“Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk opens, people around Adelaide start to disappear.

The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.

Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.”

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I borrowed a copy of this on ebook from my library.

Thoughts: I enjoyed this quite a bit and especially loved how the book ended. This was a very different read but I loved the history here as well as the unique, strong female characters. Prior to reading this I had read Lavalle’s “The Ballad of Black Tom” and really enjoyed that as well.

Adelaide Henry joins us standing over the dead bodies of her parents while she prepares to burn her Californian house down and journey out to Montana. Out in Montana she hopes to claim a homestead, taking advantage of the “lone woman” loop hole in the government’s offer of free land to any person who can make the land productive and survive. Adelaide doesn’t bring much with her, just a mysterious truck that is strangely heavy and that she is very protective of.

I loved the adventure overtones to this book and really enjoyed the mystery of what was in the truck. Adelaide and the other “lone women” are fascinating characters; they are tough and resourceful with very different pasts. However, they have a current goal that brings them together…surviving the Montana winter and the dangers it brings. Add to this a town of dubious residents and a bit of a fantasy/horror element and you have a story that I struggled to put down.

This story is about survival and striking out on one’s own and finding a family for yourself when your own family has failed you. There are heavy horror elements and some of the scenes get very gory. I enjoyed every bit of this and especially liked the ending. It was fun to see an ending like this for a historical fantasy horror story.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I really enjoyed this. This is a bit of a different story about strong women, adventure on the western frontier, survival, and things that go bump in the night. I would recommend if you are looking for something in that vein or if you are just looking for a historical western fantasy that is a bit different from anything else you have read and don’t mind some horror elements.

This is the second book by Lavalle I have really enjoyed. I love his unique historical re-imaginings, intriguing characters and the way he blends in dark horror/fantasy elements. I definitely plan on picking up his other books as well

Review – Lone Women by Victor Lavalle (4/5 stars)

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