Genre: Historical/Horror/Fantasy/Western
Release Date: March 21st, 2023
Pages: 240
Publisher: Random House One World
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Blue skies, empty land—and enough room to hide away a horrifying secret. Or is there? Discover a haunting new vision of the American West from the award-winning author of The Changeling.
Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk is opened, people around her start to disappear…
The year is 1914, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, and forced her to flee her hometown of Redondo, California, in a hellfire rush, ready to make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will be one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can cultivate it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing keeping her alive.
Told in Victor LaValle’s signature style, blending historical fiction, shimmering prose, and inventive horror, Lone Women is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—and a portrait of early twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen.”
My Review:
This isn’t a book I had on my radar, and not one I’d typically pick up. But when the publisher reached out to me and asked me to review it, I decided to give it a chance. And man am I so glad that I did!
I am truly blown away by this novel. It is something else, something other, in a class all of its own, and I was hanging onto every word. It’s so much better than I ever could have expected.
Part historical, horror, fantasy, and western – it is all these things and so much more.
Set in the early 20th century, the world-building of this story is impeccable. I felt like I was on a journey in the Western frontier in the harsh, cold, desolate plains of Montana.
The culture and society the author builds within the story creates a climate that is representative of the era.
And throughout it all, this story speaks to the difficulties experienced during the beginnings of the womens’ suffragettes movements during this time period, as well as the struggles that people of color and people of other cultures/nationalities faced.
We see the enmity and oppression that the characters are confronted with.
It is also a story about the bonds of family, especially the consequences when those bonds are strained.
It shows the stark impact that a child’s upbringing can have on their life, for better or worse.
This book is gripping in its intensity. The magical comes to life in the most believable way.
The story is haunting, full of dangerous creatures and humans alike. Adelaide’s family secret is unlike anything I could have predicted.
Creepy hauntings and violent decisions throw the tumultuous plot into a surprisingly twisted chain of events.
The story is sorrowful, gory, and completely immersive, with all of the characters enacting their own furtive agendas.
Reading this book is an experience, one I enjoyed immensely.
This story is a brilliantly-crafted narrative.
Genre-bending novels can be a feat, and this one pulls it off perfectly.
I highly recommend this book! The synopsis doesn’t even do it justice.
It deserves all five stars and way more hype. This author is definitely now on my favorites list, and I’m looking forward to checking out his other books.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Random House One World for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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