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The Devil's Revolver #3
The Devil's Pact
Hold on to your hats — the Devil’s Revolver series is back with an evil twin, deep magic, zombies, menacing grand balls, a train heist, hand-to-hand high-stakes battles, and two sisters who have grown in their power to face and fight the end of the Weird West.
If Hettie Alabama could do what she was told and stand down . . . she might not anyway. Especially when the letters her sister sends from her place of hiding don’t seem quite right, and Hettie’s posse is tying her hands tighter by the day. She’s itching to take the safety off her cursed mage gun, the Devil’s Revolver, and walk through the fire to end the reign of evil that’s choking the magic out of the West—not to mention save her sister once and for all.
The only problem? Hettie’s name is in the headlines and on every wanted poster in the nation—but she’s not the one robbing banks and killing innocents, even if the pictures look just like her. She’s up to her chin in high-necked gowns and beauty glamors, charged with fulfilling her word to the influential Favreau family of New Orleans, even as it becomes increasingly clear that they want only to consolidate the world’s waning magic in the hands of the rich and powerful. The politics get more personal as the most loyal of Hettie’s gang uncover the threat of an immoderate technology that steals magic from the unwitting innocent and transfers it to the nefarious elite.
Hettie has no choice but to go rogue, and when she drops a black hat over her brow, the Devil’s Revolver’s trigger glows hot. The Devil’s Pact stampedes from San Francisco’s Chinatown tongs through the glittering high society of Chicago to the hidden swamps of the Deep South in its search for truth, genuine justice, and an end to a world that refuses to recognize the power and change wrought by girls.
If Hettie Alabama could do what she was told and stand down . . . she might not anyway. Especially when the letters her sister sends from her place of hiding don’t seem quite right, and Hettie’s posse is tying her hands tighter by the day. She’s itching to take the safety off her cursed mage gun, the Devil’s Revolver, and walk through the fire to end the reign of evil that’s choking the magic out of the West—not to mention save her sister once and for all.
The only problem? Hettie’s name is in the headlines and on every wanted poster in the nation—but she’s not the one robbing banks and killing innocents, even if the pictures look just like her. She’s up to her chin in high-necked gowns and beauty glamors, charged with fulfilling her word to the influential Favreau family of New Orleans, even as it becomes increasingly clear that they want only to consolidate the world’s waning magic in the hands of the rich and powerful. The politics get more personal as the most loyal of Hettie’s gang uncover the threat of an immoderate technology that steals magic from the unwitting innocent and transfers it to the nefarious elite.
Hettie has no choice but to go rogue, and when she drops a black hat over her brow, the Devil’s Revolver’s trigger glows hot. The Devil’s Pact stampedes from San Francisco’s Chinatown tongs through the glittering high society of Chicago to the hidden swamps of the Deep South in its search for truth, genuine justice, and an end to a world that refuses to recognize the power and change wrought by girls.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2018
4 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
V.S. McGrath
5 books35 followersV. S. McGrath, is a published romance author (as Vicki Essex), and has six books with Harlequin Superromance: Her Son’s Hero (July 2011), Back to the Good Fortune Diner (January 2013), which was picked for the Smart Bitches Trashy Books Sizzling Book Club, In Her Corner (March 2014), A Recipe for Reunion (March 2015), Red Carpet Arrangement (January 2016) and Matinees with Miriam (November 2016). She lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 31, 2019
A supernatural Western. Hettie is bonded to the mage gun, Diablo, that takes a year of her life every time she kills someone with it. Currently, she along with her cohorts are trying to determine why soothsayers are falling into comas. Along the way she uncovers something much larger going on. I like the multiple ongoing plots and how they weave in and out. McGrath has a knock for writing complicated characters. Everyone is shades of gray as opposed to black and white. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all ends in the fourth book.
January 9, 2019
Western meets magic.
Hettie is our leading lady. She is more cowboy than a lady, but in this book, she has a more feminine roll in places. Hettie has a magical weapon linked to the devil, but her mundane fighting skills are lacking. She needs to learn to look out for herself and not rely on magic. Her magic comes with a price and isn’t always available to her which leaves her weak. She is slowly building up her skills. In this book, she is going to need them.
Her sister is in hiding. Unfortunately, everything isn’t easy when you're living under the radar. Money is hard to come by and her companion is struggling to fit in. Hettie’s sister, Abby is special in her own right and is also gifted with magic. In the Devils Pact, we get two stories as Hettie and Abby are in different places.
Hettie feels there is something off when her sister writes to her. She just can’t put her finger on the problem. When things start to get weird Hettie has to step up her game.
Hettie’s new fighting skills will be put to the test when we join some new and old friends. The magical fantasy world crashes into the wild western world. Hettie has a lot to learn and a good teacher. The story is set across country and Hettie has trouble at every corner. There are bad guys to fight and magic to enhance the American world.
The Devils Pact is book 3 in the Devil Revolver series. The story is continuous and must be read in order. The series is slow paced and unique. It has lots of action and this one ends with a bang. Hettie is a lady cowboy. She is a strong, independent woman who struggles with her feminine side. She wants to be kick ass and she wants to master her fighting skills. The ending of this book will leave you wanting more and book 4 (The legend of Diablo) will be the final to the series.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars out of 5.
Hettie is our leading lady. She is more cowboy than a lady, but in this book, she has a more feminine roll in places. Hettie has a magical weapon linked to the devil, but her mundane fighting skills are lacking. She needs to learn to look out for herself and not rely on magic. Her magic comes with a price and isn’t always available to her which leaves her weak. She is slowly building up her skills. In this book, she is going to need them.
Her sister is in hiding. Unfortunately, everything isn’t easy when you're living under the radar. Money is hard to come by and her companion is struggling to fit in. Hettie’s sister, Abby is special in her own right and is also gifted with magic. In the Devils Pact, we get two stories as Hettie and Abby are in different places.
Hettie feels there is something off when her sister writes to her. She just can’t put her finger on the problem. When things start to get weird Hettie has to step up her game.
Hettie’s new fighting skills will be put to the test when we join some new and old friends. The magical fantasy world crashes into the wild western world. Hettie has a lot to learn and a good teacher. The story is set across country and Hettie has trouble at every corner. There are bad guys to fight and magic to enhance the American world.
The Devils Pact is book 3 in the Devil Revolver series. The story is continuous and must be read in order. The series is slow paced and unique. It has lots of action and this one ends with a bang. Hettie is a lady cowboy. She is a strong, independent woman who struggles with her feminine side. She wants to be kick ass and she wants to master her fighting skills. The ending of this book will leave you wanting more and book 4 (The legend of Diablo) will be the final to the series.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars out of 5.
January 7, 2019
4 Stars
Review:
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was the most gripping book so far in this feminist Weird West series!
The whole series has had a lot of inclusivity/diversity, but this book especially so. Almost every character was female, POC, and/or LGBT+, and that's something you don't find often, especially not in westerns.
I already liked all the characters, but they seemed to have even more nuance and personality this time, and I think I connected to them more. They're quite the motley crew, and I care about what happens to them.
We got multiple POVs in the last book, and I didn't really care for that, but this time it was just Hettie's and Ling's, and I enjoyed Ling's a lot more. I think it felt more necessary this time, and it was more interesting.
Hettie's relationship with the titular devil's revolver was stronger and even more interesting this time. I think it was Uncle who said she treated it kind of like a pet, and he was right. It's this deadly, sentient mage gun that never misses and takes a year off Hettie's life every time she kills someone with it, and yet, she sought comfort from it at times, and she's come to rely on it.
As usual, the world was interesting as well with it's combination of Old West and magic. I love seeing how both affect the story and how magic has affected the world the characters live in.
Last but not least, as I said, I found this book to be the most gripping one yet. I think it might've been a little faster-paced, or maybe it had higher stakes and more intensity.
Overall, this was another great book in a series that I'm really enjoying with lots of diversity, a motley crew of characters, and a magic-filled Old West setting!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in V.S. McGrath's The Devil's Revolver series. Anyone who likes the Old West, magic, headstrong heroines, and motley crews.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Another great book in this diversity-filled fantasy western series! The most gripping one so far. Full review soon. 4 stars.
Review:
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This has not influenced my review.*
This was the most gripping book so far in this feminist Weird West series!
The whole series has had a lot of inclusivity/diversity, but this book especially so. Almost every character was female, POC, and/or LGBT+, and that's something you don't find often, especially not in westerns.
I already liked all the characters, but they seemed to have even more nuance and personality this time, and I think I connected to them more. They're quite the motley crew, and I care about what happens to them.
We got multiple POVs in the last book, and I didn't really care for that, but this time it was just Hettie's and Ling's, and I enjoyed Ling's a lot more. I think it felt more necessary this time, and it was more interesting.
Hettie's relationship with the titular devil's revolver was stronger and even more interesting this time. I think it was Uncle who said she treated it kind of like a pet, and he was right. It's this deadly, sentient mage gun that never misses and takes a year off Hettie's life every time she kills someone with it, and yet, she sought comfort from it at times, and she's come to rely on it.
As usual, the world was interesting as well with it's combination of Old West and magic. I love seeing how both affect the story and how magic has affected the world the characters live in.
Last but not least, as I said, I found this book to be the most gripping one yet. I think it might've been a little faster-paced, or maybe it had higher stakes and more intensity.
Overall, this was another great book in a series that I'm really enjoying with lots of diversity, a motley crew of characters, and a magic-filled Old West setting!
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in V.S. McGrath's The Devil's Revolver series. Anyone who likes the Old West, magic, headstrong heroines, and motley crews.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Another great book in this diversity-filled fantasy western series! The most gripping one so far. Full review soon. 4 stars.
Read
December 26, 2018Another fantastic instalment in this dark and twisty fantasy Western series, and things are getting even worse for Hettie, if such is possible. Her growing bond with Diablo the demon gun is decidedly creepy, she's lost her allies, and they've stumbled on a seriously sinister plot.
I love this series, Hettie's dedication and defiance paired with her moral flaws, the general catastrophic atmosphere, the desperate attempts of people to hold onto what they have as the world is falling apart. I saw a quote recently that all current SFF is actually about climate change whether the author knows it or not, and that certainly holds true here. Plus, a rip roaring adventure with some wonderfully vivid writing. Terrific series, I can't wait for the final book. And the covers!
I love this series, Hettie's dedication and defiance paired with her moral flaws, the general catastrophic atmosphere, the desperate attempts of people to hold onto what they have as the world is falling apart. I saw a quote recently that all current SFF is actually about climate change whether the author knows it or not, and that certainly holds true here. Plus, a rip roaring adventure with some wonderfully vivid writing. Terrific series, I can't wait for the final book. And the covers!
January 10, 2019
I didn't realize this was the third book in a series. Reading the others first would have been better. I found the story confusing at times and lacking substance. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with this one.
March 28, 2021
3.5 stars, but the last showdown was heckin suspenseful enough to warrant rounding up.
I friggin love weird westerns. This has EASILY become a favorite series, and while I wasn't quite as enamored with this installment, I still enjoyed every moment of reading it. Whereas the first two have been heavily grounded in weird west/magical realism, this one was much more steampunk grounded with Fielding's engine as the main catalyst. It was still a unique addition to the magicked world and I loved how it helped tie things together in the end. The bits with Ling and Abby were a bit slow, although they're definitely important bits!
I friggin love weird westerns. This has EASILY become a favorite series, and while I wasn't quite as enamored with this installment, I still enjoyed every moment of reading it. Whereas the first two have been heavily grounded in weird west/magical realism, this one was much more steampunk grounded with Fielding's engine as the main catalyst. It was still a unique addition to the magicked world and I loved how it helped tie things together in the end. The bits with Ling and Abby were a bit slow, although they're definitely important bits!
January 21, 2020
This series is perfect for fans of Wynonna Earp. It will keep you busy until the next season premieres.
December 20, 2020
These Books are different, and I am enjoying them because of that.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews