Cover Image: Lucky Red

Lucky Red

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Member Reviews

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC

"Lucky Red" by Claudia Craven is a vibrant tapestry of the American West, woven with threads of adventure, friendship, and the unyielding quest for autonomy. Set against the backdrop of 1877 Dodge City, we follow the journey of Bridget, a sixteen-year-old orphan whose life takes a dramatic turn following the death of her alcoholic father.

Craven's debut novel is a masterful reimagining of the Western genre, infusing it with a modern sensibility that challenges traditional narratives. Bridget's character is a refreshing departure from the archetypal damsels often found in historical fiction. Her fiery spirit and red hair are as vivid as the novel's title suggests, making her an unforgettable protagonist.

The narrative thrives on its rich historical backdrop, yet it's the intimate exploration of Bridget's inner world that truly captivates. As she navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery, Bridget's voice resonates with a brash, no-nonsense clarity that is both endearing and empowering. Her romance with Spartan Lee, a legendary female gunfighter, adds a layer of depth to her character, showcasing the transformative power of love and the courage it takes to embrace one's true self.

Craven's portrayal of the Buffalo Queen Saloon is meticulous, capturing the daily rhythms of life with an authenticity that transports readers to the heart of the Kansas prairie. The camaraderie among the "sporting women" is a testament to the strength found in female solidarity, while the novel's action sequences are as thrilling as they are cinematic.

"Lucky Red" is more than just a tale of the Wild West; it's a story about claiming one's place in a world that often seeks to diminish it. Bridget's journey is a poignant meditation on the choices we make and the paths we forge. Claudia Craven has crafted a novel that is both a rollicking adventure and a thoughtful exploration of identity, making "Lucky Red" a standout addition to the genre.

In conclusion, "Lucky Red" is a novel that defies expectations, offering a fresh perspective on the Western narrative.

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I wanted to love Lucky Red so badly! But unfortunately it wasn’t for me and I ended up DNFing around the 30% mark. I found the main character to be quite dull, and I had zero interest in the plot or any care to find out where it was going. I’m giving it a 3 star rating as I don’t feel it would be fair to rate it any lower as I didn’t finish the book

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Went into this book completely blind despite it sitting on my TBR for quite some time and I was blown away with how engaging it was. I could not get enough of the story and was very impressed by the writing itself.

Bridget's story was unlike any other I've read (admittedly do not read much "out west" historical fiction) and I was quickly engrossed in her journey to the Buffalo Queen and how she went from a very independent woman to someone who must rely on her friends to save the day. Bridget's self discovery during her time at the brothel was slowly revealed and even though her desire and love for other women was easily exploited, it took her on an adventure she never expected to take.

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Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you like Westerns, you'll enjoy this one with a modern twist. I am a gamer that has played Red Dead Redemption enough to want books that remind me of it, even with a modern spin, and if you have thought the same then this book needs to be the next one you read.

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I’m going with four stars for "Lucky Red," but I’m being a tiny bit generous. It’s a debut novel, and as is typical of most debuts, Claudia Cravens makes a few rookie mistakes in it. Her mistakes didn’t stop me from enjoying myself, though, so four stars feels better than three stars, I guess.

What I wish Cravens would’ve done a bit differently is speed up Bridget’s transformation from 1877 Dodge City brothel whore to gunslinger. Most of the novel is set inside the walls of the brothel, dwelling in its mundane daily happenings, and it isn’t until the very end that we see some female gunslinging action.

The static nature of the story, however, does allow for a nice amount of character development which is beneficial when we examine Bridget’s sexual experiences at the brothel and her path to realizing she’s attracted to women. But it’s also another misstep in a way because I felt like I knew the character so well, and based upon the love story that came before it, I just couldn’t believe Bridget would do what she does at the very end. Spartan Lee, yes, but Bridget, no.

To be clear: I still really liked this debut. I will be the first in line for Cravens’s second book.


My sincerest appreciation to Claudia Cravens, The Dial Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

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Although I'm not a fan of Westerns, I would recommend this to a reader looking for a woman-centered Western.

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I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

In her debut novel - Cravens paints a picture of the American West set in 1877. Sixteen year old Bridget is caring for her ill father after her mother died in childbirth. As they set out from Arkansas to their "new home" in Kansas, they take shelter in a shack one night. During the night, her father is bitten by a rattlesnake and dies shortly thereafter. With $4 to her name and a donkey, she takes off, hoping to find anything to start her life. She barely makes it to Dodge City. There, she sells her donkey and the few items she brought with her Once the funds run out, she is again penniless and homeless. Her bright red hair causes her to get recruited to a local brothel, Buffalo Queen. There, she is taken care of, earns her own money, and finally has female friends.

All of this is in jeopardy when Bridget falls for a female gunslinger who is notorious to the area. She has her sights set on Bridget, but is there something else going on?

What a great read. Thank you for an updated Western story.

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Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!~

I freaking LOVE a good western, but then you also make it queer? How could I not fall in love with this? Full of lots of endearing and firey characters, this book is a wild ride. It starts off with pure chaos and continues through it the entire book. Highly recommend if you also love a good western!

While this was primarily an ebook read, I did get to hear an excerpt of the audiobook and I could not recommend it enough. The narrator does a phenomenal job voicing these characters.

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I enjoyed this one a lot! It was a smooth read. Great debut novel, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for what the author writes next!
Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

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Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens is a Sophia western adventure of your dreams. This was quite the unique read and very much a nice change of pace from what I currently read. I found it enjoyable and the writing though slow to begin, I stuck by it and really enjoyed the plotting, and the characters.

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Representation: Lesbians, gender defying

Rating: 4/5 I admit, I struggled with reading the beginning of this book and put it down a few times before finishing it. But once we got into the meat of the story, I was in. I really enjoyed that this was two coming-of stories within one - Bridget is becoming an adult in her own right, out of her father's shadow, and she's discovering her queerness at the same time. This book explores brothel life, and what it can be like "competing" with the other girls for favor, and just how rough it can be at times. Outlaws, forbidden romance, action, betrayal, it has it all. If you love Wild West type of stories, this is definitely the read for you.

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I had no clue what to expect based on this book cover and it certainly wasn’t an entertaining western that took me on an adventure! Oh I loved this one!

Thank you #dialpress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

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I liked the concept of this book, but felt the execution was difficult to get into.

The book was a bit slow, and while I wanted to like the main character, I just couldn’t relate to her. She felt stagnant too and lacked growth.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

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FINALLY A NEW QUEER WESTERN WITH STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS!!!! I will shout this books praises from the rooftops! As someone who has been on a personal mission to bring more awareness to the inclusivity that does exist within the western genre, Cravens delivers and continues to pave the way for the new western.

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This ended up being a DNF for me. I could not connect with the main character and found her struggle was really depressing for me.

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I loved this sapphic western story! It was so well written and kept me entertained, and guessing the whole time.

The pacing was perfect, and I loved this revenge story! LUCKY RED is a coming of age Western story, set on the American frontier.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-coming-of-age
-outlaws and a brothel
-a sapphic adventure story

*many thanks to PRH, PRH Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

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This was an interesting read, I am not very much into westerns but this was original and the main character had a strong personality that I loved!

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A sapphic western? Say no more.
Claudia Cravens creates a tenuous atmosphere that keeps your eyes glued to the page. She shines a light on an often ignored portion of the old west and gives them depth and complex relationships. Bridget, our main character, is an energetic and ambitious, if naive, girl and we follow her journey of self discovery all the way through each disastrous consequence of her actions. She is so easy to fall in love with, as well as the entire cast of women surrounding her.

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Such a whirlwind of western action and sapphic desire! I had the best time reading this one, and it swept me up entirely into its atmosphere.

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This book is fucking amazing. It is, in my opinion, a perfectly-paced, meticulously-crafted, slow-boiling epic tale of revenge. And that journey from relative innocence to hardened blood-thirsty vengeance is so delicious.

I love how the story explores brothel life and the community or lack thereof that exists between the girls. I love that it’s a coming-of-age, coming-into-queerness story for Bridget. I love the forbidden romance, the dangerous outlaws, the gender-defiant criminals, the betrayal, the action, the suspense, all of it.

But I also love how every single detail in this story *matters.* And you may hear me say that and think, “Isn’t that a given?” In terms of craft, a scene should never just be something happening. It should advance the plot, it should reveal something about the characters, it should establish atmosphere or the rules of the world, it should introduce a complication. It should do *something.* But that’s not always a given, and I was blown away by how every little detail in this story added up to something greater, foreshadowed something, introduced characters or places that would serve some greater purpose later in the story. It’s like adding one grain of sand to a pile at a time—at first you can’t tell the difference, but then suddenly you have a mountain.

I think what I’m getting at here is that the pay-off of the story is so incredibly satisfying. Not only in terms of action, because it’s all building towards this classically Western epic showdown, but also in terms of Bridget’s character—the way she’s torn between self-preservation and pushing herself to be something more than just someone who survives. She’s realizing that all the people and institutions she’s ever put her faith in and been loyal to are not loyal back to her. She’s learning how easily the world can turn its back on you, especially when you’re seen as “disposable,” and that’s why she wants to take her fate into her own hands.

"Lucky Red" is simply incredible. It’s well-written, it keeps you guessing until the very end. I loved every single thing about it. Absolutely no notes. This was an easy five star read for me.

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