This is a terrific Western/dystopia/werewolf book! A young woman living in a fraught world where power is concentrated in men, is sent to a brutal outpost where colonizers and religious despots have created a system of exploitation and abuse. POsing as a man for her own safety, Faolan uncovers the truths of the place, including the creatures that attack it. There's a lot of ingenuity on her part, and courage, and persistence, as well as some romance and friends. The world-building is excellent and the novel is well-paced. I know this is one I'll be re-reading.

Red in Tooth and Claw sets up a unique premise. Mysterious deaths, western like horror, which increased the creepy isolated vibes. I enjoyed Faolan as a character, she was sharp and dynamic. However, throughout there were parts that were confusing and the world building was murky. I don’t know that I would classify this as a horror, though it works as a mysterious fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"People should get to be soft sometimes. A body should have someone else's arms to hold them, to catch them every time they needed to fall apart."

RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW by @lishmcbride was a fantastically unique western horror with all the feels! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @putnambooks for the e-ARC.

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I knew nothing about this title or author when I requested it but I am so happy I did! I was drawn in by the cover, but immediately fell in love with our MC Faolon. The story begins with the death of Faolon's grandfather and removal of Faolon from there woodsy home. Faolon is brought to The Settlement run by religious extremists that worship HisBen (His Benevolence). Faolon, whose grandfather always had her dressed and known as a boy for extra protection from the wild world, immediately realizes there is something strange afoot in this fabricated community. She will have to decide who to trust and will find unexpected allies along her way.

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I loved this YA magical realism/sci-fi/horror Western tale including the fantastic cast of characters, the themes of belonging and perseverance, and the strange but compelling story-line.

Read this one if you like:

🪓Young Adult stories
⭐Magic and mischief
🪓Found family vibes for days
⭐Coming of age
🪓Outsiders vs establishment

Red in Tooth and Claw was a spooky, westernish novel that had some really great elements that kept me reading through some slow pacing. Faolan is a tough and untrusting teen and the host of characters we meet help drive this novel along. I did enjoy the Western feel and concepts of this novel, but it went in some unexpected directions I didn't love. This was unlike anything I've ever read and while it was well written, I just didn't love this story. I can understand why people DO love it, it just wasn't for me.

**3.5-stars**

Red in Tooth and Claw is a very original and quite strange YA story. I loved the overall tone, but didn't find it particularly compelling. Therefore, it's a tough one to rate. It took me what felt like forever to read, over 2-weeks for 400-pages is a long time, but I would still say I enjoyed it. I think maybe the pacing was a little off for me. That was my biggest issue with it, and that's not bad.

This story follows Faolan Kelly after her beloved grandfather, her sole guardian and only remaining family member, passes away. She's now alone in the world, and essentially homeless, as the local powers that be don't feel like a young person of 16 is mature enough to take over the family homestead. They also think Faolan is a young man, which is how her grandfather wanted it. Life was too dangerous for girls then, and if they found out, she would be married off as soon as possible. Her life no longer her own.

After his death, Faolan continues on with the charade. She's not ready to expose her true self. It would change everything, and her life is already in enough turmoil as it is. She can only take one step at a time.

The mayor, appointing himself as the decider of Faolan's fate, decides to have them shipped off to the Settlement; a remote outpost, home to many societal outcasts. The place is mysterious, and Faolan has no idea what to expect. She goes though, because honestly, she's out of options. Paired up with a gunslinger, to ensure her safe passage, Faolan decides to just keep her head down and bide her time until she can hopefully get her Grandfather's property back.

Once she's there, the mysteries of the Settlement only expand. The people she meets, the rules, their leader, it's all so strange. What is the point of this whole thing? Why all the rules, and what's lurking around at night?

While this wasn't a touchdown for me, there were definitely many aspects of this story that I felt the author did really well and that I thoroughly appreciated. First and foremost would be the atmosphere and overall vibe of the Settlement itself. I loved the slow build of the world and was fascinated with the idea of the Settlement. It's clear it was meant to have a sort of quasi-religious component, and I felt like the author portrayed that really well.

It felt cultish. I feared for Faolan's safety from the moment she got there. The unsettling feelings were only enhanced when Faolan begins hearing crazy noises at night. It's not all bad and scary though. Faolan does make some allies at the Settlement, including the fabulous Ms. Moon, and young loves, Jesse and Dai Lo. With these new friends, as well as a few others, a lovely found family element is eventually established, which I always love to see.

There is a bit of a mystery too, as some people end up dead under very mysterious circumstance and Faolon investigates what was the cause of those deaths. Trust me when I say, I never could have predicted the direction this eventually took. It was so bizarre, but I still really enjoyed it. I loved the Western feel and concepts. It was very different, unlike anything I've ever read and I walk away impressed with this author's creativity and vivid imagination.

Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This won't be the last I read from Lish McBride!

Thank you to Penguin Teen for an eARC of this book.

Tropes: Found Family, Cult?, Magic, Hidden Identity

YA Horror Western

I'll be honest I am not sure exactly what happened in this book but I enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down the last like 20% of the book. I enjoyed the characters- the main one and the majority of the side characters- but I am not entirely sure of what the plot was.

Faolon, our MC, has recently lost their grandfather who raised them. Since they are a minor and the land deed is "missing' the mayor sends Faolon off to live at the Settlement. It is basically a community that gives off very religious vibes and seems a little off. When Faolon arrives HisBen takes all of Faolon's belongings and sends them off to the bunkhouse.

One of the wildest things in this book was "The Box". I was disturbed by that component of the book. Like that is my worst nightmare- just no.

I really loved the Rover's and their relationship with Faolon. I loved getting to see the MC learn to trust people and to build a support system when they had none.

I also loved Chirp. I don't really understand what Chirp was or how we got to that paranormal aspect of the plot, but I liked the cat.

I truly wish westerns were more popular in publishing. There is so much potential , and Red in Tooth and Claw really highlights that.

We follow Faolan Kelly, a young girl who has been raised as a boy by her grandfather. After her grandfather dies she is shipped to the Settlement, a secluded fort for social outcasts, as the town officials are hoping to seize her lands. The Settlement has long been rumored to be barren and run down, but once there she finds it bursting with wealth and mystery under the leadership of a very religious man named His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. Faolan must do everything to keep her true gender a secret, and find a way back to her home. But there is a strange creature lurking the night, and it is killing those who dare step outside the fort walls.

Faolan is my favorite character type, quick witted paired with a smart mouth. She often gets herself into rough situations because of her snark and anger, but is smart enough to find a way out after. She is a very strong lovable character. I also appreciated how fleshed out all the side characters were. Will, Jesse, Dai Lo, and Tallis were wonderful additions to the story. I especially loved the inclusion of the Rovers and how they offered Faolan an outlet for her music, as well as a place in the world.

I will say, I think this could have gone more into the horror. I got a lot of Midnight Mass vibes from the extreme religious nature of the isolated fort and the unsettling creature stalking the night. However, it all felt a little too tame for my liking. HisBen Dillard took up most of the conflict rather than the strange beast, so the majority of the story felt like it lacked eeriness.

I was at times confused by the world building, a lot seemed to be glossed over. But the vibrant characters really carried the story, so overall I had a good time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5-4/5 stars.

I really loved the atmosphere of this novel. It's definitely more of a western vibe than the horror vibe it looks like it could be. Faolan is pretending to be a man due to the views of women during this time in the novel and ends up at the "Settlement" where everything appears to be too good to be true...along with fanatic religious people. She soon discovers a secret, along with a mysterious Gunslinger and some friends.

This was a quick read, and I almost wish there'd be more books. Why was there this magic? What are the old gods? Like, the world building was quite good for a standalone.

I don't think the romance needed to be in this book...but it was fine I guess.

Western horror fantasy aimed at Young Adult readers and told in present tense, first person POV. The story was tense from the start thanks to the characterisation, plot, and setting, which were all solid.

McBride’s prose really captured the Western-style feel, and there was a slight Lovecraft-ian touch that ramped up the horror. If you like YA and are looking for a fantasy / horror standalone with mild gore that will keep you rapt from start to finish this is it!

This was a fun YA horror with a touch of supernatural. The ending was a bit too tidy but I give it a pass there as a YA. I also didn’t love the romance in the novel because I think stories like this set unrealistic expectations for relationships. I did enjoy the tension as things start to go wrong and I wish the author had explored the horror aspect more earlier to set the tone. I would have enjoyed learning bits and pieces of the creature and what Dillard was up to along the way rather than all at once in the end.

Red in Tooth and Claw is one of those books that pulls you in from page one and doesn’t let go. The story centers on Faolan Kelly, a young woman caught between independence and survival in a world that wants to control her every move. After losing her grandfather and with no family left, she’s cast out by the local authorities, who don’t think she’s mature enough to handle the homestead – especially if they knew she was a young woman instead of the “young man” her grandfather had everyone believe. When they send her off to the mysterious Settlement, a fort for social outcasts, things take a dark, suspenseful turn.

Faolan’s struggle to survive in this eerie Settlement, led by the ominous Gideon Dillard, unfolds with a steady blend of suspense and intrigue. The author builds a haunting atmosphere with the Settlement’s strange inhabitants, Dillard’s uncanny influence, and strange noises echoing through the night, making you feel as if you’re right there with Faolan, desperate for answers. When the first body appears, torn apart by something inhuman, the suspense truly ramps up. The stakes are life-or-death as Faolan tries to uncover what – or who – is hunting the Settlement’s residents.

If you’re a fan of dark, character-driven stories with a dash of mystery and horror, Red in Tooth and Claw is a highly recommended read. It’s not just the story of Faolan’s survival but also her fight for freedom and autonomy in a world trying to define her. This book is perfect for a weekend binge-read, as it’ll keep you guessing and leave you thinking long after the last page. Give it a try – you won’t regret it!

Atmospheric period fantasy with an indomitable MC and strong found family vibes. I absolutely loved the setting, the creepy mysterious atmosphere, and the incredibly satisfying resolution. You’re going to fall in love with Faolan!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I did DNF this book @ 25%. I am not the person that says “wait until 33% and it gets good. If the first fourth of the book didn’t pull me in, the rest won’t either.

hm. this was okay. I think I wanted more due to synopsis and the tennyson reference, but it just wasn't there.

Western Horror. Yes Please. Magical Realism and a cozy romance added in for good measure? Absolutely. Found Family storyline? Shut up and take my money.

I went into this book expecting a YA horror that would perfectly fit in with spooky season. I not only got that but got the added bonus of all of my favorite genres rolled into one for an exceptionally fantastic read. Everything from the quirky cast of characters that are instantly likeable to the creepy religious community and a fun magical element weaved throughout made this the perfect read for me. The prose and dialogue were witty with tongue in cheek humor and a sassy Faolan. The action was consistent and page turning with the right blending of horror mixed with sweet loveable moments that mimicked reality with light that can be found in the darkest of situations.

I will definitely be recommending this one to everyone I meet as the genre bending will be sure to appease any fantasy or horror fan. With almost zero spice, it is also perfect for the more well-read middle grade reader on up through adult.

Five stars and I can't wait to dive into McBride's backlist and any future works as this was the first book by her that I have had the privilege of reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lish McBride, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Magical realism and horror.
A well written character enticing plot.
Combine all that and you have this book.
Couldn't put it down

I went into this one pretty blind. I loved the cover and the title and knew it was categorized as Western Horror(which would not normally draw my attention... but like I said... the COVER).

I read/listened to this book within 2 sittings. It wasn't horror that grabbed my attention because, in my opinion, this was not really a horror book. The characters and world building did.

When you read something and find that you genuinely care about what happens to the MC,I think that's some good writing and storytelling. That's what this book has.

There was a romance that seemed a little like it was shoved into the story but didn't quite fit. Still, I enjoyed the couple's interactions.

It was a western setting, had very little gore but a lot of suspense, and even magical realism/fantasy. The characters were still developed, and even the ones that didn't get many lines somehow managed to become three-dimensional.

It's a really good book and has a very good narrator for the audiobook. 4⭐️

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did! I loved the characters, and the originality of the plot was really refreshing and compelling. The characters really felt lived in, which made them come to live and jump off the page. This was fantastic and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author. Also, the US cover is so good! It really evokes the tone of the book well.

Thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam Son's Books for the opportunity to read and review Red in Tooth and Clay by Lish McBride.

Red in the Tooth and Claw is a story about a young teenager when her grandfather dies, and they are left alone to take care of the family homestead. Only there is a problem, they are not yet 18 and considered an adult. The teen is sent away to a religious organization way out in a desolate area to be supervised until turning 18. Upon arriving we find out that the settlement might not be so great, and some "suspicious" activities might be occurring.

Red in Tooth and Claw is a young adult western fantasy with a smidge of horror. Unfortunately for me, there just wasn't enough horror or scary going on and what did happen waited until much later in the book. Some parts were slightly boring to me, which led me to think maybe the book could have been shorter. This book is geared to a reading age of 12-17 and grade level of 7th - 9th. I do read middle grade and young adult, but this one wasn't really for me. I do feel there is an audience for this one but, just wasn't for me. Red in Tooth and Claw is available now at all major book retailers. Happy Reading!!

This book was nothing like I expected and I am glad! It was way better, all the way from character development and portrayal to plot and originality. Most of the characters took on lives of their own in surprising ways and moved the plot in unexpected directions. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to read more by this amazing author.