Arroyo

by Gretchen Rix

As Daniel watched, Ramona crept closer to her former burden, telling herself she only wanted to see if the chains were broken and unusable. She didn't want to admit that it was talking to her again. "Nieta," it hissed. The snake head moved its dead jaws with the greeting. "Mu muero de hambre. Hungry," it said. She stood hypnotized. "There it is!" Narendra galloped right up beside her, breathing heavily from his run. He broke the spell. Ramona quickly reared back in horror. It had nearly taken her again, she realized. The Rajput used his sword and ran it gingerly through the reptile's mouth to get it off the wooden Indian statue, all the while gently nudging Ramona aside. Immediately the snake head clamped its fangs onto the steel; just as abruptly the Rajput screamed, swung the sword high through the air, and tossed the head far ahead of them on the arroyo floor. ---A buxom Mexican witch doomed to a disastrous ending drags two strange companions across Texas with her in Arroyo, a paranormal western and pulp action adventure story for a modern audience. As her traveling companion Sinjin McIntosh Narendra (the Rajput) alternately plunges and bumbles his way towards his ultimate fate, and Daniel either thwarts or abets their every plan--- See Ramona resist the kiss of the vampire. Watch as Ramona subverts the hand of God to her will. Follow Ramona, the Rajput and Daniel as they leave Texas history in shambles pursuing their own destinies. A pulp adventure western novel with touches of the horror genre, Arroyo is a roller coaster ride through 1893 Texas.

274 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2011

Reviews

[Patrick Kampman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arroyo has the feel of "Alice in Wonderland" but with a Texas twist.

We follow Ramona, a mysterious woman literally chained to a malignant wooden Indian and metaphorically chained to two unusual traveling companions. Over the course of the story, these chains are bent and broken as Ramona meets unworldly creatures throughout what can only be described as a spirit quest.Everyone Ramona meets has a secret; some reveal them willingly, others will only slyly hint at what they hide. In fact, Ramona herself may be more than what she appears...

Arroyo is an intricate, fascinating read that will keep you guessing as you turn the pages. Whether you've been to Texas or just like to read about it, Arroyo's tall tales will leave you entertained.

[Babette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A completely unique story. I'm going to be thinking about this book for a while. What did it mean?! Weird, odd, strange...