Library Journal Review

Cates (The Paybacks) pens a Weird West tale worthy of Joe R. Lansdale in this collected edition of the series' six-issue run. Roy Quinlan thinks he can care for his angry, Alzheimer's stricken father, Emmett, even after the old man has a violent encounter with the law. At the risk of pushing his wife and daughter away, Roy refuses to remove his father from their homestead. Before the family can fracture, a supernatural tornado destroys the ranch, depositing an oversized magical talking sword into Emmett's hands. As long as he wields the sword, he is free from his debilitating disease, but refusing to relinquish the sword to the dark force that created it pushes the Quinlans from drama into horror. Cates's high-concept tale is grounded by one family's struggle with aging and loss, while Shaw, Jason Wordie, and John Hill's dynamic illustrations depict both rural Texas and the fantastic realm from which Valofax, the 12-foot-long god of swords, hails. Verdict Recommended for readers who enjoy epic fantasy in rural settings.-Terry Bosky, Madison, WI © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.