This is a well written historical novel with a bit of horror woven in. I didn’t give it a higher rating because, frankly, I think that the horror was superfluous and detracted from the story of homesteading and surviving in 1910s Montana. I was more interested in the women and other townspeople than I was the “monster.” Even more so after the latino (?) couple are introduced who seem to know what the monster is, and yet nothing meaningful results from them being in the story. I can only assume that “one of the most anticipated reads of 2023” is due to the author’s skills and previous books and not the story. It is well written and I did enjoy the historical part of the story, I just don’t think the “monster” was necessary to add in.

I really enjoyed my first foray into Victor LaValle. I have already picked up the Changeling and added that to my TBR since I enjoyed Lone Women so much. This was a great mash up of historical fiction, horror, and suspense. I fell into a rabbit hole in regard to homesteading as it was hard to believe that a woman, further a black woman, would be able to homestead on her own so far back in history. Turns out, it is true. Not only that, but at least one character from this book, Bertie Brown was based on a real life African American homesteader form the 1800s. In fact, the first homesteader in Montana was a woman in 1868. Very cool! I am hoping the final copy of this book will include a historical note on all the cool real-life characters and events LaValle included in his book. A very awesome twist on historic events.

I love books in the Western genre, but unfortunately rarely see representations of those who are not old white men, or white women written as stereotypes. "Lone Women" by Victor LaValle is a breath of fresh air in this regard. Adelaide is a 30-year-old Black woman who decides to strike out on her own with a giant trunk with a mysterious padlock. The novel opens with her leaving her previous home in flames and heading from the West Coast to Montana. There, she procures a cabin and tries to make a life for herself. But whatever is in that trunk won't let her let go of her past.

I liked Adelaide's friends, Grace, Bertie, and Fiona. I also like the antagonists of the book, The Mudges. I felt like all of the characters were well-developed and empathetically portrayed. Without giving too much away, a trans character is also in the book and has a positive support system, which I rarely see in literature. I also really enjoyed the horror aspect of this book, as the tension at the beginning of the novel about what was in the trunk was really effective. Overall, I recommend this book to people who want a Lovecraftian horror without the racism.

This was such a unique read for me! I went in blind other than knowing it was horror. I think I built the horror up in my head to be worse than it was. This book was more of a gruesome mystery. When Adelaide says goodbye to her dead parents, she heads off to Montana with a little bit of money and a very heavy trunk. She is starting her life over at 31 years of age. This takes place in the early 1900's and the story was very atmospheric. I was having anxiety over the conditions for Adelaide! This was educational - I learned about this time period, while also haunting and exciting. I was so curious to see what would happen. This had a little bit of a paranormal aspect to it which I'm not the biggest fan of but it was actually interesting in this case and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a historical horror. Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her. Kept under lock and key, she guards it with a nervous eye because when the trunk opens, people start to disappear. It’s 1914 and she is in trouble. Her secret killed her parents and she’s forced to flee her hometown. She makes her way to Montana where she plans to homestead. She hopes that the big blue skies and the empty land will be room enough to hide her horrifying secret. Adelaide is one of many “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can cultivate it. As she makes friends with other women homesteaders, she rebuilds her life. Will her homestead be the place to finally find peace? Or will her secret be revealed?
Lone Women is my first book by Victor LaValle who is known for blending historical fiction with inventive horror and poetic prose. From the opening scene, I was intrigued by Adelaide’s actions. What could her secret possibly be that would lead her to flee from the only home she has ever known? When she arrives in Montana, she meets an eclectic group of people with secrets of their own. Some for evil, some for riches and some for self-preservation. There were twists and turns with every turn of the page. As secrets are revealed and Adelaide fights for her new life, the story takes readers on a strange trip. As I closed the final pages, I found it hard to describe this book. Overall, I enjoyed it. If you enjoy historical horror, I recommend Lone Women.

Lone Women will be available March 28, 2023 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook.

Ok. I do own a few @victorlavalle books, but I hadn’t picked one up yet until this one. And boy am I glad I did! Right from the start I was pulled into the story and found myself completely enamored with the main character, Adelaide. I have been hard pressed to find a female character that I really loved that didn’t seem artificial, but Adelaide is the total package. An absolute gem 🙌.

—-

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥: 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵.”

It’s the year 1914, and Adelaide Henry is fleeing her hometown of Redondo, California, leaving two dead parents in her wake. Dragging an old steamer trunk along with her, she makes her way to Montana carrying a terrible secret inside.

Taking advantage of free land that the government is offering, she moves onto a small homestead where she tries to keep her secret locked safely inside. But one day it gets out, and a massive trail of destruction follows in its path.

