Moonsilver/The Silver Thread: The Unicorn's Secret #1-2

MOONSILVER, Book 1 - Heart Avamir was abandoned in a field one day by her parents - whom she doesn't remember in any way, shape, or form - and was taken in by a cold-hearted man named Simon. Her existence is not pleasurable, as she spends her days and nights working in the fields, but all that changes when she finds a beautiful white horse with many scars, who quickly takes to Heart's gentle and kind nature. Due to the fact that the mare is limping around, and malnourished, Simon wants nothing more than to sell the mare to the knacker - someone who will kill the horse - but Heart convinces him otherwise. With the help of Ruth, a kind, old magic lady who lives next door, Heart is able to give the mare, now named Avamir, the care that it needs. And soon, Avamir has begun to foal. Her baby is lovely, and Heart quickly names him Moonsilver. Then trouble strikes, and Heart knows that she must take care of the horses before something absolutely dreadful happens to them. THE SILVER THREAD, Book 2 - Heart Avamir is living on the run ever since she rescued the white unicorn mother, Avamir, and her unicorn colt, Moonsilver. It is her only hope for keeping the three of them alive, and protected from the evil Lord Dunraven's men. With the help of a large, abandoned cave, Heart feels confident that she will be able to keep the three of them safe from prying eyes, at least until the winter comes, when food will most likely become scarce. But when Moonsilver is shot by a hunter's poisoned arrow, Heart knows that the only way to save the young unicorn is to reveal herself to the world, and make her way to Ruth Oakes' (a kind healer) house, in an attempt to cure him of the poison and save his life. However, along the way, Heart's safety is threatened, as she is seen by various people in town, her old master, Simon, being one of them. Now, it is up to Heart to do her best to make it back to the cave, along with Moonsilver and Avamir, as well as a newfound friend in the form of a young pup named Kip, in an attempt to keep Avamir and Moonsilver's secret of being unicorns from slipping out, and to avoid Simon's greedy eyes from claiming the mare and her colt as being his and selling them to the knacker for pocket change. Heart worries that she will be unable to protect her newfound family, but with a tiny gift from Ruth Oakes, her thoughts change, and she realizes that with a little heart, bravery, and a lot of love, she can overcome anything, and protect the ones she loves. I will admit that I purchased this "flip book" based on the cover illustrations. However, having been an admirer of unicorns since a very young age, I just assumed I would love it. I was not wrong. Kathleen Duey (whose horse stories have won me over for years) has done an amazing job of creating characters who truly touch your heart. From the adorable, brave and intelligent Heart Avamir, and the kind old healer, Ruth Oakes; to the four-legged characters such as Avamir, Moonsilver, and the new

I bought this series for my 4 and 1/2 year old daughter and she absolutely loved it. 6 months later we read the whole series again in 3 days. There is plenty of adventure without being too scary. The main characters, both human and unicorn, are endearing. I highly recommend this series to anyone with a child who loves to listen to well-crafted stories and has a vivid imagination.