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mcbrantley's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
A very unique book with an engaging main character that you don't often see represented in this genre. Loved the diversity of sexuality, gender, and race. The language feels correct for the time and the vast majority of the book is well done. I absolutely loved the fusion of western and fantasy and will definitely pick up the next book in the series. It's description of life on the ranch and on the trail was lovingly crafted, and I really was a fan of pretty much every character, though some clearly have some depth waiting to be flushed out in future entries.
Why 3.5 instead of 4?
The entire werewolf scene didn't feel in line with the rest of the book, however, and I thought it was a bit hackneyed compared to the rest of Nettie's gender journey. Some scenes jump too far between one another or just don't land correctly, and the actual ending battle is entirely too short and felt rushed compared to the description of other events in the book.
A very unique book with an engaging main character that you don't often see represented in this genre. Loved the diversity of sexuality, gender, and race. The language feels correct for the time and the vast majority of the book is well done. I absolutely loved the fusion of western and fantasy and will definitely pick up the next book in the series. It's description of life on the ranch and on the trail was lovingly crafted, and I really was a fan of pretty much every character, though some clearly have some depth waiting to be flushed out in future entries.
Why 3.5 instead of 4?
The entire werewolf scene didn't feel in line with the rest of the book, however, and I thought it was a bit hackneyed compared to the rest of Nettie's gender journey. Some scenes jump too far between one another or just don't land correctly, and the actual ending battle is entirely too short and felt rushed compared to the description of other events in the book.
jesslynh's review
5.0
Holy crap! Where did this come from? I didn't know that this was a series when I started. After reading, I hope its a 10 book series. Nice work. This is going on the reread list and I'm going to check if Ms Bowen has written anything else.
I highly recommend the audiobook as well. The narration was stellar and spot on to the spirit of the book.
I highly recommend the audiobook as well. The narration was stellar and spot on to the spirit of the book.
gizmoto16's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Really great protagonist and a neat supernatural old West story
gothmomlite's review against another edition
5.0
Wake of Vultures is: a coming of age story, weird west, fantasy, horror-western, a superhero origin story, a hero's quest--but to simplify, I'll just say it's a freaking AMAZING world in which to lose oneself. OK, there's more spitting here than there needs to be (all that dust and chewin' tobbaccy, probs). And it's violent and gruesome, from the jump to the bittersweet cliffhanger at the end (it's the first book in a series!). But our protagonist, Nettie (or Nat, or Rhett) makes spitting natural, somehow, and is about as diverse a main character as you could ask for. This book's a wild ride and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!
thewallflower00's review against another edition
5.0
I learned about this book from Robots vs. Fairies. The one written by Lila Bowen (a.k.a. Delilah S. Dawson) especially flipped my cookie. And like I suspected, it was based on an already existing character.
I liked it, but how much are you going to like it? I have no idea. All I can do is report on the content, how it made me feel, and anything interesting about it. For me, the selling point was the western-fantasy genre. You don’t see that much. Certainly a breath of fresh air from all those women holding a knife while walking away in tight jeans and a tramp stamp. The main character has a strong voice. She’s not too wimpy, but she’s not perfect either.
This book is fantastically written. The prose is beautiful, the sentences strong. It’s a captivating plot, fascinating characters. It’s a “weird western”/fantasy genre, where the main character can now “see” monsters and is on a hunt to kill them (a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer). And there’s a significant part of the text dedicated to her finding her sexual identity. So I understand why it had trouble finding its audience. There are a lot of potentially triggering subjects here.
But I plan to read the sequel, I liked it that much.
I liked it, but how much are you going to like it? I have no idea. All I can do is report on the content, how it made me feel, and anything interesting about it. For me, the selling point was the western-fantasy genre. You don’t see that much. Certainly a breath of fresh air from all those women holding a knife while walking away in tight jeans and a tramp stamp. The main character has a strong voice. She’s not too wimpy, but she’s not perfect either.
This book is fantastically written. The prose is beautiful, the sentences strong. It’s a captivating plot, fascinating characters. It’s a “weird western”/fantasy genre, where the main character can now “see” monsters and is on a hunt to kill them (a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer). And there’s a significant part of the text dedicated to her finding her sexual identity. So I understand why it had trouble finding its audience. There are a lot of potentially triggering subjects here.
But I plan to read the sequel, I liked it that much.
bunrab's review against another edition
4.0
Most unusual Western I've read in a while. Trans hero - done as realistically as one could hope for to justify how that would work in the 19th century - realistic with respect to the fantasy alternate Texas ranch country it's set in. Called Durango here, and there are Durango Rangers.
Slightly gruesome towards the end - well, gruesome moments throughout, as there is an evil child-mutilating thing to be dealt with. (That pops up early enough that mentioning it doesn't constitute a spoiler.)
I think from the title alone I was almost expecting something Game-of-Thronesish, which it's not, not even faintly.
Slightly gruesome towards the end - well, gruesome moments throughout, as there is an evil child-mutilating thing to be dealt with. (That pops up early enough that mentioning it doesn't constitute a spoiler.)
I think from the title alone I was almost expecting something Game-of-Thronesish, which it's not, not even faintly.
mcf's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so good that I don't really know what to do with myself -- anything I could say about it would fall short of effectively describing it. Suffice to say that, alongside the terrifying, unpredictable, wonderful world Bowen creates, Wake of Vulture is a story of a young woman (girl) of color wrestling with her identity, something she does in messy, imprecise ways, and without finding easy answers. It feels so important to watch someone working to define her race and her gender and to, slowly, find comfort with herself (and discomfort, and confusion) that I want to buy copies of this book to hand out to everyone I know. Oh, and also? The story is compelling as fuck. And that ENDING! Good lord. The next volume needs to come out yesterday.
bookbabekam's review against another edition
Fun mash up western/fantasy/mythology. Great heroine!
tanac's review against another edition
4.0
Weird western; the voice of the main character is a blustery bravado straight out of a tv western; what saves it from being a parody is the person beneath. Half black, half Indian, torn from a family she cannot remember and raised as little more than a slave, Nettie/Nat is their own true self, or at least will be as soon as they figure out what that is. Til then they'll do what it takes to survive, even after getting tangled up with a magical/mythical world that won't leave them alone. Very tall-tale voice; it reminds me of Big Fish in that way. I'm looking forward to the next book.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
At first I wondered whether this was fantasy or not, but nope, it is a western with lots of paranormal in it.
Nettie is half black, half Indian. She lives with mom and pap, but let's be honest, she is their slave. She longs to be somewhere else. Like tame broncos on the nearby farm. To be a man and not confined by society's view on women.
And as this a paranormal western then something will happen and her worldview will be changed. There are many things out in the desert, in towns, everywhere. Good and bad, and dangright evil.
I enjoyed the setting, it was different, even so different that is did not really feel like a western. More as a fantasy with a western setting. All those beings...
I guess it's YA, or not. Honestly even if YA, it could go either way. It never feels like it is one thing, and she is no normal teen either. She has been worked hard all her life. She just wants to live.
An interesting story.
Nettie is half black, half Indian. She lives with mom and pap, but let's be honest, she is their slave. She longs to be somewhere else. Like tame broncos on the nearby farm. To be a man and not confined by society's view on women.
And as this a paranormal western then something will happen and her worldview will be changed. There are many things out in the desert, in towns, everywhere. Good and bad, and dangright evil.
I enjoyed the setting, it was different, even so different that is did not really feel like a western. More as a fantasy with a western setting. All those beings...
I guess it's YA, or not. Honestly even if YA, it could go either way. It never feels like it is one thing, and she is no normal teen either. She has been worked hard all her life. She just wants to live.
An interesting story.