The first book of the series, One Night in Sixes, was good. It was a dark western with a hard fantasy twist, set in a unique world. This second book is even better. Even though it's been months since I read One Night, I found this very easy to get into... which says something, since the first book overwhelmed me at times with its broad cast.

The situation is dire all around, as Elim's night in Sixes has caused many ripples through the community and surrounding desert. He's callously hauled through the desert by his captors, a parallel to Indians, as they seek to hold him accountable for the death of one of their own. Elim's one comfort is the presence of one of his horses. Thompson knows her horses, and that realism and Elim's connection to equines adds an extra spark. Everything possible goes wrong on their journey. There's a constant sense of tension and dread.

The book jumps around to other characters as they endure their own personal hells in a style worthy of George R.R. Martin. Many of them converge at the end in a surprising way--a kind of "Oh, crap!" ending that makes me even more excited to read book three. ( )