I received a digital advance copy of Red in Tooth and Claw by Lish McBride via NetGalley. Red in Tooth and Claw was released on October 8, 2024.

Red in Tooth and Claw follows Faolan Kelly after the death of her grandfather. Faolan has been pretending to be a young man for years, to make life easier. If she steps forward as a young woman now, there is no doubt the town will marry her off. As a young man, they settle for sending Faolan off to The Settlment for minding, leaving her grandfather’s land for the mayor to manage until Faolan comes of age. At The Settlement, things seem too good to be true. Food and other resources are abundant and shared with Faolan as long as he serves The Settlement in the ways asked. Then bodies begin to appear, mangled by something clearly not human, and maybe not of this world. Faolan has to find a way to survive The Settlement and the monster hunting them all.

Faolan is a character with a distinct and unique voice. It took me a moment to adjust to that voice, but I quickly grew to love her. Initially, she is alone in the world, seeking only to keep ahold of her grandfather’s land. Throughout the story, Faolan collects an odd assortment of characters around her that complement and contrast her in interesting way. Each of them had their own background and goals, though I would have liked a bit more development of some of the characters around her.

McBride has also constructed a solid and interesting plot. It weaves together elements of westerns, horror, and fantasy in ways that felt fresh, despite the individual elements remaining recognizable. While I was not shocked or surprised by any of the turns in the story, I was also unable to predict what might happen next, which resulted in a satisfying reading experience.

Overall, Red in Tooth and Claw is a blend of western and horror with a tinge of the supernatural. The result is a satisfying tale of a young woman finding her place in the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a DELIGHT this book was for me. Such a good mix of western and horror with a touch of fantasy. I went into this thinking it was more of a werewolf focused story but it was more of a culty western horror with a kickass main character who was super fun to read. I loved all the idioms, made my southern heart happy. I don't want to give too much away since it was so so good going in semi blind.

I particularly enjoyed the way the actual horror elements were described. A specific passage i loved described bodies on the floor reminiscent of "eggs dropped on the kitchen floor." Sometimes you dont need details for a visceral reaction!

There's also a lil romance that was super duper cute to read :)

This book was fast paced and mysterious and spooky, perfect YA read for fall!

At first, I couldn't stop myself from comparing this to another YA transgender fantasy Western, Wake of Vultures, and possibly that's why it took me a while to get into it. But once the action really started, it was obvious this is a completely different tale, only superficially similar. The creepy Settlement obviously has secrets, and the explanation turned out to be completely different from what I expected. You come to genuinely care about the primary characters, and the introduction of the Rovers--a bit of cross between Native Americans and the Romany--adds a vivid touch to the world building. The magic is subtle, serving more as an enhancement to a character-based adventure than as the primary focus of the story. All in all, it was a unique, well-rounded adventure, with enough complexity to be appealing to teens and adults alike.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Western horror is a genre niche that I feel is underexplored, especially within young adult spheres--I was really excited to dig into this and overall had a good time with it!

Faolan is an interesting protagonist and the character work overall was really solid, especially for how many of them we got to know. Motivations felt clear (in the case of our protagonists, anyway) and the things they all did made sense. I found that the antagonists and their motives felt a little vague and would have appreciated a little more depth there.

I liked seeing Faolan finding that there can still be safety in softness and reliance on the people around you, but I do think the romance (while cute) felt a little disjointed when compared to the rest of the plot. I felt similarly about the magic, but honestly I couldn't even explain what I wished was done differently about it. I like supernatural, I like creatures, but I sort of wish that was all it was--a creature, rather than what it ended up being.

I did still really enjoy it, despite my gripes!

In this gripping Western horror hybrid, McBride crafts a tale as untamed as its frontier setting, where the monsters lurking in the wilderness might be less dangerous than the human predators hiding behind respectability. Through the eyes of Faolan Kelly, a young woman forced to live as a man, the author explores how survival often means wearing multiple masks.
McBride excels at building tension through layered threats: Faolan must navigate the immediate danger of discovery in a society that would strip her of autonomy, the mysterious authority of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard at the Settlement, and an inhuman predator picking off residents one by one. The author deftly weaves these elements together, creating a narrative that feels both historically grounded and supernaturally charged.
The Settlement itself emerges as a character, its palisades containing a microcosm of society's outcasts ruled by Dillard's suspicious wealth and absolute control. McBride's world-building shines in the details: the strange nocturnal sounds, the inexplicable wealth, and the carefully maintained power dynamics all contribute to a mounting sense of dread.
While the novel's creature feature elements are effectively bloody, the true horror lies in the human elements—the casual misogyny that forces Faolan's deception, the way power corrupts, and how isolation can make monsters of men. The author's decision to blend Western and horror conventions serves both genres well, creating something fresh and unsettling.
"Red in Tooth and Claw" is a fierce exploration of survival, identity, and the various ways humans can be monstrous, proving that sometimes the most dangerous predators are the ones wearing respectable faces.

