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Knights of Tin and Lead #2
The Beautiful Ones
"It’s not until you tame the wild places that the monsters come out.”
New hope brings new challenges and new blood from the East. With Archer and Rosamund Scott presiding over the land they love and Raymond Lacey serving as marshal, Glory Mesa is poised to enter a new golden age. But the hard-won peace is marred by rumblings of trouble on the horizon and the shadow of the ancient curse.
From Jesse Thatcher’s run-in with a grizzled mountain man to Kate Carnegie’s quest to bring justice to a pair of hapless brothers, the Western Territory becomes a stage for desperate deeds and unlikely heroes. Yet, unknown to all but a few, this season of range wars, breakneck rides, lone gunslingers, and gentle romances is building to a deadly day that will alter the territory and its people forever.
New hope brings new challenges and new blood from the East. With Archer and Rosamund Scott presiding over the land they love and Raymond Lacey serving as marshal, Glory Mesa is poised to enter a new golden age. But the hard-won peace is marred by rumblings of trouble on the horizon and the shadow of the ancient curse.
From Jesse Thatcher’s run-in with a grizzled mountain man to Kate Carnegie’s quest to bring justice to a pair of hapless brothers, the Western Territory becomes a stage for desperate deeds and unlikely heroes. Yet, unknown to all but a few, this season of range wars, breakneck rides, lone gunslingers, and gentle romances is building to a deadly day that will alter the territory and its people forever.
404 pages, Paperback
Published November 2, 2021
2 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hayse
13 books148 followersEMILY HAYSE is a lover of log cabins, strong coffee, NASCAR, and the smell of old books. Her writing is fueled by good characters and a lifelong passion for storytelling. When she is not busy turning words into worlds, she can often be found baking, singing, or caring for one of the many dogs and horses in her life. A native of Michigan, she currently resides in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 12, 2022
Honestly, the more I stare at this cover, the more beautiful it is, and the more I want it on my shelf.
Update:
Well, now that cover is on my shelf, and the content therein is beautiful too! I fell in love with the land and the writing in the first book, but now I’m emOtionALLy INveSteD in these characters. Help, because I’ve started Book 3, and I’m scared.
Update:
Well, now that cover is on my shelf, and the content therein is beautiful too! I fell in love with the land and the writing in the first book, but now I’m emOtionALLy INveSteD in these characters. Help, because I’ve started Book 3, and I’m scared.
April 20, 2022
“It’s not until you tame the wild places that the monsters come out. And they are coming…Even now they are coming.”
•
Oh boy this book. Hayse has a beautiful way of catching the simplicity of life in the wild and rugged world she’s created. The men and women of Glory Mesa captured my heart like the land captured theirs. From Thatcher to Newton, the Swifts to the Aprils, all the characters were so beautifully written, so raw and real and lovable. They truly are The Beautiful Ones.
•
Five hundred stars out of five.
Content: a couple shoot outs and other intense scenes. Mention of a curse in the land.
•
Oh boy this book. Hayse has a beautiful way of catching the simplicity of life in the wild and rugged world she’s created. The men and women of Glory Mesa captured my heart like the land captured theirs. From Thatcher to Newton, the Swifts to the Aprils, all the characters were so beautifully written, so raw and real and lovable. They truly are The Beautiful Ones.
•
Five hundred stars out of five.
Content: a couple shoot outs and other intense scenes. Mention of a curse in the land.
November 27, 2021
*contented sigh*
That was lovely.
The Beautiful Ones is Book 2 in the Knights of Tin and Lead series, a King Arthur retelling set in a fantasy version of the Wild West. I read Book 1, These War-Torn Hands, earlier this year. While I enjoyed many aspects of the first book and was intrigued by it, it's Book 2 which has cemented this series for me as Something I Really, Truly Love. Now, I still feel there are certain issues with some of the writing & plot choices, and I'll get to those later... but the CHARACTERS! And the WORLDBUILDING! My, oh my. I want to snuggle up with these characters and live in their world forever. It's been quite a while since any book (whether fantasy, historical fiction, or both) made me feel that way.
The Beautiful Ones opens with the residents of Glory Mesa picking up the pieces from the various outlaw depredations of the first book, cleaning out the remaining pockets of lawlessness. This means we get to spend a lot of quality time with the Territory's newly appointed marshal, Raymond Lacey, aka THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE, WHOM I ADORE. With apologies to Josh @The West Wing, "I love him, I love his mind, I love his shoes." Raymond is tough, stoic, honest... as incorruptible as the petrified wood in the desert where he feels so much at home. Also, he's the world's best big brother. Also, he supports equal employment opportunities for women. Also, he gets a very special relationship with a Very Special Someone whose name shall remain undisclosed because of spoilers, but can I just say--
*SCREAMINGGGGGGGGGG*
The irrepressible Kate Carnegie plays a starring role in the fight against the outlaws, too. I also love her, her mind, and her shoes. She's one of my absolute favorite types of female characters: the type who is completely unaffected by what others think of her. It's like she has a force-field around her which blocks other people's expectations. Kate doesn't care if they think she's too ruthless or too arrogant or too wild or too out-of-place. She just draws her gun, does her business, gets what she came for, and moves on. And she's not ruthless or cruel, by the way... she's just incredibly focused and logical, a quality which society has always been wary of in women, but GUESS WHO DOESN'T CARE. Kate Carnegie, that's who. Kate Carnegie is Going Places. We stan one (1) queen.
The descriptions and scenery are every bit as vivid--more so, if possible--than they were in These War-Torn Hands. There's a delicacy about them which somehow never undercuts the raw strength of the landscape. Emily Hayse knows more ways to paint a Western sunset than any other author except Willa Cather; and if you're familiar with Miss Cather's work, you will know I mean that as a very, very high compliment.
Okay, time to address the negative aspects. My issues with the plotting/writing can be summed up in two main headings. First, it's hard to juggle such a big cast, especially with the multiple first-person POV approach. It was difficult enough in Book 1, and now Book 2 has added NEW characters, many of whom also get their own first-person POVs. I struggled to care equally about all of them. Irene Semler and Lesley Gable? Absolutely. But Cristobal Newton? Not so much. And Alan and Selby's chapters were too brief for me to get a "read" on them this time, even though I really liked both guys in Book 1.
Second... the curse. We gotta talk about the curse, fellas.
For the love of Mike, stop telling me this land is cursed! SHOW ME! I'm from Missouri! You gotta show me!
[I'm not from Missouri, but you know what I mean.]
Yes, all hell has well and truly broken loose by the end of the book, which is very gratifying to a lover of dark magic and ancient spells. But this is the middle installment in a trilogy. Book 1 offered no concrete evidence of the curse which allegedly holds Glory Mesa and the Western Territory in a stranglehold. So to keep "teasing" the curse for most of Book 2, while (again) offering no concrete evidence of any real magic until the very last chapters, is... a sure-fire way to frustrate at least some of your audience. Exhibit A: me. I was frustrated. :-P
Second, I need to touch on the race issue this series presents. As stated, Knights of Tin and Lead takes place in a fantasy version of the Wild West. There are Native Americans in the story, but instead of being violently driven off the land of the Western Territory by white settlers, the native tribes don't WANT the land, because it's cursed. This is a reasonable workaround, and I understand why the author chose to incorporate it. However, it's //presented// somewhat as "ah, look at this barren and empty land waiting for the ingenuity of white people to wake it up, since nobody else will use it & make it productive." I'm not super comfortable with that attitude. Especially since these native tribes DID once live in the Western Territory, but they fled because of the dark magic, and are now waiting for prophesied heroes to come & remove the curse, and because this is a King Arthur retelling, we know these heroes are going to be Archer Scott and his merry men, who are a bunch of white dudes... do you see where I'm going with this???
If you don't, I will put it more plainly. Why are white men "saving" Native people from a curse brought on by their ancestors' "hubris" and "arrogance"?
Please understand, I don't think this is written with harmful intentions at all. I'm not accusing anybody of bad faith. And Hayse certainly shows a great deal of respect to the individual Native characters who appear in this series. I just think it's important to discuss these racial issues and give them serious consideration, in a story explicitly based on the history of the American West and its undeniably oppressive relationship with indigenous people.
But overall, I love these characters, I love this storyworld, and I lowkey want to marry Raymond Lacey (as if I didn't have enough fictional romantic obsessions ALREADY?? the AUDACITY) I'm giving The Beautiful Ones four full stars, and I can't wait for Book 3!
That was lovely.
The Beautiful Ones is Book 2 in the Knights of Tin and Lead series, a King Arthur retelling set in a fantasy version of the Wild West. I read Book 1, These War-Torn Hands, earlier this year. While I enjoyed many aspects of the first book and was intrigued by it, it's Book 2 which has cemented this series for me as Something I Really, Truly Love. Now, I still feel there are certain issues with some of the writing & plot choices, and I'll get to those later... but the CHARACTERS! And the WORLDBUILDING! My, oh my. I want to snuggle up with these characters and live in their world forever. It's been quite a while since any book (whether fantasy, historical fiction, or both) made me feel that way.
The Beautiful Ones opens with the residents of Glory Mesa picking up the pieces from the various outlaw depredations of the first book, cleaning out the remaining pockets of lawlessness. This means we get to spend a lot of quality time with the Territory's newly appointed marshal, Raymond Lacey, aka THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE, WHOM I ADORE. With apologies to Josh @The West Wing, "I love him, I love his mind, I love his shoes." Raymond is tough, stoic, honest... as incorruptible as the petrified wood in the desert where he feels so much at home. Also, he's the world's best big brother. Also, he supports equal employment opportunities for women. Also, he gets a very special relationship with a Very Special Someone whose name shall remain undisclosed because of spoilers, but can I just say--
*SCREAMINGGGGGGGGGG*
The irrepressible Kate Carnegie plays a starring role in the fight against the outlaws, too. I also love her, her mind, and her shoes. She's one of my absolute favorite types of female characters: the type who is completely unaffected by what others think of her. It's like she has a force-field around her which blocks other people's expectations. Kate doesn't care if they think she's too ruthless or too arrogant or too wild or too out-of-place. She just draws her gun, does her business, gets what she came for, and moves on. And she's not ruthless or cruel, by the way... she's just incredibly focused and logical, a quality which society has always been wary of in women, but GUESS WHO DOESN'T CARE. Kate Carnegie, that's who. Kate Carnegie is Going Places. We stan one (1) queen.
The descriptions and scenery are every bit as vivid--more so, if possible--than they were in These War-Torn Hands. There's a delicacy about them which somehow never undercuts the raw strength of the landscape. Emily Hayse knows more ways to paint a Western sunset than any other author except Willa Cather; and if you're familiar with Miss Cather's work, you will know I mean that as a very, very high compliment.
Okay, time to address the negative aspects. My issues with the plotting/writing can be summed up in two main headings. First, it's hard to juggle such a big cast, especially with the multiple first-person POV approach. It was difficult enough in Book 1, and now Book 2 has added NEW characters, many of whom also get their own first-person POVs. I struggled to care equally about all of them. Irene Semler and Lesley Gable? Absolutely. But Cristobal Newton? Not so much. And Alan and Selby's chapters were too brief for me to get a "read" on them this time, even though I really liked both guys in Book 1.
Second... the curse. We gotta talk about the curse, fellas.
For the love of Mike, stop telling me this land is cursed! SHOW ME! I'm from Missouri! You gotta show me!
[I'm not from Missouri, but you know what I mean.]
Yes, all hell has well and truly broken loose by the end of the book, which is very gratifying to a lover of dark magic and ancient spells. But this is the middle installment in a trilogy. Book 1 offered no concrete evidence of the curse which allegedly holds Glory Mesa and the Western Territory in a stranglehold. So to keep "teasing" the curse for most of Book 2, while (again) offering no concrete evidence of any real magic until the very last chapters, is... a sure-fire way to frustrate at least some of your audience. Exhibit A: me. I was frustrated. :-P
Second, I need to touch on the race issue this series presents. As stated, Knights of Tin and Lead takes place in a fantasy version of the Wild West. There are Native Americans in the story, but instead of being violently driven off the land of the Western Territory by white settlers, the native tribes don't WANT the land, because it's cursed. This is a reasonable workaround, and I understand why the author chose to incorporate it. However, it's //presented// somewhat as "ah, look at this barren and empty land waiting for the ingenuity of white people to wake it up, since nobody else will use it & make it productive." I'm not super comfortable with that attitude. Especially since these native tribes DID once live in the Western Territory, but they fled because of the dark magic, and are now waiting for prophesied heroes to come & remove the curse, and because this is a King Arthur retelling, we know these heroes are going to be Archer Scott and his merry men, who are a bunch of white dudes... do you see where I'm going with this???
If you don't, I will put it more plainly. Why are white men "saving" Native people from a curse brought on by their ancestors' "hubris" and "arrogance"?
Please understand, I don't think this is written with harmful intentions at all. I'm not accusing anybody of bad faith. And Hayse certainly shows a great deal of respect to the individual Native characters who appear in this series. I just think it's important to discuss these racial issues and give them serious consideration, in a story explicitly based on the history of the American West and its undeniably oppressive relationship with indigenous people.
But overall, I love these characters, I love this storyworld, and I lowkey want to marry Raymond Lacey (as if I didn't have enough fictional romantic obsessions ALREADY?? the AUDACITY) I'm giving The Beautiful Ones four full stars, and I can't wait for Book 3!
March 10, 2022
The Beautiful Ones expands and deepens the world we first discovered in These War-Torn Hands, on a scale that can truly be described as 'epic'. There are prophecies, visions, signs in the sky, natural disasters, underhanded dealings, enemies revealed...and rising above all of that, our wonderful heroes and heroines who are determined to live honestly and fight bravely and act justly, no matter what. There are several new characters as well, most notably (in my opinion) Irene (a woman trying to make a new life for herself in Glory Mesa) and the April brothers (Britt and Buck, men with checkered pasts and mad horse-taming skills).
If you're anything like me, you'll finish The Beautiful Ones with tears in your eyes and a frantic need for the third (and final) book in the series (In the Glorious Fields). Don't say I didn't warn you. ;) (But the tears/suspense are worth it, because this series is just that good.)
If you're anything like me, you'll finish The Beautiful Ones with tears in your eyes and a frantic need for the third (and final) book in the series (In the Glorious Fields). Don't say I didn't warn you. ;) (But the tears/suspense are worth it, because this series is just that good.)
Read
December 6, 2021RTC!
December 6, 2021
Remember how much I liked These War-Torn Hands? Yeah, well, I downright loved The Beautiful Ones. Everything I loved from book one is still here -- the sweeping vistas, the epic fight of good versus evil, and Jack Selby. Not a lot of Jack Selby, but still a bit here and there to keep me happy. Same for Raymond Lacey, who was my second-favorite in the first book. I'm afraid he's dropped to third now because... Kate Carnegie, man! Did she ever step up her game in this book! I want to hang out with her and be best friends and go on adventures and sit quietly by the fire at night not feeling like either of us has to say anything if we don't have anything to say. My goodness, I loved her.
So, the citizens of Glory Mesa start this book trying to kind of settle into a new, peaceful life now that a whole lot of Bad Guys got cleared out of the Territory. But it doesn't take long for them to discover that there are more Bad Guys around. Some of them right in Glory Mesa, in fact, though others are ranging around out in the wild too. There's a plot to kill the governor, some former enemies because friends, and some relationships fall apart too. We've got new faces in town, but familiar faces abound. We get to see new places, including an area that sounds a lot like Yellowstone, but we also hang out in Glory Mesa quite a bit, too. I really liked that mix of familiar and new.
Of the new characters, I loved Britt and Buck April and Cristobal Newton. In fact, I identified a lot with Newton in particular -- especially his longing for his home and his loyalty to new and old friends. I liked that he was a bit enigmatic, but very truthful and straight-talking. I really hope we see a lot more of him in book three.
I loved how Hayse wove the question "what does it mean to be a hero" all through the book. Do brave deeds make you a hero? Are good intentions enough? What about self-sacrifice? Willingness to sacrifice? Reluctant sacrifice? Lots of interesting things to chew on and mull over here!
So, the citizens of Glory Mesa start this book trying to kind of settle into a new, peaceful life now that a whole lot of Bad Guys got cleared out of the Territory. But it doesn't take long for them to discover that there are more Bad Guys around. Some of them right in Glory Mesa, in fact, though others are ranging around out in the wild too. There's a plot to kill the governor, some former enemies because friends, and some relationships fall apart too. We've got new faces in town, but familiar faces abound. We get to see new places, including an area that sounds a lot like Yellowstone, but we also hang out in Glory Mesa quite a bit, too. I really liked that mix of familiar and new.
Of the new characters, I loved Britt and Buck April and Cristobal Newton. In fact, I identified a lot with Newton in particular -- especially his longing for his home and his loyalty to new and old friends. I liked that he was a bit enigmatic, but very truthful and straight-talking. I really hope we see a lot more of him in book three.
I loved how Hayse wove the question "what does it mean to be a hero" all through the book. Do brave deeds make you a hero? Are good intentions enough? What about self-sacrifice? Willingness to sacrifice? Reluctant sacrifice? Lots of interesting things to chew on and mull over here!
July 24, 2025
Whoowee! Even better the second time around! (And Kate Carnegie's my new favorite heroine!)
2021 Review:
WOW! I can't tell you I've been waiting so long for this sequel since These War-Torn Hands ! Emily Hayse did not disappoint! This will forever be my favorite western-fantasy series!
We return to Glory Mesa in the aftermath of the fall of Outlaw King as its citizens enter a new golden era. We see our familiar favorites enter new lives and adventures, and meet new faces from the East travelling West in hopes of new beginnings. Of course... there are still enemies both within and outside Glory Mesa vying for power and the death of the territory's chosen governor. And there's the curse on the land that's even more prominent than ever... and legends coming alive to bring hope in this beautiful yet wild frontier!
Oh, this book had me captive for several days, and I had to take a moment to breath once I finished it! No words could describe how great this is! I was so happy to reunite with familiar favorites on their new adventures, but pleased to meet new faces as well!
I'm still rooting for Archer Scott and Rosamund, but oh how my heart ached as his burdens of leadership, being a husband, and the curse come to light. Yet, despite his weaknesses, he's still strong in many ways! (Isn't weird that I want to marry him?) And Rosamund is such a wonderful support for him, always loving and encouraging him and willing to stand by his side (I certainly hope so in Book 3) against odds. (Sounds familiar? The Last Atlantean)
I LOVE the romance! (And not just Scott and Rosamund's!) I literally squealed at a certain scene towards the end. No spoilers, but it does concern an awesome marshal!
I must rave about Kate Carnagie! Oh my gosh, is she awesome or what?! I love for her courageous spirit and tenacity... (almost making me think of Eowyn!), esoecially as her dreams come true for adventures among the knights of tin and lead!
I could go on and on about the many characters. I especially love the "Green Knight" elements, which I immediately caught with Jesse Thatcher (from reading the back cover) I'm also getting some "Sir Percival" vibes with Alan Swift, mainly from his strange visions.
I like Christobal Newton's love for his home despite his wealthy ventures. New surveyor Gable seeking a way to find himself among legends. The Swifts and their Auki cousins! The April Brothers. Sikes.
Oh... and the mastermind behind the plot against Archer ! ARGH! The moment I saw the name, I literally exclaimed "I KNEW IT!" I knew something was unsettling about this person in book 1, and the revelation confirmed it!
And now more than ever, I'm pining for Book 3, which I know it will be one EPIC showdown! (I just hope my heart doesn't get broken...)
2021 Review:
WOW! I can't tell you I've been waiting so long for this sequel since These War-Torn Hands ! Emily Hayse did not disappoint! This will forever be my favorite western-fantasy series!
We return to Glory Mesa in the aftermath of the fall of Outlaw King as its citizens enter a new golden era. We see our familiar favorites enter new lives and adventures, and meet new faces from the East travelling West in hopes of new beginnings. Of course... there are still enemies both within and outside Glory Mesa vying for power and the death of the territory's chosen governor. And there's the curse on the land that's even more prominent than ever... and legends coming alive to bring hope in this beautiful yet wild frontier!
Oh, this book had me captive for several days, and I had to take a moment to breath once I finished it! No words could describe how great this is! I was so happy to reunite with familiar favorites on their new adventures, but pleased to meet new faces as well!
I'm still rooting for Archer Scott and Rosamund, but oh how my heart ached as his burdens of leadership, being a husband, and the curse come to light. Yet, despite his weaknesses, he's still strong in many ways! (Isn't weird that I want to marry him?) And Rosamund is such a wonderful support for him, always loving and encouraging him and willing to stand by his side (I certainly hope so in Book 3) against odds. (Sounds familiar? The Last Atlantean)
I LOVE the romance! (And not just Scott and Rosamund's!) I literally squealed at a certain scene towards the end. No spoilers, but it does concern an awesome marshal!
I must rave about Kate Carnagie! Oh my gosh, is she awesome or what?! I love for her courageous spirit and tenacity... (almost making me think of Eowyn!), esoecially as her dreams come true for adventures among the knights of tin and lead!
I could go on and on about the many characters. I especially love the "Green Knight" elements, which I immediately caught with Jesse Thatcher (from reading the back cover) I'm also getting some "Sir Percival" vibes with Alan Swift, mainly from his strange visions.
I like Christobal Newton's love for his home despite his wealthy ventures. New surveyor Gable seeking a way to find himself among legends. The Swifts and their Auki cousins! The April Brothers. Sikes.
Oh... and the mastermind behind the plot against Archer ! ARGH! The moment I saw the name, I literally exclaimed "I KNEW IT!" I knew something was unsettling about this person in book 1, and the revelation confirmed it!
And now more than ever, I'm pining for Book 3, which I know it will be one EPIC showdown! (I just hope my heart doesn't get broken...)
October 28, 2023
All I have to say is AMAZING!!!!
This book was super enjoyable to read. I love how this book is an Arthurian legend but set in the Wild West. That was the whole reason why I started reading the series because it was two genres I love rolled into one: Arthurian and Western. It felt like I was reading King Arthur and his knights fighting the enemies with guns out in the desert. I love how the chapters were set in different characters' POVs and how they were connected to the storyline. There were many times when some of the characters faced near-death experiences that had my heart pumping. The story kept me on my toes and I couldn't put the book down. I love how through the danger, pain, and grief, there was still some love, hope, humor, friendship, and loyalty in the story.
There was only one thing I disliked about the book. A character I love DIES!!!!
Overall, I say this is an outstanding book to read! If you love western stories and Arthurian legends then I recommend reading this book and its prequel!
This book was super enjoyable to read. I love how this book is an Arthurian legend but set in the Wild West. That was the whole reason why I started reading the series because it was two genres I love rolled into one: Arthurian and Western. It felt like I was reading King Arthur and his knights fighting the enemies with guns out in the desert. I love how the chapters were set in different characters' POVs and how they were connected to the storyline. There were many times when some of the characters faced near-death experiences that had my heart pumping. The story kept me on my toes and I couldn't put the book down. I love how through the danger, pain, and grief, there was still some love, hope, humor, friendship, and loyalty in the story.
There was only one thing I disliked about the book. A character I love DIES!!!!
Overall, I say this is an outstanding book to read! If you love western stories and Arthurian legends then I recommend reading this book and its prequel!
September 8, 2024
3.5??
Again… too many thoughts to put them all down now…
I’ve always loved the King Arthur legends but I am sadly unlearned when it comes down to it, these stories make me want to deep dive into every scrap I can find!
This one had be choked up a bit at one point…
It’s almost midnight but I want to start book3 immediately!!!
Again… too many thoughts to put them all down now…
I’ve always loved the King Arthur legends but I am sadly unlearned when it comes down to it, these stories make me want to deep dive into every scrap I can find!
This one had be choked up a bit at one point…
It’s almost midnight but I want to start book3 immediately!!!
February 27, 2022
The thrills continue as the stakes build, and the mystique grows. We get some great new cast members in this installment, and get to know the old ones even better, and I just love them all! The legend comes through masterfully in this one. It is truly beautiful, and epic, and heartbreaking. I’m frantic for the finale!
April 2, 2022
RTC 😍
March 8, 2022
I think this is Emily Hayse’s best book yet.
Featuring a positively huge cast of characters, it’s hard to identify which one could be considered the main character. In fact, the land itself and the town of Glory Mesa seems to be the main character—and that’s one of the things the book does best. Underlying the intrigue and twining storylines is a sense of the grandeur and beauty and terror of the land all tied into one. At points, it dips into almost Eldritch-horror style, and I mean that in the best way. The land seems to be alive, containing secrets in its depths that mere humans cannot know. It’s fascinating and exactly the kind of fantasy I like.
The writing style, as always, is beautiful and immersive. I flew through this book and read chapters at a time because it drew me in and held me. The story is complex but I never found it hard to follow—with threads of intertwining storylines that all come together in the end for an epic reveal and suddenly, all these different stories seem connected and tied by fate.
I don’t even know what to say about the characters—there’s too many things I loved. From book one, I knew Raymond deserved a romance storyline and I was so happy to see him find love. I love, love, *love* Kate and I loved how her character grew throughout the story. Through all the characters, we see a picture of humanity and the workings of a town on the edge of wilderness. There’s mythical feel but at the same time, a beautiful, humble humanity through all of it.
This series is amazing and I can’t wait for the last one.
Featuring a positively huge cast of characters, it’s hard to identify which one could be considered the main character. In fact, the land itself and the town of Glory Mesa seems to be the main character—and that’s one of the things the book does best. Underlying the intrigue and twining storylines is a sense of the grandeur and beauty and terror of the land all tied into one. At points, it dips into almost Eldritch-horror style, and I mean that in the best way. The land seems to be alive, containing secrets in its depths that mere humans cannot know. It’s fascinating and exactly the kind of fantasy I like.
The writing style, as always, is beautiful and immersive. I flew through this book and read chapters at a time because it drew me in and held me. The story is complex but I never found it hard to follow—with threads of intertwining storylines that all come together in the end for an epic reveal and suddenly, all these different stories seem connected and tied by fate.
I don’t even know what to say about the characters—there’s too many things I loved. From book one, I knew Raymond deserved a romance storyline and I was so happy to see him find love. I love, love, *love* Kate and I loved how her character grew throughout the story. Through all the characters, we see a picture of humanity and the workings of a town on the edge of wilderness. There’s mythical feel but at the same time, a beautiful, humble humanity through all of it.
This series is amazing and I can’t wait for the last one.
February 21, 2022
I don’t know how Hayse can write such captivating, lyrical westerns, but she can. And I love it.
Her descriptions painted such a gorgeous picture of the land, and I found myself falling into its trance like the characters in the story.
Britt and Buck were incredible, Kate Carnegie grew to be someone I wanted to be best friends with, and as always Rosamund and Archer have my heart.
At times, the multiple POVs confused me as the switch between POVs was sometimes disorienting, but that didn’t stop me from utterly loving this story and the beautiful ones in it.
And that cliffhanger. Oh to have book three in my hands so I can know how this story ends! I have a feeling it’ll wrench my heart strings into pieces but be so completely satisfyingly beautiful (like I said, I don’t know how Hayse does it, but she’s an incredible writer).
Her descriptions painted such a gorgeous picture of the land, and I found myself falling into its trance like the characters in the story.
Britt and Buck were incredible, Kate Carnegie grew to be someone I wanted to be best friends with, and as always Rosamund and Archer have my heart.
At times, the multiple POVs confused me as the switch between POVs was sometimes disorienting, but that didn’t stop me from utterly loving this story and the beautiful ones in it.
And that cliffhanger. Oh to have book three in my hands so I can know how this story ends! I have a feeling it’ll wrench my heart strings into pieces but be so completely satisfyingly beautiful (like I said, I don’t know how Hayse does it, but she’s an incredible writer).
December 6, 2022
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.
S.A.D
T.O.U.C.H.I.N.G.
E P I C
S.A.D
T.O.U.C.H.I.N.G.
E P I C
January 22, 2023
You know when you start a new series, love it, and then worry that book 2 just won’t be as good?
Yea that isn’t happening here.
This book continued to show me how strong of a series this is, and helped push it to the list of some of my favorites.
