Early Review: She Returns From War

She Returns From War

Lee Collins

Publisher: Angry Robot – Release Date 7^th February 2013

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Angry Robot

Four years after the horrific events in Leadville, a young woman from England, Victoria Dawes, sets into motion a series of events that will lead Cora and herself out into the New Mexico desert in pursuit of Anaba, a Navajo witch bent on taking revenge for the atrocities committed against her people.

She Returns From War is the second book featuring Cora Inglesbury, supernatural hunter in the 1800s – think a female Dean Winchester in the Wild West! However, rather than following the action from Cora’s point of view, the whole story is told from Victoria Dawes viewpoint. Victoria is a young woman who vows revenge on the supernatural creatures that caused her parents death and searches out Cora to help. However, Cora’s past has caught up her and Vicky gets stuck in the middle...

One of things I loved about this story is that it doesn’t feel like time has stood still for Cora. This is set a number of years after The Dead of Winter and some things have changed. Cora is still a hard woman, but fair. There is never any idea that she is some special warrior – just some-one who works hard, has some skills and some luck. Victoria is a little naive but determined. Both women feel natural – real rather than stereotype heroines. The action is exciting and well-paced. The story flowed together seamlessly and felt more coherent than the first book. I liked the hints of native American magic which adds to the world already established.

This really is a fresh air in the world of supernatural hunters – the ending (which I don’t want to spoil but is a real surprise!) really brings one story to an end and starts a new one showing that Lee Collins isn’t afraid to move things forward. This really highlights that he is an author to watch! Many others would have been content to keep the series going in a continual loop for a few more books but Lee takes risks and I am very much looking forward to see what he writes next!

Recommended for fans of Kate Griffin and Chris Holm. 9 out of 10

The Dead of Winter Review

The Dead of Winter

- Lee Collins

Publisher: Angry Robot

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley & Angry Robot

Cora and her husband hunt things - things that shouldn't exist. When the marshal of Leadville, Colorado, comes across a pair of mysterious deaths, he turns to Cora to find the creature responsible, but if Cora is to overcome the unnatural tide threatening to consume the small town, she must first confront her own tragic past as well as her present

Cora is a gun-slinging Buffy-esque character. She and her husband, Ben roam the Wild West taking care of monsters, beasts and vampires who are terrorising towns. Ben is more the book type while Cora is happy to shoot first and ask questions second – if at all. I really like Cora’s brash no-nonsense manner and her hard drinking, gambling ways. She was a hard woman with a short temper. It would be easy to dislike her but her relationships with the priest and her husband showed she has heart and some softness to her underneath all the bluster.

A lot of the town could be seen a stereotypes – the deputy in love with one of the local call girls, the weary aged sheriff, the smug book learned British snob, and while they all felt familiar, there was a spark in each of them that made me feel like they were real. However, this is a book less focussed on character and all about the action. It feels very much like this could be the start of a series and even reads like a two-parter complete with a distinct finish half way through that has enough threads wrapped up that you’d happy, but some elements which drive the second, more personal part. I loved some of the tense scenes with the walk through the mines or the fight in the town with the creatures – it was very visual and exciting.

An exciting action-packed adventure which adds vampires and creatures to the Wild West and let’s rip! The Magnificent Seven crossed with Buffy, this is very a much read for those who want more action and less angst in their Vampire and Monster Slaying. It really makes me wonder why no-one has tried mixing up the genres like this before...or if they have, I’ve missed it. I really hope there is another book featuring Cora as there is some real potential – plus the Western genre has not appealed to me up to now!

Recommended for fans of Matthew Reilly and Jim Butcher. 8 out of 10