I just finished River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey and I have never been more excited by a premise in my entire life. Gay hippo-riding anti-hero cowboys??

Literally the best thing ever. I’ve read Sarah Gailey’s work before, namely Magic for Liars and Upright Women Wanted and I wasn’t impressed. I think they’re fantastic at coming up with premises but not as great at execution. When I learned this was their debut novel/novella I was shocked. In my opinion, it’s the best thing I’ve read from them so far. The characters are crazy diverse and likeable, the story is action packed, violent and imaginative. The writing isn’t the best but it’s more than made up for with the crazy awesome plot. Honestly Sarah Gailey should just keep writing these. Forever. 

The main character Winslow Houndstooth is gay and he’s decidedly not a hero. He wants revenge for his ranch and the hundred hippos he raised himself that burned to death in an act of sabotage. Madame Archembault, known as Archie to her friends, is thick French conwoman who uses her brains and her wiles to seduce men and kill them with her meteor sling, and she has a loyal albino hippo, Rosa. She has a starry-eyed young assistant Neville who comes along for the adventure. Hero Shackleby is a non-binary munitions expert who is firmly retired. But when a handsome cowboy asks them to come out of retirement, they consider it for those dark eyes. Cal, the man who betrayed Houndstooth and burned down his ranch, and Adelia, the most notorious assassin on the bayou. Except they have to find Adelia as part of their caper, and when they do she looks nothing like what they expect (she is heavily pregnant. Still really good at killing though). All these characters meet and interact in such fascinating ways and the only problem with it in my opinion is that it’s just too short. 

4/5 queer hippo riding antihero cowboy stars