Sapphic feminist western - what's not to love? Great to see a new fresh spin on what I've always seen as a very tired old genre full of machismo white men. The pacing is slow but there's enough to keep the intrigue.

This book was everything I wanted from it based off the synopsis! A rollicking good time, both the characters and the setting leapt from the pages...and I didn't want to put it down. I'm a sucker for a good Western, and how Cravens makes this a queer and female-centered narrative makes it all the more worthy of the read, since we don't have many Westerns from those perspectives. Can't wait to read more from the author, and find more in this genre I didn't even know existed!

I’m about a year late on getting to this review and that’s on me for being terrible with time. Lucky Red was honestly such a surprise to me. I went in with no knowledge of what it was about. I didn’t even read the blurb.

That said, I was immediately thrown into the Wild West and ended up in a brothel. I’m not mad about it. While there were some parts of the book that felt really slow to me and could have used faster pacing, I liked the overall storyline.

Sapphic western for the cowgirl girlies.

The sapphic western story I didn't know I needed. I went into this hesitant because I prefer a more contemporary romance, but this book held my attention the whole time. Our main character, Bridget, is orphaned and broke. And in the American West during that time you had two job options, clean or s*x work. Bridget chooses the later and finds a group of women who become family. Along the way she finds her family, love, heartbreak and herself.

"Lucky Red," by Claudia Cravens is a western origin story about, Bridget a young woman, alone and out of options when, she turns to prostitution in late 19th century Dodge city. Her experiences, at times frightening, and anxiety-provoking, and at other times heart-warming drew me into the story.

There are many great characters to love in this novel, each of them full of depth and feeling.  The writing is beautiful,  but at the pacing is slow.. That being said, it would not stop me from reading a sequel should there ever be one.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.