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Gunpowder Mountain: A Western Novel
Step into the 1860’s Wild West with Gunpowder Mountain, the thrilling first installment of the new Kid Crimson western series.
Join Kid Crimson as he flees his abusive past, navigating the treacherous landscapes of the Confederate South to find refuge in the bustling boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada.
As the youngest and most ruthless hired gun in town, Kid faces off against brutal gangs, all while capturing the attention of the town's loveliest saloon girls. But Kid's life takes a dangerous turn when he uncovers a Confederate plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln during his secret visit to Nevada—a conspiracy that involves a hydrogen machine, air balloons, a mountain of gunpowder, explosive-sniffing hogs, and even a poisoned stew.
Caught between two women vying for his affection and a looming miner's revolt, Kid Crimson must navigate a perilous path to keep Lincoln safe and secure his own future.
Violent, sensual, and darkly comical, Gunpowder Mountain is a journey into history that will live far into the future. Don't miss out—grab your copy now!
Join Kid Crimson as he flees his abusive past, navigating the treacherous landscapes of the Confederate South to find refuge in the bustling boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada.
As the youngest and most ruthless hired gun in town, Kid faces off against brutal gangs, all while capturing the attention of the town's loveliest saloon girls. But Kid's life takes a dangerous turn when he uncovers a Confederate plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln during his secret visit to Nevada—a conspiracy that involves a hydrogen machine, air balloons, a mountain of gunpowder, explosive-sniffing hogs, and even a poisoned stew.
Caught between two women vying for his affection and a looming miner's revolt, Kid Crimson must navigate a perilous path to keep Lincoln safe and secure his own future.
Violent, sensual, and darkly comical, Gunpowder Mountain is a journey into history that will live far into the future. Don't miss out—grab your copy now!
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 29, 2025
A Fun Ride
This is an action adventure tale in a western setting. Kid Crimson is young but he is the force in Virginia City, NV. When its found out that President Lincoln is coming to town to encourage the mine owners and workers to keep up production for the war effort, it makes sense to have the kid head up the local protection. He and his friends do their jobs well but there are a lot of southern sympathisers in the area that will do anything to get Lincoln.
Highly recommended. Its a fun adventure tale that has a little bit of everything, hot air balloons, pigs that can detect gunpowder, a Mormon madam with a cannon and a group of rifle shooting ladies, and that's just a tiny bit of the madness in this book. Never a dull moment.
This is an action adventure tale in a western setting. Kid Crimson is young but he is the force in Virginia City, NV. When its found out that President Lincoln is coming to town to encourage the mine owners and workers to keep up production for the war effort, it makes sense to have the kid head up the local protection. He and his friends do their jobs well but there are a lot of southern sympathisers in the area that will do anything to get Lincoln.
Highly recommended. Its a fun adventure tale that has a little bit of everything, hot air balloons, pigs that can detect gunpowder, a Mormon madam with a cannon and a group of rifle shooting ladies, and that's just a tiny bit of the madness in this book. Never a dull moment.
July 10, 2024
Fellow Western Readers, here is a new one for you.
Immerse yourself in the gritty and tumultuous world of the Wild West with Jarret Keene's "Gunpowder Mountain," the first novel in the "Kid Crimson" series. This book promises to take readers on a journey through the 1860s Confederate South, all the way to the bustling boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada. The storyline follows the young and tenacious Kid Crimson, who flees an abusive past and becomes the most feared hired gun in town. His life is a whirlwind of danger, from facing off against brutal gangs to navigating the affections of the town's most captivating saloon girls. However, the plot thickens when Kid Crimson stumbles upon a Confederate conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln during his covert visit to Nevada. The plan involves a hydrogen machine, air balloons, a mountain of gunpowder, explosive-sniffing hogs, and even a poisoned stew.
Keene's narrative is rich with historical intrigue, blending factual events with a fictional twist that keeps the pages turning. The novel is not just a tale of survival and bravery; it's also a story of redemption and the quest for a new beginning. Kid Crimson is a character that readers can root for, a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity. "Gunpowder Mountain" is a novel that offers a unique blend of action, romance, and humor. It's a darkly comical journey into history with a protagonist who is as complex as he is captivating. Keene's writing is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of the Wild West that is both brutal and beautiful. This book is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a story that combines the thrill of adventure with the depth of historical fiction.
• ASIN: B0D6PQWHT1
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 7/9/2024
• File Size: 5630 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Genre: Classic American Fiction - Classic Historical Fiction - Western Fiction Classics
Immerse yourself in the gritty and tumultuous world of the Wild West with Jarret Keene's "Gunpowder Mountain," the first novel in the "Kid Crimson" series. This book promises to take readers on a journey through the 1860s Confederate South, all the way to the bustling boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada. The storyline follows the young and tenacious Kid Crimson, who flees an abusive past and becomes the most feared hired gun in town. His life is a whirlwind of danger, from facing off against brutal gangs to navigating the affections of the town's most captivating saloon girls. However, the plot thickens when Kid Crimson stumbles upon a Confederate conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln during his covert visit to Nevada. The plan involves a hydrogen machine, air balloons, a mountain of gunpowder, explosive-sniffing hogs, and even a poisoned stew.
Keene's narrative is rich with historical intrigue, blending factual events with a fictional twist that keeps the pages turning. The novel is not just a tale of survival and bravery; it's also a story of redemption and the quest for a new beginning. Kid Crimson is a character that readers can root for, a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity. "Gunpowder Mountain" is a novel that offers a unique blend of action, romance, and humor. It's a darkly comical journey into history with a protagonist who is as complex as he is captivating. Keene's writing is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of the Wild West that is both brutal and beautiful. This book is a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone looking for a story that combines the thrill of adventure with the depth of historical fiction.
• ASIN: B0D6PQWHT1
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 7/9/2024
• File Size: 5630 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Genre: Classic American Fiction - Classic Historical Fiction - Western Fiction Classics
September 2, 2024
A gritty and unusual Western set in Virginia City, Nevada during the Civil War.
The protagonist and narrator is Kid Crimson, a young but very highly skilled gunfighter. Over the course of the book, Crimson is given two jobs to do. The first is to make sure a hydrogen producing machine is successfully brought to Virginia City, ostensibly to be used by a local merchant to set up a passenger balloon ride. To do this, Crimson has to team up with someone who is likely to double-cross him, a guy whose name--"Bad Jace"--accurately represents both his moral compass and his strong body odor. This proves to be a dangerous job, involving gun battles, pursuits, ambushes and narrow escapes.
The second job is overseeing the security of President Lincoln when the president visits Viriginia City. This job proves even more dangerous than the first, eventually involving explosives, make-shift cannon and a final confrontation with a villain in a very unusual setting.
Kid Crimson is a great character--the product of an abusive home, he recognizes his own capacity for violence. But in Virginia City, he's found a surrogate father, a woman he loves, a young boy to mentor and friends he can depend on. He's still capable of violence--but mostly directs it towards the bad guys. I think we are meant to see that Kid Crimson is not the monster he sometimes sees himself as because he has people in his life who care about him.
The supporting cast is also excellent--including great characters such as a brothel madam who has her own cannon, a young Indian girl who can befriend and control just about any animal, a beautiful Chinese woman who runs an opium den, and gunpowder sniffing pigs. Both good guys and bad guys have strong definable personalities and all add to the enjoyment of the story.
The story itself unfolds in often unexpected ways, told in clear, stylish prose that keeps you turning pages. It's a fun book and I look forward to reading future volumes in the series.
The protagonist and narrator is Kid Crimson, a young but very highly skilled gunfighter. Over the course of the book, Crimson is given two jobs to do. The first is to make sure a hydrogen producing machine is successfully brought to Virginia City, ostensibly to be used by a local merchant to set up a passenger balloon ride. To do this, Crimson has to team up with someone who is likely to double-cross him, a guy whose name--"Bad Jace"--accurately represents both his moral compass and his strong body odor. This proves to be a dangerous job, involving gun battles, pursuits, ambushes and narrow escapes.
The second job is overseeing the security of President Lincoln when the president visits Viriginia City. This job proves even more dangerous than the first, eventually involving explosives, make-shift cannon and a final confrontation with a villain in a very unusual setting.
Kid Crimson is a great character--the product of an abusive home, he recognizes his own capacity for violence. But in Virginia City, he's found a surrogate father, a woman he loves, a young boy to mentor and friends he can depend on. He's still capable of violence--but mostly directs it towards the bad guys. I think we are meant to see that Kid Crimson is not the monster he sometimes sees himself as because he has people in his life who care about him.
The supporting cast is also excellent--including great characters such as a brothel madam who has her own cannon, a young Indian girl who can befriend and control just about any animal, a beautiful Chinese woman who runs an opium den, and gunpowder sniffing pigs. Both good guys and bad guys have strong definable personalities and all add to the enjoyment of the story.
The story itself unfolds in often unexpected ways, told in clear, stylish prose that keeps you turning pages. It's a fun book and I look forward to reading future volumes in the series.
February 3, 2025
Jarret Keene is a legend in his own right. A new voice in Western fiction, reading Gunpower Mountain, the author throws down some solid writing: illuminating the readers with his stunning prose that immerse readers into the classical Old West setting conjured and perfected from years of sheer affection for the genre. Painting his worlds with diligence and care, the unbridled affection Mr. Keene has for the Western truly shines throughout his entire novel. This, combined with the creation of a cascade of wonderful characters, the lead, Kid Crimson, is a sculpted hero of legendary pulp galore, with an accompanying cast of multi-dimensional, captivating characters, the entire narrative is a fast-paced rollicking adventure that is sure to bring any reticent reader back into the fold of gunfights, robberies, and epic fights to the death. Keene’s book is built on maintaining classic Western literature, breathtaking homages, glorious violence, and is unrelenting in its pursuit of an epic climax that will leave you wanting more. I look forward to the next instalment of this explosive writer. Buy it now!
July 22, 2024
This was just a lot of fun. It's a rollicking, action-packed Western that has delightfully over-the-top characters and a serious political plot. You'll get every delicious campy detail you could want (doves with guns, a mouthy main character with a deadly draw, shootouts galore) balanced with an interesting plot and characters you care about. The dialogue was just gold. I'd especially suggest this book for those who want to dip their toe into Westerns but don't have the confidence to do so yet. These characters will give you a reason to finish.
July 14, 2024
This was a different type western. I found it slow to start but after getting into it I found it hard to put down. It was really interesting after I got with it. Different plot from the usual western story. Overall I had to give it five stars, it was well worth my time to read it. Very interesting.
March 11, 2025
A highly enjoyable alternate history version of the wild west featuring the gunfighter Kid Crimson, who is trying to be a better man but falls into occasional fits of brutal violence. The novel does include some unnecessary innuendo and juvenile humor.
October 31, 2024
The first Kid Crimson book is pure pulp fun. I couldn't put it down!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews