61 pages • 2 hours read
Victor LavalleA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
285
Novel • Fiction
Montana • 1910s
2023
Adult
18+ years
Lone Women by Victor LaValle tells the story of Adelaide Henry, a Black female homesteader in early 20th-century Montana, who flees her violent past in California, carrying a mysterious and heavy steamer trunk. Adelaide settles in the small town of Big Sandy, where she confronts both external dangers and her own dark family secret, which inevitably comes to light, affecting her relationships with her new neighbors and revealing her connection to a monstrous creature. The novel contains descriptions of racism, anti-gay bias, anti-trans bias, graphic violence, and murder, along with racist and xenophobic language.
Mysterious
Dark
Suspenseful
Challenging
31,349 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Victor LaValle's Lone Women has garnered generally favorable reviews, praised for its atmospheric setting and strong, complex protagonist. Critics appreciate its blend of historical fiction and horror, noting its innovative take on themes of isolation and survival. However, some find the pacing uneven and the narrative occasionally predictable. Overall, it's seen as a compelling and thought-provoking read.
Readers who relish horror and historical fiction will enjoy Lone Women by Victor Lavalle. Perfect for fans of The Terror by Dan Simmons and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, it offers a gripping blend of suspense and rich, atmospheric storytelling set in early 20th-century America.
31,349 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
285
Novel • Fiction
Montana • 1910s
2023
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.