The Dark Horse [Library Binding]

Marcus Sedgwick (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

SIG IS A boy in a coastal tribe, the Storn, long ago in a Northern land. On the day of the wolf hunt, the life of the tribe changes forever, for Sig rescues a small girl, more like the wolves who shelter her than a human. Sig’s family adopts her and names her Mouse, and he becomes a loyal brother to this girl with mysterious powers and a secret past. The shocking discovery of Mouse’s true identity brings to life a terrifying legend and leads to war, betrayal, and Sig’s coming of age as he finds the wit and courage to save his tribe.

“Like an ancient cave painting come to life, Sedgwick’s tale of dark enchantment depicts a primitive tribe in a north country.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

“Will . . . find a solid readership among historical fiction fans, thanks to the fast pace, hint of magic, and satisfyingly enigmatic
conclusion.”—Booklist

“Employing a lean narrative voice and writing in short chapters that encourage page turning, Sedgwick draws readers along . . . rich, involving, and vivifying.”—School Librabry Journal, Starred


From the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10-Like the first-rate historical fiction of Rosemary Sutcliff, The Dark Horse finds its focus not in the grand events of history, but rather in the lives of ordinary people. In this way, Sedgwick, like Sutcliff, creates rounded and complex characters who are weak and strong, venial and high-minded. Often harsh and unflinching, the story plunges readers into a pivotal moment in the life of a small, apparently Nordic tribe, isolated from other peoples except through its contact with itinerant traders. Rumor of a vicious, horse-riding people, the Dark Horse, troubles their lonely existence, and the appearance of a stranger with blond hair and black palms brings death into the closed society. Sedgwick weaves a double tale-a third-person narration set in the story's present, when the violence and disruption are first imminent and then present, and the first-person recounting of Sigurd, the book's protagonist. He begins several years earlier, telling how he came to have an adopted sister, Mouse, from an unknown people, with the ability to communicate with animals, and moving forward from there until both narrations coincide in time. Mouse's identity becomes central to the novel's events and perhaps even explains the Dark Horse's marauding. Employing a lean narrative voice and writing in short chapters that encourage page turning, Sedgwick draws readers along, allowing them to make sense of the unexplained connections, to puzzle out the characters' motivations, to decide who is hero and who villain. Making no concessions to moralizing or romanticizing, Sedgwick's tale is rich, involving, and vivifying.
Coop Renner, Blackshear Elementary School, Austin, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. In ancient Britain, the coastal Storn tribe must face the onslaught of the violent invaders known as the Dark Horse. The story is told in part through the perspective of 16-year-old Sigurd, who describes current and past events, and in part through a third-person narrative. Five years before the story begins, the Storn took in a foundling, a young girl they named Mouse for her shy ways. Later a mysterious stranger, bearing a box with magical powers, approaches the Storn. His coming, which brings death and confusion to the people, is the catalyst for the revelation of Mouse's real identity. His arrival is also ultimately responsible for Sigurd's becoming leader of the Storn, a role that requires the young man to rally his people against the violent attack of the marauding enemy. Although the splintered telling may confuse some readers, and the novel isn't as strong as Henrietta Branford's The Fated Sky (1999), the book will still find a solid readership among historical fiction fans, thanks to the fast pace, hint of magic, and satisfyingly enigmatic conclusion. Debbie Carton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (February 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385900910
• ISBN-13: 978-0385900911
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,969,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dark Horse, March 11, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dark Horse (Hardcover)

The Dark HorseThe Dark Horse is a fictional story of ancient magic and betrayal which takes place in ancient Britain. The book begins with 16-year old Sigurd who is a male native of a Northern Coastal tribe called the Storn. The Storn Tribe have been basically isolated all of their lives, except for a few traders from afar. The story revolves around Sig and Mouse being the main characters of The Dark Horse. While on a Wolf Hunt, Sig bravely rescues a small timid girl who they named Mouse. He adopts and raises her as part of his family until an ancient horse-riding people bring death and war to their quiet village.

Sedgwick carefully develops the sibling relationship between Sig and Mouse. Years later, an unexpected stranger with white hair and black palms, Ragnald, arrives on the beach. He ends up spying on the Storn Tribe and causes havoc. Mouse's identity and past is then questioned. The timid little girl once found, turns out to be more mysterious and amazing than ever. Her unusual and amazing powers are all part of her secret past. Sig's shocking discovery of Mouse's past brings heartache and terror to the Storn Tribe and himself A gruesome war is inevitable and the existence of Sig's family and tribe is in jeopardy.

The writing of Marcus Sedgwick was very detailed and descriptive. His main characters were both weak and strong, good and evil. The author writes with simplicity and clearly paints a detailed picture in the readers' mind. Throughout the book, Sedgwick constantly reverts back and forth from the present to the past in a third person narration. I found this feature somewhat confusing. One chapter is told from the main character Sig looking back in time, but the next chapter tells the story as actual events unfold. Then they both come together in time farther into the story.

Marcus Sedgwick is not a shy author. His writing is sometimes blunt and a little bit too real at times. For example, when Sig's brave friend, Longshank, was killed by the evil enemy. As he fought in battle..."he buried his sword deep into the horseman's ribs." I did notice however that the chapters in the book were shorter than most of the books I've read. But the plot moved quickly and kept my interest to read on. I sometimes found myself lost or confused but as I read on the puzzle pieces started to fit.

I found the book "The Dark Horse" very exciting and adventurous. It was a book that would keep you up all night reading it. I would recommend the book to people who like action, adventure and mysteries. In conclusion, I think the author, Marcus Sedgwick should write a second book of The Dark Horse. The second book should continue to be about Sig and his live after the surprise ending of the book. A sequel to The Dark Horse would sell fast!

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of betrayal, June 13, 2009

By 

Mercedes (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dark Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a story of boy turned leader of his tribe whose family adopted an orphan girl with the ability to speak with animals. After years of living with the adoptive family a band of murderous horseman comes to their village and the killing begins. Shortly after the attack and many of fled the girl says she can lead them to safety but betrays them. When given the choice of death or slavery the remaining villagers choose death.

The book is very easy to read and keeps the reader hooked. It's a fast read as the chapters are very short. The betrayal of a loved one is moving. The writer is very good in making the reader feel betrayed as well, as if it were your own sister. The ending is not what I expected nor was this book.

Not a bad read, but one that I really wasn't that impressed.

4.0 out of 5 stars History's Mysteries, March 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dark Horse (Mass Market Paperback)

All books have their own flavor. However, The Dark Horse is one in a million. The Dark Horse is written by Marcus Sedgwick. The whole book is written in a series of short chapters, each switching time frames from the present to flashbacks. This book is filled with sudden and mysterious jinks, terrifying events that will leave you trembling and action that will leave your heart pounding. The Dark Horse will reach historical fiction fans in a way that can only be done by a good book. Other books by Marcus Sedgwick include Christmas Wish, Floodland, and Witch Hall.
As Sigurd and Mouse, Sigurd's foster sister, gather food for their seaside Native American village, Storn, they discover a box that washed up on shore and appears to be empty. All of the while, Sigurd has flashbacks of how Mouse came to Storn. At first, she was more like a wolf but learned to be a human. Although, she still has her special ability to talk and connect with animals. Meanwhile, a strange man named Ragnald appears to seize the box. He later kills Horn, the chief, and Sigurd's father out of cold blood. Of course, Sigurd wanted revenge and got it six seconds afterward. Through a complicated chain of tradition and law, Sigurd becomes the chief of Storn as the threat of an attack from The Dark Horse arises. Omens appear, and the legendary Dark Horse attack. Many of Storn are killed, and the survivors scatter. During a sickening twist of events, Sigurd discovers a heart-wrenching secret about Mouse and her sudden betrayal.
The Dark Horse is so compelling because it is shrouded in mystery. It is filled with enigmas. In fact, it even begins with a mystery when Sigurd and Mouse find the supposedly empty box. Also, as the story went on, many references to The Dark Horse are made. The Dark Horse is a frightening mystery just to know who or what they are. Mouse, however, is another mystery. She was found in a cave full of wolves, yet does not remember how she got there. A veil of mystery clouds around her. All of the questions left unanswered until the last moment makes The Dark Horse a real page turner.
Mouse, even with her silent nature, can do things that many can barely imagine. She can talk to animals and see what they see. As I was reading, I occasionally found that I had a burning jealousy over what Mouse could do. Although, the description and the detail made me feel as if I had her powers too. For instance, when Mouse first joined Storn, she was found sleeping with the dogs. The villagers laughed at her and questioned her actions. She replied that the dogs were sad ever since the oldest dog had died. Then she asked "Don't they talk to you?" She had also used a hawk to find fish when the fishing was very poor. Finally, when Sigurd ran away, Mouse used a bird in an attempt to locate him.
This book receives a four-star out of five rating from me. It has a few too many mysteries and cliff-hangers. Even so, reading The Dark Horse was like being a part of history. This book takes love, hate, secrets, betrayal, and ancient magic and wraps it up in one neat little package. Anyone who loves suspense should read The Dark Horse to complete their life.