The Island Stallion

As much as I loved The Black Stallion and all of the stories of his adventures, the story of Flame and his band, living wild and free on a remote unknown island appealed to me even more!

I loved this book as much if not more than the BLACK STALLION. I loved it so much that I could not bear to read the titles featuring 'BLACK STALLION MEETS FLAME" where my two favorite horses would be pitted against each other. It was an unfair pairing. Wonderful fantastic adventure book. One of my all-time favorite horse stories right up there with KING OF THE WIND, and all the other WALTER FARLEY stories.

This book is just as well-written as the black stallion series. Flame, a wild red horse young Steve Duncan thinks only exists in his dreams, is actually a real horse living in the confines of mysterious Azul Island, where he and his friend Pitch are camping. It takes a lot of critical thinking skills, physical strength and courage to finally get their way into the interior of the island. While they almost become lost in a series of caverns with many hidden treasures and burial grounds, they find Flame and his herd in a very vivid, lush valley. But when Flame loses his herd and almost his life to a challeging piebald stallion, it becomes a matter that Steve must see to that his majestic friend kills the piebald and regains his herd. This amazing novel contains suspense, adventure, mystery, and excitement. The pictures that are so clear to the reader that Farley can put in your head through his words is spell-binding. I must once again applaud Farley for this well-put together piece of literature known none other than 'The Island Stallion'.

Flame the Island Stallion; he doesn't get as much attention as his "brother" The Black. But the Island Stallion is a remarkable book, for some it will be something fresh by Walter Farley, since you will be meeting new characters. The book its self is interesting in that half the book takes place on Azul Island, so for the most part the only people we see are Steve Duncan and his friend Pitch. One would think that would make for a boring story, but it doesn't there is just as much adventure in this book as some of the Black Stallion books. Just like the black stallion it is about a boys love for a wild stallion, a love which in a way tames the stallion. The book is told in a time period of 2 weeks so that is also very different from some of the Black Stallion books. I think most who have enjoyed reading Walter Farley's The Black Stallion (Books), being there with Alec and the Black. Will enjoy The Island Stallion where they will be there with Steven and Flame. Who wouldn't want to have a similar adventure like Steve has, finding a lost world that only you and someone else knows about and seeing these incredible beautiful horses, and to top off seeing some ancient artifacts.

This is a fantastic book about an wild stallion on Azul Island who the Black has met in the Black Stallion and Flame. Steve had dreams about this flame coloured stallion which only became real when he and his friends unlocked the secret of the island on a trip there. This brings them into the heart of an unknown world of horses who lived unseen by humans for centuries. When Steve begins to bond with Flame after Flame's defeat in a battle, he rescues him from death. Steve helps him to recover to finally win back his herd. The ending was the best part when Steve made a decision which would affect Flame's future. Leave him be on the island or take him to live with him in the world of civilisation? I respect his decision and I am glad that Walter Farley made it that way. That was what made the book so great combined with a great description of the enviroment and a real feel for horses. It shows the reader a picture of the wild horses. I think Walter Farley is a wonderful writer, way better than Steven Farley. I love all his books and this is one of his best books. Walter Farley at his best. You can tell he really likes horses a lot.

I bought (with my allowance) and read, in order, all of Walter Farley's books starting when I was 8 years old. The Island Stallion was by far my favorite of all the books and the one that I read over and over. I am 28 now and I plan to buy the complete set for my son when he's old enough to read since most of mine have been lost over the years.