This was an interesting story - western mixed with magic. The story starts rough, throwing a lot of names and lore and alternate history at you - it was hard to find my footing at first. Quickly, there is violence, death and a lot fewer names to keep straight.

I liked the information and the history of the Gunnie's I liked Lisbeth's gruff outlook on it all but also how much she took pride in both her job and her friendships. It was good as she started traveling with the 2, keeping her secrets. I found the markings, the history of magic and the 2 she traveled with all interesting twists.

All in all, interesting beginning to a series. I liked it. ( )

This one was fine. I liked it - but haven't made up my mind if I really liked it yet. I enjoyed the alternate-history-world-building once I got where the story was going - and that might take me happily into a sequel. ( )

3.5 Nostalgic Stars

I haven’t read a Charlaine Harris novel in a little over ten years, and what stood out to me the most is that her female protagonists are still sensible and resilient. What also remains the same is her simple storytelling that just pulls the reader along easily with no fuss.

Here, Lisbeth Rose is a very good gunslinger, and she knows it. So when she takes a job escorting and guarding two wizards across the southern US and into Mexico, she does it not only for the money but to also ensure some secrets remain hidden. As Lisbeth and her two companions travel across the brutal landscape, one knows that their journey will be anything but easy.

This series is an untamed alternate history Western, where the US has been devastated by disease, loss, and an unraveling of the government and its territories. Toss in the Holy Russian Empire who now rules from California, along with plenty of magic and shootouts, this is a world where everyone’s just trying to survive any which way they can.

Overall, Lisbeth is an unconventional heroine, competent and deadly when needed, older than her young 19 years, firmly grounded in practicality, and not prone to nonsense from herself and certainly, not from others.

I enjoyed exploring Harris’s latest creation and plan to come back to see what’s in store for this shrewd heroine soon! ( )

I will review when I reread this one, but my advice today is to buy it. My next read will be audio only. ( )

Desperately trying to catch up on books I've read in 2023, before it turns 2024. Don't think I'll make it. Full review (hopefully) to come later. ( )