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4.59 AVERAGE
4.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before reading this book, I wasn’t very familiar with the history of the Texas Rangers, Native American tribes and their conflicts with the U.S. Army. I also wasn’t into the cowboy aesthetic and had never watched spaghetti westerns. (The only cowboy-related show I truly loved was Westworld, and that was mainly because of the sci-fi side of it.) Honestly, I thought the whole genre was a bit boring.
But this book completely changed my perspective. It gave me a deeper understanding of this part of the U.S. history. More importantly, it wouldn’t have had this impact without the beautiful writing and the unforgettable characters. You grow to love them as you spend time with them on their long journey, filled with hardship and tragedy.
But this book completely changed my perspective. It gave me a deeper understanding of this part of the U.S. history. More importantly, it wouldn’t have had this impact without the beautiful writing and the unforgettable characters. You grow to love them as you spend time with them on their long journey, filled with hardship and tragedy.
At 25% I nearly DNFed. At 50% the real plot had begun and I was on board. At 75% I couldn't put it down. In the end I didn't want it to end.
The characters are amazingly well written, when the plot gets going it's so enjoyable to read, and the themes of broken people and their relationships has me thinking about the book a lot. It's like a Russian novel in the American West.
The female characters as whores and the lack of viewpoint from the Indian side grated on me, but that's probably a function of the book being 40 years old
The characters are amazingly well written, when the plot gets going it's so enjoyable to read, and the themes of broken people and their relationships has me thinking about the book a lot. It's like a Russian novel in the American West.
The female characters as whores and the lack of viewpoint from the Indian side grated on me, but that's probably a function of the book being 40 years old
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book had strong characters and the plot involving a trek to Montana was inetersting but overall it was just good to me and not as great as other historical fictions I've read.
Augustus McCrae is such a bitch and i love him very much but i've been reading this for months and i don't think i can anymore. I think it's me not the book so i'll probably try again in the future some time.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Potentially the best book I’ve ever read. The more I think about it the better it gets. Sensationally written taking you along the adventure. Gus is the goat.
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I gave this book three stars for being well-written in many aspects, though I would not recommend it to anyone.
This book seems to set out to show the brutal reality of the American Wild West in contrast to the romanticization in many cowboy stories. The thing is... (a) that's all it does, and (b) it does it too thoroughly. If you're looking for Game of Thrones-level gratuitous human nature but in a Western setting, great. You'll love this. It's certainly better written (I was bored by the first GoT book and never read the others; this one never bored me). If, however, you're looking for a hero, you won't find one here. You'll find a bunch of broken people who suffer and refuse to grow as people, and you'll find a whole line of deaths, dismemberments, mutilations, assaults, heartbreaks, crimes, and dashed dreams.
I'll read a LOT of hard content in books, but I almost quit halfway through this one it got so dark, and for no redeemable reason. I only finished it so I could have a full picture of the book to discuss at book club in a few days. The book was beautifully written in terms of characterization, scene pacing, descriptions, and even an omniscient viewpoint, which is why I gave it the stars I did. I just wish the author had used those talents on a story with more hope to it than these 900 pages of pain offer.
This book seems to set out to show the brutal reality of the American Wild West in contrast to the romanticization in many cowboy stories. The thing is... (a) that's all it does, and (b) it does it too thoroughly. If you're looking for Game of Thrones-level gratuitous human nature but in a Western setting, great. You'll love this. It's certainly better written (I was bored by the first GoT book and never read the others; this one never bored me). If, however, you're looking for a hero, you won't find one here. You'll find a bunch of broken people who suffer and refuse to grow as people, and you'll find a whole line of deaths, dismemberments, mutilations, assaults, heartbreaks, crimes, and dashed dreams.
I'll read a LOT of hard content in books, but I almost quit halfway through this one it got so dark, and for no redeemable reason. I only finished it so I could have a full picture of the book to discuss at book club in a few days. The book was beautifully written in terms of characterization, scene pacing, descriptions, and even an omniscient viewpoint, which is why I gave it the stars I did. I just wish the author had used those talents on a story with more hope to it than these 900 pages of pain offer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated