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Lady or the Tiger
A twisty, darkly seductive murder mystery, starring a teenage killer whose trial in the Wild West is upended when her first victim, her husband, arrives alive with a story to tell.
When nineteen-year-old Belle King turns herself in for murder, the last thing she expects to see is her abusive husband standing outside her Dodge City jail cell. He was the first man she ever meant to kill (but certainly not the last!). Somehow, though, her husband is there, hale and hearty, and very much not dead. With his arrival her plans in jail are jeopardized, and she’ll be forced to resort to all the tricks in her arsenal to prevent him from ever being in control of her again. But as a girl in the 1880s Wild West, the last thing anyone will believe is a woman—even when she confesses to her own crimes.
This story—of how Alice Springer, a mountain girl from Kentucky, became the infamous Belle King, of how she found the tiger in her heart, becoming the wickedest woman in the Wild West—is a love story that cuts through time and patriarchal ties.
When nineteen-year-old Belle King turns herself in for murder, the last thing she expects to see is her abusive husband standing outside her Dodge City jail cell. He was the first man she ever meant to kill (but certainly not the last!). Somehow, though, her husband is there, hale and hearty, and very much not dead. With his arrival her plans in jail are jeopardized, and she’ll be forced to resort to all the tricks in her arsenal to prevent him from ever being in control of her again. But as a girl in the 1880s Wild West, the last thing anyone will believe is a woman—even when she confesses to her own crimes.
This story—of how Alice Springer, a mountain girl from Kentucky, became the infamous Belle King, of how she found the tiger in her heart, becoming the wickedest woman in the Wild West—is a love story that cuts through time and patriarchal ties.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2025
34 people are currently reading
7776 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 10, 2025
જ⁀➴ 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)
Thank you to NetGalley, Heather M. Herrman, and Nancy Paulsen Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Lady or the Tiger is available now!
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This ended up being the perfect example of female rage done right. I feel like this is going to be a book that flies under a lot of people's radars, and I'm here to tell you that you'll be missing out BIG time if this isn't on your TBR. This was so refreshing to read and a great anti-hero story.
Belle King is known to the world as The Seamstress. She's a beautiful young woman who sings and performs for people all over the world in her little traveling circus known as The Damned. In reality, she's also nicknamed The Seamstress for the brutal way she murders the men who wronged her: cuts open her victims and steals their hearts and sews them back together. Back before she was known as Belle King, she was just Alice Springer, a girl from Kentucky who lived in a small house with her mother when one fateful day changed the entire course of her life forever. When Belle King turns herself in for murder, she finds her abusive husband there, waiting to bail her out...despite her killing him and making sure he was very much dead. Desperate to never be under his control again, she tries to find a way to make sure she's free of him at last.
I knew right away that I was going to absolutely LOVE this as soon as I read the first chapter. It starts with quite the opener and sets the stage for the rest of the story. I knew I was excited to read this, but I was blown away by what I ended up reading. This was from a genre I don't read a whole ton from anymore—historical fiction—but on top of that, this was a Western historical fiction book. It was my first, and I had no idea what to expect other than outlaws, the desert, the Wild West in the 1800s, all of that usual stuff you see about books that take place in the Wild West. While all of that IS true and very much present in the story, what made the story so enjoyable was Alice herself.
Alice—or Belle—was very much the antihero the synopsis was advertising. She makes it clear from the very first LINE of the book: "You aren't going to like me." Unfortunately for her, I feel like a lot of people, such as myself, by the end of the book, enjoyed her character arc and her story. She was a complete badass who learned to live for herself and no one else. She went from a child to a young woman before our very eyes in the story, even if that happened in unfortunate circumstances. There is a grooming aspect to the storyline with Alice and her abusive husband, and it was so painful to read. My heart broke for her at the things she had to go through at the age of sixteen. However, that pain dissipated the moment she started to find her voice and realizes that she's meant for more. She's destined for bigger. She's destined for better. She's bigger than the circumstances she was put in, and when there's a will, there's a way.
I think there's something so metaphoric about the title itself: Lady or the Tiger. It ties in so much with Alice's life before and after her Belle King persona. In the story, she has a pet tiger when she's part of her crew with The Damned named Omisha that she danced and trained for her shows, and Alice constantly wonders if Omisha would be better off as a free tiger and not trapped in a cage all the time. I think that metaphor fits so perfectly with Alice's character development. In her life as Alice, she was stuck in an abusive relationship she didn't ask to be a part of and living in other people's shadows. She was asked to fit in with high society, sit prim and proper, and perform for people with her talented singing skills. That's the "lady" side of her. The "tiger" side of her is the part of her that wants to be free. It's the part of her that wants to live by her own rules, make her own path, and be truly independent away from all the noise and the people who want to tie her down. I think all of that portrays such a powerful message as she battles between each side of her: does she want to be known as a lady, or unleash her wild side and become the tiger that people fear?
I also enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of the story, although it was kind of less on the murder and more on the mystery considering we already know that Alice killed her victims. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I figured I would be able to find out what tricks Alice had up her sleeve and surely, she would have a method to her madness, right? She did have a method to her madness, and it was the perfect combination of unhinged and also perfectly on point for her character. I never would've been able to guess how everything ended, so they got me there!
The only thing I think could've been a little better in the book is the constant time jumps. The chapters are short, and they alternate between Alice's current situation in prison, and then her life up to 1-2 years before the current events in the present timeline. While I liked the flashbacks, I felt like there were too many of them and there were some abrupt time jumps from the present to the past and vice versa that would cut through the story and interrupt the flow of the story that was going on. Another thing of note is the ending. I personally didn't mind it, but I can see how some people would be upset at the idea of an open ending where you don't 100% know how it ends, so it's all left up to interpretation.
PLEASE pick up this book this summer if you're looking for a headstrong, independent female character that stops at nothing—not even the law or even death—to get what she wants in life. I think there's something so powerful about this book, from the quotes I continually wrote down to the metaphors, that I feel is very much needed in today's day and age.
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Trigger/content warnings: death of a parent, violence (murder, attempted homicide), blood, imprisonment, sexual harassment and abuse, grooming, blood and gore depiction
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I'm SO excited to read this eARC; it's probably one of my favorite ones I have to read this month. A teenage killer in the Wild West in the 1800s, killing the men who had wronged her? SIGN ME UP! I support women's rights, but also women's wrongs.🧡🖤🐅
This is ARC 3/11 for my June 2025 ARC reading schedule, and ARC 1/2 for my next deadline of 6/10!
Thank you to NetGalley, Heather M. Herrman, and Nancy Paulsen Books for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Lady or the Tiger is available now!
"There is nothing more fearsome to a man than a comfortable woman."
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This ended up being the perfect example of female rage done right. I feel like this is going to be a book that flies under a lot of people's radars, and I'm here to tell you that you'll be missing out BIG time if this isn't on your TBR. This was so refreshing to read and a great anti-hero story.
Belle King is known to the world as The Seamstress. She's a beautiful young woman who sings and performs for people all over the world in her little traveling circus known as The Damned. In reality, she's also nicknamed The Seamstress for the brutal way she murders the men who wronged her: cuts open her victims and steals their hearts and sews them back together. Back before she was known as Belle King, she was just Alice Springer, a girl from Kentucky who lived in a small house with her mother when one fateful day changed the entire course of her life forever. When Belle King turns herself in for murder, she finds her abusive husband there, waiting to bail her out...despite her killing him and making sure he was very much dead. Desperate to never be under his control again, she tries to find a way to make sure she's free of him at last.
I knew right away that I was going to absolutely LOVE this as soon as I read the first chapter. It starts with quite the opener and sets the stage for the rest of the story. I knew I was excited to read this, but I was blown away by what I ended up reading. This was from a genre I don't read a whole ton from anymore—historical fiction—but on top of that, this was a Western historical fiction book. It was my first, and I had no idea what to expect other than outlaws, the desert, the Wild West in the 1800s, all of that usual stuff you see about books that take place in the Wild West. While all of that IS true and very much present in the story, what made the story so enjoyable was Alice herself.
Alice—or Belle—was very much the antihero the synopsis was advertising. She makes it clear from the very first LINE of the book: "You aren't going to like me." Unfortunately for her, I feel like a lot of people, such as myself, by the end of the book, enjoyed her character arc and her story. She was a complete badass who learned to live for herself and no one else. She went from a child to a young woman before our very eyes in the story, even if that happened in unfortunate circumstances. There is a grooming aspect to the storyline with Alice and her abusive husband, and it was so painful to read. My heart broke for her at the things she had to go through at the age of sixteen. However, that pain dissipated the moment she started to find her voice and realizes that she's meant for more. She's destined for bigger. She's destined for better. She's bigger than the circumstances she was put in, and when there's a will, there's a way.
I think there's something so metaphoric about the title itself: Lady or the Tiger. It ties in so much with Alice's life before and after her Belle King persona. In the story, she has a pet tiger when she's part of her crew with The Damned named Omisha that she danced and trained for her shows, and Alice constantly wonders if Omisha would be better off as a free tiger and not trapped in a cage all the time. I think that metaphor fits so perfectly with Alice's character development. In her life as Alice, she was stuck in an abusive relationship she didn't ask to be a part of and living in other people's shadows. She was asked to fit in with high society, sit prim and proper, and perform for people with her talented singing skills. That's the "lady" side of her. The "tiger" side of her is the part of her that wants to be free. It's the part of her that wants to live by her own rules, make her own path, and be truly independent away from all the noise and the people who want to tie her down. I think all of that portrays such a powerful message as she battles between each side of her: does she want to be known as a lady, or unleash her wild side and become the tiger that people fear?
I also enjoyed the murder mystery aspect of the story, although it was kind of less on the murder and more on the mystery considering we already know that Alice killed her victims. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I figured I would be able to find out what tricks Alice had up her sleeve and surely, she would have a method to her madness, right? She did have a method to her madness, and it was the perfect combination of unhinged and also perfectly on point for her character. I never would've been able to guess how everything ended, so they got me there!
