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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I received this book through a giveaway on Goodreads.
I was up until 1 am finishing this book. Then I had to process the ending for another half hour.
I didn't want to love this book because of the abuse, but I also could not put it down. I needed to know how it ended.
If you are sensitive to abuse of children in books, this is not for you. It gives more details the further you read and describes the abuse of Roan by her father. Her mother struggles with alcohol and pill abuse as well.
I was up until 1 am finishing this book. Then I had to process the ending for another half hour.
I didn't want to love this book because of the abuse, but I also could not put it down. I needed to know how it ended.
If you are sensitive to abuse of children in books, this is not for you. It gives more details the further you read and describes the abuse of Roan by her father. Her mother struggles with alcohol and pill abuse as well.
heartbreaking and utterly brilliant. that's all I can think to say about this book.
Linz the Bookworm: 2021 Reading Challenge 35/60
Read a book that starts with the letter D
(Audiobook)
TW: Rape, Incest, Pedophilia, Domestic Abuse, Animal Death
I wanted to like this book, just because I have a friend who is an eventer, but the interesting equestrian parts were absolutely and completely overshadowed by gratuitous, graphic sex scenes between a father and daughter. I kept listening to think if anything would get better...but it didn't. I can't even say if I like the writing or not, because I'm so repulsed by the content.
Read a book that starts with the letter D
(Audiobook)
TW: Rape, Incest, Pedophilia, Domestic Abuse, Animal Death
I wanted to like this book, just because I have a friend who is an eventer, but the interesting equestrian parts were absolutely and completely overshadowed by gratuitous, graphic sex scenes between a father and daughter. I kept listening to think if anything would get better...but it didn't. I can't even say if I like the writing or not, because I'm so repulsed by the content.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read an NPR interview with Mihalic where she said:
“I became obsessed with the idea of writing a story about sexual abuse that was different from anything that had been written before.”
Yet, the last several years we have seen:
- The Larry Nassar trial
- The abuse in the NSWL
- The US Figure Skating payout after a coach was charged with sexual assault
- The sexual assault lawsuit that rightfully took down the several NHL coaching legends
- and more and more and more
I don’t know if something can be considered “never been written before” if we are seeing it played out in front of us. Just this week, a cross-country coach in the county next to mine was charged after sexually harassing and threatening one of his teenage athletes.
The writing itself is bracing, and Mihalic is able to convey the process of mental blocking and compartmentalization in a way completely specific to Roan. The location of Middleburg, VA made this of added interest – there’s always some rubber-necking when a dark story takes place in the area you live, and I’m not immune to that. But the quality of writing can’t quite make up for how she chooses to show the abusive relationship between Roan and her coach-father. There is realistic, then there is gratuitous, and this book leans too close to the latter for me.
I think that a more productive way to interact with this type of story is to take the fictional element out of it. Read the victim statements from the Larry Nassar trial. Or Chanel Miller’s writing. Or any statement out by a female athlete in the last decade. They didn’t have a say in how their particular “story of abuse” played out, and it seems like those are the stories we should be paying attention to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
From the synopsis you will know that this book will cover the very tough subject of sexual abuse and the author doesn’t hold back at points. Whilst at times it was completely harrowing to read, those parts are needed to really make an impact with the reader. I was so shocked as to what I was reading that my heart broke completely for Roan….I wanted / needed her to find a way out of this situation.
This is centered around horses as Roan competes in many riding events and her Father was an Olympic champion. Whilst I know nothing about horses and don’t have any interest in them it was still enjoyable to read about the events she took part in and also one particular horse she rides, Jasper, is a crucial part to the story.
For those worrying if it’s too much about the abuse side I personally wouldn’t say it is. Whilst there are moments describing what happens, which is awful to read about, a lot of the story is seeing how Roan deals with it, how her Father manipulates her and how her love for Will changes everything. I think the author handled it all so well and really showed just how manipulating these predators can be.
Roan’s journey will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite everything that she goes through she is one courageous and strong character.
If you’re a fan of My Dark Vanessa then I highly recommend giving this a read, just be warned that it is uncomfortable and hard to read in places.
This is centered around horses as Roan competes in many riding events and her Father was an Olympic champion. Whilst I know nothing about horses and don’t have any interest in them it was still enjoyable to read about the events she took part in and also one particular horse she rides, Jasper, is a crucial part to the story.
For those worrying if it’s too much about the abuse side I personally wouldn’t say it is. Whilst there are moments describing what happens, which is awful to read about, a lot of the story is seeing how Roan deals with it, how her Father manipulates her and how her love for Will changes everything. I think the author handled it all so well and really showed just how manipulating these predators can be.
Roan’s journey will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Despite everything that she goes through she is one courageous and strong character.
If you’re a fan of My Dark Vanessa then I highly recommend giving this a read, just be warned that it is uncomfortable and hard to read in places.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Thanks to Gallery/Scout Press and Literary Hub for the ARC.
This book was agonizing, but I'm giving it five stars because it was also incredibly powerful.
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. Susan Mihalic's characters and plot are executed so well. But what really drew me in was her ability to meet difficult subject matter head on. She was unflinching and wrote this book with a raw honesty. Roan's character is so powerful because she feels so human. She feels so real.
As much as I love reading, I still can often put books down. Not Dark Horses. I read past midnight last night until my eyes were exhausted and, after breakfast this morning, sat down and read until I finished it. It's the kind of book that demands a reader's attention until the very last word.
This book was agonizing, but I'm giving it five stars because it was also incredibly powerful.
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. Susan Mihalic's characters and plot are executed so well. But what really drew me in was her ability to meet difficult subject matter head on. She was unflinching and wrote this book with a raw honesty. Roan's character is so powerful because she feels so human. She feels so real.
As much as I love reading, I still can often put books down. Not Dark Horses. I read past midnight last night until my eyes were exhausted and, after breakfast this morning, sat down and read until I finished it. It's the kind of book that demands a reader's attention until the very last word.