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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This book was an extremely difficult book to read. It made my stomach turn and the subject matter made my skin crawl and at times completely tore me apart. Before you read on please know it involves sexual abuse and mental abuse. Some parts are graphic and I truly appreciated the publisher putting the warning on the front to warn readers.
Roan is a fifteen years old and from the moment she wakes up, she’s controlled by her father, she’s either at school or training on her horse. She doesn’t have any friends and absolutely no boys are allowed to call or be near her. Instead of a loving relationship with her mother, her mother actually views her as competition especially when it comes to the attention from her father. Her entire life is surrounded by her father, and her fathers needs. He was a former olympic champion and he’s making it his mission that she follows in his shoes. Her mother drowns her day in alcohol and prescription pills and can be found passed out on the couch. The only bright light for Roan is when she meets Will, soon she finds herself falling for him but she has to keep him a secret from her father. She soon finds herself questioning everything in her life. Roan has been holding a dark secret inside for so long, her father is molesting her and he’s has been for as long as she can remember, and he controls and threatens her if she doesn’t comply, example he threatens that he will sell her favorite horse or hurt other things he sees she loves, and soon he focuses his sight on Will. This book made me cry so many times while reading, some scenes in the book had me set the book down and walk away. Roan was so beautifully written I felt like I knew her and I had to save her. Her strength and pain just poured off the pages. I’m giving this five stars but be prepared to walk away from reading this book filled with so many different emotions.
Roan is a fifteen years old and from the moment she wakes up, she’s controlled by her father, she’s either at school or training on her horse. She doesn’t have any friends and absolutely no boys are allowed to call or be near her. Instead of a loving relationship with her mother, her mother actually views her as competition especially when it comes to the attention from her father. Her entire life is surrounded by her father, and her fathers needs. He was a former olympic champion and he’s making it his mission that she follows in his shoes. Her mother drowns her day in alcohol and prescription pills and can be found passed out on the couch. The only bright light for Roan is when she meets Will, soon she finds herself falling for him but she has to keep him a secret from her father. She soon finds herself questioning everything in her life. Roan has been holding a dark secret inside for so long, her father is molesting her and he’s has been for as long as she can remember, and he controls and threatens her if she doesn’t comply, example he threatens that he will sell her favorite horse or hurt other things he sees she loves, and soon he focuses his sight on Will. This book made me cry so many times while reading, some scenes in the book had me set the book down and walk away. Roan was so beautifully written I felt like I knew her and I had to save her. Her strength and pain just poured off the pages. I’m giving this five stars but be prepared to walk away from reading this book filled with so many different emotions.
CW: Sexual and emotional abuse. Alcoholism. Parental abandonment.
I am speechless. Dark Horses completely gutted me and I couldn't have loved it more.
If you're looking for a light-hearted girl and her horse story, this is not it.
Roan Montgomery lives a life dedicated to horses and her career as future Olympic equestrian rider. She comes from a long line of Olympians and must live up to the "legacy." Roan's trainer is also her father, a man who demands excellence at every turn and who holds tight to the reins on Roan's life to the point of obsession. An obsession that extends beyond the horse rink.
Dark Horses explores what it takes to survive and the fight to break free. Roan is a stunning character and we see her develop from a girl who is afraid to lose everything she has worked for, everything that has helped her to survive, to a young woman who isn't afraid to fight back.
I am speechless. Dark Horses completely gutted me and I couldn't have loved it more.
If you're looking for a light-hearted girl and her horse story, this is not it.
Roan Montgomery lives a life dedicated to horses and her career as future Olympic equestrian rider. She comes from a long line of Olympians and must live up to the "legacy." Roan's trainer is also her father, a man who demands excellence at every turn and who holds tight to the reins on Roan's life to the point of obsession. An obsession that extends beyond the horse rink.
Dark Horses explores what it takes to survive and the fight to break free. Roan is a stunning character and we see her develop from a girl who is afraid to lose everything she has worked for, everything that has helped her to survive, to a young woman who isn't afraid to fight back.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending me an ARC of Dark Horses in exchange for an honest review. This book came out yesterday.
I just finished this book and want to get my thoughts out while they are fresh.
TW: incest, rape, sexual assault, manipulation, gaslighting, sexual content
Wow, this book was powerful, engrossing and beautifully written.
Roan Montgomery is a 15 year old equestrian whose father is also her manager. There are two sides to their relationship — the public one that makes him look like a devoted father who cares about her future — and then there’s the private one where he sexually abuses her and gaslights her into thinking she enjoys it.
Flat out I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in two sittings and devoured each page. Mihalic’s writing is raw and shocking, and the characters are so well developed.
While the content itself is shocking, what’s even more shocking is that this happens in real life behind closed doors and that it’s more common than people want to acknowledge. I think these stories are important, and maybe it will help us to look for signs when someone like Roan is in trouble and needs help.
I’m already looking forward to Mihalic’s next book, whenever that is.
I just finished this book and want to get my thoughts out while they are fresh.
TW: incest, rape, sexual assault, manipulation, gaslighting, sexual content
Wow, this book was powerful, engrossing and beautifully written.
Roan Montgomery is a 15 year old equestrian whose father is also her manager. There are two sides to their relationship — the public one that makes him look like a devoted father who cares about her future — and then there’s the private one where he sexually abuses her and gaslights her into thinking she enjoys it.
Flat out I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in two sittings and devoured each page. Mihalic’s writing is raw and shocking, and the characters are so well developed.
While the content itself is shocking, what’s even more shocking is that this happens in real life behind closed doors and that it’s more common than people want to acknowledge. I think these stories are important, and maybe it will help us to look for signs when someone like Roan is in trouble and needs help.
I’m already looking forward to Mihalic’s next book, whenever that is.
"ɪ ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴀ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴏғ ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʜᴇ’ᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴜʀᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ."
My second 5 star read of 2021..... Finally!
My second 5 star read of 2021..... Finally!
This book was very hard to read - it doesn't shy away from very raw discussions of difficult topics - major content warnings for familial, sexual, and emotional abuse. This reminded me of [b:My Dark Vanessa|44890081|My Dark Vanessa|Kate Elizabeth Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583447793l/44890081._SY75_.jpg|67044583] in so many ways, so different but so similar in the patterns and cycles of abuse, the trauma, the shame, and the emotional manipulation.
Roan Montgomery is a fifteen-year-old equestrian star, her father the famed Olympic equestrian Monty Montgomery. Riding is her life, and she knows that it's her life because her father made it that way - runs the farm of her dreams, buys her the horses she loves so much, and trains her to stardom. But behind closed doors, her father has been sexually abusing her since she was six years old. Roan told her mother, and her mother did nothing, so she's never breathed a word about it to anyone. Roan's father holds an iron vise over her life and behavior, and Roan lives in half-fear, half-admiration of him, constantly, telling other people in her life that he's just "strict" and needs to follow his directions to be successful. Worst of all, Roan feels complicit in all of this, because for a while, she's derived pleasure from his horrible abuse (with no one telling her that none of this is her fault, how could she know better?). But she knows that if she says anything, her world will fall apart - she'll lose everything she loves. One day, Roan's classmate Will Howard gives her a ride home and asks her out. Slowly, Will shows Roan that her world could be so much bigger and freer than the confines that her dad keeps her in.
I loved Roan as a main character. She is difficult, strong, and resilient at such a young age, balancing so much pressure, so many secrets, and so, so much abuse. She changes throughout the book in a very realistic, gradual way - the book has many other characters that are well-developed, but the narrative is really a character study on her. The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars was the ending - it wasn't what I expected at all, not necessarily bad, just something about it was not as satisfying as I'd like. Overall, this was a shocking, beautifully written book - very hard to read because of the difficult subject matter, but so well executed and important. Highly recommend.
Roan Montgomery is a fifteen-year-old equestrian star, her father the famed Olympic equestrian Monty Montgomery. Riding is her life, and she knows that it's her life because her father made it that way - runs the farm of her dreams, buys her the horses she loves so much, and trains her to stardom. But behind closed doors, her father has been sexually abusing her since she was six years old. Roan told her mother, and her mother did nothing, so she's never breathed a word about it to anyone. Roan's father holds an iron vise over her life and behavior, and Roan lives in half-fear, half-admiration of him, constantly, telling other people in her life that he's just "strict" and needs to follow his directions to be successful. Worst of all, Roan feels complicit in all of this, because for a while, she's derived pleasure from his horrible abuse (with no one telling her that none of this is her fault, how could she know better?). But she knows that if she says anything, her world will fall apart - she'll lose everything she loves. One day, Roan's classmate Will Howard gives her a ride home and asks her out. Slowly, Will shows Roan that her world could be so much bigger and freer than the confines that her dad keeps her in.
I loved Roan as a main character. She is difficult, strong, and resilient at such a young age, balancing so much pressure, so many secrets, and so, so much abuse. She changes throughout the book in a very realistic, gradual way - the book has many other characters that are well-developed, but the narrative is really a character study on her. The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars was the ending - it wasn't what I expected at all, not necessarily bad, just something about it was not as satisfying as I'd like. Overall, this was a shocking, beautifully written book - very hard to read because of the difficult subject matter, but so well executed and important. Highly recommend.
I don't feel like I can appropriately rate this book so I am leaving the stars off.
TW: sexual abuse, emotional abuse, incest, graphic scenes with animals
DARK HORSES is a chilling, addictive and heavy read. I found it hard to put down but also wanted to throw the book across the room at the same time. I was repulsed and engrossed. I have never been super into horses, let alone reading about them but Mihalic's writing style and her details about Roan and Jasper and Diva were so descriptive that I really enjoyed it.
My favorite characters were Jasper, of course. My heart hurts for Jasper. And Will. Will Howard and his entire family. The purest thing in this entire story. He was somehow a light in Roan's life and the hope I needed to get through this book.
Let's touch on some of the harder stuff to talk about: sexual abuse. It is GRAPHIC in this story. If you choose to read this, please know that going in. There was one scene where I literally had to close to the book because I was so disgusted.
I'm still processing the ending. I don't know how I feel about it. There were so many characters that I didn't like that were obviously necessary to making this story possible. If you read this I would advise reading up on the trigger warnings beforehand and know that this is dark & heavy subject matter so have something lighter on deck for afterward!
TW: sexual abuse, emotional abuse, incest, graphic scenes with animals
DARK HORSES is a chilling, addictive and heavy read. I found it hard to put down but also wanted to throw the book across the room at the same time. I was repulsed and engrossed. I have never been super into horses, let alone reading about them but Mihalic's writing style and her details about Roan and Jasper and Diva were so descriptive that I really enjoyed it.
My favorite characters were Jasper, of course. My heart hurts for Jasper. And Will. Will Howard and his entire family. The purest thing in this entire story. He was somehow a light in Roan's life and the hope I needed to get through this book.
Let's touch on some of the harder stuff to talk about: sexual abuse. It is GRAPHIC in this story. If you choose to read this, please know that going in. There was one scene where I literally had to close to the book because I was so disgusted.
I'm still processing the ending. I don't know how I feel about it. There were so many characters that I didn't like that were obviously necessary to making this story possible. If you read this I would advise reading up on the trigger warnings beforehand and know that this is dark & heavy subject matter so have something lighter on deck for afterward!
✨ "If I'd ever had any power, I'd given it away when I decided not to tell the truth."
To the outside world, Monty Montgomery is a celebrated equestrian, Olympic-winning veteran, prominent public figure, generous employer and loving family man. To his daughter Roan, he is also coach, abuser and tormentor.
It's so hard to review such a heavy and hard-hitting read. I couldn't put this book down but at the same time, I found myself having to pause a few times to take a breather and digest what I'd just read.
The author discusses the complexities of difficult topics in a sensitive and appropriate manner. I appreciate how she acknowledged that nothing is ever just black and white. That you can't just box things separately because it just isn't so clear cut.
✨ "It would have been easier, tidier, if things were all good, all bad, all one way or another. But they weren't. They never had been."
✨ "It didn't always feel like abuse. Most of the time, it felt good. Most of the time, I liked it."
The protagonist was very realistically and well-written. We get so much insight into how she struggles with a vast array of conflicting emotions, as well as how cornered and trapped and (un)deserving she feels.
In the first half of the book, the abuse and assault scenes are subtle and mostly implied. I almost missed one or two scenes. But as the book gradually progresses, the scenes get increasingly explicit as the violence escalates. I believe this is deliberate on the author's part, in order to portray Roan's state of mind and being.
To be honest, the climax and ending didn't really sit right with me even though I understand that everyone's journey and experience is different. The author also addresses this through her writing, in which Roan explains why she made the choices she did, and we see how she takes back her power, freedom and life.
✨ "I needed him to be shattered by the same fear and pain and despair that had shattered me."
Abuse is a sensitive topic. We never know what the other person has been through. When they try to explain the history, even though its a fraction of what they feel, be respectful and listen. Be supportive and show love, not hate!
DARK HORSES is a dark psychological thriller about Roan Montgomery, a 15 yo olympic equestrian, her inner feelings and her efforts to regain her teenage life. As a teen when she should be enjoying, she trains. She trains hard to win the Olympic games. Her trainer is her father the Olympic champion. A trainer can be over protective and possessive over their trainees. But Mont is something else. He is overly watchful, controlling and abuses Roan, which makes smothers her. But she can’t tell anyone, because - no one would believe her.
The story progresses showing us the difficulty Roan has the endure, the courage she picks up and her moment of release from the dungeon. This is whole in whole Roan’s story. I could feel her suffering, every time she was manipulated by the monstrous father, I screamed wanting to shout some sense into the girl to find an escape path. But then I realised, no matter how much I know about Roan or how much I’ve read about her, I can never understand what she is going through. She has to figure it out on her own, but I can support her, show her love.
This is a painful book! Not everyone can read this and be a normal person. I definitely have to appreciate the effort and writing of Susan Mihalic. A hell of a book for a debut
DARK HORSES is a dark psychological thriller about Roan Montgomery, a 15 yo olympic equestrian, her inner feelings and her efforts to regain her teenage life. As a teen when she should be enjoying, she trains. She trains hard to win the Olympic games. Her trainer is her father the Olympic champion. A trainer can be over protective and possessive over their trainees. But Mont is something else. He is overly watchful, controlling and abuses Roan, which makes smothers her. But she can’t tell anyone, because - no one would believe her.
The story progresses showing us the difficulty Roan has the endure, the courage she picks up and her moment of release from the dungeon. This is whole in whole Roan’s story. I could feel her suffering, every time she was manipulated by the monstrous father, I screamed wanting to shout some sense into the girl to find an escape path. But then I realised, no matter how much I know about Roan or how much I’ve read about her, I can never understand what she is going through. She has to figure it out on her own, but I can support her, show her love.
This is a painful book! Not everyone can read this and be a normal person. I definitely have to appreciate the effort and writing of Susan Mihalic. A hell of a book for a debut
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well written, but painful to read and hard to recommend.