Lady or the Tiger is a rip-roaring, claws out novel about a beleaguered girl in the 1880s who ascends from the lowest of lows to peak girl boss.

Belle King, or Alice as we first know her, tells her own story. She's an unreliable narrator as we jump from era to era in her life and she lets go of only the info she wants us to know, carefully curated.

She marries young to escape poverty but goes from the frying pan into the fire as her husband is abusive. It's not easy to read about, but push through to her subsequent escape.

Is Belle a murderer, a vixen, a vamp? Does she rise like an avenging angel or does she drag others down to her level of depravity?

You must make the final call: is she a lady or is she a tiger.

The story stays with you long after you finish.

Recommending for high school library acquisition.

thank you nancy paulsen books and netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

a fun mix of mystery, dark humor, and historical drama. the story has a unique voice and an interesting premise, following a clever heroine trying to survive in a dangerous, high society world. while the setting is vivid and the tone is bold, some parts feel rushed or a little underdeveloped. it doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but it’s still an entertaining read with sharp moments and a strong main character. i would recommend this to someone who’s interested in thrillers but maybe hasn’t delved into historical fiction yet. i definitely enjoyed it! 3/5 stars

This was delightfully unhinged, and absolutely addictive. It's like the best feminist Western nightmare- dark, dramatic and theatrical in the BEST way. Belle is a train wreck of a protagonist (in the best way, of course. I loved her!!) and I loved how unapologetically wild she was. The story felt like it jumped around a little bit, and at times I felt like I had to reorient myself, but honestly I didn't care- I was absolutely here for the chaos. This book may not be everyone's thing, but if you like revenge stories with twisted love, stage blood and anti-hero, you'll probably love this. I absolutely did!!

If you support women’s rights & women’s wrongs this book right here is it for you!!

I’m not going to lie it was definitely different than most of my reads which I loved, but let me just say this usually I love timelines & povs and in this book I wasn’t soo sure I liked it.. there were times I’d get confused and have to go back and reread to make sure I didn’t skip something or I’m understanding what’s going on because it go from one timeline to another to another lol 😆

But other than that the story was freaking great!!
The timelines even though they confused me a bit I got to understand why Belle is the way she is & you find yourself sympathizing with her and rooting for her because she’s the anti hero here.

I loved the Wild West setting I'm finding that setting slowly becoming one of my faves🤭

Overall this story was a great book and I def recommend it!

Lady or the Tiger is a gritty, mesmerizing anti-heroine origin story set against the dust and danger of the American West. Told in a dual timeline that dances between past and present, the novel traces the transformation of Belle King (born Alice Springer), a Kentucky mountain girl whose life is marked by deep grief, betrayal, and the slow-burning fury of a woman wronged too many times.

Raised by a mother who was both healer and seamstress, Alice’s world is one of herbal tonics, singing lullabies, and running freely in the fields so fast her shadow can hardly keep up with her. But one violent act shatters their life, forcing Alice into a system designed to silence girls like her. In a brutal asylum, she meets Reginald, first a marshal, then a husband, eventually her captor. What begins as a supposed rescue quickly spirals into psychological and physical torment, as Reginald’s true nature unfolds in horrifying layers.

But this is not a story of defeat. It’s a story of reinvention. Alice becomes Belle King, a stage performer with a voice that commands attention and a tiger named Omisha who mirrors her wildness and longing for freedom. Their bond is symbolic, two caged beings yearning for something more. Through song, dance, and danger, Belle crafts a new self: bold, wicked, and unafraid to bite back.

“In those moments when I dance and sing with only a beast watching, the parts I love the most are the parts that no one else wants. The ones that I have tried so very hard to pretend they do not exists.” Belle King.

As Belle builds a new life with a traveling troupe of outcasts, her chosen family, she finds love, purpose, and finally, makes peace with her the darkness that has always lurked on the edges of her soul . The past, however, is never far behind. Her abusive husband resurfaces, and Belle is forced to confront him once more, this time from a jail cell in Dodge City, where the line between truth and performance is razor thin.

This novel pulses with the grit of survival and the thrill of transformation. Belle is a character you won’t forget, fierce, flawed, and deeply human. Heather M. Herman doesn’t shy away from the darkness, but neither does she deny her heroine light. Lady or the Tiger is an ode to women who save themselves, to the versions of ourselves we’re forced to bury, and to the wildness we all deserve to unleash.

Give me all the western stories that you have absolutely ate this up. A murder mystery style wild West gobbled up. If you like your mysteries with bite, grit, and a heroine who’d rather shoot than swoon, saddle up. This one will leave its mark. 😍 I’m literally so obsessed with our main character. She’s so cool. I wish I could be her.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Lady of the Tiger by Heather M. Herrman.

I haven't read a good Western for a long time, especially one with such a badass woman. This is FULL of strong feminist themes, with romance, violence, suspense, and revenge. I loved the parables and the strong female characters. It it well written and full of tension that will keep you reading until the very last page.

Lady or the Tiger is an unexpected read—one of clever twists, song and dance, and Wild West action. It’s a dark and haunting novel about a young woman who was pushed too far—and was forced to give in to a darker side of herself that she’d long tried to ignore.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

I love the short story "The lady or the tiger?" which this story got a little nudge from. And I'm a suckered for modern wild west books.

This one needs trigger warnings for sexual abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking, murder, and a handful of other things.

In this story, Alice (aka Belle) is put into an asylum after shooting someone. She's also being tried as a serial killer in another storyline.

There seem to be sex workers at the asylum. A man who wants to marry her and take her away, only to SA her. And the storyline keeps jumping backwards and forwards. It's pretty confusing.

Did I enjoy it? I did in parts. But it jumped around a lot and that was hard. Also, I didn't care for the ending.

A Dark & Thought-Provoking Read with a Few Hiccups

I wasn’t familiar with how this book was inspired by Frank R. Stockton’s 1882 classic short story, The Lady, or the Tiger but once I saw anti-heroine and mystery mentioned, I was instantly intrigued!

Belle King’s journey of strength, resilience, and bravery is where the story shines, especially in its feminist themes.
That said, I found myself far more invested in the present timeline. While the flashbacks provide insight into her past and the experiences that shaped her, I kept wanting to get back to what was unfolding in the now.

One challenge was the nonlinear storytelling—multiple past timelines intertwined with the present, making it tricky to follow at times. There’s also a section where Belle speaks directly to the reader, which momentarily pulled me out of the story.

And the ending... Wow. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard! But the open-ended conclusion left me feeling a bit frustrated—I wanted more closure.

For a YA book, this one definitely dives into some dark heavy themes—violence and abuse. Honestly, it feels more suited for adult or new adult readers rather than YA.

Overall, this book weaves mystery, romance, and self-discovery, making it a great pick for a book club discussion. There are so many layers and hidden meanings that would be fun to break down with friends.

<i>I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to the author and publisher!</i>

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: murder, death, domestic abuse, gun violence, sexual harassment, mental illness, animal death brief mention of racism, sexism, sexual assault

I got an ARC from Netgalley and loved it so much I bought the physical. This book was amazing. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to hear more. This book takes place in two timelines following Belle King who is convicted of murder. But she is also fighting her husband who is trying to get her back. You flash back to past memories of her life that makes parts of the story add up. At first I wasn't sure what I thought but overall it was a good quick read. This story shows the challenges of growing up in those times and how a you will go to prove yourself. It has a good message, story and keeps you engaged from chapter to chapter.

I had really high hopes for this and I don't know what went wrong. It could have been reading conditions on my end, but I found the story really hard to focus on. The story follows Belle in the wild west after she's been arrested for murder (as a serial killer) when her husband shows up to "save her." From that moment I lost interest. The vibes just felt weird.

I'm a serious fan of Western stories. This one is a unique storyline with a Western background. Alice Springer is a young woman whose arranged marriage sentences her to life with an abusive husband who views her as property. During this era, it was not unusual in Kentucky for women to be bartered into a marriage with no thought of their wishes. When Alice decides she's had enough, she murders her husband and runs from the consequences. Alice moves west and becomes Belle King, a woman who would never be abused again.
Heather Herrman does an excellent job of detailing Alice's transformation into Belle and the drastic changes she had to make to be able to control her own life. She seamlessly changes from Kentucky's civilized communities to the wilder lawlessness in which Belle thrives. She builds a life full of adventure and danger until at 19, she plans a daring power play that will either kill her or ultimately free her from her history. This blend of history, fiction, and westerns is an excellent example of building a unique character and story.

Disclaimer, I haven't even finished this book yet. It's been published for over 10 days, and I have yet to finish it. But since I don't feel that I need to finish to praise the story and Heather M. Herrman, now may be the perfect time to do so.

I love westerns. Well, sort of. I have requested every Western I could find on NetGalley this past year so long as they are lead by a female's perspective. I hate the stereotype of a cowboy and I hate the stereotype that proclaims all women will ever live up to be are barmaids, prostitutes, or damsels in distress – all of which relying heavily on the main male character to coddle them like babies. Sure, throw a romance in there, but you either make them equals or you make the woman independent, or both.

Since I have been scouring NetGalley for female-driven Westerns, I have been lucky enough to have found a few, which is more than I thought I would find. It is a slowly growing sub-genre, one that yields quality over quantity. Lady or the Tiger is no different.

Sometimes I love a book so much I can't explain it unless I just throw out the things that I loved about it. I loved Alice and Belle King and what they each stood for. I loved that they were two different people, each just as worthy of life as the other. I loved the Damned, I loved their performances at the hangings, and I love why they did them. I loved that the author showed Alice's struggles with the beasts inside all menfolk, and her struggles with the beast inside herself. Or, more accurately, tied to herself – her shadow. I love the way her mind works, and how she loves fiercely but knows when it's time to pick up and move along when something doesn't benefit her like it should. I loved Omnisha, and I love that the balance of power in her relationship with Alice. Neither one had more power than the other in the end, even with their varying strengths and weaknesses. There's most likely not going to be a sequel for this, and if it ends the way I think it will, I can understand that it is not necessary. In lieu of this, I crave a western that lets me fall in love with the characters, defending them even at their worst. I crave a western that shows a woman not as a damsel in distress, but distress itself. I crave a western like "The Lady or the Tiger," and, by god, I hope the person who can do so is Heather M. Herrman, herself.

Thank you to Nancy Paulsen Books and to NetGalley for an ARC of this historically accurate, beautifully descriptive, and overall empowering book, and thank you to Heather M. Herrman for writing it and for proving the 1882 originally published "The Lady or the Tiger" story by Frank R. Stockton did indeed have a definitive conclusion: there is not a choice between a lady or a tiger behind that door because they are one and the same.

This is the story of Belle King, who is wanted for murder and just recently turned herself in. Belle is ready to face the consequences. But Belle isn’t ready for is to see her abusive husband Reginald outside of her jail cell. She has done a lot to get away from Reginald even going so far as to kill him or so she thought. Belle would rather die than to be back with Reginald but it’s the 1800s and she may not even be believed about the crimes she committed. Why? After all, she confessed.

The author includes a flashback to Belle’s mother’s tragic murder shows how the stage was set for Belle’s desperate marriage to Reginald. It was her way of escaping the trauma of being involuntarily committed to the Eastern Kentucky Lunatic Asylum after she was left alone in the world. There is a
sophisticated exploration of the impact of men’s abuse of power which is chilling. Belle’s individual strength and continued resistance proves inspirational. The nonlinear timeline enhances the larger-than-life vignettes that are reminiscent of tall tales, maintaining a quick pace and adding tension to each dramatic beat. Untrustworthy news sources share misinformation, and issues like abortion, animal cruelty, and violence against women are handled realistically and compassionately. This book is a great read about a woman in the Wild West.

Heather M. Herrman does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed based on the description. I thought the idea of a teen-aged killer worked well overall in this universe. It was a great concept and worked in the time-period going on. The characters had that feel that I wanted and was glad I got to read this.

Having read and really enjoyed Herrman's previous novel The Corpse Queen I was excited to see that she was finally coming out with another book, and man did she knock it out of the park. From the very beginning I was enraptured, both with the story and the writing, and the message this book is conveying is just *chefs kiss*. It makes me sad that this book is almost certainly going to fall WAY under the radar, because it's one of those books that deals beautifully with feminine rage, as well as touching on the atrocities of the past while not shoving the insanely horrific details in your face. I've already added a physical copy to my collection, because I want to show my support in sales. I'm really not sure what to say about this book, because I feel like it's one that is best gone into more or less blind so you can get the full effect. Our main character is a fascinating one that would fit right in in todays day and age. I honestly think that this is a book that I'll need to read again at some point as well, just to see all of the little things I missed the first time around, and because I would really love to annotate it. I'm not sure what to put on it, but I very much would like to write a shelf-talker for this one, and if I can find the right reader, I will be more than happy to hand-sell this one as well. I hope that Herrman keeps writing, and I can't wait to see whatever it is she comes up with next.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Holy female rage! Sheesh! I couldn't put this book down; it is perfectly paced, with short chapters, though the time jumping was a bit problematic for me. Belle King is every woman's guilty pleasure character. Her storyline was gritty, gut-wrenching, and in a twisted way refreshing.

There is so much I want to say about this book, but I'm afraid I'll give away spoilers. I am not sure how to review this book. I enjoyed it, even though it was slightly challenging for me to read because of the timeline setup.

GET IT!!! READ IT!! ENJOY IT!!

That's the review!

Thank you so much, Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books, and Heather M. Herrman, for the advance readers copy of this smoky western.

Lady or the Tiger is a pleasantly surprising story.

Part mystery and part feminist energy themed, this book packed a punch. I loved the characters and the constant plot twists. I was surprised on so many occasions and loved every minute of it.

A minor distraction for me were the interlude/multiple timelines. I had to re-read a couple of parts because I got confused. I still very much enjoyed the story. The writing is so engaging. I love this style of storytelling. The ending was brilliant and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nancy Paulsen Books and the author for an advanced digital copy.

From the first page, I was immediately drawn to Belle. I love an anti-hero narrator, and Belle is a captivating storyteller. This book is beautifully written, and I devoured it in less than a day and shed more than just a single tear while reading it. This may be one of my very favorite books that I've read this whole year.