SHE WHO RIDES HORSES by Sarah V. Barnes is a novel set during ancient times when humanity first turned away from the life of hunter-gatherers and began raising livestock. Barnes tries to imagine that crucial moment in history when people started riding horses instead of hunting them, a change that would ultimately alter history.

Naya is a young girl who has a deep connection to animals. Horses fascinate her–especially a red filly she names Réhda. Naya is willing to risk her own life to save the horse from a pair of hunters–Oyuun and Aytal–who try to slay the filly for food. During the long, harsh winter, Naya attempts to befriend Réhda’s herd. Her only human companions are her mother, Sata as well as Oyuun and Aytal, both of whom are trying to make amends. The story’s characterization is serviceable, and while readers gain some insights into their motivations, none of them are especially deep. Essentially, these are decent people trying to survive while remaining kind to each other. As for the villains, they seem crude, childish, and rather dull. Luckily, we don’t spend a lot of time with them.

Barnes put a lot of effort into researching ancient nomadic cultures of the Pontic-Caspian Steppe. But her writing truly shines when describing the fascinating interactions between people and wild horses. Reading these parts of the story, readers realize SHE WHO RIDES HORSES isn’t just a historical novel, but a spiritual manual that includes some universal lessons. In trying to tame the horses, Naya and the others must first learn how to communicate and empathize with them without scaring them away. A crucial first step is learning to understand one’s true self.

SHE WHO RIDES HORSES fairly successfully mixes history with spiritual advice. But the story isn’t perfect. Barnes chooses to end her novel on several cliffhangers, leaving the readers without a proper resolution. True, the novel’s cover does say this is the first book in a lengthier series. Nevertheless, this lack of a clear conclusion mars an otherwise decent story.

SHE WHO RIDES HORSES by Sarah V. Barnes is a work of prehistoric fiction that is at its best when adding a spiritual dimension to a story about a fascinating and delicate relationship between humans and horses.

~Danijel Štriga for IndieReader