This week, Anne is reviewing Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen.

Wake of Vultures is set in an alternate Old West setting. The main character, Nettie Lonesome, is a half breed orphan girl who has spent her formative years as a virtual slave to her adoptive parents. One night, Nettie encounters a monster in the guise of a man. She kills him in self-defense and this act of self-preservation opens her eyes to the dark magical and mystical creatures that inhabit this Old West. And with her newfound sight and some money in her pocket, Nettie is off to discover her roots and reinvent herself as a cowboy named Rhett. Adventure and magic ensues.

I would give this story 3 1/2 out of five stars. For the most part, I really enjoyed this story, its setting, and its characters. It had a great start and a fantastic ending but for me, it definitely lagged a bit in the middle. I would blame this on the dialogue and Nettie’s uneven transformation because there is plenty of action. As for my issue with the dialogue, while growing up she supposedly spent time with the wranglers on a nearby ranch, falling under the wing of one of the experienced hands. This does not stop her from sounding like an extra in a spaghetti western once she dons her male clothing. Other than those minor annoyances, I don’t have any complaints. I would recommend this book to family and friends and I will be looking for the next installment in the series. I have high hopes that Nettie/Rhett will master her newfound identity and that she’ll get a bit more comfortable in her new skin.

As for the Litzos, we are continuing to write and edit on our current projects. We are also very proud of ourselves for getting our taxes in on time.

Good luck and kind regards,

Anne, Nancy, and Eric