I continue to absolutely love the world. I just feel completely transported there when I read. So transported that I find myself a little more thirsty because apparently my brain thinks I’m in the heat of the West. I really don’t know if I have the right words to really tell you how awesome the world building is, but trust me.
And I’m still just in awe of the characters. Each and every single POV is easily distinguishable as their own character. There was no confusion in switching so often as there can be sometimes. And with each POV you get a whole new viewpoint, new emotions, new feels. Ah the feels! Also, can I just say that the women in this book are awesome?! These are strong women without having to be the chosen one, or ones with special powers. These are women that show strength in their day to day, no matter what it is they happen to be doing (adventures or just tending to their home) and I absolutely love that.
I’m sooo excited (and scared at this point) to get started on book 3. I highly, highly recommend this series!
Yea that isn’t happening here.
This book continued to show me how strong of a series this is, and helped push it to the list of some of my favorites.
I continue to absolutely love the world. I just feel completely transported there when I read. So transported that I find myself a little more thirsty because apparently my brain thinks I’m in the heat of the West. I really don’t know if I have the right words to really tell you how awesome the world building is, but trust me.
And I’m still just in awe of the characters. Each and every single POV is easily distinguishable as their own character. There was no confusion in switching so often as there can be sometimes. And with each POV you get a whole new viewpoint, new emotions, new feels. Ah the feels! Also, can I just say that the women in this book are awesome?! These are strong women without having to be the chosen one, or ones with special powers. These are women that show strength in their day to day, no matter what it is they happen to be doing (adventures or just tending to their home) and I absolutely love that.
I’m sooo excited (and scared at this point) to get started on book 3. I highly, highly recommend this series!
July 5, 2022
“Sometimes to bleed is to remember that you are alive.”
The characters - Opening Emily Hayse’s books can at first feel overwhelming as your eyes flit down the cast of characters. But a few chapters in and they are like family - no matter how many there are or how complex their relationships with each other turn out to be, you know each of them like old friends. Writing from numerous perspectives is challenging, and yet Hayse does it so eloquently. The people of Glory Mesa are strong and rich and ultimately, beautiful, despite their struggle.
The plot - while I don’t think I could ever tire of following Thatcher into unknown territory or sitting awhile with Selby to reflect on life’s great smallness, this felt a bit like a filler book. Each subplot was fascinating and I never got bored, but it had some trouble all coming together cohesively in the end and it seemed to be leading up to a big finale. I have full confidence in the last book of the trilogy and I’m excited to see how each layer falls into place.
The language - so beautiful, just like war-torn hands. Every page was full of poetry spun by brave people with heavy hearts and eyes fixed on the horizon, ready for the coming sun.
“His eyes are quiet, bright. The eyes, I think, of a poet.” -Selby
The characters - Opening Emily Hayse’s books can at first feel overwhelming as your eyes flit down the cast of characters. But a few chapters in and they are like family - no matter how many there are or how complex their relationships with each other turn out to be, you know each of them like old friends. Writing from numerous perspectives is challenging, and yet Hayse does it so eloquently. The people of Glory Mesa are strong and rich and ultimately, beautiful, despite their struggle.
The plot - while I don’t think I could ever tire of following Thatcher into unknown territory or sitting awhile with Selby to reflect on life’s great smallness, this felt a bit like a filler book. Each subplot was fascinating and I never got bored, but it had some trouble all coming together cohesively in the end and it seemed to be leading up to a big finale. I have full confidence in the last book of the trilogy and I’m excited to see how each layer falls into place.
The language - so beautiful, just like war-torn hands. Every page was full of poetry spun by brave people with heavy hearts and eyes fixed on the horizon, ready for the coming sun.
“His eyes are quiet, bright. The eyes, I think, of a poet.” -Selby
July 30, 2022
I have mixed thoughts on this story. I didn’t read Book 1 and wondered if I missed out on some significant pieces in not doing so. I came to this book expecting to read a fantasy and was surprised to find that there really wasn’t anything that would make me think it was such. It’s a western set in the days when the western regions of America were being populated by migration from the east.
I enjoyed reading it as the writing is very good. The story was told through the eyes of many different POVs, the beautiful ones of the title, giving us different perspectives on the wild and often dangerous times. It was nice reading these different voices and the author did a good job giving them very separate voices, but I found it difficult to really understand the key premise of the story as every POV seemed to have their own story.
As with any western, there’s going to be some shooting and fighting. And that happens here but otherwise there wasn’t a lot of action or purpose to the story. There was an undercurrent of a storyline regarding the Governor being a wanted man and a romance brewing but because there were so many POVs neither were hugely dominant.
As regards it being fantasy, perhaps two of the beasts (darani and isark) were ‘fantastic’ but they played such small parts that wouldn’t make this a fantasy. There is some ‘curse’ which Doctor Sikes keeps referring to, and this may play out in Book 3, but once again, this wouldn’t necessarily make the story a fantasy unless it involves something ‘otherworldly’.
I enjoyed the characters. The women, in particular. Kate Carnegie, Irene Sandler and Maria Pike, all played strong well-defined characters. And there’s a good twist at the end regarding one of the storylines I mentioned above that surprised me.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found it very readable but may struggle to recommend it especially if one’s looking for a good western fantasy.
I enjoyed reading it as the writing is very good. The story was told through the eyes of many different POVs, the beautiful ones of the title, giving us different perspectives on the wild and often dangerous times. It was nice reading these different voices and the author did a good job giving them very separate voices, but I found it difficult to really understand the key premise of the story as every POV seemed to have their own story.
As with any western, there’s going to be some shooting and fighting. And that happens here but otherwise there wasn’t a lot of action or purpose to the story. There was an undercurrent of a storyline regarding the Governor being a wanted man and a romance brewing but because there were so many POVs neither were hugely dominant.
As regards it being fantasy, perhaps two of the beasts (darani and isark) were ‘fantastic’ but they played such small parts that wouldn’t make this a fantasy. There is some ‘curse’ which Doctor Sikes keeps referring to, and this may play out in Book 3, but once again, this wouldn’t necessarily make the story a fantasy unless it involves something ‘otherworldly’.
I enjoyed the characters. The women, in particular. Kate Carnegie, Irene Sandler and Maria Pike, all played strong well-defined characters. And there’s a good twist at the end regarding one of the storylines I mentioned above that surprised me.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found it very readable but may struggle to recommend it especially if one’s looking for a good western fantasy.
March 24, 2023
I read this book one and a half years ago, and I couldn't sum up my feelings into words at the time. Looking back at my hastily sketched Instagram notes, I see that I called the villain twist (I remember that; that was a good moment, hehehe), that the pacing was on point, and that I loved the Green Knight plot thread.
It's strong with the strength of a sequel that has the setting already established and carries on fearlessly, fanning the impetus towards book three. There's so much to love, I just want to write a little love letter to all the dear characters that take on so much life in "The Beautiful Ones" -- gilded with Arthurian legend, gritty with desert trail dust.
As always with Hayse, the atmosphere excels. The way that her made-up worlds teeter on the edge of the fantastical, walking the shivery middle ground between everyday and mythical, is *maddening*, and yet so believable and just the way it ought to be. I crave those charged moments, the sense of "other" in the midst of what is so prosaic and immediate. The stark, larger-than-life Western setting plays its due part, as much a character as the Rosamunds and Terhunes and Kates walking across it, and it's walking everyone toward a sense of the inevitable.
Over the course of The Beautiful Ones, Sikes' oft-referenced prophecy looms larger and larger, increasingly ambiguous and attended by ominous signals, and as you look ahead towards the trilogy conclusion, you remember how many of the Arthurian legends end in tragedy...
But not only tragedy lives here. There is so much life and love, and even... fluffiness. The Beautiful Ones achieved the type of emotional balance that I truly believe belongs in some special way to middle books of trilogies, and I remember it with acute fondness. These War-Torn Hands got me interested, but this one, this one blew me away.
It's strong with the strength of a sequel that has the setting already established and carries on fearlessly, fanning the impetus towards book three. There's so much to love, I just want to write a little love letter to all the dear characters that take on so much life in "The Beautiful Ones" -- gilded with Arthurian legend, gritty with desert trail dust.
As always with Hayse, the atmosphere excels. The way that her made-up worlds teeter on the edge of the fantastical, walking the shivery middle ground between everyday and mythical, is *maddening*, and yet so believable and just the way it ought to be. I crave those charged moments, the sense of "other" in the midst of what is so prosaic and immediate. The stark, larger-than-life Western setting plays its due part, as much a character as the Rosamunds and Terhunes and Kates walking across it, and it's walking everyone toward a sense of the inevitable.
Over the course of The Beautiful Ones, Sikes' oft-referenced prophecy looms larger and larger, increasingly ambiguous and attended by ominous signals, and as you look ahead towards the trilogy conclusion, you remember how many of the Arthurian legends end in tragedy...
But not only tragedy lives here. There is so much life and love, and even... fluffiness. The Beautiful Ones achieved the type of emotional balance that I truly believe belongs in some special way to middle books of trilogies, and I remember it with acute fondness. These War-Torn Hands got me interested, but this one, this one blew me away.
February 25, 2022
Hayse did it again, coaxing me into a Western even though I never asked to like Westerns. We see the follow-up to TWTH, in which our characters have grown, tensions have arisen, and we finally get some magical-ish glimpses of the land's curse! As always, I felt the characters' souls and could smell their fears. And leather and coffee. Lots of coffee.
The reason this gets 4 rather than 5 stars is because
Despite that, I still enjoyed the cast of fun characters and the slow, sharp pace of Hayse's writing. Looking forward to the next one!
The reason this gets 4 rather than 5 stars is because
Despite that, I still enjoyed the cast of fun characters and the slow, sharp pace of Hayse's writing. Looking forward to the next one!
March 29, 2022
The Beautiful Ones picks up several months after the events of These War-Torn Hands. Glory Mesa is growing into an established town, and new challenges and adventures await our favorite characters. And in the background, a storm is brewing.
Just like in These War-Torn Hands, Emily's characters are fantastic, and you'll become further endeared to the citizens of Glory Mesa, both old and new. Despite having numerous POVs, each of Emily's characters not only has their own personality, but distinct character voice. There are some characters whose POV I could recognize without their name written at the top of the chapter--that's how strong their unique voice is.
The plot has a little bit of an episodic feel to it, but not in a bad way. While These War-Torn Hands focused on the rivalry between Archer and Mortimer, The Beautiful Ones chronicles the individual challenges that the characters face. They're the "side quests" of the Arthurian legends. And while the challenges might not all relate to each other, they all do grow the characters. And like I said above, the undercurrent of a gathering storm runs beneath everything. Someone is coming for Archer Scott and Glory Mesa.
The Beautiful Ones is a solid second novel in The Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy and will leave you ready to find out what happens next.
(also, can we all just take marvel at the gorgeous covers for this series?!)
Cautions: light romance; several kisses; non-graphic moderate violence
Just like in These War-Torn Hands, Emily's characters are fantastic, and you'll become further endeared to the citizens of Glory Mesa, both old and new. Despite having numerous POVs, each of Emily's characters not only has their own personality, but distinct character voice. There are some characters whose POV I could recognize without their name written at the top of the chapter--that's how strong their unique voice is.
The plot has a little bit of an episodic feel to it, but not in a bad way. While These War-Torn Hands focused on the rivalry between Archer and Mortimer, The Beautiful Ones chronicles the individual challenges that the characters face. They're the "side quests" of the Arthurian legends. And while the challenges might not all relate to each other, they all do grow the characters. And like I said above, the undercurrent of a gathering storm runs beneath everything. Someone is coming for Archer Scott and Glory Mesa.
The Beautiful Ones is a solid second novel in The Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy and will leave you ready to find out what happens next.
(also, can we all just take marvel at the gorgeous covers for this series?!)
Cautions: light romance; several kisses; non-graphic moderate violence
July 24, 2022
3.5 stars
The multiple POVs was very distracting. There were too many separate story arcs so by the time you circled back to that POV, the character was somewhere else, doing something else. So you had to remember where you had left them and fill in the gaps. Add a completely unnecessary level of complication by titling the chapters by the characters' last names and generally referring to them in the story by their first name. But why?
The writing, as before, was beautiful and sparse. Too sparse. There were several times when a few more details would have been helpful, like one chapter where the character was described as "up," but the geography of the location was never described. Up a tree? A hill? A mountain? A rock? A cliff? Never said. When the scenery was described, it was beautiful. I would have loved to read more of the writing.
I need a break before the next book. The build-up and suspense in this one was tremendous, and I am pretty sure there is quite a bit more doom and gloom to come in addition to what was in this book.
The multiple POVs was very distracting. There were too many separate story arcs so by the time you circled back to that POV, the character was somewhere else, doing something else. So you had to remember where you had left them and fill in the gaps. Add a completely unnecessary level of complication by titling the chapters by the characters' last names and generally referring to them in the story by their first name. But why?
The writing, as before, was beautiful and sparse. Too sparse. There were several times when a few more details would have been helpful, like one chapter where the character was described as "up," but the geography of the location was never described. Up a tree? A hill? A mountain? A rock? A cliff? Never said. When the scenery was described, it was beautiful. I would have loved to read more of the writing.
I need a break before the next book. The build-up and suspense in this one was tremendous, and I am pretty sure there is quite a bit more doom and gloom to come in addition to what was in this book.
December 29, 2021
This book picks up loose threads from the first volume and winds them together with new ones to create a gloriously complex tapestry of fantastical wild west charm. With dragons. We get to see and fight a dragon! Rustle up some outlaws! Tangle with a grizzly bear of a mountain man! Ally with old enemies and find enemies in old allies – that was a twist if ever I saw one, for sure, and it’s starting to make sense. The story breathes with that authentic frontier air we get from all those old westerns, written by hands and a heart that know that world of rugged landscapes and wild vistas and brings it out for us to experience. Every page is full of adventure, mystery, intrigue, heartache, and triumph. I can’t wait for the next one! I need to know more about Peter!
RIP my April boys. I shed tears for you.
RIP my April boys. I shed tears for you.
December 16, 2021
I have no words.
I had a hard time getting into the story in the first book, but this second one was a lot easier. The characters finally are sinking in, and the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful. The story itself is so much clearer and the elements of Arthurian folklore are coming clear. I had chills, I came close to crying, and THIS is the stuff that makes me love Hayse' work so much. I have so many feels and am honestly terrified for the third book but also can't wait to read it. This series is amazing, and despite the two typos in this book and my difficulty in getting into the story, I love it so much. Can't wait for book three!
I had a hard time getting into the story in the first book, but this second one was a lot easier. The characters finally are sinking in, and the landscape is breathtakingly beautiful. The story itself is so much clearer and the elements of Arthurian folklore are coming clear. I had chills, I came close to crying, and THIS is the stuff that makes me love Hayse' work so much. I have so many feels and am honestly terrified for the third book but also can't wait to read it. This series is amazing, and despite the two typos in this book and my difficulty in getting into the story, I love it so much. Can't wait for book three!
August 6, 2022
This was another beautifully written tale set in a fantastical version of the Wild West. The world of these stories and the cast of characters that inhabit them are so brilliantly imagined I’d happily sit and read about them for hours.
But I’m also told that the land is cursed and though there were hints of ancient legends and magic and promised heroes throughout the book, this part of the story felt too fleeting. I’m looking forward to the final instalment to find out if the curse can finally be broken.
But I’m also told that the land is cursed and though there were hints of ancient legends and magic and promised heroes throughout the book, this part of the story felt too fleeting. I’m looking forward to the final instalment to find out if the curse can finally be broken.
June 6, 2022
Emily Hayse continues the magic of the Knights of Tin and Lead trilogy in this book. I particularly liked how she retold two well-known King Arthur stories (and in many ways I prefer her versions to the original ones). While these books are full of adventure and excitement, I appreciate the many quiet, thoughtful moments and the beautiful descriptions of the landscape around the characters. The characters' world feels so real and tangible and yet mysterious. I can't wait for book 3!
March 9, 2022
Another beautiful book from a beautiful soul!
I loved this installment. The land, the imagery, the poetry, all beautiful!
There are a lot of new point of views, and a lot of new characters to keep track of, which I loved but I did kind of miss some of the old favorites, hoping to see more of them in the next book.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful ones with the world. 💜
I loved this installment. The land, the imagery, the poetry, all beautiful!
There are a lot of new point of views, and a lot of new characters to keep track of, which I loved but I did kind of miss some of the old favorites, hoping to see more of them in the next book.
Thank you for sharing the beautiful ones with the world. 💜
March 12, 2022
Excellent, clever, and elegant. Like book 1, Beautiful dances across multiple POVs, but it does so with ease. We get to look deeper at familiar characters who (we thought) were just on the sidelines, and meet some new faces. If Raymond dies in book 3 I will be heartbroken. My favorite scene I cannot repeat here or it will unleash spoilers but it is towards the end and it's so worth the wait.
April 15, 2022
I'm gonna need a good hot minute to think about this before I even attempt to write a review.
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