The only thing I think could've been a little better in the book is the constant time jumps. The chapters are short, and they alternate between Alice's current situation in prison, and then her life up to 1-2 years before the current events in the present timeline. While I liked the flashbacks, I felt like there were too many of them and there were some abrupt time jumps from the present to the past and vice versa that would cut through the story and interrupt the flow of the story that was going on. Another thing of note is the ending. I personally didn't mind it, but I can see how some people would be upset at the idea of an open ending where you don't 100% know how it ends, so it's all left up to interpretation.
PLEASE pick up this book this summer if you're looking for a headstrong, independent female character that stops at nothing—not even the law or even death—to get what she wants in life. I think there's something so powerful about this book, from the quotes I continually wrote down to the metaphors, that I feel is very much needed in today's day and age.
⋆˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚☆˖°⋆｡° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚
Trigger/content warnings: death of a parent, violence (murder, attempted homicide), blood, imprisonment, sexual harassment and abuse, grooming, blood and gore depiction
⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: I'm SO excited to read this eARC; it's probably one of my favorite ones I have to read this month. A teenage killer in the Wild West in the 1800s, killing the men who had wronged her? SIGN ME UP! I support women's rights, but also women's wrongs.🧡🖤🐅
This is ARC 3/11 for my June 2025 ARC reading schedule, and ARC 1/2 for my next deadline of 6/10!
November 17, 2025
The book celebrates women’s wrongs and that makes it so very right.
On its surface this is a book about a young girl who escapes an abusive life, falls in love, and kills bad men.
On a deeper level this book is a love letter to woman, to girls really, celebrating our right to be wrong. To exist outside of perfection, to give life to our shadows, and allow our darkness to shine.
To be our whole imperfect selves.
It’s a twisty, dark, page-turner, that expertly weaves between present, past, and further past, to bring together a story that will have you rooting for our anti-hero in no time.
Why is writing a review for a book you really loved so hard? I want to be sure to get it right, to do the book justice, and sometimes that feels insurmountable. I’m likely to reread this one - so you may see an updated review in the future — but for now this is what I’ve got.
There is something to be said about a book that is outside your usual genres becoming one of your favorites. Does this mean I actually love westerns/historical fiction and just haven’t found the right ones before this? Is this purely a reflection on the talent of the writer? Or was this a perfect storm of a talented writer, themes I love, and maybe a little of “haven’t found the right one”? Whatever it is, one thing is certain — this will not be my last from this author, and has opened me to exploring this genre more.
I think what I’m really trying to say is, if you find themes like feminine rage, strong female characters, love, friendship, and self-discovery appealing — READ THIS BOOK. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, even if you’re usually only a fantasy reader — READ THIS BOOK.
Per usual these are a few of the aspects I absolutely loved..
- Feminine rage
- anti-hero FMC
- love story (not a capital R)
- twisty - edge of your seat - turn the pages as fast as you can - kinda read
- symbolism for DAYS
- short chapters!
- the author’s note - is that weird to say? idc I’m saying it anyway.
What’s not to love…
- Have you read my review? I’m obsessed with this book - I loved all the parts of it!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
On its surface this is a book about a young girl who escapes an abusive life, falls in love, and kills bad men.
On a deeper level this book is a love letter to woman, to girls really, celebrating our right to be wrong. To exist outside of perfection, to give life to our shadows, and allow our darkness to shine.
To be our whole imperfect selves.
It’s a twisty, dark, page-turner, that expertly weaves between present, past, and further past, to bring together a story that will have you rooting for our anti-hero in no time.
Why is writing a review for a book you really loved so hard? I want to be sure to get it right, to do the book justice, and sometimes that feels insurmountable. I’m likely to reread this one - so you may see an updated review in the future — but for now this is what I’ve got.
There is something to be said about a book that is outside your usual genres becoming one of your favorites. Does this mean I actually love westerns/historical fiction and just haven’t found the right ones before this? Is this purely a reflection on the talent of the writer? Or was this a perfect storm of a talented writer, themes I love, and maybe a little of “haven’t found the right one”? Whatever it is, one thing is certain — this will not be my last from this author, and has opened me to exploring this genre more.
I think what I’m really trying to say is, if you find themes like feminine rage, strong female characters, love, friendship, and self-discovery appealing — READ THIS BOOK. Even if you don’t like historical fiction, even if you’re usually only a fantasy reader — READ THIS BOOK.
Per usual these are a few of the aspects I absolutely loved..
- Feminine rage
- anti-hero FMC
- love story (not a capital R)
- twisty - edge of your seat - turn the pages as fast as you can - kinda read
- symbolism for DAYS
- short chapters!
- the author’s note - is that weird to say? idc I’m saying it anyway.
What’s not to love…
- Have you read my review? I’m obsessed with this book - I loved all the parts of it!
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
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February 21, 2025This one is so hard to review. Because on one hand, I LOVED the story, loved the chaotic anti-heroine, loved the plot twists and wild characters. I, and I may be in the minority here, loved the ending.
BUT the pacing and timeline switches did throw me for a loop sometimes and I wanted things to be a bit more cohesive. I found myself rereading chapters because I was confused sometimes at where in the story we were.
Overall the western setting, the feminist themes, the drama of it all? VERY FUN. I just wanted it to be a bit cleaner in the story arch.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
BUT the pacing and timeline switches did throw me for a loop sometimes and I wanted things to be a bit more cohesive. I found myself rereading chapters because I was confused sometimes at where in the story we were.
Overall the western setting, the feminist themes, the drama of it all? VERY FUN. I just wanted it to be a bit cleaner in the story arch.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 7, 2025
A huge thank you to Penguin teen and NetGalley for a chance to read this early!!
Starting off this story of a teenage anti-hero Belle King and oh boy is she dark. If you support women’s rights AND women’s wrongs this is for you!
The setting of the Wild West was such a fun and gritty atmosphere. I don’t read westerns really but this oh this has me wanting so much more.
I loved the past and present timelines. I’ve come to realize it’s one of my favorite was of storytelling. You get to really know why Belle is the way she is. The author does a great job of making you sympathize with Belle to the point you’re on her side of her being an anti-hero.
I have no complaints about this story. It was fantastic 5/5 stars. Comes out in June!!!
Starting off this story of a teenage anti-hero Belle King and oh boy is she dark. If you support women’s rights AND women’s wrongs this is for you!
The setting of the Wild West was such a fun and gritty atmosphere. I don’t read westerns really but this oh this has me wanting so much more.
I loved the past and present timelines. I’ve come to realize it’s one of my favorite was of storytelling. You get to really know why Belle is the way she is. The author does a great job of making you sympathize with Belle to the point you’re on her side of her being an anti-hero.
I have no complaints about this story. It was fantastic 5/5 stars. Comes out in June!!!
January 22, 2025
3.95 ★ — belle king is my favorite type of female lead and i truly cannot get enough of her. she's cold, unflinching, and even in love, always chooses herself. i liked the depiction of grooming in this, and how it affects a victim's mental health—belle's spiral after reginald and her slowly becoming more able to shake the blame off herself and label him the [redacted] he is was masterfully portrayed. i don't know if grooming is exactly the correct word because she never sees him in a romantic light, but belle's thoughts around her first kill and her evolving past them (and reginald, who planted the thoughts inside her) and grabbing control of her life was my favorite part of the book. i liked the suspenseful atmosphere—no one ever knows what belle will say next—but i did find it hard to keep up with the switching timelines occasionally. however, there is a twist towards the end, well three really, that make the whole thing worth it. i don't really like western/cowboy-esque fiction, so i'm surprised i liked this as much as i did.
thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.
thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.
August 10, 2025
“you aren’t going to like me. don’t worry. by the end of this book, i’ll be dead.”
if “i support women’s rights, but more importantly i support women’s wrongs” was a western about an infamous teenage killer on trial for murder.
belle king’s plan to turn herself in and confess to her crimes is disrupted by the sudden arrival of the first man she ever killed: her abusive husband. in the wild west, even a dead man’s word is worth more than a woman’s, and she will be forced to use every trick she knows to prove herself guilty and keep herself out of his hands.
told in overlapping timelines, lady and the tiger is the story of alice springer and the woman she became. alice is, without a doubt, the highlight of this novel. she has such a strong voice and she’s the kind of FMC who is still all too rare—she’s selfish and cunning and truly morally gray. she kills bad men and she has a damn good time doing it. she’s a delight and exactly the kind of character who belongs in a western.
where it falls short is its historical accuracy (lacking, sometimes frustratingly so) and the overuse of flashbacks and chapters set in the past. the dual timelines were an effective storytelling tool for the first half of the novel, but by the second half i think they could have been reduced significantly so they didn’t impede the story’s forward momentum.
if you’re in the mood for a book full of female rage and western vibes, and you don’t mind the constraints of YA (i know teenage me would have LOVED this story), i would wholeheartedly recommend picking up lady and the tiger.
arc provided by netgalley and nancy paulsen books in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 3.5/5.0 stars
June 5, 2025
4.5 Stars
Readers beware if you like your historical fiction to stick close to the facts, because Heather M. Herrman does play fast and loose with the details here. But I really enjoyed this book nonetheless. What it lacks in perfect historical precision is makes up in angry feminist energy, and that's good enough for me. Westerns aren't usually my thing, but this one worked so well for me!
It's good. I recommend it, and I've got way more to say about it. But all of that will have to wait until my full review is published at Gateway Reviews on June 13, 2025. Stop by if you can!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Readers beware if you like your historical fiction to stick close to the facts, because Heather M. Herrman does play fast and loose with the details here. But I really enjoyed this book nonetheless. What it lacks in perfect historical precision is makes up in angry feminist energy, and that's good enough for me. Westerns aren't usually my thing, but this one worked so well for me!
