The Winged Horse Race

This is a horse story with a difference, set in the world of Ancient Greece where gods rule, fight and meddle from the heights of Mount Olympus and winged horses fly through the skies.  In the mortal world, foundling Pippa, (Hippolyta), works in a stable tending her beloved horses until the day she is caught in a storm and glimpses a huge silver wing in the clouds.  Waking the next morning on Mount Olympus, Pippa discovers that she has been chosen as one of the riders in Zeus’ winged horse race.  Each rider has been selected by a god, Pippa’s sponsor is Aphrodite, the winning horse will become Zeus’ new steed and the winning rider will gain immortality.  Pippa and her skittish young horse Zeph are soon inseparable and set off to explore this unfamiliar world, making new friends, confronting enemies, meeting the Fates and trying to work out how to win and stay together forever.

The task of winning seems impossible when dealing with cheating gods and scheming, desperate fellow competitors.  Satisfyingly, however, love, kindness, friendship, courage and fairness prevail in this magical, fast-moving adventure story with its mythological background and appealing central character.  This enjoyable tale, complete with flying horses and ancient gods and goddesses, should appeal to young readers who have some knowledge of Greek myths and who enjoy fantasy adventure stories.