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Wyrd West Chronicles #1-6
Once Upon a Time in the Wyrd West
In a post-apocalyptic Saskatchewan, the Gunslingers are a holy order of Law, empowered to keep the peace and protect the common people. They have supernatural powers to back it up.
The Walsh siblings are about to find themselves entangled in the nefarious schemes of a necromancer. But they're not Gunslingers -- not yet. Graeme and Piper will need all their training and courage, and all the support of their newfound companions, to put a stop to the villain's plans. But Graeme has an ace up his sleeve. Nobody but his family, and the shaman who trained him, know that he's a sorcerer.
What People Are Saying:
"I loved this book. It was like Fallout meets Firefly meets Supernatural meets Shannara. . . I found myself wanting to know much more about the world the author has created. Though this is a quick read (being a novella), it is packed full of good characterization, a steady plot, and worldbuilding you can really sink your teeth into."
-- Katje van Loon, author of Bellica and Stranger Skies.
"A book friend told me about this world of gunfighting elves and I knew I was hooked! Then the writing was great, and that was a bonus!"
-- Shane's Book Club
"I had no idea what to expect when I started 'Showdown'. I was initially put off by the capitalizations of what I took for time worn stereotypes: the Desperado, the Gunslinger, etc. Then Graeme let us see his elven ears and I was THERE. From that point on a black hole couldn't have sucked me out of the story. Horses with opinions? A Gnome pitching a line to a Gunslinger's sister? A ghost offering advice to that same Gunslinger? Oh, yeah, I'm definitely into this world."
-- Bonnie Milani, author of "Home World" and "Liquid Gambit"
The Walsh siblings are about to find themselves entangled in the nefarious schemes of a necromancer. But they're not Gunslingers -- not yet. Graeme and Piper will need all their training and courage, and all the support of their newfound companions, to put a stop to the villain's plans. But Graeme has an ace up his sleeve. Nobody but his family, and the shaman who trained him, know that he's a sorcerer.
What People Are Saying:
"I loved this book. It was like Fallout meets Firefly meets Supernatural meets Shannara. . . I found myself wanting to know much more about the world the author has created. Though this is a quick read (being a novella), it is packed full of good characterization, a steady plot, and worldbuilding you can really sink your teeth into."
-- Katje van Loon, author of Bellica and Stranger Skies.
"A book friend told me about this world of gunfighting elves and I knew I was hooked! Then the writing was great, and that was a bonus!"
-- Shane's Book Club
"I had no idea what to expect when I started 'Showdown'. I was initially put off by the capitalizations of what I took for time worn stereotypes: the Desperado, the Gunslinger, etc. Then Graeme let us see his elven ears and I was THERE. From that point on a black hole couldn't have sucked me out of the story. Horses with opinions? A Gnome pitching a line to a Gunslinger's sister? A ghost offering advice to that same Gunslinger? Oh, yeah, I'm definitely into this world."
-- Bonnie Milani, author of "Home World" and "Liquid Gambit"
- GenresFantasy
432 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 1, 2018
This is the long-promised print collection of the first six of the Wyrd West Chronicles, originally written as an ebook serial. Some minor changes to the text have been made in order to facilitate the flow of a single volume, mostly in that I don't recap things that you might have read in the last episode because I assume that, unlike with the originals, you're going to sit down and read this from beginning to end. Each story stands on its own, but together they form a consistent story arc as well.
I've had a good reception from people for these stories, and I sure love writing them! I think you'll enjoy the print copy if you (like me) prefer print books. The formatting is beautiful and I couldn't be happier with the presentation. Thanks so much to Katje Van Loon for zir excellent work, and to C.L. Cannon of Fiction-Atlas Press for helping me make Katje's cover design, and my tweaks, work. I'd also like to thank my Patrons and my Kickstarter Backers, without whom this book wouldn't have happened.
The Wyrd West Chronicles are a genre-bender and a mixture of a lot of things. In essence, it's what happens when a high fantasy meets a Western, set in a post-apocalyptic magical world that's a little bit steampunk (or cattlepunk, if you're familiar with that term). I guess the closest description of its genre is Weird West, where Western meets the supernatural. However, the supernatural element in Weird Westerns tends to be geared towards horror; vampires and zombies and the like. Mine is more like Tolkien meets Tombstone.
I think, however, that you could still legitimately call it a Western. The themes are based in Western themes; standing up for what you believe is right, rugged individualism, determined survivalists; that kind of thing. A dedicated Western fan will recognize a lot of tropes that they know and love (without the stereotypes, I hope; though that may not be evident right away.) This is a mythic West. Yet, all the tropes that remain exist for a reason that I think is consistent within the world I've constructed. I like to take tropes and not exactly subvert them, but twist them. Firefly fans might appreciate what I'm trying to do.
