Name: jess's review of Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto
Item: Revenge and the Wild
Rating: 3
Author: jess

Michelle Modesto

True Grit meets True Blood in this delightfully dark and fantastical Western perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Cassandra Clare, and Holly Black. This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto. The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s just perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler. Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Seven years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways. But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

Revenge and the Wild

Paige M Neylon

jess

This was a relatively fun read and I commend the author for creating an incredibly unique and creative setting. It's the Wild West and it definitely, undoubtedly takes place on Earth, but with magic and fantasy creatures, with steampunk. It's such a cool clash of genre and different conventions that I was pretty impressed. I just wish it was clearer when this took place - is it an alternate history? It's messy, but it's a cool kind of messy. 

The plot was surprisingly gritty, with cannibals and the author doesn't spare details on some of the gore. Westie kind of annoyed me at times - she made so many bad choices throughout the novel, but I appreciate that she's not a typical main character and she really goes with the entire mood of the novel - a recovering alcoholic, tough-as-nails and hell-bent on revenge. 

I wasn't too keen on Modesto's writing style, but the pacing was pretty good and all in all it was a fun read.

T.A. Joseph

I won an ARC from the Goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. It has everything someone would want in a story, a wonderfully crafted setting, a kick-butt protagonist, loads of tension and conflict, and two very appealing love interests. If you love those things and twisty endings, certainly give this book a try. It's quite thrilling. Westie is the kind of girl you'd want to root for.

Paige M Neylon &
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

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Paige M Neylon &Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto

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Paige M Neylon &
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto