In My Time of Dying
David J. West
Lost Realms Press
Print $15.99
Ebook $4.99 (on sale for $0.99 as of this writing)

David J. West (no relation) is a prolific writer of fantasy in a variety of subgenres.  His work ranges from horror to sword and sorcery to weird western and everything in between.  He publishes multiple books each year.  The man is making the rest of us look bad setting an example to the rest of us by showing us what pulp speed looks like.

Speaking of speed, In My time of Dying is a fast-paced weird western with steampunk elements that rushes along at a breakneck pace.

The story concerns Elizabeth Jane, who finds herself sucked into a battle between an immortal sorcerer and a ruthless cult who are trying to keep the sorcerer imprisoned in a dungeon in the Himalayas.  A Chinese messenger brings Elizabeth a message one afternoon at her San Francisco home  with instructions to go to a particular dive bar that night for further instructions.  Her father, a repressive alcoholic, forbids her to go.

Elizabeth sneaks out anyway and quickly finds herself embroiled in a race to get a casket containing the sorcerer’s weakened body to England.  Her only protection is Porter Rockwell, no stranger to readers of David’s work.  Dogging her trail are the relentless members of the cult, The Knights of Saint Germain.

There are reasons why Elizabeth was chosen, although there is some doubt at the end of the book just what all the reasons are.  Both sides are telling her stories about her role in coming events that are similar but vary in a few key details.

David J. West’s writing just keeps getting better and better, probably because he gets lots of practice with all the writing he does.  That pulp speed thing again. The opening sequence where the sorcerer (whose name I’m not going to reveal) escapes his prison is some of the best writing I’ve seen from him.  It sucked me in and the rest of the story kept me reading.

The breakneck pace rarely flags.  At times I found myself wondering if these people ever took time to eat.  In spite of this, there was plenty of character development.  Elizabeth is a worthy partner for Porter, and I’m looking forward to the next installment of their adventures together, hopefully with more steampunk elements.  My only real quibble is when Elizabeth accuses Porter of trying to “guilt trip” her when she is reluctant to do something.  I’m not sure that term was in use in the 1800s.

In My Time of Dying is the first volume of the #Savant series.  This is bad because the story ends on not quite a cliffhanger.  This is good because there will be another book.

David has the electronic version on sale for $0.99 for a few more days.  Take advantage of his sale and grab yourself a copy.  You’ll have fun with the story if you do.