Amelia remembered the first time she stepped into the stables belonging to the Frenchman. They had been pristine. His barns were built of not wood but of stone and mortar, which held them together well, despite the cold climate. The stalls were kept so clean that the horses never had a speck of dirt on them, even after being contained in them for some time. The men who took care of the horses lived in housing that was contained inside of the barn. She and her father would live in an apartment above the barn with one bedroom, a bath and kitchenette. Everyone who worked with the horses ate together in the mess which was a hundred feet away from the barn and the hay.
The first thing Amelia saw when she entered the barn, was a statue of a woman. The statue sat on a table leaning against a tall post in the middle of the barn. Both dried and fresh roses fell around it and on it and made it appear to be a shrine. The sweet smell of perfume from the roses permeated the room. The aroma surrounding the image produced a tickling sensation on her skin that Amelia had never experienced in her short life. The statue appeared to be a stout woman in a robe, sitting in front of a horse that lay down with its head resting in her lap. Amelia remembered touching the shrine and experiencing the sensation of knowing the woman. Suddenly she stood in a meadow
Robin Whitten. Epona (Kindle Locations 91-101). Jupiter Gardens Press. Kindle Edition.
Epona by Robin Whitten
Life is messy and none of us has any real control over our own lives. If we are lucky we are able to surround ourselves with the things we love and the people we love so that life can be enjoyable. Robin Whitten’s novella, Epona, is the story of Amelia and the way her life was effected by horses.
THE GOOD
This is a lovely little novella that gives the reader a brief look into Amelia’s life from the time of her childhood to the day of her death. While Amelia is the main character, the supporting cast is well defined and compliments the protagonist nicely. The settings are well crafted and they are easy to imagine. The story reads like an extended character portrait, but that is okay given its length.
THE BAD
There is not much to dislike about this book other than the fact that it is a quick read and I would have liked to see more to do with the book’s namesake.
THE TAKEAWAY
This is an excellent character study and an easy read for a Sunday afternoon. Give it a chance and you will probably find yourself looking for more from the author.
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