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The Russian Witch's Curse #2
My Dark Horse Prince
Mirdza Strelkova should have minded her own business on the long train ride, because she knew just how nasty violent men could be. Or perhaps that's precisely why she stepped in to help the frightened mother and terrified child.
But in her wildest dreams, she never imagined she'd be tossed out the window of a moving train, broken and bleeding. And she never could have predicted the dark horse who would come to her aid, or the comeback story that lay before them both.
But in her wildest dreams, she never imagined she'd be tossed out the window of a moving train, broken and bleeding. And she never could have predicted the dark horse who would come to her aid, or the comeback story that lay before them both.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2023
148 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 17, 2023
Pages of whining and whining. Oh, woe is me, I'm poor, I'm crippled, I'm still poor, and my leg is crippled. Good grief.
February 6, 2025
Well, I'm officially hooked on this series and probably anything Bridget Baker writes. The audiobook narrator is absolutely perfect. I loved her accents! On to book three!
April 1, 2023
After the first book, there are some problematic tropes, and some obviously formulaic methods the author is employing to write these books. There's yet another "big-deal ex who was 'too good for the MC' in the past, but hasn't gotten over the MC and wants them back anyway, and goes to some lengths over this". Just like in the last book.
I need authors to stop writing these kinds of books so every female lead doesn't think they are pretty. But everyone else does. It's tedious. It happened in the last book. It happened in this book. And it feels worse for that because this MC thinks the last MC is so pretty... Etc.
Gotta get that high stakes horse race in there out of nowhere. More out of nowhere than in the last book.
I did appreciate the way the author wrote about a physically handicapped female lead. That part of it felt... Lived in and real. And handled respectfully. Which is something I don't often feel like I see.
But there are some things that genuinely DO NOT MAKE SENSE in this book. Mostly everything to do with two people: the twin sister, Adriana and "the ex", Danils. Let's start with Danils. I don't think the author gave a clear or consistent picture of who he was supposed to be. He abused her in the past. We know he did. But he does all this nice stuff for her in this book. And he's been apparently running a long-con on someone else over her? There's just.... It didn't feel consistent about him either. He actually feels like a couple of different characters instead of one.
As for the sister, she is supposed to be the most self-concerned person. To the point that when lives literally hang in the balance, the MC, her twin sister, who actually has a pretty close/good relationship with her, bets on that self-interest. That turns into a whole thing... But
Spoilers
Adriana not only didn't do the self-interested thing that was expected during that whole 'lives hang in the balance' sequence. We find out she's in *a lot* of debt. (Just like the last book was completely run by that motivation, so I'm already tired of that too.) And she's desperately trying to dig her way out, by any means necessary. And yet, she gives her sister money she doesn't normally have, a pretty considerable amount actually. And that happened early on in the story. Adriana isn't consistent with who she is presented to be in just this one book, and she's supposed to be the MC of the next one. I don't think that's gonna be awesome, if I'm honest.
I might check out out. I might not. I haven't decided yet.
I need authors to stop writing these kinds of books so every female lead doesn't think they are pretty. But everyone else does. It's tedious. It happened in the last book. It happened in this book. And it feels worse for that because this MC thinks the last MC is so pretty... Etc.
Gotta get that high stakes horse race in there out of nowhere. More out of nowhere than in the last book.
I did appreciate the way the author wrote about a physically handicapped female lead. That part of it felt... Lived in and real. And handled respectfully. Which is something I don't often feel like I see.
But there are some things that genuinely DO NOT MAKE SENSE in this book. Mostly everything to do with two people: the twin sister, Adriana and "the ex", Danils. Let's start with Danils. I don't think the author gave a clear or consistent picture of who he was supposed to be. He abused her in the past. We know he did. But he does all this nice stuff for her in this book. And he's been apparently running a long-con on someone else over her? There's just.... It didn't feel consistent about him either. He actually feels like a couple of different characters instead of one.
As for the sister, she is supposed to be the most self-concerned person. To the point that when lives literally hang in the balance, the MC, her twin sister, who actually has a pretty close/good relationship with her, bets on that self-interest. That turns into a whole thing... But
Spoilers
Adriana not only didn't do the self-interested thing that was expected during that whole 'lives hang in the balance' sequence. We find out she's in *a lot* of debt. (Just like the last book was completely run by that motivation, so I'm already tired of that too.) And she's desperately trying to dig her way out, by any means necessary. And yet, she gives her sister money she doesn't normally have, a pretty considerable amount actually. And that happened early on in the story. Adriana isn't consistent with who she is presented to be in just this one book, and she's supposed to be the MC of the next one. I don't think that's gonna be awesome, if I'm honest.
I might check out out. I might not. I haven't decided yet.
March 23, 2023
A fantastic second book in the Russia Witch's Curse series! Excited to see what happens next in the series!
*note - series should be read in order
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
*note - series should be read in order
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
April 1, 2023
You often hear about a series having a “second book slump” where book 2 is kind of wrapping up some loose ends from book 1 and setting up book 3 and just doesn’t accomplish much for itself as a book. That is not at all true for this series! While this book could maybe theoretically stand alone, it’s best enjoyed after reading My Queendom for a Horse, book 1 in this series. Even so, it has its own story arc and is a great read all on its own.
I honestly think I laughed more reading this second book than the first and I thought the first was really funny! There’s good development for the protagonists of this book as well as advancing the overall story arc.
While it makes perfect sense in the context of the book, the ending is a bit of a cliff hanger and has left me impatient for book 3!
I honestly think I laughed more reading this second book than the first and I thought the first was really funny! There’s good development for the protagonists of this book as well as advancing the overall story arc.
While it makes perfect sense in the context of the book, the ending is a bit of a cliff hanger and has left me impatient for book 3!
July 9, 2025
Reread: nog steeds 4.5 sterren. Ondertussen zijn er wat meer delen van de serie uit dus tijd om m nu verder te lezen!
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4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it, but had a few "oh no" moments. Looking forward to the next book!!
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4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it, but had a few "oh no" moments. Looking forward to the next book!!
January 9, 2025
Lost me
Too much time spent rehashing how abused the heroine is and not moving the plot along. The book dragged along. I ended up putting it down repeatedly. I ended up sad. Not nearly as entertaining as the first book.
Too much time spent rehashing how abused the heroine is and not moving the plot along. The book dragged along. I ended up putting it down repeatedly. I ended up sad. Not nearly as entertaining as the first book.
April 3, 2023
This book was SO good! I stayed up all night to read it in one go. I mean, hot stallion shifter aside, the plot was great and could probably stand alone within the series. I would suggest reading the first book because it gives a little more insight to the shifting but it is really amazing to have such a strong second book. Different storyline, still lots of humor with another over-a-century-old prince who has been frozen in time only be awoken by a desperate plea his fated mate didn’t know she was sending to him. Mirdza didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in her mouth and life quite literally beat her up. Grigoriy also had sorrow of a different kind in his childhood which helps them bridge the culture and time gap. Neither is a perfect person and I was impressed with how the situations were handled that came up. Also a bit sad because you want people to be good and to do the right thing but many humans just don’t do that. Baker’s characters tend to be endearingly and/or aggravatingly imperfect. Mirdza and Grigoriy have an intense whirlwind of a (clean) romance but their irresistible attraction and their abilities to be strong, forgiving, and to admit when they are wrong win in the end. A bit of a cliffhanger at the end so I really hope the third one is released soon!!
April 3, 2023
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Mirdza Strelkova should have minded her own business on the long train ride, because she knew just how nasty violent men could be. Or perhaps that's precisely why she stepped in to help the frightened mother and terrified child.
But in her wildest dreams, she never imagined she'd be tossed out the window of a moving train, broken and bleeding. And she never could have predicted the dark horse who would come to her aid, or the comeback story that lay before them both.
MY TAKE
I loved the first book, and I loved this one... but with some disclaimers. It's dark and violent. It disturbed me. But I persevered because I trust Baker. And I wasn't disappointed. The ending sets up the next book.
4 1/2 stars
Mirdza Strelkova should have minded her own business on the long train ride, because she knew just how nasty violent men could be. Or perhaps that's precisely why she stepped in to help the frightened mother and terrified child.
