Lone Women is a thoughtful, surprising novel by Victor LaVelle – find out why I gave the book five out of five stars.
Lone Women by Victor LaVelle follows Adelaide Henry as she travels from California, her only home, to a land claim in Montana in the early 1900s. Why? Because she has a deep, dark secret that she must never reveal for fear of causing harm to others. I loved this book so much that I gave it five out of five stars – read my review below.
What is Lone Women about?
Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk opens, people around Adelaide start to disappear.
The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.
My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this Lone Women! I expected this to be a quick read that wouldn’t have much of an impact on me, but once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. LaVelle weaved history, fantasy, equality, and mystery into a beautiful story of perseverance and the power of a strong woman. In my opinion, Lone Women was exceptionally well written: the book moved at a perfect pace, and every word seemed earned and necessary to the plot. I always appreciate an author who can avoid excessive description while still providing enough details for me to picture each scene or feel each emotion in the book.
If you enjoy a good story, especially one that feels fresh and unique, I encourage you to add Lone Women to your reading list immediately.
