Deputy sheriff Mildred “Millie” Berry is an inspiring female heroine: feisty, brave, fiercely protective of her four year old daughters and as loyal a friend as anyone could ask for! Her reputation proceeds her - she is known as the Ghost due to her albinism and elvish ability to sneak up on people, and as the Butcher of The Bayou to the antagonist, Frederic Rousseau and anyone who listens to his fake war stories. Occasionally suffering from battlefield flashbacks from a terrible war she was forced to fight in as one of Rousseau’s enslaved soldiers, she is hiding out in a small town inhabited only by women, most of whom have their own reasons to hide, and demons to run from.
“This town was definitely cursed. Women who fought dragons, women who could pick off a man at a mile out, women who had horns and hooves.“
The action begins with a train crash, caused by Millie and Sheriff Ryan. Unwittingly, Millie causes a dragon attack on the train while they are trying to steal ammunition on behalf of their town.
“She was immense, beautiful, terrifying. Azure scales gleamed across her sides, deepening in colour as they spread up to her ridged spine. Lines of crimson marked her sides, some spreading out along her wings, which she ruffled and flapped in agitation.”
Isaiah Willard, a member of an infamous local gang of bandits, gets killed in the aftermath and his older brother Jebediah is dead set on revenge. He has no idea just exactly who he is about to take on, though.
Gilbert Goldman is a serial womanizer with a heart of gold, and an insurance agent employed by the bank. He needs to investigate the train wreck on behalf of his client, the well-known war hero Frederic Rousseau. Hal, Gilbert’s old school friend and now a Stratton detective, eagerly joins his investigation. Along the way they meet the impressive Millie and team up with the women to protect the town of Scorched Bluffs and its residents from the merciless Rousseau and his army of thugs.
The world-building in this book is solid - there is plenty of information given about the recent civil war via flashbacks and conversation and just enough about the two main religions, the Wheelers and the Carpenters:
“The Wheelers call us Carpenters because we prefer to build our own fates, rather than accept a decided outcome.”
Throw into the mix dragon attacks, salamanders setting themselves on fire, shape-shifting elves, a magic wielding High Arroyan War Witch, a Stormbird and many other compelling elements and you have one heck of a fantasy western story full of heart, which will stay with you for a while. I found this book absolutely unputdownable and highly recommend it. Can’t wait to read the sequel later this year!
I was given a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
