rhodesee's review
5.0
An excellent follow-up to Silver on the Road. Every new detail is a welcome addition to the unique tapestry that Gilman is creating with this world.
rachelini's review
3.0
I love the world - the author keeps building on it in interesting ways. But I felt like the story really didn't get going until the last third, when it got a lot of momentum.
srlemons42's review
5.0
I absolutely love these books. I'll have a longer review later when I've had time to sit a think about the story a bit more, but this books is as good as the first. I'm eagerly looking forward to more books in this series...
broomgrass's review
3.0
Shoot, another much-belated review (which I thought I wrote? ah well.)
This book did not capture me as much as the first one - I remember the pacing being a bit slow, and it kind of gave more of the same (but of lesser excitement) as the first book. I can't remember how I felt about the representation of Indigenous people in this story, either, but I suspect that I either wanted more or was troubled by it in some way, which is probably to be expected with a western that deals with magic in the land.
This book did not capture me as much as the first one - I remember the pacing being a bit slow, and it kind of gave more of the same (but of lesser excitement) as the first book. I can't remember how I felt about the representation of Indigenous people in this story, either, but I suspect that I either wanted more or was troubled by it in some way, which is probably to be expected with a western that deals with magic in the land.
karireads's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jennybeastie's review
5.0
I'm not entirely sure how to categorize this book, as there are so many different aspects. A little mystery, a lot of magic, political drama and wild west survival, all wrapped up in the continuing adventures of Isobel and Gabriel, characters of charm and objects of fascination for me. I find the world enthralling and the story bewitching, and Gilman lays it all out as though she were walking a magical spell. If you liked Silver on the Road, this will not disappoint.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
kristenwestfall's review
4.0
This series. Nothing too much happens in book 2, but the writing sucks you in. I think book 3 is going to be a firecracker.
sallyepp's review
4.0
First book finished in 2018! I really liked this sequel, although it’s a slower read than the first one. I started it last January, and it took me almost a year to come back to it.
Interestingly, I think the relaxed pacing, the quietness of the characters, and the way the rules of The Territory seem vague and intuitive, tie directly into the book’s theme of The West vs. The East. The West is the land of free spirits, big sky and dangerous, untamed nature. The East is the land of civilization, set social roles and carefully managed natural areas. This resonates a lot with me in our current life. New Mexico and Virginia are just as different today as The Territory and the United States (East of the Mississippi) are in this alternate history.
Interestingly, I think the relaxed pacing, the quietness of the characters, and the way the rules of The Territory seem vague and intuitive, tie directly into the book’s theme of The West vs. The East. The West is the land of free spirits, big sky and dangerous, untamed nature. The East is the land of civilization, set social roles and carefully managed natural areas. This resonates a lot with me in our current life. New Mexico and Virginia are just as different today as The Territory and the United States (East of the Mississippi) are in this alternate history.
krismcd59's review
3.0
Although I'm a fan of Gilman's world and quite fond of her main characters, this second novel of the trilogy suffers a bit from middle-novel syndrome. The pace, which was so lively in the first novel, is glacial here, and while we get a deeper understanding of Gabriel and Isobel's origins and natures, the fact that they spend the entire novel literally riding around in circles, thinking the same obsessive thoughts again and again -- well, the whole thing feels a bit claustrophobic, which is ironic given its wide-open-spaces setting. It's a relief when Isobel finally gets some hints as to her purpose, and the ending sets the stage for a whiz-bang continuation, but I read this installment rather dutifully, longing for some new characters and conversations. Definitely looking forward to the next one, though.