Melanie Gillman

This graphic novel wasn't on my radar until I got the digital galley from NetGalley (by the way, it's currently under the "Read Now" section), but I am so glad I picked it up!

Stage Dreams tells the story of a Latinx outlaw, Flor to her friends and The Ghost Hawk to her foes, and her friend (and former captive) Grace, a trans girl who has run away from home to escape enlistment into the Confederate army, as they attempt a heist at a Confederate ball.

This story has everything you could want in a short and sweet western graphic novel with an explicitly queer element:

The illustrations are beautifully done, all hand-drawn and colored gorgeously with colored pencil; Gillman's style is very unique and lends itself well to the genre.

The representation is well done (as far as I can tell, as I am not Latinx or a trans woman, but I am queer); it is wonderful to see such a visibly trans character on the page, and I enjoyed how Flor's character is so brazen, especially about her womanhood, which contrasted nicely to the more subdued Grace. My personal favorite character is Luis, the tailor who helps Grace and Flor dress for the heist, and whose specialty is tailoring clothes for trans people (as implied in the story). Each of the main characters was precious, and I enjoyed seeing their growth in the book. I would like to see a sequel, especially so I could see if the relationship between Grace and her father improves, and I would also like to see if she ever gets to pursue her acting dream in California.

The only criticism I can find of this book is that at times it felt like it was a little too fast-paced. Things wrapped up fairly quickly at the end, but there were a few loose ends that didn't get tied, so I am curious to see how those are handled if there is a sequel. Otherwise, I will be disappointed because I won't find out what happens!

Overall this was a precious queer western that was fluffy and sweet, but still had enough action to keep me on my toes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!… (altro)