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spinesinaline's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This novella is a futuristic take on Westerns with this blurb hook, “queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing” – obviously I’m interested! It’s short and sweet and while the story is nicely contained, I wouldn’t say no to a whole series about these characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, and Vomit
zilli's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Transphobia, Homophobia, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Police brutality, War, Vomit, Trafficking, Sexism, and Grief
Minor: Blood
bluejayreads's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a short, quick, and fairly enjoyable novella in a dystopian version of the American West.
Being so short, there isn't a lot of worldbuilding. Librarians distribute approved materials, people get executed for having unapproved materials, it's illegal to talk about Utah, and there's a constant war going on somewhere in the country, and the rest expects you to have a passing familiarity with the western genre and fill it in with your imagination. Since it's a novella and I do have a vague idea of how westerns work, it was fine. In anything longer it would have needed more.
This is definitely a character-driven book, focusing on Esther's discovery that there are people out there like her (i.e. queer) and that being queer does not mean she's bad, broken, or destined to hurt the people she loves. The society around her is very homophobic (and transphobic, the nonbinary Librarian requests to be misgendered around other people because it would be unsafe otherwise), but she definitely has a lot of the homophobia internalized too and much of her emotional journey is learning that it's okay for her to exist as she is.
Of course, there is an external journey too, as the Librarians Esther stowed away with are delivering a "package" somewhere and also doing their job of distributing approved materials across the southwest. There's gunfights, bandits, safe houses and not-so-safe checkpoints. They keep the story interesting, but the heart of it is the world telling these people it's not okay to be themselves and love who they want and them standing up and saying they're gonna do it anyway.
For a novella, it does have a lot of emotional depth, but it's still a quick read. There are a lot of dark events and a lot of people dying so I would absolutely not call this light or fun, but despite being dark it is ultimately hopeful. If you like westerns and want to see a western with some queer protagonists, I wouldn't hesitate to tell you to pick up Upright Women Wanted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Homophobia
Moderate: Gore and Transphobia
Misgendering (by request for safety reasons)mryshells's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
laurajones's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Gore, and Transphobia
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Vomit
kierscrivener's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
“When there's people around that we don't trust, we let them think we're the kinds of people who are allowed to exist. And the only kind of Librarian that's allowed to exist is one who answers to she.”
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Gore
dytiscusfriend's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Police brutality, Transphobia, and Violence
catsy2022's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Rating: B
Upright Woman Wanted is my 2nd Sarah Gailey novel(la). I have also read Magic for Liars. This is a novella about a woman named Esther who flees her settlement in wild west dystopian USA to join the Librarians for a chance to survive after her friend and secret lover, Beatriz, is caught for possessing "unapproved materials" ala 1984 and is subsequently hanged.
Like many Tor novels, this book featured an immensely diverse cast. There's a lesbian couple or two and a queer character and a non-binary character. It actually played really well into the story, which was a pleasant experience. I did like the setting and the characters, the resolution was also really great.
However, my issue with this novella and a similar one: The Order of the Pale Moon Reflected in Water is that they feel directionless and meaningless until the very end. I found myself feeling lost and finding little structure in the overall story. It felt like the author had written it without a plan. While I won't say it's bad, it wasn't the most enjoyable or authentic story.
Recommended for fans of Fallout.
Upright Woman Wanted is my 2nd Sarah Gailey novel(la). I have also read Magic for Liars. This is a novella about a woman named Esther who flees her settlement in wild west dystopian USA to join the Librarians for a chance to survive after her friend and secret lover, Beatriz, is caught for possessing "unapproved materials" ala 1984 and is subsequently hanged.
Like many Tor novels, this book featured an immensely diverse cast. There's a lesbian couple or two and a queer character and a non-binary character. It actually played really well into the story, which was a pleasant experience. I did like the setting and the characters, the resolution was also really great.
However, my issue with this novella and a similar one: The Order of the Pale Moon Reflected in Water is that they feel directionless and meaningless until the very end. I found myself feeling lost and finding little structure in the overall story. It felt like the author had written it without a plan. While I won't say it's bad, it wasn't the most enjoyable or authentic story.
Recommended for fans of Fallout.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, Gore, and Blood
Minor: Murder
mar's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Gore and Transphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexism
thebookgirl's review
challenging
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I hate giving it this rating but like nothing happened. Let down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Blood, Gore, Homophobia, Hate crime, and Gun violence