A race in bondage. A reluctant choice to seal their future.

Young stallion Demetrius has always known life as a prince of the Capricorn Kingdom of Barazar. Until he stumbles upon a startling, long-kept family secret that shatters his entire world. Confused and betrayed, he flees into exile, leaving behind all that he has ever known.

However, a mysterious all-powerful deity calls him back to Barazar with an unthinkable task: free the enslaved horses and lead them to their long-forgotten ancestral homeland, Aethon. The last thing Demetrius wants is to face the capricorns, but the sufferings of his true family could not be ignored. His decision will sweep him on a perilous journey. One of battles between wills and forces, deadly creatures, divine plagues, and, above all, hope.

Book 1 of the The Aethon Chronicles series.

Prince of Egypt meets Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron in Lavay Byrd’s The Guardian, a fantastical equine-based retelling of the biblical Exodus. In the kingdom of Barazar, Prince Nadir of the royal Capricorn family turns twenty and learns his true identity: Demetrius, a common horse like the Capricorns’ slaves. Fleeing his royal brother’s hatred, he gallops into an unexpected journey of faith and restoration. Thanks to a cast of memorable talking horses and vivid descriptions, Lavay Byrd builds an allegorical adventure set in a fully equine world. A few typos might make some readers stumble on the way, but can be overlooked on this well-equipped tale with surprise twists that conclude this first book of The Aetheon Chronicles.

Best for: Teens age 15 and older, lovers of horses and adventure.

Discern: Slavery, a near-death experience with a sand serpent, deaths of firstborn foals, occasional peril in fight/battle scenes.