Recently I posted about books that combine historical fiction and fantasy in interesting ways. This book is a great addition to that list. Set in 1915, Adelaide Henry has just buried her parents on their farm in California, and she heads out to Montana to stake a claim for land in the only place she knows that will give land to a black woman. With her she lugs a mysterious steamer trunk that is always locked, and that she talks to, when no one is looking.
LaValle explores the history of the Montana frontier through the eyes of women who are struggling to make it on their own – or in some cases are surviving better on their own than with a man. He explores the treatment of black and Chinese Americans at the time. And behind this is horror. What’s in the trunk, and what happens if it breaks out? And how can Adelaide hope to hide a secret this big, even in the middle of nowhere?
I enjoyed LaValle’s cast of characters, Adelaide’s friends Grace, Sam, Bertie and Fiona, and the villains as well. But at the heart of this book, Adelaide is a fascinating, strong woman struggling to survive and do right by the people around her in the harshest environment possible. It’s a book about family, the one you’re born with and the one you make along the way. And finding a place in the world where you can be free.
Anyone who likes to read about the Wild West and the early 1900s, especially from the perspective of diverse characters, will enjoy this book. There’s a classic feeling to this horror story that reminded me of Frankenstein or Jekyll & Hyde – the kinds of stories that explore who are the real monsters, humans or their creations?
LaValle’s writing is fast-paced but thoughtful as well. It’s hard to put down and you’ll be sorry to see it end. This is a book that truly bridges genres and I think many people will enjoy it, whether you consider yourself a horror reader or not.
Note: I received a complimentary advanced review copy of this book from publisher Penguin Random House – One World Books and NetGalley. This book published March 28, 2023.
