A Wind in Cairo

This is a fabulously compelling story of magic, horses, and relationships. I lent my only copy to someone who didn't return it and now I want my daughter to read it. It provides a great view of the relationships between people and horses, but also between men and women.

This book, set in Cairo during the time of Saladin and the Crusades, focuses on a wealthy and foolish young Egyptian man, who insults a magician. As punishment, he is turned into an Arabian stallion, destined to be gelded and sold. But the daughter of his family's sworn enemy buys him, and he is then forced to be trained to be her riding animal. Eventually, he must discover what true love and loyalty is when his mistress goes to war with Saladin. And will he ever again have a human mouth to tell her he loves her? This is a fast paced and wonderful read for anyone who loves horses, rides, trains, and dreams of racing across the sands of time, or believes true love can always be victorious.

This is the story of a young man who, in punishment for a crime, is transformed into a horse by a Arab magician. He becomes the warhorse of the magician's daughter, with whom he falls in love. The young woman goes to war in the army of Saladin. A great deal of creative history (a la Mary Renault and others of Tarr's books) is given, as is a lot of fascinating period detail. This is a great story for those who like horses (and horse training) and fantasy and history. If you like Judith Tarr's other books, you'd probably like this one. It's been a while since I've (re) read it, but it is one that I have gone back to time and time again...