A Clan Chief's Daughter
She Who Rides Horses (Book Two)
A gifted young woman comes into her own in the engrossing historical saga A Clan Chief’s Daughter, part of a continuing series.
Sarah V. Barnes’s riveting historical novel A Clan Chief’s Daughter continues the prehistoric saga of the first human to tame and ride a horse.
In 4000 BCE on the Pontic-Caspian Steppe, fifteen-year-old Naya returns from communing with a group of wild horses. Through her natural bond with the animals, Naya was able to ride a spirited red filly—a remarkable encounter leading to expanded travel possibilities and connections as horses become domesticated. Still, though Naya’s grandfather predicts that horse-human relationships will be an integral gift to their clan and its future, his foresight is ignored. After a harsh winter and a brutal attack on other livestock, the clan decides to sacrifice most of the horses to appease the gods.
Naya is a conflicted heroine, torn between her horse-taming abilities and her obligatory loyalty to her clan. An independent girl, she prefers foraging and being outdoors in peaceful solitude and feels guilt and anguish about having led the horses into a trap, even as she yearns to please her clan chief father. Her luxuriant red hair evokes the coat of her beloved chestnut filly; the other horses’ containment within a corral and preparation for sacrifice also correlates with Naya’s ceremonial isolation.
The secondary characterizations are built on distinctive qualities as well: A handsome warrior, Wailos, grins with “wolfish” charm; Bhlaghmn, a scheming priest, wears dark garments. And their society has complex dynamics: Though led by men, its women assert clear agency. Naya’s mother refuses to be displaced as the chief’s wife and returns to her own clan, while seductive Saurosa enjoys unusual sexual freedom with various men. And following a painful emotional and physical violation, Naya summons her innate survival skills and cunning defiance to redirect her fate.
The prose is rich and flowing, with immersive historical details fleshing out Naya’s world. There are mentions of bison fur robes, elmwood hairpins, and combs made from a “deer’s shoulder bone.” Evocative descriptions of nature also arise, as when Naya’s grandmother, Awija, recounts the importance of universal balance through the legend of celestial sister and brother Mehnot and Sāwel, who assumed the powers of the moon and sun after the earth’s creation. Concerned about the clan’s increasing patriarchy, Awija wields quiet authority while trying to keep her granddaughter and other young women from being considered as “resources” rather than equal marital partners.
Indeed, the book is methodical about its worldbuilding. It alludes to previous and future volumes and includes bits of backstory throughout. At times, these references become redundant, though. Further, the book’s mentions of tribal politics are quite complicated, leading to a surplus of information.
An engrossing epic novel, A Clan Chief’s Daughter centers a young woman whose unique bond with horses changes the course of human history.
Reviewed by
Meg Nola
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
