3 ⭐️

4.5 stars. This was a refreshing change of pace - a Black Stallion story NOT centered on a horse race. The story and mystery were both interesting, even if I found the conclusion and wrap-up a little lackluster. The tie-in to Flame and his "adventure" was truly infuriating, as I thought the Island Stallion was no longer part of the narrative.

There were also "like a woman..." comments that were upsetting, but not entirely expected for the times.

I recommend this book to fans of the series, horse lit, and children looking for a fun read.

This felt kind of pointless, too, particularly after you read Young Black Stallion and a very important piece of caring about this book is retconned. The mystery was actually a twist I didn't see coming, so that was a positive, but the ending left a sour taste in my mouth.

Still, parts of it are pretty fun and engaging, although other parts drag. I suppose it's all a matter of taste, but I really just thought it was okay.

A little too much goes on here for it to be a straightforwardly good Black Stallion book. Farley was not afraid of over-reaching, which is certainly fun but does cause some eye-rollingly bad scenes. Secret passages? We got 'em! Kidnapping? Yup. Unknown location? Sure. Ghostly horses in the middle of the night? Check.

There's some misogynistic stuff in here that seems reflexive rather than thought-out. Not one of my favorites, for sure.