I didn't think I had read this book before, but I remembered a few key pieces of the narrative, so I guess I had. I really enjoyed this book, not as much as the second, but I think maybe more or as much as the first? It's really good if you like the other Black Stallion novels.

Farley always gets my heart hammering when he's writing about a race - I feel like I'm right there with Alec and his horse - I'm always dying to skip to the end, but fighting myself to enjoy the pleasure of the read, it's worth it to hang on!

I really enjoyed the chapter featuring Alec's mother, it brought her character to greater focus, and the reader really got to see what Alec's parents were going through in their struggle to support his racing career. She's conflicted but she loves her son.

I loved the story of Satan, though I thought certain aspect dragged a bit too long. I also wish the characters generally had a bit more depth. They seem to have one defining characteristic (if any), a unique speech pattern, and that's about it. Farley's love for horses clearly shines through as he spends his most meticulous writing on them throughout his books - I love it, I just wish it was a teensy bit more balanced.

I recommend this book to fans of the The Black Stallion, horse literature, or a fun intro to chapter books for young readers. All will enjoy!