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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
I gotta admit, I LOVE the world Harris has created here, and I want to see more tales from this alt-history version of the world we know. The book is a quick read that's never lacking on danger but, aside from the worldbuilding, it didn't really hook me.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I haven’t read a Charlaine Harris novel in a little over ten years, and what stood out to me the most is that her female protagonists are still sensible and resilient. What also remains the same is her simple storytelling that just pulls the reader along easily with no fuss.
Here, Lisbeth Rose is a very good gunslinger, and she knows it. So when she takes a job escorting and guarding two wizards across the southern US and into Mexico, she does it not only for the money but to also ensure some secrets remain hidden. As Lisbeth and her two companions travel across the brutal landscape, one knows that their journey will be anything but easy.
This series is an untamed alternate history Western, where the US has been devastated by disease, loss, and an unraveling of the government and its territories. Toss in the Holy Russian Empire who now rules from California, along with plenty of magic and shootouts, this is a world where everyone’s just trying to survive any which way they can.
Overall, Lisbeth is an unconventional heroine, competent and deadly when needed, older than her young 19 years, firmly grounded in practicality, and not prone to nonsense from herself and certainly, not from others.
I enjoyed exploring Harris’s latest creation and plan to come back to see what’s in store for this shrewd heroine soon!
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
AN EASY DEATH by Charlaine Harris is the first book in the Gunnie Rose series. This was an exciting start to a new series that spans genres. It is a western, an urban fantasy, an alternate history, a thriller and it contains magic.
Franklin Roosevelt was elected President, but assassinated prior to taking office. The vice-president dies of influenza, the banks crashed followed by a large drought and massive influenza. With the population decreased, the government was not able to protect itself and other countries grabbed pieces of America. Additionally, this is a world where magic exists and is mistrusted by many.
With this alternative history, we meet our protaganist Lizbeth Rose who lives in the southwestern county now known as Texoma. She is a young gunslinging mercenary who protects and moves people and/or cargo. Within this world, the story progresses rapidly with Lizbeth's skills constantly tested.
Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down with this unique start to a new series. The worldbuilding is fantastic and the characters are compelling. Lizbeth's motivations are believable and well-drawn and the secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The plot twists were believable but mainly unexpected. The story moved at an appropriate pace. The scenes were well described and gave me a clear sense of place.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you like blended genre books, then this may be a book that you would enjoy.
Franklin Roosevelt was elected President, but assassinated prior to taking office. The vice-president dies of influenza, the banks crashed followed by a large drought and massive influenza. With the population decreased, the government was not able to protect itself and other countries grabbed pieces of America. Additionally, this is a world where magic exists and is mistrusted by many.
With this alternative history, we meet our protaganist Lizbeth Rose who lives in the southwestern county now known as Texoma. She is a young gunslinging mercenary who protects and moves people and/or cargo. Within this world, the story progresses rapidly with Lizbeth's skills constantly tested.
Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down with this unique start to a new series. The worldbuilding is fantastic and the characters are compelling. Lizbeth's motivations are believable and well-drawn and the secondary characters were well-rounded and enhanced the story. The plot twists were believable but mainly unexpected. The story moved at an appropriate pace. The scenes were well described and gave me a clear sense of place.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you like blended genre books, then this may be a book that you would enjoy.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes