Did not finish @30%. I was screening it for a YA top 2023 novels list and I knew it would not have wide appeal. It felt repetitive and the writing style was labored.

Bladestay is a western tale of betrayal, vengeance and love. It was written from a third person perspective with many flashbacks adding context to current in-story events. Our main character is Theo, a 17-year-old girl who will do anything for her family and town. This headstrong young lady disguises herself as a boy and infiltrates a band of violent men as they search for a traitor and a diamond.

Writing critiques: It was hard to enjoy the flashbacks because it gave so much away about the plot. It felt like we were being spoiled as what came about RIGHT before the MC finds out. Specifically I believe chapter 36 was unneeded. It would have been nice to learn that August was lying at the same time Theo learned it. I also don't feel like we needed to know what Rose was doing leading up to her run-in with Billy and her daughter. The story had good pacing until the flashbacks. I would have liked to see Blacksmith tell what really happened OR even have August tell us what really happened. Regardless, these two moments were kind of a let down to me and slowed the pacing of the book.

Overall story: You can tell that Jackie Johnson has a love for history! I love the diversity in the characters and how the Mexican-American war played into the story. It felt as though this could have been a real story of two men and how their fractured friendship led to the death of full towns. The characters are so deeply flawed but makes them so human and likable. I loved seeing the struggle of caring for someone even when they have done you wrong from Theo and Billy because it is real! Very enjoyable cast of characters.

The description of this book did not mention that it was YA. If I had known it was YA, I would have skipped it, since it's one of my least favorite genres/target age groups. I'm going to try to keep that in mind and review this compared to other YA books that I have read.

I agree with other reviewers in that it slightly gives True Grit vibes, but focuses more on angsty young people. It had a good story line with a strong female main character. No one was who they said they were and this had so many plot twists. I'm usually okay with one or two good twists, but this had so many I did have a hard time keeping up. I do like a good dark western, though. Overall, I think when compared to many YA books, this was pretty decent with dialogue and character development. I think I was expecting something like Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (which I loved). Bladestay didn't quite measure up to that one, but I didn't hate this book. I would give it 3.5 stars, so it will round up to 4 for review purposes.

Bladestay is epic! I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I am not normally a lover of westerns but this one got me. It was a gripping tale of a girl on the cusp of women hood who it thrown into the chaos of an old beef between two killers. In fighting for her family, she found love, truth, power and herself. The writing was entrancing and the characters were amazing. Theo is a brilliant, strong and inspiring heroine who you can't help but root for. I highly recommend this book.

Oh. My. God.

I loved this book.

Theo is one of my favourite FMCs of all time — she’s absolutely brutal, but also loving and smart and utterly magnificent. I felt like the romance with Brody/Billy was sort of underdeveloped, but maybe it’s just because of how fast the pace of the book picked up in the second half.

I actually felt sorry for August. I’d kill to see another novel about him.

5/5, definitely wasn’t expecting this to be as good as it was. <3

This was a great true Western novel for YA readers. I liked the formula for the plot and that the book had some diversity. I also liked the adventure and danger of the main character. I hope to see more form this author.

Jackie Johnson does a great job writing this book, it had everything that I was hoping for. The story has a great overall arc and the characters worked well overall in this time-period. I enjoyed the concept and thought it was written perfectly.

While I enjoyed this read, I wish the issue of Billy not being allowed back in Bladestay and where that leaves his relationship with Theo was more firmed up. Also, it would have been nice to see Theo with her family before the conflict began.

Overall, the romantic storyline was well-developed and the action was interesting. I read it in under 24 hours

REVIEW: Bladestay by Jackie Johnson

Thank you to @jaqsattack and @netgalley for proving me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If I told you this was just a YA novel set in the Old Wild West of America, I’d be underselling the book entirely.

Theodora assumes the identity of a young boy in order to get closer to the leader of a gang in town, August Gaines. Unfortunately for her, she lands herself in a world filled with brutality, violence and vengeance.

It’s an action packed western that Johnson expertly weaves a love story into and from the first page I was hooked. The writing is extremely engaging and descriptive that I could picture every location and character perfectly and could see every action scene unfold in my mind.

I finished this book knowing it will stay with me until the end of time, it had me struggling to put my kindle down and has cemented itself as the best YA novel I’ve read in the last year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

When a violent, decades-long feud between two powerful men comes to a head in the small settlement of Bladestay, Colorado, cunning resident Theo Creed must use her wits to stay alive.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this one. Well done.

If I said this was just a gritty, Old Western type story then I would be underselling this book totally. The feud that ends up in the small town of Bladestay changes everything. But Theo isn’t just going to lie down when violence comes a calling. So watch out. Thank you to CamCat Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.