Dark Horses
OUCH … my heart.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that is so compelling, emotional and raw that I quite literally didn’t want to put it down. At the same time, it’s really uncomfortable and has a lot of potential triggers (listed below), so be warned. In this story, author Susan Mihalic pulls back the veil on a taboo subject that no one wants to think about, much less look at in such a stark and unflinching light.
Roan Montgomery is the 15-year-old daughter of a renowned Olympic medal-winning equestrian who is now coaching her in his footsteps toward the same goals. Monty, who Roan refers to as “Daddy”, is highly respected in this world - strict, smart, capable and in control. Unfortunately, he uses these same qualities to manipulate, control and abuse her, which he’s been doing unchecked since she was a very young child. When she catches the interest of Will Howard, one of her school peers, she begins to question everything that she’s accepted as normal and inescapable in her life up to this point and starts challenging the status quo - something that doesn’t sit well with her rules-happy “Daddy”.
I won’t sugar-coat anything: this book is graphic ... repeatedly. While some may feel offended or find it inappropriate, there’s really no way this story would’ve had the impact it did if it was cleaned up and kept in the proverbial closet. It’s seeing the love-hate psychological and physical dynamic between Roan and her father and being privy to his tactics and manipulations that allowed me to feel her pain and understand why she wouldn’t say anything to anyone for so many years. Like all abusers, he found every potential weak point - usually the things she loved the most like her horse and riding career - and used them as leverage to get what he wanted and keep her quiet. Seeing her begin to recognize her father’s abuse in a proper light and overcome it, as well as watching her relationship with Will grow, kept me riveted to the pages to the very end.
If a story can be bitter and beautiful at the same time … this is that story.
★★★★★ ❤
Trigger Warnings: Animal deaths, sexual abuse/incest, rape
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that is so compelling, emotional and raw that I quite literally didn’t want to put it down. At the same time, it’s really uncomfortable and has a lot of potential triggers (listed below), so be warned. In this story, author Susan Mihalic pulls back the veil on a taboo subject that no one wants to think about, much less look at in such a stark and unflinching light.
Roan Montgomery is the 15-year-old daughter of a renowned Olympic medal-winning equestrian who is now coaching her in his footsteps toward the same goals. Monty, who Roan refers to as “Daddy”, is highly respected in this world - strict, smart, capable and in control. Unfortunately, he uses these same qualities to manipulate, control and abuse her, which he’s been doing unchecked since she was a very young child. When she catches the interest of Will Howard, one of her school peers, she begins to question everything that she’s accepted as normal and inescapable in her life up to this point and starts challenging the status quo - something that doesn’t sit well with her rules-happy “Daddy”.
I won’t sugar-coat anything: this book is graphic ... repeatedly. While some may feel offended or find it inappropriate, there’s really no way this story would’ve had the impact it did if it was cleaned up and kept in the proverbial closet. It’s seeing the love-hate psychological and physical dynamic between Roan and her father and being privy to his tactics and manipulations that allowed me to feel her pain and understand why she wouldn’t say anything to anyone for so many years. Like all abusers, he found every potential weak point - usually the things she loved the most like her horse and riding career - and used them as leverage to get what he wanted and keep her quiet. Seeing her begin to recognize her father’s abuse in a proper light and overcome it, as well as watching her relationship with Will grow, kept me riveted to the pages to the very end.
If a story can be bitter and beautiful at the same time … this is that story.
★★★★★ ❤
Trigger Warnings: Animal deaths, sexual abuse/incest, rape
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