The Dark Horse - Marcus Sedgwick

The Dark Horse was not the book I was expecting, though I'm not entirely sure what that would have been. A short novel, typical of Sedgwick, The Dark Horse maintains an unsettling and tense atmosphere throughout.

The Dark Horse follows the Storn, a coastal northern tribe, in their struggle to weather the harsh conditions and prepare themselves for the arrival of the titular Dark Horse, a terrifying, relentless warrior tribe. The story revolves around a single family, with the young boy Sig and his adopted sister Mouse, found in a wolves lair while the Storn were on a hunt. Sig loves his family, would do anything for them, but there is far more to Mouse than it seems.

I was completely absorbed by the relationship between Sig and Mouse. Love, trust, respect, fear...Sig battles an array of emotions when dealing with his sister and the events that transpire following the arrival of the Dark Horse. Drama, tension and excitement I was prepared for. What I was not expecting was the dark and entirely creepy nature of the book. I was honestly not expecting anyone to survive the events it contained, and was continually surprised by its twists and turns. Knowing who to trust is not immediately obvious, as events unfold slowly and danger lurks in unexpected places. As always, I was utterly gripped by Sedgwick's storytelling. Highly recommended!