The Grey Horse

Nope, I'm not a horse person. Or an Ireland person. Or an historical fantasy romance person. These are all fine things, but they aren't me. But this book. Oh this book is so damn wonderful. Yep, read it. You'll like it. This book works because of the writing. Solid, interesting, accessible writing. The setting is perfect, you end up liking the characters far too much. Also, this book is third-person omniscient with head jumping by section, which is my secret sin. If you happened to LIKE horses, Ireland, or historical romance fantasy? Well-- then actually you might not like this book very much. It doesn't adhere to the tropes very closely.

R. A. MacAvoy's work came highly recommended in a LibraryThing thread about undeservedly forgotten fantasy literature. I, heeding the wisdom of my fellow LT fantasy fans, soon found time to read her 1987 novel The Grey Horse. I'm glad I did—this is an unusual story, successfully mixing faeries and romance with such incongruous elements as Irish nationalism, prodigal sons, horses, snobbery, and murder. Intrigued?

Ruairí MacEibhir, a fairy born of Wind and Stone, takes shape as a great gray native horse to insinuate himself into the stables of Anraí, a local trainer. When he transforms back into a man before the very eyes of Anraí and his stableman Donncha, neither expresses any great surprise that they now have a fairy in their show more barn. And a fairy who wants employment, at that. Ruairí wishes to assimilate himself into the world of men once more and marry Máire, the dark sister of the town's acknowledged belle. For Máire has fairy blood in her, and she is fair in Ruairí's eyes. But Máire is mixed up in the nationalist movement—a dangerous thing—and in any case has no interest in the men who usually swoon over her sister. Or men who turn into horses.

For a romance with some fantasy elements, there is precious little of it here. In that respect this story reminds me of Megan Whalen Turner's Attolia series; the romantic subplot is a driving force in the story, but the scenes describing it are far and few between. And come to think of it, Ruairí is a bit like Gen in his merry nonconformity and general competence. Ruairí is a fascinating and distinctive hero, fey and engaging and just otherworldly enough. What makes him believable is his simple naïveté about the way humans do things. He undertakes to build a house for Máire, and it is a stunning revelation to him that roof materials and roofing labor can be purchased. He cheerfully converts to Roman Catholicism to please Máire (in a baptism quite terrifying for the brave priest—whoever heard of sprinkling holy water on a fairy?). And throughout, both Ruairí's sense of humor and faithful love for Máire are unfailing. It's hard not to root for him.

There are several interesting father-son relationships in the story. Anraí's son Seosamh is the prodigal who returns but never repents, causing his parents grief. Mr. Blondell, the local landlord, is also grieved by his young son Tobias, who hates his father's outdoor life until the day Ruairí starts training him to ride. Two fathers and two sons... though Anraí and Seosamh never reconcile (and indeed Seosamh denounces his father to the government agent), Blondell and Tobias are able to steady themselves after their relational stumbles.

A lot happens, but I would characterize the overall tone of the story as quiet and contemplative. MacAvoy has a keen eye for her characters' quirks and the little expressions and movements that convey a sense of their reality. Sensitive, intelligent, and vivid, The Grey Horse is an unassuming little story that will linger in my memory. I look forward to reading more of MacAvoy's work. show less

A charming story which held my interest throughout, mainly because of the interaction of the characters and their relationships.

Anrai, a horse trainer in his 70s, is walking home one day when he spots a grey horse on a bank above. Being interested in all horses, he climbs up to examine it, one thing leads to another, and he then is on a runaway horse, though never in real danger. The horse takes him home and he eventually finds out its secret - not a spoiler as even the blurb on the copy I had gives that away. The horse is Ruairi MacEibhir, a fairy man who has the ability to shift between human and horse shape, and he is there to court a part fairy woman, Maire.

The story follows not only their courtship, an uphill affair for most of the show more book, but the underlying political tensions in the community - this is set in the late Victorian period when Irish nationalism was seen as a problem for the British establishment - and the various family conflicts, as Anrai has a good for nothing son, and Maire is disliked and resented by her apparent father and sister. It has an interesting and touching ending, although one loose end seems to be what happens to Anrai's unpleasant son. But a pleasant read after my previous encounter with an R A McAvoy novel (The Book of Kells, which was a did-not-finish), therefore 3 stars. show less

I liked but didn't love this unconventional love story set in Connemara, Ireland, in the late 19th century. While the story touches on the plight of the Irish natives and the conflict between the English and the Irish, at its heart, it is a tale of relationships--the courting of the less-favored Máire by the puka Ruairí, the forty years of marriage between Anraí and Áine, and the conflicts between parents and offspring in the Blondell, Standún, and Reachtaire families.

A fabulous historical romance with a touch of magic. Ruairi the shapeshifter has come to claim a mate among the humans in the town of Carraroe. But, he's not after the twon's most beautiful girl - he wants her fiery sister!

I did read this book all the way through. A type of celtic/fairy book, but not a traditional fairy story. This one was about a dude who's a horse. I never really got into it. Nothing seemed to HAPPEN. I don't think I would necessarily recommend this book.