A Comfortable Misery

by Kassandra Hart

Territory of Montana, 1885.For Miss Kathryn Blackford, death is only the beginning. Desperate to escape her miserable life as a coal-miner in Cinder, a dismal town nestled in the Rocky Mountains, she stages her own death so that she can start life anew—unbound, unrestricted, and free to do as she pleases.

Just as she is about to leave Cinder forever, Miss Blackford unexpectedly crosses paths with the stubborn and spoiled Miss Elizabeth Lancaster, daughter of the proprietor of Cinder’s coalmine. For that reason alone, Miss Blackford is determined to hate her.

It would have been easy for that hate to endure, too, were it not for the inconvenient events that brought the two so close together, setting them on a tumultuous journey marked each day with calamity, deceit, and troublesome attraction.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Historical Fiction, Queer, Westerns, LGBT

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2026

Reviews

[Abigail Fixel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the storyline, but found the quality of the writing to be not only lackluster, but down right bad. It felt as if a middle schooler had written the book. I kept reading for the plot - which was very entertaining and had a lot of nice surprises (for the first 3/4s of the way).

[jamie (drowned star) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read it in one day, i loved this book so much. It means so much to me. I used to read an awful lot of horse stories as a kid so i was hooked just because it has a horse in it (and because i’m lesbian).

Kat & Ellie are really special characters and i wish this book was popular so i could read fanfiction of them and look at fanart and edits.

[B⚢ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet, and easy to read western. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Kat and Elizabeth’s relationship develop and grow. If you’re wanting a more lighthearted and love filled sapphic western, this one is for you ♡

[Keegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise, slowburn, and some of the banter between the two (especially in Chapter 18), but overall it felt like there was too much being explained. This is especially true in the beginning, where Kat opens the story with multiple impromptu lore drops. I appreciated the context, but would've preferred they be revealed in a more natural way, like being reminded of a memory or through plot-relevant conversations with Elizabeth. Some of the dialogue and characters also felt anywhere between cartoonish and stiff, and this book doesn't have enough dime-novel/Western vibes for the exaggeration to fit in my opinion. Then the pregnancy aspect of the story barely came up, which really disappointed me because I thought it would've been a great addition to their dynamic. Like, Elizabeth gets physically assaulted, but Kat never thinks about the well-being of the fetus? At least the chemistry between Kat and Elizabeth toward the end was very strong, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship play out. All that being said, I look forward to reading more of Hart's work and seeing her improve as an author!

[Christina Chilelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the premise, I thought it had a lot of potential. I was a bit let down by the way the actual plot unfolded. Things just happen, without much build up. So much of it was telling over showing, and some of the writing felt rather amateurish. I feel like I had more questions than answers about Kat, and I have absolutely no clue what she looked like (which is fine, but felt a bit odd). The dialogue didn't feel appropriately fleshed out. Probably one of the weaker sapphic Westerns of my late reads, which I was sad about, but it just didn't quite do it for me.

[Silvana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style could certainly use significant improvement, but considering this is the author's debut, it’s not bad at all!

The plot was interesting and had a good pace—neither too slow nor too fast.
However, there was a great deal of overexplainations regarding the characters and their feelings ( I am however not referring to the confessions at the end).
Some things come across more powerfully when merely suggested, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions!

[Dulaine Roode · Rating 5 out of 5]

New kind of plot twist.

Kat had to take matters into her own hands to get out of Cinder. The way she met Elizabeth though was kind of hilarious. The two of them made it through harrowing circumstances though, and almost didn't make it out together. There was a few twists in the story, but in the end it worked out for the both of them.

[Mystrylovr · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved this a lot, the only thing is the speech seemed a little robotic at times and just a lot of 'were going to argue "im sorry i said this and i wont do it again" "oh im sorry too but i dont forgive you" ' constantly but there was growth and i did love reading their relationship develop
i thought both kat and ellie were wonderful and it was nice to see some girl power in the bars

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovingly written connection slowly develops between two women who both struggle with the roles life has forced upon them, set in a rugged western landscape. A sweet and compassionate debut novel from an author whose writing I'm excited to follow!

[Amy Wittmeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Romantic Western

An enjoyable and easy read. Couldn't stop reading once I got into the story and finished it quickly. Recommended for anyone looking for a nice sapphic western.

[carm · Rating 5 out of 5]

genuinely devoured this once i got into the story, felt like red dead redemption sapphic edition. so so so good i cannot believe this was a debut !!

[rux · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing story I finished it in one day. Truly heartwarming.

[Sri · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAH
SO GAY, SO WESTERN, SO GOOD

[Gwen Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint is that I wish it were longer !

[Mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Sydney Batt · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

(Kindle)