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Magic & Mystery #6
Battle of the Round House
This spellbinding short story from the award-winning author of The Reformatory reimagines the Wild West through the eyes of a young Black girl with a gift.
1871: Ten-year-old Lucy Freeman and her family flee threats in Kentucky for a new life in the post–Civil War frontier. Their refuge is Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black women and children that thrives, if the folktales are true, on magic. But a mob of bounty hunters is bringing hell to paradise, and it’s Lucy’s own secret magical ability that may be the only defense.
Tananarive Due’s Battle of the Round House is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.
1871: Ten-year-old Lucy Freeman and her family flee threats in Kentucky for a new life in the post–Civil War frontier. Their refuge is Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black women and children that thrives, if the folktales are true, on magic. But a mob of bounty hunters is bringing hell to paradise, and it’s Lucy’s own secret magical ability that may be the only defense.
Tananarive Due’s Battle of the Round House is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Tananarive Due
116 books7,094 followersTANANARIVE DUE (tah-nah-nah-REEVE doo) is the award-winning author of The Wishing Pool & Other Stories and the upcoming The Reformatory ("A masterpiece"--Library Journal). She and her husband, Steven Barnes, co-wrote the Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast, "Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!"
A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. She and her husband live with their son, Jason.
A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights. She and her husband live with their son, Jason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
July 22, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ Another great short story in this series! Everything about this was so interesting and nerve-wracking and so, so good. I was hoping and praying nothing bad would happen to Lucy and her family as they journeyed to Zipporah Ranch. The writing was so damn good, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. And after I finished the story, I didn't feel like I was missing something, nor did I feel unsatisfied with how short it was. It was basically perfect. 👌🏼
All in all, I really enjoyed this, and now I not only want to read the author's full-length novels, I need to read them. 🤭🧡
࣪ ִֶָ☾. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
──── ୨୧ ────
The Magic & Mystery Collection
#1 The Wednesday Witches Book Club
#2 Miss Gentle and The Case of the Very Flat Monk
#3 The Lion's Tusk
#4 A Labyrinth of Honeybees
#5 The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious
#7 The Cairndale Orphan
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ Another great short story in this series! Everything about this was so interesting and nerve-wracking and so, so good. I was hoping and praying nothing bad would happen to Lucy and her family as they journeyed to Zipporah Ranch. The writing was so damn good, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. And after I finished the story, I didn't feel like I was missing something, nor did I feel unsatisfied with how short it was. It was basically perfect. 👌🏼
All in all, I really enjoyed this, and now I not only want to read the author's full-length novels, I need to read them. 🤭🧡
࣪ ִֶָ☾. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
──── ୨୧ ────
The Magic & Mystery Collection
#1 The Wednesday Witches Book Club
#2 Miss Gentle and The Case of the Very Flat Monk
#3 The Lion's Tusk
#4 A Labyrinth of Honeybees
#5 The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious
#7 The Cairndale Orphan
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
✰ the collection on amazon
✰ the collection on goodreads
this story is told via transcripts from a seventy-five-year-old woman, named lucy, in 1936, who is telling their account of what happened to twelve missing men in 1871 (also transcribed in the kansas archives), when she was only ten-years-old and her family were trying to get to a black founded cattle ranch to start a new, safer life. on the journey of 100 miles, they become the newest targets of racist highway men, and then we see young lucy and her family in another town, before they embark to the safety of the hidden zipporah ranch. yet, maybe they are still being followed. oh, and maybe lucy also has some persuasion magic, too.
i really enjoyed this, i really loved lucy’s voice as a child and an elder, and i really wish this was full-length. this is the scariest of the collection, but also one of the bright shining lights of it, and i overwhelmingly recommend this one!
trigger + content warnings: racism, racist slurs, talk of slavery, child abuse in past mention, mention of ptsd, grief, loss of child (six month older sibling) in past, animal death (shot stray dog), blood
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ Magic & Mystery Amazon Collection Reviews:
➛ Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk by Travis Baldree
➛ The Wednesday Witches Book Club By Sarah Beth Durst
➛ The Lion’s Tusk By Robert Jackson Bennett
➛ A Labyrinth of Honeybees By Heather Fawcett
➛ The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious By Scott Lynch
➛ Battle of the Round House By Tananarive Due
➛ The Cairndale Orphan By J. M. Miro
✰ the collection on amazon
✰ the collection on goodreads
this story is told via transcripts from a seventy-five-year-old woman, named lucy, in 1936, who is telling their account of what happened to twelve missing men in 1871 (also transcribed in the kansas archives), when she was only ten-years-old and her family were trying to get to a black founded cattle ranch to start a new, safer life. on the journey of 100 miles, they become the newest targets of racist highway men, and then we see young lucy and her family in another town, before they embark to the safety of the hidden zipporah ranch. yet, maybe they are still being followed. oh, and maybe lucy also has some persuasion magic, too.
i really enjoyed this, i really loved lucy’s voice as a child and an elder, and i really wish this was full-length. this is the scariest of the collection, but also one of the bright shining lights of it, and i overwhelmingly recommend this one!
trigger + content warnings: racism, racist slurs, talk of slavery, child abuse in past mention, mention of ptsd, grief, loss of child (six month older sibling) in past, animal death (shot stray dog), blood
blog | instagram | youtube | wishlist | spotify | amazon
♡ Magic & Mystery Amazon Collection Reviews:
➛ Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk by Travis Baldree
➛ The Wednesday Witches Book Club By Sarah Beth Durst
➛ The Lion’s Tusk By Robert Jackson Bennett
➛ A Labyrinth of Honeybees By Heather Fawcett
➛ The Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious By Scott Lynch
➛ Battle of the Round House By Tananarive Due
➛ The Cairndale Orphan By J. M. Miro
July 28, 2026
Tananarive Due’s storytelling is so 🔥🔥🔥🔥 this was so damn good. Only 61 pages
A story based on oral stories passed down in Tananarive’s Family about “Round House Battles” in 1857.
The Zipporah Ranch. A hidden Black Ranch founded by Women…surrounded by magic. When Lucy and her family is now on the run from white bounty Hunters who followed them to the ranch…. THEY MUST PROTECT THEIR LAND.
A story based on oral stories passed down in Tananarive’s Family about “Round House Battles” in 1857.
The Zipporah Ranch. A hidden Black Ranch founded by Women…surrounded by magic. When Lucy and her family is now on the run from white bounty Hunters who followed them to the ranch…. THEY MUST PROTECT THEIR LAND.
August 2, 2026
Due has been on my to-read list, and she jumped up pretty close to the top a few months ago, when I watched a YouTube video that she posted where she performed the “Thriller” dance by Michael Jackson. How cool is Tananarive Due?? (Learning that choreography has been on my bucket list for a long time, but, alas, I have zero coordination when it comes to dancing.)
Anyway, this short story was a great introduction to Due, and I loved the magical realism in it. It’s set in 1871, when folks are traveling west to start new lives, and the “law” usually consists of a sheriff and a deputy who cannot do it all by themselves. Therefore, bandits are common, and a posse of bandits are after the Freeman family, who have dared to exist and travel while being black. Some bounty hunters are searching for the patriarch of said family, even though he has an ironclad alibi, and the latter stop in a town to plead innocence to the sheriff there. The Freemans are searching for Zipporah Ranch, a settlement where they can live peacefully with other POC. In their haste to get away from the bounty hunters, the Freemans have lost, among many other things, their map to the ranch, the location of which is a closely-guarded secret. Luckily, the sheriff knows the way and privately gives them directions…but a horse and wagon leave a distinct trail, and the Freemans are not the only ones in search of the ranch…
This is a quick, informative read, and Due paints a picture of what life was like back then for anyone who wasn’t a white man (UGH). I recommend you pick this one up (that is to say, buy the kindle version)!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an eARC. All opinions are mine.
Anyway, this short story was a great introduction to Due, and I loved the magical realism in it. It’s set in 1871, when folks are traveling west to start new lives, and the “law” usually consists of a sheriff and a deputy who cannot do it all by themselves. Therefore, bandits are common, and a posse of bandits are after the Freeman family, who have dared to exist and travel while being black. Some bounty hunters are searching for the patriarch of said family, even though he has an ironclad alibi, and the latter stop in a town to plead innocence to the sheriff there. The Freemans are searching for Zipporah Ranch, a settlement where they can live peacefully with other POC. In their haste to get away from the bounty hunters, the Freemans have lost, among many other things, their map to the ranch, the location of which is a closely-guarded secret. Luckily, the sheriff knows the way and privately gives them directions…but a horse and wagon leave a distinct trail, and the Freemans are not the only ones in search of the ranch…
This is a quick, informative read, and Due paints a picture of what life was like back then for anyone who wasn’t a white man (UGH). I recommend you pick this one up (that is to say, buy the kindle version)!
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an eARC. All opinions are mine.
August 3, 2026
*3.5 stars. oh how I love "wild west but with fantasy" stories! it was hard to get a read on who the target audience was. it very much read like a middle-grade, but with far more intensity than I'd hand to a kid. it was interesting, though, and I'm not mad that I've read it.
**content warnings for racism and violence
**content warnings for racism and violence
July 29, 2026
I wish I had read the e-book of this one. I know the audiobook performance ruined a lot of it for me. (I can't deal with audiobook narrators who put so much melodramatic emoting into their performances during just regular narration/internal monologue. It's grating tonally, and it always comes off false to me. Here it's Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and I also can't listen to Natalie Naudus anymore for the same reason.)
But anyway, as always Tananarive Due knows how to tell a story. I'm a little bit puzzled that there appears to be no mystery in here whatsoever, and this is a fantasy/mystery collection, but I can't complain when we get such a fun story as a result.
But anyway, as always Tananarive Due knows how to tell a story. I'm a little bit puzzled that there appears to be no mystery in here whatsoever, and this is a fantasy/mystery collection, but I can't complain when we get such a fun story as a result.
July 28, 2026
── 4.0✦
I definitely need to read more by this author
I definitely need to read more by this author
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is very different from the other stories I've read in the Magic & Mystery collection so far (The Lion's Tusk, Wizard Who Kept Himself Suspicious, Miss Gentle and the Case of the Very Flat Monk, A Labyrinth of Honeybees).
It's neither a straight up a whodunit murder mystery nor is it set in a completely fantasy world. It feels like more like a magical realism story set up in the past, like her The Reformatory and it's really a great one. I like the framing of the story mostly told in "flashbacks", we also have a very short story line with Lucy being interviewed in the modern day.
It's neither a straight up a whodunit murder mystery nor is it set in a completely fantasy world. It feels like more like a magical realism story set up in the past, like her The Reformatory and it's really a great one. I like the framing of the story mostly told in "flashbacks", we also have a very short story line with Lucy being interviewed in the modern day.
August 2, 2026
Tananarive Due does a little magical Western short story? I AM SEATED. Due's amazing ability to instantly hook a reader needs to be studied. I became immediately invested in the lives of the characters and their journey. Due weaves together history, complex characters, and stories worth telling/hearing so perfectly that these 65 pages were over in the blink of an eye. I could spend so much more time on this ranch and with this family and cast of characters. What a story!
The author's note at the end was just the chef's kiss on top of a beautifully crafted story: "My family history led directly to my creation of Zipporah Ranch. I only added the Wild West, cattle... and a little magic." -Tananarive Due
The author's note at the end was just the chef's kiss on top of a beautifully crafted story: "My family history led directly to my creation of Zipporah Ranch. I only added the Wild West, cattle... and a little magic." -Tananarive Due
July 31, 2026
Loved this short story and I want more! This is the 2nd piece of Due's I've read, and it's safe to say I'm a real fan. I adore how she reimagined family history, added a touch of magic, and made a cracking good read out of it.
August 3, 2026
I allowed myself to be a spectator of the family in this book as they traveled from having nothing to a creatively crafted land of Eden. My senses were on high alert throughout the dangerous horrors of monsters called humans. The dread and anxiousness was sewn into the atmosphere as well as the preparedness of the horrors.
🎧 Audiobook Narration: I love when a single narrator can cause my brain to distinguish the characters without each character calling out the names of who they are talking to. Joniece Abbott-Pratt clearly knows her craft of acting out a scene. Her performance alone makes me want to learn more about how to “whisper.“
An immersive read was a great way to experience Battle of the Round House. It’s a short read yet a very satisfying one. Thanks to #brilliancepublishing for allowing this to be read. Tananarive Due has done. It a plain blending historical fiction with horror and giving us another memorable piece.
#Battleoftheroundhouse
Rating: 4.75 stars
🎧 Audiobook Narration: I love when a single narrator can cause my brain to distinguish the characters without each character calling out the names of who they are talking to. Joniece Abbott-Pratt clearly knows her craft of acting out a scene. Her performance alone makes me want to learn more about how to “whisper.“
An immersive read was a great way to experience Battle of the Round House. It’s a short read yet a very satisfying one. Thanks to #brilliancepublishing for allowing this to be read. Tananarive Due has done. It a plain blending historical fiction with horror and giving us another memorable piece.
#Battleoftheroundhouse
Rating: 4.75 stars
August 1, 2026
Part of the Magic & Mystery short stories series, Battle of the Round House was a low fantasy that opened up a world and a story I just wanted more of.
Following the civil war, 10 year old lucy and her family head to a hidden black owned farming community to start a new life. But when they are pursued by highwaymen, it will take more than determination to make it out alive.
Elements of magic are interwoven with this story based on historical events. My major problem with this book though is that there wasn’t enough of it! You just meet the characters and understand who they are and it is all over. I could have read a 500 page book set in this world.
As far as novellas go, this, though a complete story, didn’t feel as completely satisfying as I hoped. I still want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Following the civil war, 10 year old lucy and her family head to a hidden black owned farming community to start a new life. But when they are pursued by highwaymen, it will take more than determination to make it out alive.
Elements of magic are interwoven with this story based on historical events. My major problem with this book though is that there wasn’t enough of it! You just meet the characters and understand who they are and it is all over. I could have read a 500 page book set in this world.
As far as novellas go, this, though a complete story, didn’t feel as completely satisfying as I hoped. I still want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2026
3.75/5 stars
0/5 spice
Short-Story Review:
The atmosphere created by Tananarive Due in Battle of the Round House was VISCERAL. Reading this short story made me realize I believe I’ve only ever previously read one historically set western, and maybe that needs to change. For being such a short piece of writing, it truly sucked me in and genuinely felt tangible.
One thing I cannot fail to mention, however, is there is on-page murder of a dog at the very beginning and that stuck in my mind for the entirely of the short story (in a bad way).
0/5 spice
Short-Story Review:
The atmosphere created by Tananarive Due in Battle of the Round House was VISCERAL. Reading this short story made me realize I believe I’ve only ever previously read one historically set western, and maybe that needs to change. For being such a short piece of writing, it truly sucked me in and genuinely felt tangible.
One thing I cannot fail to mention, however, is there is on-page murder of a dog at the very beginning and that stuck in my mind for the entirely of the short story (in a bad way).
July 29, 2026
3.5 stars.
This was a good story! The only reason that I didn't rate it higher is because I'm just not a fan of westerns, on TV or in books. That's 100% a me thing, though! I love Tananarive Due's writing, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to see this on Kindle Unlimited! I also listene to the audiobook, which is narrate by the same narrator of The Reformatory, and I loved the way she reads a story!
This was a good story! The only reason that I didn't rate it higher is because I'm just not a fan of westerns, on TV or in books. That's 100% a me thing, though! I love Tananarive Due's writing, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was very excited to see this on Kindle Unlimited! I also listene to the audiobook, which is narrate by the same narrator of The Reformatory, and I loved the way she reads a story!
August 4, 2026
I liked the setting and characters. However, I'm not sure this story fit this collection. There was no mystery and very little fantasy. It felt more like a historical fiction or literary novel that features a small speculative element. I think because I kept waiting for more of both of those things that I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
August 4, 2026
Good Story, Inspired by The Author's Family History
A little magic, some family history and a little wild West, and you have Battle of the Round House. I really liked this installment in the Magic & Mystery Collection.
A little magic, some family history and a little wild West, and you have Battle of the Round House. I really liked this installment in the Magic & Mystery Collection.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Read review on: https://thereadingarmchair.blogspot.c...
Why am I only learning of the Magic & Mystery series just now? When I first received this ARC via NetGalley, I was excited (Tananarive Due is an author that’s been on my radar for a while). But then, I looked into the series and, apart from Tananarive Due, it features short stories by J.M. Miro, Heather Fawcett, Robert Jackson Bennett, Travis Baldree, Sarah Beth Durst, and Scott Lynch. And they all come out on July 28th. Guess what I’ll be doing this August, especially if the rest are just as good as this one.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Battle of the Round House is the story of Lucy and her family as they try to reach Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black people after emancipation. The story takes place in 1871, when a mob attacks the ranch (leading to their mysterious disappearance), while we also read Lucy’s testimonial of that night’s events from an interview in 1936.
First of all, I can’t begin to describe what I loved about this short story. In just a few pages, it managed to tell a story that felt complete (a common complaint I have with short stories) yet left me wanting to read more. The Wild West atmosphere was impeccable, and I loved all the descriptions, both of the town of Abilene and the ranch itself. I loved how this community embraced the traditions and heritage of all people living there (Black and Kaw).
