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WORK TITLE: Gunslinger Girl
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 12-Jun
WEBSITE: https://lyndsayely.wordpress.com/
CITY: Boston
STATE: MA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
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| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/n2017046945 |
| HEADING: | Ely, Lyndsay |
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| 005 | 20170807090941.0 |
| 008 | 170807n| azannaabn |n aaa |
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| 040 | __ |a DLC |b eng |c DLC |e rda |
| 100 | 1_ |a Ely, Lyndsay |
| 670 | __ |a Gunslinger girl, 2018: |b ECIP title page (Lyndsay Ely) |
PERSONAL
Female.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Lyndsay Ely’s debut novel is called Gunslinger Girl. It is set in a dystopic United States after a new civil war has torn the country apart, leaving some areas destitute and dangerous and others fabulously wealthy. Serendipity “Pity” Jones is born in the midst of the New West, where she serves her abusive father as a virtual indentured servant. She escapes from drudgery to the fabulous city of Cessation. Pity earns her keep in a stage show there, “where she performs like a dystopian Annie Oakley,” stated a Publishers Weekly reviewer, “using the sharpshooter skills she inherited from her mother.” Gunslinger Girl “features an enormous cast of characters and numerous twists involving assassination plots and hidden identities,” explained Magdalena Teske in School Library Journal. “The world-building is thorough and the backstory is skillfully interwoven.” “This is an action-packed, thrilling read in an exciting, genre-bending book,” wrote Blake Norby in Voice of Youth Advocates. “Ely introduces readers to a dystopian wild west that is brilliantly imagined.”
The author has commented extensively on the way in which she blended traditional Western tropes with trendy dystopian ones. “In general, growing up with a love for action and adventure stories, but so rarely finding them with female protagonists and/or significant female characters who actually did important stuff” provided the initial impetus for the novel, Ely explained in an interview with Beth Edwards on the website YA Books Central. “It’s getting better these days, but I still remember watching the first episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and what a big deal it was to my teen self that a girl my age was the one saving the day over and over. I never got the Western heroine I wanted though. So that’s a book I decided to write.” “From the beginning,” Ely said in a Hypable interview, “I knew I wanted Gunslinger Girl to be a Western, but a nontraditional one. Setting it in a near-future world allowed me flexibility to play with the existing society and technology levels, as well as put some fun twists on the usual Western elements. Also, there’s something inherently dystopian already about the idea of the ‘wild west,’ so it seemed like the genres would blend well. … Annie Oakley was definitely an inspiration, though I suspect she was an even better shot than Pity.”
In general, critics enjoyed Gunslinger Girl. “Gunslinger Girl is Wizard of Oz as a western–in a good way,” assessed B.B. Morgan on the eponymous blog B.B. Morgan. “I loved the characters, the world, and the writing, and … it was … a highly enjoyable read. Fans of the Hunger Games should give this book a shot.” “Ely’s debut is a futuristic western packed with nonstop action,” stated Booklist reviewer Maggie Reagan. “The setting is undeniably interesting.” Ely, declared a Kirkus Reviews contributor, has “a whole lot to say about how right and wrong so often borrow from each other.” “I was expecting the typical western, like something out of Back to the Future III, but instead you get a complex dystopian world,” declared an Angelic Book Reviews contributor. The novel “was breathtaking and I absolutely loved it. We got to know the politics and how the country is run, as well as the backstory of what happened to create this dystopian world.” Pity is “not always sure of herself but wants to do more with her life than live in a Commune and have children, and she’s willing to risk everything to find something more,” wrote a contributor to NovelKnight Book Reviews. “Much like I found the book, Pity is a good heroine.” “Gunslinger Girl is a really entertaining Western adventure, complete with a badass heroine who is an expert sharpshooter,” remarked a reviewer for Here’s to Happy Endings. “I really found myself loving Pity, and I enjoyed getting a look at her past, as well as the emotions that she expresses in the present. She isn’t the kind of main character who relies on others who defend her or come to her rescue continuously, and she knows how to handle herself. It’s great to show readers that Westerns can have female main characters.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2017, Maggie Reagan, review of Gunslinger Girl, p. 64.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2017, review of Gunslinger Girl.
Publishers Weekly, December 18, 2017, review of Gunslinger Girl.
School Library Journal, November, 2017, Magdalena Teske, review of Gunslinger Girl, p. 84.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 2017, Blake Norby, review of Gunslinger Girl, p. 67.
ONLINE
Angelic Book Reviews, http://angelic-reviews.blogspot.com/ (December 26, 2017), Aneta Bak, review of Gunslinger Girl.
B.B. Morgan, https://bbmorganblog.wordpress.com/ (January 27, 2018), B.B. Morgan, review of Gunslinger Girl.
