Dark Horses Audiobook By Susan Mihalic cover art

Dark Horses

A Novel

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Dark Horses

By: Susan Mihalic
Narrated by: Alex Allwine
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A “sweeping and raw story of courage, resilience, and clear-eyed grace” (Sara Gruen, number one New York Times best-selling author) about a teenage girl’s fierce struggle to reclaim her life from her abusive father in the vein of My Absolute Darling and Room.

Fifteen-year-old equestrian prodigy Roan Montgomery has only ever known two worlds: inside the riding arena, and outside of it. Both, for as long as she can remember, have been ruled by her father, who demands strict obedience in all areas of her life. The warped power dynamic of coach and rider extends far beyond the stables, and Roan’s relationship with her father has long been inappropriate. She has been able to compartmentalize that dark aspect of her life, ruthlessly focusing on her ambitions as a rider heading for the Olympics, just as her father had done. However, her developing relationship with Will Howard, a boy her own age, broadens the scope of her vision.

“[A] heart-pounding, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-it debut novel” (O, The Oprah Magazine), Dark Horses explores the themes of abuse and resilience in a way that will leave you transfixed. This is “a provoking and needed book” (Booklist, starred review).

©2020 Susan Mihalic. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Genre Fiction Psychological Fiction Sports Heartfelt Resilience
Powerful Character Development • Beautiful Storytelling • Authentic Equestrian Elements • Impactful Journey
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Power, abuse, and a good horse story. Great character build. Nicest narrated. A dark story, but well crafted.

Good story

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Loved the narration, wasn’t over done when switching genders. The story was brutal and beautiful. The author accurately captured horsemanship.

Gut wrenching but couldn’t stop listening..

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wow! I don't have the words. This story is going to take me a while to process. It's very deep! And painful! Yet, well written. This is not a story for the masses, but I believe it will be impactful for anyone who has suffered and had to learn how to live their own life, not for others, but for themselves. For those who have spent the first 2 decades of their life living to please, and then having to figure out how to live your own life and take control, I believe these readers will relate to this story very much!

This one will stick with me!

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I gave this four stars yesterday, and something was nagging at me about this book. So I have a few things to say. First. this does not sound like it written in the voice of a. 15/16 year old. Her vocabulary was too mature and it wasn't that believable for me. Second, without giving anything away, there was justice but it left me annoyed and dissatisfied. The main character brushes off the possibility that her father had abused anyone else. Third, I found the main character a little too manipulative and strategic for a 16 year old. And Lastly, I wanted to see her get mental health help, and her lingering issues were just kind of brushed under the rug.

It was still well-written, and kept me listening. But those details bothered me a little too much to give It 5 stars.

Good but...

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I really like the book despite it not really be about horses...part of the message horses heal people and help theu the hard times

Horses

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This is a dark story that sheds light on how American Women man as God their way through the Dust Bowl and the Depression. Still Relevant today with Climate Change and Immigration. Great Narration. Love the Characters and the Mother Daughter Connection.

Story Stays with You

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Brutal content, but engaging characters. The story is expertly written. Hard to keep going, but impossible to put down. A bold, brilliant author penned this.

Bold & Brutal

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This is sometimes a hard book to listen to. The sexual abuse is ... insidious. But that's the point. Listening to the narration of scenes of sexual abuse is intentionally somewhat confusing, particularly in the beginning on purpose. Sexual abuse is always a violation, but frequently feels very confusing to the victim. This book does a wonderful, if some times difficult to hear, job of conveying that to the reader.
Additionally, the equine portion of the narrative is pretty accurate, so equestrians will enjoy it, too. (if you know you know how many books with horses in the plot are sooo off the mark)

very powerful

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I chose this book for the “horse” content as I am a rider….this book takes you down another whole road…a sad road that unfortunately exists in all levels of society.

Interesting story….

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They’re going to be a lot of people that are gonna have a hard time with this book. However, it’s a story that probably needs to be told and was told beautifully even if the subject matter is horrendous. There were some comments about the primary character and how she responded to things that were happening that bothered some people, but in my experience when children are put in the position that she was put in, they become all of the things that this particular character is demonstrating. She is more advanced than her biological age, she is manipulative but what else would you expect?

This is a book that is going to stick with you. I don’t think I ever smiled when I was reading /listening to it and probably had a somewhat pained expression on my face. But it was 100% worth my time and energy. It’s hard to believe that this is a first novel for somebody. The horse parts of it were for the most part very accurate. The veterinary and medical details also very accurate. The amount of money is unbelievable, but I think that is the world that some people live in. Probably not eventers… :-) a young person should not read this book-the subject manner is too difficult. I don’t know how it’s possible to say that I love a book like this with the subject matter, but I do.

Narration was also wonderful.

Very hard listen and yet also so compelling, you can’t stop listening

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