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A dark young adult Western fantasy about a teen in a remote settlement full of monsters and secrets.

Faolan Kelly’s grandfather is dead. She’s alone in the world and suddenly homeless, all because the local powers that be don’t think a young man of sixteen is mature enough to take over his grandfather’s homestead…and that’s with them thinking Faolan is a young man. If she revealed that her grandfather had been disguising her for years, they would marry her off at the first opportunity.

The mayor finds a solution that serves everyone but Faolan: He hires a gunslinger to ship her off to the Settlement, a remote fort where social outcasts live under the leadership of His Benevolence Gideon Dillard. It's a place rife with mystery, kept afloat by suspicious wealth. Dillard's absolute command over his staff just doesn't seem right. And neither do the strange noises that keep Faolan up at night.

When Faolan finds the body of a Settlement boarder, mangled by something that can’t possibly be human, it’s clear something vicious is stalking the palisades. And as Settlement boarders continue to drop like flies, Faolan knows she must escape to evade the creature’s wrath.

Hoping to start this one tomorrow night! Unsurprisingly, I'm a little behind. LOL

this one is pretty good so far! really different from what we've been reading together!

6 chapters / 26%

(view spoiler)[I like our mc but I can't help but wonder how much hiding is going to upset the settlement if they find out

I really like the gunslinger and can't help but wonder if he's sticking around to make sure the kid is safe.

I'm a little worried Jesse and Dai Lo aren't going to be able to just walk out when they both turn 18.

I wonder what's howling at night, what they are guarding and what's really going on here (hide spoiler)]

To 21%: Yessss, it is completely different than what we've been reading and I'm enjoying it. I like the slow build of the world and I am fascinated by the Settlement, and (view spoiler)[the noises Faoran is hearing at night... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14 / 47%

(view spoiler)[ that's so wild about being put in that shed for punishment and something attacked something else
but there was no proof. Who is hiding it? and what did it eat? it was something that was tormenting her?!

I'm glad others know and are helping with the hiding to keep them safe.

I really like Will

now that they have found a body, I wonder where it goes from here.
and who took the watch? Heartbreaking, I hope its found (hide spoiler)]

chapter 15

(view spoiler)[ Not Gertie!!! 😭😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

22 chapters / 76%

(view spoiler)[ wow that took a turn I wasn't anticipating

that guy going off the deep end, stealing the map and then putting Faolan in the cave was wild! I didn't see that coming.
what's with the symbols - in the cave and in that one room under the bed

so now we've got a magical cave cat?

This story sure took a weird turn! lol I like Chirp though. and Tallis is great. I like that he doesn't want to change anyone (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ once I got over the odd jump into magic - I was good with the story. I still wasn't sure why then and why that way - taking Faolan into the cave and all that

but I think they did try to explain it

I liked the magic making the barriers and I love that it was tied to music

I love that Faolan left the land with the Rovers! ugh, I thought that was such a great touch! I love that they are off to travel
I was so glad that Jesse and dao made it out! When they arrived to all that blood I was nervous.

and I love that moody stayed with the gunslinger. so sweet!

it almost set up for a possible book 2 (hide spoiler)]

To 40%: So much has happened! I was sad when (view spoiler)[Faolan returned to the Settlement and then to be punished like that. It does seem she is making some allies though. Jesse, Dai Lo, Mr. Speed and Ms. Moon, all seem to caring and good-natured for this place. I hope they all get away! (hide spoiler)]

YES! the punishment was so cruel!

Trisha wrote: "YES! the punishment was so cruel!"Ughhhh that was awful! And then (view spoiler)[when Dai Lo went to help and was sort of communicated with Faolan in a way she wasn't supposed to be, I was so scared she was gonna get caught by whoever was lurking outside!!! It seems like quite a few people know now about the fact that she is a girl. I am wondering when that is going to be made public and if she will be at further risk because of it! (hide spoiler)]

To 51%: We're spending an awful lot of time dealing with (view spoiler)[Cartwright's corpse. My goodness 🤣 Is this a werewolf story, or what? Still enjoying it, just really curious what dangers lurk in the woods. It's gotta be more exciting than just animals... (hide spoiler)]

To 65%: I'm sorry this is taking me so long. It's not because I'm not enjoying it. I really am. I love the characters and the whole vibe of this mysterious settlement with strong religious undertones, I just have had so many other more Horror heavy reads that I wanted to fit in for the month.

Anyway, picked this one up earlier for a little bit and finally got to the part where (view spoiler)[Faolan and Tallis kiss!!!! I've been waiting for that. I didn't even want Faolan to return to the Settlement after that, but I know she has friends there now and mystery to solve. Also, I am really curious to figure out what got her out of bed that night in the first place. (hide spoiler)]

To 77%: (view spoiler)[Cave cats? WTH is going on here. I'm really interested in an explanation on that development... (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "22 chapters / 76%

wow that took a..."

Right!? I knew that guy was sus as hell, but (view spoiler)[the cave cat? I never could have predicted that. Chirp is now my favorite character and I want one, but seriously, WTF...where do we go from here? (hide spoiler)]

To 82%: This is taking me sooooo long to read! NGL, I just want it to be over at this point. Nothing has even really happened since my last update. I guess (view spoiler)[Faolan is getting ready to break back into the Settlement, but that's really all that's happened recently. (hide spoiler)]

Right?! I have no idea why this one felt like it took sooooo long to get through! lol It was good, but somehow it felt like it slowed down in parts

Trisha wrote: "Right?! I have no idea why this one felt like it took sooooo long to get through! lol It was good, but somehow it felt like it slowed down in parts"
Yeah, I agree. Like when I am actually reading it, I like what I am reading, the tone, the texture, the atmosphere, but mannnnn, it's taking me weeks. LOL

I am done!!! Phew! I enjoyed this, so have no clue why it took so long to resd. It was very weird, the direction it took in the 2nd half, but I still liked it. Also, I found the ending properly satisfying. Sometimes you want that neat little bow, particularly when characters have really gone through it to get there. This is going to be a tough one to rate!