, and a lot of growing up. But it always felt meh.

Also, my pet fucking peeve - don't write horses if you don't know horses! Or, also, don't publish horse books if you don't know horses.* This one wasn't the worst offender I've come across, but I found it hard to get past the point where the very ill horse lays on the ground and doesn't eat for days on end. Because... that should be a dead horse. They need to at least be standing and nibbling on some hay or their guts, legs and circulation are cactus.

*Seriously, can I get employed to read books and point out all the equine errors that authors make? Like a subject specialist editor. That'd be pretty much my dream job. ( )

Perfect as a children's book. ( )

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9–Based on the Third Crusade with England's King Richard I and the Muslim leader Saladin, this novel takes readers from the de Granvilles' Hartslove Castle to the bloody battlefields of the Middle East. It is a story of loyalty, honor, and nobility and centers around the lives of two brothers, Gavin and William; the fair maiden Eleanor whom they leave behind; and Will's beloved red horse. Readers are caught up in the bloody battles, with alternating chapters revealing what is happening on the "home front," and in the Christian and in the Muslim camps. Tying these stories together is the red horse, Hosanna, who is the book's most compelling and empathetic character. The futility of war is a theme throughout and readers will discover that, much like war today, combat in the 12th century had devastating consequences. The historical setting and the vocabulary may challenge younger readers but ensure that older ones will find the book a rewarding adventure, one not soon forgotten and one that lends itself to great discussion.–Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD

It is the time of the Crusades in the 12th century. On opposing sides are William, a Christian knight in Richard the Lionheart's army, and Camille, a Muslim in Saladin's army. Tying the unlikely pair is a beautiful red horse, Hosanna, stately and strong, and seen as a kind of good luck talisman by both sides in the battle. Hosanna is first William's horse, his first steed. William is devoted to Hosanna and is crushed when the horse is captured in battle. Now Hosanna is under Camille's care and he too is captivated by the "Red Horse." In many ways, Hosanna's hold on the boys helps them grow into more thoughtful, understanding men.

When it is time for Will to choose a 'great horse' to ride when he is a knight, he chooses Hosanna - a small red stallion. WIll and Hosanna become inseparable and up going to the crusades together. The two of them endure many hardships, see many horrors and know much suffering but through it all Will remains constant to his horse, his family and Ellie, the friend he left back in England, who is betrothed to his brother.
This is a gripping book that brings to life a dark period of history through the story of WIll and his horse. ( )