Coyote: The Outlander

by Chantal Noordeloos

No one knows where or when the mysterious rips will appear, but from them, Outlanders walk the earth, leaving chaos in their wake.
Coyote, a charismatic bounty hunter, travels the land with her enigmatic partner, Caesar. Together –with the help of magic and technology—the unlikely duo tracks down these dangerous criminals from different worlds. Along the way, Coyote discovers a secret that threatens to shatter everything she believes about herself, her father, and her sworn enemy, James Westwood.

Whether Outlander or inner demons, some things can't be solved with a six shooter.

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2013

About the author

Chantal Noordeloos (born in the Hague, and not found in a cabbage as some people may suggest) lives in the Netherlands, where she spends her time with her wacky, supportive husband, and outrageously cunning daughter, who is growing up to be a supervillain.

When she is not busy exploring interesting new realities, or arguing with characters (aka writing), she likes to dabble in drawing.

In 1999 she graduated from the Norwich School of Art and Design, where she focused mostly on creative writing.
There are many genres that Chantal likes to explore in her writing.

Currently Sci-fi Steampunk is one of her favourites, but her ‘go to’ genre will always be horror. “It helps being scared of everything; that gives me plenty of inspiration,” she says.
Chantal likes to write for all ages, and storytelling is the element of writing that she enjoys most.

“Writing should be an escape from everyday life, and I like to provide people with new places to escape to, and new people to meet.”

Chantal started her career writing short stories for various anthologies, and in 2012 she won an award for ‘Best Original Story’ for her short ‘the Deal’. Coyote is her first big project.


Chantal lives in The Hague with her family.

Reviews

[Angela Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Description:

''Being a female bounty hunter, Coyote made men nervous. Being an official, she made them wary. But being the best gunman, or in her case, gunwoman around, Coyote made them downright anxious. The popular consensus was that women shouldn’t be allowed to be bounty hunters, but no one dared say this out loud when Coyote was around.''

~Coyote: The Outlander

No one knows where or when the rips will appear, but they do, and from them, Outlanders walk the earth. Coyote travels the territories with Caesar, her mysterious partner in the bounty hunter business, and together they confront these alien threats to humanity. Along the way, Coyote discovers a secret that threatens to shatter everything she believes about herself, her father, and her sworn enemy, James Westwood. Whether Outlander or inner demons, some things can't be solved with a six shooter.

Chantal has crafted an amazing story of intrigue and adventure set in the wild west. I instantly fell in love with her protagonist, Coyote. In fact all the characters came alive in this adventure. I can't wait for the next installment to her series. This is REALLY good!

~Charles Day, Bram Stoker Award® nominated author of LEGEND OF THE PUMPKIN THIEF and THE HUNT FOR THE GHOULISH BARTENDER

About the FREE Second Screen:
Reading itself is a favorite pastime, but with ‘Coyote: The Outlander’ we wanted to add a little extra by offering you a free second screen experience. Within the book you’ll find four icons of a safe. Each of these will come with the secret code for that part of the book. Simply go to the website ‘www.coyotethebooks.com’ and unlock the corresponding safe.

You will find FREE content, such as extra storylines, background music, selected for that part of the story. We advise you not to read ahead of the story, because the extra content may contain spoilers.

~The Tip My Hat team, Publishers of Coyote: The Outlander


What a book!! This steampunk western had me hooked from the very first page. With most westerns women are at best the sidekicks. In this novel we get a kickass heroine instead! Coyote is a woman ahead of her time. A bounty hunter fighting for equality both for herself and her partner, Caesar (a former slave) one battle at a time while saving people from outlanders. I adored these characters! It was very easy to get pulled into their world and care about what happened to them. Inside the story you will find four safes. These lead you to free content that enhances the story. There are music downloads and short stories for you to have even more of a world that is fun and exciting. This made for a truly interactive experience that kept me up all night unable to put down my kindle. The ending had a twist that makes me very glad I have part two waiting. A fun and fast paced thrill ride that you should grab today! 4.5 stars.

[Vincenzo Bilof · Rating 4 out of 5]

World building is a daunting task for any writer who wants to create an original mythology. Combine the elements of the steampunk genre with a “Western” setting—and throw in a badass heroine with a cool hat—and you’ve got an exciting sci-fi adventure story. A bounty hunter with a troubled past (is there any other kind?), Coyote is a positive example of a female character who doesn’t need typical archetypes to define her actions. There’s no over-sexualization; Coyote is armed with all the wit and courage of a gunslinger who has nothing better to do than look for trouble…

Why not throw aliens into the mix? Yeah… for a novella, this book packs a ton of action and genre-blending to keep the story interesting and exciting. The author infuses an element of charm while spinning a tale that seems to include one interesting element after another. Coyote could be a great character in any setting; I feel like Noordeloos understands her character so well that she has allowed herself a variety of possibilities; the unique world-vision the author shares can contain any number of fantastical elements to challenge Coyote. This could easily turn into a serialized “Sherlock Holmes meets Clint Eastwood meets Don Quixote meets steampunk” story.

This episode is a showcase for a character who can easily become popular with fans. An intriguing premise that a variety of readers can enjoy! As a fan of this author’s horror fiction, I kept an open mind and explore the world Coyote, and found myself surprised at how intrigued I was. The actual rating for this book is calculated at 3.86 stars, rounded up.

[Art Griswold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's see,
Western? Check.
Bounty Hunters? Check.
Beings from elsewhere? Check.

This book has so many things I enjoy that it was hard to put it down so I could sleep for my job.
The descriptions are vivid and strong enough to pull me right into the story as if I was in the room (invisible of course) and watching a real life movie happening around me.

Each character has been lovingly crafted to pop off of the pages.

Coyote as the lead will grab your heart, make you shy away a bit, and be just a tiny bit afraid of her. She's one of those perfect characters that you can hope to stumble upon when browsing books or ebooks looking for something new and fun to read.

This is the first part of a series, and I am champing at the bit for the next installments.

Well done, madame storyteller, you have ensnared a forever loyal reader.

[Shaun Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally getting a second to write a review for this one. Read it a little while back and loved it. First off, I have a long time love affair with westerns, but I have been drawn more and more to westerns that offer something a little new and different. And while there are plenty of themes familiar here, they are the kind you want. What's better is the things you don't normally get in the average ones. And Chantal excels with those. After finishing it, I wanted more and more of it, and hope she will be giving it to us. I highly recommend this one.

[Father Lucifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little too short but entertaining non the less. I do hope for more Coyote stories from this author. Loved the world she created and the characters involved. I only wish the side stories found on the web were written in the book itself. The book was so short they could have easily been added within it's pages.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snappy introduction to the world of Coyote and the woman herself. A blend of wild west, science fiction and steampunk with an emphasis on creating a strong world and character development, this debut left me intrigued as to where Ms Noordeloos will take this twisting tale next.

[Stuart Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, my first review in several months. It’s been a busy start to 2015. However, I have managed to fit the odd book in, here and there. I have a glut of reviews to post this week, so let’s begin with a story that goes outside of my normal ‘preferred’ genres. For me, one of the trickiest genres to produce creative material for is the Western. Films are usually hit and miss, TV shows very rarely attempt it and writing? Well, it takes some skill to pull it off. When Coyote: The Outlander came across my radar, a western that skews steam punk and science fiction into its narrative core, I was intrigued. I had read Chantal Noordeloos before, so going into this book was an experience before I even turned the page. I was excited on a rare day off. She does horror effortlessly…so how could she fare in this combined genre territory?

The good news? She does brilliantly. Within the first chapter, I was hooked. Coyote, the namesake of the book, is a female bounty hunter in a very male orientated age. Transcending the Wild West with her best friend and comrade, Caesar, the duo are at constant battle with ‘Outlanders’, a species of enemy from a different dimension. Gaining access to Earth via ‘rips’, a portal between worlds, The Outlanders provide Coyote with a daily, more supernatural challenge and, in my opinion, something unique to the story. Unpredictability.

The problem with combining genres is cliché. It’s so easy to fall back on them if you make an effort to merge two very different genres, both of which have a dedicated following. Chantal, wisely, does not do this in Coyote. Sure, she throws in the battle of her fellow men – those who take offence to a woman and an African American (Caesar) muscling in on their bounty hunter patch and finances, a normality for the time and setting – but Chantal does this with brazen aplomb. The dialogue is witty, seamless and actually helps develop the characters before you. Coyote is the ultimate smart mouth, a woman with pure confidence behind her firearm, but with doubt, demons and insecurity in her personal life, away from the hunt. Caesar is the quiet, brooding sidekick who is the Yang to Coyote’s Ying. As a duo, they rival Butch and Sundance for one of the more memorable western couples in recent years.

Then, there is the unpredictability. This comes, mostly, in the form of the Outlanders. The duo’s mission takes them on various adventures – finding a particle gun, facing up to various cowboys, an excellently written ‘trip’ sequence within an Indian camp – which not only bring you along as a third person (it’s almost as if you’re sitting on a horse right next to them), but also help expose the characters. Coyote and Caesar, and even the supporting cast, have a rich and varied history, one that is explored in pain staking detail. To reveal that now would ruin the experience for you. Then there is the steam punk element. Robots, steam powered vehicles, firearms that just don’t exist in the Wild West – yet they fit. Chantal doesn’t overexpose this tricky sub-genre, more teasing us then drowning us in the technology which, in all honesty, could have ruined the story. It’s a true testament to the ability of the writer, one who has done her research.

Which is the biggest pro of all: This story is a character piece. Yes, we have robots, non-stereotypical characters and monsters from another world, but they are background elements, plot devices used to put our characters in perilous positions. Chantal sprinkles a little horror on the proceedings here (a ‘rip’ opening in a cornfield is a particularly gripping scene) and takes our characters to the edge of darkness. The history of these characters is also gradually explored, which comes full circle in their motivations. The unpredictability of the set pieces makes you fear for the characters on every turn. This is a result of the rich character development. By the 30% mark, you feel you’ve known Coyote and Caesar for years, like old friends. This knocks C:TO up a level, bringing you into their world, which keeps you turning the pages.

Is the story perfect? No, but it’s not far off. True, the odd character is a bit 2-D – which is always a risk in a Western backdrop – and the odd mission seems a little unnecessary. Sometimes, you just wish Caesar would say a little more. But, this is a first chapter in a (hopefully) long and prosperous series. These niggles can be ironed out in further, more extensive chapters. Jack Reacher and James Bond weren’t nailed on their debut, so the writer has nothing to worry about. The characters are just finding their feet and they’ve hit the ground running in style. Coyote: The Outlander is a solid piece of entertainment, combining genres effortlessly to create a unique and very enthralling tale of death, revelation, self discovery, and technological uncertainty. We also get a sexy, sassy, bad-arse heroine, the best sidekick since…well, take your pick, and a universe with unlimited potential and intricate characters. The Outlander is a first, solid chapter – bring on the second, third and fiftieth. Recommended.

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird West, or steampunk with a Western flavour, is a sub-genre I'm not that familiar with. I've read several novels and short stories set in a Western setting, but not that many with a steampunk vibe. When I was approached about reviewing Coyote: The Outlander, I was intrigued by this aspect of the story. The fact that the author, Chantal Noordeloos, was also a draw, as I'm always fascinated by fellow Dutchies who can write fiction in English as well as they can in Dutch, as it's a skill I can't even imagine possessing. And Coyote is a fun, solidly written story, one that aims to add a bit more to its reading experience by adding in a second screen experience.

The second screen experience, a phenomenon that's sprung up in the wake of the rise of the tablet, is something that is more commonly found paired with TV programmes. And while there are numerous publishers experimenting with enhanced e-books, especially on the educational and scholarly side of the trade, a second screen experience was something I hadn't encountered before in my reading. And it was rather a mixed experience for me. While I liked the general idea and the extra short stories found there were quite good, but I found that it also kept taking me out of my reading and I didn't read the stories until after I finished the book, because that might have been confusing. The interview included was interesting and the music fun, but since I generally read in silence or with the kids making noise, that didn't add anything for me. However, this is a very personal reaction and you've got to praise Noordeloos and her publisher for experimenting with the format.

Thus far I've mostly talked about the packaging – the book's sub-genre and the second screen experience – but what about the actual story? The start of the book was a bit rough. I found it hard to connect to the characters and get into the writing style, but I'm glad I hung in there, as after a chapter or two the narrative smoothed out and the story became quite enjoyable. A Western tale is always fun as the delineation between good and evil is superficially often quite clear – we call them white-hats and black-hats for a reason – but in a good story below the hats it's all a bit more murky than that. This is the case for Coyote: The Outlander as well. The idea of dimensional rifts and the Outlanders that can tumble through them was an interesting one and I especially enjoyed the chapter set at Ming's Emporium as it twisted everything we learn about rifts up to that point.

Coyote, the titular heroine of the story, is a great character. She's fun, morally upright, yet flexible to get her job done and as a bounty hunter she needs all the flexibility she can muster. The book is very much concerned with her having to confront uneasy truths from her past which she's hidden from for years and it's a painful, yet interesting thing to watch. The one thing about Coyote that kept bothering me, however, was her braids. I kept picturing them Rapunzel-style down to her calves and how on earth is that practical when you're a down and dirty, horseback-travelling bounty hunter? In know it's a weird detail to get hung-up on, but there you have it. Coyote's partner Caesar, a freed slave of small physical stature, is a cool sidekick, though I'd have loved to have seen more personality from him. He only gets a few moments to shine and that was a shame, as one of the short stories is from his perspective and it was one I enjoyed a lot. The shaman Tokala was quite interesting and wish we could have seen more of him. One last important character was Westwood and while he's cast as the villain, I actually really liked him and I hope we'll learn more about him and Coyote in the future. The twist concerning him and Coyote was also quite cleverly done and I really liked how he tied into her story with her father.

A lot is packed into what is actually a slim novel and some of it might have been unpacked a bit more. In fact, some of the information given in the short stories unlocked in the second screen could have easily been incorporated into the book to flesh it out a bit. Despite its slow and bumpy start, I enjoyed reading Coyote: The Outlander and I look forward to reading more set in this universe.

This book was provided for review by the publisher.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Coyote: The Outlander" is definitely one of the more original urban fantasy novels I've read, and although I didn't used to be into the Wild West as a setting, I have been enjoying the horror subgenre called Weird Westerns for the past few years, so I was excited at the prospect to dive into that kind of a world again.

In this universe, the supernatural monsters are called Outlanders and they can come in many different varieties. Some of them are like nuisances but there are many of them so a hunter would have to go to great lengths to make sure they're all dead, but some of them are shape shifters and some come in much stronger forms.

Our protagonist, Coyote (real name Charlotte Webb--you can see why she prefers to use Coyote as her form of address) is someone who hunts and kills these Outlanders. Her mother was killed when she was young and she never quite found out why, but her father was killed by a guy named Westwood, who instead of hunting and killing Outlanders, collects them and uses them to his own gain. Westwood is Coyote's sworn enemy--she has spent her whole life trying to kill him to avenge her father's death, but he's also good when it comes to a bit of sorcery so he makes sure that the kinds of weapons Coyote uses won't work against him.

Coyote gets most of her assignments to kill Outlanders from the Pinkertons. Although most of the other bounty hunters are men (and just as sexist as you'd expect them to be considering the era in which the novel is set), they do respect Coyote. One of the most interesting characters comes in the form of Caesar, who is Coyote's partner and also a black man. One assumes he is a free man of colour, but it's not difficult to imagine that he may have been a slave at one time in his past. He was one of the characters I was desperate to find out more about. I would have liked to have seen him in action even more than he is, but I think he and Coyote had a wonderful dynamic and I liked the way they played off each other.

Towards the end of the novel there are a lot of secrets revealed and there is an exciting passage that alternates between putting Westwood and Coyote in the seat of power and it was exciting to see the shifts in this dynamic, because for me, there's nothing more uninteresting than having a villain who has the upper hand for the entire book and then the main character miraculously saves the day. Nor do I like "Superman" situations in which the protagonist has the upper hand for much of the book and then the villain is easily overcome at the end. There should be more of a balance. I also like villains who are less about being black and white and in this novel it's cool to see that things are murky because for so much of her life, Coyote convinced herself of things about her sworn enemy, Westwood, but when she has to question them, it causes an interesting conflict inside of her.

For those urban fantasy fans who prefer novels to have a hefty dose of romance, they may want to skip this one but for urban fantasy fans like me who, while we don't mind a bit of romance, we prefer the books to be more action-oriented and fast-paced, it will satisfy that kind of urban fantasy reader more.

As an added bonus, the book comes with some links to short stories set in the Outlander universe that the reader can access when they're done with the novel (kind of like bonus items or Easter Eggs on a DVD) so that was also a nice treat from the author.

Highly recommended for urban fantasy fans.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, first book read of 2014 and it's a pretty good start to the year.

Coyote is a female bounty hunter in the old West, who travels the country with her companion, Caesar, looking for 'Outlanders', who are aliens or otherworldly beings, that come to Earth through rips. Coyote hunts the ones that are considered bad and gives a pass to those that do no wrong. Added to the mix is the her long-standing hatred of James Westwood, the man she blames for her father's death.

This West is not like the world of Eastwood and the gun-slingers of the movies. Rather, it is an alternate past, filled with strange creatures, steam powered vehicles and even proto-robots. It's a very distinct steampunk world and unlike anything I've read before.

Coyote is a complex character, beautiful yet tough, independent but carries doubts and insecurities about her past, stuff that is revealed gradually through the story. As for which, it's a fast read, and is probably more the size of a novella. At least, I finished it in a couple of days, so it must be relatively short. At any rate, I powered through it.

It's incredibly detailed and I could visualise the settings easily. It moves quickly from one piece to the next and this could be considered a small detriment as there's little time to breathe between action set-pieces, but it's a small quibble and it serves to push the story and the inevitable confrontation with the antagonists into a giddy, headlong rush.

There were a few things that niggled slightly in my reading. The prose sometimes feels a little stiff, with some repetition of words too close in sentences and I felt that in places, the dialogue would have benefited from more contractions, more casual utterances. The formality works for Caesar, not as much for Coyote. Also, some of the emotions and situations feel over-described and might have benefited from allowing the reader to realise through description rather than telling. But that's just me. Still, it's minor, as I really did like the story, the setting and (dare I say it?), the characters. In particular, the cigar chomping, bowler hat wearing, Coyote, who sometimes felt like some gorgeous young actress channelling Clint Eastwood (not a criticism ).

There are a few things left unanswered - what, exactly are the Outlanders? What causes the rips? And is Westwood really a bad guy, or is there more to him than that? (part of this is dealt with, but there's definitely more...so much more...).

All in all, a very good read, and I could definitely see this as an expanded work, over a number of volumes. It's exactly the sort of thing Angry Robot would publish and there's a lot of scope for more and bigger. So come on, Chantal, what are you waiting for...?

[Scott Whitmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part Steampunk, part Western, part Sci-Fi, part Fantasy — and wholly original — Coyote: The Outlander by Chantal Noordeloos (@C_Noordeloos) is a fun read that I finished in a couple sittings this past weekend. As the first of a series, this book serves to introduce the world and characters, doing so without bogging down in exposition.

The setting isn’t exactly the Old West you’ve seen before (and honestly, having been born in Illinois, I don’t consider Indiana as being “west” of anything). True, there are Native American tribes, and saloons, and brothels, and horses … but there are also bicycles and “horseless carriages” powered by steam.

There are also “rips” in space which allow travel between Earth and other planets, and for some reason a lot of these rips are in Indiana. Aliens who come to Earth are called Outlanders, and as you may expect they are mostly feared by humans.

Coyote (no one calls her by her given name, Charlotte) is a woman in a job traditionally held by men: bounty hunter. Along with her companion Caesar, she specializes in finding dangerous Outlanders, often working for the Pinkerton Agency. On her latest job for Pinkerton, Coyote will learn some unexpected things about herself and her world.

An interesting added feature for Coyote: The Outlander is a “second screen” experience, with a website that provides additional information and some backstories unlockable by codes provided in the book. This website was temporarily offline when I tried using it, but the author assured me it would be available again soon. I can’t wait to delve deeper into this interesting sandbox.

To learn more about the author and her writing, visit her website

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is like being caught up in a crash of wildebeast. The story picks you up and drags you along on a fantastic journey through the Wild West at an astonishing pace. You get the feeling it gives you all the best sights of the Wild West, with some unexpected twists and turns as well, but with barely a moment's rest to catch your breath or truely enjoy the view. It makes for an amazing trip that at the end makes you wonder why it is over so soon, can I do it again and can I have more of it please! Lucky for me, there is already a re-write, turning this novella into a full lenght novel, and a sequel to it as well! Can't wait to get my hands on those!

Edit: Miss Noordeloos did a re-write on this book making it a full length novel, and it's even better now than it was before. While the novella version was an increadibly fast paced build-up to one big climax that lasted for about the entire second half of it's pages, it is now much more balanced. The build-up is a little slower, giving you a chance to get a feel for not just the two main characters, but bond with some of the others as well. Instead of one big ongoing climax that hits you like a freight train, there's now a perfect build-up of suspense, working towards multiple peaks before climaxing into an interesting plot twist. The full length novel still leaves you wanting more (which luckily now there is), but without the disappointment of the story being over so quickly. More value for money, yay!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been ages since I read a wild-west story, and probably as long since the last sci-fi tale where aliens were not human-eating, apocalypse-bringing fiends. When I learnt that Coyote: The Outlander was a combination of the two, I wasn't sure what to expect.
Suddenly, I was immersed in a world of gunslingers and traditional Wild West ruled by men; or so it seemed.

While the Old West reluctantly acknowledges the arrival of technical revolution and the new era, little it knows of Outlanders seeping in through rips. There are only few who do know; among them Coyote, the bounty-hunter hired by Pinkerton agency.
Coyote could be a typical, whisky-drinking and cigar-smoking gunslinger; only she is not. She is a woman, and the best shot around. She is also a very modern lady, with admiration for new technology.
Young bounty-hunter travels with her companion in search of the criminal she is hired to kill, but there is also another journey she must undertake.

Coyote: The Outlander is an adventure full of colourful characters, entertaining twists and well-built world of imagination. Chantal Noordeloos involves the reader in her story with a playful easiness; you can even visit the village online and enter the vault to find little extras. It is fun.

[Donald White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Know your enemy. Charlotte Webb aka `Coyote' is a bounty hunter. She hunts Outlanders, those beings who enter through the rips between worlds. And she has been hired by the Pinkerton agency to track down an especially dangerous one...

The world of this work has a western flavor with a touch of science fiction thrown in for good measure. It is an intoxicating brew, one that will carry you on into the heart of the dream. The main character is tough, yet troubled. In her imperfections, we see her humanity.

An interesting group of people surround her: from quiet associate Caesar to the wise shaman Tokala. The world is full of strangeness and wonder. There are twists and a few unexpected turns along the way. And all along, Coyote must make choices for good or for ill.

The task is simple: kill the Outlander. And it is amazing how complicated such a simple thing can be. In the crossroads of America, Coyote will come to her own crossroads. Nothing worth doing is easy, and the hardest person to look at is the one in the mirror. Coyotes hunt and kill. But what a tragedy it would be for a young woman to turn into a beast...

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote: The Outlander was the first book i've ever read in english. At first i didn't know what to expect from books written in english, but from the beginning untill the end I was captured by the story. What i found so amazing is the second screen. The music you can find there really takes you to the part that you are reading. It makes you feel like you are really part of the story.

The way she describes Coyote is like you really get to know Coyote as the person that she is. Her thoughts, her fears, all her emotions. Same goes for all the other characters in the book. The background stories on the second screen makes you feel like you know the characters even better.

I really would recommend everybody to read this book. When you read it you are taken to a whole other world. The way Chantal writes the book makes it accesable for all types of readers. I really couldn't have read a better book for the first time in english.

[Dennis Rauhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote is a very entertaining book about a young woman trying to find her way in world that treats her as the underdog. While reading the book you will get to see how Coyote becomes the woman that she is, the friends that she makes and the enemies that she has. Against the odds she is trying to complete a difficult mission. Also her past follows coyote like a shadow which makes it all more complex then she would wish.

There is also the second screen. An internet page with backgroud stories and music that gives the book Coyote: The Outlander an extra dimension. A very cool extra if I may add.

The book is hihgly recommendable to all readers. Even readers that usualy don't read in the english language will find this book fun to read.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't go wrong with a gun-toting,cigar-sucking,smoke-ring-puffing,buxom blonde bombshell as a heroine. But she does seem to mess with her hat a lot!
Although the ideas kept reminding me of dimension hopping Dark Tower books and I wasn't completely aware whether I was reading an adult or Young Adult book,I enjoyed the story.
A steampunk wild west that's the start of something bigger,and purely for my own private perversions I can't wait until they make a film out of it. Guns,boobs,and corsets,Hell Yeah!

[Annelies · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Coyote: the Outlander you get a glimpse into an interesting re-imagining of the old west, which is full of otherworldly beings and steam-punk contraptions.

At the beginning of the book, the author struggles a little bit with consistency of viewpoint. Switching between characters is fine, but in this case it was a little confusing. Once the story gets going though, this problems disappears, and you're left with an interesting, exciting tale in an original world. Definitely worth the read.

[Bryan Bateman]

Great beginning of a new saga

Chantal has brought a curious new world to life in her initial entry of the Coyote series. What started as an interesting wild west meets sci-fi mashup became much moire as her characters developed and gained depth. Worthy a read and for me - worthy of picking up the next in the series to see where our heroine's journey leads me!

[Jeannie Holbrook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coyote is a bounty hunter in a world where strangeness is more common than not. Its wild west meets steampunkish sci-fi. You would think it wouldn't work, but it does. A refreshing story that I enjoyed immensely and will be eagerly waiting on the next part of Coyote's journey.

[Stefana Bisschop-schouten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Easy to read with lovely characters and a great story. Can't wait for the second book! ......and I want to have a store like that ;)

[Jaime Johnesee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic steampunk western full of great characters and wonderful writing.

[Sarah Avory · Rating 5 out of 5]

For whatever reason I wasn't 100% sure about this book at the start. But once I got into it, I really enjoyed it! So for me, a well deserved five stars. Recommended.

[Jason Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cracking steampunk novel which introduces us to the heroine, Coyote, in what will hopefully be a long series of adventures

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Steampunk wild west bounty hunter alien fantasy. So much fun to read. Definitely worth a read. Highly recommended.

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a version of the old West not taught in schools, one where steampunk contraptions rattle through the streets, one-way rips in the fabric of reality randomly appear, alien Outlanders walk among us . . . and the best bounty hunter around is a cigar-chomping woman by the name of Coyote.

Such is the premise behind Coyote: The Outlander, a fun tale that's also an intriguing reading experience (but more on that in a moment). Chantal Noordeloos deftly juggles her genres here, with a Western tale that feels authentic, and a sci-fi adventure that intrigues, but which never overwhelms the central gun-slinging story. Having said that, there's a lot going on beneath the surface here that I'd love to see explored in another, longer tale, but that's curiosity talking, not any sort of discontent with how the story is told.

Coyote is a great character, one who reminds me of Sharon Stone in The Quick and the Dead - a deliberate caricature who never tries to deny what she is. A trouser-wearing, cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking, dead-eye shooting bounty hunter, she has the confidence and strength of character to stand her own against any man but one. She's the kind of woman who not only ignores the sexist objections aimed her way, but who also crushes the racist ones aimed toward Caesar, her silent black partner. She has her vulnerabilities, but they add colour to her rather than defining her.

She's also a woman with a conscience, one who refuses to hunt down Outlanders simply because of who they are. When the bounty for a murderous, child-killing Outlander - a despicable alien who just happens to work for the outlaw who killer her father - comes her way, however, she's quick to take the job. That, of course, sets up a confrontation with the charismatic villain, James Westwood, upon which the whole story turns. Without spoiling things, the final few scenes will have you rethinking the title as much as the woman.

As for that intriguing reading experience I mentioned, each chapter has a secret code that you can use on the http://www.coyotethebooks.com/ website to unlock additional scenes and stories, a soundtrack, and author's notes. You can enjoy the story without ever taking a peek, but they do accentuate things nicely. It's a neat gimmick, and one I suspect we'll be seeing more of in the future.

All-in-all, Coyote: The Outlander was a thoroughly enjoyable story, one with imagination, humour, action, and even a little emotion. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of Coyote.

I received a copy of Coyote: The Outlander in return for an honest review.


Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins

[Weldon Burge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always loved Chantal's work (and have even published her stories) and have an affinity for weird westerns. So, Coyote appealed to me and I wasn't disappointed. Chantal's steampunk novel of a female bounty hunter with remarkable skills is highly recommended!