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The Dawn of Darkness
Dear Author,
The man in this picture is extremely shy (he might have some social anxiety disorder? You decide) but also extremely intelligent. His only real contact with other people is with his (small?) family, and he uses his horse to fill in for the emotional contact that he misses. As a direct result, he is an extremely good dressage rider though most people at his barn think that his horse is wasted on him and he doesn’t ride at all. One day, someone (the love interest) else sees him riding and realizes that 1. He really is a good rider and 2. He should be competing. Conflict and romance ensue.
Photo Description:
A tall, thin man dressed in a navy blue and white hoodie, rides a black stallion in an outdoor arena lined with short hedges. The horse, accented with white polo wraps and black and white bridle, trots along the arena rail.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
The man in this picture is extremely shy (he might have some social anxiety disorder? You decide) but also extremely intelligent. His only real contact with other people is with his (small?) family, and he uses his horse to fill in for the emotional contact that he misses. As a direct result, he is an extremely good dressage rider though most people at his barn think that his horse is wasted on him and he doesn’t ride at all. One day, someone (the love interest) else sees him riding and realizes that 1. He really is a good rider and 2. He should be competing. Conflict and romance ensue.
Photo Description:
A tall, thin man dressed in a navy blue and white hoodie, rides a black stallion in an outdoor arena lined with short hedges. The horse, accented with white polo wraps and black and white bridle, trots along the arena rail.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
32 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2015
16 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Boyd
6 books59 followersA cartographer by day, A.L.Boyd spends most of her free time with her horses, gardening, or reading.
****
I never intended to be a full time writer, but stories sometimes just pop into my head. The writing came about as a way to get the stories out. Nothing is ever the same. The poem was from first hand experiences on a wildland fire. My horse's story is a memoir of 23 years of my life with my favorite horse. Any other stories are just stories that come to me in my sleep and make me want to write them down.
****
I never intended to be a full time writer, but stories sometimes just pop into my head. The writing came about as a way to get the stories out. Nothing is ever the same. The poem was from first hand experiences on a wildland fire. My horse's story is a memoir of 23 years of my life with my favorite horse. Any other stories are just stories that come to me in my sleep and make me want to write them down.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 7, 2015
~2.5~
This story is a bit info-dumpy, and there's not enough showing, but there are HORSES and FOREVER and two men with stars in their eyes.
Wes was a bit of a douche. I understand his attitude, I do, but he needed to give Chris a break. All Chris did was TRY, and Wes became so much more with Chris around.
Yes, this was Insta Love galore, but I'm sappy like that. I LIKED the sweetness.
I was bummed, however, that this was so low on steam. The one brief scene at the end felt perfunctory somehow. And the ending was too abrupt.
Considering the sap, I expected a full-on HEA, but this was only a glimpse of one.
This story is a bit info-dumpy, and there's not enough showing, but there are HORSES and FOREVER and two men with stars in their eyes.
Wes was a bit of a douche. I understand his attitude, I do, but he needed to give Chris a break. All Chris did was TRY, and Wes became so much more with Chris around.
Yes, this was Insta Love galore, but I'm sappy like that. I LIKED the sweetness.
I was bummed, however, that this was so low on steam. The one brief scene at the end felt perfunctory somehow. And the ending was too abrupt.
Considering the sap, I expected a full-on HEA, but this was only a glimpse of one.
June 2, 2015
The highlight of this story for me wasn't the characters or their growing relationship, but the author's love of horses and everything associated with them. Because I know next to nothing about thoroughbreds or dressage or the rules and regulations of the F.E.I., the author's passion for the subject gave the story an incredibly strong sense of place and helped to immerse me in Wes and Chris' world.
Unfortunately, the overall story was a total fromagefest filled with instalove and a handful of truly cringe-worthy lines. Boyd put all the right romantic words and gestures and blow jobs on the page, but I struggled to believe that the connection between Wes and Chris was strong enough to lead us to the point of declarations of lifetime commitments by the end of the story. I felt as if their on page interactions were just too limited to build the depth of feeling that the author was trying to have us believe existed between them.
And, because I didn't feel a genuine connection between the characters, I found myself unable to make a genuine connection to them either. I dunno. It was weird. My reaction to it was weird. I think it may have had something to do with the author's writing style; I tend to feel disconnected from books and stories that lean more towards the "tell" than the "show" side of things.
Also, I may just be too cynical a woman for this type of story.
