WOW! This is my first book by Victor LaValle and it definitely won't be my last. I was hooked with the first chapter and I couldn't put this book down. It is definitely a historical horror and I can see myself reading more of this in the future. The themes that were tackled in this book were amazing and wonderfully done. The character work was excellent as well. I can 100% understand what he was trying to portray in this book and the feminism is amazing! I would recommend this book to anyone; 5 stars!

**Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.**

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lone Women
A Novel
by Victor LaValle

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC. This book I have seen described as historical fiction and horror. The horror aspect of it was not so horrific but it did give the reader a thrill (or perhaps a little chill from the mild gore) in anticipation as to what would happen next, how the story would unfold and end.
This was my first book by the author and will definitely be looking forward to more by the author.
The author writes in such a way that you don't want to stop reading.
I enjoyed reading about all the characters and learning the how and the why they became the people they are/were.

Adelaide Henry has a secret hidden in her steamer trunk as she flees from the fire that consumes her family farm, and the corpses of her parents. So opens the novel, Lone Women by Victor LaValle. What exactly Adelaide is hiding in her trunk is hinted at, but not fully revealed until about 35% into this book.

The novel revolves around homesteaders making their way on the plains of Montana. Adelaide is the primary narrator but we meet other women who present their point of view as well. This novel is presented as being a Western Horror, and don't get me wrong, there is blood and guts and gruesome death, but it didn't really feel horrific to me. For the most part, the people who met gruesome ends deserved it. There was no real fear or suspense for me personally as a reader.

However, that said, I enjoyed this novel and it's relatively happy ending.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

Set in 1914 in the American West, Lone Women follows the journey of Adelaide as she tries to settle in Montana after the gruesome deaths of her parents. Though people think she is strange they find her giant trunk she brings with her to be even stranger. When she settles in Montana can she keep her secrets hidden? Or will they kill her just like her parents?

A little historical fiction horror? Yes please. Try NOT to read spoilers about this one. I think the mystery of Adelaide and the trunk is one you want to go into as blind as possible. This is a bloody, gruesome story which at its surface is a good horror and at a deeper level dives into the darkness of humanity and society at large (damn that’s vague and I am sorry but I really don’t want to spoil anything!). This is a fast read and I had trouble putting it down! Highly recommended for horror fans.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this ARC!

CONTENT WARNING: death of a parent, blood, murder, racism, mention of ableism, mention of bullying, violence, gore, grief, homophobia, transphobia

I came across this book and it sounded intriguing, but also kind of scary. And I was on the fence about requesting it, because I’m notable as a wuss, but ultimately my curiosity won out. I’m so glad it did, because this was the type of “horror lite” that I love, where the story was fantastic, and it was more of a creepy and tense ride than a jump scare kind of story.

In 1914, homesteading was a new option, in a land where options for women and Black people were limited. Purchasing a plot and making it productive within 3 years meant that you owned the land free and clear forever. And this was an option available to both women and Black people. So after casually burning down her family home with her deceased parents in it, Adelaide Henry decided to try her hand at homesteading in the wide open spaces of Montana. All she had with her was a steamer trunk with her secrets locked inside.

It was easy to empathize with Adelaide right off the bat. She’s a woman out on her own for the first time in her life, in a world that isn’t exactly welcoming to women, especially women of color. But she wasn’t afraid of hard work, and she was well aware of her capabilities. However, it’s clear right from the start that this journey is more than she expected. And I couldn’t help but feel for her, especially when I put myself in her shoes.

The part of this story that impressed me the most is all of the side characters. They are each well-developed, and have their own part in the story, with a plot thread of their own that weaves into the storyline in a meaningful way. Each of the lone women in this story faces a unique challenge, and I loved how they all found their way to each other for friendship and support.

Any good horror (or horror lite) story needs to maintain a sense of tension, and this one does that beautifully. At the beginning, I couldn’t wait to find out what was in the trunk, while also dreading the discovery. And once I found out what was in it, the tension didn’t dissipate. LaValle manages to divert that tension in a different direction, and keep it going. And beyond that tension is a simmering unrest within the town that branches off in various ways—involving racism, othering, fear-mongering, and xenophobia.

Overall, this was exactly the kind of horror book that I love, and LaValle manages to wrap up all the different plot threads perfectly. It discusses both personal and societal issues at the time, many of which are still problems today, making this a perfect and appropriate read. And perhaps the scariest thing about this book is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. But at the same time, I love a fiction book that helps me learn more about history without ever feeling like it’s teaching me anything. This was a fantastic read without being too outright scary.

First book by this author but definitely not the last. Just loved his storytelling style. Was hooked right away and read in one day as I couldn’t wait to see what craziness awaited for me. Such a wide variety of unique characters some you will love and some you will love to hate! Yes had some horror elements but not too graphic or gory.

