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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
First time to read this author and was in awe of the book and the writing. But also what the fudge did I just read!? Lol!
In 1915, Adelaide Henry flees California and makes her way to Montana as a homesteader, carrying with her the secret that killed her parents in the trunk. She is one of the lone women who takes the government’s offer of free land to those who can tame it. But she is not alone. As she settles, she finds she can’t keep her secret any longer and it might be the one she needs to survive the harsh and brutal landscape.
This book captivates me, the story, the characters, the atmospheric vibe, everything you want in the good, classic horror read and enjoyed every minute of it. It has the right pace of suspense that will keep you wanting to read and find out all about the secrets. I like the not-knowing how and when it will unravel and when it does the timing it just right. And the first scene will get you hook right away.
It has different genres all roll into one story - horror, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, women’s fiction and fantasy - and one done well. But don’t get turn off with its horror component as I find it without much gory scenes. I can imagine this will be a good movie with its vivid description the town, the cabin, the journey, it all sets the mood for what it to come.
If you plan to read this, suggest you go in blind and suspend your belief and you will enjoy this one!
In 1915, Adelaide Henry flees California and makes her way to Montana as a homesteader, carrying with her the secret that killed her parents in the trunk. She is one of the lone women who takes the government’s offer of free land to those who can tame it. But she is not alone. As she settles, she finds she can’t keep her secret any longer and it might be the one she needs to survive the harsh and brutal landscape.
This book captivates me, the story, the characters, the atmospheric vibe, everything you want in the good, classic horror read and enjoyed every minute of it. It has the right pace of suspense that will keep you wanting to read and find out all about the secrets. I like the not-knowing how and when it will unravel and when it does the timing it just right. And the first scene will get you hook right away.
It has different genres all roll into one story - horror, mystery, thriller, historical fiction, women’s fiction and fantasy - and one done well. But don’t get turn off with its horror component as I find it without much gory scenes. I can imagine this will be a good movie with its vivid description the town, the cabin, the journey, it all sets the mood for what it to come.
If you plan to read this, suggest you go in blind and suspend your belief and you will enjoy this one!
This was such an interesting story. It’s a great blend of horror, western, and women power. It’s definitely a bit of a slow burn, but once a big reveal happens I couldn’t put it down. While this is one I really enjoyed, it’s not for everyone and I would recommend it to the right audience.
4.5 stars
This was a book that drew me in immediately as Adelaide leaves her hometown with a bang and heads for the wilds of Montana, where a single woman, even a single Black woman, could lay claim to land if she were able to make it thrive. With nothing except a heavy steamer trunk, she starts her new life, getting to know some of the neighbors, and daring to hope that she might find a place where she can remain.
We learn early on that she guards a family secret, something dangerous, but even as she forms ties to some in the community, it's easy to see that racism and misogyny still exist, among other things. The author did a great job of building the mystery and giving the reader bits and pieces to keep us hooked and wanting to see how it all plays out. This was a unique blend of mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, and western and I enjoyed it enough that I will be looking for other books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a book that drew me in immediately as Adelaide leaves her hometown with a bang and heads for the wilds of Montana, where a single woman, even a single Black woman, could lay claim to land if she were able to make it thrive. With nothing except a heavy steamer trunk, she starts her new life, getting to know some of the neighbors, and daring to hope that she might find a place where she can remain.
We learn early on that she guards a family secret, something dangerous, but even as she forms ties to some in the community, it's easy to see that racism and misogyny still exist, among other things. The author did a great job of building the mystery and giving the reader bits and pieces to keep us hooked and wanting to see how it all plays out. This was a unique blend of mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, and western and I enjoyed it enough that I will be looking for other books by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4.5 stars. I adored this historic fiction with a horror twist. Set in early 1900s Montana told from a Black woman's perspective as she sets off alone to build a new life with some old baggage in tow. I truly think this book could have been longer to really play out some of the scenes more especially in the second half that seemed really quick and to the point. I also think I wanted this to be slightly more scary than it ended up being. But all in all a fantastic book I'd recommend to anyone willing to go for a bit of creepy in their historical fiction.
Unpopular opinion: This book is not worth the hype.
It just did not do it for me… it started off super strong. I was hooked for the first third or so. I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, the attention to detail.
But then the middle section happened and it slowllyyyyy marched on. I had to force myself to finish the book.
There were also a few specific scenes that were written in a way that made it difficult for me to understand; I reread the excerpts multiple times and ended up just abandoning them and moving forward.
The ending was not that great, either. I felt that it ended in a way that was very uncharacteristic of one of the main characters and it left me feeling baffled.
It just did not do it for me… it started off super strong. I was hooked for the first third or so. I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, the attention to detail.
But then the middle section happened and it slowllyyyyy marched on. I had to force myself to finish the book.
There were also a few specific scenes that were written in a way that made it difficult for me to understand; I reread the excerpts multiple times and ended up just abandoning them and moving forward.
The ending was not that great, either. I felt that it ended in a way that was very uncharacteristic of one of the main characters and it left me feeling baffled.
What a fun ride. I’m a fan of weird western stories and this delightfully hits that mark without in any way feeling gimmicky.
This is a character driven historical piece of an 1800’s Black woman staking her claim in the high plains of Montana. She left her community of Black settlers in California under violent circumstances to escape her past and live in isolation. But, we find a rich cast of women who are also looking to carve out their own future in the Badlands. The catch is that she came with a case containing her family’s curse.
I really loved it. The book screams along. The character studies are fun. The spooky bits deliver. The sense of place is pervasive. And on whole it builds great suspense and had me gripped to the end.
This is the second book by Lavalle that I have loved. I’m definitely going to work through his whole bibliography.
This is a character driven historical piece of an 1800’s Black woman staking her claim in the high plains of Montana. She left her community of Black settlers in California under violent circumstances to escape her past and live in isolation. But, we find a rich cast of women who are also looking to carve out their own future in the Badlands. The catch is that she came with a case containing her family’s curse.
I really loved it. The book screams along. The character studies are fun. The spooky bits deliver. The sense of place is pervasive. And on whole it builds great suspense and had me gripped to the end.
This is the second book by Lavalle that I have loved. I’m definitely going to work through his whole bibliography.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
The premise of Lone Women by Victor Lavalle promises a very unique plot and tackles a historical time and place from an angle that can be interesting, exploring the black female homesteaders. The premise of this book is very interesting and I am a sucker for magical realism, particularly if it takes a gothic turn. And to be fair, the opening chapters deliver intrigue and promise, immediately immersing the reader in the story of Adelaide, a woman who abruptly leaves her California home to homestead in the remote wilderness of Montana. With her, she carries a mysterious trunk, the contents of which are both literal and metaphorical representations of her burdens and baggage. This setup teases a compelling exploration of themes like loneliness, the human need for belonging, the pursuit of a fresh start, and the shadow of generational trauma and curses.
Adelaide's journey and the secrets she guards are engaging enough to sustain momentum, and really, I think, that was all I needed. However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that Lavalle may have taken on more than he could effectively weave together. The book introduces a wide array of characters and plotlines, but many remain underdeveloped, leaving the story feeling scattered and superficial. This lack of focus detracts from the thematic depth that could have been explored more fully.
While magical realism and gothic often thrives on subtlety and is usually grounded psychological realism, Lone Women leans heavily into the fantastical without adequately establishing the world or the rules that govern it, and the characters are flat and do not provide interesting psychological profiles with one or two of the Mudges getting the closest. The absence of detailed world-building and the lack of psychological depth in the characters undermine the potential for the story to achieve the archetypal or mythical resonance that makes magical realism truly shine. Instead, the fantastical elements dominate without sufficient grounding, making them feel more arbitrary than awe-inspiring.
Ultimately, while the novel offers an intriguing premise and moments of genuine enjoyment, it struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. The result is a story that feels overstuffed and undercooked, and left me yearning for a deeper connection to its characters, its themes, and its world.
Adelaide's journey and the secrets she guards are engaging enough to sustain momentum, and really, I think, that was all I needed. However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that Lavalle may have taken on more than he could effectively weave together. The book introduces a wide array of characters and plotlines, but many remain underdeveloped, leaving the story feeling scattered and superficial. This lack of focus detracts from the thematic depth that could have been explored more fully.
While magical realism and gothic often thrives on subtlety and is usually grounded psychological realism, Lone Women leans heavily into the fantastical without adequately establishing the world or the rules that govern it, and the characters are flat and do not provide interesting psychological profiles with one or two of the Mudges getting the closest. The absence of detailed world-building and the lack of psychological depth in the characters undermine the potential for the story to achieve the archetypal or mythical resonance that makes magical realism truly shine. Instead, the fantastical elements dominate without sufficient grounding, making them feel more arbitrary than awe-inspiring.
Ultimately, while the novel offers an intriguing premise and moments of genuine enjoyment, it struggles under the weight of its own ambitions. The result is a story that feels overstuffed and undercooked, and left me yearning for a deeper connection to its characters, its themes, and its world.
What a fun horror read. Who knew I had such a thing for historical fiction horror?! Short chapters, great twists, independent women fighting for survival. Really delivered.
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, and the look into American history I had no idea about. This is a slow burn, but an interesting premise and something different than what I have read in the past.
I think there were some pieces towards the end that felt thrown together and weren’t as fully dissected as they could have been. I felt like there were a lot of characters that contributed little to nothing to moving the plot forward and could have been left out completely.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, and the look into American history I had no idea about. This is a slow burn, but an interesting premise and something different than what I have read in the past.
I think there were some pieces towards the end that felt thrown together and weren’t as fully dissected as they could have been. I felt like there were a lot of characters that contributed little to nothing to moving the plot forward and could have been left out completely.
