Dark Horses: One of Oprah Magazine's 'Most Anticipated Books' this year

Dark Horses is a powerful debut novel by Mihalic that follows fifteen-year-old Roan Montgomery, an equestrian prodigy who has an incestuous relationship with her father. When she meets Will Howard, a boy her age, her world is turned upside down. The novel is a sweeping and raw story of courage, resilience, and clear-eyed grace, and will never leave readers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Welbeck Publishing Group

Dark Horses is a powerful and captivating debut novel that has been selected by Jodi Picoult for #TeamWorkTuesdays. This sweeping and raw story of courage, resilience, and clear-eyed grace will leave readers breathless and deeply moved.

Written by Sara Gruen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants, Dark Horses tells the story of fifteen-year-old equestrian prodigy Roan Montgomery. Roan has only ever known two worlds: the riding arena, where she excels as a rider, and her father's world, where he demands strict obedience in all aspects of her life. However, the warped power dynamic between coach and rider extends far beyond the stables, and Roan's relationship with her father has long been incestuous.

A ruthless ambition for the Olympics allows Roan to compartmentalize this dark aspect of her life, until she meets Will Howard, a boy her age who brings everything into focus. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that Will is the son of Roan's coach, and their interactions are fraught with tension and danger.

As Roan navigates the complex web of relationships and emotions, she must confront the truth about her father and the abuse she has suffered. With her determination and resilience, Roan sets out to reclaim her life from her abuser, and in the process, she discovers her own strength and courage.

Dark Horses is a powerhouse of a novel that takes every narrative hurdle as nimbly and astonishingly capably as Roan does the courses she rides. The writing is vivid and evocative, and the characters are complex and fully realized. Gruen's portrayal of Roan's struggle to reclaim her life is powerful and relatable, and readers will be drawn into her story from the very first page.

This is a book that will stay with readers long after they have turned the last page. It is a searing examination of love and lust, power and control, as the narrator's rising sense of self yearns to take the reins and shape her own destiny. Dark Horses is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and coming-of-age stories, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who encounters it.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787395183