Gunslingers, Magic & an Unexpected Wild West—An Easy Death

I was scrolling through my Kindle library when I stumbled across this gem I’d completely forgotten I owned. I’ve read (and loved) most of Charlaine Harris’s books, but I remember thinking this one might not be for me. The Wild West has never really been my thing, and the blurb alone told me this would be very different from her usual urban fantasy vibe.

Still, I decided to give it a try.

And I’m glad I did.

At a Glance

A Slow Start—But Worth It

I’ll be honest: it took me a little while to get into An Easy Death. Not because it’s poorly written—far from it—but because I’m used to contemporary settings and fast-paced modern fantasy. The Old West atmosphere, blended with magic and alternate history, caught me off guard.

But once I adjusted to the tone and setting, the story really began to grow on me.

This isn’t a shiny, spell-slinging urban fantasy. It’s dust, gunsmoke, political tension and magic simmering beneath the surface.

An Alternate America with Dystopian Edges

The premise is fascinating.

In this alternate timeline, Franklin Roosevelt was assassinated before taking office. The United States fractured. Territories were reclaimed or seized:

The Russian royal family took over California and Oregon.

Mexico reclaimed Texas.

Native American tribes regained large portions of their ancestral lands.

The result? A divided, unstable North America pulsing with magic and political tension. The world feels like the 1930s or 40s, but twisted into something harsher and more volatile.

There’s magic in this world, but it isn’t flashy. It’s political. It’s dangerous. It shifts power balances. The Russians, especially, wield immense magical influence, their royal bloodline marked by hemophilia and mystique.

The politics are present without being overwhelming. It’s complex enough to feel real, but never so dense that it bogs down the story.

Lizbeth Rose: A Gunnie You Don’t Want to Underestimate

At the heart of it all is nineteen-year-old Lizbeth Rose—a “gunnie,” part of a crew that escorts travelers safely across dangerous territories.

She’s not your typical heroine. She’s young, yes. A bit unworldly in some ways. But what she lacks in experience, she makes up for with sharp instincts, loyalty, and an unshakable moral compass.

"But this is what I’m good at. This is my job. And I have standards."

Lizbeth only kills when she has to—on the job or in defense of herself and her people. She believes in doing right by those who treat her well. And she shows absolutely no mercy to those who threaten her.

People underestimate her constantly.

They shouldn’t.

She’s observant. Calculating. A lot smarter than she lets on. And she uses that to her advantage every single time.

Harris also introduces a wide cast of side characters you quickly grow attached to. But fair warning: this is a brutal, unstable world. Not everyone survives. So maybe don’t get too comfortable.

A Different Kind of Fantasy

A kick-butt female gunslinger bealing with bandits, magicians, and fractured territories is definitely not something I pick up often. But that’s part of what made this book refreshing.

It blends:

• Western grit
• Dystopian tension
• Political maneuvering
• Subtle magic
• Fast-paced confrontations

Once the story finds its rhythm, it moves with purpose. It’s not explosive action on every page—but it carries a steady momentum that keeps you reading.

Final Thoughts

Even though the Wild West isn’t typically my genre of choice, An Easy Death surprised me. It took me out of my comfort zone—and sometimes that’s exactly what a good book should do.

If you’re open to an alternate-history fantasy with political intrigue, restrained but powerful magic, and a fiercely loyal gunslinger heroine, this one is worth your time.

And I’ll definitely be picking up the next book—because now I need to see where Lizbeth Rose’s journey leads next.