But in her wildest dreams, she never imagined she'd be tossed out the window of a moving train, broken and bleeding. And she never could have predicted the dark horse who would come to her aid, or the comeback story that lay before them both.
MY TAKE
I loved the first book, and I loved this one... but with some disclaimers. It's dark and violent. It disturbed me. But I persevered because I trust Baker. And I wasn't disappointed. The ending sets up the next book.
4 1/2 stars
March 7, 2024
The Second Russian Aristocratic Horse
In this second book in the series about the horse shifters the scene goes from steeplechases to showjumping and again it shows that Ms Baker really knows her horses. As a horseperson myself I could see Charlemagne behave like he did and it is just so funny and lovable. I liked the way the characters developed and the growing understanding of themselves and between them. The relationships that exist between the Latvian women on one side and the Russian men on the other side give this series an extra connection and a deepening of the story line. The opposing evil is slowly emerging. And a side character that makes me wonder what else is going on. Loved it.
In this second book in the series about the horse shifters the scene goes from steeplechases to showjumping and again it shows that Ms Baker really knows her horses. As a horseperson myself I could see Charlemagne behave like he did and it is just so funny and lovable. I liked the way the characters developed and the growing understanding of themselves and between them. The relationships that exist between the Latvian women on one side and the Russian men on the other side give this series an extra connection and a deepening of the story line. The opposing evil is slowly emerging. And a side character that makes me wonder what else is going on. Loved it.
August 21, 2025
An action packed horse shifter story.
I liked the characters of Mirdza and Grigoriy. Mirdza was thoughtful of others and faithful to her best friend, mother, and sister, but distrusted men because of abuse, disrespect, and betrayal she had received from some men in the past. Grigoriy tried his best to protect Mirdza in the best way he knew how, considering the world had changed quite a bit from what he was used to. There is lots of action and lots of growth of the main characters, but be aware there are some pretty strong descriptions of the aforementioned abuse. Also, for being represented as a clean story, I felt some of the descriptions of desire between the main characters was rather crude and vulgar. Overall, this was a great action packed horse shifter story with a great plot.
I liked the characters of Mirdza and Grigoriy. Mirdza was thoughtful of others and faithful to her best friend, mother, and sister, but distrusted men because of abuse, disrespect, and betrayal she had received from some men in the past. Grigoriy tried his best to protect Mirdza in the best way he knew how, considering the world had changed quite a bit from what he was used to. There is lots of action and lots of growth of the main characters, but be aware there are some pretty strong descriptions of the aforementioned abuse. Also, for being represented as a clean story, I felt some of the descriptions of desire between the main characters was rather crude and vulgar. Overall, this was a great action packed horse shifter story with a great plot.
April 2, 2023
This book was amazing. I love the way Bridget Baker writes, I love her character development and the way she makes her fantasy books seem so realistic. Like any horse could secretly be a shifter, waiting for the right person to say “I wish you were a man” while touching them.
What I found really special about this book was the way Bridget wrote an alpha male who still bent to the will of the woman he loved. I’ve always loved the alpha male trope, but sometimes it’s a little toxic. But Grigoriy has all that demanding possessiveness we love in book boyfriends while still letting Mirdza make the calls and APOLOGIZING when he messes up. It was so so so good. It worked so well for him, and really healed Mirdza from the other toxic relationships she had in her life.
While this book is sweet and romantic, it also has realistic characters with realistic problems and struggles. This is something I love having in books. When it’s not there, the book feels flat, but My Dark Horse Prince is not flat at all. Mirdza and Grigoriy had individual challenges to work through that bled into their relationship. Mirdza has trouble with violent men. Grigoriy is still healing from childhood trauma, while also being thrown into a world a hundred years newer than his.
All in all, I really loved this book and I could hardly put it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I found really special about this book was the way Bridget wrote an alpha male who still bent to the will of the woman he loved. I’ve always loved the alpha male trope, but sometimes it’s a little toxic. But Grigoriy has all that demanding possessiveness we love in book boyfriends while still letting Mirdza make the calls and APOLOGIZING when he messes up. It was so so so good. It worked so well for him, and really healed Mirdza from the other toxic relationships she had in her life.
While this book is sweet and romantic, it also has realistic characters with realistic problems and struggles. This is something I love having in books. When it’s not there, the book feels flat, but My Dark Horse Prince is not flat at all. Mirdza and Grigoriy had individual challenges to work through that bled into their relationship. Mirdza has trouble with violent men. Grigoriy is still healing from childhood trauma, while also being thrown into a world a hundred years newer than his.
All in all, I really loved this book and I could hardly put it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 18, 2023
My Dark Horse Prince kept me reading late into the night. I would've finished the book in one day but I had to sleep and go to work. Inconvenient, I know. The mystery is unfolding and we get bits and pieces of what is happening but we still have to figure out this mystery. Did we get to meet the Russian Witch herself in this book? I'm not sure. Did we meet more horse shifters? Yes! And now we have another new book boyfriend who will make you swoon. We also get more of Kris and Aleks and I am here for it! So don't walk, run and get this second book of The Russian Witch's Curse Series started. You won't be disappointed.
January 11, 2025
I actually really enjoy this series, so far! Yes, things are a little predictable/cliché, but they make for nice little "breather" books. If you're looking for a series to get hardcore invested in, these are probably not your go to. But- if you're looking for a nice weekend read, or even a long car ride, these books are great. As someone who enjoys horses herself, the author seems to know a thing or two about them. Magic horses aside, you can usually tell when an author has no idea about anything horse related. However, I feel like Bridget knows what she's talking about. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
February 19, 2025
This series, while it has stand alone romances, should be read in order. It’s a very bingeable series. I can’t put down this series I end each book wishing it was longer and immediately grabbing the next book. This is a clean horse shifter romantasy book. It’s a just kisses romance but there is some heat and edginess with it. As it is a horse shifter read, there needs to be shifting. And animals don’t wear clothes. So, that’s is mentioned occasionally in reference to particular male anatomy. I enjoyed spending a bunch of time in Russia in this one. This one has more of the danger and suspense that didn’t exist much in book 1. I’m enjoying the overarching mystery and how we get more dots and clues as each book progresses.
April 24, 2026
Well, this horse guy is much less obnoxious than the previous book and he does well listening to her, but the whole book is about her leg and her past and her stepdad, not really about the relationship between the two main characters. She limps along basically whining about how poor and broken she is through the whole book. Then even her shitty sister gets more personality than Grigory.
Throughout the whole book I was thinking "for the love of god, just get on with it, AND don't make Adriana the next horse bride" but then the book ended after yet another plot point about her leg and Adriana is up next. Like, I don't want to read about her, she's a self centered bitch.
Throughout the whole book I was thinking "for the love of god, just get on with it, AND don't make Adriana the next horse bride" but then the book ended after yet another plot point about her leg and Adriana is up next. Like, I don't want to read about her, she's a self centered bitch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
This was fantastic. Book two in this incredible series and it was every bit as good as the first. You find yourself pulled in from the get go as we see Mirdza and Grigoriy‘s story unfold. Their chemistry is off the charts and has tons of tension but this is a clean romance where our characters have their flaws and their own trauma to over come to get the ending they both deserve. Entertaining, enthralling, this made me laugh, this made me a little sad and this captivated me from start to finish. I am very excited for the next book.
November 9, 2025
3.5 again. While I can't necessarily claim that I liked this one better than I liked the last one, I will at least admit that - at the moment - I really like what it seems to be building up to. I also very much appreciate that while Insta Love is kinda a thing, it is more along the lines of "Ok, you're super hot and all, but I don't buy this whole 'soul bond' thing and also I don't trust instalove scenarios, so you are going to actually have to earn my trust the old fashioned way" and I can absolutely get behind that.
November 21, 2023
wow!
This book has some nudity, and some violence, but it has no steamy scenes or anything else to make me cringe. I love that the female main character grows and becomes stronger throughout the story and that all of the people in her circle support and help each other! There is more growth needed and there are more mysteries to solve, so I’m glad that there are more books in this series!
This book has some nudity, and some violence, but it has no steamy scenes or anything else to make me cringe. I love that the female main character grows and becomes stronger throughout the story and that all of the people in her circle support and help each other! There is more growth needed and there are more mysteries to solve, so I’m glad that there are more books in this series!
November 27, 2023
My Dark Horse Prince is a fun romantic adventure about a crippled girl whose close brush with death brings her in contact with an odd horse who ends up being a horse shifter/ magician/ prince. The story brings in characters from the previous book in the series and the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger for the next book. I find it difficult to like the female lead in this story. Her personality is a bit abrasive.
The narrator does a good job with the audiobook.
The narrator does a good job with the audiobook.
March 30, 2023
Can I have book three now? Oh my … not sure how I am supposed to wait to find out what happens next. This awesome book kept me wanting more at every turn. You are happy, sad, mad, relieved, upset and so much more page after page. I hope we hear more about Mireya and Charlemagne soon! I need to know what happens next
September 21, 2023
delightfully twisty
well!
what a treat to read these Russian folktale inspired series.
anyone semi- obsessed with horses would love to dive into these books.
Trigger warnings: abuse and domestic violence are a recurrant theme.
the characters are nuanced and complex with a strong redemption arc.
Looking forward to book 3!
well!
what a treat to read these Russian folktale inspired series.
anyone semi- obsessed with horses would love to dive into these books.
Trigger warnings: abuse and domestic violence are a recurrant theme.
the characters are nuanced and complex with a strong redemption arc.
Looking forward to book 3!
September 27, 2023
Touch her and die, literally. Forced proximity. Mystery. We see more magic and learn a little more about the guys' pasts. This one was a little more violent than the first in the series but it's still amazing! Ends a cliffhanger but bk 3 is coming soon so not long to wait!
Tw. Domestic abuse, not between the love interests.
Romantic Content: 3 - heavier kissing
Tw. Domestic abuse, not between the love interests.
Romantic Content: 3 - heavier kissing
October 23, 2023
intrigued
This wasn’t a fantasy book I would expect to read, but its opening struck a cord. It was a fast, light read which actually made me wish i had read the first in the series, and will probably find the third. Quite an interesting plot, quirky characters, and Latvia/Russia as home base. The pin dropped with Baba Yaga.
This wasn’t a fantasy book I would expect to read, but its opening struck a cord. It was a fast, light read which actually made me wish i had read the first in the series, and will probably find the third. Quite an interesting plot, quirky characters, and Latvia/Russia as home base. The pin dropped with Baba Yaga.
March 17, 2024
Great read
I enjoyed the first book but waited to read this one. Shame on me, because I loved this one even more. I have a permanent leg injury like the main character, so I really related to her. I love the love interest too. I love how dedicated he was, a perfect blend between protective and supportive.
I enjoyed the first book but waited to read this one. Shame on me, because I loved this one even more. I have a permanent leg injury like the main character, so I really related to her. I love the love interest too. I love how dedicated he was, a perfect blend between protective and supportive.
April 16, 2024
Solid follow up to the first book, but I would like a little more variety. MC goes through the exact same mental discussion of "he must only like me for his powers" and weirdly a repeat of the oddly specific plot point of "wealthy ex boyfriend shows up again and makes a large financial move to help MC in exchange for dates." Really hope these 2 elements are left behind in the next one.
April 13, 2024
I really liked this tale. I liked these characters and the plot. This is the second book in this series, and just as good as the first. Looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.
June 10, 2024
Publisher: Findaway Voices per Library APP Hoopla Digital Audiobooks Book Website: https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobo...
I love horses and own a horse for 20 years, this is why I selected this story and it was a dream I could picture in my mind and wanted more at the end. This was romantic, had wonderful characters, was unpredictable, and entertaining.
I love horses and own a horse for 20 years, this is why I selected this story and it was a dream I could picture in my mind and wanted more at the end. This was romantic, had wonderful characters, was unpredictable, and entertaining.
October 3, 2025
Still enjoying this series, but I definitely didn’t connect with this female main character as much as I did the first one, but that could just be that, while our pasts are not dissimilar, I took a very different attitude from it than Mirdza did.
April 1, 2023
I enjoyed this story better than the first in this series. It does leave on a cliffhanger, which I don’t really like, but it was an interesting premise and I do enjoy the author’s writing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews