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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I am not a sensitive reader and dark subject matter does not bother me. That's why it speaks volumes that this is a dnf for me, and honestly, I wish I wouldn't have ever picked it up at all!
I knew heading in that it dealt with incest (father/daughter relationship) and pedophilia. I felt like I could handle it. But the manner in which the author handles this inapporpriate relationship was a no-go for me. I felt like she was almost glorifying it. Making it seem like it's ok, even though it's not.
Instead of listening to my instincts, I kept going. When Roan begins to develop a sexual relationship with a peer, Mihalic implied that certain sexual acts were off-limits because then she wouldn't be 'daddy's girl' anymore. I think the point of this was to show how mentally difficult it is for a child to separate the acts with her father to the outside world, but it literally made me sick to my stomach. It didn't come across to me as a tragedy; it felt more like sympathy and that was when I realized this book is a total dealbreaker for me.
I'm disappointed in it's 3.99 Goodreads rating. I cannot understand the reviews that are saying it's a good book despite the content.
I would not recommend this for anyone.
I knew heading in that it dealt with incest (father/daughter relationship) and pedophilia. I felt like I could handle it. But the manner in which the author handles this inapporpriate relationship was a no-go for me. I felt like she was almost glorifying it. Making it seem like it's ok, even though it's not.
Instead of listening to my instincts, I kept going. When Roan begins to develop a sexual relationship with a peer, Mihalic implied that certain sexual acts were off-limits because then she wouldn't be 'daddy's girl' anymore. I think the point of this was to show how mentally difficult it is for a child to separate the acts with her father to the outside world, but it literally made me sick to my stomach. It didn't come across to me as a tragedy; it felt more like sympathy and that was when I realized this book is a total dealbreaker for me.
I'm disappointed in it's 3.99 Goodreads rating. I cannot understand the reviews that are saying it's a good book despite the content.
I would not recommend this for anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting
Content Warning: sexual abuse of a child, death of a pet, rape, graphic scenes
Susan Mihalic's debut psychological thriller Dark Horses is a twisted tale about finding our voices amongst chaos and learning how to overcome the darkest parts of ourselves. Mihalic has taken horses, a very innocent, innocuous topic, and has created a story filled with hurt, heartache, and malice. Roan Montgomery is an equestrian prodigy who plans to follow her father’s footsteps by making it to the Olympics, and she plans on not letting anything stand in her way. Soon, the reader will learn that Roan’s life is anything but the wholesome girl-next-door image that she portrays to her fans; Roan is living a life of pain, filled with a darkness that she compartmentalizes so well that she doesn’t even see the true evil that lurks in her life.
Dark Horses is written from Roan’s perspective and the reader will learn quickly that she is a lot more grown up than her age. What makes this even more layered is Mihalic’s use of the word “Daddy” that Roan uses for her father throughout the story. This truly shows that Roan has had to grow up a lot faster than she should have. Roan is a paradox in this case because she acts like someone much older than herself yet she is holding onto the childhood she was never given the chance to have, but desperately needed. Mihalic has crafted Roan to be both likeable and flawed; the reader will be rooting for her throughout Dark Horses.
Mihalic’s Dark Horses is not an easy read and it is not a book for everyone, yet it’s highly recommended. The topics brought up throughout the story can make it difficult for the reader if they aren’t mentally prepared, but Mihalic has crafted such an important story about resilience, particularly about surviving sexual abuse, that it warrants praise. Dark Horses is exquisitely written and Mihalic isn’t afraid to push boundaries, which is one reason why this book is so fantastic. Other themes that Mihalic has written about in Dark Horses include power, coming-of-age, unconditional love, and the father-daughter relationship. Mihalic’s prose flows incredibly smoothly, making Dark Horses a book the reader will fly through. As this is Mihalic’s debut, I’m very interested to see what she comes up with next. She is an author we need to keep on our radar.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
Originally posted on Cloud Lake Literary, link below:
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blogposts/book-review-dark-horses-by-susan-mihalic
Susan Mihalic's debut psychological thriller Dark Horses is a twisted tale about finding our voices amongst chaos and learning how to overcome the darkest parts of ourselves. Mihalic has taken horses, a very innocent, innocuous topic, and has created a story filled with hurt, heartache, and malice. Roan Montgomery is an equestrian prodigy who plans to follow her father’s footsteps by making it to the Olympics, and she plans on not letting anything stand in her way. Soon, the reader will learn that Roan’s life is anything but the wholesome girl-next-door image that she portrays to her fans; Roan is living a life of pain, filled with a darkness that she compartmentalizes so well that she doesn’t even see the true evil that lurks in her life.
Dark Horses is written from Roan’s perspective and the reader will learn quickly that she is a lot more grown up than her age. What makes this even more layered is Mihalic’s use of the word “Daddy” that Roan uses for her father throughout the story. This truly shows that Roan has had to grow up a lot faster than she should have. Roan is a paradox in this case because she acts like someone much older than herself yet she is holding onto the childhood she was never given the chance to have, but desperately needed. Mihalic has crafted Roan to be both likeable and flawed; the reader will be rooting for her throughout Dark Horses.
Mihalic’s Dark Horses is not an easy read and it is not a book for everyone, yet it’s highly recommended. The topics brought up throughout the story can make it difficult for the reader if they aren’t mentally prepared, but Mihalic has crafted such an important story about resilience, particularly about surviving sexual abuse, that it warrants praise. Dark Horses is exquisitely written and Mihalic isn’t afraid to push boundaries, which is one reason why this book is so fantastic. Other themes that Mihalic has written about in Dark Horses include power, coming-of-age, unconditional love, and the father-daughter relationship. Mihalic’s prose flows incredibly smoothly, making Dark Horses a book the reader will fly through. As this is Mihalic’s debut, I’m very interested to see what she comes up with next. She is an author we need to keep on our radar.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
Originally posted on Cloud Lake Literary, link below:
https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/blogposts/book-review-dark-horses-by-susan-mihalic
Dark Horses did for me what My Dark Vanessa did in a completely different way.
One thing that Scout Press did well when sending me an advanced copy of this novel was the content warning. This book dealt with very sensitive content, and I think books like this one are absolutely important to read to those who can stomach it.
Roan Montgomery, a 15 year-old equestrian prodigy lives with her mom and dad on Rosemount Farm. Almost everyone knows who she is and with one click on the internet, videos of her eventing competitions will show up. But no one knows what happens behind the closed doors of her home because these things should remain private between her and her family. No one knows about the neglect she receives from her mother, or her inappropriate and controlled relationship between her and her father. When a boy enters her life, she is forced to evaluate everything about herself and her relationship with her father.
This book took its time to break my heart into so many different pieces. With every page I read, my heart broke even more and more for Roan as she was unable to break free from the constraints of the abusive relationship with her father. Many people might respond to this novel that she could've told anyone about it or told the police. But no, she couldn't have, and if you're eager to find out how much control her dad had over her, then you'll just have to find out for yourself.
I devoured this novel in three sittings. Some scenes were very challenging to read, but I'm always trying to push myself out of my comfort zone with the books I read. Roan's character was so wonderfully written and readers see how deep her connection is with her horses. We can see that she really does love riding them and they're a part of her identity.
Overall, Roan's story is one of strength and resilience and as much as it's painful to see her struggle, it builds her up and creates the character that we see at the end of the novel. It's important to point out that these things happen behind closed doors and that although this is a novel of fiction, the events themselves are not. Bold, raw, painfully and beautifully written, Mihalic has constructed a wonderful debut novel that is brilliant in every way.
I absolutely cannot wait for this to hit bookshelves in the new year and become a giant hit!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
One thing that Scout Press did well when sending me an advanced copy of this novel was the content warning. This book dealt with very sensitive content, and I think books like this one are absolutely important to read to those who can stomach it.
Roan Montgomery, a 15 year-old equestrian prodigy lives with her mom and dad on Rosemount Farm. Almost everyone knows who she is and with one click on the internet, videos of her eventing competitions will show up. But no one knows what happens behind the closed doors of her home because these things should remain private between her and her family. No one knows about the neglect she receives from her mother, or her inappropriate and controlled relationship between her and her father. When a boy enters her life, she is forced to evaluate everything about herself and her relationship with her father.
This book took its time to break my heart into so many different pieces. With every page I read, my heart broke even more and more for Roan as she was unable to break free from the constraints of the abusive relationship with her father. Many people might respond to this novel that she could've told anyone about it or told the police. But no, she couldn't have, and if you're eager to find out how much control her dad had over her, then you'll just have to find out for yourself.
