About:
Red in Tooth and Claw by Lish McBride is a unique blend of Western gothic horror and fantasy. The story follows Faolan Kelly, a girl disguised as a boy who grapples with a disturbing settlement after her grandfather's death. The setting is richly atmospheric with eerie sounds and a sense of timeless dread, drawing readers into a haunting world filled with mystery and uncovered secrets. Faolan's journey is one of emotional isolation and fierce independence, making her a relatable and compelling character as she navigates the challenges of her new life.
The writing style is engaging and thoughtful, with a mix of genres that keeps readers intrigued. While the book's horror elements shift toward an unexpected fantasy twist in the second half, the storytelling remains immersive and captivating. The dynamic of found family and romantic moments add a softer layer to Faolan's gritty experiences. Readers praised the pacing and details in the physical edition, noting the strong character development and the unexpected fusion of styles that McBride masterfully executes.
From The Publisher:
A dark young adult Western fantasy about a teen in a remote settlement full of monsters and secrets.
"In this eerie, blood-splashed Western, Lish McBride invokes a frontier that is harsh, cruel, and practical...A damned enjoyable novel." -Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns
Faolan Kelly's grandfather is dead. She's alone in the world and suddenly homeless, all because the local powers that be don't think a young man of seventeen is mature enough to take over his grandfather's homestead…and that's with them thinking Faolan is a young man. If she revealed that her grandfather had been disguising her for years, they would marry her off at the first opportunity.
The mayor finds a solution that serves everyone but Faolan: He hires a gunslinger to ship her off to the Settlement, a remote fort where social outcasts live under the leadership of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. It's a place rife with mystery, kept afloat by suspicious wealth. Dillard's absolute command over his staff just doesn't seem right. And neither do the strange noises that keep Faolan up at night.
When Faolan finds the body of a Settlement boarder, mangled by something that can't possibly be human, it's clear something vicious is stalking the palisades. And as Settlement boarders continue to drop like flies, Faolan knows she must escape to evade the creature's wrath.
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