Lauren (TheBookishTwins) 's Reviews > Revenge and the Wild

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Edelweiss for review purposes.

First Impressions: I liked the Steampunk aspect, and the mystery element. But I think there was too much going on; elves, dwarves, trolls, cannibals, vampires, werewolves, magic... An interesting read, but a lot going on.

Review: As a child, Westie and her family were attacked by cannibals on the wagon trail. Westie lost her arm, but her family lost their lives. Westie continues to mourn her family and searches for the cannibals that killed them. Nigel, an inventor, took her in as a child, taking her to live in Rogue City - a lawless place filled with saloons and magic, vampires and werewolves. Westie has a tough exterior, and a mechanical arm and wit. One day, the cannibals that Westie has been searching for arrive right on her doorstep, interested in investing in Nigel's latest invention - a machine that draws the magic from gold; the magic that protects Rogue City. Westie sets out to prove their guilt and make them pay for taking her family.

Revenge and the Wild was an enjoyable novel, but there were aspects that I felt brought the book down. I thought Westie was a remarkable character. She was tough, intelligent and her mechanical arm made her a fearsome woman to be meddled with. Westie has a drinking problem, and it debilitating, and the author does not shy away from it. There was a fantastic female friendship going on too, which was one of the highlights of Revenge and the Wild.

I enjoyed the romance between Westie and her mute companion Alistair, yet I felt it unnecessary to have a love square. Yes, the focus was on Alistair as the main romance interest, but I disliked the love triange/square.

I enjoyed the murder mystery and Westie's search for the cannibals that killed her family. Michelle Modesto manages to capture the reader with her twists and turns throughout. Yet what I felt let Revenge and the Wild down, was that there were just too much going on. There were trolls and elves, vampire and werewolves and it all felt too much. It felt like a big mash-up of everything supernatural. It might work for some, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.

Nevertheless, Revenge and the Wild is an enjoyable read, with a steampunk/western feel to it, but not entirely my cup of tea.