Item: Lone Women
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Victor LaValle

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Blue skies, empty land—and enough wide-open space to hide a horrifying secret. A woman with a past, a mysterious trunk, a town on the edge of nowhere, and an “absorbing, powerful” (BuzzFeed) new vision of the American West, from the award-winning author of The Changeling.

“Propulsive . . . LaValle combines chills with deep insights into our country’s divides.”—Los Angeles Times

ONE OF BOOKPAGE'S TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review, Time, NPR, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Esquire, Vulture, Paste, Tordotcom, Book Riot, Polygon, Chicago Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal

Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk opens, people around Adelaide start to disappear.

The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.

Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.

Book Summary:

Adelaide Henry has come a long way to find a safe haven – someplace where she can run from her guilt, her past, and her burden. Only, those aren't as easy to lose as one might imagine, especially in Adelaide's case.

The good news is that in 1914, there was certainly no shortage of places to run to. Adelaide manages to grab a nice little spot in Montana, becoming one of the "lone women" taking advantage of the free land offer.

My Review:

I'll be honest; I had no idea what to expect when I entered Lone Women. I don't read as much historical fiction as I should and certainly don't read many Westerns. But the promise of something paranormal happening in this setting? Well, that was more than enough to tempt me into reading it...

Adelaide's secret kept me on the edge of my seat. Unlike many secrets that wait until the last minute for the big reveal – I wasn't disappointed by what I found. This was a dark and compelling story, one that had many elements. For example, we have the concept of surviving in Western times, paranormal creatures, vengeance, threats (of the human variety), and more. It almost makes me wish this book had been a bit longer, simply so I could enjoy more of it.

If you're looking for a different read that combines several themes and genres, Lone Women is the book for you. This is especially true if you don't mind your fiction having a more introspective take on the world.

Highlights:
Historical Fiction w/ a Horror Twist
Western
Paranormal
Secrets

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Gore/Violence

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Lone Women

by Victor LaValle

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Apr 7, 2023

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