Absolutely loved this! I read this practically straight through and didn’t want it to end. Red goes on quite a journey of self discovery and the authoAbsolutely loved this! I read this practically straight through and didn’t want it to end. Red goes on quite a journey of self discovery and the author throws the reader right into the environs of Dodge, complete with whore house saloon, gun toting bandits and a great crew of characters. Something about this really captured my imagination. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
I loved the world building in this book. It captured exactly the vibe and energy of a frontier town and there was a wild range of characters. However,I loved the world building in this book. It captured exactly the vibe and energy of a frontier town and there was a wild range of characters. However, I found the story confusing, rambling- rally hard to see what was going on. It was an imaginative and original story but the delivery failed. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
This was an interesting world, powered by demons who can only be communicated with by rare skilled human linguists. Im a real sucker for a weird westeThis was an interesting world, powered by demons who can only be communicated with by rare skilled human linguists. Im a real sucker for a weird western and this has undertones of Gunnie Rose....more
A story about two brave women in post WWI Ohio. On her husband’s death, Lily is invited to become the first female sheriff in Ohio. Set amidst a backdA story about two brave women in post WWI Ohio. On her husband’s death, Lily is invited to become the first female sheriff in Ohio. Set amidst a backdrop of a mining community and its fight for unionisation, the poverty and company scrips forcing miners to spend their wages at inflated prices, illegal moonshining and a very underhand management. A very satisfying conclusion as well as start to a new series....more
I didn’t find the story or the setting developed enough which was a shame because it could have been much more. Where it really worked was as a comingI didn’t find the story or the setting developed enough which was a shame because it could have been much more. Where it really worked was as a coming of age search for identity, gender identity, self acceptance and belonging....more
A wonderful story of the hardships and trials of crossing to California to settle. It is a story about finding home, wherever and whatever that may beA wonderful story of the hardships and trials of crossing to California to settle. It is a story about finding home, wherever and whatever that may be; a story of loss and making peace with what cannot be changed; a story of survival and above all, love. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
There are so many themes in this book: identity, belonging, loss, home, loneliness. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the gold rush, the bThere are so many themes in this book: identity, belonging, loss, home, loneliness. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the gold rush, the building of the railways and the use of Chinese immigrants to complete this work. What does it mean to be displaced in a new and cruel land? How do you ever belong? Who can you trust? I am lucky enough to have lived a very settled life, but what happens if you have no roots? If you have no home and are not welcome wherever you go? To leave your history behind, knowing it counts for less than nothing? This book was quite unsettling to me because it raises so many questions, without necessarily providing answers. A very powerful and thought-provoking read. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book....more
The end of every trail was the start of another; you never knew where you were going, but you had to go all the same.
Fascinating. I did not know most The end of every trail was the start of another; you never knew where you were going, but you had to go all the same.
Fascinating. I did not know most of the history presented in this book. I had no idea California and Texas had not originally been American, just that there had been a war with Mexico. My first Bristow was Calico Palace and this book, in terms of chronological order would come directly before it. I’ve read about Sutters Fort and the goldrush but without the context of San Francisco being so newly formed....more