Here’s to Happy Endings, http://www.herestohappyendings.com/ (January 4, 2018), review of Gunslinger Girl.
Hypable, https://www.hypable.com/ (January 5, 2018), Danielle Zimmerman, “‘Gunslinger Girl’ Author Lyndsay Ely Discusses Untraditional Characters, Midi-chlorians, and More.”
Lyndsay Ely Website, https://lyndsayely.wordpress.com (June 23, 2018), author profile.
NovelKnight Book Reviews, http://novelknight.com/ (December 8, 2017), review of Gunslinger Girl.
YA Books Central, http://www.yabookscentral.com/ (January 2, 2018), Beth Edwards, “Author Chat with Lyndsay Ely (Gunslinger Girl).”
About
Lyndsay Ely (pronounced “eel-y”, as in those eels are looking very eel-y today) is a writer who currently calls Boston home. She is a geek, a foodie, a feminist, and has never met an antique shop she didn’t like. Her favorite color is crimson, and her favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo.
Gunslinger Girl is her debut novel.
FAQ
Are you on social media?
I’m all over it. You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or check out my page on Goodreads.
Do you have agent representation?
Yes, I am represented by the inimitable Laura Zats at Red Sofa Literary.
I’m a reviewer/book blogger looking for an advanced reading copy for the purposes of review. Who should I contact?
Please contact Erinn McGrath at Erinn(dot)McGrath(at)hbgusa(dot)com.
I’m a reader who can’t wait! Is there a way I can get an advanced reading copy too?
I have a limited number of ARCs that I will be offering as giveaways via social media, so keep an eye out there.
To contact me, please use the form below:
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Ely, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl
Blake Norby
Voice of Youth Advocates.
40.5 (Dec. 2017): p67. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
Ely, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl. Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown, January 2018. $17.99. 432p. 978-0-316-55510-4.
4Q * 4P * S
Serendipity "Pity" Jones lives in the United States after a second civil war has divided the country. Her mother was a Patriot, who lost the war, and only stayed sober enough to pass her sharpshooting skills on to Pity. After her mother died, Pity inherited a pair of six-shooters and the hatred of her father. Needing an escape, Pity runs away and finds herself in the city of Cessation, a placed filled with outlaws and debauchery. Pity's skill with her guns offers her a chance at fame and fortune in her newfound home, but she soon learns that putting on a good performance in the theater is not all that will be expected of her. Her sense of luck and security quickly fade as she has to decide what price she is willing to pay for freedom.
This is an action-packed, thrilling read in an exciting, genre-bending book. Ely introduces readers to a dystopian wild west that is brilliantly imagined. The characters are fully developed with authentic voices and purposeful interactions. While the story stays engaging through its multitude of action sequences, Pity's character is difficult to consistently pull for and understand. Her personality and her actions do not always match, to the point that it feels like there are actually two different main characters instead of someone figuring out a different side of herself. Regardless, a plot full of surprises, temptation, betrayal, and, of course, shootouts will be a welcome addition to the dystopia bookshelf.--Blake Norby.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Norby, Blake. "Ely, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl." Voice of Youth Advocates, Dec. 2017, p. 67. Book
Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522759462/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=729056d5. Accessed 20 May 2018.
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Gale Document Number: GALE|A522759462
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Ely, Lyndsay: GUNSLINGER GIRL
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 15, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Ely, Lyndsay GUNSLINGER GIRL Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown (Children's Fiction) $17.99 1, 2 ISBN: 978-0-316-55510-4
Debut author Ely brings to life a gritty future American West, shattered by a Second Civil War, in which a sharpshooting teen must reconcile the conflicting pulls of security, justice, and conscience.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones runs away from an untenable situation in her Commune and finds herself in Cessation, where there is no law except that which exists in Casimir, part brothel, part gambling hall, part stronghold, and all the domain of the ruthless and golden-skinned Miss Selene. Pity's skills secure her a place in the Theatre Vespertine and a home with a new sort of family, but she still must contend with a guilt born out of a personal failure earlier in the story--and with the hard justice of the world she now finds herself in. There is violence here (on the page) and sex (off the page), but both serve a purpose. The first half of the book makes some familiar moves and makes them slowly, but the story gains steam and arrives at a satisfying ending. The lackluster love story also gets interesting in the second half, happily avoiding the usual tropes and even inverting a couple.
A little Into the Badlands, a little Firefly, a whole lot to say about how right and wrong so often borrow from each other. (Dystopian Western. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Ely, Lyndsay: GUNSLINGER GIRL." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2017. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A509244059/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=a58bba11. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A509244059
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Gunslinger Girl
Maggie Reagan
Booklist.
114.5 (Nov. 1, 2017): p64. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Gunslinger Girl.
By Lyndsay Ely.
Jan. 2018.368p. Little, Brown/JIMMY Patterson, $17.99 (9780316555104); e-book, $9.99 (9780316555302). Gr. 9-12.
After a second civil war ravaged the country, the U.S. fractured and the Confederacy of North America seized control, while the remaining Patriot insurgents splintered. With birth rates plummeting in the aftermath of chemical warfare, fertile women are traded like livestock. It is into this world that Serendipity ("Pity") is born, living under her father's tyrannical thumb after her sharpshooter mother drank herself into an early death. When her father barters her freedom away, Pity, an expert shot herself, grabs her mother's six-shooters and runs for her life, ultimately finding herself at Cessation, a lawless, dangerous city. There she and her pistols impress the woman who runs the city, and she's given a decadent, deadly theater act. But there's more going on in this city than meets the eye, and Pity may find herself in over her head. Ely's debut is a futuristic western packed with nonstop action. The setting is undeniably interesting, and brassy- but-indecisive Pity is easy to root for. Hand to fans of commercial thrillers. --Maggie Reagan
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Reagan, Maggie. "Gunslinger Girl." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2017, p. 64. Book Review Index Plus,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A515383098/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=3a733a71. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A515383098
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ELY, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl
Magdalena Teske
School Library Journal.
63.11 (Nov. 2017): p84. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
ELY, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl. 432p. Little, Brown/Jimmy Patterson. Jan. 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316555104.
Gr 8 Up--Serendipity "Pity" Jones has never been happy living on her agricultural commune in the dystopian Confederacy of North America, but the final straw is when her father sells her off as a "bridal bribe." She and her friend Finn flee the commune, heading for the city of Columbia. They don't make it far before Finn is killed by scroungers and Pity is picked up by a group of travelers from Cessation, the futuristic equivalent of a Wild West town. Known for having "no government, no morals, and no law," it is nonetheless under the strict control of a woman known only as Selene. At Selene's decree, Pity joins Halcyon Singh's Theatre Vespertine as a sharpshooter. Pity dreads this role and jumps at the opportunity to serve Selene in another way: She is asked to feign a romance with presidential candidate Patrick Sheridan in order to conceal the political schemes, which are the real reasons for his visits to Cessation. Meanwhile, Pity has formed an actual romance with Max, the set and costumes designer for the theatre. Ely's novel features an enormous cast of characters and numerous twists involving assassination plots and hidden identities. The world-building is thorough and the backstory is skillfully interwoven into the plot; however, the story is too complex to leave much room for much characterization, with the exception of the sharp-tongued protagonist. VERDICT An additional purchase with appeal for fans of speculative settings, such as those in Neal Shusterman's Unwind or Rachel Caine's "Great Library" trilogy.--Magdalena Teske, West Chicago Public Library District
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Teske, Magdalena. "ELY, Lyndsay. Gunslinger Girl." School Library Journal, Nov. 2017, p. 84.
Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A513759659 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=0099506c. Accessed 20 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A513759659
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Author Chat with Lyndsay Ely (Gunslinger Girl), Plus Giveaway!
Tuesday, 02 January 2018
Beth Edwards, Assistant Blog Manager
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GunslingerGirl
Today we're excited to chat with Lyndsay Ely,
author of Gunslinger Girl.
Read on for more about Lyndsay and her book, plus a giveaway!
Meet Lyndsay Ely!
Lyndsay Ely is a writer and creative professional who currently calls Boston home. She is a geek, a foodie, and has never met an antique shop she didn't like. Gunslinger Girl is her debut novel.
Website * Facebook * Twitter
Meet Gunslinger Girl!
James Patterson presents a genre-bending, action-packed debut -- and introduces YA's new favorite, kick-ass heroine: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. When her father attempts to marry her off to a stranger, she runs away from their humble farming commune and ends up in the most dangerous, decadent city on the continent: Cessation (a lawless Las Vegas). Pity becomes the star of the Theater Vespertine as a trick sharpshooter like Annie Oakley, and there she finds fame, friendship and--what she most wanted--belonging.
But there's a darker side to the Theater...The Finale. Every so often the fighting factions of Cessation have to be kept in line with a little demonstration, a nightmarish public execution. And Pity has a starring role...
Amazon * B & N * Indiebound
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
In general, growing up with a love for action and adventure stories, but so rarely finding them with female protagonists and/or significant female characters who actually did important stuff. It’s getting better these days, but I still remember watching the first episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, and what a big deal it was to my teen self that a girl my age was the one saving the day over and over. I never got the Western heroine I wanted though. So that’s a book I decided to write.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I feel like I get this question a lot and my answer changes every time. Today I’ll say Selene, because I love her self-control, ruthlessness, and slightly twisted sense of kindness.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The novel, by leaps and bounds! It actually had a couple of other working titles before GUNSLINGER GIRL came along.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
This is a little hard to answer without spoiling anything, but there is a scene where Pity is putting on a performance she doesn’t really want to be doing. I love writing any scene full of action, but this one has a particular emotional intensity to it that was really exciting to write.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?
To get comfortable with making revisions, changing course, and killing my darlings. It’s really easy to latch onto the idea that something in your book—a character, a plot point—is the way it is and there’s no other way it could be. But the more I write the more I’m forced to admit that’s rarely true.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
Can I say everything? Getting your cover is one of the scariest moments in a debut author’s journey, but from first comp until the final design, I loved it. My day job is graphic designer, so of course I had an idea in my head of what I wanted. GG’s cover is surprisingly close to that, but much, MUCH better than what I would have done.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2018?
I’m going to cheat a little and say a comic book, Strangers in Paradise. It’s actual the return of the series, which initially concluded in 2007. It was such a formative read for me growing up (I mean, one of the characters in GG was heavily inspired by a SiP character) that the fact that it’s returning in the same month that my debut is publishing gets me a little choked up.
YABC: What was your favorite book in 2017?
How can I pick only one? If pushed, I’d have to say Six of Crows, because I am such a sucker for anti-heroes and heist stories. (I’ve even been putting off reading Crooked Kingdom so that the story isn’t over for me yet.)
Other books that have really stuck with me since reading them this year are The Hate U Give, The Fifth Season, and An Unkindness of Ghosts.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
My gateway genre was fantasy, so I’d really like to do something there, with a whole bunch of magic and adventure. And darkness. I really love dark books that sink their claws into you and won’t let go, and I aspire to reach that level in my own writing.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
Sure! How about the playlist for Gunslinger Girl? It can be found on Spotify here.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
Again, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I always feel like I’m stumbling through the romance scenes, especially those of the blush-y variety. (Which is kind of funny, because I’m not shy about reading other people’s romantic scenes, no matter how steamy.)
YABC: Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
I’d say Pity, simply because she is the character the story is closest to. One reason I love Westerns is because they allow characters to have a certain level of gray morality. But that made her hard to write at times, because when right and wrong aren’t clear, the decisions a character makes become more complicated.
YABC: Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?
Definitely revising. (Until it gets to the point where I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve revised the same material. Then I like drafting.)
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
I’m really into antiques and collectibles, so probably finding that one valuable or really cool thing in a box full of junk. (Though I haven’t found any magical artifacts or spell books yet, which is a little disappointing.)
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
Anything that supports animals, whether endangered wildlife or domestic pets in need. I have a hard time not donating to every “my pet needs a surgery” fundraiser I see because, well, animals are really just the best.
Gunslinger Girl
Author: Lyndsay Ely
Publishing Date: January 2nd, 2018
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
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‘Gunslinger Girl’ author Lyndsay Ely discusses untraditional characters, midi-chlorians, and more
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BooksFeatures
Lyndsay Ely’s debut novel Gunslinger Girl is an exciting, must-read tale that takes everything you love about westerns and puts it in an intriguing dystopian future.
We spoke with Ely after devouring Gunslinger Girl and asked her a few of our most burning questions (including if we were going to be seeing more of this fantastic world she has created anytime soon)!
About ‘Gunslinger Girl’
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Goodreads
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Related: Gunslinger Girl review: Anything you can do, Pity can do better
Q&A with ‘Gunslinger Girl’ author Lyndsay Ely
1. What made you set a western in a dystopian future rather than in the past (either historical or alternative)?
From the beginning, I knew I wanted Gunslinger Girl to be a Western, but a non-traditional one. Setting it in a near-future world allowed me flexibility to play with the existing society and technology levels, as well as put some fun twists on the usual Western elements. Also, there’s something inherently dystopian already about the idea of the “wild west,” so it seemed like the genres would blend well.
2. What aspect of the world that you’ve created in ‘Gunslinger Girl’ was the most fun to dream up? What was the most challenging?
The answer to both is probably the Theatre Vespertine. I spent a lot of time thinking about classic past and current acts in circuses and carnivals, and how to put a sexy or deadly spin on them. Even though the theater performers are mostly minor characters, they were some of the most fun to come up with.
3. Annie Oakley is obviously (at least to me) an inspiration for the novel’s main character. Were there any other characters or female figures that inspired Serendipity Jones?
Annie Oakley was definitely an inspiration, though I suspect she was an even better shot than Pity. Other than that, I’ve always loved and been inspired by female characters who are unabashedly good at what they do — Sharon Stone’s The Lady in The Quick and the Dead, Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica, Zoe Washburne, Princess/General Leia — the list goes on!
4. ‘Gunslinger Girl’ features a lot of characters in untraditional roles for their genders (a female bartender/security guard, a male costume and set designer, etc.). What drove you to not only give the women more traditionally ‘masculine’ roles but also some of the men more ‘feminine’ roles?
Honestly, I’m tired of characters in non-traditional roles for their gender being treated as anomalies. When I was a teenager, the idea of the female character breaking boundaries and doing a traditionally male thing was exciting and cool, but a couple decades later it seems like we’re still stuck on that same trope. I don’t think characters should be locked into roles because of gender any more than real people should be. So, in Gunslinger Girl, I decided to write a world where characters do what they love or are good at and no one questions or remarks on their gender while they do it.
5. One of the major themes I noticed in this novel is that of chosen family. In fact, most biological family ties are characterized as undesirable or even dangerous. Why did you choose to emphasize the importance and love of chosen families over biological ones? What makes them more preferable and supportive in this kind of world?
Feeling accepted and respected for who you are is such an important thing — whether by a biological family, a chosen one, or, preferably, both — and it’s something I love seeing people find, both in real life and in fiction. In regards to Cessation, where Pity ends up, I wanted it to be this lawless, decadent city, but also a place where anyone could be themselves, no matter what kind of self that is. Where Pity comes from is technically safer, but much less accepting, making Cessation (and the friends she finds there) the clear choice.
6. Were there any aspects of CONA or Cessation that you wish you could’ve explored more but that just didn’t quite fit in with the story or the characters’ arcs?
Oh, so many! This book could have been twice as long, easily. In the end, I had to keep to the details that mattered to the main story. That being said, I like not explaining everything in a fictional world because, well, that’s how you end up with midi-chlorians. And, as a reader, I like being allowed to fill in some of the blanks myself.
7. Lastly, I just *have* to ask: Do you have any plans as of now to continue exploring this world or following these characters we’ve all come to know and love?
There are definitely more stories in this world I’d love to tell, especially in regards to the side characters. Again, there were a lot of tidbits that never made it in, and some that ended up being cut from the book because they weren’t relevant. I definitely hope to get them out there, someday!
About the author
Lyndsay Ely
Lyndsay Ely (pronounced “eel-y,” as in those eels are looking very eel-y today) is a writer who currently calls Boston home. She is a geek, a foodie, a feminist, and has never met an antique shop she didn’t like. Her favorite color is crimson, and her favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo.
Gunslinger Girl is her debut novel.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreadshttps://www.hypable.com/gunslinger-girl-lyndsay-ely-interview/
Gunslinger Girl
Lyndsay Ely. LB/Patterson, $17.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-316-55510-4
After a second Civil War, 17-year-old Serendipity “Pity” Jones is little more than a punching bag and indentured servant to her father in the new west. A botched attempt to run away leads her to the city of Cessation, where she performs like a dystopian Annie Oakley, using the sharpshooter skills she inherited from her mother to earn herself a place in the show. Pity’s naiveté makes her an easy target in the glitzy community of Casimir, but her transformation from farm girl to willing killer, interspersed with her guilt over her best friend’s death and her romance with new acquaintance Max, is a bit rapid. Debut author Ely keeps Pity’s hands implausibly clean amid the sex, drugs, and debauchery of her environment, and although the lawless world Ely has created is rife with possibilities, the supporting characters, though colorful, are largely flat. For a gunslinger, Pity spends little time acting for her own sake, and her mere survival, let alone victory, under such circumstances comes across as similarly unlikely. Ages 15–up. Agent: Laura Zats, Red Sofa Literary. (Jan.)
DETAILS
Reviewed on: 12/18/2017
Release date: 01/02/2018
MP3 CD - 978-1-5491-4004-4
Compact Disc - 978-1-4789-2364-0
Gunslinger Girl
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Review: Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Series: Unknown #1
Publication Date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ TBD
Synopsis: James Patterson presents a bold new heroine--a cross between Katniss Everdeen and Annie Oakley: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great....
In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot.
My Rating
4/5 stars
My Review
Gunslinger Girl was a powerful book set in a dystopian western society. It was so creative and unique, I loved every minute of it.
Pity can't wait for the day she can escape the commune. After her mother's death, Pity has lived a life of being told what to do by her father. When her father returns to town and tells Pity of his plan to sell her off to some stranger because she's "fertile," Pity decides that her escape is either now or never. Pity is taken to Cessation where she is offered a life of fame in the Theatre as Serendipity Jones, the fastest gunslinger in the west, but freedom comes at a price.
This book was not at all what I originally expected, but I fell in love with it nevertheless. Pity is an amazing main character and I just cant get enough of her. She is so strong and smart but she's also very human. She is not always brave and occasionally does the wrong thing, but her character development throughout the book was absolutely exquisite. She becomes stronger and a better woman. I cant wait to read more of her story and what she does next.
The supporting characters in this book were also very unique and engaging. I absolutely loved Max and Selene. Max is definitely the mysterious, artistic, bad boy type with a good heart that you cant help to fall in love with. And Selene is such a strong ruler, but also very loveable at times. The rest of the characters were really interesting as well, although it took me a bit of time to figure out who was who as I got the names confused in the beginning.
The plot of this story was what surprised me the most. I was expecting the typical western, like something out of Back to the Future III, but instead you get a complex dystopian world, that is something you haven't heard about before. The world that Miss Ely created was breathtaking and I absolutely loved it. We got to know the politics and how the country is run, as well as the backstory of what happened to create this dystopian world. I really hope to explore the world a lot more in the future books.
Overall, I loved this book so much, and I can't wait to read more from this series and from this author. I highly recommend this book to all YA Fantasy and Dystopia lovers, this is a book you won't want to miss.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Review – Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
POSTED ON DECEMBER 8, 2017 BY AUSTINE IN BOOK REVIEW
Review – Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Published on January 2, 2018 by Jimmy Patterson
Pages: 432
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
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James Patterson presents a bold new heroine—a cross between Katniss Everdeen and Annie Oakley: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great....
In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot.
This book was provided by the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I wanted to love Gunslinger Girl. So much, in fact, that when I started struggling to read it and set it aside I couldn’t bring myself to read something else in the meantime. As though if I limited myself long enough I’d give in and push through until it got better because it totally would. . . right?
It kind of did. Enough that I finished the book feeling pretty meh about it all. Good, not great. I was expecting a futuristic Wild West. Maybe in the vein of Westworld (which I’m a tad obsessed with) with a younger heroine? Not quite what I got. Instead it started out promising but quickly fell into tropes I’m used to seeing in dystopian YAs with a hint of western flair. Main character comes from a bad place, escapes to a “better” place, learns this “better” place isn’t as great as it seems. Possible love triangle. But tropes aren’t bad.
I’m just tired of them in this particular genre.
It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have had the expectation that this book would be different and instead just read it as is. Now that said, I did like Pity (though reading “Pity” over and over started confusing me, I kept thinking it was the noun rather than the name). She’s not always sure of herself but wants to do more with her life than life in a Commune and have children, and she’s willing to risk everything to find something more. But I also didn’t have strong opinions about her either. Much like I found the book, Pity is a good heroine, but not anything spectacular.
So an average character plays sharpshooter in what amounts to a weird combination of dystopia and Old Wild West. Now I would expect that the story would sort of revolve around Pity’s abilities with a pistol and, to a point, it was. But then everything slowed down after those initial high-tension scenes and you’re left with a weird romance subplot intermixed with schemes and plots afoot. The story became less about Pity and more about everything happening around her and how she handled it.
I started losing interest.
I enjoy books where the character is driving the plot through their decisions, where the character has to struggle and deal with making the wrong decision. Instead, Gunslinger Girl felt like a series of events happening to the character and she reacted. Too much reaction, not enough action (in this particular sense).
It’s not a bad book. But it wasn’t a spectacular book either. Definitely average and I might pick up the sequel in the future but it’s not high on my list especially with how this book ended and a particular subplot I wasn’t a fan of.
Be careful of your expectations when reading this book.
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3 responses to “Review – Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely”
Tammy
I had requested this book but I never received a copy, so maybe that’s a good thing. Too bad, I had high hopes for this as well!
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12TH JAN, 2018 AT 1:43PM REPLY
Megan @ Ginger Mom
I have wanted to read this book for so long! Great review 🙂
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12TH JAN, 2018 AT 1:59PM REPLY
Justonemorepaige
Great review – I definitely have this one on my list for this year, but will be careful about expectations now. Good to know!
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13TH JAN, 2018 AT 9:57PM REPLY
Please Note: Reviews on NovelKnight are currently undergoing formatting edits. Please excuse any inconsistencies while this is happening. All content is the same and these changes should not affect your reading experience.
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RATING SCALE
Well, there went my day. Couldn't put it down. I think it destroyed any hope of reading other books...
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It shall receive high recommendations. Now go read it.
This book was average. Neither good nor bad. Certainly not the worst book I've read, but not the best either.
This book really just wasn't for me.
Well, I finished it. How? I don't know. Definitely do not recommend.
Did not finish. Self explanatory.
ABOUT
I'm a twenty-something children's and adult fiction book reviewer. Science teacher in training. Ready to give you your next book recommendation!
Indie Writer, Freelance Editor, Bookworm, Optimist, Hopeless Romantic, Yoga Enthusiast, Total Nerd, Caffeine Addict, Night Owl, and Dog Lover.
Book Review: Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely (4/5)
JANUARY 27, 2018 ~ BB MORGAN
Image result for gunslinger girl by lyndsay ely
“Serendipity “Pity” Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six-shooters and perfect aim. Those won’t get her far on the farming commune, but in the decadent, dangerous city of Cessation, a fast draw with buy her freedom.”
What’s not to love about that hook? It’s what got me. I didn’t even read the inside cover for this book. I just dove in.
Gunslinger Girl is Wizard of Oz as a western – in a good way. The story takes place in a world of tomorrow – one rifled by the Second Civil War. Pity runs away from her commune life and ends up in the glittering, lawless world of Cessation, where Selene’s word is the only law. It had all the glitter and dirty romance of a tavern with a swing gate and a self-playing piano, only of the future.
Gunslinger Girl begins as a quest for freedom and a place to call home, but then it turns into a political game-drama about three-quarters through. That, to me, didn’t quench my thirst for a story. It felt more like a web set-up by the adults of the story that Pity had to navigate – she didn’t really do anything to advance the story. She reacted to things done by others.
Pity’s emotional struggle with murder, guilt, and love had me hooked. At times she felt whiny, but she’s a seventeen year old girl thrust into a new world of high stakes.
The story itself felt dragged – the beginning seemed to go on forever, and the climax seemed to go on forever. The middle was fun and kept me reading, but the ending and the beginning made me want to skim. The beginning had moments of exposition that I didn’t feel were necessary, mostly about the altered history of North America. Given that the history didn’t play that much into the overall story, it felt more like forced exposition.
Now, I admit, I’m not the biggest fan of dystopias. If I were, this book would have gotten a perfect score from me. It just didn’t invite me back to the book. If it had taken place in some fantasy world with assassins and thieves instead of gangs and politicians, I would have enjoyed it more.
Overall, I gave Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely a 4 out of 5. This story felt like a western, but with more of a YA flare. I loved the characters, the world, and the writing, and although it didn’t pull me in as much as others, it was still a highly enjoyable read. Fans of the Hunger Games should give this book a shot.
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3 thoughts on “Book Review: Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely (4/5)”
Kester (from LILbooKlovers)
JANUARY 28, 2018 AT 2:02 AM
I’m super excited to read this book! Lynsday is such an awesome person, and I have a signed ARC on my shelf waiting to be read! Great review!
Liked by 1 person
Reply
BB Morgan
JANUARY 28, 2018 AT 2:07 AM
Oh! Can you feel my jealousy radiating through my words? Because it’s there. A solid 85 degrees F.
Liked by 1 person
Reply
Kester (from LILbooKlovers)
JANUARY 28, 2018 AT 3:25 AM
Haha thank you! If you’re interested, I had the amazing opportunity to interview Lynsday on the blog! She’s great! I’m so glad you enjoyed Gunslinger Girl!
04
JAN
2018
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Posted in Dystopian, Reviews, Young Adult |
Book Title: Gunslinger Girl
Book Author: Lyndsay Ely
Page Count: 432
Publishing Date: January 2nd, 2018
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Date Read: December 21st, 2017
Source: ARC from publisher - Thank you!
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Synopsis
James Patterson presents a bold new heroine--a cross between Katniss Everdeen and Annie Oakley: Serendipity Jones, the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West.
Seventeen-year-old Serendipity "Pity" Jones inherited two things from her mother: a pair of six shooters and perfect aim. She's been offered a life of fame and fortune in Cessation, a glittering city where lawlessness is a way of life. But the price she pays for her freedom may be too great....
In this extraordinary debut from Lyndsay Ely, the West is once again wild after a Second Civil War fractures the U.S. into a broken, dangerous land. Pity's struggle against the dark and twisted underbelly of a corrupt city will haunt you long after the final bullet is shot.
My Review
It’s true: I haven’t read that many westerns. However, since I was a HUGE fan of Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman, I was super excited for Gunslinger Girl. I haven’t seen all that many really good western style young adult novels, so when I heard of this? I couldn’t get this book in my hands soon enough!
While I thought Gunslinger Girl had a lot to offer readers, it wasn’t exactly as Western-ish as I had found myself hoping for – sure, it did have elements that followed suit for Western themed books, and I loved them, but there was also a lot of dystopian elements and a bit of a show business theme going on that I didn’t expect. While that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book, it just seemed as though it leads readers in a different direction other than what I expected to read.
“‘Welcome, all of you, Serendipity Jones – deadliest shot in the West!'”
Serendipity Jones has had a difficult life – she lives with her father and her brothers and is expected to do all of the chores, cooking, cleaning, and mending – while dealing with an abusive father and the tragic death of her mother, which happened years prior to the current time.
When Pity takes a particularly rough beating from her father one day, she decides that she has had enough – she goes to her friend, who has been eager to get out of the small town they live in – and the two of them decide to take off for something better.
However, when tragedy strikes once more, Pity finds herself alone and not in the best of shape – until a group of travelers picks her up and takes her along with them back to their hometown. Pity struggles to become friendly with them, especially before they are willing to give her back her guns – guns that were her mother’s – and that Pity is a deadly shot with.
However, in order to stay in her new home and continue enjoying the clothes and shelter she’s been given, she will have to earn her newfound freedom by performing in the weekly show that is held – several of the residents have an interesting talent, and Pity fits right in as the deadliest shooter in the West.
While she is busy performing and learning the rules for her new town, she is also busy securing friendships with some of the others living there – including the boy who saved her originally. She starts falling for him little by little, and that’s when things start to get out of hand – Pity comes to realize that the special “finales” that sometimes occur at the ends of the shows are a bit more than she bargained for.
I really enjoyed the setting that the novel took place in – kind of like a dystopian wild West setting, although I do wish there would have been a bit more world building going on so we could have gotten a better look at the environment. Also, there wasn’t much talk about why the world was in the state it was, which I was hoping for. I love a really strong backstory in a book like this, especially when it has a bit of a dystopian feel.
The characters all have their own personalities in this book, making them easy to develop a sense of connection to.
Gunslinger Girl is a really entertaining Western adventure, complete with a badass heroine who is an expert sharpshooter. I really found myself loving Pity, and I enjoyed getting a look at her past, as well as the emotions that she expresses in the present. She isn’t the kind of main character who relies on others who defend her or come to her rescue continuously, and she knows how to handle herself. It’s great to show readers that Westerns can have female main characters who can handle themselves and shoot better than some of the boys – part of the reason I always avoided Westerns were because most of them featured male main characters, so this is nice.
This was a really entertaining book, and I thought the pacing was spot on. It wasn’t too slow and it didn’t feel rushed at all. The ending leaves some room for expansion, though, if the author chooses to go that route (I honestly don’t know if there’s going to be a sequel to this one, although it would be pretty nifty if there will be!).
4 stars
Tagged 4 stars, dystopian, jimmy patterson, lyndsay ely, westerns, young adult |
This entry was posted in Dystopian, Reviews, Young Adult and tagged 4 stars, dystopian, jimmy patterson, lyndsay ely, westerns, young adult. Bookmark the permalink.
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12 Responses to Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Raven says:
January 8, 2018 at 5:04 pm
Great Review! I’m so glad you loved this book! I have this book in my TBR and I’m so looking forward to read it! I love badass heroines and Serendipity sounds like a great character! I really hope I enjoy this book as much as you did! 🙂
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Kelly says:
January 10, 2018 at 5:08 pm
I really hope you like this one when you read it! It was a great read and full of action – never a dull moment!
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Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense says:
January 9, 2018 at 4:22 pm
I’ve seen this one around and this is actually the first time I’ve read the synopsis. The cover is amazing though and already had me intrigued. Reading your thoughts, especially when you mention liking Vengeance Road (did not expect to enjoy that one as much either) makes me even more intrigued.
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Kelly says:
January 10, 2018 at 5:12 pm
The first thing I fell in love with about this book is the cover – it’s gorgeous! I hope you get the chance to read this one, and if you do, I hope you really enjoy it!
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Sara @ Forever 17 Books says:
January 11, 2018 at 8:39 am
I’ve never been really into westerns so I must admit I haven’t paid attention to this book at all but you really have me intrigued and wanting to give it a try. It might surprise me!
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Kelly says:
January 11, 2018 at 4:31 pm
I felt the same way back when I read Vengeance Road, and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest, so maybe this will be a lot better than you think!
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Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra says:
January 11, 2018 at 8:56 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever read a Western before so I’m pretty excited to have this one be my first. I love the idea of a sharpshooter heroine!
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Kelly says:
January 11, 2018 at 9:40 pm
If you read this one, I really hope you enjoy it and that it makes you want to read more!
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Olivia @ The Candid Cover says:
January 13, 2018 at 7:03 am
This book just sounds like so much fun! I am not one to pick up a Western themed novel, either. I have definitely seen a few old films and have really enjoyed them. Maybe this is a genre that I should give a try. I am glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Kelly says:
January 19, 2018 at 12:01 pm
You should definitely give the genre a try! I’m really glad I did, it changed how I feel about Westerns (at least partly, anyway, haha). There are times in this book where I got so wrapped up in the characters and the story that I even forgot I was reading a Western!
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Rebeca says:
January 18, 2018 at 2:34 pm
LOVED YOU REVIEW! I have been wanting to read this one since I fist heard about it a while ago, it sounds ds intriguing, I’ll try to read it soon 🙂
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Kelly says:
January 19, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Thank you! I loved this book, and I hope you enjoy it when you read it, too! It’s perfect for when you’re looking for something a bit different!