I’m proud to introduce Hannah, a writer friend who always stretches my views of different genres! I met Hannah through a writing coaching program last year when I got to read and give feedback on her a fascinating, but homely, ghost story she wrote. Now she’s introducing me to a Western with this well-structured review. I’ll hand it off to her:
Hello everyone! I’m so excited to be here with a review of Emily Hayse’s These War Torn Hands.
I first read this book because I had critiqued a friend’s Western-themed story and desperately needed more Western adventures. And, guys, These War Torn Hands delivered. It was the perfect book to satisfy my craving for cowboys, horses, and desert adventures.
About the Book:
“They say this land is bound, cursed since the beginning of the world. And it’ll be freed one day by a man with war-torn hands.”
Rosamund Lacey has crossed a continent to marry Archer Scott because she believes he is a man set apart—a man with a destiny. But Alexander Mortimer, Outlaw King of the western territory, believes in only one kind of destiny: winner takes all.
Determined to reign supreme, Mortimer kidnaps the governor’s bride and wreaks havoc on the land around Glory Mesa. But when Archer refuses to choose between the woman he loves and the land he has sworn to protect, he is forced into a showdown that may cost more than his life.
A E S T H E T I C
| red dust | summer thunderstorms | worn leather | the smell of horses | colorful sunsets | faded dresses | tanned skin | endless blue sky | newly built towns | campfires |
Content Warnings:
For being in the YA genre, this book is actually pretty clean. There is violence and fighting in this book, but that’s pretty much the main content warning. 🙂
My Reading Experience:
First of all, the setting and general tone of this story was amazing. It felt like a classic Western movie and made me want to go to Arizona. It was exactly what I wanted.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the characters. There were multiple POV’s, but each character was distinct and felt so lifelike. Jesse Thatcher was one of my favorite characters because of his easy-going personality, but willingness to help when needed. Rosamund was also a great character and I really enjoyed seeing her grow as the story progressed.
There were a few characters I wasn’t a big fan of.. Mainly the villain. I was happy that this story had your classic “bad guy” because that’s not something you see a lot of these days, especially in YA books. But Alexander Mortimer just… did not seem threatening? I liked how Hayse showed the human side of him, but when it came time to fight battles between the good guys and Mortimer, it didn’t seem like the stakes were very high.
Technically, this book (and the rest of the series!) is a King Arthur retelling. However, I don’t actually know very much about the stories surrounding King Arthur or the knights of the round table, so I probably didn’t pick up any of those references or connections. (I might need to go read more on King Arthur and then come back to this series!)
Plot-wise, this book started out with lots of action. In the first few chapters, poor Rosamund is kidnapped and is forced to face the harsh desert.
As the story continued, it seemed to slow down a bit. I took this time to enjoy the scenery and Western-ness of the story, but it did seem less like an adventure story at this point.
The climax, though, was filled with action. I loved it. It felt like a classic movie with all the characters working together to defeat the villain, and it was the perfect triumphant ending.
***
Even though this book was slow at points, the gorgeous setting, lyrical prose, and engaging characters kept me reading. These War Torn Hands perfectly satisfied my need for a Western adventure!
About the Reviewer:
Hannah E.M. is a crazy pen-wielding, jack-of-all-trades writer. She writes contemporary stories with a vintage (or magical) twist, usually featuring big families, delicious food, and tear jerking scenes. Along with writing, she enjoys outdoor adventures, sewing, historical costuming, playing music, and spending time with her lively family. To see what new shenanigans Hannah might get into, visit her blog at precariousbookstacks.com.
Note from Vella: I haven’t personally read this book yet, but I trust my guest reviewers to include all necessary content warnings.