Six-Gun Sorcery

by Andrew Slinde

When newly minted Peacekeeper Esther Triad is given her first mission, it seems straightforward apprehend a rogue spellcrafter causing chaos in the Colonies. But when her airship crashes in the dreaded Gray Marsh, Esther finds herself in the crosshairs of a shadowy cabal bent on her destruction. Assisted by a disgraced soldier, a mysterious swordsman, and a girl with hidden talents, Esther pits herself against wild magicks, monsters out of myth, and the apocryphal Dark Magi in an effort to prevent them from saving the world. In this special edition release of the genre-bending Six-Gun Sorcery you’ll

Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2021

Reviews

[Sara Cleveland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise on this is so cool. It’s sort of like an old-fashioned western: you have a new law person going out to deal with their first big assignment out in the boonies. Yet, it’s also kind of steampunk with airships and mechanical horses. But it’s also fantasy with magic and monsters. It is by far the strangest genre mash-up I’ve ever read, and I love it.

I also enjoyed the way the author wrote his female characters. It would have been easy, I think, to fall into some nasty tropes. Leiyara easily could have just been a damsel in distress the whole book, yet she continually managed to surprise herself and her companions (even if she did need the occasional rescuing). Esther, on the other hand, is a beautiful blend of strength and self-reliance paired with an aching vulnerability as events wear on her.

In my opinion, the worldbuilding in this book is mind-blowing. It's hard to call out just a few things. Each aspect of the world seems well thought out. I enjoyed how the author included transitionary details that show a world that is changing and growing. The monetary system, for example, is in a state of change-over from hard currency to paper. There's a feeling of depth and history that is revealed through the way the characters react to the changing world around them.

The only thing that keeps this from being a perfect five stars for me is a few minor goofs in the editing and formatting, plus the low resolution on the paperback cover. Otherwise, this is near perfection. I'm really looking forward to the next installment.

[McKenzie Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six-Gun Sorcery. Holy ****. Where do I even begin?

I love the differences between Leiyara and Esther as far as how they handle their emotions and situations. Each woman showcases strengths and vulnerability in a beautiful way, and while they're both strong in their own rights, neither falls into the "sTrOnG fEmAlE rOlEmOdEl" algorithm I see a lot of female characters in fantasy stories falling into.

While I appreciate and admire the intense world building that went into the craftsmanship of Morgarai, it's the characters that really shine the most. Slinde gives each one (villains included) a wonderfully unique voice, and the cast, while large, stands out individually.

The humor is well-balanced with some really touching moments as well. A wonderful debut, for sure.

Can I go grab a drink with the Valet now?

[Benjamin Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of other world fantasy, but Slinde quickly made me feel comfortable in his world with his great mix of characters and engaging plot. It’s fantasy with a liberal splash of western and steampunk, and it works. Were quickly introduced to Esther, a Peacekeeper assigned her first mission, to take down a weather wizard who’s causing chaos in a distant colony. But the mission is never simple, getting off to the worst possible start when their airship comes crashing down – courtesy of that troublesome weather wizard. Slinde creates a world full of fascinating creatures (including some absolute horrors) and his actions scenes are incredibly engaging, with some brutal battles in there too. The plot kept me surprised as it build towards the larger story in the ‘Sins of the Elders’ series, and it’s certainly got me intrigued.  

[Charity Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing debut with everything you could ask. Magic and gunslinging priests, a mysterious ninja, a naive young secretary, a flamboyant swordsman, demon fungi, and dark gods.