This one was a tough one. If you’re looking for a light hearted feel good story about horseback riding, this story isn’t for you. That’s the spoiler/trigger warning I’ll give here.
Roan Montgomery is only 15 years old, competing in 3 day eventing against a field of adults. That’s impressive as hell for anyone, but it’s especially important for her because of who her father is… Monti Montgomery, the most decorated equestrian Olympic champion. Her whole life is riding, and she loves it. Well, sort of. Here we get into some serious darkness, because her daddy isn’t who everyone things he is.
I was blown away by the level of detail put into the horse aspect of this book. As someone who showed horses for most of my life, I absolutely appreciated that. It didn’t feel like someone was trying to spoon feed me info they got from online research. It was in-depth, accurate, and very real. The smell of the horses, the feel of them under saddle, the connection that can develop, it was all fantastically portrayed. Even Psycho Pony was portrayed beautifully lol, I’ve known a few of those suckers in my life.
The darkness was hard to swallow at times. There’s a lot to deal with, including abuse and abandonment. Gaslighting was HUGE in this one. The most important piece of the story was Roans personal growth, and we all need to give that girl a standing ovation for her strength. I loved her character, and was so proud of her in the end. I don’t care what anyone says, she’s my hero.
I could not stop this book once I’d started it. As hard as the topics were, I find no fault in this story. Fantastic from beginning to end.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love horses and am so picky on how books with a heavy equestrian presence should be written. This one was very well done. It was a nice balance between Roan's horse world and her family life which softened some of the more mature themes quite well.

What a touching story! I could really feel the emotions of the characters. I absolutely loved this book!

This is the type of book that really makes you feel the emotions of the characters. It’s very heavy but it was fantastic. I love when an author really makes me feel the emotions of the characters. I get so much more involved in their lives! Great read!

Oh. My. God. I both loved and loathed this book. The topics are so heavy but so relevant to what’s going on in our sport. I liked how Roan, the main character, sometimes had such a mature voice it was easy to forget that she’s 15 and at other times she sounded like the child she never got to be.

The dichotomy between her public and private persona really drives home just how twisted what’s happening to her really is. I liked how she used the metaphor of stalls in her head to illustrate how she compartmentalized the different parts of her life.

Can I just say that I’m #teamdiva? She reminded me of a horse I once had myself. I’m glad I didn’t have the same experience but I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what she would’ve done.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a touching and well written novel, the characters are well developed and sensitively portrayed. Controlled by her father, Roan is an equestrienne, riding towards Olympic medal placement, like her father. Her mother is out of the picture, leaving Roan to deal with the demands her father places on her, both personal and professionally. A dark look at abuse and its effects, but ultimately uplifting.

Heartbreaking. Beautifully written even if hard to read at times. Perfectly captured the emotions wrapped up in love and abuse. My heart aches for Roan and I won’t get over this book easily. An important read if you can stomach the raw emotion it invokes.

Dark Horses broke my heart, shattered me and put me back together again. It's a phenomenal debut novel and I will officially be reading anything and everything Susan Mihalic writes next.

Roan Montgomery is an elite equestrian hiding a horrible secret of decades long physical, mental and sexual abuse perpetrated by her father. I won't go into details here, but please read the trigger warnings the publisher has at the beginning of the book to make sure this is an appropriate read for you.

Mihalic's writing is a standout and will put your emotions through the wringer as you enter Roan's world and her mind. We see her struggle and fight back. No holds are barred depicting the abuse and this is powerful as it shows that this can happen to anyone and that it can be a seemingly impossible cycle to end, even when you ask for help.

This book will not be leaving me any time soon- it's gotten into my core. It's not an easy read and I felt ill at times. But it's a powerful and important read and Mihalic treats the story and her characters with realism and respect.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy.

15 year old Roan Montgomery is an equestrian prodigy and Olympic hopeful being trained by her decorated Olympian father. Her father demands obedience both in and out of the riding arena. She is able to compartmentalize her love for the sport from the darker and more inappropriate side of her and her father's relationship. She is ruthlessly focused on her ambitions until she starts falling in love with Will Howard, a boy from her school, when she realizes there is more to life.

Wow, this book broke my heart and inspired me all at once. Roan is a survivor in the greatest sense of the word. She is so strong and so mature beyond her years, due to unfortunate circumstances, but I can't imagine being as dedicated to anything as she is, despite all of the darkness in her life.

This is a stunning debut, and although it's dark, heavy and hard to read, you must read it, because Roan's courage and resilience is awe-inspiring. This book had me captivated from the foreword by Alison Callahan (VP & Executive Editor of Scout Press) where she shares that she read this submission out of loyalty to an agent who is a dear friend but was so moved and had to make little effort to convince the editorial board that this book must be published.

4.5/5 stars, rounded up to 5

Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press for this eGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a debut novel by an American author. Dark Horses is the story of survival. Roan is a 15-year-old equestrian prodigy. Her dad, himself an Olympic medalist, is her coach and he controls all aspects of her life. Unknown to others he has also been sexually abusing her for years. When Roan meets and falls for Will at school, she begins to long for a normal life. Gradually Roan develops the ability to resist the demands of her father and find her own strength. This book reminded me of Gabriel Tallent's "My Absolute Darling" and is a wonderful recommendation for readers looking for a tale of fighting against the only world that you know in order to find a better one. While it is not particularly graphic, it may include triggers for some readers.

Susan Mihalic’s debut novel is aptly named. Dark Horses deals with some difficult, heavy, dark subject matter, but it’s a story that deserves to be told. It’s a story that felt like a punch to the gut. Its brutal honesty was a painful reminder that you never know what goes on behind closed doors. I was immediately pulled into Roan Montgomery’s life and invested in her story. Dark Horses is not the type of book that you will just sit down to read a couple of chapters to pass some time. This book is a riveting reading experience that, once you begin, it demands to be read.

The Montgomery horse farm is a stately property, with its lush green pastures, rolling hills, and majestic horses. They are a prominent family whose reputation in the equestrian community is steeped in Olympic achievements and medals, but beyond the pristine façade, lives a family who’s dysfunctional to its core. Set amid the beautiful backdrop of the Virginian countryside is a family’s ugly reality.

Roan didn’t have the luxury of living a “normal” teenage life. Her father’s family were considered legends in the equestrian world and Roan was destined to follow in their footsteps. The training and long hours spent with her horses were a bright spot in her life. She adored her horses (and I loved reading about them). She shared her father’s passion for riding and wanted nothing more than to be the best, too.

Roan didn’t have many friends, she didn’t have a social life, she wasn’t allowed to date, and whatever time she did have was spent practicing for events. When she became secretly involved with a boy from her school, she was reminded of all the things that she’d been forced to give up in order to stay in her father’s good graces. Her father controlled every aspect of her life. She was expected to be a respectful daughter, an excellent student, a future Olympian, and to be at his beck and call. Monty Montgomery was manipulative, controlling, and used to getting what he desired and, unfortunately, that included his own flesh and blood.

My heart broke for Roan. I wanted her to have a better life, one without so much shame and guilt. I wanted her to let her voice be heard, to shed her secrets, to be free. I was on edge throughout the book’s entirety. With every step that she took, I held my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

There are some books that make you feel, and then there are some books that put your emotions through the wringer. Dark Horses was definitely the latter. The author didn’t tiptoe gently through the subject matter, she exposed all of the uncomfortable, difficult, and devastating elements, and delivered a story that hits hard.

Susan Mihalic has written a gripping, relevant, all-consuming novel that I will not soon forget. I am looking forward to reading more by this talented new author.

* 5 Stars

Dark Horses is heartbreaking. I can't believe it's a debut! Very well written. It is a bit intense, at times at had to put the book down during the scenes with assault, something to keep in mind if you think you may be sensitive to those topics.

TW: Sexual/Mental abuse

Dark Horses is a deep and dark story of a strict and demanding parent and of child sexual abuse. I feel that the topic needs to be shared as this book would be a trigger for some people.

The author takes the reader into the competitive world of equestrian eventing. 15 year old Roan Montgomery is being coached by her abusive father. Roan’s talent makes her likelihood of following her father’s road to the Olympics positive. He demands that she call him sir and answer in complete sentences. Her focus on the horse and off must be razor sharp. Roan does everything her father tells her too.

Roan and her father have a secret relationship. One that the adoring fans don’t know about. Roan’s mother is a narcissistic alcoholic who chooses herself over her daughter.

Gertrude and Eddie are helpers who care deeply about Roan and offer her a semblance of normality.

When Roan and a boy at school become involved, Roan starts to see herself as deserving of a normal teen life. This change in mindset is what triggers a chain of events that will save Roan.

Heartrending and difficult, Dark Horses tells a story that happens behind many closed doors. It is graphic yet real. The character development is strong and can’t help but bring strong emotions to the forefront for the reader. The pace of the story is much like the performances of horse and rider during an event; steady and strong with a solid finish.

Thank you to @simonschusterca for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Dark Horses publishes January 9, 2021.

4.5 stars

This is a story about sexual abuse, incest.

Uncomfortable, that is how it made me feel. Beware, it is a difficult read. Very difficult.

The author was able to brilliantly convey how Roan was stuck in her perfect world, how conflicted she was about getting out of her painful situation versus losing the only life that was carefully built for her.

I have never read such a story. It will rip your heart but you continue reading because you want Roan to succeed. You want her to fight for her body, her soul, her integrity. You want to find out what will trigger her survivor skills.

I liked the fact this was set in the equine events world, which is rarely done.

If you are looking for a story that will make you feel all the emotions, but beware as the subject is extremely hard. You have been warned.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with and ARC in exchange for an honest review.