Dark Horses cover art

Dark Horses

A Novel

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Dark Horses

By: Susan Mihalic
Narrated by: Alex Allwine
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About this listen

A “sweeping and raw story of courage, resilience, and clear-eyed grace” (Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling 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).
Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Women's Fiction

Critic Reviews

"Allwine's youthful tone is appropriate for Roan's story; she enriches her performance by clearly signaling the teen's emotional turmoil and carefully compartmentalized life. She nails Roan's no-nonsense focus when riding, her fear and conflicted feelings when dealing with her sexually abusive father, and her resolve to find a path to a normal life."
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