Wild Horse

by Kyle Richardson

Grady has found a crack in the wall—a crack to the outside world. But all he knows about life outside the compound comes from books, magazines, and a photograph of a creature that no longer exists.Things change when he meets a girl with raspberry-yellow hair, and a secret that could lead them to a world beyond the walls. A world where their abilities could change everything ... or lead them both to ruin.

30 pages, ebook

Published July 30, 2019

About the author

Kyle lives in the suburban wilds of Canada with his adorable wife, their rambunctious son, and their adventurous daughter. He writes about shapeshifters, superheroes, and the occasional clockwork beast, moonlights as an editor at Meerkat Press, and has a terrible habit of saying the wrong thing at the most inopportune moments.

Reviews

[Jessica Belmont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novelette is beautiful. Every line is poetic, filled with this brilliant imagery. I felt such raw emotions reading Wild Horses, and I was left wanting more.

Kyle Richardson’s writing is just breathtaking. It is so inspiring to me that an author can create such depth in such a short amount of words. The characters were brought to life immediately. I understood them, they felt real and flawed. The world building was incredible. I felt like I knew right where the characters were, like I could see inside the novel.

The only downside to this novelette, in my opinion, is that I wanted more. Not because Kyle Richardson left anything out, but because I didn’t want to leave the world. I wanted to stay and continue with Grady to see what would happen.

I cannot wait to read more from this author. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Wild Horses, and I highly suggest you check it out as well!

* I recieved a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Meercat Press. All opinions are my own.*

Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a typical young adult dystopian read, but rather weaves words and worlds in a poetic way through short glimpses to build the blocks of an emotional story line.

Grady finds a crack in the wall, and when the guards aren't watching, dares to peek at the world outside. He's never seen it and only knows the compound with it's cots, locked rooms and control. When he meets a girl who has special abilities of her own, the become friends and manage to escape into the world beyond. Here, their abilities can change everything.

This is a very short story which encompasses so much more than most short stories could. It doesn't take the usual plot form, but rather uses short glimpses to lead from beginning to end. The author takes a very lyrical approach, allowing symbolism, feelings and moments to take control. While descriptions and world building remain at a bare minimum, the emotions of the characters come to life. It's a play of beauty in atmosphere and words.

It's easy to get lost in the poetry of this tale, but on the other side, more basic things are hard to grasp. The first pages opened like a dream but made it difficult to grasp the true situation of what the characters were up against. Even the plot threads along without solid lines or paths. It's beautiful and not what a fan of this genre might expect. Some will love it, but it isn't a read for everyone.

I received a complimentary copy and am leaving my honest thoughts.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little strange, but an interesting story.
In just a few pages, it’s stirring you up and makes you feel. The emotions you experience are the well-known ones, but they wear different splendid tattered closes.

Picturing the world under a crimson cape, the author takes from you any hope of good, of a future that deserves to be lived. He makes that in a very strong, but delicate, way. The result of the connection (or... better yet of the clash) between the internal and external conflicts gives the atmosphere of the story. Hidden under the beautiful words and symbols, the ugliness of the world is present from the beginning. This mix, well done, fulfills its purpose.

In a world of decay of life and humanity, there is still, in the very end, “a flicker. A spark. The tiniest hint of a flame.” of hope. The question is, will be better or worse?

Enjoy!

https://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/20...

[Crystal Zavala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Horse is a dystopian young adult novelette about a boy named Grady who lives in prison-like compound with other children who have "powers". Grady makes friends with another child named Cassie. Cassie and Grady escape from their compound and spend years living off the earth.

I really enjoyed this dystopian short story. In a short period of time I was invested in Grady and his emotions. I wanted to fight for him and protect him.

[Penthesilea1623 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want a novel of this story so badly. Even as a novella (?), short story, the characters just shine. Set in a dystopian (implied) future, the characters are so beautifully written, that I want more of them, more of their background, more about the time they spend together, more about their future.

Details, I want details, and yet it wouldn't be the same story if I got all the details I wanted.

I'll be looking for more of Mr. Richardson's writing.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in a terrifying world of guards and prison cells, Wild Horse is a coming of age story for fans of dystopian novels. Richardson sets up the world slowly, one frightening fact at a time, creating a tense and dark atmosphere. I really liked how the author doesn’t explain how the world came to be or if what the children believed was true. The uncertainty of the outside world created this feeling of dread that made every decision Grady and Cassie chose very stressful for the reader. Wild Horse had me completely captivated and invested in Grady’s survival.

[Laura Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was completely caught off guard by the strangeness of this book but I certainly enjoyed reading every single word of this dystopian read.

[Ina Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, characters are so interesting, felt I was there with them. I need more of these people in my life. Can’t wait to for your next creation Kyle.

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wild Horse," by Kyle Richardson, is billed as a novelette, but to me seems more a novella (shorter than the former), easily read in an hour or less. The story follows Grady, an inmate in a facility that drains blood from the incarcerated children on a regular basis, and Cassie, an anomaly in that setting - she still has hair when the others are all shaved-headed, she isn’t punctured for blood, she’s not like the rest. Grady has a secret: he can see through a crack in the institution’s walls to see the outside world, Spring in particular. When he shows Cassie this crack, she uses it to help them both escape, while the guards in the facility are busy killing each other. And now they’re in another world, on their own…. I don’t want to go farther with the story because that would deprive readers of their own discoveries; I will say (again) that this is a very short book, with a lot packed into it. A dystopian future, perhaps; a hope for (by no means explicit) compassion, I think. And the title of the story? Well, that’s for the reader to decide. Recommended!

[SOMDReigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story that is set in a dystopian future. Wild Horse does not go into depth of the characters or storyline but if it did, that would make it a totally different read. Details though, would make it in my opinion a better read. I didn’t quite get the story and by the end I was a bit confused. Though in all honesty, this is not my go to genre. I do think teens/young adults who like the scifi/fantasy books would enjoy this.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intrigued by this novelette. It is well-written and creative. I’d love to know more about the characters’ pasts and also their futures.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story, novelette.
I would love to read this as a full novel.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Copy Win

A short read about a boy who finds a crack in a wall. It leads him on a journey to a world he never existed only through books. He meets a girl who will help guide him on the journey. It has the potential to be more as it needs more words and a real story line.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyrically written

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway! I enjoyed the writing and the premise, and it flowed really well.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't enjoy this novelette. It felt too short for the world building. Plus, I found it creepy and bit disturbing. I think if the story had been fleshed out that would have made a difference and some of the brutality might have made more sense. Honestly, it felt more like the outline to a story than an actual book.