The Ashes of the Brothel

by Katryna Lalock

Jolted by her mother's horrific death during a California-bound train ride, Louisa never had much choice but to accept that life can be as brutal as it is beautiful. After arriving in Jerome, Arizona, with her father, Pa, and younger sister, Heather, Louisa can only hope for an uneventful reset. But their new home, dubbed the Wickedest Little Town in the West, might have a slew of even harsher lessons in store.
 
Tragedy strikes again, and Louisa must pave the way for her sister's survival, even if it means doing something that makes Heather resent her. Becoming the right-hand woman to local brothel owner Miss Jennie, mingling with wealthy investors, and conning her way into a slice of the local mine fortune were never on Louisa's to-do list. Then again, neither was murder. Now, as Louisa's cunning little schemes ignite, it won't just be her life going up in flames.

Genres: Lesbian, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Westerns

221 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 2, 2023

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had really high hopes for this book given the premise, but I’m sad it say it mostly missed the mark. It felt really rushed and also kind of aimless for a good portion? The last like 40 pages of the book had some fun hooks and climactic endings… but the journey getting there was rough.

I think the author had a lot of good ideas that maybe needed more time getting fleshed out. Our MC Louisa read very much like an angsty sociopath. Sometimes that could be interesting, other times it felt very victim complex turned temper tantrum. When she had her moments of business savvy I was routing for her.

The romance elements were pretty few and far between, but outside of the one actual spice scene the MC had with another woman, the other scenes felt a bit forced to me. The voyeristic longing felt like a plot device to say “hey the MC likes other women” rather than actually establishing that as part of her identity.

[Kaitlyn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could have been 5 stars if it had only been edited more. There were some grammatical errors, which are pretty common for indie authors… but there were some words in places that made no sense and a few storyline errors that could have been resolved, therefore improving the story and the experience for the reader.

Speaking of the story. I’ve never cared for westerns, so I was leery heading into this. The sapphic aspect was really well-handled. The plot kept me interested. I actually felt like the FMC (Louisa) was familiar to me, because of the author’s way of writing her. I’ve seen some reviews saying she didn’t show a lot of emotions, and they’re right; she didn’t. However, that’s part of the character. From the first chapter, she’s having to act like the adult compared to her sister, who is only three years younger and constantly portrayed as a child. Louisa kept a lot in, at one point saying she preferred to not speak because others filled the silence with chatter and revealed secrets in that chatter. Keeping her emotions in FIT with the character.

This is definitely worth a read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this ARC for review!

Should you read this? YES. I have to admit that I was skeptical at first because westerns can often go too far off the trope-y deep end, but this was the perfect mix of western elements and engaging plot. Louisa as an unreliable narrator gave a complex and dynamic view to the world around her though her own eyes. I like that the author used a real-life event in Jerome within the story while also adding her own flair.

My only qualms with this book are that the ending felt somewhat rushed, but it wasn’t so rushed that I was confused, and the book being billed as a “sapphic romance”. There is romance and it is wlw, but I expected it to be the main motivator throughout the book, which it is not. I didn’t mind, though, as I found the overall story to be good with or without the romance subplot. Definitely more western than romance.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not typically one to enjoy old westerns but I enjoyed the story. I wasn't aware that it was a sapphic book prior to buying it but I really enjoyed the spicy scenes and how unheard of women romances were back in the 1800's. I thought there was going to be a lot more spice though considering how quick into the book the scenes were. I felt like there were a couple good plot twists that I wasn't necessarily expecting and I'm glad I gave it a read.

[Reading is Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

romance, betrayal, and women with smarts

A unique combination of traits for a historical. Louisa is not your typical heroine, left on her own after she and her sister are orphaned she must learn to survive in an often dangerous world for women. But she learns and prospers, not without heartache at times.

The narrative gets a little passive now and then but it’s helped by a beautiful setting and the interesting history of Jerome and Arizona.

[Kenzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The MC had little to no emotion, and whatever emotion she did have was immediately ruined. Everything felt both rushed and dragged out, the antagonists almost ridiculous, and the singular spicy scene that involved a person (other than voyeurism) was super short and not very good. It could've had a lot of potential if they leaned into the sociopathic tendencies of the MC and came back to certain subjects that were touched upon earlier in the book.

[Ryley Gorence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I wish it was longer. It was one I didn’t want to put down.

Louisa, the main character, kept me on my toes and, whatever I thought was going to happen next, absolutely didn’t. Girls got trauma but kept it interesting. Apparently though it is a sapphic novel, which I didn’t know. It’s not at all the main focus of the story, which I loved.

9/10 would recommend. My only complaint is that it was so short :(

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up at a local book fair. Though it wasn't my usual genre, I found it an exciting and well-written story. Part of the attraction is that it takes place in Jerome, Arizona, and I live in the Phoenix area. So, I appreciated something fun to read about Jerome instead of the usual dry nonfiction. Fair warning: it is a little spicy, just enough to make the plot realistic.

[Jessica Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I loved this! It has a lot of murder… like more than you think it’s gonna be. 😂

This also had great characters and some twists and turns. Very fun! I mean for a book with lots of murder.

Western feminine rage might be a new favorite genre.

I love how the (woman) brothel owner is shamed to say the word lesbian. 😂😂

🌶️🌶️/5

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sold to me as an erotica and besides two scenes in the very beginning, that are kind of awkward and her own fantasies, it isn't. It's a lesbian old western drama. I think if I liked dramas I would have rated it higher, but I find dramas kind of boring.

[Sara Applegate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I'm obsessed with this book. I love a sapphic old western revenge story. Its a genre I didn't even know existed but now that I've read it I need more!!

[Chris Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting the plot twist, though the ending seems not to align with the MC's personality or prior motivation

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful little book. The dedication is a wonderful descriptor of the theme of the story. It is written in a very simple yet descriptive writing style. It really did feel like a sit down conversation with the MC. The book is short and only took me about 4 hours to read the whole thing, but it was well worth it. The characters were distinct, the MC was sympathetic, the antagonists believable. The whole story felt like it could have been based on real events. I am stingy with my ratings but this rates a very solid 3 stars.