“Lone Women” by Victor LaValle
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.
Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.
Review
This book was interesting to read and in some ways both simple and a lot more complicated than it initially seems. There are multiple themes going on throughout the book such as racism, sexism and ableism. The reality of Adelaide’s secret is hard to explain without spoiling the whole thing but there are parallels to various issues around disability and responsibilities. I had a few moments where I was concerned about how the book was going to handle those issues, but the ending resolved most of my concerns.
There are multiple plot threads going on through out the book and I liked the way the characters interacted and the various relationships that were shown. There were a couple things that didn’t get explained as well as I’d have liked (as an example it’s not clear how Adelaide and everyone actually survived on their own as they didn’t seem to have access to supplies). I liked all the characters Adelaide ends up being friends with and the way the ending was described. Though I did end up wishing more was said about the future of one character who ended up being my favorite.
Book Details
- Author’s Website
- Victor LaValle
- Publisher / Date
- One World, March 2023
- Genre
- Horror, Historical Fiction
- Page Count
- 320
- Completion Date
- May 3, 2025