Hello Gemmies! Today I am providing my spoiler free review of The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis. This book follows a diverse cast of characters as they fight for their freedom. The Good Luck Girls tackles some heavy hitting social issues like oppression, slavery, prostitution, poverty, and human trafficking in a fantasy setting.
Charlotte Nicole Davis has created a vivid dystopian western featuring characters of color, lots of action, stage coach robberies, and yup....creatures! We are reminded of the cost of freedom, as we follow the five main characters Aster, Violet, Tansey, Mallow, and Clementine. I loved how we get to see the way each of these characters deals with trauma and what they are willing to do for freedom. The story is mainly told from Aster's point of view, but I do wish we had more insight into the other girls POV, to keep them from feeling flat. Make no mistake these ladies are seizing back their power, kicking ass, and taking no prisoners! I did not get the closure I would have liked from each of the characters, but I am hoping that will come in future novels.
I can't express how unique and fresh this story felt. It provoked deep feelings in me, as I saw parallels to periods in our own history, specifically slavery and the underground railroad. Freedom isn't free, and Davis does not hold back any punches when tackling these hard truths.
Synopsis from Good Reads: The country of Arketta calls them Good Luck Girls--they know their luck is anything but. Sold to a "welcome house" as children and branded with cursed markings. Trapped in a life they would never have chosen.
When Clementine accidentally murders a man, the girls risk a dangerous escape and harrowing journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge in a country that wants them to have none of those things. Pursued by Arketta's most vicious and powerful forces, both human and inhuman, their only hope lies in a bedtime story passed from one Good Luck Girl to another, a story that only the youngest or most desperate would ever believe. It's going to take more than luck for them all to survive.
I am looking forward to reading more about The Good Luck Girls and the country of Arketta. This was a stunning debut, for what I hope will turn into a brilliant series. I give The Good Luck Girls four gemstones! If you haven't read this gem yet, add it to your reading list today! If you have read it, let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Happy Reading!
