The Forlorn Trail: A Dark Fantasy Western

by Jacob C. Sadler

All maps end at the Forlorn Hills. The trail through the mountains is seldom taken. Those who do take the trail disappear or come back deranged. But when his children are kidnapped by a tribe known only to legends, Jessie Bingham must leave his farm and venture into the last uncharted region in the West. Aided by a riddle-reciting relic, a drunk, and a prince, he embarks on the Forlorn Trail. If Jessie is to rescue his children and return to his quiet life on the frontier, he will have to learn more about this mysterious relic and the once-great empire which crafted it. To do that, he must first embrace the life of an outlaw, forge alliances with old enemies, and walk the line between myth and history.



Take the Forlorn Trail into a world where the West was never won.

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2023

Reviews

[Bre]

I think this was my first western fantasy that I have read!! This was quite an interesting read for me. It was some what slow for me and was hoping it would pick up pace but it didn't. Not until the end at least. I immediately sat up at the end with what was going on with Jessie and his new band of friends. I won't spoil anything so I will leave it at that. Also the cliff hanger!! What a way to end the book. Also the whole thing about the Lugal myth and the eye of ur was new to me. The conversations were a little stale to me and some things that could have been left out to help the story move along smoother. I think that's what made it slow for me. There was also little world building in the book. So that didn't really help me feel like I was there in the book. There is some character growth with some of the characters so that's plus. Overall I'm giving it 3 stars. It was ok and fell a little short for.

[Willy Nichter]

Interesting take on an Old West fantasy! Admittedly not quite what I was looking for, as the summary led me to believe it would be taking place in our world rather than an original one, but all and all an enjoyable read! Thanks to NetGalley and Auberdine Publishing for the ARC!

[Candy]

“The Forlorn Trail” by Jacob Sadler is a dark fantasy western that follows Jessie Bingham, a man who would do anything for his twins, Ethel and Elijah. The book is set in the town of Belford, which is located at the end of the Forlorn Trail. The trail is seldom taken, and those who do take it disappear or come back deranged. One day, when Jesse comes upon the ruins of a wagon, everyone is deceased. This is where he finds the dream stone. When the mayor’s house catches on fire, and the mythical tribe raids the town, the mayor, Don Marcos and the Bingham twins are kidnapped. While the tribe is getting away, Eridu, who is there raiding the town, gets captured because someone poisoned his animal. He is the son of the king of all the Lugals. Before Jessie and the newly sober reporter, along with the Rodgers Brothers, head down the Forlorn Trail, they will free Eridu from the sheriff in exchange for his help. The Blackstone Jessie found at the wreck starts affecting him in strange ways, and eventually, he will intertwine with a woman named Kisima who lived before and caused the destruction of her home village.

This is a mystical western and is the first in a series. It ends on a cliffhanger, which always bothers me. But since it is a series I can understand. The author normally reveals all in the next book, and I am sure that will be the case here. The reason it bothers me is that I have started series that never got finished, and so am left never knowing what happens.

Thanks to NetGalley and Auberdine publishing for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading]

This book gave hints and glimpses of a grand adventure, but I found it way way wayyy too slow at the beginning. I completely lost interest in the plot and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Auberdine Publishing for a copy.

[Lanie Brown]

Jessie Bingham's life has been a tragedy lately, from flooding to drought causing his crops to die and losing his wife the only good things in his world are his twin son and daughter Elijah and Ethel. Mary Anne Thorne is the mayor of Belford and rules her frontier town with an iron fist, crossing her means taking your life in your own hands. But for some reason Jesse Bingham takes pity on her and while he doesn't necessarily like her he does tell his children they should treat her with kindness. A lesson that they were right to listen to as Ethel, Elijah, and Mary Anne find themselves captive to a group of people's who were thought to be myth, legends spoken of in horrified whispers even by the Native Nations who fight for their land from settlers moving west. With the only two good things in his world spirited away by people's who should not even exist Jesse Bingham's story begins.

I really wanted to like this more than I did, unfortunately I'm just not really a big fan of fantasies set in a wild west setting. Even with fantasy elements thrown into it. Also completely random but there's a Sims 4 account that has a Sim named Erin Tul, the name of the "bad guys" people is the Erintul, kinda hard to not chuckle every time I read that.

I also didn't really enjoy Jessie, like sometimes he was great but other times I really wanted out of his head. The self loathing just goes way too far. And if he mentioned one more thing about his wedding ring I probably would have stopped reading the book. And since the whole point of this is that he has to rescue his children, I cannot stress enough how little he seems to actually care about them. And I mean that as a parent. I'm sorry but if my kids needed medicine to survive, and I was a farmer I wouldn't sell the freaking deed to some of my land (that I need to make an income) instead of my dead husband's wedding band. Love my husband but living kids vs dead husband's belongings? No contest. Oddly enough I didn't like the children either. Their behaviors were just kinda weird, nothing they did seemed childlike to me. To be honest I kinda found them a bit creepy.

Now, that all being said I actually *did* like Mary Anne Thorne. Given what we discover about her childhood I can't say I blame her for being ruthless. And actually to be honest considering she was a female mayor in the Wild West even without the brutal childhood I'd say she was not necessarily justified in some of her actions but she at least had reasons.

I also did like the fantasy elements here. There's definitely a ton of promise in this story and in any other setting it would've been perfect. And while it was slow to start I found that once we get past the first few chapters it picks up and you really get an idea of how important it is to find the children. Plus I really like the idea that there's some political strife happening within the Erintul and I think I may have liked it just a little bit more if we would have gotten some perspective from their side. Especially after we find out that they basically disappear for generations, reappear, raid, and then disappear again.

Overall, even though I do have some complaints here I'm genuinely on the fence as to whether I'd read the second book. Like I said, I don't really have much attachment to the hero or his kids but I enjoyed Mary Anne and I am curious as to who or what the hell the Erintul even are.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

This book has way too much going on for me to just give a brief summary there’s a guy named Jesse Bingham he has twins Ethaland Isaiah who he would do anything for he strives to be a good man and wants to do the right thing because it’s right. Then there’s mayor Marianne Thorne she comes from a long line of previous mayors she is haunted by childhood traumas but doesn’t hesitate from doling out her own nightmares to those who cross her. Don Marcos is the local pharmacist/doctor who charges exuberant prices for his medicine just because he can and because he is a real jerk. Then there’s Cleona her and Solomon Johnson are in love Solomon lives in the town with his brother Ephraim there’s also the reporter in the local newspaper man and alcoholic Porfilio Prashanka they all live in a town called Belford which is at the end of the four Lauren Trail which used to be home to two tribes but in recent years it seems the times have moved on. There are still rumors of a mythical tribe that lives past the forlorn trail and those who come into contact with them or travel the trail if they live come back crazy and out of their mind. One day when Jessie comes upon the ruins of a wagon everyone is deceased and all but one has a tongue nail to the fore head this is where he finds the dream stone. One day when the mayors house catches on fire in the mythical tribe raids the town the mayor Klena Don Marco and the Bingham twins are kidnapped but while the tribe is getting away Eridu Who is there raiding the town gets captured because someone poisoned his animal. He is the son of the king of all the Lugels before Jesse and the newly sober reporter along with the Johnson Brothers head down the forlorn trail they will freeEridu from the sheriff in exchange for his help. The Blackstone Jesse found at the rec start affecting him in strange ways and eventually he will intertwine with a woman named kismet who lived before and caused the destruction of her home village. This is a horrible horrible review for what is a really good book and even though it ended in a cliffhanger something I usually do not like I cannot wait to read the next book in this Siri‘s I will be honest and say there is so much I don’t understand about the story but I’m going to read it again and hopefully pick up things I didn’t understand the first time having said that I would still definitely recommend this mystical western anyone who loves westerns or sci-fi books. I also want to say I think Marie Thorne was a great character and cannot wait to see what happens with her and little Isaiah she really is turning out to be my favorite character and it isn’t just because we are both blind lol! I want to thank the author and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[R.E. Holding]

I was approved to receive an e-Galley ARC of The Forlorn Trail, authored by Jacob Sadler, from Auberdine Publishing and NetGalley, for review consideration. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.

The writing was strong in the beginning, but I found myself waiting for something to happen. There were many good character relationships throughout the story that were fun to follow.
When things started happening, there were several fantasy names introduced that were hard to pronounce and in such quick succession that I had a hard time knowing what was going on (I read made-up names easier if they are introduced slower, so maybe that's a "me" thing).
After the main incident, there were a few events that were an interesting read, but for the most part, they were buried beneath strange exposition. In addition, I didn't really get a feel for what the characters looked like. There were several warring tribes in the story, but I have no idea what distinguishes one tribe member from another or even from the main character. The most decorated explanations revolved around the mayor's infected eyes.
By the end of the book, I felt that the beginning character-building, specifically with the main character and a certain woman, was ultimately unnecessary-- if she is removed from the story, nothing changes, in my opinion. There are reasons I feel this way, but I don't want to spoil anything.
I think the story idea is great, so I gave it three stars. It could have been even greater if the above things were addressed.

[Kathleen]

I really enjoyed this book. The author transported me into other worlds. Some were familiar and some I had never been to before. I think the book would be great for a book club because the author allows the reader to go in whatever direction the readers mind takes them in explaining the infinite library. Their is this one character in the book who is looking for an adventure and a story to write in his middle years. His name is Porfirio. He ends up on this adventure and he is absolutely delightful and hilarious. I didn't realize how endeared I would be to him. By the end of the book he was my favorite. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thoughtful book full of mystery and adventure.

[Susanne]

This was a good read. Wild West Fantasy is not a genre I read much of, but I enjoyed this. After a good, if slowish, start, there's a bit of supernatural goings on which had me a bit lost for a couple of chapters, but after that (and I figured out what was happening!), the story raced to the end. However, and this is why it's only 4 stars, I hate cliff hanger endings and this one ends on a beauty! There's no resolution of any part of the story, just a new twist in the last chapter. Ugh, why do authors do this?!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susanne]

This was a good read. Wild West Fantasy is not a genre I read much of, but I enjoyed this. After a good, if slowish, start, there's a bit of supernatural goings on which had me a bit lost for a couple of chapters, but after that (and I figured out what was happening!), the story raced to the end. However, and this is why it's only 4 stars, I hate cliff hanger endings and this one ends on a beauty! There's no resolution of any part of the story, just a new twist in the last chapter. Ugh, why do authors do this?!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth Rosser]

An excellent read. I was hooked from start to finish and read it on one sitting. I now can't wait for the next one.

This is a story of guilt, grief, anger, pain, tragedy, and love bound up in a fantasy Wild West with elements of Native American cultures. One group is so mysterious as to be almost a myth. Coupled with some interesting magic, it's a riveting story.

The world-building is excellent. I love the main characters, who are flawed and human. The pacing is very good and kept me hooked.

[Cassandra Rowe]

The Forlorn Trail is an extremely unique, thrilling, and refreshing read. I loved the Western setting but also enjoyed the fantasy and other-worldly elements. The concept of this book is truly one of a kind. Overall, the characters are well developed and thought-through. Jessie is a respectable man and an admirable father and friend, but nonetheless, struggles with his own demons and trauma. Mary is a strong, clever woman who faces untold challenges and obstacles. The story is well paced and kept me reading intently the whole way through!

[Rachel Drenning]

Another great book by this author. Great characters, solid story line, a very unique story line...that definitely stays with you. I look forward to so much more by this author.