Not really sure about this one. It is an old western, so I expect much of the dialog and horse riding, and with it a certain amount of 'romance', be it for the land, for the frontier itself, and between man and woman.

What I did not expect was for every chapter to reference the SAGE - Oh, my, how the sage is in each and every chapter. And it is never doing anything except being purple, reminding us of the title of the book.

Also, I know that this is an old novel, but I Despise the use of the word 'ejaculated' instead of exclaimed or shouted or even said excitedly. This book 'ejaculated' a few times to my recollection.

The part the leaves me in the state of unease is, the ending just ends. One minute there is a chase scene into the mountains and then - end. Abrupt and not very satisfying. I will say that this is not a great book, though a classic, one that will not remain in my collection.

Finally finished this book!
I took a LOT of reading breaks on this one. Not that its a long book or anything, it just didn't hold my interest that much.
I can appreciate the quality of the writing, it might be one of the most vividly written books I've ever read but it just wasn't for me.
As writing goes: 5 of 5. As it relates to my needs as a reader: 2/5. (Hence 3/5)

Started this one with the Radio Read Along podcast, got sucked into the story, and finished the audiobook on my own. Not my usual genre or one I would have stuck with on my own past the first quarter, but I enjoyed the story. It was an entertaining romp through the sage.

Digital audiobook read by John Bolen.


From the book jacket: Cottonwoods, Utah, 1871. A woman stands accused. A man, sentenced to whipping. In … rides … Lassiter, a notorious gunman who’s come to avenge his sister’s death. It doesn't take Lassiter long to see that this once-peaceful Mormon community is controlled by the corrupt Deacon Tull – a powerful elder who’s trying to take the woman’s land by forcing her to marry him, branding her foreman a dangerous “outsider.” Lassiter vows to help them. But when the ranch is attacked by horse thieves, cattle rustlers, and a mysterious Masked Rider, he realizes they’re up against something bigger, and more brutal, than the land itself…

My reactions
I hardly know what to write about this classic of the Western genre. It’s full of adventure, violence, strong men and women, tenderness, brutality and an abiding sense of justice. And, of course, there is the landscape, which Grey paints so vividly it is practically a character.

Yes, the story line and dialogue are a bit melodramatic. But Grey’s story still captured this reader’s imagination with its sense of drama, almost non-stop action, and bold characters. I was reminded of the many western movies I watched with my Daddy in the ‘50s and ‘60s. They were exciting and the good guys always won. Clearly those movies (and other books of the genre) had Grey’s strong foundation on which to build. I’m glad I finally read it.

The digital audio available through my library’s Overdrive system was read by John Bolen. I was not a great fan of his delivery, which seemed overly dramatic to me. I might have enjoyed this better had I read the text.

UPDATE on second reading, January 17, 2020: I chose to read the text in preparation for my F2F book club discussion. If anything the chase scenes were even more thrilling. And the descriptions of the landscape! The melodramatic - "bodice-heaving" - dialogue was also more evident and I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of some of the "love" scenes. Still, now that I know there is a sequel ... well I may just have to read it.