It's good. I recommend it, and I've got way more to say about it. But all of that will have to wait until my full review is published at Gateway Reviews on June 13, 2025. Stop by if you can!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
May 6, 2025
I received an arc of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is the definition of "I support women's rights and I support women's wrongs"!
I loved the main character and how her storyline was presented in the book. The plot was really interesting, and I liked how the story was told with chapters from both the present and the past to tie the whole thing together. The narrator was also so good, and I loved how the main character addressed the reader at different points in the story
I usually don't enjoy historical fiction but I actually really enjoyed that aspect in this, because it allowed for the exploration of social issues present in the late 1800s (and tbh that are still present today) throughout the story.
This book is the definition of "I support women's rights and I support women's wrongs"!
I loved the main character and how her storyline was presented in the book. The plot was really interesting, and I liked how the story was told with chapters from both the present and the past to tie the whole thing together. The narrator was also so good, and I loved how the main character addressed the reader at different points in the story
I usually don't enjoy historical fiction but I actually really enjoyed that aspect in this, because it allowed for the exploration of social issues present in the late 1800s (and tbh that are still present today) throughout the story.
June 18, 2025
Belle King has been sentenced to hang for seducing men across the West and replacing their hearts with diamonds. Before that she was a tiger tamer, before that stuck in an asylum, and before that she was the daughter of the seamstress.
WHY would you marry the guy who killed your mother and then put you in an insane asylum (and then be surprised when he's a sadistic psychopath)? WHY would you try to tame a tiger and believe that it wouldn't want to monch on people? In the span of four years, Belle goes to an asylum, gets married, gets remarried and joins a band of death singers, leaves for Europe and becomes a famous opera singer only to come back to the states, a celebrated singer and murderess to then be hanged for her murders. The plot twist in this was not that twisty, and it felt like it had five different endings. Not for me, I need someone else to read it to tell me if I'm being a grump or not.
WHY would you marry the guy who killed your mother and then put you in an insane asylum (and then be surprised when he's a sadistic psychopath)? WHY would you try to tame a tiger and believe that it wouldn't want to monch on people? In the span of four years, Belle goes to an asylum, gets married, gets remarried and joins a band of death singers, leaves for Europe and becomes a famous opera singer only to come back to the states, a celebrated singer and murderess to then be hanged for her murders. The plot twist in this was not that twisty, and it felt like it had five different endings. Not for me, I need someone else to read it to tell me if I'm being a grump or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
NetGalley June 10, 2025
It took me awhile to get into this story. I felt the beginning was too slow and didn't hold my interest. After a third of the book, it started to get better. Plot points were revealed in small bites, as the story jumps back and forth in time. The ending was not my favorite, but it was ok. I didn't hate it.
I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I voluntarily wrote a review.
It took me awhile to get into this story. I felt the beginning was too slow and didn't hold my interest. After a third of the book, it started to get better. Plot points were revealed in small bites, as the story jumps back and forth in time. The ending was not my favorite, but it was ok. I didn't hate it.
I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. I voluntarily wrote a review.
June 16, 2025
Lady or the Tiger was so unexpected but also blew my expectations out of the water. From the very first sentence, I knew this book was going to be unlike anything I’ve read. I couldn’t put it down.
This was so beautifully and artfully written. There were several times the story smacked me in the face and left me speechless and reeling. Times I felt the need to go back and reread whole chapters in new lights and connect pieces I had completely missed.
I will say the time traveling between chapters sometimes got confusing, but I still think it was overall well done. The quality of writing in this book was stunning. I hated the ending but think it was perfect. This was the most unique and wonderful book I’ve read this year and truly hope everyone else that reads it experiences the same awe I did.
This was so beautifully and artfully written. There were several times the story smacked me in the face and left me speechless and reeling. Times I felt the need to go back and reread whole chapters in new lights and connect pieces I had completely missed.
I will say the time traveling between chapters sometimes got confusing, but I still think it was overall well done. The quality of writing in this book was stunning. I hated the ending but think it was perfect. This was the most unique and wonderful book I’ve read this year and truly hope everyone else that reads it experiences the same awe I did.
June 26, 2025
Give me all the western stories that you have absolutely ate this up. A murder mystery style wild West gobbled up. If you like your mysteries with bite, grit, and a heroine who’d rather shoot than swoon, saddle up. This one will leave its mark. 😍 I’m literally so obsessed with our main character. She’s so cool. I wish I could be her.
June 18, 2025
Ever felt speechless after reading a book? This book literally left me froze with its after effects, the adrenaline and dopamine fighting a battle and you can literally feel the blood flow in your veins.
What a mind blowing narrative and prologue itself was the kick to your butt, a warning ,get ready for the adventure!!The dual timeline was the landmark towards the feral transformation of Belle King.
The writing is expository keeping you in loop and still aloof enough to get banger shock. I had jaw drop moments and had to reread them to settle my nerves. What a masterpiece. The exquisite hypnotic loop, the story yarns leaves you baffled with her intelligence and bravery.
This book is the very definition of a woman being poised yet deadly if poked enough and the amount of gratification you acquire is satiating. The plot twists are the sledge hammer waiting as an oasis in the desert!!
If you're craving for gritty western drenched in secrets, revenge, and morally great choice, "The Lady of the Tiger" is a coin with two faces, choose your fate by flipping the coin!!
What a mind blowing narrative and prologue itself was the kick to your butt, a warning ,get ready for the adventure!!The dual timeline was the landmark towards the feral transformation of Belle King.
The writing is expository keeping you in loop and still aloof enough to get banger shock. I had jaw drop moments and had to reread them to settle my nerves. What a masterpiece. The exquisite hypnotic loop, the story yarns leaves you baffled with her intelligence and bravery.
This book is the very definition of a woman being poised yet deadly if poked enough and the amount of gratification you acquire is satiating. The plot twists are the sledge hammer waiting as an oasis in the desert!!
If you're craving for gritty western drenched in secrets, revenge, and morally great choice, "The Lady of the Tiger" is a coin with two faces, choose your fate by flipping the coin!!
Read
June 23, 2025I had really high hopes for this and I don't know what went wrong. It could have been reading conditions on my end, but I found the story really hard to focus on. The story follows Belle in the wild west after she's been arrested for murder (as a serial killer) when her husband shows up to "save her." From that moment I lost interest. The vibes just felt weird.
April 1, 2025
4.5 stars and so close to 5 for me here. It was the timelines all over this beautiful storyline that held back a 1/2 star for me personally. But ohhhh this beauty spoke to me in so many ways and I loved it down to the very last lyrical word.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It’s a book that found me when I needed it most and those are the most magical ones right?
This book. I loved it.
This book will stay with me for a long time. It’s a book that found me when I needed it most and those are the most magical ones right?
This book. I loved it.
July 20, 2025
What an amazing story about the female protagonist overcoming the patriarchy of history and having her own autonomy. And a twist I did not see. Loved it!
March 24, 2025
Lady or the Tiger follows Belle King as she turns herself in for a string of murders across the country. When her abusive husband shows up outside her jail cell, she’s shocked. He was the first man she killed. His presence derails her plans and she has to work twice as hard to convince the court that she is a killer and shouldn’t be released to her husband.
This was such a fun and unique murder mystery. I LOVED Belle. There’s something so fun about reading about women who truly only care about themselves. I loved that she always put herself first and was ruthless in ensuring she got what she wanted. She’s truly a fascinating perspective to read from. There’s also such a good depiction of grooming and mental health/guilt. Really great characters in this one!
The plot was super engaging and had me hooked from the start. It’s told in dual timelines, Belle in jail and how she got to this point. The author masterfully reveals the story and twists and had me shocked. The ending was perfect for the kind of story this was. The feminist themes were so well done too and the feminine rage was perfect. The setting was so fun! I loved the Wild West aspect. There was so much atmosphere.
If you love chaotic anti-heroines and the Wild West, then this is definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun and unique murder mystery. I LOVED Belle. There’s something so fun about reading about women who truly only care about themselves. I loved that she always put herself first and was ruthless in ensuring she got what she wanted. She’s truly a fascinating perspective to read from. There’s also such a good depiction of grooming and mental health/guilt. Really great characters in this one!
The plot was super engaging and had me hooked from the start. It’s told in dual timelines, Belle in jail and how she got to this point. The author masterfully reveals the story and twists and had me shocked. The ending was perfect for the kind of story this was. The feminist themes were so well done too and the feminine rage was perfect. The setting was so fun! I loved the Wild West aspect. There was so much atmosphere.
If you love chaotic anti-heroines and the Wild West, then this is definitely a book you’ll want to pick up!
Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
There’s a story I’m sure many of you have been told. A criminal, whose sentence is served in one way. Before him are two doors- one holding a beautiful lady he can marry and be pardoned for, the other a tiger ready to devour him. Doomed to these circumstances by his lover, she gives him a hint to which door to choose, but does he end up with the Lady? Or does he fall to the Tiger?
Outlaw Belle King is tired of running, tired of performing, tired of killing men. She’s the most wanted face, for more than one reason. Leaving bodies behind her where she goes, and stealing the biggest diamonds, she’s gathered all she needs. The final part of her plan? Belle King has to die. This plan is compromised when her husband, a man she remembers killing two years ago, shows up, determined to take her home. But Belle wants her trial. And she wants to hang.
Our protagonist is very unreliable. I wasn’t too sure on my thoughts on her at first, because I thought her attitude was annoying and her desire for the noose was incredibly ridiculous. However, once I got into more of the flashbacks of her background, I began to understand her. She wants Belle King to die, yes, but her real name isn’t Belle. She’s Alice, and Alice wants to live.
This was a fantastic fast paced story! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my thoughts!
Outlaw Belle King is tired of running, tired of performing, tired of killing men. She’s the most wanted face, for more than one reason. Leaving bodies behind her where she goes, and stealing the biggest diamonds, she’s gathered all she needs. The final part of her plan? Belle King has to die. This plan is compromised when her husband, a man she remembers killing two years ago, shows up, determined to take her home. But Belle wants her trial. And she wants to hang.
Our protagonist is very unreliable. I wasn’t too sure on my thoughts on her at first, because I thought her attitude was annoying and her desire for the noose was incredibly ridiculous. However, once I got into more of the flashbacks of her background, I began to understand her. She wants Belle King to die, yes, but her real name isn’t Belle. She’s Alice, and Alice wants to live.
This was a fantastic fast paced story! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my thoughts!
May 28, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Lady or the Tiger by Heather M. Herrman is a first person-POV YA historical in the vein of a Western. Alice, known as Belle King, is on trial for murder in Dodge City and has left a trail of bodies behind her. When her husband shows up, she does whatever she can to make sure he never has power over her again.
The author’s note mentions a fascination with the Western genre but also the problems within it plus the issues within YA and how this book is a response to it. As someone who grew up on YA when YA was coming up and has consumed a decent amount of Westerns and enjoyed almost none of them, I could see the inspiration and the things the book is critiquing. This is probably the first Western, besides the handful of romances I have read, that I actually liked. There’s a plethora of female characters and mentions of the Indigenous communities that this time period impacted but the genre tends to ignore. It has the grit and the setting of a Western but it also pushes against romance as the end-all-be-all that is so common in YA. If you have ever said ‘I hate Westerns,’ try this one. I think Lady or the Tiger is really highlighting that the genre became stale and there is, maybe, something there to still explore.
Alice has a couple of short-lived romances as well as her marriage and a longer term romance. Her life has so many romantic entanglements but she’s not defined by them. I didn’t know what to expect when I saw that the marketing involved a young woman who is already married because we hear all the time that YA can’t have married women because teens can’t relate to it, but she is very relatable. She married someone because she felt like she didn’t have a choice. She was trapped in an abusive marriage and I think a lot of young people can see themselves or someone they love in that. They could also see themselves in how she chooses not to define her life by love and even when she finds someone she does really love and who loves her back, she still isn’t going to give up herself for him.
About half of the book is told in flashback so we can see how Belle King, Alice’s alter ego, came to be. I don’t know if I would classify this as a thriller, but I would call this a book where everything in the opening chapters is recontextualized in the flashbacks and during the trial, reflecting how Alice wants people to perceive her in a specific way even if it isn’t the truth. You have to be willing to sit with a morally gray female lead who has had a lot of harm done to her and witnessed a lot of harm but she’s still not completely justified in her actions if this was the real world.
Content warning for mentions of transphobia and racism and depictions of sexism and sexual assault
I would recommend this to readers who like the idea of Westerns but want a critique of it and fans of YA who are craving a book not centered on romance
September 5, 2025
Lady Or The Tiger by Heather M Hairman starts with Alice and her mother and men breaking in the house to force their will when Alice kills one of them. This starts the mini incarnations of Alice from the wife of the sheriff to being his con artist assistant with his gambling endeavors to her stay in a mental hospital and so much more. She gives herself up to the police as the seamstress murderer because she knows she’s done wrong and to be honest she’s probably at this point very tired at the age of 19. This is when her husband the gambler shows up Wanting to save her, something she doesn’t want. There were many things I liked about this book but many things I didn’t like I thought the books timelines at times could be confusing I thought her pros were a bit too flowery where it sounded as if she was trying to be profound at times came off Silly and whimsical I really love story set in the wild West and I did like this one but not as much as I thought I would. I would still recommend it to those who like gritty books set in the West with female protagonist.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #HeatherMHairman, #LadyOrTheTiger,
May 27, 2025
*3.5 stars rounded up
Woah... this book's ending took my breath away. Lady or the Tiger is filled with feminine rage, beautiful prose, and jaw-dropping twists. The first two-thirds of the book were good, though not incredibly addictive, and the timeline was a bit confusing as it kept switching between past and present. However, the last third had me reading until 2 in the morning, and I couldn't put the book down. It's clear that the author researched heavily for this book, and it paid off—I really enjoyed the detailed historical backdrop. For anyone who loves the Wild West, women's rights, women's wrongs, and an antihero protagonist, this book is for you.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC!
Woah... this book's ending took my breath away. Lady or the Tiger is filled with feminine rage, beautiful prose, and jaw-dropping twists. The first two-thirds of the book were good, though not incredibly addictive, and the timeline was a bit confusing as it kept switching between past and present. However, the last third had me reading until 2 in the morning, and I couldn't put the book down. It's clear that the author researched heavily for this book, and it paid off—I really enjoyed the detailed historical backdrop. For anyone who loves the Wild West, women's rights, women's wrongs, and an antihero protagonist, this book is for you.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC!
March 27, 2025
Lady Or The Tiger is a unique read. It takes place in the Wild West and is a story of a woman who just wants to be free.
Belle is an antiheroine who tells you right from the beginning that you're not going to like her (I did). The story is told through a dual timeline and it kept me guessing the whole time.
It's fairly dark, and there are those who won't like the ending, but it certainly kept me turning pages.
If you're into down with the patriarchy books, I think you'll enjoy this.
Thanks to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an early copy for review.
Belle is an antiheroine who tells you right from the beginning that you're not going to like her (I did). The story is told through a dual timeline and it kept me guessing the whole time.
It's fairly dark, and there are those who won't like the ending, but it certainly kept me turning pages.
If you're into down with the patriarchy books, I think you'll enjoy this.
Thanks to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an early copy for review.
December 18, 2025
This is the best book I have read this year! Feminist, kicka$s, clever, challenging, beautifully written ... and did I mention clever?
I chose the lady AND the tiger, btw. Farewell, Belle - I will miss being in this book with you.
CW: body horror, sexual abuse (not described but very clearly and directly alluded to), death of a parent, death of an animal, sexual intimacy (relatively mild)
Senior Fiction
Y12, Y13
I chose the lady AND the tiger, btw. Farewell, Belle - I will miss being in this book with you.
CW: body horror, sexual abuse (not described but very clearly and directly alluded to), death of a parent, death of an animal, sexual intimacy (relatively mild)
Senior Fiction
Y12, Y13
July 16, 2025
Belle King, nineteen, turns herself in for murder. As she awaits the trial in the Dodge City jail, her husband shows up. The only problem? She killed him.
This book was different and empowering. Set in the 1800s, we get a glimpse of what it was like for women back then (and still can be like, unfortunately). I wanted to rage and scream at the men in this book. And I wanted to applaud the women who stood up to those men, namely the narrator.
I think the title and cover of this book will allow people to overlook it, but I implore you: look at it. Look directly at it. Do not look away. No matter how many times the narrator asks you to.
This novel was powerful and important and should remind all of us women that each of us has a tiger within her. And we should ask ourselves:
Who will win: the lady or the tiger?
This book was different and empowering. Set in the 1800s, we get a glimpse of what it was like for women back then (and still can be like, unfortunately). I wanted to rage and scream at the men in this book. And I wanted to applaud the women who stood up to those men, namely the narrator.
I think the title and cover of this book will allow people to overlook it, but I implore you: look at it. Look directly at it. Do not look away. No matter how many times the narrator asks you to.
This novel was powerful and important and should remind all of us women that each of us has a tiger within her. And we should ask ourselves:
Who will win: the lady or the tiger?
June 9, 2025
Oooh this book was so unique, I enjoyed it so much. It was dark and made the hair on my arms stand up. I don't read a lot of horror, but you better believe that I will run toward one that is a Western and this was a perfect combo (because Westerns already give off a horror-esque vibe just based on the time/experiences). Anyway I had NO idea what was going on for probably half the book. The POV jumped and I could not mentally merge the two POVs into the same person, they just seemed SO DIFFERENT. But I loved when it clicked and then the book raced towards the end. I will say I did not feel like this was a mystery, so that seemed like misleading marketing. The characters were fierce and hard to fully picture and Belle was such an enigma but it worked in this particular story. The ending is a bit controversial, but I did appreciate the device. I recommend this one!
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it brought the exact right amount of gravitas to this character and her story.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and it brought the exact right amount of gravitas to this character and her story.
May 13, 2025
4.5 stars. Heather Herrman has become an auto-buy author for me.
August 13, 2025
I devoured this. I can’t express how much I loved it. Pls read it!! This is a story about a girl choosing herself.
July 10, 2025
thank you nancy paulsen books and netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!
a fun mix of mystery, dark humor, and historical drama. the story has a unique voice and an interesting premise, following a clever heroine trying to survive in a dangerous, high society world. while the setting is vivid and the tone is bold, some parts feel rushed or a little underdeveloped. it doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but it’s still an entertaining read with sharp moments and a strong main character. i would recommend this to someone who’s interested in thrillers but maybe hasn’t delved into historical fiction yet. i definitely enjoyed it! 3/5 stars
a fun mix of mystery, dark humor, and historical drama. the story has a unique voice and an interesting premise, following a clever heroine trying to survive in a dangerous, high society world. while the setting is vivid and the tone is bold, some parts feel rushed or a little underdeveloped. it doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but it’s still an entertaining read with sharp moments and a strong main character. i would recommend this to someone who’s interested in thrillers but maybe hasn’t delved into historical fiction yet. i definitely enjoyed it! 3/5 stars
June 24, 2025
I got an ARC from Netgalley and loved it so much I bought the physical. This book was amazing. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to hear more. This book takes place in two timelines following Belle King who is convicted of murder. But she is also fighting her husband who is trying to get her back. You flash back to past memories of her life that makes parts of the story add up. At first I wasn't sure what I thought but overall it was a good quick read. This story shows the challenges of growing up in those times and how a you will go to prove yourself. It has a good message, story and keeps you engaged from chapter to chapter.
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February 6, 2025I sort of feel like I got punched in the face, and I mean that as a compliment. A book that doesn't just allow for sharp girls to exist, but instead hones them to be even deadlier. And then demands that you understand just how human they are.
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