But most importantly, I loved Lucy as a character. As a 10-year-old, she retains some of childhood’s innocence, while showing the implications of what is happening. Reading her realizing what would happen if the mob reached the ranch and they couldn’t drive them away was heartbreaking (also the way that the realization came upon her by overhearing her father).
You might be wondering though, where the fantasy elements are since the series is called Magic & Mystery. Well, Lucy has the ability to whisper to both animals and humans and influence them. Throughout the story, we see her use this ability a bunch of times, even though in most instances it’s not something dramatic. However, there is another girl in the ranch, Binta, who clearly can also use the same magic. If I could pick an element that I wanted explored more, this would be it – maybe Lucy and Binta bonding over their shared ability.
Finally, I can’t end this review without mentioning that reading the author’s note put Battle of the Round House in a new light. The story was inspired by the author’s father and great-grandmother’s story, which made it even more touching.
All in all, Battle of the Round House took me by surprise. Even though it was light on fantasy, it had a compelling story and engaging writing. And with it being a short story, you have all the reasons to pick it up – I wholeheartedly recommend it. When it comes to myself, I will also be checking out the rest of the short stories in the series.
*Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with this copy.
Why am I only learning of the Magic & Mystery series just now? When I first received this ARC via NetGalley, I was excited (Tananarive Due is an author that’s been on my radar for a while). But then, I looked into the series and, apart from Tananarive Due, it features short stories by J.M. Miro, Heather Fawcett, Robert Jackson Bennett, Travis Baldree, Sarah Beth Durst, and Scott Lynch. And they all come out on July 28th. Guess what I’ll be doing this August, especially if the rest are just as good as this one.
But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Battle of the Round House is the story of Lucy and her family as they try to reach Zipporah Ranch, a hidden settlement founded by Black people after emancipation. The story takes place in 1871, when a mob attacks the ranch (leading to their mysterious disappearance), while we also read Lucy’s testimonial of that night’s events from an interview in 1936.
First of all, I can’t begin to describe what I loved about this short story. In just a few pages, it managed to tell a story that felt complete (a common complaint I have with short stories) yet left me wanting to read more. The Wild West atmosphere was impeccable, and I loved all the descriptions, both of the town of Abilene and the ranch itself. I loved how this community embraced the traditions and heritage of all people living there (Black and Kaw).
But most importantly, I loved Lucy as a character. As a 10-year-old, she retains some of childhood’s innocence, while showing the implications of what is happening. Reading her realizing what would happen if the mob reached the ranch and they couldn’t drive them away was heartbreaking (also the way that the realization came upon her by overhearing her father).
You might be wondering though, where the fantasy elements are since the series is called Magic & Mystery. Well, Lucy has the ability to whisper to both animals and humans and influence them. Throughout the story, we see her use this ability a bunch of times, even though in most instances it’s not something dramatic. However, there is another girl in the ranch, Binta, who clearly can also use the same magic. If I could pick an element that I wanted explored more, this would be it – maybe Lucy and Binta bonding over their shared ability.
Finally, I can’t end this review without mentioning that reading the author’s note put Battle of the Round House in a new light. The story was inspired by the author’s father and great-grandmother’s story, which made it even more touching.
All in all, Battle of the Round House took me by surprise. Even though it was light on fantasy, it had a compelling story and engaging writing. And with it being a short story, you have all the reasons to pick it up – I wholeheartedly recommend it. When it comes to myself, I will also be checking out the rest of the short stories in the series.
*Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for providing me with this copy.
July 29, 2026
Title/Author: Battle of the Round House by Tananarive Due
Format Read: eBook (audio comes with it)
Pub date: July 28th, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Originals *you can read my thoughts on Amazon on my Substack
Page Count: takes about an hour to listen to it/65 pages (less than an hour to read it)
Link: https://a.co/d/0iyMIE1D
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-Due's unique and personal connection to the historical fiction she writes
-Short stories, character-driven, scenic, immersive/If you enjoyed her short story collections, Ghost Summer and The Wishing Pool
-Child POV (the MC is a 12-year-old girl with a *special gift
-Westerns
-ANIMAL LOVER! If you love farm animals, bulls, and horses-Due treats them with so much love and respect and care
-A little magical realism
__
Minor complaints:
-I didn't want to leave Zipporah Ranch, 64 pages was not enough!
Final recommendation:
"My family history led directly to my creation of Zipporah Ranch. I only added the Wild West, cattle . . . and a little magic." --Tananarive Due (author's notes)
"we all surely would have lost our lives if not for a little magic."
This was everything I wanted it to be and more; a satisfying time sitting at the feet of one of my all-time favorite storytellers. I think Due is especially gifted with a child's POV and short fiction. I'm already suited for modern Westerns/Frontier because I grew up watching shows like Little House and Bonanza. I also read a lot of Weird Westerns with Horror/Supernatural elements.
This story follows a family headed to a thriving ranch community with a hostile hunting party on their tail. Zipporah Ranch is a haven and I would live there in a heartbeat; strong, capable women, self sustainable, and an intentional posture of respect and care for the tending and nurturing of animals. The words "horror" and "terror" are used all throughout this short story because the nightmare of enslavement, racism, and an oppression will always haunt the annals of history-real or fiction. She doesn't ever shy away from these themes-she brings them into her fiction no matter which genre the story falls into.
My favorite aspect of this story was the treatment of animals, it made my heart so happy.
My only complaint is that I was sad to leave the refuge of this tale.
Comps: Ghost Summer & The Wishing Pool by Tananarive Due
Amid the Vastness of All Else by C. S. Humble
Here are my Kindle Highlights on this story
Format Read: eBook (audio comes with it)
Pub date: July 28th, 2026
Publisher: Amazon Originals *you can read my thoughts on Amazon on my Substack
Page Count: takes about an hour to listen to it/65 pages (less than an hour to read it)
Link: https://a.co/d/0iyMIE1D
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
-Due's unique and personal connection to the historical fiction she writes
-Short stories, character-driven, scenic, immersive/If you enjoyed her short story collections, Ghost Summer and The Wishing Pool
-Child POV (the MC is a 12-year-old girl with a *special gift
-Westerns
-ANIMAL LOVER! If you love farm animals, bulls, and horses-Due treats them with so much love and respect and care
-A little magical realism
__
Minor complaints:
-I didn't want to leave Zipporah Ranch, 64 pages was not enough!
Final recommendation:
"My family history led directly to my creation of Zipporah Ranch. I only added the Wild West, cattle . . . and a little magic." --Tananarive Due (author's notes)
"we all surely would have lost our lives if not for a little magic."
This was everything I wanted it to be and more; a satisfying time sitting at the feet of one of my all-time favorite storytellers. I think Due is especially gifted with a child's POV and short fiction. I'm already suited for modern Westerns/Frontier because I grew up watching shows like Little House and Bonanza. I also read a lot of Weird Westerns with Horror/Supernatural elements.
This story follows a family headed to a thriving ranch community with a hostile hunting party on their tail. Zipporah Ranch is a haven and I would live there in a heartbeat; strong, capable women, self sustainable, and an intentional posture of respect and care for the tending and nurturing of animals. The words "horror" and "terror" are used all throughout this short story because the nightmare of enslavement, racism, and an oppression will always haunt the annals of history-real or fiction. She doesn't ever shy away from these themes-she brings them into her fiction no matter which genre the story falls into.
My favorite aspect of this story was the treatment of animals, it made my heart so happy.
My only complaint is that I was sad to leave the refuge of this tale.
Comps: Ghost Summer & The Wishing Pool by Tananarive Due
Amid the Vastness of All Else by C. S. Humble
Here are my Kindle Highlights on this story
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎧 ALC Audiobook Review — Battle of the Round House
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.50
Let me start with the obvious: Joniece Abbott‑Pratt is a menace in the best possible way. One narrator should not be able to sound like an entire frontier town, but here she is, giving Lucy, her father, her mother, her little brother, the sheriff, and every dusty stranger on the road their own fully‑formed voice. It’s a single‑narrator audiobook that feels like a full‑cast production, and that’s not easy that’s talent.
The whole thing plays like a cinematic audio experience. You can hear the tension. You can feel the danger. You can practically smell the dust on the road. The production team kept everything crisp and immersive, but Joniece is the one who makes it breathe.
Now, the story itself?
We’re listening to seventy‑five‑year‑old Lucy in 1936, recounting what happened back in 1871 when she was just ten years old and her family was trying to reach a Black‑founded cattle ranch for a safer life. And of course, because the world is the world, they end up being hunted on the road. The transcripts, the danger, the magic tucked inside Lucy’s voice it all comes together in a way that feels both intimate and epic.
And let me be real for a second: this story is short, but it hits. It’s tight, tense, and fully formed… but I absolutely wanted more. More magic, more Zipporah Ranch, more of Lucy’s gift, more of the community, more of the history. Not because anything was missing but because the world is so rich that I wanted to stay in it longer. Tananarive Due knows how to build a whole universe in a handful of pages and still leave you hungry.
Also, grown‑folks reminder: please check the triggers before diving in. There are some heavy moments you may want to be prepared for. But the story is incredible, and the audio is even better.
Final take:
A sharp, atmospheric frontier tale with magic woven through its bones and an audiobook performance that turns it into a full‑body experience. Joniece Abbott‑Pratt brings every character to life like she’s running an entire cast by herself, and the story lands harder because of it. This ALC is absolutely worth your listening time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.50
Let me start with the obvious: Joniece Abbott‑Pratt is a menace in the best possible way. One narrator should not be able to sound like an entire frontier town, but here she is, giving Lucy, her father, her mother, her little brother, the sheriff, and every dusty stranger on the road their own fully‑formed voice. It’s a single‑narrator audiobook that feels like a full‑cast production, and that’s not easy that’s talent.
The whole thing plays like a cinematic audio experience. You can hear the tension. You can feel the danger. You can practically smell the dust on the road. The production team kept everything crisp and immersive, but Joniece is the one who makes it breathe.
Now, the story itself?
We’re listening to seventy‑five‑year‑old Lucy in 1936, recounting what happened back in 1871 when she was just ten years old and her family was trying to reach a Black‑founded cattle ranch for a safer life. And of course, because the world is the world, they end up being hunted on the road. The transcripts, the danger, the magic tucked inside Lucy’s voice it all comes together in a way that feels both intimate and epic.
And let me be real for a second: this story is short, but it hits. It’s tight, tense, and fully formed… but I absolutely wanted more. More magic, more Zipporah Ranch, more of Lucy’s gift, more of the community, more of the history. Not because anything was missing but because the world is so rich that I wanted to stay in it longer. Tananarive Due knows how to build a whole universe in a handful of pages and still leave you hungry.
Also, grown‑folks reminder: please check the triggers before diving in. There are some heavy moments you may want to be prepared for. But the story is incredible, and the audio is even better.
Final take:
A sharp, atmospheric frontier tale with magic woven through its bones and an audiobook performance that turns it into a full‑body experience. Joniece Abbott‑Pratt brings every character to life like she’s running an entire cast by herself, and the story lands harder because of it. This ALC is absolutely worth your listening time.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, I love Tananarive Due - does that make me biased? I don't care. I think her works are important.
Battle of the Round House tells the story of Lucy and her family travelling to the frontier in the 1870s. This story is told by Lucy in the form of an interview/recording. The family is trying to start a better life and is being bounty hunted. Is it for their money or is it because they are Black or is it both? They end up meeting up with family in a hidden flourishing settlement when the trouble meets them.
1. This is horrific because of course white people are hunting Black folks. And the way in which they are described as killing people. Then to just think about the frontier and ugh.. it just makes my skin tingly in the worst way thinking about it.
2. For such a short story, this really packed a punch. It is such good story telling. I felt invested in the characters, including the sheriff. As usual with a short story, I wanted more. I want to know the history of Zipporah Ranch, I want to know the history of the magical powers... I want more blood and guts, to be honest.
3. As far as slasher and gore type horror, this was light on it. It also didn't dive too deeply into the magic, but it was there. And I think that is all you can ask of a short story like this. But... if anyone important is listening... I will take a full novel. Thanks!
Overall, recommend. I think this is a good introduction to this author and her type of story telling. If you enjoy this, you will definitely enjoy her other works. Also recommend learning about the author and her family's history and civil rights activism and with that knowledge gives you a deeper understanding of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Battle of the Round House tells the story of Lucy and her family travelling to the frontier in the 1870s. This story is told by Lucy in the form of an interview/recording. The family is trying to start a better life and is being bounty hunted. Is it for their money or is it because they are Black or is it both? They end up meeting up with family in a hidden flourishing settlement when the trouble meets them.
1. This is horrific because of course white people are hunting Black folks. And the way in which they are described as killing people. Then to just think about the frontier and ugh.. it just makes my skin tingly in the worst way thinking about it.
2. For such a short story, this really packed a punch. It is such good story telling. I felt invested in the characters, including the sheriff. As usual with a short story, I wanted more. I want to know the history of Zipporah Ranch, I want to know the history of the magical powers... I want more blood and guts, to be honest.
3. As far as slasher and gore type horror, this was light on it. It also didn't dive too deeply into the magic, but it was there. And I think that is all you can ask of a short story like this. But... if anyone important is listening... I will take a full novel. Thanks!
Overall, recommend. I think this is a good introduction to this author and her type of story telling. If you enjoy this, you will definitely enjoy her other works. Also recommend learning about the author and her family's history and civil rights activism and with that knowledge gives you a deeper understanding of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Tananarive Due proves that she doesn’t need hundreds of pages to create an unforgettable story.
Battle of the Round House blends historical fiction, folklore, and gentle fantasy into a novella that feels less like a modern short story and more like an oral history passed down through generations. Set in 1871, it follows ten-year-old Lucy Freeman as her family journeys west in search of a hidden Black settlement where whispers of magic offer hope for a safer future.
One of the things I loved most was the atmosphere. Due paints the post–Civil War frontier with remarkable economy, creating a vivid sense of place while never losing sight of the emotional heart of the story. The magic is subtle and deeply rooted in community, history, and tradition rather than spectacle, which made it all the more enchanting.
The audiobook narration deserves special recognition. The performance immediately immersed me in Lucy’s world, and the cadence, pacing, and distinct character voices beautifully complemented the story’s folktale quality. It truly felt like listening to a story that had been lovingly told and retold across generations.
At just over two hours, this is the perfect one-sitting listen, yet it carries the emotional weight and richness of a much longer work. If you enjoy historical fantasy, folklore, or Tananarive Due’s thoughtful storytelling, this is well worth your time.
A beautifully told tale that reminds us that some stories are meant to be believed—not because every mystery is explained, but because they continue to live on long after they’re told.
Tananarive Due proves that she doesn’t need hundreds of pages to create an unforgettable story.
Battle of the Round House blends historical fiction, folklore, and gentle fantasy into a novella that feels less like a modern short story and more like an oral history passed down through generations. Set in 1871, it follows ten-year-old Lucy Freeman as her family journeys west in search of a hidden Black settlement where whispers of magic offer hope for a safer future.
One of the things I loved most was the atmosphere. Due paints the post–Civil War frontier with remarkable economy, creating a vivid sense of place while never losing sight of the emotional heart of the story. The magic is subtle and deeply rooted in community, history, and tradition rather than spectacle, which made it all the more enchanting.
The audiobook narration deserves special recognition. The performance immediately immersed me in Lucy’s world, and the cadence, pacing, and distinct character voices beautifully complemented the story’s folktale quality. It truly felt like listening to a story that had been lovingly told and retold across generations.
At just over two hours, this is the perfect one-sitting listen, yet it carries the emotional weight and richness of a much longer work. If you enjoy historical fantasy, folklore, or Tananarive Due’s thoughtful storytelling, this is well worth your time.
A beautifully told tale that reminds us that some stories are meant to be believed—not because every mystery is explained, but because they continue to live on long after they’re told.
August 1, 2026
There are some authors who don’t need 500 pages to make an impression, and Tanarive Due continues to prove she’s one of them. Battle of the Round House is a quick read inspired by her own family history, but she adds a touch of black girl magic through magical realism to make it feel uniquely hers. By the time I reached the final page, I was completely satisfied with the journey.
One thing Mrs. Due is going to do every single time is remind me why she’s been an auto read/buy author for years. Her prose is absolutely beautiful without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard. She has this effortless ability to turn words into scenes, and before I know it, I’m no longer reading, I’m directing a full blown movie in my head with surround sound and an unlimited production budget. I absolutely love authors who can create that kind of immersive experience!
As someone who’s been a longtime fan of her work, this novella felt like the perfect literary appetizer. It wasn’t meant to be a five course meal, it was that expertly crafted bite that wakes up your palate and leaves you eagerly anticipating what’s coming next. And honestly? It gave exactly what it was supposed to give.
A solid 3.75 stars from me. If you’re already a Tanarive Due fan, this is an easy recommendation. And if you’re new to her writing, this novella offers a wonderful glimpse into why so many of us keep coming back for whatever she writes next.
One thing Mrs. Due is going to do every single time is remind me why she’s been an auto read/buy author for years. Her prose is absolutely beautiful without ever feeling like it’s trying too hard. She has this effortless ability to turn words into scenes, and before I know it, I’m no longer reading, I’m directing a full blown movie in my head with surround sound and an unlimited production budget. I absolutely love authors who can create that kind of immersive experience!
As someone who’s been a longtime fan of her work, this novella felt like the perfect literary appetizer. It wasn’t meant to be a five course meal, it was that expertly crafted bite that wakes up your palate and leaves you eagerly anticipating what’s coming next. And honestly? It gave exactly what it was supposed to give.
A solid 3.75 stars from me. If you’re already a Tanarive Due fan, this is an easy recommendation. And if you’re new to her writing, this novella offers a wonderful glimpse into why so many of us keep coming back for whatever she writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Battle of the Round House tells the story of Lucy and her family travelling to the frontier in the 1870s. The initial setup is an older Lucy in the 1930s telling her story so it can be recorded. I love the idea of this and think it emphasises the importance of recording and passing down cultural knowledge. This is mirrored when we see the community that younger Lucy and her family join, where ancestral knowledge has been retained.
I did feel that the fantasy element was a bit light. I would have liked more time devoted to Lucy’s whispering ability. I felt this actually had more horror elements than fantasy, as it really drew on the real-world horrors that Black people faced during this time period. As the family passed through a town it was incredibly nerve-wracking to read and there’s a sense that people could turn on the family in an instant. There are unfortunately also depressing parallels we can draw with the modern day, specifically when Lucy’s father has to signpost to the Marshal that he’s going to slowly reach into his pocket to retrieve something.
Overall this is a gripping short read with real-world horror, a sprinkling of fantasy and is well worth a read.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I did feel that the fantasy element was a bit light. I would have liked more time devoted to Lucy’s whispering ability. I felt this actually had more horror elements than fantasy, as it really drew on the real-world horrors that Black people faced during this time period. As the family passed through a town it was incredibly nerve-wracking to read and there’s a sense that people could turn on the family in an instant. There are unfortunately also depressing parallels we can draw with the modern day, specifically when Lucy’s father has to signpost to the Marshal that he’s going to slowly reach into his pocket to retrieve something.
Overall this is a gripping short read with real-world horror, a sprinkling of fantasy and is well worth a read.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the first thing I’ve finished by Tananarive Due, but I am also reading another thing from her currently. The writing is good and it’s easy to get into the story from the beginning. This is a short story so it can be read in one sitting. I enjoyed the story and the main character was able to have depth in such a short time.
Lucy, whose father is an emancipated slave, and her family are moving across the wild west in hopes of finding better opportunities for the family. I loved how this story brought up a small section of history that I had never considered before. I don’t read much about the wild west, but also I never considered what it was like for people of color during that time. I live in the northeast and it never crossed my mind. I would like to read a bit more about this topic from this author, but that’s the nature of short stories. I love these short story collections because it’s a great way to get a sample of an author’s work. This one was not horror like much of what Due is known for, but it still had some magical realism. I recommend this short story for sure!
Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Lucy, whose father is an emancipated slave, and her family are moving across the wild west in hopes of finding better opportunities for the family. I loved how this story brought up a small section of history that I had never considered before. I don’t read much about the wild west, but also I never considered what it was like for people of color during that time. I live in the northeast and it never crossed my mind. I would like to read a bit more about this topic from this author, but that’s the nature of short stories. I love these short story collections because it’s a great way to get a sample of an author’s work. This one was not horror like much of what Due is known for, but it still had some magical realism. I recommend this short story for sure!
Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the ALC of this book. This is my honest opinion. (Dutch below)
Having read *The Reformatory* by Tananarive Due and thought it was brilliant, I was really looking forward to reading this short story of hers.
And although this is a short story – and I’ve never come across a short story or novella that has truly blown me away – I certainly enjoyed this one. Tananarive Due’s writing style draws you straight into the story, and I also thought the narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job.
Would I have liked this story to be longer? Yes. But given the number of pages it has, I’d definitely recommend it.
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Na The Reformatory door Tananarive Due te hebben gelezen en fantastisch te hebben gevonden, was ik heel benieuwd naar deze short story van haar.
En hoewel dit een short story is, en ik nog nooit een short story/novella heb gevonden die me écht omver heeft geblazen, heb ik me zeker vermaakt met dit verhaal. De schrijfstijl van Tananarive Due sleept je direct mee in het verhaal, en ook de voorleester van het audioboek vond ik fantastisch vertellen.
Had ik gewild dat dit verhaal langer was? Ja. Maar voor de hoeveelheid bladzijdes die dit verhaal had, is het zeker een aanrader.
Having read *The Reformatory* by Tananarive Due and thought it was brilliant, I was really looking forward to reading this short story of hers.
And although this is a short story – and I’ve never come across a short story or novella that has truly blown me away – I certainly enjoyed this one. Tananarive Due’s writing style draws you straight into the story, and I also thought the narrator of the audiobook did a fantastic job.
Would I have liked this story to be longer? Yes. But given the number of pages it has, I’d definitely recommend it.
---
Na The Reformatory door Tananarive Due te hebben gelezen en fantastisch te hebben gevonden, was ik heel benieuwd naar deze short story van haar.
En hoewel dit een short story is, en ik nog nooit een short story/novella heb gevonden die me écht omver heeft geblazen, heb ik me zeker vermaakt met dit verhaal. De schrijfstijl van Tananarive Due sleept je direct mee in het verhaal, en ook de voorleester van het audioboek vond ik fantastisch vertellen.
Had ik gewild dat dit verhaal langer was? Ja. Maar voor de hoeveelheid bladzijdes die dit verhaal had, is het zeker een aanrader.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Battle of the Round House
Tananarive Due
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
ARC courtesy of Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley.
Tananarive Due’s novella, Battle of the Round House is a blend of historical fiction (with some basis on oral history passed down from the author’s family) and magical realism, set in the American West. It is 1871, and ten year-old Lucy Freeman along with her family are escaping racial violence in the post- Civil War frontier. They seek the hidden refuge of Zipporah Ranch, a near-mythical community founded by Black women. Tracked by Texas highwaymen, the salvation of Zipporah Ranch’s women and children rests on Lucy and her magical gift.
Battle of the Round House is quick paced and engaging, with memorable, likeable characters. It explores themes of family and community, of identity and belonging, especially in those tumultuous days of American history. Reminiscent of The Reformatory, Tananarive Due injects history with the supernatural, to highlight post-slavery racism and violence. A short, quick read, with lasting impact. Hopefully, a full length western horror/supernatural novel will be forthcoming!
Tananarive Due
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
ARC courtesy of Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley.
Tananarive Due’s novella, Battle of the Round House is a blend of historical fiction (with some basis on oral history passed down from the author’s family) and magical realism, set in the American West. It is 1871, and ten year-old Lucy Freeman along with her family are escaping racial violence in the post- Civil War frontier. They seek the hidden refuge of Zipporah Ranch, a near-mythical community founded by Black women. Tracked by Texas highwaymen, the salvation of Zipporah Ranch’s women and children rests on Lucy and her magical gift.
Battle of the Round House is quick paced and engaging, with memorable, likeable characters. It explores themes of family and community, of identity and belonging, especially in those tumultuous days of American history. Reminiscent of The Reformatory, Tananarive Due injects history with the supernatural, to highlight post-slavery racism and violence. A short, quick read, with lasting impact. Hopefully, a full length western horror/supernatural novel will be forthcoming!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Battle of the Roundhouse* is the sixth installment in the Magic & Mystery series, and it was a wonderful addition to the collection. I really enjoyed this short story from beginning to end. Despite its shorter length, it delivers an engaging, fast-paced adventure with memorable characters and a compelling blend of history and magic.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was learning that the story was inspired by Tananarive Due's true-life family history. That personal connection adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity, making the story even more meaningful. The historical setting is vivid, and the magical elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative.
If you're looking for a quick yet impactful read that combines historical fiction, fantasy, and heartfelt storytelling, I highly recommend *Battle of the Roundhouse*. Fans of the Magic & Mystery series won't want to miss this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was learning that the story was inspired by Tananarive Due's true-life family history. That personal connection adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity, making the story even more meaningful. The historical setting is vivid, and the magical elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative.
If you're looking for a quick yet impactful read that combines historical fiction, fantasy, and heartfelt storytelling, I highly recommend *Battle of the Roundhouse*. Fans of the Magic & Mystery series won't want to miss this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was probably the most hard hitting of the stories in the Magic & Mystery collection.
The story focuses on the Freeman family on their way to a hidden settlement founded by black people, trying to escape a mob of bounty hunters on their track.
We follow this story from a perspective of Lucy, a ten year old daughter of Freeman family, who might posses a secret power.
This story certainly brings into light the real world horrors that black people had to face and parallels them with the struggles still present in our modern world. However it also doesn't miss out on the fantasy elements. I loved how Lucy's powers are presented in a way that could be real or could be just a young girl's powerful imagination. At the same time, the rules she has surrounding her powers tell us so much about her and her family.
For such a short story the tension is built amazingly. It's nerve wracking at times, and charmingly beautiful at others. And certainly worth a read.
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Tananarive Due for providing me with this ARC.
The story focuses on the Freeman family on their way to a hidden settlement founded by black people, trying to escape a mob of bounty hunters on their track.
We follow this story from a perspective of Lucy, a ten year old daughter of Freeman family, who might posses a secret power.
This story certainly brings into light the real world horrors that black people had to face and parallels them with the struggles still present in our modern world. However it also doesn't miss out on the fantasy elements. I loved how Lucy's powers are presented in a way that could be real or could be just a young girl's powerful imagination. At the same time, the rules she has surrounding her powers tell us so much about her and her family.
For such a short story the tension is built amazingly. It's nerve wracking at times, and charmingly beautiful at others. And certainly worth a read.
Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and Tananarive Due for providing me with this ARC.
July 30, 2026
Battle of the Round House by Tananarive Due is a short but absolutely gripping tale of the Wild West, told through the eyes of a young Black girl who, along with her family have risked everything in order to head west to the fabled Zipporah Ranch. According to folk tales this ranch is home to numerous Black families, and there is some magic involved in how they stay safe in the lawless west. Lucy is even more excited than the rest of her family since she hopes to find people there with similar gifts to her own, but when danger in the form of a group of bounty hunters encroaches on the ranch, Lucy's abilities will be put to the test.
This was my first experience of reading Tananarive Due and I was incredibly impressed by how quickly I was immersed in the story and how much I came to care for these characters, Though short, the story still felt whole and left me feeling satisfied as it ended. I love a blend of magic and history and this one was no exception.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
This was my first experience of reading Tananarive Due and I was incredibly impressed by how quickly I was immersed in the story and how much I came to care for these characters, Though short, the story still felt whole and left me feeling satisfied as it ended. I love a blend of magic and history and this one was no exception.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
August 1, 2026
I borrowed this short story from Kindle Unlimited, bundled together with 6 other stories. The collection was labeled as "fantasy and mystery" which was true of the other tales in the collection. Unfortunately this short story doesn't fit in the collection very neatly and it threw off my expectations. This story is neither fantasy nor mystery. It's speculative fiction in a western setting. I would not have read the story if it were not bundled in this collection because I don't like westerns.
The story is well written with vivid characters. I may have liked it despite the old West setting if it weren't being sold incorrectly and I think the author was done wrong by having this story included in the collection I borrowed. It simply isn't what I wanted or expected so I didn't really enjoy it. I was waiting for some fantasy elements and a mystery to surface but that never happened.
I wouldn't mind returning to this story at a later date with the correct expectations to see if my enjoyment improved.
The story is well written with vivid characters. I may have liked it despite the old West setting if it weren't being sold incorrectly and I think the author was done wrong by having this story included in the collection I borrowed. It simply isn't what I wanted or expected so I didn't really enjoy it. I was waiting for some fantasy elements and a mystery to surface but that never happened.
I wouldn't mind returning to this story at a later date with the correct expectations to see if my enjoyment improved.
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