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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
It's kind of hard to describe this book, but I really liked it. Set in a magic-steep 19th-century pre-US West, the Devil runs The Territory (everywhere west of the Mississippi River). He's not cruel and evil as you expect, but he does make Bargains. He is also fair, without mercy. Isobel, a 16 year old abandoned by her parents in the Devil's house, becomes the Devil's Hand. The Devil isn't the only one with magic at work in The Territory, though; there are native tribes, the Church, and even the earth itself.
This book is wild. It's full of demons and tarnished silver and salt rings alongside Colt pistols and western saddles and campfires. I finished it and immediately picked up the sequel.
This book is wild. It's full of demons and tarnished silver and salt rings alongside Colt pistols and western saddles and campfires. I finished it and immediately picked up the sequel.
There's something very relaxing about the horse-pace of this book. I also really enjoy the strange-wild-west setting, though I'm not crazy about the "mysterious natives" trope. To be a little fair, everyone is mythical and mysterious in the Territory, and Isobel does bond with one Native American character over their shared visions, however briefly.
This is very obviously a first-in-a-series book. It sets up a lot of unresolved issues. I don't mind it here, mostly because I like the universe, characters, and quest enough to want to see more. But the presumptuousness is frustrating.
Appreciate the fact that there is no romance between a 30+ man and a 16 year old woman. No romance at all, which I appreciated.
Wished to see Isobel train more, and "suddenly know how to do a thing" less. Didn't need to see her 7 years at Hogwarts, but something would have been nice. Not a huge fan of the sudden knowledge/understanding trope, especially if I, as a reader, don't share that sudden flash of understanding.
But overall it succeeded in what's most important for a first book in a series: it made me interested in reading the next one. 3.5/5 stars.
This is very obviously a first-in-a-series book. It sets up a lot of unresolved issues. I don't mind it here, mostly because I like the universe, characters, and quest enough to want to see more. But the presumptuousness is frustrating.
Appreciate the fact that there is no romance between a 30+ man and a 16 year old woman. No romance at all, which I appreciated.
Wished to see Isobel train more, and "suddenly know how to do a thing" less. Didn't need to see her 7 years at Hogwarts, but something would have been nice. Not a huge fan of the sudden knowledge/understanding trope, especially if I, as a reader, don't share that sudden flash of understanding.
But overall it succeeded in what's most important for a first book in a series: it made me interested in reading the next one. 3.5/5 stars.
Very very very very slow burning. And even when something incredible happens, it kinda fizzles out very quickly. However, prose was very enjoyable and all the characters were unique and well-written. Just needed a little bit more action.
God, this one took me FOREVER to read. Seriously, it usually takes me maybe two days to finish a book this size, but the pacing on this one was really SLOW. I was really excited and amped to read it, and kept pretty good time up until about 3/5 of the way through. And then it just dragged and nothing moved with a sense of urgency at all.
I might try reading the next one because I actually really like the characters and the worldbuilding, but we'll have to see...
I might try reading the next one because I actually really like the characters and the worldbuilding, but we'll have to see...
This is a first in series book and I am looking forward to reading more. I suppose that if I were categorizing it, I would call it an alternative historical fantasy - the world is recognizably ours and yet, not. North America has been colonized by the usual suspects, Spain holds the West across the mountains I think the Knife refers to the Rockies), France and England seem to be quarreling over the North (Canada), America is new and holds the East, but the land west of the Mississippi belongs to the Boss/the Old Man aka the Devil. Technology is at an early 19th c level. It's an area where magic not only works (it does elsewhere to a degree) but is accepted, and it's a place where magical beings (talking snakes, otherworldly buffalo, dust dancers, magicians, demons, etc) roam alongside the tribes of the First Peoples. The town is Flood, the Boss's home where he plays card with those who wish - it's a place where bargains are made. There are 2 POV characters: Gabriel Kasun (a Rider) and Izzy/Isobel whom we meet on her 16th birthday, the last day of her indenture to the Boss and the when she chooses her future. Izzy knows what she doesn't want, but other than wanting something not in Flood she's not quite sure what she does want. In the end her choice is to be the Devil's Left Hand in the Territory. Gabriel also Bargains and becomes Izzy's mentor on the Road, teaching her to be a Rider - becoming the Left Hand she learns on her own. And she has so much to learn! Both come to realize that they should have asked questions, the foremost one is why does the Devil need a Left Hand now when he hasn't in living memory. I read this for my 2017 Reading Challenge "read a book first in a series that you haven't read before" (PopSugar 2017).
More of a 3.5 rating, but withheld a bit due to some issues I had with pacing. Very cool protagonist in a very cool dark fantasy/western setting. Unfortunately it drags a bit in places but the cast is so fun that you'll forgive a lot of it, hopefully. Could have used with like one other woman in the group--I'd like to see Devorah come back, especially.