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A review by raforall
Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant, K.C. Grifant
4.0
Review in the January 2023 issue of Library Journal: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2023/01/what-im-reading-january-2023-lj-horror.html
There words That Describe This Book: fast paced, strong world building, imaginative
Draft review:
In an alternative Wild West, “The Edge,” at the foot of the mountains, holds a danger of epic proportions, a border between worlds, where monsters, such as giant flying scorpions and snow krakens, regularly slip into settlements, threatening all. Enter Melinda West, and her life partner, Lance, monster neutralizers for hire. With the support of Aunt Bea, a historian of the supernatural, and Abel, a master weapons builder, Melinda and Lance have spent a year on the road saving numerous towns and pocketing enough money to finally settle down. However, as soon as they return home, a soul-sucking spider attacks Abel, plunging them straight into “The Edge” itself on a desperate mission to save him. This fast paced debut is peppered with awesome battle scenes, but the novel is much more than the sum of its action parts. Grifant takes her time to build the world and its characters, imbuing all with a complexity that adds depth to this wildly entertaining story.
Verdict: This fun, imaginative, and confident series opener will be a massive crowd pleaser for general audiences, especially for those who enjoy a wide range of popular weird western offerings, from the more historical like Stoker’s Wilde West by Hopstaken and Prusi to those with cosmic elements such as The Last Storm by Lebbon.
There words That Describe This Book: fast paced, strong world building, imaginative
Draft review:
In an alternative Wild West, “The Edge,” at the foot of the mountains, holds a danger of epic proportions, a border between worlds, where monsters, such as giant flying scorpions and snow krakens, regularly slip into settlements, threatening all. Enter Melinda West, and her life partner, Lance, monster neutralizers for hire. With the support of Aunt Bea, a historian of the supernatural, and Abel, a master weapons builder, Melinda and Lance have spent a year on the road saving numerous towns and pocketing enough money to finally settle down. However, as soon as they return home, a soul-sucking spider attacks Abel, plunging them straight into “The Edge” itself on a desperate mission to save him. This fast paced debut is peppered with awesome battle scenes, but the novel is much more than the sum of its action parts. Grifant takes her time to build the world and its characters, imbuing all with a complexity that adds depth to this wildly entertaining story.
Verdict: This fun, imaginative, and confident series opener will be a massive crowd pleaser for general audiences, especially for those who enjoy a wide range of popular weird western offerings, from the more historical like Stoker’s Wilde West by Hopstaken and Prusi to those with cosmic elements such as The Last Storm by Lebbon.