“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

—-

Historical fiction meets horror in this compelling new book by Victor Lavalle. It starts off ‘on fire’ and really just stays at a campfire pace after that, basking the reader in its radiant glow. The beautiful prose and flawless progression of the story, really make for a highly engaging read. I have high praise for this one and recommended preordering, or grabbing a copy when it comes out March 28th 🤩.

Here's a fun fact about me as a person: I would have absolutely died in the old west. Like, no question. Adelaide finds herself alone, dealing with her parents' deaths, which she feels responsible for, and decides to leave for California and head to rural Montana. This, friends, is where I would die. On the way, likely. Or maybe when I got to Montana and had to like, live off the land. Either way, I was in awe of Adelaide from the start. Even if I high key was suspicious that she may have offed her parents.

Anyway, make it to Montana she does, for she is not me. But man. The author does an amazing job of showcasing how isolating the west could be in the early twentieth century! What did they do all day? Cry? I would have cried. Sure, she has to "cultivate the land" or whatever, but it was just such a vast, vast place with neighbors few and far between. Adelaide meets some people, sure. Some were the neighborly sort, who would I guess come by every 6-8 weeks and check that you weren't a corpse. Others... well let's suffice it to say that Adelaide encountered a few people who made her past seem like the least of her worries.

So the mystery is twofold: One, what the heck happened to Adelaide and her parents back at home? What is she hiding? And why is she so desperate to keep it hidden? The second is that this whole town (county, maybe?) is messed up. Like there is something here that just seems off. And not just because of the isolated wilderness, no, it goes beyond that. And that is all I will say about that.

The story is very atmospheric, and definitely kept me interested and guessing throughout. I loved reading about powerful women on the frontier, trying to make their way and prove that they have the strength and will to do anything. I did feel a bit distant to Adelaide, but that might be because she had so many secrets to keep. All in all, it was a good one!

Bottom Line: Surviving in the west on your own is hard enough, but with secrets upon secrets, things get extra wild, and I am here for it!

I received an ARC for this book. I was intrigued by the description. Adelaide is a black homesteader in Montana in the early 1900’s. She has left California to use The Homestead Act. She brings with her few belongings and a large trunk, which she does not want out of her sight. The mystery is totally unexpected. I could not stop reading the book. I found it mesmerizing and unforgettable.

great book and such great characters. I enjoyed the mystery and some romance. I also enjoyed the journey of the characters. I didn't know what to expect with this book but I enjoyed it .

[4.5 stars rounded up to 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book!

When I first read the description of this novel, I knew it was one I didn't want to miss. I'm so glad it lived up to the expectations I had!

<i>Lone Women</i> follows Adeline, who is moving from California to Montana to homestead. She leaves with little to her name, carrying only a travel pack and a trunk that she can't open, because if she does, she just might let something out.

That's really all you need to know about this novel. I recommend not knowing anymore.

I've been craving a good Western horror with a diverse cast of characters, and that's exactly what this is. The atmosphere of Big Sandy and its surrounding areas was perfect: the relentless wind, the isolation, the bitter cold, the ghost towns. It was all so good. The character work is also fantastic, and I loved the queer representation.

Everything about this just worked for me.

The cover to this book is stunning and the prose is beautiful. My issues are the plot holes. Two very specific bits if information are revealed about Elizabeth towards the end of the book but are never explained or expanded on. Those two plot points being explained would have pushed this to a 4 to 5 star for me. Not knowing has taken away from the story. The end feels rushed and I feel nothing is explained. I feel there is so much more to the end of this story and am disappointed we didn't receive it.

Having loved The Ballad of Black Tom and also The Changeling, I was thrilled by the opportunity to read a copy of Victor Lavalle’s new novel, Lone Women. It completely exceeded my expectations.

It’s the early twentieth century, and Adelaide Henry flees the homestead in California where she’d lived all her 31 years. She leaves with a secret locked in a steamer trunk, and attempts to establish herself on a homestead in remote area of Montana, a territory where single women can purchase a plot of land. Needless to say, not everything is what it seems, and what follows is an amazing tale that shines in a mix of horror and historical fiction. The characters, even the minor ones, are extremely well drawn and come to vivid life. Mr. Lavalle’s plotting is skillful, leaving no loose plot ends, even minor ones. I reveled in the excellence of the writing.

If Lone Women doesn’t become Victor Lavalle’s breakout novel, then there’s no justice in this world.

My many thanks to the publisher, and to Netgalley, for allowing me to read this wonderful new novel, scheduled to come out March 28.

This is a fusion of horror and historical-fiction--a reimagining of America's Wild West set in 1915. The first chapter grabs you immediately: Adelaide Henry, a 31-year-old black woman, leaves her family's California farm in a most dramatic and final way. She is taking some baggage with her in the form of a large, heavy trunk and is heading for Montana where she hopes to homestead some land of her own.

Montana is a frontier land where Adelaide and other women, as it turns out, can come for a fresh start. But so much is against them succeeding, including other settlers and Mother Nature herself. It turns out though that Adelaide's biggest problem (and her shame) is in the trunk she's brought with her...and secrets can always find a way out, to everyone's horror.

This is my first taste of Victor LaValle's writing but it won't be my last. He has a created a mind-blowing world where anything can happen...and does! I won't soon forget these women.

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Title: Lone Women
Author: Victor Lavalle
Genre: Historical Fiction, Supernatural horror

My Review:

Lone Women is a novel that is so unique that it is very difficult to review it. Though it is a historical fiction with a horror element, this book can fit into many different sub genres.

The story is about Adelaide, but it's also about others. It's about the unknowns, about our fears, it's about finding our own strengths and it's about survival. There is so much packed in this book that it does leave a mark even after you are done with the book.

The pace of this book is excellent. Once you start the book, it's hard to put it down, but you definitely need to take a break because it's not an easy one. If you are looking for a book that is very different from other historical fictions, pick this one up.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the book.

CW: blood, violence, mild description of confinement

Source: DRC via NetGalley (Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: March 28, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Enjoying the posts? Buy me a “coffee” or become a member on Ko-Fi, or become a patron on Patreon!
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/angryangelbooks

Why did I choose to read this book?

I have a soft spot in my heart for survival stories, and if there is an element of historical fiction thrown in there, well, I’m probably going to check out your book. 🙂 And if your story is about badass women too? GIMME

What is this book about?

A black woman has moved to Montana to stake her claim on land that is available after running away from her parents’ farm, which she has lit on fire on her way out (her parents’ dead bodies left inside the farmhouse!). All she carries is a travel bag and a giant trunk that contains an unknown that she is guarding with her life. Once she arrives at her claim she makes friends with the other women who are doing the same thing and makes friends, which becomes very important once the unknown from her trunk escapes and wreaks havoc.

More generally this book is about how, when you are alone you are never really alone. If you look around you, there will be others like you that you can join together with to become stronger. On the negative side, this book reminds us that we can never really escape our past – we can either die of shame or we can face it and become better people. It’s mostly about found family and you all know I’m a sucker for these kinds of stories too.

What is notable about this story?

I’m gonna do this one as a list.

Don’t trust rich people.
Don’t trust men.
Ask for help when you need it so people have the option to support you.
Accept and protect trans people
Accept and protect LGBTQIA+ people
Support friends when they are dealing with their shit
Gentrification fucking sucks (even in the early 1900s in rural Montana!)
Fuck around and find out (see also: be a ride or die bitch for your weird friend group)
If you search, if you listen, if you don’t give up, you will find home. You will find happiness.
Just because someone is a woman, it doesn’t automatically mean they are safe (see #1).
Just a very valuable story about learning who to trust and creating/protecting your found family.

Additionally this one is a very quick read. It has a wonderful level of tension that keeps you moving, but it lets you rest too, the calms between the storm.

Was anything not so great?

This book was truly a delight to read. I love a book that tricks me into following social norms and then makes me feel like a gullible asshole for falling into a false sense of security. I don’t have any critiques of this one – I zoomed through it and I wish there was more.

What’s the verdict?

5 stars on Goodreads. A well-written, important story about how we treat people on the fringes of “society” and why that is hurtful, wrong, and monstrous. As relevant today as it has ever been in this country (USA) that I call home. (Also side note: if you enjoy this one, check out The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah. It has a similar survival/historical fiction vibe.) Run, don’t walk, to your nearest library or bookseller on March 28th when it officially releases to get yourself a copy. You won’t be disappointed. Let me know in the comments what you thought after you’ve read it.

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle is a historical-horror. It is a very unusual story…though you might have guessed that from the genre.

Adelaide Henry is a 31 year old Black woman living in 1915 southern California. In the first chapter, she douses her house in gasoline and sets fire to her dead parents wrapped in their bed. She then begins a journey to Montana, the only state where lone women homesteaders (regardless of colour) don’t need a man to cosign for a tract of land. Adelaide carries with her a big trunk she keeps padlocked shut. Around page 82, the padlock is opened for the first time, and the horror part of the book kicks in.

There are many things to like about this book: I love a historical novel that teaches me about historical facts of which I was unaware (yes, apparently lone women homesteaders in Montana was a thing). I love a book with short snappy chapters that prompt me to read “just one more chapter.” I love stories with LGBTQ+ inclusion, particularly when these stories come with no agenda: LGBTQ+ people existed in history too! And, I love a bad-ass bitch, of which there are several in this novel.

But what I don’t like about the book is the amount of inferencing required. Lone Women is a short book that could easily have been longer with a bit more character development and details. Lavalle left a lot of the details to my own imagination, and while this is sometimes engaging, it sometimes feels like he’s left the heavy-lifting to the reader.

I enjoyed reading Lone Women, but don’t know who I would recommend it to. Three-and-a-half stars, rounded up for Goodreads.

Lone Women will be published on March 28. Thanks to Random House, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review. As it happens, I ended up buying the book through BOTM, so I had two copies to draw from.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked reading about the group of strong women, the Lone Women. It was interesting to read about this time period and LaValle included a lot of themes relevant to the time. I don’t know much about homesteading in the West during the beginning of the 1900s and I didn’t think much about single women, including Black women, being a part of this population, so I enjoyed learning a bit more about that. This is categorized as horror, but while the story had some unsettling moments that gave me a spooky feeling, I think this is more of a historical fiction with just a touch of horror. There were a lot of unexpected turns that this book took after the initial twist was revealed, so I often felt like I had no idea what was happening while reading. There were also multiple storylines happening at once but they came together in the end. It felt like I was constantly waiting for a big reveal to happen and I’m not sure one ever truly did. But, I appreciate how the story ended and I enjoyed the journey of reading this.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a standalone novel mainly set in and near Big Sandy, Montana. The author has managed to combine horror, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, and the supernatural in a western set in 1914-1915. Featuring thirty-one-year-old Adelaide Henry, the novel also sheds light on the little-known historical fact that single, widowed, divorced, or deserted women who where at least 21 could become homesteaders and through “proving” their claim, own their own land.

Adelaide flees her home town of Redondo, California with only one bag and a very heavy and locked steamer trunk. Arriving in Montana, she starts making improvements on her land and keeping her terrible secret. Distant neighbors call, but Adelaide isn’t alone. What is her hidden secret?
Adelaide is full of grief, worry, and uncertainty, but she also experiences anticipation and excitement. Will she truly be free for the first time in her life? I still don’t understand why she left her home with as little as she did. How did she think she would survive? Perhaps it was the shock of the events in California.

What a shocking first paragraph! It immediately pulled me into the story. The writing is vivid and atmospheric. Readers slowly learn Adelaide’s secret and experience the west with its good and bad. Neighbors tended to help neighbors in time of need. However, there is also racism and vigilantism. Diverse characters, secrets, death, loneliness, difficult socioeconomic conditions, theft, curiosity, vengeance, rage, freedom, the supernatural, and retribution are also weaved into the storyline. My main quibble is the uneven pacing.

I always expect to learn something new from a historical fiction novel, and this one delivered. Information about the lone women homesteaders wasn’t something that was taught in any of my classes, making this novel a good fit to read during women’s history month.

Overall, this was a compelling, shocking, unique, and dark story that also had some uplifting moments. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Random House Publishing Group - Random House, One World and Victor LaValle provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for March 28, 2023.

We meet 31 year old Adelaide Henry as she flees California after burning her family’s farm down, where her parents lay dead. She leaves only with a heavy steamer trunk that must remain locked at all times. Her plan is to go to Montana, where a single Black woman is allowed to homestead - a chance for a new life. It would be a lot easier if it weren’t for the burden she carries, and the knowledge of what happens when her trunk is opened.
This book keeps your guessing from page one - and I would highly recommend going into it blind. There’s not a lot to say about the plot that doesn’t spoil it. The setting is dark, atmospheric, and increasingly blood-soaked.
This is a story about marginalized women. We have a full cast of characters; they vary in race, sexuality, economic status, and motives, but are seemingly drawn together. LaValle was able to bring out each of them so completely, they felt like they could leap from the page.
You know, when I started this review, I had put down four stars, but as I write this I think I’ll be upgrading it to a five. There is just so much to think about here! I think it’ll be on my mind for a while. Don’t miss this one.

I wanted to love this but I only liked it. There wasn't anything WRONG with it I just never managed to feel deeply interested in the writing. The main character was great, I loved her, I wanted to keep reading about her, but the writing just kept me at arms length.