Laura Anne Gilman

Ever since I read Devil's Tower by Mark Sumner, I've been hooked on western-fantasies. They seem to be a unique sub-genre and when they are done well, they are fascinating and different than most other fantasy. Silver on the Road is done well. It takes it's time and builds the story and characters as you go along, and the magic is subtle but almost more powerful because it is used sparingly. I really cared about Izzy and Gabriel and even Farron. They are complex and they grow throughout the show more story, both in terms of their relationship with each other, and within themselves. They both have things they are just beginning to understand and accept about themselves, especially Izzy, who is only sixteen, but this is far from a young adult read. She is a strong character without losing the naivety and wonder at the world around her. It's not a fast read, but it's deep and interesting and makes you think. I am really looking forward to the next adventure in the Devil's West and seeing how Izzy builds on everything she has learned about being the Devil's Left Hand. show less

Ok, so she’s missing the obnoxious pet, but she’s got a demon friend that looks like a polar bear, and that almost counts. Wren Valere is a retriever in the magical underworld of New York. What is a retriever? Well, perhaps thief is a better word, but it’s the kind of thief that has to negotiate both magical and mundane politics to get the job done, and balance on knife edge, where her abilities may pull her into madness if she loses control.

I'm so excited to see a new series from Laura Anne Gilman, and the world she creates is intriguing -- WWI era America, with siblings who hunt murderous uncanny beings. Great characters, including the Hound, solid mystery storyline that leaves many new questions unanswered, and lots of backstory to explore in the future. I particularly like how well she evokes the day-to-day life in small town New England -- incorporating boarding houses, neighborhood gossip, the precarious position of the show more police, and the rampant underlying fight for unionization. Skillfully done, and with a storyline I did not want to put down.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less

I have seen this labeled as a Weird Western, and I understand why: it's definitely not a historical old west tale. It's alternate history that endows the middle of America with a sort of mystical sentience. The feel is folkloric. There is action, but it's not a thriller. It steadily moves in a way that is fascinating and soothing.

Silver on the Road is a coming of age story of sorts for Isobel. She's a good heroine; a good person, period, who asked for a job and had no idea what she was show more granted. At times, her whining on that subject gets a little old, but I think that's my biggest gripe. Also, I really appreciated that this wasn't a romance at all. Mind you, I enjoy a good romance subplot, but it is something of a trope.

Gilman's worldbuilding is phenomenal. I loved exploring the road with Isobel and learning about crossroads, owls, snakes, and the feel of the land. It's a very... loving take on the very meaning of land and home. show less