The year is 1915, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, forcing her to flee California in a hellfire rush and make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can tame it—except that Adelaide isn’t alone. And the secret she’s tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing that will help her survive the harsh territory.
Crafted by a modern master of magical suspense, Lone Women blends shimmering prose, an unforgettable cast of adventurers who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape, and a portrait of early-twentieth-century America like you’ve never seen. And at its heart is the gripping story of a woman desperate to bury her past—or redeem it.
This almost wasn’t my first Victor LaValle novel (I did previously read his cosmic horror novella, THE BALLAD OF BLACK TOM). I almost went with THE CHANGELING. I am a huge slut for Apple TV & am DYING to watch the adaptation. I don’t always feel compelled to read something before watching the adaptation, but in this instance, I really want to.
In any event, I’d heard nothing but great things about LONE WOMEN & wanted to check it out! And yeah, fucking hell. This is an incredible novel. Strange & beautiful & terrifying & tender, all in equal measures. Victor LaValle is a phenomenal writer, someone I can imagine quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.
This is a historical horror novel that kicks things off in 1915, in California. Adelaide Henry is a Black woman in her early thirties, living with her family on a farm. They are homesteaders, living on land they acquired from the federal government. I read up a bit on the practice of homesteading and The Homestead Act of 1862 while I was reading LONE WOMEN, because it wasn’t something I was familiar with at all. It certainly factors into the story quite a bit, in terms of how Adelaide’s family (and later Adelaide herself) came to be landowners.
It’s hard avoiding this major plot point here, especially given that it’s described in the synopsis: the book opens with the haunting & nightmarish death of Adelaide’s parents. This is the catalyst for her packing up her belongings and making her way to Montana, to begin again with another piece of land.
And along for the journey…the gigantic, outrageously heavy steamer trunk that Adelaide takes with her wherever she goes.
If I was smarter about putting together blog posts maybe I’d add the GIF of Brad Pitt in Seven screaming “WHAT’S IN THE FUCKING BOX?!” because that’s how I was feeling for the first decent-sized chunk of this book.
But all will be revealed and just…fucking brace yourself, because wow. This is a tough one to review without giving too much away!
One thing this book does well is really convey a sense of isolation, and of Adelaide’s loneliness. The Montana landscape is harsh…the winters are brutal, food/supplies are scarce, and Adelaide’s closest neighbors are nearly a full-day’s walk away. You get the sense that, for their own safety, Adelaide is reluctant to make any connections with people. But she does her best to make friends, despite the secrets that she (and everyone in the book, really) is carrying.
Feels like I’m flailing to say anything of value here which sucks, because LONE WOMEN fucking rips. It’s a gritty, emotional read that goes full-throated horror when you least expect it. There’s just an ominous vibe to so much of this book, as the story’s time & setting is not historically kind to a single Black woman. But then LaValle will offset that threatening vibe with some super raw, touching moments. Adelaide is an incredibly compelling & sympathetic protagonist, and the supporting characters are all so vivid. LaValle’s writing is beautiful & this is a story that’s going to stay with me. Super excited to check out more of Victor LaValle’s work going forward!
Grimdark Dad 