I read this book courtesy of NetGalley - I specifically requested it because I have read and loved other Victor Lavalle books in the past.
Man. What a book. It's been a while since I read a book that I just did not want to put down.... If sleep were not an obstacle, I would have finished it in one sitting. Because I had read Lavalle's work before, I knew what I was in for - there was definitely going to be something otherwordly in here somewhere. Like The Changeling, it seems like we are in our normal everyday world, but as usual, it turns out there is something sinister at work. One of the things Lavalle does best here is thread several different mysteries together - so many characters are hiding something. From the beginning, we know that these characters each harbor secrets, and the unravelling of those secrets is the fun of this book.
In the afterword, Lavalle mentions that he didn't know about these lone women homesteaders before his visit to Montana, and he reckons most others don't either. I loved learning about this history and learning to love these women in this book. The women in this book are truly wonderful characters - each and every one. The ending left me completely satisfied and I am glad Lavalle took his wife's advice (per the afterword) as to how to end this story.

Lone Women is a fascinating mix of historical fiction and womens fiction with horror blended in. Adelaide is leaving her home in Lucerne Valley, CA with nothing but a heavy steam trunk and dark family secret. Heading to Montana in hopes to start a new life as a lone black woman in 1915, she must learn to lean on others for survival while also strongly protecting the evil she hides in her trunk.
I was absolutely captivated by this story and found myself rooting for Adelaide and her found family. Lone Women is definitely a unique type of horror that may not appeal to everyone as it leans more toward historical/womens fiction.

So many thoughts about this book. I will definitely be reading more from Victor LaValle as he eloquently told a story with so many genres—horror, historical fiction, thriller, fantasy… As well as real world issues—racism, women rights, and more (to not spoil)….and somehow, it all came together and worked. It also seems fitting to finish this on International Women’s Day, as this book does a fantastic job at portraying strong, independent women trying to survive. I will definitely reread this book again during spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced reading copy.

Captivating from the very first page. LaValle instantly set the tone for menace and intrigue. I loved learning more about this period of history, as well as interrogating my assumptions about settlers and settlements. There were times when the narration jarred me out of the moment but, overall, I enjoyed the ride.

Thank you Random House Ballantine for inviting me to read and review Lone Women. This is a wonderfully intense, engaging, and relevant book as it asks the reader to go on a journey to consider an array of complex, but very real and very lived, experiences with race, family relationships, bigotry, aggression, and somehow always a little shimmering glimmer of hope and forward movement towards a better or a different future.

This book has such powerful pacing, strong crafting of tension and a propulsive sense of something about to unfold, and excellent drops of magical realism (which I loved). The fast pace and blending of magical realism/fantasy worked for me.
The blending of horror with very real experiences with racism and related themes is well done, it invited me into a deeper engagement with the feelings that still persist when we face the horrors of historical and ongoing racism and bias in our culture.

Release March 28

Every work from Victor Lavalle resounds, and is life-changing and unforgettable. Opening one of his books is to enter a Portal, and upon completion, you find yourself in a place both new and different. Not only the characters undergo evolution: so do the readers.

LONE WOMEN undertakes to explore segments of the American past that are little known, if at all. It also takes you on a journey, along with the characters, and when you turn the final page, you will not be the same as you were before you started the first page.

Welcome to an early 20th century American West, filled with Adventure, Drama, Racism, Bigotry, Familial Bonds and Obligations, Family Found and Family Rejected, Violence, Murder, Narcissism, Aggression, Hard Work...and Hope.




#magicalrealism #VictorLavalle
#Western #WeirdWestern #BIPOC #LGBTQ #Women

Lone Women, by Victor LaValle, is so darn much fun! Part historical fiction (wild west) and part horror story, a battle of good vs. evil, family ties and secrets, and best of all, several wonderful, strong, gutsy women you can really root for.

A lone woman, Adelaide Henry, burns down the family farmhouse, with her parents in their beds, and leaves California for a homestead claim to start a new life on the desolate, windswept, and frigid Montana plain. She takes along with her a very heavy, padlocked steamer trunk and a terrible secret. What a beginning. From there, the story twists and turns, and just gets better and better. This quirky tale is fresh, and interesting. I haven’t read anything quite like it. The mystery of the trunk (a sort of Pandora’s box), the colorful characters (even the baddies), and the narrative style keep the pages flying by.

Besides the absorbing main story, there are several underlying themes to keep you thinking. Racial prejudice, women’s social roles, familial ties and obligations, female friendship, and the realities of homesteading on the plains. I almost never read horror (aside from Shirley Jackson) and I loved it. I’ll definitely seek out more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House - One World for an advance reader copy. The book will be released on March 28th, 2023.

I received an early copy from NetGalley.
I feel like it's weird to say, but I really enjoyed the pacing in this book. The story opens with a mystery and leaks information a tiny bit at a time, so you don't fully grasp the situation until the end. Very satisfying.
Pretty much everything in this book is at least mildly unsettling. Our protagonist is a woman of color, woefully unprepared and alone in rural Montana. Her closest neighbors are miles away and mostly white. And she's keeping a secret that desperately wants to be revealed. Everything she does is a bit of a risk, so things get tense and make the pages fly by.

Lone Women was a historical fiction blended with horror and followed Adelaide on her journey from her home in California to the windy and vast lands of Montana to homestead. She took with her a large steamer trunk and her parents were dead. We didn’t know why or what happened, but we knew she had a secret.

I thought the beginning and the end were very good, but the story fizzled in the middle and I found it hard to connect with the main character or any of the folks around her.

I liked the twists and the reveal and I don’t want to spoil it, but I wished the pace was a tad faster or Adelaide had a little more personality so I could have better connected with her.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend to fans of horror and historical fiction.

This is a great blend of historical fiction and horror featuring suspense and strong women characters. The author cleverly lets the reader believe certain things, only to reveal the real truth as the novel goes on. Truly a story of good vs. evil and the strong ties that can bind women to each other and to their families. The only part that I wish the author had written more true to the circumstances was having Adelaide more prepared to work her land and then actually spending some of her time actually doing it!

Thanks to NetGalley and One World for the ARC to read and review.

A dark and twisted journey of family, bigotry, isolation,secrets, and horrors. A woman with physical and emotional heavy baggage leaves her home in California for the emptiness of Montana. With her is a locked trunk and a heart full of secrets. As each layer is revealed it gets more and more insane. Go in completely blind like I did and you will surely be shocked and blown away. Lavalle is an incredible writer that knows how to get under your skin and keep you reading. This is a horror story unlike any I have read populated with characters and setting that consume you and pull you into their world. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing group for providing me a copy of Lone Women. I went in blind not hearing of this author or reading reviews about the book, or what the story was about. This book is classified as historical fiction /horror at its best. I did find it a little hard to get into it but, once I did the story flowed. This book has any interesting concept and uses a physical object to impact the story.

I had to take some time to digest this book before diving into a review. There is a lot to unpack in this historical fiction/horror novel. In many ways, it reminded me of Alma Katsu's writing: taking a true historical event and writing it with a horror and supernatural flair. I was immediately drawn into the story and wanted to know "what was in the damn trunk?!' It was enough to keep me going, but there were plot holes that keep me from giving this book a five-star review. I enjoyed the historical aspect, the LGBTQ+ representation, the single mother kicking a$$ storyline, but found the storyline with the rich family and their theatre show a bit confusing. I think there was potential here, but it fell flat for me.

I’m still pondering on this book I read yesterday. Odd in its premise, the storyline is a reflection on the characters: odd. While this is labeled as an historical fiction with horror elements, there is also an element fantasy with the presence of demons and specters and ghosts. Adelaide, a 31-year-old Black woman, has grown up on a farm in Southern California with her parents. However, the family is thought of as odd, never mingling with others. Adelaide Henry’s mother does not encourage her daughter to leave the farm but does stress to her that like herself, Adelaide will be a mule all her life living the life of drudgery and yet bear responsibility to never tell the family’s secret. This is something that Adelaide does not want. Following the gruesome death of her parents, Adelaide leaves to homestead in Montana striving to live a life of shame in isolation as she drags a very large and well locked steamer trunk with her. It seems as if Adelaide can never rid herself of the family secret. Yet in Montana, she is befriended by other lone women who have secrets of their own. This is historical fiction in the fact that we learn about homesteading in the West in the early 1900’s where it spotlights the prejudice against Native Americans, Chinese, Black people, and non-traditional women. Amid some violence and vigilante justice, creepy things occur that are not of this world. I felt this element interfered with the historical fiction aspect and made me wonder the direction of the author was taking. I had some confusion as well when some characters popped up randomly in the story and could not figure out where they came from (such as the people in the mountain at the base of the cave.) However, I continued to read, just as interested as the characters in the book as to what was locked in the trunk that was closely guarded by Adelaide. Because when that trunk got opened, bad things happened. I don’t want to give anything away, as I want you, the reader, to be just as surprised as I was. But all in all, I found the historical elements interesting and the rest befuddling. I rate this a 3.5/5.

Many thanks to #netgalley #lonewomen #victorlavalle #randomhouse for the opportunity to read and review this book.