I find that fantasy, sci-fi and western fans have all found things to enjoy in these stories. I hope you will too.
I've had a good reception from people for these stories, and I sure love writing them! I think you'll enjoy the print copy if you (like me) prefer print books. The formatting is beautiful and I couldn't be happier with the presentation. Thanks so much to Katje Van Loon for zir excellent work, and to C.L. Cannon of Fiction-Atlas Press for helping me make Katje's cover design, and my tweaks, work. I'd also like to thank my Patrons and my Kickstarter Backers, without whom this book wouldn't have happened.
The Wyrd West Chronicles are a genre-bender and a mixture of a lot of things. In essence, it's what happens when a high fantasy meets a Western, set in a post-apocalyptic magical world that's a little bit steampunk (or cattlepunk, if you're familiar with that term). I guess the closest description of its genre is Weird West, where Western meets the supernatural. However, the supernatural element in Weird Westerns tends to be geared towards horror; vampires and zombies and the like. Mine is more like Tolkien meets Tombstone.
I think, however, that you could still legitimately call it a Western. The themes are based in Western themes; standing up for what you believe is right, rugged individualism, determined survivalists; that kind of thing. A dedicated Western fan will recognize a lot of tropes that they know and love (without the stereotypes, I hope; though that may not be evident right away.) This is a mythic West. Yet, all the tropes that remain exist for a reason that I think is consistent within the world I've constructed. I like to take tropes and not exactly subvert them, but twist them. Firefly fans might appreciate what I'm trying to do.
I find that fantasy, sci-fi and western fans have all found things to enjoy in these stories. I hope you will too.
December 26, 2018
Cattlepunk! Magic! Elves and so much more! A western fantasy post-apocalyptic adventure. Mythology, family, a bit of romance, and freeing folx. I want more. I love this world. Graeme is my fav now. To escape to this world with ranches and cities and trains and talking horses and more was both a delight and relief. That there can be a functioning world out there after our own ends, at least in Saskatchewan.
I have this book because of Kickstarter. I loved the writer's twitters so much, I helped get the book published. I read one section of this book after reading six other books on my reading plan, and it was a nice treat to spread it out. But next time I read this book (and there will be a next time) I will read it through from start to finish. I hope there are 10 more books in this series. Ok at least a total of 3, but more please?
I have this actual book if anyone wants to borrow it. I need it back though. <3 I'm kind of happy I don't have it on my Kindle, I don't know how to share those books.
I have this book because of Kickstarter. I loved the writer's twitters so much, I helped get the book published. I read one section of this book after reading six other books on my reading plan, and it was a nice treat to spread it out. But next time I read this book (and there will be a next time) I will read it through from start to finish. I hope there are 10 more books in this series. Ok at least a total of 3, but more please?
I have this actual book if anyone wants to borrow it. I need it back though. <3 I'm kind of happy I don't have it on my Kindle, I don't know how to share those books.
May 15, 2019
Disclaimer - I supported this Kickstarter and "ponied" up some money so I could own the hardback edition to this book. (I'm allowed one pun)
With that said, if this book didn't live up to the standard that I judge books by, I would have either left an one, two or three star review and said nothing or not even rated the book. While I have certainly penned my share of scathing book reviews, I have a kinder heart when it comes to indie authors, especially those who do crowd sourcing efforts and essentially publish their own books.
Once Upon a Time in the Wyrd West is a collection of six stories about a family of Gunslingers with the two main characters named Graeme and Piper. Gunslingers are capitalized because they are a special group of beings who have the power to kill Desperadoes and other magical beings with blessed bullets. But that only scrapes the surface of what they can do. The stories could be classified as cattlepunk which is western mixed with steampunk and fantasy thrown in for good measure. Though I will say these stories slide much more towards western than any sort of steampunkery.
The collection is incredibly well written and does an excellent job of bringing together the stories in a cohesive fashion. But they also exist within their own element and come close to standing on their own. The other thing I liked is that they grew stronger with almost every story. The first story, Showdown is great, but Vice & Virtue is a little better and it continues until we get to the climax in the Widow's Gambit which brings the first six stories to an amazing finish. I said almost though as I did feel Way of the Gun (while still a good story) did dive too much into the "Little House on the Prairie" vibe. The Gunslingers, even the women of the Gunslingers do much better when they are on the "run" so to speak and not sticking to one place.
But the rising tension, the world building, the characters are all so rich and faceted that any negatives are quickly done away with. Ms. Morrison has a truly wonderful job coming up with a host of stories that make you want to turn the page faster and faster with every chapter gone by. I look forward to future stories where we get to see the continued evolution of Graeme and especially Piper's character as they enter fresh and exciting new possibilities.
One last piece of constructive criticism I did want to offer to the author and that was even though your book is plenty "Wyrd", I would like to see future stories get that factor up that much more. Elves, Gnomes, Dwarves and even Mantis creatures are plenty out there, but with your talent you can go many steps further. I give this set of stories a huge recommendation and I look forward to the next Gunslinger story arc. Enjoy.
With that said, if this book didn't live up to the standard that I judge books by, I would have either left an one, two or three star review and said nothing or not even rated the book. While I have certainly penned my share of scathing book reviews, I have a kinder heart when it comes to indie authors, especially those who do crowd sourcing efforts and essentially publish their own books.
Once Upon a Time in the Wyrd West is a collection of six stories about a family of Gunslingers with the two main characters named Graeme and Piper. Gunslingers are capitalized because they are a special group of beings who have the power to kill Desperadoes and other magical beings with blessed bullets. But that only scrapes the surface of what they can do. The stories could be classified as cattlepunk which is western mixed with steampunk and fantasy thrown in for good measure. Though I will say these stories slide much more towards western than any sort of steampunkery.
The collection is incredibly well written and does an excellent job of bringing together the stories in a cohesive fashion. But they also exist within their own element and come close to standing on their own. The other thing I liked is that they grew stronger with almost every story. The first story, Showdown is great, but Vice & Virtue is a little better and it continues until we get to the climax in the Widow's Gambit which brings the first six stories to an amazing finish. I said almost though as I did feel Way of the Gun (while still a good story) did dive too much into the "Little House on the Prairie" vibe. The Gunslingers, even the women of the Gunslingers do much better when they are on the "run" so to speak and not sticking to one place.
But the rising tension, the world building, the characters are all so rich and faceted that any negatives are quickly done away with. Ms. Morrison has a truly wonderful job coming up with a host of stories that make you want to turn the page faster and faster with every chapter gone by. I look forward to future stories where we get to see the continued evolution of Graeme and especially Piper's character as they enter fresh and exciting new possibilities.
One last piece of constructive criticism I did want to offer to the author and that was even though your book is plenty "Wyrd", I would like to see future stories get that factor up that much more. Elves, Gnomes, Dwarves and even Mantis creatures are plenty out there, but with your talent you can go many steps further. I give this set of stories a huge recommendation and I look forward to the next Gunslinger story arc. Enjoy.
August 13, 2019
Note: I received a free pdf of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
A+ world-building in this one. The Wyrd West is set in the post-apocalyptic Canadian prairies--a new wild west only with magic. Alongside the traditional gunslingers, desperados, First Nations people, saloon owners and courtesans, there are also necromancers, elves, gnomes, Mantis-folk, and some steampunk technology. Even the common elements have been tweaked to be just a little different--the courtesan’s guild runs a spy network and the saloon owner has a prosthetic hand. I especially enjoyed the gunslingers magic and code of honour: the Mark of Cain they wear after killing a bandit, the vigil to the Lord and Lady, the blessed ammunition.
When I saw that this was originally serialized in six installments, I was a little afraid that it would be linked short stories, but it reads like a novel, building from start to finish to a high-stakes conclusion. The story follows half-elf Graham and his journey as he goes from apprentice to full-fledged gunslinger.
Quibble: Chapter one starts with an action scene, then flashes back in chapter two to just before chapter one and picks up again after the events of chapter one in the third chapter... and I just didn't really see the point.
A+ world-building in this one. The Wyrd West is set in the post-apocalyptic Canadian prairies--a new wild west only with magic. Alongside the traditional gunslingers, desperados, First Nations people, saloon owners and courtesans, there are also necromancers, elves, gnomes, Mantis-folk, and some steampunk technology. Even the common elements have been tweaked to be just a little different--the courtesan’s guild runs a spy network and the saloon owner has a prosthetic hand. I especially enjoyed the gunslingers magic and code of honour: the Mark of Cain they wear after killing a bandit, the vigil to the Lord and Lady, the blessed ammunition.
When I saw that this was originally serialized in six installments, I was a little afraid that it would be linked short stories, but it reads like a novel, building from start to finish to a high-stakes conclusion. The story follows half-elf Graham and his journey as he goes from apprentice to full-fledged gunslinger.
Quibble: Chapter one starts with an action scene, then flashes back in chapter two to just before chapter one and picks up again after the events of chapter one in the third chapter... and I just didn't really see the point.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews