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Fire Season
The propulsive story of three scheming opportunists--a banker, a conman, and a woman with an extraordinary gift--whose lives collide in the wake of a devastating fire in the American West
For the citizens of Spokane Falls, the fire of 1889 that destroyed their frontier boomtown was no disaster; it was an opportunity. Barton Heydale, manager of the only bank in Spokane Falls, is on the verge of ending his short, unpopular life. But when his city goes up in flames, he sees an ember of hope shimmering on the horizon, headed right for him. As citizens flock to the bank to cash out insurance policies and take out loans, he realizes he can command the power he craves--and it's not by following the rules. Here is his reason to live.
When Quake Auchenbaucher, a career conman hired to investigate the cause of the fire, arrives in Spokane Falls, he employs his usual shady tactics. But this time, with Washington Territory vying for statehood, the sudden attention to due process jeopardizes Quake's methods of manipulation.
And then there's Roslyn Beck, whose uncanny ability to see the future has long driven her to drink, and with whom both Barton and Quake have fallen madly and dangerously in love. She is known as a "certain kind of woman," in possession of unique talents and influence, if only she can find the right ways to wield them. As their paths collide, diverge, and collide again, Barton, Quake, and Roslyn come to terms with their own needs for power, greed, and control, leading one to total ruin, one to heartbreak, and one, ultimately, to redemption.
With masterful precision, devious originality, and dark whimsy, Fire Season freshly imagines the greed and misogyny of the American West to tell a rollicking, bewitching story about finding purpose in the face of injustice.
For the citizens of Spokane Falls, the fire of 1889 that destroyed their frontier boomtown was no disaster; it was an opportunity. Barton Heydale, manager of the only bank in Spokane Falls, is on the verge of ending his short, unpopular life. But when his city goes up in flames, he sees an ember of hope shimmering on the horizon, headed right for him. As citizens flock to the bank to cash out insurance policies and take out loans, he realizes he can command the power he craves--and it's not by following the rules. Here is his reason to live.
When Quake Auchenbaucher, a career conman hired to investigate the cause of the fire, arrives in Spokane Falls, he employs his usual shady tactics. But this time, with Washington Territory vying for statehood, the sudden attention to due process jeopardizes Quake's methods of manipulation.
And then there's Roslyn Beck, whose uncanny ability to see the future has long driven her to drink, and with whom both Barton and Quake have fallen madly and dangerously in love. She is known as a "certain kind of woman," in possession of unique talents and influence, if only she can find the right ways to wield them. As their paths collide, diverge, and collide again, Barton, Quake, and Roslyn come to terms with their own needs for power, greed, and control, leading one to total ruin, one to heartbreak, and one, ultimately, to redemption.
With masterful precision, devious originality, and dark whimsy, Fire Season freshly imagines the greed and misogyny of the American West to tell a rollicking, bewitching story about finding purpose in the face of injustice.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2022
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6076 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
July 5, 2022
Three schemers collide during a devastating fire in the American West.
May 12, 2024
2.5 stars rounded up — honestly, this was just an odd one that is clearly made to resonate with someone other than me. Set in Washington before it joined the union, "Fire Season" follows the story of three scheming individuals, doing the best to make a living for themselves in the culture of the wild west, following a major fire in Spokane Falls.
This was a difficult novel for me to get into and a difficult book to want to finish. While I'm usually a fan of magic realism, the author chose to work it in primarily at the tail end of the book, almost like it was intended as a plot twist. That made it feel less intentional and more like a 180-degree turn, and I think if it had been brought into the plot more consistently, it would have felt more natural and successful. There was an odd set of characters, ones that felt more like caricatures than real-life humans. With an exaggerated feel to their mannerisms, I felt it more difficult to relate to them, empathize with them, or feel invested in how their stories turned out. Not all characters need to be likable in order to be a compelling feature of the story, but they do need to be intriguing enough to make you want to stick with it. I found that the characters lacked the complexity or depth I needed to feel invested in how things turned out.
This was a difficult novel for me to get into and a difficult book to want to finish. While I'm usually a fan of magic realism, the author chose to work it in primarily at the tail end of the book, almost like it was intended as a plot twist. That made it feel less intentional and more like a 180-degree turn, and I think if it had been brought into the plot more consistently, it would have felt more natural and successful. There was an odd set of characters, ones that felt more like caricatures than real-life humans. With an exaggerated feel to their mannerisms, I felt it more difficult to relate to them, empathize with them, or feel invested in how their stories turned out. Not all characters need to be likable in order to be a compelling feature of the story, but they do need to be intriguing enough to make you want to stick with it. I found that the characters lacked the complexity or depth I needed to feel invested in how things turned out.
June 14, 2022
I tried…. I really tried but soooooooo boring. The writing and the plot are just no for me
February 10, 2023
This is an odd one. Definitely would not classify it as a Western. It felt like a short story that went on for way too long.
July 30, 2022
Enjoyed the overall story, my only complaint is I hated Barton and his POV went on for so long.
July 23, 2022
3.5 rounded up for a debut.
May 5, 2023
"Oh, my sweet dear, it's always fire season if you know what to look for."
Overall, this book just felt unnecessary: It was like a skeleton story with barely formed characters, a weak plot, and poorly explained reveals.
Overall, this book just felt unnecessary: It was like a skeleton story with barely formed characters, a weak plot, and poorly explained reveals.
May 12, 2023
call me a misogynist, but roslyn did NOT need the entire last third of this dedicated to her pov 🫢 we should have j kept w interjecting it into the men’s stories, that was way more fun
January 15, 2024
strong start and sooo much drag to follow. i had high hopes, was enjoying the characters and setting, and just truly white knuckled it thru for the sake of finishing the book. fun premise tho
July 15, 2022
This was a really great read, which is a relief considering the disappointment of the previous two books. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Amusing without being over the top ridiculous. Roslyn is such a great character. I'll definitely keep an eye out for more from Leyna Krow (especially if she stays in the Pacific Northwest, but that's just a personal preference)
November 10, 2022
If you wanted to love this book but didn’t, I would recommend Outlawed by Anna North.
April 18, 2022
3.5 stars. Just before Washington Territory gets statehood in 1889 a fire rips through Spokane Falls reinvigorating the lives of three misfits: Barton Heydale, a manager at the bank, who figures out a way to embezzle funds; Roslyn Beck, a prostitute who reads minds; and Quake Auchenbaucher, a con man who arrives in town posing as a federal arson inspector. The story follows the lives of these three as their paths cross in interesting ways after the devastating fire as they try to prosper & gain power, while also becoming involved. The narrative imbues a time when the wild American West was still pretty wild and filled with imposters, charlatans, drunks, and people on the take... but there are some redemptive qualities to these characters as well. It's an illuminating and well-told tale ... as these three go from Spokane to Portland, with an ending in San Fran.
September 25, 2022
4.25 stars
This book kind of snuck up on me in that it’s not something that I tend to pick up all that frequently. But the idea of grifting and con artists in the American West just before the turn of the 20th century intrigued me, and I have to say this was definitely a fascinating read.
Firstly because this spans so many genres: there’s the obvious historical setting, fantastical aspects, literary roots, western vibes and a mystery at its core. And they all seamlessly coexist because the writing just kind of sweeps you away into the story about a fire in a hotel in Spokane Falls pre-statehood. It’s a world far removed from technology and science only in that those serve as either setting pieces or a means for characters to exert their will.
The interludes and titled chapters were a treat; easily my favourite parts of the novel, they sprang up out of the plot without warning but with a focused intent. And the way the prologue and epilogue tied the three parts together was so well done. I found myself thinking about how effectively the narrative was delivered by the end of it all and I’m still really impressed with the execution.
This is a story written in the era of the snake oil salesmen. And it delivers overtly but still in a masterful manner because there’s a lovely beat of humour embedded throughout the story by way of hypocrisy.
The characters are an interesting sort, outcasts in their own way, and brought together to interact in a curious manner. I had thought there would be some sort of grift that all three take part in, but that wasn’t the case. Slow paced and character driven, this is a story divided into its parts, specifically it’s character perspectives.
We begin with Barton, who is an extremely unlikeable incel. He was a nice guy before the term nice guy was ever used in such a derogatory context. And you’re not supposed to like him. Through him, you get to see the lay of the land from the perspective of the weakest character when it comes to criminality, and I mean that literally. Barton is weak-minded despite his intelligence, a coward with a greedy heart and the kind of delusional that’s derived from too little of listening to what others are saying and too many conversations with one’s self and only one’s self. He was a man who grew up expecting the world to owe him simply for existing, and when he was not served trust and respect on a silver platter he took it as a personal affront; hence the suicidal thoughts and drastic get rich real quick scheme. He was clearly the first type of criminal mentioned in the prologue, and despite knowing how his tale was going to end based on the synopsis of the inside cover, it was incredibly offputting getting to see the criminality shine through his actions because his thoughts were truly toxic.
Quake, on the other hand, while still very much a man not of means but of opportunity was a con man with scruples, and it made him infinitely more endearing than Barton. Quake’s interactions with Barton displayed a more human side to the grifter; he had a heart in spite of his mastery of manipulation and it was often at odds with his more selfish tendencies. Quake was the second type of criminal described in the prologue, and you could see how unfulfilling his journey would end up being in spite of his ever-present charm.
The last part, Roslyn’s part, fell flat for me though. Getting her backstory and seeing her come to terms with being a certain kind of woman, and her magical abilities was definitely worthwhile, and I even enjoyed her perspective, especially the magical elements and how they pushed her to imbibe as a vice to dull the world around her. She had no purpose in spite of her talents, no drive, no idea what she wanted to do with her life initially and so merely existed. Her interactions with Barton and Quake allowed her to find purpose and redemption even as the last type of criminal referred to in the prologue, but I was left feeling like I never got the full picture with her. It’s not that I wanted some level of closure, because the epilogue definitely provided me with that. But I just didn’t understand what message her perspective was supposed to impart to me as a reader.
However, this was still a fantastic character exploration. A good author makes you feel things about their characters. A great author makes you feel for them, makes you feel things about them because they’ve managed to forge any sort of emotional attachment to you. Krow does this in a very slow methodical way that unfurls without ever becoming a rising crescendo. Even Spokane Falls becomes a character in and of itself, cloying and suffocating all three individuals until eventually they all leave its borders. And it does do in a manner worth discussing.
I think the writing was magical. And it’s defining feature is how the magical elements are developed within the story, in this sort of rolling fog that just sort of creeps up on you. It settles in slowly and you don’t even realize it until you’re hit with prostitutes levitating.
I don’t think that this was a perfect novel, but for one with such strong literary roots, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. And even though I have absolutely no idea to recommend this to, I think if you’re looking for a read that will make you ponder it’s contents well after finishing it, this one could be a solid choice.
This book kind of snuck up on me in that it’s not something that I tend to pick up all that frequently. But the idea of grifting and con artists in the American West just before the turn of the 20th century intrigued me, and I have to say this was definitely a fascinating read.
Firstly because this spans so many genres: there’s the obvious historical setting, fantastical aspects, literary roots, western vibes and a mystery at its core. And they all seamlessly coexist because the writing just kind of sweeps you away into the story about a fire in a hotel in Spokane Falls pre-statehood. It’s a world far removed from technology and science only in that those serve as either setting pieces or a means for characters to exert their will.
The interludes and titled chapters were a treat; easily my favourite parts of the novel, they sprang up out of the plot without warning but with a focused intent. And the way the prologue and epilogue tied the three parts together was so well done. I found myself thinking about how effectively the narrative was delivered by the end of it all and I’m still really impressed with the execution.
This is a story written in the era of the snake oil salesmen. And it delivers overtly but still in a masterful manner because there’s a lovely beat of humour embedded throughout the story by way of hypocrisy.
The characters are an interesting sort, outcasts in their own way, and brought together to interact in a curious manner. I had thought there would be some sort of grift that all three take part in, but that wasn’t the case. Slow paced and character driven, this is a story divided into its parts, specifically it’s character perspectives.
We begin with Barton, who is an extremely unlikeable incel. He was a nice guy before the term nice guy was ever used in such a derogatory context. And you’re not supposed to like him. Through him, you get to see the lay of the land from the perspective of the weakest character when it comes to criminality, and I mean that literally. Barton is weak-minded despite his intelligence, a coward with a greedy heart and the kind of delusional that’s derived from too little of listening to what others are saying and too many conversations with one’s self and only one’s self. He was a man who grew up expecting the world to owe him simply for existing, and when he was not served trust and respect on a silver platter he took it as a personal affront; hence the suicidal thoughts and drastic get rich real quick scheme. He was clearly the first type of criminal mentioned in the prologue, and despite knowing how his tale was going to end based on the synopsis of the inside cover, it was incredibly offputting getting to see the criminality shine through his actions because his thoughts were truly toxic.
Quake, on the other hand, while still very much a man not of means but of opportunity was a con man with scruples, and it made him infinitely more endearing than Barton. Quake’s interactions with Barton displayed a more human side to the grifter; he had a heart in spite of his mastery of manipulation and it was often at odds with his more selfish tendencies. Quake was the second type of criminal described in the prologue, and you could see how unfulfilling his journey would end up being in spite of his ever-present charm.
The last part, Roslyn’s part, fell flat for me though. Getting her backstory and seeing her come to terms with being a certain kind of woman, and her magical abilities was definitely worthwhile, and I even enjoyed her perspective, especially the magical elements and how they pushed her to imbibe as a vice to dull the world around her. She had no purpose in spite of her talents, no drive, no idea what she wanted to do with her life initially and so merely existed. Her interactions with Barton and Quake allowed her to find purpose and redemption even as the last type of criminal referred to in the prologue, but I was left feeling like I never got the full picture with her. It’s not that I wanted some level of closure, because the epilogue definitely provided me with that. But I just didn’t understand what message her perspective was supposed to impart to me as a reader.
However, this was still a fantastic character exploration. A good author makes you feel things about their characters. A great author makes you feel for them, makes you feel things about them because they’ve managed to forge any sort of emotional attachment to you. Krow does this in a very slow methodical way that unfurls without ever becoming a rising crescendo. Even Spokane Falls becomes a character in and of itself, cloying and suffocating all three individuals until eventually they all leave its borders. And it does do in a manner worth discussing.
I think the writing was magical. And it’s defining feature is how the magical elements are developed within the story, in this sort of rolling fog that just sort of creeps up on you. It settles in slowly and you don’t even realize it until you’re hit with prostitutes levitating.
I don’t think that this was a perfect novel, but for one with such strong literary roots, I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. And even though I have absolutely no idea to recommend this to, I think if you’re looking for a read that will make you ponder it’s contents well after finishing it, this one could be a solid choice.
February 28, 2023
okay, this was delightful. i couldn't give it a full 5 stars in my heart because the first character that the story follows is so loathsome and his inner dialogue drained me to the point that i almost stopped reading. i'm glad i checked other reviews on here and saw the story would follow other people -which made me stick with it- once it does switch, the book's whole mood shifts and it only gets better and better. ending was *chefs kiss*
December 27, 2022
A glorious novel filled with compassion and humor, a picaresque with a heightened sense of the world's strangeness. Infusing the Northwest with magic (and rightfully so) it shows Spokane in a time of flux, and the fires at the center of the novel become both literal and metaphoric in their resonance.
July 26, 2022
Disappointing. Not the worst book I’ve ever read, but maybe the worst book I’ve read this year. Uninteresting characters, messy plot structure, and no resolution for anyone. Some books don’t click and this is one of them.
October 3, 2022
Enjoyed every single word. Loved ending.
April 22, 2025
i thought this was just a slow burn and would pick up but turns out it was just slow af and lowkey boring despite the fun premise. sigh.
September 21, 2025
What’s with all the bad reviews??
Revisiting this review two days later— none of the main characters in this weird little book are conventional, or necessarily attractive, or heroic, or good at making decisions, or even trustworthy. And I really liked that. Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No, but it weaves the fantastical elements through the historical narrative consistently, and it kept my attention. It’s precisely what I’m looking for in a short, with characters, a setting, and a concept that makes it stick out as memorable.
Revisiting this review two days later— none of the main characters in this weird little book are conventional, or necessarily attractive, or heroic, or good at making decisions, or even trustworthy. And I really liked that. Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No, but it weaves the fantastical elements through the historical narrative consistently, and it kept my attention. It’s precisely what I’m looking for in a short, with characters, a setting, and a concept that makes it stick out as memorable.
September 7, 2022
i enjoyed it i haven’t read something like this in a while ++ the location was a first kinda why i read it plus emi u know the cover is 5/5 ! i don’t have much to say this time it was interesting a certain braincell needed to be on at all times 🫗
August 20, 2024
this was a book that sounded sooooo cool and i was hooked by the promises of the wild west, freaky women, and schemes but oh my god it was so boring. a little to heavy on the *themes* and not enough … storytelling to make it work
October 13, 2022
Odd story centering around 3 main characters and the great fire of Spokane Falls, WA. Seemed a very dry story at first, but as it's for a book discussion later this month, I pushed through and it got better the last 3rd of the book for me.
December 22, 2024
A great historic fiction on Spokane and the northwest USA. Some great characters and fun plots!
February 24, 2025
Plot was strange, weird dialogue, cool cover.
February 26, 2025
The reviews on this book are generally kinda bad but honestly I enjoyed it! Wouldn’t say it was life changing but it was just weird and funny enough to be enjoyable.
August 24, 2022
I liked the dry and kinda dark humor. Had a bit of a Kurt Vonnegut humor to the characters. I enjoyed it.
August 26, 2022
Fast moving story with schemers, crooks, impersonators, drunks and several psychics run amok in pre-statehood Washington in the 1880s. Recommended.
October 1, 2022
I think you know about a good book like you know about a good melon.
From the start, I just couldn't stay focused with this story. At first I didn't know why, but I realized as I read that the characters just aren't ever made real. The narrative voice is distant, and at no point was I getting to know the characters as real individuals with personality -- it was just a simple series of actions and events that meandered the plot along.
I'm not generally a western or mystery fan in the first place, so I may have found this more boring than a fan of those genres would have. But all in all, objectively, I would call it a sleepy story.
From the start, I just couldn't stay focused with this story. At first I didn't know why, but I realized as I read that the characters just aren't ever made real. The narrative voice is distant, and at no point was I getting to know the characters as real individuals with personality -- it was just a simple series of actions and events that meandered the plot along.
I'm not generally a western or mystery fan in the first place, so I may have found this more boring than a fan of those genres would have. But all in all, objectively, I would call it a sleepy story.
December 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this and I'm surprised the overall rating for this work isn't higher. I was intrigued by the setting - 1880s Spokane in Washington Territory. Being from Washington, I was excited to read it as there aren't that many historical fiction books that take place here that I've come across and I don't think I've seen any that take place in Eastern Washington. I knew about the great fire that took place in Seattle, but didn't know at all about the one in Spokane, Ellensburg, or Vancouver, so it was interesting to get that historical insight into the wider PNW region.
More than that though, this was a really engaging read for me. I picked up a couple of other books before I started this one and I just couldn't get more than a couple of chapters in before putting them aside, so I was hoping that this one would be more interesting. I was immediately drawn into the writing and I enjoyed the perspectives of all three characters and found them relatable, even if I didn't quite like them all. There have been a number of other reviewers commenting that they couldn't stand Barton. I agree he is annoying. He reminds me of when you meet an unlikable person and can't immediately put your finger on why you don't like them, so you're nice to them out of pity, and then regret it because they instantly glom on to you. You end up feeling bad for disliking them, but also they are so annoying that you can't help it. That is Barton for me through most of it, although he's also clearly a controlling weirdo as well. Having said that - he is not wholly unsympathetic and his section of the book provided a lot of interest and laughs. (The book has an odd dry comedy to it that appeals to my sense of humor.) I enjoyed Quake throughout and wanted more for him than life provides to him. Roslyn, the star, is also interesting if a bit remote. I think that's part of her story though, as both characters who love her don't really know her either (and she doesn't seem to totally know herself until we get toward the end of the book).
The prologue, interlude, and epilogue were also fun and I was hoping that there was some historical basis for them. Maybe there was? My copy didn't have the authors note as some have mentioned, so I guess it will remain a mystery to me.
The only thing I found a bit weird about the book was some of the language seemed a bit too modern. I'm wondering if people in the 1880s would really say, "I'm fucking with you" when they are joking with friends. Maybe they did? It was odd enough for me that it did take me out a bit and make me wonder about it.
Overall though, this was a really good read for me. The writing was great, characters were interesting, humor was my style, and the descriptions were almost cinematic in such a way that I could see the story playing out like a movie in my head. I'm sure my familiarity with Spokane, Seattle, Ellensburg, Portland, Steilacoom, and other Washington/Oregon locales assists with that, but it was still good.
If the description, period, and place interest you, I highly recommend. The author apparently has a short story collection coming out in 2024. Short stories aren't really my bag, but I'll definitely read any future novels by this author.
More than that though, this was a really engaging read for me. I picked up a couple of other books before I started this one and I just couldn't get more than a couple of chapters in before putting them aside, so I was hoping that this one would be more interesting. I was immediately drawn into the writing and I enjoyed the perspectives of all three characters and found them relatable, even if I didn't quite like them all. There have been a number of other reviewers commenting that they couldn't stand Barton. I agree he is annoying. He reminds me of when you meet an unlikable person and can't immediately put your finger on why you don't like them, so you're nice to them out of pity, and then regret it because they instantly glom on to you. You end up feeling bad for disliking them, but also they are so annoying that you can't help it. That is Barton for me through most of it, although he's also clearly a controlling weirdo as well. Having said that - he is not wholly unsympathetic and his section of the book provided a lot of interest and laughs. (The book has an odd dry comedy to it that appeals to my sense of humor.) I enjoyed Quake throughout and wanted more for him than life provides to him. Roslyn, the star, is also interesting if a bit remote. I think that's part of her story though, as both characters who love her don't really know her either (and she doesn't seem to totally know herself until we get toward the end of the book).
The prologue, interlude, and epilogue were also fun and I was hoping that there was some historical basis for them. Maybe there was? My copy didn't have the authors note as some have mentioned, so I guess it will remain a mystery to me.
The only thing I found a bit weird about the book was some of the language seemed a bit too modern. I'm wondering if people in the 1880s would really say, "I'm fucking with you" when they are joking with friends. Maybe they did? It was odd enough for me that it did take me out a bit and make me wonder about it.
Overall though, this was a really good read for me. The writing was great, characters were interesting, humor was my style, and the descriptions were almost cinematic in such a way that I could see the story playing out like a movie in my head. I'm sure my familiarity with Spokane, Seattle, Ellensburg, Portland, Steilacoom, and other Washington/Oregon locales assists with that, but it was still good.
If the description, period, and place interest you, I highly recommend. The author apparently has a short story collection coming out in 2024. Short stories aren't really my bag, but I'll definitely read any future novels by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews