I loved this book! The first 80 pages I was in complete suspense, and then the adventure truly began. Adelaide Henry leaves California to stake a homesteading claim in Montana, running away from a problem while also bringing it with her. I don’t want to say much more about the plot, but this was such a compelling piece of speculative horror.

“But maybe that’s the whole point of your evil. No answers. No explanations. The silence is the worst part of suffering.”

There are a lot of secrets in this book, but don’t worry, the author doesn’t keep us in the dark—all is revealed eventually, and it’s horrible and powerful and maybe even beautiful. I’m not sure I understood any intended metaphors, but there’s a lot about suffering and its sources.

This was my favorite line: “A front-page story in one person’s life might not even rate a line in the next person’s newspaper.”

In this book, LaValle gives us a peek into the front-page stories of fictional women based on real lone women, who braved the brutality of the early West. I recommend this highly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advance digital arc—I ended up getting a copy in my BOTM subscription too and will happily add it to my overstuffed bookshelves.

Book Review👹
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Summary: 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.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts: thank you @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley it’s hard to post my thoughts without a spoiler but I’ll give it a go! This was so much fun, it gave me historical fiction meets supernatural vibes. I think I’m totally satisfied with this one, I’d love to see it turned into a movie it was fantastic. A lot of people are comparing this to Get Out I would say it’s closer to Nope, much more western then people give it credit for. There were some parts of the story that I didn’t really see what the point was. I wanted a cleaner ending but I thought this was a great horror book and one I won’t forget anytime soon!
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QOTD: do you like westerns or horror?! I love both 😍 this was a great combination.
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#lonewomen #victorlavalle #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofinsta #bibliophile #booknerd #bookworm #bookwormsunite #bookish #booklover #bookobsessed #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #readersgonnaread #reade

Lone Women follows Adelaide Henry, a woman living in 1915 who has decided leave California to build a new life as a homesteader in Montana. Although she leaves California in an effort to leave her family and its secrets behind, she has one big secret that she’s forced to carry with her to Montana. And because of that secret, violence, death and destruction follow Adelaide to Montana.

I thought Lone Women was a fun and refreshing read. To me the cover made it seem like it would be much heavier and more emotional than it really is. There are some dark elements, but never so much that it slowed down my reading pace or weighed on me emotionally in any way. Adelaide and her friends were all likable, so they were easy characters to root for. The story was fast paced, but it never felt rushed.

I’ve never read a book that handles horror in the same way Lone Women does, so I think this book is a little unique. It’s more of a historical fiction novel than a horror, but the horror aspect is always present as it is necessary to create the story’s main antagonist. My biggest complaint about this story is that I wish we’d been given just a little more background information about the antagonist and how it came to be.

I recommend trying out Lone Women. I’m not telling you to rush off to read it, but I do think you should add it to your TBR.

I’m a sucker for female-centered horror novels and movies; Victor LaValle’s newest book, “Lone Women,” takes feminist horror to a new level.

A blend of feminist horror, thriller, historical fiction, and women’s fiction, “Lone Women” paints a brutally evocative portrait of a woman fleeing death and the horrifying secret locked in her steamer trunk. Set in 1915, Adelaide takes advantage of the Montana government’s offer of free land to those who can successfully live off it like many other ‘lone women’ before her. The only difference between her and the other ‘women’? Well, she didn’t come to Montana alone––the steamer trunk she lugs around holds her dark sin and is why she fled California. But nothing can stay locked away for long, and eventually, Adelaide’s secret unleashes itself upon her community, but it might be the only thing that’ll help her survive.

The writing style is a triumph all on its own. Atmospheric and compelling from the first page to the very last, LaValle somehow Stockholm Syndrome’s readers into rooting for the monster, whomever you believe it is. And the prose, oh, the prose, is as unique and dark as this novel. LaValle doesn’t mince his words about the hardships, racism, and sexism of the Wild West, either.

Due to the bouncing perspectives, the pacing is slightly off-kilter, especially in the middle portion of the novel when Adelaide’s sin is revealed. Yet, I couldn’t seem to put “Lone Women” down and devoured it in a matter of days because of LaValle’s compelling writing and his ability to consistently drive suspense from the book's first paragraph.

Vivid, heart-pounding, and deliciously vengeful, “Lone Women” delights and terrifies with every twist LaValle masterfully crafts. Undoubtedly, “Lone Women” will be a timeless staple of feminist horror.

This ARC was provided by One World and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Follow @bergreadstoomuch on Instagram for more!

Adelaide Henry is running away. With nothing but a small bag, a ridiculously heavy steamer trunk, and an ambitious plan, she is moving to the lonely plains of Montana to start a new life. But, is there danger lurking in that unforgiving land, or is the danger in her trunk?

Lone Women by Victor LaValle was an excellent blend of horror, historical fiction, mystery, and female empowerment. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to love it, because the western genre isn't typically my cup of tea. But, I loved Lavalle's The Ballad of Black Tom, and I've heard great things about his book, The Changeling. From the very first page, I was hooked and then, completely submerged the whole way through. You find yourself rooting for Adelaide even while questioning some of her decisions. Then, in the second half of the book, we get new and additional characters and perspectives, and the suspense just keeps building. Surprises pop up in almost every chapter, and I was, in no way, prepared for that ending. There was some lovingly handled LGBTQIA+ representation. LaValle's writing is so refreshing with some appropriately placed f bombs here and there. And, I loved the themes of family, both found and born with, and what you would and wouldn't do for them. Definitely one of my favorites of 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House, One World for the chance to read and review this book.

When I requested this book on Netgalley, I didn't realize it had an aspect of fantasy about it. Which isn't typically my preference. Still, I thought the author did a good job of storytelling while depicting a difficult time in our country in just the stark terms it deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this. Devoured it in two sittings. It follows Adelaide Henry who in the aftermath of her mother and father’s death travels West to a Montana homestead as a lone woman to settle the land and make a living by herself. Though she’s not entirely alone, she brings with her a giant padlocked steamer trunk that may growl and make sounds. She then meets a series of other settlers out in Montana and their lives are irrevocably woven together as the story unfolds.

Amazing atmosphere, gripping characters, loved this even though I’m not a fan of period pieces usually, and with the standard LaValle sprinkle of some unsettling uncanny horror.

Fantastic read, deep, moving and engaging from start to finish. I can only recommend it, and to fans of all genres as well. This author should be more popular.

LONE WOMEN is a horror-western of frontier living, tinged with history and secrets. This powerful and haunting story by of the struggle to survive with dignity and autonomy despite the harshest circumstances, and when all the odds are against you, is melancholic and beautiful.

Talk about baggage!

Adelaide Henry is carrying more that here fair share of baggage towards Montana where she hopes to have the space to deal with her own personal demons. What she finds is that the monsters in this small town where she settles don't have claws and scales, but vests and skirts.

Fantastic book, and for those wary about the label of "horror", I would define it as less horror than psychological thriller with fantasy elements in a historical setting. Read it for the beautiful writing and symbolism.

I am so torn over this book. I read this all in one sitting. I had to know the outcome. Perhaps I needed some time to think over what these women were dealing with, but I thought I would not come back to this book if I put it down. I know I need to suspend logic when dealing with fiction, so I can't get too caught up in the details of what doesn't seem feasible.
Women always have to deal with so much more nonsense than men. Who keeps house and home together? Who makes sure things run smoothly? Women always have baggage, but Adelaide literally had baggage. Grace, Bertie, and Fiona also were strong women who held their own against those who thought less of them. It's amazing how women will band together. I'm glad this wasn't a book where petty grievances separated them. The secret in this book, the darkness hanging over Adelaide's head on the cover, is mind-boggling. How do we deal with family secrets? Do we hide them away or do we face them head-on? Do we love the not-so-pretty people in our lives or shut them away never to be seen? Do we acknowledge that I have some ugly truths to face? And how do we feel when our truths become known?
Is this book a favorite of mine? No. Did it make me think? Yeah, too much. Am I Adelaide, Grace, or one of the townspeople who want to keep up appearances? Could I withstand what these women faced? Please, I love central heat and air. "Lone Women" could very well be titled 'Strong Women" as these women persevered and overcame. They united and they forgave. I am still processing all that happened in this book, but these women became a family and they are truly admirable.

I received an e-arc from NetGalley and the publisher for an unbiased review.

I wasn’t originally planning to read this as i don’t typically enjoy historical type horror, but after seeing so many of my trusted friends give this nothing but glowing reviews, i had to take a chance. I’m so glad I did because i ended up actually really liking this one!
I won’t rehash the summary, but Adelaide was such a captivating character to follow. I’d say this is one of those rare historical fictions that’s actually fast paced, and the blend of other genre elements like supernatural horror and a few thriller-style twists, kept the story moving along and interesting. the author’s note at the end reveals that the concept of Lone Women and the town of Big Sandy were actually real things that are not widely known about Montana’s history.

4.5 stars

This was a book that drew me in immediately as Adelaide leaves her hometown with a bang and heads for the wilds of Montana, where a single woman, even a single Black woman, could lay claim to land if she were able to make it thrive. With nothing except a heavy steamer trunk, she starts her new life, getting to know some of the neighbors, and daring to hope that she might find a place where she can remain.

We learn early on that she guards a family secret, something dangerous, but even as she forms ties to some in the community, it's easy to see that racism and misogyny still exist, among other things. The author did a great job of building the mystery and giving the reader bits and pieces to keep us hooked and wanting to see how it all plays out. This was a unique blend of mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, and western and I enjoyed it enough that I will be looking for other books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and the publishers, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lone Women is probably the best novel that Victor LaValle has written so far. I read this book in one day and could not put it down! There was not ONE slow or boring chapter and I know that anyone who reads this will be hooked from the very first paragraph.

We're following Adelaide, a lone Black woman who migrates to a rural town in Montana with hopes of homesteading a plot of land. Her only possessions are the clothes on her back and an extremely heavy trunk that she is determined to keep locked. For everyone's sake.

Of course things don't go as planned, and the secret locked away in her trunk is unleashed upon the whole town.

This novel is a complex blend of genres and themes. It is a Western, therefore there are the typical Western elements of cowboys and outlaws in a rugged setting, but this book sets itself apart in that it puts a twist on the genre by centering it’s story around women who find themselves in this environment without the accompaniment of a man. To further this deviation, the main characters of this novel are women who travel across the state of Montana, sometimes even across the country, to stake claims in land plots with the hopes of becoming a landowner. This becomes an even more interesting element of the construction of this novel after reading the author’s note and discovering that this was an actual part of history. In the early part of the 20th century women traveled alone to stake claims in land offered by federal and local governments. Who knew?

Meanwhile, this novel also layers on constant themes about family and shame that drive the characters to make certain decisions throughout the book. From the main character to the side characters to the villain to side villains, everyone has duty to family and is dealing with some sort of familial shame. This is most apparent in the main character of Adelaide Henry however.

Adelaide, Adelaide, dear Adelaide, you are me. I am you. From the start, the reader doesn’t know what to make of Adelaide. Is she a murderer? Is she a harbor? Is she a kidnapper? Whatever she is, she is sympathetic. The author does a great job of keeping you on your toes trying to figure out what exactly is going on with Adelaide. (Insert Se7en movie gif here.) Adelaide, what’s in the trunk??? Why are you running? I read this entire book to answer that question. This is where the horror elements come in.

The horror tones of this book are set from the start with the very first page of the first chapter. While reading I could see the landscape of the homestead, the dark wooden two-story farmhouse surrounded by rows of crops in sunny California, except the air is the hazy gray of morning, the crops are the color of soot, and the wooden farmhouse looks worn down with age and years of secrets. This gray, hazy atmosphere never changes. In fact, it gets even more gray as the setting changes to Big Sandy, Montana and its surrounding towns. Snow can do that to a setting, increase the feeling of isolation. Imagine all that gray on a mountain of white snow.

The horror elements are further pushed along by the plot of the novel. We see Adelaide, the trunk, the other “Lone Women” in the city of Big Sandy, Grace, Bertie, and Fiona, and even little Sam deal with threats both human and supernatural, female and male, environmental and social. There’s a little of everything for everyone.

This is actually the one element of the novel that I take issue with. While I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the story as well as the pacing. I do wish it were more focused on just a few of the main and side characters instead of telling the story from nearly every character with a semblance of importance in the book.

I also wish there was a little more action in the climax. There was one scene in particular that I wanted to read all the gory details about. I waited for it. I hoped for it. It didn’t happen, and I felt robbed.

Other than that, it is a solid 4 out of 5 stars. I also really appreciated the description of and internal dialogue for what it’s like to be an African American woman in the situations Adelaide found herself in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing the ARC for this review. I thoroughly appreciate it.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a book of many genres. It’s womens fiction, historical fiction, thriller, mystery, horror, suspense, and some magic. I enjoyed this mixture very much.


Story Recap:
Lone Women refers to the practice of single women going to Montana to homestead. In this book, we meet Adelaide Henry, a lone woman who must leave California to hide from the secrets that took her parents. She rushes off to Montana with her steamer trunk of troubles to start a homestead in 1915.

Adelines’s steamer trunk stays locked all the time because when she opens it, people start to disappear.

My Thoughts:
Lone Women is a sweeping saga set in the early 1900s in Montana. I really enjoyed this story. I’m not one to enjoy horror, but the horror element wasn’t strong so I was fine with it. I loved all the characters and give the author credit for writing such unusual and compelling characters.

The setting was perfect for the story. The untamed territory of Montana in a small town where anything can happen helps to build the suspense of this story. The story of single lone women homesteading is one I haven’t heard before and I enjoyed learning more about them.

Victor LaValle writes a beautiful, atmospheric tale of strength, determination, cruelty, vengeance, and terrifying secrets. Although this is a dark story, it has its uplifting moments that gave it the balance that I like.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Lone Women to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really love anything weird. Anything that makes you ask (in the best way) “what the hell did I just read?” come the end. See: Catriona Ward’s books, The Book of Accidents, etc. This one definitely delivered.

There’s horror, but it’s more insidious than in-your-face jump scares. It creeps up on you, making you want to constantly look over Adelaide’s shoulder for her. I loved it and felt like the payoff/ending was worth it.

And while it’s gothic, suspenseful, and outright scary at times, it’s also rounded out by great character development, interesting side characters that Adelaide meets along the way, and an exceptional story of women’s empowerment underscoring it all.

Set in the early 1900s in Montana, the story of Adelaide Henry, a woman alone but hauling a terrible secret with her is mesmerizing and well written. Covering multi genres, this is a well written book that is well worth the read, recommended!

I picked up this book because of how intriguing the blurb was and i was so surprised with how much I loved it! I finished it and honestly thought “wtf did I just read”. it was wild, weird, unique story in the best possible way. Think historical fiction meets magical realism meets horror with some supernatural elements in the middle of nowhere Montana.

The story starts off with a bang and I was hooked from the first line: Adelaide's parents are dead and before people find them, she burns down her family home in California and flees for Montana. Already, we’ve got major thriller vibes and tons of questions: Did Adelaide murder her parents? Why? What's in the really heavy trunk that she's traveling with? This tense atmosphere and air of mystery are really well done throughout the book, even after we find out what’s in the trunk.

The book is split into 3 parts and in part 1, Adelaide feels pretty isolated, both physically and emotionally as she journeys to and settles into her new home in Montana. In part 2, the pace slows down a bit as we meet newer characters and Adelaide learns to let some of them in but there are some interesting developments and twists that keep you engrossed.

Things ramp back up in part 3, as Adelaide is forced to face horrors from multiple sources — some "real," some supernatural, and some psychological. Themes of racism, sexism, identity, and loss of family also come into play which made for a uniquely complex story.

By the end, Lone Women delivers a powerful message about family (both found and blood), community, resilience, and the lengths women (especially Black women) went to to find a place in the world, despite the barriers they faced.

The only reason I took a star off was because I wanted the story to delve a little bit deeper into the side characters and their histories and motivations. Overall, still a great read though!

TL;DR: This quick and easy read won’t be for everyone but if you enjoy the idea of a genre-bending story with lots of plot twists that’s equal parts historical fiction, magical realism, western, and horror/thriller… give this a shot! If you do pick it up, get ready for an unexpected, wild ride.

Oooh this one was good. So eerie and creepy! I couldn't put it down. Loved the characters and the setting of the novel. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the ARC!