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laurarhds's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
jason_pym's review against another edition
3.0
The characters all felt distant, and that pushed me away from the story. Despite that it's very enjoyable, amazing for a first novel, I'll definitely read more by her.
kathrinpassig's review against another edition
3.5
Es fing gut an und ich mochte den Stil, aber in der zweiten Hälfte wird es schwächer und der Schluss ist so ein Schluss von der Sorte "mir doch egal, ich hab jetzt keine Lust mehr und der Verlag drängelt".
24marsha's review against another edition
1.0
This was a recommendation that I wanted to enjoy but it was terrible - like had to put it down and didnt finish it terrible. oh well.
kerryquitecontrary's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
4.0
In 1903 a mysterious young woman flees alone across the West, one heart-pounding step ahead of the law. At nineteen, Mary Boulton has just become a widow—and her husband's killer. As bloodhounds track her frantic race toward the mountains, she is tormented by mad visions and by the knowledge that her two ruthless brothers-in-law are in pursuit, determined to avenge their younger brother's death. Responding to little more than the primitive fight for life, the widow retreats ever deeper into the wilderness—and into the wilds of her own mind—encountering an unforgettable cast of eccentrics along the way.
As I don't normally voluntarily seek out Westerns, I'm not the target audience for Charles Frazier or Cormac McCarthy but I'm glad I took the chance on this one.
I thought this book would be an adventure and it sure lived up to that assumption. But if you go into this one thinking that a knight in shining armor is going to save Mary, you'll be disappointed. Although many people helped out Mary along the way and certainly saved her hide, ultimately Mary saved herself. The antagonists in this story were certainly dangerous and they gave Mary a run for her money.
Adamson's writing is spare and character description and motivation is thorough. Although this novel runs dangerously close to literary fiction, there was enough plot and action to keep me interested.
As I don't normally voluntarily seek out Westerns, I'm not the target audience for Charles Frazier or Cormac McCarthy but I'm glad I took the chance on this one.
I thought this book would be an adventure and it sure lived up to that assumption. But if you go into this one thinking that a knight in shining armor is going to save Mary, you'll be disappointed. Although many people helped out Mary along the way and certainly saved her hide, ultimately Mary saved herself. The antagonists in this story were certainly dangerous and they gave Mary a run for her money.
Adamson's writing is spare and character description and motivation is thorough. Although this novel runs dangerously close to literary fiction, there was enough plot and action to keep me interested.
susanbrooks's review against another edition
4.0
Young Canadian widow on the run in the wilderness. Gripping voyage.
readswithtea29's review against another edition
3.0
This book wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. My biggest pet peeve is when authors do not use names for their characters and instead refer to them by titles like Adamson did. I was confused and put off by the titles, such as the widow, Ridgerunner, the dwarf. It seemed unnecessary. That said, the characters were well-written and I had a few favorites.
hoserlauren's review against another edition
4.0
We first meet Mary, the widow, while she's just left her house and is on the run. She has killed her husband for reasons so far unknown and has left her home to escape her brothers-in-law. She has nothing to her name and must learn to survive in the wilderness, as this is 1903.
As Mary makes her way through the Canadian wilderness, she meets a few people that knowingly or unknowingly help her out. But her brothers-in-law are on her tail. She winds up in a mining town of mostly men, working with a priest to help him build his church.
For a book with little dialogue, the momentum was maintained quite well. We learn about how Mary came to be in her situation (justified or not, I'm still not certain), but we mostly read about her survival. This part of the book is the most satisfying. Mary's past was far less satisfying as it seems like there should have been a bigger and better reason for her to risk her life.
This book is an impressing debut novel.
As Mary makes her way through the Canadian wilderness, she meets a few people that knowingly or unknowingly help her out. But her brothers-in-law are on her tail. She winds up in a mining town of mostly men, working with a priest to help him build his church.
For a book with little dialogue, the momentum was maintained quite well. We learn about how Mary came to be in her situation (justified or not, I'm still not certain), but we mostly read about her survival. This part of the book is the most satisfying. Mary's past was far less satisfying as it seems like there should have been a bigger and better reason for her to risk her life.
This book is an impressing debut novel.
smemily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0