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abbyl819's review against another edition
3.0
3.5-4 stars
When I first started this book, I found it to be a little slow and not quite as immersive as I had wanted. As I read on and got further into the story, however, I became to enjoy it a lot more. The world building of this fantasy land is very well done, with all of the information given only when it is needed and never having any info-dumps. The world is well developed and yet not overwhelming. I have never read a fantasy story that takes place in a world such as this, it was very unique. The book has a very western cell to it and has ghosts as a central plot line, two things that I was not expecting going into it. Since these two things are not very common in YA fantasy, especially in conjunction, I would say this is a very unique story that I would recommend to fans of those plot elements. I did grow closer to the main characters, and I thought that Aster was a good choice for POV, although I wished we had gotten to know the other girls even better than we did. I was first a little let down when I started reading, but by the end of this book I was not disappointed at all. I would encourage readers to stick it out and wait until about 100 pages in before making a judgement, because that is where the story really starts to take off.
**I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via BookishFirst in exchange for a review**
When I first started this book, I found it to be a little slow and not quite as immersive as I had wanted. As I read on and got further into the story, however, I became to enjoy it a lot more. The world building of this fantasy land is very well done, with all of the information given only when it is needed and never having any info-dumps. The world is well developed and yet not overwhelming. I have never read a fantasy story that takes place in a world such as this, it was very unique. The book has a very western cell to it and has ghosts as a central plot line, two things that I was not expecting going into it. Since these two things are not very common in YA fantasy, especially in conjunction, I would say this is a very unique story that I would recommend to fans of those plot elements. I did grow closer to the main characters, and I thought that Aster was a good choice for POV, although I wished we had gotten to know the other girls even better than we did. I was first a little let down when I started reading, but by the end of this book I was not disappointed at all. I would encourage readers to stick it out and wait until about 100 pages in before making a judgement, because that is where the story really starts to take off.
**I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via BookishFirst in exchange for a review**
cararowen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
vtlism's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mandarae26's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
chantelspeaks's review against another edition
3.0
Charlotte Nicole Davis’ debut novel, The Good Luck Girls , is a thrilling take on the Wild West - all the gun slinging, bank robberies and gripping horse chases, set against the backdrop of a dystopian fantasy world.
At age sixteen, Clementine gets ready for her Lucky Night in a Welcome House in Green Creek; part of a larger area also known as The Scab. From this night forward, she’ll be a Sundown Girl; entertaining ‘brags’ (male customers) and bringing money into the Welcome House, and joining the rest of the Good Luck Girls in which the Welcome House gives home. On her Lucky Night, Clem kills her wealthy brag by accident and knowing the punishment that awaits, escapes with her sister Aster and several other Good Luck Girls, beginning an epic chase and pursuit across the country. In order to find freedom, the girls will have to survive a journey through The Scab, where they can trust no one but themselves.
The Good Luck Girls has a strong connection to American history, sometimes almost feeling like an alternate American universe. I thought a lot about the slave trade and various historical events in US history, and I believe this connection is quite deliberate. The book itself explores slavery and sex trafficking through a lens of the Old West; it was my first time reading a fantasy novel in that type of setting and I have to say, it grew on me by the end.
This book took a while to get moving for my tastes, though I do feel like I enjoyed the read in the end. The run and pursuit type plot line was harder to draw me in as I felt like the antagonists were so far away and detached that it was hard to see the sense of danger and urgency - especially early on. I would’ve liked overall more depth in the character development of all the characters. However, I did grow to like the main character, Aster, and her struggles with trust and trauma.
On the whole, I thought The Good Luck Girls was a decent read, not the read I was expecting, but enjoyable nonetheless. I liked the somewhat different take on dystopian fantasy with the setting, but would’ve liked a better execution.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews, head to my blog
At age sixteen, Clementine gets ready for her Lucky Night in a Welcome House in Green Creek; part of a larger area also known as The Scab. From this night forward, she’ll be a Sundown Girl; entertaining ‘brags’ (male customers) and bringing money into the Welcome House, and joining the rest of the Good Luck Girls in which the Welcome House gives home. On her Lucky Night, Clem kills her wealthy brag by accident and knowing the punishment that awaits, escapes with her sister Aster and several other Good Luck Girls, beginning an epic chase and pursuit across the country. In order to find freedom, the girls will have to survive a journey through The Scab, where they can trust no one but themselves.
The Good Luck Girls has a strong connection to American history, sometimes almost feeling like an alternate American universe. I thought a lot about the slave trade and various historical events in US history, and I believe this connection is quite deliberate. The book itself explores slavery and sex trafficking through a lens of the Old West; it was my first time reading a fantasy novel in that type of setting and I have to say, it grew on me by the end.
This book took a while to get moving for my tastes, though I do feel like I enjoyed the read in the end. The run and pursuit type plot line was harder to draw me in as I felt like the antagonists were so far away and detached that it was hard to see the sense of danger and urgency - especially early on. I would’ve liked overall more depth in the character development of all the characters. However, I did grow to like the main character, Aster, and her struggles with trust and trauma.
On the whole, I thought The Good Luck Girls was a decent read, not the read I was expecting, but enjoyable nonetheless. I liked the somewhat different take on dystopian fantasy with the setting, but would’ve liked a better execution.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To read more reviews, head to my blog
neishaduh_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
pietan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, I Loved this. The found family aspect, the commentary, the bad ass women, all of the things that they went through. This was very enjoyable and I can not wait to pick up the next book.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
The moment I discovered this book in my Book Box I was entirely surprised. This book hadn't been on my radar, no one had been talking about it and at first glance it didn't really seem like a book for me either. But, it's a really important and very well done book and I'm really glad that thanks to the buddy read I ended up reading it.
Without info dumps or lengthy explanations Davis manages to create a world that's so vivid and raw and in a way mirrors our world perfectly too. The prologue is so incredibly strong and sets the mood and atmosphere for the entire story and then we switch perspective and the actual story starts, about five girls going after the only thing they actually want: Freedom.
The five girls are all very different, but although there are moments they disagree and mistrust each other, it's never about bringing each other down. They combine their forces and talents and that's what eventually gets them through the country. We see each of the five girls grow and develop, carrying their own history and story and learning how to deal with everything that has happened to them. And we most of all see how Aster, the girl trying to keep everyone alive, finds her own purpose and who she truly wants to be.
The combination of the vivid and raw world and the lovely characters I've grown to love with a wonderful writing style that makes this book a fast read leads to a wonderful book about prejudice, about a government already stifling people at birth, about injustice and about five wonderful girls taking matters into their own hands and discovering they are much stronger then they always thought they could be.
Without info dumps or lengthy explanations Davis manages to create a world that's so vivid and raw and in a way mirrors our world perfectly too. The prologue is so incredibly strong and sets the mood and atmosphere for the entire story and then we switch perspective and the actual story starts, about five girls going after the only thing they actually want: Freedom.
The five girls are all very different, but although there are moments they disagree and mistrust each other, it's never about bringing each other down. They combine their forces and talents and that's what eventually gets them through the country. We see each of the five girls grow and develop, carrying their own history and story and learning how to deal with everything that has happened to them. And we most of all see how Aster, the girl trying to keep everyone alive, finds her own purpose and who she truly wants to be.
The combination of the vivid and raw world and the lovely characters I've grown to love with a wonderful writing style that makes this book a fast read leads to a wonderful book about prejudice, about a government already stifling people at birth, about injustice and about five wonderful girls taking matters into their own hands and discovering they are much stronger then they always thought they could be.