I devoured this novel in three sittings. Some scenes were very challenging to read, but I'm always trying to push myself out of my comfort zone with the books I read. Roan's character was so wonderfully written and readers see how deep her connection is with her horses. We can see that she really does love riding them and they're a part of her identity.
Overall, Roan's story is one of strength and resilience and as much as it's painful to see her struggle, it builds her up and creates the character that we see at the end of the novel. It's important to point out that these things happen behind closed doors and that although this is a novel of fiction, the events themselves are not. Bold, raw, painfully and beautifully written, Mihalic has constructed a wonderful debut novel that is brilliant in every way.
I absolutely cannot wait for this to hit bookshelves in the new year and become a giant hit!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Sign of a 5 star book for me: when it sticks in your mind. Haven't been able to get this one out of my head since I read it.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical trauma
THIS BOOK. Holy shit, this book. Let me say up front that this might be my favorite book so far this year, but it is definitely not for everyone. I think one of the reasons I am such a true crime addict is that I prefer to look into the darkest depths of our humanity rather than hide from it. I want to know what people are capable of, what we are facing, so I can protect myself against it. That might sound insane, but there it is - a little peek into my paranoid brain.
This is one of the darkest subjects I can imagine - Roan, a 15 year old future Olympic equestrian, is trapped in life with her abuser - her father. With everyone lauding the former Olympian and equestrian giant while he runs every second of her life and career, Roan knows there is no way out. He has trapped her in a life of opulence and horror.
Women’s rights, and particularly fighting against rape and sexual assault, is my hottest burning platform, so I have read a lot of literature, first hand accounts, court cases, etc on the subject, and I think that this work of fiction is the closest comparison I have seen to the real emotion and terror one goes through. The way Roan tells herself this is okay, she is complicit, he loves her, she just needs to get through it rings so true. A victim is not always what we assume - victims are tough too, often tougher than we can imagine. How else did they live through the worst acts we can imagine? Roan is TOUGH, smart, and an amazing example of a survivor. I was terrified, I cried, and I rooted for her so hard. I honestly can’t express how great this book was.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, rape, assault, incest, graphic sex, and some cruelty to animals is described, so be gentle with yourself when heading in. But if you are game, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
An emphatic 5 ⭐️ from me!
This is one of the darkest subjects I can imagine - Roan, a 15 year old future Olympic equestrian, is trapped in life with her abuser - her father. With everyone lauding the former Olympian and equestrian giant while he runs every second of her life and career, Roan knows there is no way out. He has trapped her in a life of opulence and horror.
Women’s rights, and particularly fighting against rape and sexual assault, is my hottest burning platform, so I have read a lot of literature, first hand accounts, court cases, etc on the subject, and I think that this work of fiction is the closest comparison I have seen to the real emotion and terror one goes through. The way Roan tells herself this is okay, she is complicit, he loves her, she just needs to get through it rings so true. A victim is not always what we assume - victims are tough too, often tougher than we can imagine. How else did they live through the worst acts we can imagine? Roan is TOUGH, smart, and an amazing example of a survivor. I was terrified, I cried, and I rooted for her so hard. I honestly can’t express how great this book was.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse, rape, assault, incest, graphic sex, and some cruelty to animals is described, so be gentle with yourself when heading in. But if you are game, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
An emphatic 5 ⭐️ from me!
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting
Moderate: Car accident
not doing a review on this because i have too many thoughts and i don't think i have enough character space for that. instead, i'm just going to pretend this book doesn't exist.
(tw: sexual assault, child abuse, child neglect, mentions of death)
➳ 2 stars.
(tw: sexual assault, child abuse, child neglect, mentions of death)
➳ 2 stars.
I never would have thought I’d read a book about a girl and horses, but here we are. And wow, was it good. BUT SO DARK. It’s hard not to fly through this book to know what happens next. I was completely absorbed by this (very) intense story. I felt so many different emotions by the end of this book, some that even confused me.
Trigger Warning: hard topics are discussed in this book in detail, especially the sexual abuse.
Trigger Warning: hard topics are discussed in this book in detail, especially the sexual abuse.