That is a distinct possibility.
Regardless, thanks to the author for participating in this year's DRitC event, Love is an Open Road!
Unfortunately, the overall story was a total fromagefest filled with instalove and a handful of truly cringe-worthy lines. Boyd put all the right romantic words and gestures and blow jobs on the page, but I struggled to believe that the connection between Wes and Chris was strong enough to lead us to the point of declarations of lifetime commitments by the end of the story. I felt as if their on page interactions were just too limited to build the depth of feeling that the author was trying to have us believe existed between them.
And, because I didn't feel a genuine connection between the characters, I found myself unable to make a genuine connection to them either. I dunno. It was weird. My reaction to it was weird. I think it may have had something to do with the author's writing style; I tend to feel disconnected from books and stories that lean more towards the "tell" than the "show" side of things.
Also, I may just be too cynical a woman for this type of story.
That is a distinct possibility.
Regardless, thanks to the author for participating in this year's DRitC event, Love is an Open Road!
June 16, 2015
Very sweet story of hope and acceptance.
Thanks to all the Group members who provided awesome prompts with lovely pictures, the authors for writing free stories based on those prompts for all of us to read for free and the M/M Romance Group for all their hard work in putting this years Don’t Read in the Closet event, Love is an Open Road, together.
Thanks to all the Group members who provided awesome prompts with lovely pictures, the authors for writing free stories based on those prompts for all of us to read for free and the M/M Romance Group for all their hard work in putting this years Don’t Read in the Closet event, Love is an Open Road, together.
June 1, 2015
3.5 stars!
This was a nice story. I liked Wesley and Chris. Especially Chris. His determination to get Wesley made me smile.
I also liked seeing Wesley struggle with his eye disease. It seemed realistic and made me feel for him. It really did. I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for him. Knowing he would be blind by the age of 40.
This didn't wow me. But it was a nice, quick read. And I would definitely revisit the characters again.
This was a nice story. I liked Wesley and Chris. Especially Chris. His determination to get Wesley made me smile.
I also liked seeing Wesley struggle with his eye disease. It seemed realistic and made me feel for him. It really did. I couldn't imagine how hard it must have been for him. Knowing he would be blind by the age of 40.
This didn't wow me. But it was a nice, quick read. And I would definitely revisit the characters again.
June 1, 2015
The first story I read from the annual Don't Read In The Closet Event this year and it was a lovely one. I thought the combination of a couple of appealing plot-lines -- the art of horseback riding and the idea that one of the characters losing his eyesight. I don't see this a lot in stories I have read so far.
The romance is quite slow-burned; Wes wasn't ready to open himself for relationship due to the retinitis pigmentosa he suffers from. It could've been a good set-up for a lengthier story, I could imagine Wes and Chris being a couple with Wes challenging himself to be a competitor in the arena; along with his stallion, Darkness.
I had to take a note on the writing, though. Sometimes I felt that it was a little too much for descriptions and inner monologues, not enough dialogs/interactions. I thought, for me, it could be pretty tiring after a while. But I figure it's more about myself and the 'writing chemistry' :)
The romance is quite slow-burned; Wes wasn't ready to open himself for relationship due to the retinitis pigmentosa he suffers from. It could've been a good set-up for a lengthier story, I could imagine Wes and Chris being a couple with Wes challenging himself to be a competitor in the arena; along with his stallion, Darkness.
I had to take a note on the writing, though. Sometimes I felt that it was a little too much for descriptions and inner monologues, not enough dialogs/interactions. I thought, for me, it could be pretty tiring after a while. But I figure it's more about myself and the 'writing chemistry' :)
June 2, 2015
3.5 stars
Weston might not be good with people, but when it comes to horses, he's an accomplished dressage rider. No one knows this however, because he's so standoffish and withdrawn with everyone at his mother's horse farm.
At 21, Wes was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye disease that is causing him to lose his sight. By 40, he'll be blind. He's so wrapped up in these details that he can't see how much living he has left to do, and how many years of sight he has ahead of him.
And Chris, well, I don't really know a lot about Chris, other than he's a ginger. But let's face it, even if there were more details about him, I'd be so stuck on "ginger" it would be all I could see. What I do know is that once he shows up to work at the farm, life begins to change for Wes.
Wes has some internal battles where he thinks that once Chris knows he'll eventually be blind, he won't want to be with him. It's a bit of cart before horse, thinking of forever before even sharing a kiss, but there are some very sweet moments and with Chris's gentle encouragement, Wes shines.
This is very much a case of instant love between these two, and this is probably due to the writing time constraints for this event. If the author chooses to revise this story and expand (so the story unfolds over months as opposed to two weeks) I think it will be a very unique and entertaining story, that many people will really enjoy.
The author did a wonderful job of incorporating the prompt picture into the story itself, and their knowledge and love of horses easily shines through as you read.
A great start to the 2015 writing event! (And a great book cover too)
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
Weston might not be good with people, but when it comes to horses, he's an accomplished dressage rider. No one knows this however, because he's so standoffish and withdrawn with everyone at his mother's horse farm.
At 21, Wes was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye disease that is causing him to lose his sight. By 40, he'll be blind. He's so wrapped up in these details that he can't see how much living he has left to do, and how many years of sight he has ahead of him.
And Chris, well, I don't really know a lot about Chris, other than he's a ginger. But let's face it, even if there were more details about him, I'd be so stuck on "ginger" it would be all I could see. What I do know is that once he shows up to work at the farm, life begins to change for Wes.
Wes has some internal battles where he thinks that once Chris knows he'll eventually be blind, he won't want to be with him. It's a bit of cart before horse, thinking of forever before even sharing a kiss, but there are some very sweet moments and with Chris's gentle encouragement, Wes shines.
This is very much a case of instant love between these two, and this is probably due to the writing time constraints for this event. If the author chooses to revise this story and expand (so the story unfolds over months as opposed to two weeks) I think it will be a very unique and entertaining story, that many people will really enjoy.
The author did a wonderful job of incorporating the prompt picture into the story itself, and their knowledge and love of horses easily shines through as you read.
A great start to the 2015 writing event! (And a great book cover too)
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
August 12, 2015
2.5 Stars
A while back, I made some lofty declarations pertaining to this years DRitC event and how I was going to “attempt to read them all!” It’s quite a laughable statement, considering the sheer number of stories submitted, but I’m choosing to focus on the word ‘attempt’—and by god, I’m going to attempt to read the hell out of these stories.
A.L. Boyd’s The Dawn of Darkness is my first read from the current collection, and I must say, so far so good.
This story was sweet; maybe a little on the sappy side, but it was just what I was in the mood for. The characters were likeable and the writing was smooth. There was a bit of insta-love going on, but again, it totally suited my mood, so I tossed plausibility aside and went with the flow.
The authors knowledge and love, relating to all things equine, was evident and greatly appreciated—I feel like I actually learnt something during this short read, and that’s always fun.
A while back, I made some lofty declarations pertaining to this years DRitC event and how I was going to “attempt to read them all!” It’s quite a laughable statement, considering the sheer number of stories submitted, but I’m choosing to focus on the word ‘attempt’—and by god, I’m going to attempt to read the hell out of these stories.
A.L. Boyd’s The Dawn of Darkness is my first read from the current collection, and I must say, so far so good.
This story was sweet; maybe a little on the sappy side, but it was just what I was in the mood for. The characters were likeable and the writing was smooth. There was a bit of insta-love going on, but again, it totally suited my mood, so I tossed plausibility aside and went with the flow.
The authors knowledge and love, relating to all things equine, was evident and greatly appreciated—I feel like I actually learnt something during this short read, and that’s always fun.
June 1, 2015
A lovely story to start the LOR season. Thank you to the author and the MM team.
June 2, 2015
Dressage & sweet men. Score! Adorable liitle story.
May 17, 2023
I could have kept reading this sweet short. This is a new author for me so I didn't know what to expect but I'm a new fan.
July 8, 2015
People withdraw from society and their fellow human beings for a range of different reasons. Weston, the first-person narrator of this story, is motivated by fear. But although he has never gotten on with people, it isn't just the fear of what others will think of him because he is clumsy, it's his knowledge that he is going blind.
Wes has a degenerative eye disease, and it will take twenty years for him to lose all sight, but the effects have already started and he is understandably panicked. The fear colors everything he does, and it takes meeting Chris for Wes to begin coming out of his shell.
Chris seems to be a new stable hand but turns out to be so much more. He is good with the horses they both work with, he has new ideas about what they can do in terms of lessons and activities, and he is clearly interested in Wes. I loved how he quietly understood what Wes needed and unobtrusively begins to make changes. He treats Wes just like a fully sighted man, while at the same time taking his needs into consideration.
If you like stories about men who aren't the life of the party, if you want to see how difficult dealing with going blind can be, and if you're looking for a story that is as sweet as it is heartwarming, you will probably like this free short story.
Wes has a degenerative eye disease, and it will take twenty years for him to lose all sight, but the effects have already started and he is understandably panicked. The fear colors everything he does, and it takes meeting Chris for Wes to begin coming out of his shell.
Chris seems to be a new stable hand but turns out to be so much more. He is good with the horses they both work with, he has new ideas about what they can do in terms of lessons and activities, and he is clearly interested in Wes. I loved how he quietly understood what Wes needed and unobtrusively begins to make changes. He treats Wes just like a fully sighted man, while at the same time taking his needs into consideration.
If you like stories about men who aren't the life of the party, if you want to see how difficult dealing with going blind can be, and if you're looking for a story that is as sweet as it is heartwarming, you will probably like this free short story.
August 27, 2015
approaching 3.5 stars
Nice contemporary story about a young man, isolated through choice, who is starting to go blind. His life centres on Darkness, his dressage horse, which he rides extremely well but never on front of others for fear of being laughed at. His mother hires Chris to help at the stable and Chris won't leave Wes alone. Persuing him and at the same time pushing him to try new things. There is a slow growing attraction between the pair with the story finishing with their first intimate moment. I'd be interested to see how their relationship progressed
Nice contemporary story about a young man, isolated through choice, who is starting to go blind. His life centres on Darkness, his dressage horse, which he rides extremely well but never on front of others for fear of being laughed at. His mother hires Chris to help at the stable and Chris won't leave Wes alone. Persuing him and at the same time pushing him to try new things. There is a slow growing attraction between the pair with the story finishing with their first intimate moment. I'd be interested to see how their relationship progressed
dnf
June 3, 2015Thanks to the author for participating and offering this freebie.
Not one for me. I got to about 65%.
The authors love and knowledge of horses came across strongly but unfortunately the characters less so.
I found it all a bit much and info dumpy; Weston's father died in a car-crash, his grand-father died in Vietnam, Christopher's grandmother was born blind. Weston's horse was Darkness, Christopher's horse was Dawn as in sunrise.
Weston's (never Wes) mother (never mom) was strangely formal, I get that she was trying to encourage her son but it came across very cold-hearted, possibly because of that formality.
Also Wes passed PE by doing a written exam on golf. Yes, I admit it, I'll own to it. As my beloved (if occasionally misguided) husband often accuses, I am definitely anti-golf. Even that passing comment had me going golf? Why? What. is. the. point. Um in his defence Wes doesn't like golf either, but still..golf?!
I liked Chris chatting with his horse, that was cute.
Not one for me. I got to about 65%.
The authors love and knowledge of horses came across strongly but unfortunately the characters less so.
I found it all a bit much and info dumpy; Weston's father died in a car-crash, his grand-father died in Vietnam, Christopher's grandmother was born blind. Weston's horse was Darkness, Christopher's horse was Dawn as in sunrise.
Weston's (never Wes) mother (never mom) was strangely formal, I get that she was trying to encourage her son but it came across very cold-hearted, possibly because of that formality.
Also Wes passed PE by doing a written exam on golf. Yes, I admit it, I'll own to it. As my beloved (if occasionally misguided) husband often accuses, I am definitely anti-golf. Even that passing comment had me going golf? Why? What. is. the. point. Um in his defence Wes doesn't like golf either, but still..golf?!
I liked Chris chatting with his horse, that was cute.
August 12, 2015
An enjoyable free story. Thank you.
June 7, 2015
I loved this story of a shy, retiring young man and a not so shy confident man that draws him out of himself and helps him see he isn't at the and of his life because of a disability but just at the beginning.
It's a "When life deals you lemons; make lemonade" kind of story with Weston, the shy young man who has been dealt a bucket full of lemons and Christopher, the man who helps him make lemonade.
Does that make sense?
The interactions between Wes and his horse are also very sweet. I especially loved the short paragraph where Wes is panicking and his horse watches over him protectively, then playfully knocks him off his seat. That was cute.
It's just a lovely, sweet afternoon read, with romance that doesn't leave a sugary sweet taste in your mouth because it's all low key and very believable. Chris keeps sending Wes flowers and love letters. *sigh*.
It's a "When life deals you lemons; make lemonade" kind of story with Weston, the shy young man who has been dealt a bucket full of lemons and Christopher, the man who helps him make lemonade.
Does that make sense?
The interactions between Wes and his horse are also very sweet. I especially loved the short paragraph where Wes is panicking and his horse watches over him protectively, then playfully knocks him off his seat. That was cute.
It's just a lovely, sweet afternoon read, with romance that doesn't leave a sugary sweet taste in your mouth because it's all low key and very believable. Chris keeps sending Wes flowers and love letters. *sigh*.
October 11, 2015
I enjoyed this story of young love. I have read several similar disabled person stories in the past, and I am disabled myself, so I can relate.
This is set in the world of horse-riding but the jargon is kept to a minimum. I appreciated that.
The disabled man has an extremely supportive mother who pushes him for his own good.
Of course as in all such stories, the love interest has the patience of a saint, never gets upset at rejection or rudeness, and after just meeting is already talking about a long-term commitment. It's totally unrealistic but makes for heartwarming reading.
There is only mild conflict and several feel-good moments. I prefer that to angst.
No kittens, but a playful and concerned horse, and a few adorable kids.
This is set in the world of horse-riding but the jargon is kept to a minimum. I appreciated that.
The disabled man has an extremely supportive mother who pushes him for his own good.
Of course as in all such stories, the love interest has the patience of a saint, never gets upset at rejection or rudeness, and after just meeting is already talking about a long-term commitment. It's totally unrealistic but makes for heartwarming reading.
There is only mild conflict and several feel-good moments. I prefer that to angst.
No kittens, but a playful and concerned horse, and a few adorable kids.
August 12, 2015
The Dawn of Darkness is a very cute story about a man slowing losing his sight meeting a guy that will not take no or the cold shoulder for rejection. Weston has just been going about his life not really living since getting his prognosis. When the new hire Christopher starts at his family's horse farm and training facility, Weston's life starts getting interesting again. Chris brings excitement and hope to opportunities presented to Wes. Though the story ends just as the two men really start to get together, it does give quite the feeling of a HFN.
June 3, 2015
Beginning of story was fairly weak, but author turned it around. More telling than showing, except for Weston's anxiety which came cross loud and clear. Without the emotional content, it was hard to get into these two MCs. Chris' spirited nature was another bonus point, a good opposites attract storyline.
October 20, 2015
This was a cute little story but a lot of it was just told where it could have been shown. Wes' interest in Chris could not have been that obvious which made his wooing feel a little odd to me. But overall a good short story.
October 2, 2015
So...college has barely started and I've got no time to read. And my roommates are nagging me constantly. I NEED my reading time. Alone.
Anyway, lovely horses everywhere, but where is the relationship? It just happened. Period.
Anyway, lovely horses everywhere, but where is the relationship? It just happened. Period.
June 1, 2015
3.5 stars
June 1, 2015
That was a lovely first DRiTC read.
June 7, 2015
3.75
A wonderful story with beautiful characters - I just wish it was longer so the storyline had time to develop more slowly.
Thank you for your contribution to this event.
A wonderful story with beautiful characters - I just wish it was longer so the storyline had time to develop more slowly.
Thank you for your contribution to this event.
June 11, 2015
It's an understated love story but it appealed to me for some reason.
June 10, 2015
Cute story. A bit rushed and not as "deep" as I hoped it would be. But a nice story over all.
3.5 Stars
3.5 Stars
June 8, 2015
Sweet story. Thank you A.L. Boyd for donating your story, your time and your talent.
Want to read
June 9, 2015STORY INFO:
Genre: contemporary
Tags: equestrian, MC going blind, ginger/red head, first time, self-discovery, family, competition
Word Count: 11,875
Genre: contemporary
Tags: equestrian, MC going blind, ginger/red head, first time, self-discovery, family, competition
Word Count: 11,875
Read
January 2, 2016DNF
September 9, 2015
[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
Beautiful. Would love to have more of Chris and Wes.
Beautiful. Would love to have more of Chris and Wes.
April 21, 2019
Loved the story. I don't know much about the condition Wes has but by the end of this short story one gets a feeling of the protection that he is building around him by closing everyone out. How Chris and his mum gradually break down the barriers is heart warming. In my view a lot achieved in a short piece of work. The end a bit rushed and incomplete though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews