Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger

Monster Gunslingers #1

by K.C. Grifant

“KC Grifant comes out guns blazing with Melinda Monster Gunslinger—a devious action-packed adventure set in a very weird version of the Old West. Fast, furious, and a hell of a lot of fun!”
—Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Son of the Poison Rose and Relentless

"Melinda West is the hero I've been waiting for as long as I can remember. The world and characters are vivid and magical. This story is a delight."
—Kate Jonez, Bram Stoker and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author

“KC Grifant’s horror western hits the road at top speed and never takes its foot off the accelerator, making the book a perfect fit for readers who like their horror weird and their action plentiful … [Melinda West] is a delicious amalgamation of Ash Williams in wise-cracking bravado and Ellen Ripley in triumphant fearlessness.”
—Ginger Nuts of Horror


In an Old West overrun by monsters, a stoic gunslinger must embark on a dangerous quest to save her friends and stop a supernatural war.

Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.

The Witcher meets Bonnie and Clyde in a re-imagined Old West full of diverse characters, desolate landscapes, and fast-paced adventure.

Genres: Horror, Westerns, Weird West, Fantasy, Fiction

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2023

About the author

KC Grifant is a Southern Californian author who writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird west stories for podcasts, anthologies and magazines.

Her writings have appeared in magazines and podcasts including: Andromeda Spaceways Magazine (cover story for issue #70), Unnerving Magazine, Aurealis Magazine, Fission Magazine, Cosmic Horror Monthly, Dark Matter Magazine, Tales to Terrify, the Lovecraft eZine, Sley House Podcasts, and many others.

In addition to a Weird West horror novel, MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Feb 2023), she has also written stories for dozens of anthologies, including: Chromophobia; Dancing in the Shadows: A Tribute to Anne Rice; Musings of the Muse; Field Notes from a Nightmare; The One That Got Away; Six Guns Straight From Hell; Trembling with Fear: Year One; Shadowy Natures; Beyond the Infinite: Tales from the Outer Reaches; and the Stoker-nominated Fright Mare: Women Write Horror.

In addition, she is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), as well as the co-founder of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) San Diego chapter, an organization that helps to connect writers and fans of horror literature.

Reviews

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

Admittedly, I’ve got eclectic tastes and lately what piques my interest has been all over the place. I will say that what caught my attention was the promise of a strong heroine, a good ole western vibe, sci-fi paranormal elements, and a touch of romance, and just so you know, this delivered!

Melinda West has been battling monsters for quite awhile. She and her partner in love and life are planning on retiring, having built up a nice little nest egg to peacefully run a ranch for the rest of their long years ahead. However, when Melinda takes back a curious stone to her self made family, she sets off a chain reaction of events that puts those most dear to her at risk of losing their souls. What follows is a race against time to catch the baddies, and it is just one impossible obstacle after the other.

Overall, I liked this story, and I liked Melinda. She’s capable, smart, no nonsense, all of which contrasts nicely with her “fiance” Lance who can charm any and everyone with an infectious smile and a few congenial words. My only complaint is that this was quite serious and our protagonists just can’t seem to catch a break ever. The stakes are seriously high and though understandable, the lack of gleeful fun was missed.

Regardless of my personal wants and needs, if a historical Wild West setting with a touch of James Bond-esque gadgety weaponry, plenty of icky monsters, the requisite demon bent on world domination, and rival bounty hunters tick off a few boxes for you, then come on over and check this out! I honestly don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Thank you to the author via BookSirens for a copy to review honestly


Monster Gunslingers Series
1. Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger - 3.5 Stars
2. Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen - 3.5 Stars

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully, when K.C. Grifant emailed me, I initially replied that I would love to review it – but – I wouldn’t get to it for a few weeks, as I was deep into reading four other books. Well, then I saw the cover. And read the synopsis. And much like my childhood excitement for cowboys and monsters, I knew that deep within my reading brain, I couldn’t put this off any longer.

What I liked: The reality of this book is that what you see is exactly what you get. This is a western book with monsters. If, you as a reader, are not intrigued by this one or excited by that premise, this isn’t a book for you. For the rest of us – those who love these wacky mashups of giant beasts battling gun-wielding, horse-back riding characters – this is EXACTLY the book for you.

The story follows Melinda West, back in town for only a short time, when they discover its become overrun with monsters and they offer their services to exterminate the creatures. We get a ton of action, a ton of many-legged splattered scenes and throughout, we root for Melinda and her partner, Lance.

Grifant writes with a deft hand, giving us compulsive prose and an easy feeling for her storytelling. I found I was utterly shocked at how much book I was devouring and how quickly – and if you know me, you know I read fast already – such is the way this book is laid out.

The other thing I’ll note – and it’s definitely not a negative – while this is a ‘serious’ book, it doesn’t take itself overly seriously, if that makes sense. We get a number of themes throughout, and a lot of tension and anxiety laid into the narrative, but this one never gets depressive or despondent, which sets it apart from a lot of the current crop of Splatter-Westerns we see on the market.

What I didn’t like: Truly minor, but at the very beginning, the reader is expected to just believe that Melinda is this fierce gunslinger. We learn more about her as we go on, but for a new-to-me character, I think some initial backstory peppered into the opening would’ve showcased her more to the reader and it would’ve been easier to accept how deft she is.

Why you should buy this: Well, as I said, if you get ramped up when you see cowboys and monsters, then there you go. Case closed. Preorder it now and thank me later. If you’re on the fence, a reader kind of intrigued by this subgenre, then just know that Grifant is a powerfully imaginative author who paints cinematic pictures easily with her descriptions and will make you feel the dust and smell the gunpowder time and time again.

Great stuff.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird monsters in the Old West - and sparkling heroine - make a great debut novel!

California author KC Grifant displays her penchant for horror, science fiction, fantasy, and weird western stories in this new novel MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER - her debut. Her stories and thoughts have been widely displayed in both magazines and short story collections, and she is the co-founder of the Horror Writers Association, San Diego chapter, Her mastery for creating vivid and near realistic visions of the bizarre is evident as she opens this story: ‘Melinda never missed, not in her twenty-eight years of gunslinging. But then again, she never dealt with giant, flying scorpions before. She aimed at the two shapes above a cactus several hundred feet away, fired, and watched as one of the bodies dropped. Aside from being bigger than any insect on this earth ought to be, the scorpions’ six back legs were webbed, giving them the oh-so-handy ability to become airborne. A calf-sized one flew through the air with its green-tipped tail poised directly toward her head...’ The ability to admix wit with horror is a gift Grifant owns!

Unlike most novels that bring the Old West back into our view, Grifant inserts the bizarre, and in doing so creates a story that is fascinating and irresistible, condensed as follows: ‘Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.’

The mood for this fast reading book (just over 200 pages) is well established by the books artwork on the cover, courtesy of artist Luke Spooner. But it is the joy of reading a ‘weird Western’ with a female protagonist that sends this debut novel into the realm of first class debut releases. Highly recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like any epic worth its salt, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger begins in medias res, right in the heart of the battle: Melinda never missed, not in her twenty-eight years of gunslinging. But then again, she had never dealt with giant, flying scorpions before. KC Grifant’s horror western hits the road at top speed and never takes its foot off the accelerator, making the book a perfect fit for readers who like their horror weird and their action plentiful...

Read the rest of this review on Ginger Nuts of Horror

[Kev Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I went into this blind, only knowing that it was a western with monsters. Now, I've literally read one unconventional western in my life (Salvation Spring by TC Parker) and wondered if I would be pulled out of the story by the terminology, and not understanding the format but I needn't have worried. From the action packed first chapter, there's so much going on in this story that I barely had time to think about the sub-genre it fits into.

The things which impressed me most about this book were the action sequences and the world building. The action is relentless, the pace of the story flying along, with twists and turns all over the place. But none of it ever feels superfluous to the story. Every blow in every battle feels like it carries some weight and significance and propels the plot along. There are some great set pieces here, which will live long in the memory and seem ripe for a visual adaptation.

The world building is so impressive because of the physical world itself, with this quasi-mythical place of The Edge the dominant feature of that. Added to this is the bestiary of monsters which are so imaginative, and so vividly described, I feel like there's more here in the world Melinda inhabits. Other stories for other times. Finally, the characters have these back stories which we gradually come to understand as the story unfolds and, once again, these have direct consequences for the events of the book.

For fans of weird westerns, but also just for people who like high octane action with heart. Highly recommended.

[Eugen Bacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join team Melinda! K.C Grifant's Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is as woman and as western as it gets, no shame in being a lass with some smooth on a rifle. A bounty hunter too. Kicky horsie, boot crunchilicious, and with a soul stealer on the fantastical spectrum.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melinda West operates with her lover, Lance, in a wild west that is overrun by various sorts of monsters and sorcery. The east is no better, and the south is dominated by evil railroad corporations who appear to pretty much enslave everyone. The plot of the book involves the soul of a friend of Melinda and Lance being stolen and their efforts to get it back. The action is pretty good and the story moves along at a decent pace. My primary complaint is that Melinda, a woman of action if there ever was one, chooses to talk again and again when encountering the woman who is taking her friend’s soul (and Lance’s soul later in the story) to an evil sorcerer with the result being that the villain continually gets away. If this had happened only once, it would have been unfortunate. But that it happened repeatedly seriously irritated me. I did not understand ever why Melinda did not simply put a bullet in Eloise and move on. Even if she didn’t want to kill her—and Eloise is as much a monster as any creature in the book—she could have wounded her or crippled her and put an end to her ability to escape. The only reason I can come up with for her not doing this is it would have cut the story much shorter. Of course, the opposite should have been true. Having stopped Eloise, the big bad sorcerer would have had to come in person to claim the souls he needed for his nefarious scheme. It wouldn’t even have been a very different story, but it certainly would have been more believable.

So, to sum up. There’s a lot of good action here, but I didn’t feel as if the characters acted in character, and that damaged the overall effectiveness of the tale.

[Dion Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but not great, it was like a cross between the TV show Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and H P Lovecraft.

I got this from Netgalley which was listed as Horror | Sci Fi & Fantasy, but for me I’d classify it as just Sci Fi & Fantasy, I think you could even put it into young Adult, I found it a bit too soft for a horror story, but maybe that is because I’ve became desensitised by the splatter western books by Death Head's Press, which I loved.
The writing was good, easy to read with a good mix of western and Fantasy, I would have liked to see the gunslinger do a bit more gun slinging, but overall it was good it has a similar feel to ‘The Never Ending Story’ or ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’.

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review in the January 2023 issue of Library Journal: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2023/01...

There words That Describe This Book: fast paced, strong world building, imaginative

Draft review:

In an alternative Wild West, “The Edge,” at the foot of the mountains, holds a danger of epic proportions, a border between worlds, where monsters, such as giant flying scorpions and snow krakens, regularly slip into settlements, threatening all. Enter Melinda West, and her life partner, Lance, monster neutralizers for hire. With the support of Aunt Bea, a historian of the supernatural, and Abel, a master weapons builder, Melinda and Lance have spent a year on the road saving numerous towns and pocketing enough money to finally settle down. However, as soon as they return home, a soul-sucking spider attacks Abel, plunging them straight into “The Edge” itself on a desperate mission to save him. This fast paced debut is peppered with awesome battle scenes, but the novel is much more than the sum of its action parts. Grifant takes her time to build the world and its characters, imbuing all with a complexity that adds depth to this wildly entertaining story.

Verdict: This fun, imaginative, and confident series opener will be a massive crowd pleaser for general audiences, especially for those who enjoy a wide range of popular weird western offerings, from the more historical like Stoker’s Wilde West by Hopstaken and Prusi to those with cosmic elements such as The Last Storm by Lebbon.

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melinda West hunts monsters. She's a brilliant shot but nothing prepared her for the adventure that started with giant, flying scorpions and ended with the soul-sucking entity.

The book moves at a brisk pace and is simply competent. It plays with pulp, western, and horror tropes and provides competent fun. I felt the characters lacked nuance and the story didn't surprise me much. Still, I had a reasonably good time reading it.

Nothing groundbreaking here, but if you're looking for a solid pulpy western horror with a strong sharpshooter heroine, you'll have a good time with Melinda West.

[Christine Harrold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, action-packed, monster-filled western romp with wise-crackin cowboys, found family, buried secrets and deep love and loyalty.

Melinda and Lance are lovers and sharp-shooting monster hunters out west where the worlds have thinned between our world and a world of cruel, power-hungry demons and vicious minions.

A roller coaster of a wild read, where Grifant takes the reader to the very edge of salvation and then rips the heart from you again and again. Hard and hopeful, terrifying and heart-warming. A damn good time.

[Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. A different genre for me but I absolutely loved it!!!

The author approached me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you know me, you know I love the game Red Dead Redemption 2. Despite that, I had never read a western before this book. I was thoroughly enthralled by this book! This Western-Fantasy hybrid had excellent worldbuilding, amazing characters, and a terrifying race of monsters… it really drew me in and kept me invested! I wish some of the backstories were a little more explained so I could have a bit more context, but other than that I loved this book! I would recommend this book to fans of westerns and books with a hunting-centered plot!

This book is available on Amazon—Kindle and print! Go get a copy!!!

[Viking Jam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: This cover and story line is eerily simliar to V.S. McGrath's "The Devil's Revolver" series.

Where this novel and McGrath's series walks in tandem, is the fantasy western theme that deals in artifacts, monsters and powerful scorcerer types. It should also be noted that the MC's are almost identical in presentation (tough, tall, female, dead-eye shooters etc.). They both happen to be bound by magical artifacts as well.

While Hettie Alabama carries a possessed revolver that takes years off her life, Melinda West has been infected by a magical artifact and bitten by a dream bug. They are both following magic trails to save their respective family members and have hunky cowboys as their sidekicks. The world building is eerily similar as well.

This feels like a rip-off but the character development is divergent enough for a stand alone work.

On a side note, the Publishers Description says "When they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw......." I must be missing something as there was nothing like that in the story line. A spider steals a family members soul, and they set about tracking it down to restore their Uncle/Friend. Yet "they" meaning Mellie and cowhunk, were not the instigators.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

3.5/5

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Goodreads criticism tool 30/40 = 75%

1. Gain new knowledge 3/5
Interesting monsters and magic, but not on par with other high fantasy world building.

2. Escape reality 5/5
Heck yeah! Monsters + magic in a gunslinging western?! I’m all for it!

3. Suspenseful drama 5/5
I liked it. I was sucked in from the action at the start of the book.

4. Theme variety 5/5
Yep, themes of loss, guilt, persistence, and loyalty.

5. Expanded my worldview 2/5
Not really, I didn’t gain any new insights that expanded my worldview, but this is fantasy so there are probably fantastical elements that changed my perspective of this world - like a certain ice creature.

6. Surprising solutions 5/5
I was hooked, the author uses magic to craft cleaver problems and solutions especially at the end.

7. Eloquence 3/5
I accepted the cliche Western tidbits as how they spoke in this fictitious world. The writing is succinct.

8. Character arc 2/5
Yes, Melinda performs a task at the end that she probably could not do at the beginning, so I’d argue that this is a character development - however, I’d also state that this development does not have the typical build up of ongoing internal conflict. So is it a satisfying character arc? Not really, more like a series of events that propels Melinda to make a tough decision.

Other critiques:
-There are a lot of locations and characters which is not typical for this length of book.

-This was such a unique reading experience, I hope there are more books like this one in terms of Western fantasy (sans steampunk).

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed adventure in the Weird West. Melinda’s got to save a friend’s soul, literally, and this adventure takes her to the Edge of her world. Recommended.

Disclaimer: The author provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant

Publishing loves to sort things into genres because it makes marketing easier. The reality is that books cross genre lines all the time, and trying to pigeon hole stories into categories is reductive, no matter how necessary. What matters is the quality of what’s between the covers. Genre categories also tend to train readers for what to expect. Fantasy is elves, dwarves, swords, castles, and magic. Science fiction is space, lasers, technology, and aliens. Horror is monsters, blood, and terror. Westerns are cowboys, horses, and lawlessness. But what happens if you combine all of these? You get the Weird West. In Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, K.C. Grifant does just that.

Melinda and her partner, Lance, are finishing up a job clearing out horse sized insects for a small mining town. It’s a job that pays enough for them to retire upon completion. But before they leave for home, Melinda’s curiosity gets the better of her. She’s sees something in the mouth of the mine and needs to know what it is. Eventually she finds a stone that interacts with one of her devices, and she decides to take it home with her. As she pries it out of the wall of the cave, she experiences vertigo and numbness, always good signs for readers, bad for heroes. She and Lance ride back to the town of Five Peaks flush with cash and plans to settle down. After all, Lance is more than Melinda’s business partner. They return to Melinda’s Aunt Beatrice’s place for chili. Abel, the maker of Melinda’s more potent weapons, is also invited along for chili. During lunch, cat-sized spiders attack the four while Melinda is paralyzed at the sight of a red cloud. The spiders eventually succeed in attacking Abel; they drain his soul and flee. This doesn’t kill Abel yet, but his physical body is deteriorating. Melinda and Lance give chase in order to free Abel’s soul. Their quest to save their friend takes them to the edge of the world and beyond.

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is a third person, Weird West novel told from Melinda’s perspective. The novel is short, action packed, quickly paced, and quite entertaining. Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger had video game feel to it. The narrative is linear with Melinda fighting bigger baddies all the way through till the end. Grifant peppers in creative world building while fleshing out Melinda’s character.

Weird West

Weird West, to me, is a sub-genre of either fantasy or horror, depending on how the author approaches the story. However, the sub-genre borrows from both as much as it borrows from the Western. I think Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger lies more on the fantasy side with horror elements splashed in. Melinda’s story is more about the journey than how the journey breaks her down. The horror elements do mean that Melinda confronts her more baser self – the monster hunter that she truly is – but the fantasy elements see her use those confrontations to evolve into a more heroic figure. Grifant found an excellent balance with these elements for this story.

In my reading, I haven’t encountered the Weird West sub-genre very often. The first time would be The Gunslinger from Stephen King, which I loved. Other than his Dark Tower series, I can’t think of any other Weird West that I’ve read. Melinda West: Monster Hunter reminded me of the Dark Tower series because it is a fantastic journey with horror elements to boost the heroic elements. Like in the The Gunslinger, this is a short book. My copy had 260 pages, which is close to The Gunslinger’s 230. Like Roland’s journey, Melinda’s is highly internal and focused more on her. Both Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger and The Gunslinger have a cast of characters; yet, both books really only develop the main character. The short length doesn’t have room to explore in depth the other characters; however, Grifant does hint at interesting pasts. The characters are distinguishable; they don’t blend into one another. We just don’t know much about them other than the immediate. Hopefully, future installments will explore more of the people in Melinda’s life. They’re interesting and worth exploring.

Short But Satisfying

As I said, this is a short book, but it lacks nothing. Grifant balances action, Melinda’s character development, plot, and world building to make for a satisfying read. I’m a slow reader, but I flew through this book. I’m sure a fast reader could finish in a day or two. I prefer large books; so, of course, I wish there was more here to revel in. I think Grifant’s hints about the larger world are worth exploring, and hopefully other readers do as well. I’d like to learn more about the edge and the weird-o’s that live there. I’d love to learn about the urban areas, about the magic, and about the various other peoples. For me, a book that leaves me thinking about its world is a good book. If I’m stuck thinking about plot, it’s not as satisfying. K.C. Grifant left me wanting more.

Conclusion

K.C. Grifant’s Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger was surprising, fun, and a great re-introduction to the Weird West. Grifant built a world full of possibilities for stories. Hopefully, she gets to tell them because if Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is any indication, Melinda’s world demands exploration. Recommended.

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger by K.C. Grifant is available from Brigids Gate Press on February 2nd, 2023.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melinda West and her partner and lover Lance have finally saved enough money to retire from monster hunting after their last hunt. Finding a weird stone in the mine the centipede infestation had been, they rush back home to Five Peaks and their family Abel and Aunt B. But the happy couple are barely able to finish a meal before they are attacked by a group of soul sucking archanids and while Melinda, Lance, and B survive the confrontation Abel's soul has been stolen. Devastated to learn that it was the very stone Melinda found that allowed the archanids to find them, her and Lance set out on what is hopefully one last ride to save the man who has been a father to both of them.

I thought we agreed that if a book contained things like flaming cows that would be the first line of everyone's review? Alright, fine I know it was piggy bombs but I feel like flaming cows is up there with piggy bombs ya know? Okay seriously though I knew by page two this was going to be amazing because flaming freaking cows guys!

I am going to get this out of the way right now because I guarantee this will come up: You've read this book before, you've watched this show. Supernatural fans, fans of Stoker's Wilde you'll see them in here and ya know what that doesn't matter at all because Melinda West is a badass gun slinging monster hunter and Lance is well I mean he's 100% there. Kidding okay I liked Lance I really did. They are honestly such an adorable couple and I just liked Melinda way more. She was just one of those amazing female characters who does something even though it's hard because it's the right thing to do. Throughout the book, she consistently stands up for her own code of morals even if it's not technically by the book right. This is really shown at the end of the book.

In terms of side characters, I really loved Aunt B. She'll be fun throughout the series. But Topaz and Eloise were absolutely my favorites. They were both just so quirky, just as badass as Melinda, and their personalities played off of each other so well. I really hope we run into both of them again!

The world building is awesome here as well, you've got a lot of allusions to some very serious historical happenings in the "Wild West" including forced labor (slavery in all but name) to build the railroads, post Civil War slavery in the coal mines and the brickyards of the Southeast, and the Native American massacres that took place as well. Grifant's descriptions of the Edge creatures that inhabit the world are detailed (especially the Ice Canines which are just as freaking cool as flaming cows) and she captures that feeling of an old western with all of the absolutely cheesy one-liners imaginable (many I will be working into my real life 😅).

I've got book two and I will definitely be reading it sooner rather than later!

As always thanks to NetGalley and Brigid's Gate Press for the eArc!

[KMart Vet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSirens, the author, and Brigids Gate Press, LLC for the advanced reader copy so that I could give an honest review. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Melinda West, Monster Gunslinger is a story about Melinda and Lance, two monster hunters that are looking to retire to buy a small ranch in their little town. The odd animal-like monsters from the Edge of civilization wander in from time to time and need putting down to save the tiny little western towns. The monsters are pretty fascinating; the shadow spiders that steal souls, the symbiotic lumps of snow, the snow kraken. All amazingly well-crafted and fascinating creatures. The couple returns to town and those they consider family, only to have a soul stolen by a demon. Despite their exhaustion, the two head out to seek out the lost soul and meet all manner of people along the way.

I really enjoyed Melinda's character and the overarching story. Lance was adorable until events happened; then his lack of control over himself was an odd choice but didn't bother me overly much. It felt like it was used to artificially create some conflict. The world-building was interesting and the other characters felt fairly fleshed out. The western scene and towns were charmingly quaint and I loved the old-timey sayings (though they got a little old towards the end). The magic was a little wishy-washy and difficult to really get a good grasp of. The biggest complaint I had was the pacing. There were a few clumsy moments where things should have been shorter (and removed some overly coincidental happenings) or longer to not make things seem so hurried. I also had a mildly difficult time believing that Melinda was competent given that the villains got one over on her quite often and she gave up too quickly. The author did a good job at making the villains quite unlikable which made things a little complicated when they were given some room to gain a little sympathy.

Enjoyable and certainly not something that anyone else is really writing, but needs some polish for my tastes.

[Kara Babcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I’ve never heard of the “weird west” subgenre and now it’s everywhere on my book social feed. So it goes. It’s not my usual niche, but Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger, by K.C. Grifant, looked interesting enough to branch out. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

The eponymous Melinda West is, as the title suggests, a monster gunslinger. That is, she is a gunslinger who kills monsters, not a monster who slings a gun. Her partner Lance is also her partner in life. The two of them have just about saved up enough to retire when something happens that forces them to take on one last job going up against an enemy craftier and more dangerous than they have ever dealt with. The stakes? Nothing short of the souls of Lance and Melinda and Lance’s friend.

Since this isn’t my usual haunt, it’s hard for me to compare this to other entries within the weird west. I’ve certainly read a few other entries in this, though none jumps out at me. Rather, I’ll just look at this through the lens of other paranormal fantasy stories. Let’s consider the world Grifant builds here, the characters we’re supposed to cheer for, and the success of the plot overall.

Melinda lives on a frontier known as the Edge, some kind of anomaly that spits out monsters. Most of the monsters are nuisances more than anything, yet some are very dangerous—that’s how she and Lance have made their money. Beyond this and some magic, however, the vibe is more western than fantasy, with frontier towns and gunslinger showdowns and train battles. Not my style, but probably great for other readers!

Melinda and Lance are pretty good main characters, although Lance doesn’t get much development in this book. Instead, Grifant focuses mostly on Melinda and her stubborn nature. This works really well as the moral centre of the book: at each turn, the antagonist offers Melinda a chance to surrender, and her refusal is what powers us into the next phase of the plot.

The plot overall is … fine. I really like Grifant’s writing style and how she balances exposition with suspense, slowly unspooling the mystery of the enemy behind everything. It kept me reading! However, I also wouldn’t describe the plot as all that complex.

Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is perfectly fine fare. I already have the sequel, so I will read that soon, and it might make the series grow on me—that is often the case with these kinds of genre works. Even if it is doesn’t, I would still recommend this book to people who already like this genre.

Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.

[Lynn Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never touched a western in my life because… cowboys? Dust? Tumbleweeds? Not really my bag tbh. But add monsters, demons and a snow kraken and suddenly I’m saddled up like this is my new calling.

This book is fast-paced and just flat out fun. We’ve got giant flying scorpions, mind reading bugs & big bad demons. It’s like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the frontier edition. There’s also a really decent amount of action - scenes that feel like proper set pieces, monster fights and chaotic scrambles that keep things moving.

Melinda is an absolute icon. She’s capable, sharp, unbothered and she never misses. And Lance? Also extremely likeable, which is rare for a man in a cowboy hat tbh.

The stakes get wild quickly. Melinda and Lance have been travelling from town to town dusting demons, but everything blows up when Lance and Abel (Melinda’s uncle/gadget providing Wild West version of Q) get bitten by a soul sucking spider. Cue a desperate mission to the border between worlds to get their souls back… plus a spot of world saving while they’re at it. Casual.

So yeah, a paranormal sci-fi Wild West with Buffy vibes. It doesn’t sound like it should work. But it absolutely does. Surprisingly, delightfully well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSirens. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting from Page 1, MELINDA WEST MONSTER GUNSLINGER is a kick-butt Empowered female MC Lovecraftian Weird Western Horror Fantasy. Yes, that's quite a plethora. I can also add nonstop tension, fright, jealousy, greed, anger, xenophobia, adventure, exploration, tremendous danger, fatalities, everybody working at cross purposes, soul-snatching, soul recovery, love, mentorship, scholarship. MELINDA WEST MONSTER GUNSLINGER is jam-packed, full to the brim, breathtaking excitement and danger, set in a Wild West of Fantasy [though with overtones resonating with History as we know it], in which "the Edge" is the all-too-permeable barrier between Cosmic Horrors, Demons, and more, and the human [sort of] world. Melinda and her life partner Lance, who is half-indigenous and raised without a mother, live to battle the entities encroaching from beyond the Edge. Schooled by scholar mage Abel and Melinda's Aunt Beatrice, they're highly effective, their services in demand. But even this pair can't stop every Cosmic incursion--can they?

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

When I started this one, I didn't know if I was going to finish it. It started out like we should already know who the people were and the adventures they'd been on. Like it was book two instead of one. The narrator also put on a sort of comical southern twang. But honestly, it all grew on me and I ended up really liking this book.

There's just something about western novels mixed with science fiction/fantasy/horror that is just so, so good. I didn't think I would easily find another series with that vibe after the Gunnie Rose books by Charlaine Harris, but this one holds up! The characters made you want to care about what happened to them. The world building was a little fuzzy at times, but it suited the novel honestly. And I liked the lore this author is building.

I liked it enough that I'm going to try and find the second in the series to read. This is one I'll be personally recommending.

[Bobbi bobbijoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an action-packed fantasy adventure following Gunslinger Melinda West into the edge of the Earth.

The pacing was perfectly executed (something I tend to have a problem with in the fantasy genre). The world building is developed with the story, action/conflict is consistent throughout, and the climactic ending had me on the edge of my seat.

This novel had all the fantasy elements such as monsters, ghosts, an antagonist demon and another world, but Western vibes with a gunslinging heroine on horseback and expressions like "skedaddle", bounty hunters, shotguns and wagons.

I loved Melinda and rooted for her the whole story through. She is brave, relentless, and amiable; willing to risk her life to save the people she loves.

[I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author, I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.]

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! Gunslingers, monsters, magic, and a diverse crew of characters round up this fantastic story.

I’m hoping it’s the first of a series and we get to see more badassery from Melinda and Lance!! Learning more about the Edge Riders, Lance’s past, and the Double Moon Massacre would really add more depth to the excellent world building the author has created.

“Melinda never missed, not in her twenty-eight years of gunslinging. But then again, she never dealt with giant, flying scorpions before.”

I really can’t imagine living or surviving in this world, where monstrous creatures and demons can appear anywhere at anytime. I’d probably perish pretty much right away haha. Maybe I’d be like Aunt B and study the creatures from the safety of a town instead of gunslinging like Mel.

Thank you to BookSirens & the author & publisher for a copy.

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DNF.

This had a compelling concept but failed to grab my attention aside from the opening chapter. Definitely more a "me" thing, though.
The writing was good, funny and witty, but since I'm not the biggest fan of westerns in general I had a hard time getting into the book. I did love that it starts with action and immediately sets up character, tone, and setting. From what I read, the author has a clearly distinctive style and voice, and I'm sure this will appeal to fans of the genre.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Maddi Harwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Well, dammit. I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. While the plot kept moving and was genuinely fun, the characters lacked depth. I never quite connected with them, even though I really wanted to. I wanted someone to root for, especially because the world was engaging and the setting was such a pleasure to spend time in.

Overall, I’ll still be keeping an eye out for more books by this author. There’s real potential here, and I’m curious to see where they go next.

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a western before but I loved this! Melinda West is a character you can really get behind! This is such a fun book to read, who would have thought that the Wild West + Horror could be such a fun combination. It would be so cool to see this as a tv series!
This is a really fun action packed tale with lots of creepy crawlies and monsters to keep you entertained! Loved it!

[Tasha Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot. Damn. Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger is my first adventure into the wild west, and it most definitely won't be my last. I've been absolutely riveted to the story KC weaved, and adored everything about it. Imagine Supernatural's hunting (best TV show ever and I'll die on that hill) combined with the most badass female lead you can imagine, amazing supporting characters, nail-biting suspense, great action, and the grunge and grit you expect in a Western.

Melinda and Lance are an elite team of monster hunters preparing to retire after a successful career and being in high demand. Unfortunately for them, their paths take a wildly different course than the ranching life they've had planned. Rather than comfy and cozy in a new home, they find themselves frantically hitting the road in an effort to save their dear mentor and family friend, Abel.

They run into all kinds of characters along the way, both helpful and otherwise, all incredibly well-developed. You fall deeply in love with the ones you should, and loathe any who stand in their way. The creatures are all hideously creative, the settings are painted so beautifully that it's easy to imagine them hanging on a wall in an art museum, and the whole book just flows so naturally.

If a whirlwind adventure, fantastic and relatable characters, enough monsters to fill a textbook, and the thrill of the untamed west is something that piques your interest (and even if it isn't), I absolutely recommend you get yourself a copy!

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything one could ask for in a horror book and it's absolutely riveting. It's a western with literal monsters and this is the perfect setting for it.

I love that old west vibe and you can almost taste the dirt and smell the horses as our titular character and her partner hunt these monstrosities for cash.

But it's not just the creepy giant bugs that'll get your heart racing. Because we'll meet other characters along the way that will be every bit as dangerous as the creatures. And they are all so well written that you never know what's going to happen with them or even TO them.

The pacing in this novel is excellent. It doesn't just escalate but starts with an action packed sequence and keeps the terror going throughout. I am looking forward to more if this turns into a series and I highly recommend giving this one a go!

[Robyn Little]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I would have gladly paid for this ARC, this was a helluva thing. Well-paced and action-packed with charming leads. I’m shocked this is not on more most anticipated book lists because it is a riot from beginning to end. I LOVED Melinda West and I want to see more of her adventures slinging monsters and taking names

But did they have to put in spiders?!!

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars! WEIRD PERFECTION! This was a crazy ride and I loved every minute of it. This book is "Red Dead Redemption" meets "Van Helsing." I don't think I've come across a more unique premise in a long time. I want to play this book as a video game. I absolutely adored Melinda and Lance and watching them take on the monsters of the Earth was incredible. Will be keeping an eye out for the next book by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily