Dark Horses

by Suzanne Thackston

A dappled gray mare with sweet grass-scented breath. An enormous black stallion with gleaming green eyes. A desperate chase in the night-thickened plains, a violent capture with hooves and teeth, a ravishing. The young goatherd Kiri knows, by the slamming of her heart and the trembling of her knees, that she is in the presence of gods. What she does not know is that what she has witnessed—the rape of Demeter by Poseidon—will result in offspring who will terrorize her mountain community. Children will be stolen from their beds and transformed into monsters, mad with fear and sorrow. Cold-eyed beasts will stalk shepherds at night. Ships will founder against swarms of the ravenous undead. Nothing will quell the mounting panic. It is up to Kiri, with the help of a bard, Lykeion, and the guidance of Hermes, to learn how to appease the goddess and bring peace back to the land. This retelling of an ancient and obscure myth brings to life the world in which Greek gods first walked among men and blessed them with stories.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2019

About the author

Suz Thackston is a strange old mystic who has always been obsessed with horses and cannot resist a myth or faery tale. After homeschooling her now-grown sons, she has time to talk to trees, listen to the voices of the woods and rivers and write stories. She lives on a little farm in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Maryland with her nice husband, a sweet dog, a couple of indolent mares and too many bossy cats. She can be found wandering in starlight and mist most nights. At some point she'll absent-mindedly step through a tree door or a looking glass or a deceptive pond and disappear into Other. It's really where she belongs.

Reviews

[Laura Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved first about Ms. Thackston’s writing was how true her dialog sounded. Telling a story from another time in a way that seems real for the period and is still relatable to the current-day reader is nigh impossible, yet the author so deftly manages the task it seems as though she has lived in both worlds. Then, I was carried off by the trials and triumphs of her flawed and fickle heroine.... With settings stark and lush, characters finely honed, and vivid, stunning scenes thrumming with the music of the flora and fauna—and fantastical creatures both arousing and terrifying romping throughout—this tale is a hearty feast for the senses and the mind.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lush, evocative prose and an unsettling creepy atmosphere drives this work. I really enjoyed it!

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I wrote it, so I'm biased.

[Sue Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing a great read

The words flow like magic. The characters are well developed and believable. I really enjoyed this book and hope for more from this author!!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I vaguely remember reading a very brief version of the Demeter/Poseidon myth in my teens. Ms. Thackston takes that story and expands it into a delightful, scary, fascinating tale.

If you appreciate Greek mythology, horses who can speak, scary part human/part equine evil beings, epic journeys by an unassuming goatherder-doula and a bard who had no intention of becoming heroes you'll enjoy this book.

[Alice Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book quite quickly because it really gripped me and I couldn't stop reading! I enjoyed the plot and the vivid descriptions, at times it was very creepy. Only negatives were that I didn't get as attached to the characters as I would've liked, and it felt a little too "easy" (like all the plans they made worked perfectly without encountering many issues), but those are only minor criticisms and overall I really enjoyed it!

[Sarah McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written take on a classic tale from Greek mythology filled with startlingly unsettling imagery that will leave you feeling chilled (in a good way!). This is a fantastic read for horror fans. I absolutely loved the author's style of prose. Suzanne did an incredible job painting the scenery for the reader. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

[Kohner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mythical, beautiful story follows Kiri’s journey to end the terror on her village and to aid Demeter in her rage and sorrow. This was a delight to read, each line weighted and beautiful like poetry. The author combines simplicity and vivid detail seamlessly. The gods are steeped in the world in a very raw and real way, magnificent without being too much or flashy. As a pagan I really enjoyed the entire story. Kiri is a strong protagonist, taking an incredibly active role throughout the story. I wish we had seen the scene between her and Demeter a bit more, or the reunion at the end, but that’s because I honestly wanted more! It was so good! Incredibly quick to read while still being dense and rich.

[S. MacAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful retelling of a greek myth. The imagery will stay with me as it is vivid and beautifully told.
I absolutely loved the descriptive language and the characterisation.
Read on Kindle Unlimited.

[Mark Holmes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't read very much of it, just enough to convince me that it was a total piece of crap, poorly written and boring.