Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger

DEBUT In an alternate-history Wild West, “the Edge” at the foot of the mountains holds a danger of epic proportions. It is a border between worlds, where monsters, such as giant flying scorpions and snow krakens, regularly slip into human settlements, threatening all. Enter Melinda West and her life partner, Lance, monster-neutralizers for hire. With the support of Aunt Bea, a historian of the supernatural, and Abel, a master weapons-builder, Melinda and Lance have spent a year on the road saving numerous towns from monsters and pocketing enough money to finally settle down. However, as soon as they return home, a soul-sucking spider attacks Abel, plunging them straight into the Edge on a desperate mission to save him. Grifant takes her time building the world and its characters, imbuing all with a complexity that adds depth to this wildly entertaining story.