Synopsis:
The Hinterlands are a lawless place of broken dreams and broken people.
Roth is a bodyguard trying to leave his dark past behind, but history has a way of turning back up. Cynthia is a bandit who’s trying to make a future by wading through blood. They travel separately, trying to live by their own codes. All while a man in a red cloak tracks their blood-soaked footprints.
Review:
For a Few Days More is a bloody, sweary, mayhem filled fantasy western version of Tombstone but if told thru the lens of Curly Bill and Johnny Ringo.
Like any true western, the Hinterlands is a lawless place of murder, deceit, and ill-placed justice. Scarred Roth is a man trying to be better than his blood-strewn past. He’s hired by a rich woman to guard her and her daughter across the Hinterlands. But things go awry and the rageful berserker itches to break free. Young Cynthia strives to break from the destiny her whore mother set for her, joining a famous gang, aiming to make a name for herself, even if it involves cold-blooded murder. The only source of justice in these lawless lands is Red Cloak, a man hunting down the worst of the worst.
This cast, yeah, they are bloody awesome, and just plain ol’ bloody. Roth is a man who wants to right the wrongs of his outlaw past, but no matter how hard he tries, his sins are always nipping at his heels. So it goes. Roth was fantastic. His interactions with the other mercs in the guard train was fun but his near father moments with the daughter were so heartfelt, they were the true hope in this hopeless land. Plus his berserker rages, yeahhhh those were intense indeed. Cynthia was also fun because she spent half her arc trying to mimic the actions of a leader or just flat out showcasing how badass she really is onside. She’s also one cold-blooded bitty, and I actually had to message Steele to tell him that after a certain scene that kinda shocked me. Red Cloak was pretty one note, but his chain whip and steel gauntlet was neat, of which he put to good use throughout the story. The rest of the cast was very well rounded. You have your typical cowboy tropes: the magnetic outlaw leader, the grizzled old mentor of sorts, the doe-eyed farmboy in love, the rich damsel to protect, the maniac out to kill. You know the types.
I just loved this world. It’s not a lore deep fantasy western, but it doesn’t need to be. We know this type of world from all the western stories out there, but I found it extremely fun with all fantasy weaponry instead of guns. It’s got your small frontier towns where drink and sex flourish. Blood is always a minute away from being spilled, a stray comment can set it all off. Death is the ultimate currency. Hangings, posses, false bravado galore. This world is just pure chaos and I’m here for it! The body count is massive despite the length and the action is intense. And yes, there is that tiny tendril of hope buried within it all. Love it.
This is a short book, about 200 pages and I feel like any longer and it would fall apart. The prose is solid, if I did spot a bit too many grammar mistakes from an editing perspective (and yet that never detracts from the story). But the dialogue is chef’s kiss. Everyone speaks in such a perfect manner for this type of story. No superfluous talk here. Grunts when that’s all that’s needed. Swears by the plenty and very imaginative too. It all just works as a story. The pace is lean and feisty, just like this world. It’s a very quick read altogether.
For a Few Days More gets under your skin like a burr and doesn’t let go. From start to finish, it’s a bloody trek, some redemption, mostly just a slew of bodies. I had so much fun with this story, I certainly hope Steele returns to this lawless world in the future.
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