I LOVE this cover and it gives the perfect vibe for this story!

Faolan is a bit adrift after losing the last family member - a beloved grandpa. Not being of age, Faolan is sent off to a boarding type settlement for wayward kids. Faolan is only months from coming of age so is pretty sure this won't be a long stay.

But the settlement has some rumors. Whispers of cult and funny religion seem to follow anyone who goes there. Faolan travels there with a gunslinger and, together, they stay and get the lay of the land while Faolan waits out the time there.

I loved the western type vibes - settlements, gunslingers and land deeds. I loved all the supporting characters and enjoyed each time they jumped into the story. Sometimes your family is your found family and this story really warms the heart in that regard.

It's a great adventure of a story, perfect for the fall vibe!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

A solid western horror. At times it is a little simplistic (I think due to appealing a teen audience), but I could overlook that for the most part.

Faolan has been disguising herself as a boy for years for her protection. When Faolan's grandfather dies just a few months before her 18th birthday, she is sent away to be "cared for" in the Settlement. She keeps her secret as long as she can while trying to figure out a way to escape the oppressive life under Settlement rules. OH....and there are mysterious animals/creatures/monsters who prey on anyone who is caught outside the compound at night.

Faolan is a great character -- full of spunk and intelligence. She quickly discerns that something is terribly wrong within the settlement, but understands her limitations. She is also shackled by her attachment to some of the Settlement dwellers who also feel trapped there. This is an escape story, a horror story, a mystery, and the story of resilience and what it means to be a friend. A "can't put it down" book for young adults. If you've read Lish McBride books before, this is everything you would expect. Loved it!

Penguin Teen does it again! This book is a YA western horror, and I absolutely loved it. I haven’t read a western in a minute, and now I just want to read more like it. (But I want the horror aspect kept in too!) It’s got somewhat similar vibes to Vampires of El Norte, but without the historical fiction part built in. It does have a bit of the romance, though. (Yay!)

I’m not shy to horrors, so this one didn’t really creep me out or scare me. But it did keep me a little tense, as I knew something weird was happening. I burned through this one pretty fast, as I really wanted to figure out what was going on. I also loved the main character, Faolan, and all of her funny sayings/ adages kept me chucking throughout.

I honestly would have loved even more horror and gore, but that’s just me. Overall, it was a really fun, engaging, and fresh read. Definitely recommend!

A mixed genre book that successfully mixed elements of westerns, horror and fantasy. The back story divides the characters into good guys and bad guys quickly. The community of The Settlement combines so many of the features of each genre that it's the perfect foil for the heroine to get back at those who would see her fail. RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW is a unique reading experience.

I've recently been on a Western kick, reading anything I can find about powerful FMC's in the Wild West. "Red in Tooth and Claw" by Lish McBride was no different. Action packed with supernatural happenings lurking around the Settlement, all it took was for a rag-tag group to complete Faolan's found family in order for me to fall in love with this book. The only reason that this book wasn't five stars was because I felt that the ending was a bit rushed, and I feel like there was more of the lore of the Settlement supernatural beings that was missing. The latter, however, could have just been my fault. Despite my confusion, I greatly enjoyed this book, and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a spooky historical fiction novel.

3.75 stars
Historical fantasy/horror set in the American West. I liked the premise, the setting, the characters. The plot was decent, although not as fully developed as I'd like in order to make everything more plausible (the insta-love, for example). The Rovers were my favorite part--would love to read a book about them!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Faolan lives on the outskirts of town. He keeps his head down and tries to avoid the townspeople. When his grandfather dies the “important” people in town decide it’s their chance to take his land. Faolan is thrown into a dangerous journey filled with strangers, religious zealots, secrets, Rovers and monsters. Will Faolan survive long enough to get back to his family’s land and reclaim it?

I have a lot of thoughts about this story but I don’t want to give it away. What I will say is that this story went in directions I didn’t see coming. While the author left the greedy men on the town exactly as they were first introduced, no one else was what they appeared. I enjoyed the layers being peeled back to reveal details and truths. It was even better that as secrets were revealed they were often only revealed to a small group of people and they all agreed to keep the secrets also. The setting of a camp full of religious zealots was a good choice. The addition of the Rovers outside the settlement showed a different way of life. In fact, the contrast between the town, the settlement and the Rovers was a big part of the story. This story includes a lot about evil and how it distorts things. I thought the conclusion of that part of the story was simple but fit the tone of the story nicely.

The setting for this story is a dystopian world. It takes place in a small town and a walled settlement in the middle of nowhere. It is a quiet story that slowly unfurls but is left open ended. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

A dark young adult Western fantasy about an orphaned teen forced into a remote settlement full of monsters and secrets that may or may not be cultish so yes this is a horror fantasy as it does get really creepy at times. I got all super into this one. I love dark western fantasy that involve gunslingers yet involve wholesome friendships. Highly recommend!

The premise of Red in Tooth and Claw had the potential for a thrilling, tense adventure, blending elements of Westerns with supernatural mystery. Faolan’s story—a young girl forced to disguise herself to avoid a grim fate and shipped off to a suspicious Settlement—initially grabbed my attention. However, a few key elements prevented me from staying engaged.

The pacing felt uneven, with long stretches of exposition slowing the plot to a crawl. While the world-building had depth, it was sometimes over-explained, detracting from the atmosphere of suspense that should have been central to the story. Additionally, Faolan’s inner monologue often repeated the same fears and frustrations without much development, which made it hard to stay invested in her journey.

The introduction of the mystery—a creature stalking the Settlement—was intriguing, but by the time it appeared, the momentum had already dwindled. The other characters also felt underdeveloped, particularly the villainous His Benevolence Gideon Dillard, whose menace came off as more predictable than compelling.

Ultimately, despite the promise of a unique setting and eerie danger, Red in Tooth and Claw lacked the tension and urgency that would have kept me hooked. It’s a story with potential, but I found pushing through the slow buildup and repetitive narrative difficult.

I decided to set this one aside around the halfway mark.

Creepy setting, complex characters, and a story you won't want to put down. Loved every page of this one! Thank you netgalley for the arc.

Westerns are never my thing until they get mixed with horror or fantasy.

Lish McBride’s Red in Tooth and Claw may be marketed as a YA fantasy, but I definitely interpreted it as a YA western horror with cult and occult underpinnings. Fantasy is stretching.

Faolan has larger issues than grief when her grandfather passes that comes in the form of the town elders insisting that at 17 years of age Faolan is too young to be the sole caretaker of the lands she’s ostensibly just inherited… and that’s just when they think she’s a boy like her grandfather has had her masquerade as for all of her life to keep her safe. The frontier isn’t safe for young women. Faolan reckons that facade, along with the deed to the property that’s hidden, is all that’s keeping Faolan from either being offered up for a shotgun wedding or from having to give up that deed if she wants to live. Deciding to bide her time, Faolan doesn’t fight the town’s decision to send her to a mysterious place called The Settlement, which seems to ostensibly be an orphanage or group home run by the head of a new religion Faolan has no intention to follow.

Red in Tooth and Claw is an interesting story that moves along at a nice, steady pace, even if it could use a little more propulsion. I don’t want to say that it’s predictable, but if you’re familiar with this sort of story you can probably identify the direction certain people and certain events are heading. The horror of the story is definitely a slower burn than the intrigue and mystery of the story, which gave the book a nice texture in terms of layering the story: It allowed certain parts of the story to resolve a little before unfolding the next bit that was ready to resolve instead of dumping it all on the reader at once. Normally, I’m all for a book going bonkers, but since this book is geared toward a YA audience and does have a rather large amount of gore in the back half I’m glad that there’s a touch more room to breathe.

It’s a really solid read in a subgenre I wish more people wrote in.


I was provided a copy of this title by the publisher and author via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Body Horror/Cult Horror/Occult Horror/Western/YA Fiction/YA Historical/YA Horror

This book started off really well and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next, and then it kind of fell off for me. I know I am not the target audience, I know it is YA, but usually I still enjoy that. Our main character Faolan was annoying me by the end and the romance came out of nowhere and didn't work for me. There was not a lot of tension which was odd as there could have been. There was only a scene or two of "spooky" things and the execution wasn't the best for me. That and the whole last part, the big showdown if you will, had me rolling my eyes so much. Of course that is what was going to happen and well...some of it really didn't make sense (like the mayor. It seems like he should have figured something out). Like the end was a bit too easy to wrap up in a nice bow.

I did really enjoy the Rovers though and would love to have had more about them and the things they can do. Their security stuff was super interesting and fun. I also loved the cats and the whole idea. Maybe if I were younger and more the target audience some of the other stuff would have worked better, but as it is it was just an okay read.

Thank you Lish McBride and Penguin Group for a NetGalley ARC copy of Red in Tooth and Claw!

Rating 4/5

This was a perfect spooky read to start off my October TBR! Set in the old west where women have few rights and religious piety rules the land! We follow our band of misfits as they try to discover what is happening at the mysterious settlement they have all ended up at against their wishes.

This was fun! The setting was great, the author did an excellent job explaining the workings of settlement life in a way that felt like you were there. I thought all the characters were well rounded and loved their interactions with each other and their surroundings. This was great for all the ominous "creature in the woods" feelings without leaning too hard into the gore (though I personally would have loved a little more). I think it's a great starting point for someone wanting to try out the horror genre!

I am really struggling with new releases. The concept of this seemed so cool and I really loved the idea of a western horror book… but the execution was just not it. The writing felt so bland and the characters felt very one dimensional.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.