Lone Women

This is my kind of western. Wish I'd left Montana in 2020 with such justice ;)

Epic and brilliant and healing!

This book was not at all what I expected. I had heard such good things about this book and I have wanted to read it for ages. Now that I have I'm still thinking about it and mulling it over. Honestly the women empowerment in this book is unexpected but I did enjoy how there were characters that banded together and protected one another. The drawback for me was there was just a lot of filler. Boring filler. And then a 277 page book that saying something. I felt myself skimming certain parts that I felt unnecessary to the story. All around I don't feel it lived up to the hype but it was a worthwhile read. 3⭐️

I have an unpopular opinion from all the reviewers I follow - I mean most gave it 5 stars and some 4. I rarely say this but I wish this was a novella. This is a slow-burn, historical fiction Western with mild, psychological horror elements and some gore. It's mainly about Adelaide Henry, who moves from California to Montana with a mysterious trunk too heavy for most to carry. Adelaide has a secret, as do some of the women she meets in her new town. It was just too slow for me, the details and getting in the weeds didn't entrance me like they did in “The Changeling,” and I didnt really gasp too much at the reveals.

3.5

I have mixed feeling on this one. I loved some of the ideas and characters but at certain points I felt like too much was being tossed in plot wise. Sometimes less is more and I think this book could have used less plot lines or more depth in the development of certain characters. Would have loved more of the mom with the 4 blind sons- very interesting villains

Western, horror, monster story, fairy tale, a mixture of all of these becoming its own genre. At the beginning of the book, we see Adelaide Henry riding away from her past as it goes up in flames, and we're a bit horrified. As we get to know Adelaide a little better and learn more about her past, the story becomes more complex. I love female protagonists who are not immediately sympathetic, and she is a great example of this.

We follow Adelaide to her new life in Montana, where a collection of odd characters join her circle of acquaintances. She had planned to live a solitary and isolated life, but she soon realizes she won't survive the winter on her own. While her connections to other people complicate her life, they are literally lifesavers, both physically and emotionally.

There is suspense and creepiness, as well as descriptions of overt and implied violence. I'm not a fan of horror, but I make an exception for Victor LaValle because I trust his style, which is unique.

What a strange and wonderful book this is.... If you enjoy horror and happy endings this is great read. Adelaide has traveled to Montana to homestead. She has brought something with her....

maybe it was just the historical setting but i just did not connect with this story. i liked where it went in the end but for being on the shorter end this book felt like it really really dragged. i just never felt compelled to pick this up at all. 

3.5 stars.

I really liked this book - the history is interesting and the characters are well drawn. I didn't think the horror was that scary and a few parts were a bit silly to me but overall this is a great story about family, revenge, and the meaning of forgiveness.

Hmmmm...where to start with this one. I am torn with my love of the writing and my dislike of the too-quick storylines.

There is so much going on within this short book...with the main story of Adelaide and the many, many side stories. I love Adelaide and the darkness and mystery that surrounds her and the life she is leaving behind. When she gets to Big Sandy, however, so much more is introduced and is left to the imagination.

This is one of those few times where I wish a book was longer. I definitely felt like this needed a lot more fleshing out, not only of the characters, but of their stories. How can we expect to like, let alone care, about characters if we know nothing about them?

Despite the lack of details, I enjoyed the overall feel to this one. It's not scary in the slightest so calling it horror is misleading. It's more of a historical fiction that has supernatural elements. It's perfect for those who want to read “scary” but don't actually want to be scared.

I'm ending at a 3.5 for this one, rounded to a 3. I wanted to love this more as it starts out fantastic, but sadly it wanes after the big reveal. I'm sure other readers will love this one so I would say if you're thinking about it, grab it and give it a go.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

*4.5 stars

The ending of this book was perfect! The lead up to the ending was tense and I could not have predicted that ending. I like the way hints to the answer of the trunk were sprinkled throughout the book. There were also parts where the pacing was a little slower than I would like. Then a hint would come along and I drawn in all over again. This is a compulsively readable book that will keep you guessing.

Wish it was a novella. Felt like there were too many characters with whom I could not connect with. The writing and the horror aspect was great though. Would recommend and try another book from this author.

I was loving this until the contents of the trunk were revealed, then I kind of lost interest.

3.5

Weird Western with a decent plot and a few exciting moments.

I'm a big fan of this author and was really looking forward to this novel. There's a lot of action and at first I was compelled by the mysterious supernatural element. In order for those things to work for me, I need to enjoy the characters. It can be a sense of humor, quirkiness, vulnerability— just something that makes them entertaining and believable, more than just pieces of the plot. Usually, LaValle really delivers with this element.

I got absolutely no spark out of anyone in Lone Women.

The concept revolves around the idea of strong women fighting the odds and potential oppressors to make a life for themselves. I want more than “strong and independent.” Admirable doesn't have to mean dull and beyond reproach; this is a cautious and conservative way to go. The best character arc belongs to Joab Mudge, a thirteen-year-old boy who goes from one bad parental influence to another. Unlike the women, Joab is allowed to have rough edges and make terrible mistakes.

The major plot revolves around Adelaide Henry and the mysterious contents of the trunk she brings with her from California to Montana. This is the weird or supernatural element. It could have been a bit weirder for my taste. The big reveal, that the creature is Adelaide's twin sister, is something you can easily see coming. Feels like it's been done. The way to make it interesting would be to give Elizabeth an unexpected personality or take an action that forces a conflict with Adelaide. Instead, she's a plot device that thinks in verse..

There are several subplots in Lone Women which come together quite nicely with the above and are more interesting. It's a fast-moving story and doesn't hesitate in getting to the point. I was involved enough to keep reading it for the little time it took. Maybe the cost of this economy is underdeveloped characters?

shoutout to VICTOR LAVALLE the only one in this bitch i respect!

but in all seriousness while i think this book isn't for everyone i also think the people who will like it will REALLY like it. my dad guessed the twist, sorta. still so so good...

I picked this book up not really knowing what to think. I only knew that it was magical and suspenseful and set in the US Plains of the early 1910s. This book truly kept me engaged and wanting more. Every page turn came with new shocking details, but the mystery isn't fully spelled out until the very end. I loved the whole thing. The main theme here is women's empowerment and it does include LGBTQ+ narratives.

This was incredible. I loved it.
Addie is on her way to homestead land in Montana and she is dragging a very heavy trunk with her. When she gets there she befriends Grace Price and her son, Sam. Add in a murderous family named Mudge, some moonshiners, and ghosts and you have one hell of an adventure. I ate this up.

4.5 rounded up