Amy (amy_alwaysreading)'s Reviews > The Bullet Swallower

Many thanks to my friends at @bookclubfriends @simon.books and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

Wildly entertaining. An epic adventure and dazzling saga. This was my last read of 2023, and WHAT a way to send out the year!

Banditos and gunslingers. A train heist. A disfigured man seeking both revenge and redemption.

Ambitious in scope and rooted in her own family history, Gonzalez completely WOWed me with this genre-bending blend of action-packed Western, dramatic multigenerational narrative, and sprawling historical fiction.

This book was utterly captivating. Between the imaginative plot, the cinematic details, the evocative characterization, and the immersive storytelling, I found myself absorbed in the narrative and cheering for this anti-hero!

Beyond the adventure, Gonzalez deftly reflects on generational trauma and the legacy of colonialism and racism along with border politics. The questions posed are deeply meaningful and provocatively poignant.

This sprawling saga comes in at just under 300 pages, making it apparent that Gonzales’ writing is highly skilled and masterfully honed.

This is the kind of book I recommend with abandon. It’s propulsive. It’s addictive. It’s a flawless blend of entertaining and impactful. A must read, indeed.

🎧 I partnered the audiobook with my print copy for a fully immersive read, which is the way to go. The narration by Lee Osorio is exceptional. His deep voice with its gravely texture brings both the language and adventure to life, as though Antonio Sonoro himself.

➡️Don’t miss out on the author’s note at the end.