Lone Women

How does this novel explore the idea of redemption and second chances? Which characters deserve a second chance, and what determines who is worthy of redemption? Analyze the actions of 2-3 characters as specific examples to support your analysis.

The experiences of racial minorities in the American West are a central theme in Lone Women. How does the novel explore the coalition between various marginalized people on the US frontier? Within the context of the novel, how do members of such groups both compete with and collaborate with one another?

Familial relationships and bonds are also a pivotal component of this narrative. What kinds of family and kinship ties are highlighted? What do these relationships suggest about the nature of kinship and community in such an isolated setting?

How does the novel explore and expand on the role of women in the development of the American West? In what ways do race and sexuality impact the experiences and identities of these women?

Lone Women blends several literary genres, most notably the classic Western and horror genres. How does the novel balance these two seemingly distinct literary approaches? How does the use of horror convention influence the readers' understanding of the Western and vice versa?

Much of the novel is concerned with fate and its associated burdens. In what ways are the characters in the novel bound by their past choices? How do they work to change their destinies and improve their present experiences?

Ghosts and hauntings, both literal and figurative, are a recurring trope in Lone Women. What is the narrative significance of ghosts and ghostly figures? Use at least two different “hauntings” as examples to support your analysis.

Elizabeth Henry is depicted throughout much of the narrative as a demon or a monster. How does the novel explore the tension between monstrosity and humanity? Who are the true “monsters” that populate this story, and what makes them monstrous?