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dharmlost's review
5.0
Where to begin on reviewing this book? Weird West has always had a special place in my heart, and this book hammered its way in and made itself comfortable in there. It starts off as almost a "day in the life of a marshal in this small Texas town" but quickly spirals out of that and goes off any sort of rails and I was there for every moment of it.
I loved the eldritch and fantastical threads that were presented in this book, and I am left with wanting to know more. Needing to know more. Desiring to read more, so needless to say Rance better get to writing and soon so I can consume more of Elias Faust's story. The characters, one and all, feel alive in their own way. The dialog is very well crafted and the story and world just drew me right in.
I loved the eldritch and fantastical threads that were presented in this book, and I am left with wanting to know more. Needing to know more. Desiring to read more, so needless to say Rance better get to writing and soon so I can consume more of Elias Faust's story. The characters, one and all, feel alive in their own way. The dialog is very well crafted and the story and world just drew me right in.
abigail_ted's review
5.0
This was so outside of the normal genre I would go for, but, boy, am I glad I read this. Usually I’m not one for action-packed books, magic or fantasy, but somehow this book made me love all three. The author has a way with words, the prose were polished, entertaining and a delight to consume. I won’t bother trying to explain the plot as it is absolutely BONKERS (in a good way) and actually I think plays second fiddle to the brilliant and funny writing style.
The characters begin as quintessential, crude, lewd stereotypes but quickly develop into something much deeper than that - everyone is mad, some for the good, some for the bad, and most commonly a mix of the two!
The world is so immersive but without labouring over long descriptive pieces - if you want a book that pulls you into the story quickly, this one is for you!
After reading a very slow paced classic this was exactly the mental sorbet I needed to refresh my reading brain.
The characters begin as quintessential, crude, lewd stereotypes but quickly develop into something much deeper than that - everyone is mad, some for the good, some for the bad, and most commonly a mix of the two!
The world is so immersive but without labouring over long descriptive pieces - if you want a book that pulls you into the story quickly, this one is for you!
After reading a very slow paced classic this was exactly the mental sorbet I needed to refresh my reading brain.
shcleveland's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
5.0
I really enjoyed His Ragged Company. I've been reading so much fantasy romance that it really provided a nice change of pace for me, personally. It was also just a wild, wild ride in the wild, wild west. I really loved the overall voice of protagonist. The main character of course is the town Marshall, Elias Faust who is the narrator of the story. He's cynical, stubborn, and has his own sense of justice, which he metes out as he sees fit in the backwards little town of Blackpeak. The interesting thing about Faust is that he is not exactly what you would imagine for a traditional "hero." He's rough, foul-mouthed, and spends a very large chunk of the book getting his butt kicked.
In some ways the vibe of the book reminded me a bit of The Gunslinger. Only in vibe though. Denton's writing is very different. It's course, almost choppy at times in a good way, in a way that fits the narration of Elias Faust as a character. And yet, at times it is almost poetic. I will say, if you can't stand swearing or honest assessments of the human condition, this is probably not going to be the book for you.
There are a few places where the prose is what I would call intentionally confusing. I could see this being a turn-off for some readers but I would strongly encourage pushing through those sections. It's a clear stylistic choice that reflects the narrator's state of mind and being in those moments. It wasn't my favorite thing but I understand the choice.
There are some things that I would consider loose threads. There are sort of these interludes where Faust is being questioned by someone--something--hence the subtitle "A Testimony of Elias Faust." I don't feel like these interludes were really explained, exactly. I'm hoping for a sequel that will clear up some of the hanging mysteries and expand on the worldbuilding that was begun in this volume. I really want to know more about the Well and the Heralds and these fantastical elements that the book introduces. Denton has given us a taste of the whiskey; I want the rest of the bottle.
In some ways the vibe of the book reminded me a bit of The Gunslinger. Only in vibe though. Denton's writing is very different. It's course, almost choppy at times in a good way, in a way that fits the narration of Elias Faust as a character. And yet, at times it is almost poetic. I will say, if you can't stand swearing or honest assessments of the human condition, this is probably not going to be the book for you.
There are a few places where the prose is what I would call intentionally confusing. I could see this being a turn-off for some readers but I would strongly encourage pushing through those sections. It's a clear stylistic choice that reflects the narrator's state of mind and being in those moments. It wasn't my favorite thing but I understand the choice.
There are some things that I would consider loose threads. There are sort of these interludes where Faust is being questioned by someone--something--hence the subtitle "A Testimony of Elias Faust." I don't feel like these interludes were really explained, exactly. I'm hoping for a sequel that will clear up some of the hanging mysteries and expand on the worldbuilding that was begun in this volume. I really want to know more about the Well and the Heralds and these fantastical elements that the book introduces. Denton has given us a taste of the whiskey; I want the rest of the bottle.
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