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sarahasyouwish's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This was an incredibly compelling and emotional book which covers some very dark topics. If you don’t like to read about difficult subjects, especially when written in a graphic way, then this is not the book for you. I experienced the whole gamut of emotions at different points in this story, and I found the characters to be very well developed and believable if infuriating at times. I was very eager to get back to the book when I had to put it down and wanted to see how/if the protagonist would escape the horrible situation in which she found herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Incest, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Eating disorder
thespinystacks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First things first - huge trigger warnings in this book. Please check them out.
This was an incredibly challenging read. I’m not faint hearted but I was physically shuddering and felt ill at times during this book. That being said, it felt purposeful and never like you were being told the graphics just because. I appreciate that.
I felt the ending was very rushed. There was a huge tension build up for 90% of this book, there was a release and you’ll have a reaction for sure, but then - it was rushed through to conclude. That let it down just a little for me.
This was an incredibly challenging read. I’m not faint hearted but I was physically shuddering and felt ill at times during this book. That being said, it felt purposeful and never like you were being told the graphics just because. I appreciate that.
I felt the ending was very rushed. There was a huge tension build up for 90% of this book, there was a release and you’ll have a reaction for sure, but then - it was rushed through to conclude. That let it down just a little for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Car accident
thebookishlass's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“‘I didn’t know horses had thoughts.’
‘They are like us, except more honest.’”
~Dark Horses.
Trigger warning for child sexual abuse.
This book is nothing if not honest. The synopsis indicated that there are themes of child sexual abuse, but it moved from references to it to pretty graphic descriptions. Mihalic did a masterful job of capturing the complicated dynamics of a sexualized parent-child relationship. The mix of emotions felt by Roan for her father, and the power and control he has over her help illustrate how situations like this remain secret, sometimes forever. It’s a tough, uncomfortable, brutally honest story of child sexual abuse.
I was initially drawn to this book as a horse lover. It’s so hard to find adult novels that have horses in such a central role. The bond between Jasper and Roan s so pure and honest, and one I hope everyone has a chance to develop in their own lives, be it with a horse, another animal, or a human. I love reading about this world, even if it does rip your heart out at times.
It’s hard to say I enjoyed this book, given the heaviness that is there from page 1, but I am glad I listened to this one. If you are someone who can handle the topics, I really encourage you to give it a listen.
‘They are like us, except more honest.’”
~Dark Horses.
Trigger warning for child sexual abuse.
This book is nothing if not honest. The synopsis indicated that there are themes of child sexual abuse, but it moved from references to it to pretty graphic descriptions. Mihalic did a masterful job of capturing the complicated dynamics of a sexualized parent-child relationship. The mix of emotions felt by Roan for her father, and the power and control he has over her help illustrate how situations like this remain secret, sometimes forever. It’s a tough, uncomfortable, brutally honest story of child sexual abuse.
I was initially drawn to this book as a horse lover. It’s so hard to find adult novels that have horses in such a central role. The bond between Jasper and Roan s so pure and honest, and one I hope everyone has a chance to develop in their own lives, be it with a horse, another animal, or a human. I love reading about this world, even if it does rip your heart out at times.
It’s hard to say I enjoyed this book, given the heaviness that is there from page 1, but I am glad I listened to this one. If you are someone who can handle the topics, I really encourage you to give it a listen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
schlinkles's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, and Medical trauma
veganmamred's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
audiblybooked's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
All the trigger warnings - This is a very a difficult and uncomfortable read. Just thinking about the topics of incest and child abuse can trigger strong emotions and Dark Horses was relentless in describing Roan Montgomery's experiences with her father making this a very challenging read. Roan's voice throughout was powerful and authentic and I could not put the book down. I was very quickly emotionally invested in this story. I don't think I have ever wished so hard for the death of a character in a book than I wished for this author to execute Roan's father in the most painful way possible. The reader is not spared from experiencing those feelings of powerlessness alongside the main character in the face the seemingly invulnerable omnipotence of her Olympic gold medal champion father and her mother's emotional abandonment. She survived by focusing all of her energy into her beloved horses and her own Olympic ambitions and risks everything by getting close to Will Howard, a classmate. I was drawn in by the bittersweet relationship between Roan and Will and also with her horses. I was sickened by the way her father used that love of her horses to control her and buy her silence and continued compliance. I highly recommend this to those who like dark, emotional books and are aware of the many trigger warnings. This was an excellent excellent read - unquestionable 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
lilacsandliterature's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Roan Montgomery is a 15 year old champion horse rider, following in her father’s footsteps and hoping for Olympic stardorm. And while she is often interviewed and in the public eye showing a perfect life and a loving coach for a father, behind closed doors is an entirely different world. Roan has been abused by her father for almost as long as she can remember, and her mother is lost in her own world, drinking away the reality of the situation.
This is hands down the most difficult book I’ve ever read on this topic. There is nothing left to the imagination about the abuse Roan suffers at the hands of her father. It’s set in the world of horse riding, which is something I didn’t know a thing about. I struggled with this book just as I did with My Dark Vanessa. I understand that the entire grooming process makes the abused question everything they know about right and wrong, but it doesn’t make it any easier to read.
This is a shocking book but the takeaway is this - this does happen more than anyone is aware of and while it’s shocking to us, for many people it’s a reality. It took me a while to read as the content was so difficult and I did not find any of the characters likeable at all.
This is hands down the most difficult book I’ve ever read on this topic. There is nothing left to the imagination about the abuse Roan suffers at the hands of her father. It’s set in the world of horse riding, which is something I didn’t know a thing about. I struggled with this book just as I did with My Dark Vanessa. I understand that the entire grooming process makes the abused question everything they know about right and wrong, but it doesn’t make it any easier to read.
This is a shocking book but the takeaway is this - this does happen more than anyone is aware of and while it’s shocking to us, for many people it’s a reality. It took me a while to read as the content was so difficult and I did not find any of the characters likeable at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence