GUNSLINGER GIRL by Lyndsay Ely

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... 

This is another book I found out about during last year's Date a Book YA Blogger Night at Hachette HQ. So when I received a copy, I was very excited and couldn't wait to get started. 

Serendipity Jones prefers to be called Pity, and lives in a farming commune with her strict father and two brothers. When her father announces he's arranged to ship her off to another commune to marry a stranger, she decides to get the hell out of there. 

Pity packs her mother's beloved revolvers, some essential supplies and escapes with her best friend. But the world is a very dangerous place and nothing goes according to plan. 

Before she knows it, Pity's in the most dangerous city in the world. Not only does she become a performer in the Theatre Vespertine, but catches the eye of the woman in charge and gets caught in the middle of a conspiracy. But being surrounded by new friends and having found a real place in the world won't stop danger from creeping around the corner and threatening everything... 

Wow. This book really delivered. 

I have to admit that I was SO looking forward to reading this story I was a little scared to get started. O.o But I didn't need to worry because I was hooked instantly! 

Pity's story might be told in third person POV, but the intimacy between character and reader is maintained by how well it's written. Not to mention the worldbuilding is exciting and new, and manages to mix a bunch of genres together to weave an intricate and wonderful story. 

The characters are awesome and plenty. They're colourful in a very Vegas way. All of them have complicated pasts as well as private secrets and sharp survival instincts to keep them alive. Everything just fit so well, and the dark city of Cessation was the perfect setting. 

Another of my favourite things about this book was how unpredictable and unexpected everything turned out to be. It started out like a solid western, and soon became a futuristic, before turning into a carnival-esque tale and then twisting everything around to become a suspenseful political conspiracy. 

Just when I got comfy with where Pity's story was leading, a new surprise struck. This kept happening throughout the whole book, which is totally cool.  

Gunslinger Girl is a fantastic genre-bending novel full of intrigue, surprises that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, and a cool heroine that'll have you cheering for her all the way to The End. Not to mention that the dystopian, dangerous world she lives in will take your breath away, eat away at your nerves, and leave you wanting more! 

If that doesn't, then the love story will. ;) 

Also, I have to mention how pretty the cover is, and that the hardback edition is beautiful. So lovely. 

I loved this. Heaps.

Gunslinger Girl, February 2018, ISBN 9780316555104, Little Brown & Co.