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From the Darkness: Two Ponies Trilogy
THE THIRD BOOK of the Two Ponies Trilogy, From the Darkness, picks up four years later with Katherine pursuing her Olympic dream while her family becomes emotionally fractured. A grave loss to the Walker family brings them together momentarily, but sets into motion a chain of events that challenges and questions each of their paths. As tragedy strikes the family again, a shadow hangs over Two Ponies, shattering hearts and dreams. Can the strength of family, their love of horses and pursuit of dreams be enough to see them through the darkness and into the light of hope and happiness once again. Set between Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, From the Darkness is interwoven with themes of American Indian theology and holds timeless lessons for women of all ages about commitment, forgiveness, and being courageous enough to follow your heart and dreams against all odds.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2021
6 people want to read
About the author
Susan Abel
8 books9 followersSusan Abel has had a passion for writing, second only to her passion for horses, since she was a child growing up in the Detroit area. With writing assignments becoming her favorite projects in school, she completed her first novel at the age of seventeen, a story about a girl and a horse, of course.
Following a twenty-plus-year career as a professional trainer and riding instructor in the mid-West, Rockies and Southeast, Susan returned to school to earn a degree in journalism at the age of forty as a single mom with two girls. Following graduation, she worked several years as a beat reporter and feature writer for various newspapers as well as for a private university group. Once her girls were grown, she returned to her passions: instructing with her own riding school again while writing “Through the Mist.” Ten years later, she finds herself teaching less and writing more each day.
Susan currently lives in the metro Atlanta area on a small farm with her husband of ten years and a menagerie of animals. Committed to her writing, she has attended ten consecutive Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conferences to further her writing career. She loves to read, draw, ride and show her horses, travel on adventures with her husband and go on long hikes with their dogs.
Having lived a diverse and well-travelled life, Susan has a broad expanse of life experiences to draw from, enabling her to flesh out characters, describe locations and understand the human condition in such a way her stories come to life in the imaginations of her readers. With “Through the Mist” completed, Susan is working jointly on a sequel, “Into the Fire,” “An American Citizen” and a collection of short stories, "The Roots That Bind Us." She finds it beneficial taking breaks on projects to return to them in a day or two with fresh eyes. Susan is currently pursuing an agent to represent her work. Her progress can be followed on her website and Facebook page.
Following a twenty-plus-year career as a professional trainer and riding instructor in the mid-West, Rockies and Southeast, Susan returned to school to earn a degree in journalism at the age of forty as a single mom with two girls. Following graduation, she worked several years as a beat reporter and feature writer for various newspapers as well as for a private university group. Once her girls were grown, she returned to her passions: instructing with her own riding school again while writing “Through the Mist.” Ten years later, she finds herself teaching less and writing more each day.
Susan currently lives in the metro Atlanta area on a small farm with her husband of ten years and a menagerie of animals. Committed to her writing, she has attended ten consecutive Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conferences to further her writing career. She loves to read, draw, ride and show her horses, travel on adventures with her husband and go on long hikes with their dogs.
Having lived a diverse and well-travelled life, Susan has a broad expanse of life experiences to draw from, enabling her to flesh out characters, describe locations and understand the human condition in such a way her stories come to life in the imaginations of her readers. With “Through the Mist” completed, Susan is working jointly on a sequel, “Into the Fire,” “An American Citizen” and a collection of short stories, "The Roots That Bind Us." She finds it beneficial taking breaks on projects to return to them in a day or two with fresh eyes. Susan is currently pursuing an agent to represent her work. Her progress can be followed on her website and Facebook page.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2025
'From the Darkness' by Susan Abel provides a moving, thrilling end to her Two Ponies trilogy.
Throughout the series, we have lost central characters, and this book opens with one. As the family comes together to reel from the loss, we get caught up with their fortunes just a few years after the conclusion of the second book. As the plot unfurls, the reader becomes as caught up in the characters' lives as they have in the previous two installments, and what follows is a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows as the book draws towards its fitting conclusion.
The horses, Major especially, play a large role in the plot, which I very much enjoyed. The re-introduction of Kat's former trainer and the debut of Karen's granddaughter, Kayla, were welcome additions. Sadie made for a sympathetic villain, though the conclusion of her story did leave me hanging. Thankfully, that seems to be the only character who doesn't get a well-developed ending.
The plot is moving, heartfelt, and emotional. I got so engrossed in the book that I could hardly put it down! I do wish it had received a better editing pass, as the tense agreement issues and typos were frequent enough to be noticeable in the second half of the book, though they didn't ultimately detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Abel's Two Ponies trilogy takes the reader on a thrilling ride, and the final installment makes the entire journey worthwhile!
Throughout the series, we have lost central characters, and this book opens with one. As the family comes together to reel from the loss, we get caught up with their fortunes just a few years after the conclusion of the second book. As the plot unfurls, the reader becomes as caught up in the characters' lives as they have in the previous two installments, and what follows is a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows as the book draws towards its fitting conclusion.
The horses, Major especially, play a large role in the plot, which I very much enjoyed. The re-introduction of Kat's former trainer and the debut of Karen's granddaughter, Kayla, were welcome additions. Sadie made for a sympathetic villain, though the conclusion of her story did leave me hanging. Thankfully, that seems to be the only character who doesn't get a well-developed ending.
The plot is moving, heartfelt, and emotional. I got so engrossed in the book that I could hardly put it down! I do wish it had received a better editing pass, as the tense agreement issues and typos were frequent enough to be noticeable in the second half of the book, though they didn't ultimately detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Abel's Two Ponies trilogy takes the reader on a thrilling ride, and the final installment makes the entire journey worthwhile!
July 13, 2022
From the Darkness
It was wonderful to be able to read this novel and complete the Two Ponies Trilogy. The author continues the story of Katherine, her husband Steven, daughters Josephine and and Lisa and Josephine's first love TJ. It follows Katherine as she tries to make the 1999 Olympic equestrian team, while Josephine is living as a successful actress who hasn't been back to Two Ponies in almost 3 years. She and TJ are no longer together and he is in collebe studying to become a veterinarian.
The characters experience tragedy and love over the course of the novel and by the end the reader is nappy to have known the characters and their their horses. While I would love one more follow-up book in the series,the author ended the series in a way that is satisfying. I highly recommend the series and appreciated hat it featured the Black feet people and some of their stories.
It was wonderful to be able to read this novel and complete the Two Ponies Trilogy. The author continues the story of Katherine, her husband Steven, daughters Josephine and and Lisa and Josephine's first love TJ. It follows Katherine as she tries to make the 1999 Olympic equestrian team, while Josephine is living as a successful actress who hasn't been back to Two Ponies in almost 3 years. She and TJ are no longer together and he is in collebe studying to become a veterinarian.
The characters experience tragedy and love over the course of the novel and by the end the reader is nappy to have known the characters and their their horses. While I would love one more follow-up book in the series,the author ended the series in a way that is satisfying. I highly recommend the series and appreciated hat it featured the Black feet people and some of their stories.
March 18, 2021
Great finale to terrific series
I was looking forward to the release of this book and was not disappointed. I felt like I was there with the characters. Susan Abel is very talented, her descriptions are realistic keeping you in the edge of your seat. Her Two Ponies Trilogy was one of the best series I have read involving people and horses.
I was looking forward to the release of this book and was not disappointed. I felt like I was there with the characters. Susan Abel is very talented, her descriptions are realistic keeping you in the edge of your seat. Her Two Ponies Trilogy was one of the best series I have read involving people and horses.
March 22, 2021
Susan has tied up the trilogy with the same creativity and emotion I found in the two predecessors. Lots of twists and turns kept my attention throughout this great story. Her knowledge of horses and Native American culture add to the realness of the tale. You will not be disappointed as you follow Josephine and Katherine as they continue to make daring life choices.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews