A wonderful little book, deeply researched and told plainly, as befits the worldly-naïf MC. It's marketed as a historical fantasy, but the second half of that description is somewhat misleading, I think. The story is presented within the world view of its protagonists, who believe in ghosts, magic and the supernatural, so naturally those elements appear, but they are part of life, not apart from it.
The story follows 7th century Icelander, Eyvind, in his travels into Central Asia, his experiences with the peoples he meets along the way, his bonding with an unnamed spirit mare, and his journey home with his precious cargo of Mongolian horses. Part Secret History, part Just So story, part Culture Hero mythic journey, all wonderfully fascinating. ( )

This book captured me, with its mix of history, saga, and imagination. I found myself constantly fascinated by the story, tracking down references to identify where the protagonist was, and with what culture/customs he was interacting. And it took me back to the days when my life was emerged in horses-- how it felt to ride, to train, to care for them. I haven't revisited that self in a long time. For such a slim book, it packed a lot. ( )

A short but interesting story, spanning continents and cultures in the now-distant past. I went in without any particular expectations and got a story of an unusual journey, low-key magic, and horses. ( )

Of Tolmie's two novellas for Tor thus far, this one is spare and sharp and directly imitative of the great Icelandic epics, complete with wry wit and deep intolerance. This one I loved in ways I definitely did not love the other, and not just because ponies, but because you can absolutely believe in its story. Well, you can if you are familiar with Icelandic epics. Those who aren't might come away from this book genuinely confused because, like many cultural myths, this one has very little context. What happens happens, and has happened, and therefore everything moves with its own measured pace (strange for those used to usually speedy novellas) and the reader is really just there to admire the exercise. I loved it, but I know others who did not and I can see where it lost them. If Snorri Sturlsson is your favorite dead writer, this one is for you! If not... probably not. ( )

I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

Tor.com has a well-established reputation for their quality SFF novellas. All the Horses of Iceland is an interesting work with excellent writing, yet didn't meet my expectations. Protagonist Eyvind is an Icelandic man exploring the medieval world. In the company of merchants, he explores deep into Asia and finds extraordinary horses--and a powerful ghost.

Foremost, the book has a staunchly literary vibe. It is very slow to get going, and I always felt distanced from Eyvind. The premise of the book is set-up right away: we are reading a tale of events that have happened. Therefore, there's no real sense of urgency as the plot gradually unfolds. The description of the novella had me quite excited. I am HERE for historical fantasies about horses! However, the horses--and the principal horse--played a much smaller role than expected. Really, they don't feature in the novella much at all until about halfway through.

What I found the book excelled in was creating a particular mood. The author obviously put immense research into this work, and the way the diverse characters interact is fascinating. The book feels incredibly grounded in its unique setting.

In all, it's an intriguing read, even if it didn't fully connect for me. ( )