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"I Am the White Horse" by Evalyn McKnight and Allen R. Kates

August 17, 2026

I Am the White Horse

   As powerful as the book’s title is, the story and characters live up to it in I Am the White Horse by Evalyn McKnight and Allen R. Kates. It’s not a typical Western. It’s not a typical tale of the supernatural. Instead, it’s a story that intermingles many mythologies and traditions, all of which are seen as equally valid, none of which conflicts with the others. At the same time, it’s a story about creating family, along with a glimpse into the Old West, with all its clashes and factions.

   Little Dove is an adopted member of the Tohono O’odham tribe in the Arizona Territory. She has a powerful spiritual connection with a wild white mustang stallion. She has also been bequeathed powers from her ancestors. From childhood, her village has seen her as having gifts and strengths beyond those of the everyday world. Through the horse, she has visions of the future which guide her life and her actions.

   James Rafferty is an Irishman who signs up with the military, but he quickly rejects the mandate of killing for seemingly no reason. He has had dreams of a girl who he believes is his destiny, so he takes ship for the United States and makes his way westward, with the goal of becoming a gold miner. Along the way, he meets and befriends an Apache, Eagle Eyes, and they form a partnership.

   Little Dove and James inevitably meet, and they quickly realize that each is the love they’ve “known” was out there waiting. While Little Dove’s family leaves for Mexico, she chooses to stay with James and follow his dream.  They set out for the mines of California, and wind up in Placerville. On the journey, they’re attacked by two men, and the outcome of that encounter assures them of a relentless enemy.

   The rest of the story relates how James, Little Dove, and Eagle Eyes work for success, establish themselves in town, and set up a household. They make friends among the townspeople and create a new multi-racial, multi-background family. All live in harmony until the couple’s past reappears with a vengeance.

   The connections between animals and humans are riveting and eerie. Ghostly presences appear throughout the story and presage events to come. These visions are accepted as part of the natural world by Little Dove, Eagle Eyes, and other characters who remain close to the land. They carry the action and greatly affect outcomes; they are not only taken seriously, but they are also depended upon. As such, the connections are a main theme of the book, along with tolerance for all beliefs and practices.

   I Am the White Horse was exhaustively and lovingly researched, but this is anything but a history textbook. It’s rich in detail, with colorful descriptions of food, fashions, songs, and landscapes of 1897, all woven into an uncommon love story.  Noted illustrator Sherry Bryant’s animal drawings add immeasurably to the authentic tone and atmosphere that Evalyn McKnight and Allen R. Kates skillfully conjure up. It’s a story of its time, and a story for any time.

At a Glance:
   A historical fantasy set in the late 19th-century American West, blending Indigenous spirituality, Celtic folklore, and supernatural elements. A gifted Tohono O’odham woman and an Irish immigrant follow visions that unite their destinies in a story of love, chosen family, and cultural harmony.

Best for Readers Who Enjoy:
   Historical fantasy, Western fiction, Indigenous protagonists, magical realism, spiritual journeys, chosen family, cross-cultural romance, animal symbolism, supernatural historical fiction, richly researched settings.

Comments For The Author (from the reviewer):
   The research that went into this book is impressive. Its voice, especially in terms of the Apache and Tohono O'odham speakers and their traditions, seems authentic. This care in portrayal gives the book its "feel," and sets it apart. 

   The story is imaginative, and the villains are definitely unique! The entire narrative is intriguing and appealing. The spirit/human/animal connections are extremely well done---empathetically and grippingly related. 

   The minor characters, Comba and Hummingbird most of all, were a joy. They added flavor and a necessary softening of the often brutal action. The banter between James and Little Dove, James and Cara, James and Eagle Eyes, is entertaining.