Dark Horses: A Novel

From the outside, Roan Montgomery seems to have the perfect life. She comes from an affluent family famous in the highest circles of the insular equestrian community. She dreams of riding in the Olympics like her father. She has the drive, the resources, and the talent to capture the gold. No one could guess that Roan’s home life is less like a dream and more like a never-ending nightmare.“In my room, I crawled into bed fully dressed. He didn’t often make threats, but his coaching style wasn’t all positive affirmations, either. He reserved his charm for the public. It drove me crazy sometimes, the man I knew versus the man everyone else saw.”Every day is a new mine field to navigate. One misstep could result in separation from the one thing that makes her life tolerable – her horses. Forced to cope with the jealousy of a drunk mother, the vicious barbs thrown by classmates and the unthinkable abuse at the hands of her father, Roan waits for a reprieve that never seems to come.But everything changes when a beautiful boy named Will shows her what love really is. And with his help, Roan finds the courage to finally move from the darkness into the light.With Dark Horses, Susan Mihalic delivers a story so atmospheric and raw that it’s impossible to put down. Her vast knowledge of the highly competitive show world blends seamlessly into the relationships that bind her unforgettable characters together and makes for a reading experience that feels just like a shot to the heart.Bold, unsettling and poignant – Dark Horses is a book that will be with me for a very, very long time…

This novel was definitely engaging, which is one of the things I liked about it. It's a quick read and most of the characters - particularly the young lady, Roan - are engaging. That said, I think many of the problems she faces are described graphically but resolved simplistically. I suppose heroines have to be strong, but this one is a lot more tough-minded than I imagine a child could be. I also felt the relationships she has with people outside of her father were ultimately wasted, except for the one with her eventual boyfriend. Their relationship struck me as too good to be true - the knight in shining armor who rarely exists in real life. Characters like Gertrude, the housekeeper, had a lot of potential but were ultimately abandoned in favor of this teenager solving her problems on her own.Thankfully, I have no idea how "realistic" the portrayal of an abused teenager is - but I couldn't escape the feeling that it was tied up too neatly. For that reason, I think the novel errs on the side of caution in the name of simple drama.

Very interesting and dark. Not as terrible as it could have been, not sure if that's a bad thing. But I like dark

A page turner to be sure. Most of the equine aspect of it was accurate – I especially felt that the parts where the main character loved her horses felt very accurate. The excitement of finishing dressage- that you know goes just right And being unbelievably grateful to the magnificent creature underneath you.It was hard to read in parts because of the horror of it, but it was written without apology which somehow made it easier. It was easy to see how complicated it was, how difficult it was for her to escape. The wealth – my goodness. There was a lot. But the saddest part was is that no matter how much money you have, the desire to be loved is greater than all of that.other than the fact that I was some what irritated by jodhpurs versus breeches, (why? I’m silly!) I really liked it a lot. Different than a lot of book I usually Read but this will stick with me. Well done!!

This book was a recommendation from a book group and I was expecting to ugly cry for a good portion of the end- but I did not; if you hear that don’t be afraid to read this book.It helps to have a knowledge of horse showing, even in a basic way, to fully appreciate this book. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded. And the ending was sweet vindication.If you like a thrilling story with a great leading lady, and can handle some nasty, uncomfortable topics, this book is for you.

I don't normally post reviews, but I don't normally get so engrossed in a book that I have my boyfriend drive me to the stable so I can keep reading.Dark Horses is dark. It's a beautifully written, honest, dark and twisted nightmare that's somehow also hopeful. The horses were their own characters and the equestrian parts are accurate (yay). The main character, Roan, grows throughout the course of the book in a way I didn't expect.What a ride. That's all I have to say. This book isn't for the faint of heart, but neither is eventing. 10/10, would read again.

I found this book hard to read on several levels. The abuse was sickening, but what I found interesting is that the main character allowed it to go on for over 10 years. What disturbed me was some of the descriptions where he would have sex with her and then they cuddled, her head on his shoulder. She was not a strong character, she knew if she told anyone he would destroy her riding career, take away the horses as he threatened to do and actually did at one point. She drank, she had sex with her father, and had sex with a boy in her school. She was not likable. The mother was a uninspiring character and had no place in this story. No reason for her to come back at the end of the book. The plot was lame. The end was horrible. I would have put that deviant father in a nursing home and let him rot for what he did to her all those years. I gave it 3 stars, I wish I could revise it to no stars. Awful.