this is actually the best cover i have ever seen in my life 6 s Rob Smith, Jr.1,214 25

A book of it’s time.

Didn’t find a character to and kept hoping as characters are butchered for various reasons the writer would wipe out the rest. The writer has an amazing ability to machine gun the f word out without creating a depth of the characters as to why the language is used. Thus, all the character’s dialogue is mostly interchangeable.

Not helping is a plot that has been machine gunned out so often that the usage is now lazy and shameful.
Want to read a similar, but better, book this? Read Star Wars adaption.

The ‘I hate Christianity’ books are so very 1980s. Yet, here’s still another one! How about going after another religion, at least? Vonnegut just made up one.

About Florida. The writer swaps Pensacola Christian College for his version. He must really hate the school. Wonder if he hates the Drowsy Poet coffee shop, too, because it's nearly attached to the school?

Apparently this writer has written other "books". I hope, in the future. a plot is included ...and maybe the slightest of levity.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 1 out of 10 points.
I'm providing an honest review of this book via NetGalley.com.
I highly recommend book lovers, me, preview and review books to help get new readers.florida-books have kindle ...more5 s Bridget2

I couldn’t put this book down once I started reading it. I told myself I’d only do about 50 pages today and then do some work, but I ended up tearing through all 237 because it was impossible to stop. The momentum of the story is incredible, and every sentence is beautiful. 2 s Hal Brodsky747 5

A punk western dystopia novel set in a near future MAGA Florida. Difficult to put down. A HUGE departure from Wascom's earlier more literary novels2 s Joe Handley154 14 Read

My thanks go to NetGalley and Black Cat for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Great State of West Florida is the fourth instalment in the The Woolsack Family series, written by Kent Wascom.

In this book, we follow Rally, a young boy who has a family history that would make the bravest and strongest of us wince at. He spends the majority of this tale with his uncle Rodney, a professional gunfighter on an application that gets very little explanation in the sum of this books 200+ pages. The rest of Rally’s family are no longer around and so Rodney takes him in and aims to show him how the world of West Florida operates, with gunfighting maniacs lurking around every corner and co-opting far-right politicians looking to take every crumb that’s on offer to them. Wars are breaking out and the histories around families and political parties cover the scene in every corner. Rally is slap bang in the middle of all this, and it’s his journey to uncovering the truth of what’s happened before that carries the narrative of the book.

This novel - this world - is set in what feels a John Wayne - meets Star Wars- meets Silicone Valley world. One page we’ll have mentions of social media and new not-so-in-the-future technologies, and the next we’ll feel we’re sat in a salloon surrounded by tobacco smoke and the aromas of whiskey. This may be what some readers want, the haziness between two vastly different environments and making it seem to work naturally, but I found it to be too distracting for the overall reading experience and I don’t think Wascom makes it work.

You feel hooked at the beginning, and despite the slight annoyance of the narrator (Rally himself) bringing up the fact that something bad is about to happen at the end of every chapter, you do feel a sense of skillfully built anticipation from the writing. There is very little annoyance in the characters themselves, despite perhaps finding them flat and one dimensional at times. So all of this works in the novels favour. Where it falls down slightly for me is in the pay off that eventually arrives, the pay off that we’re told for pages and pages is monumentally impactful. It is anything but that. Perhaps the impact is felt less because the book warns of it, but in that case, don’t mention it? Let the reader come to that themselves. It felt shoddy and purely crafted in the way it plays out.

I have not read the first 3 legs of this series, and I understand that that may take away from the overall understanding of the world and the story, but this felt confusing in large parts. Many of the things mentioned received little background explanation. Things were left to the previous books to build up the world. Not only is this confusing for someone coming in at book 2/3/4/5/6, it also asks of the reader that they actually go back prior to reading this instalment in order to recall the basics of the series. I don’t feel you as the writer should be asking for that much buy in from the reader, and it is down to you to make the standalone book interesting and understandable enough for anyone to pick up.

This is a book that, for large parts, as a singular reading experience, rides well on the coattails of some of the mainstay characters, but eventually leaves a lot to be desired in the last 40ish pages. The world is confusing but may be suitable for certain audiences, while the world building at the start feels to quickly rushed and shallow. I would only really urge you to pick up The Great State of West Florida if you’re a fan of the author and have read the series already, or if you enjoy the mashed together world building style that this book lives in. 1 Kyle Seibel14 14

A real balls out adventure book that feels so alive with characters and details that you forget you’re reading fiction. The first person narrative feeds into an almost oral history vibe as you learn about the conflicts, massacres, and gunslingers of the region. Pacing is near perfect. Wascom writes the absolute shit out of every single scene and delivers big time in the novel’s final pages. 1 Bruce61

Hard to follow the initial storyline and felt I was reading a perpetual run on sentence. No redeeming value to this read.1 Emi Yoshida1,554 92

I wish I had read this for a book club, as I would love to compare notes and get this convoluted cast of characters and plot line explained to me. The creation/secession of the Great State of West Florida seems to take place in the future, due to the histories of two families intertwining: the Woolsacks and the Yarbroughs. Destiny Woolsack is a central figure, a shootout at her family's home when she, at 18, survived the quote-unquote Gulf Breeze Massacre which came to be known as the start of the Florida Wars.

the author Kent Wascom, Destiny aka The Governor was born in Louisiana and raised in Florida. In the beginning I tried to keep track of Destiny's tortuous family situation: living with her mom Alexis and her ex-bf Deke and their boys Kenan and Rodney (the uncles she is pseudo big sister to), and her step-grandma Krista who is the same age as Alexis, all of whom were besieged by her half-aunt Tara (Pawpaw RJ's own eldest daughter from his first marriage) and Nessa the ex-gf and mother of the child of her technical uncle Kenan... but by the end I realized it wasn't necessary to know who's related to who, or even who's killing who, as the point just seems to be violence, gore, and a vehicle to the next, fifth installment of Woolsack Bloodiness. Kenan and Nessa's infant son Rally survived that massacre, and so did Kenan's brother Rodney. Destiny, Rodney and Rally's subsequent meeting up as adults is what seems to propel this particular book forward, from murder to murder to murder to murder. There is a rift between the One Florida people and the West Florida people, that seems to mirror contemporary American politics, but not in a constructive or enlightening way, more just sensationalistic or gratuitously vile. where characters are riddled with bullets but still manage to remain standing. Claire MatturroAuthor 14 books78

I do not deny the author's enormous talent that is radiant in this book, but for me, it was too violent. Personal taste here, as for others it might be a great read.

The novel begins and ends in a blood bath of violence, and random violence is scattered in the pages between. There is also enough sexual violence--not graphic, mind you, more references to it in passing--to be an issue for some.

Still, it's a riveting, fast paced, heavy on action story set in the barely-future (2026) about a 13-year-old boy, Rally, who is being rescued for the second time. The first time he was saved in a family massacre as an infant. The time that dominates this book he is rescued from a deranged, cruel, and violent family by Rodney (another survivor of the family massacre), who is either his uncle, cousin, or father. (Not sure if I was just confused by the many convoluted family entanglements or if it was meant to be confusing as to the true relationship). Regardless of blood connections, Rodney acts a father to Rally, the youth who is the narrator and center of the story. They are--to say the least--a nonconventional family unit, caught up in a violent attempt to create a new state--West Florida--which triggers a kind of civil war between the warring factions. Cynical look at politics (how else could one look at politics these days?) and bitter, cynical look at religion, culture, and the future make this a dark book. But the "what happens next?" qualities are outstanding, as are the characterizations and the world-building.

It is a brutal, intense novel with sprinklings of magical realism and harsh views of the future. It's hard to read, but harder to put down. Totally compulsively page-turner quality to this tale.
Rebecca79 2

I won a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway. Here is my honest review.

A gruesome start culminating in a graphic and violent end. If ever a book made me not want to visit Florida, it's this one. So congrats for that.

This was a strange modern-day western about a war/political fight within Florida with people fighting for the right of West Florida to become its own state or territory. It starts with a female character named Destiny witnessing the massacre of her family and delivering bloody vengeance on the culprits. Unfortunately, this is not our 'main' character. That would be a boy referred to as 'Murder Baby' (real name: Rally—Age 13) because of his relation to the incident.

The writing of this book was serviceable. A lot of description of Florida. It certainly set the scene. I had difficulty keeping up with all the family history, and it felt a little info-dumpy, though. Maybe that's because it turns out this is part of a series, and this book was the first I've read?

I do the badass female characters. And Rodney was a well-realized personality. He felt the most real to me, which made the ending 'maddening' but predictable.

Don't expect happiness and rainbows here. Human nature's innate darkness is prevalent everywhere in this version of Florida, which feels an anarchist's wet dream. For all that this takes place a couple years in the future, it feels we've regressed decades in this instead of evolved. I have no idea what the politics and landscape of the other states of this book look since the only other place even mentioned in the book is Louisiana, but if it's anything this, then 'no thank you.'

Apparently, gun fighting in this world is actually legal and an actual sport. How on Earth did we get to that point? Also, I found the ending unsatisfying. This was a creative idea. I'm just not sure what the book was trying to say (if anything). I just know I wouldn't want to live in that land of seeming lawlessness.

I recommend this for Western fans. I'm not much of a Western lover myself (my mom is the true stan), but I've seen a few episodes of certain shows here and there. I suppose I can understand the appeal.goodread-s-giveaways-i-ve-won western Mmelissa38 2

I requested an ARC of this based on the gorgeous cover and only when I started reading did I realize this was the 4th book in a series I had never heard of before. So maybe not the most auspicious start but I decided to stick with it and give it a try and I'm glad I did.

The description of this as a neon pink western feels pretty accurate. Set in a near future Florida the book focuses on Rally AKA Murderbaby, a young teen who was a baby when members of his maternal family attacked his paternal family and his aunt, in self defense, killed the attackers.

Finally aware of his paternal family he reaches out and what ensues is non stop bloodshed as he learns that through his father he belongs to a long line of people struggling to create an independent state called West Florida.

Wascom is a sharp great writer and the book really flows along. Though this book works as a solo piece there was a lot of exposition which I wonder is retellings of the past books so I definitely am interested in checking them out too.

Solid read even if it isn't my typical read. Cindy430 1 follower

The Great State of West Florida, by Kent Wascom, has the distinction of being my worst read in 2024. I loved the cover and was intrigued by the Wild West possibilities of a renegade state. First mistake: Never judge a book by its cover. Second mistake: I did not research the author to know that this was the last book in a series. All of that was completely my fault. I found the book completely unreadable. Had I read the previous books, I probably would have had a starting point to understand the characters and context. Nonetheless, the real breaking point was the extent of brutality that included gory descriptions and sexual violence, some of which involved children. Although I appreciate NetGalley and the publishers' allowing me to read a digital ARC, I cannot recommend this book. I do encourage prospective readers to read other of this book, some of which are very positive. What does not work for me may well work for others. Ruth90 3

What a wild ride!!! I love a novel that explores big themes—politics, white fundamentalism—through family relationships. I’ve never read a dystopian novel that was so close to our present; I could very much see how a separatist movement could happen today, now, which was chilling. But also a small part of the story. Chock-full of violence, yes, but this book also features bad ass women, quiet moments of sweetness, and an appreciation for the natural beauty of the Florida panhandle. Lisa Marie132

This book was just so WOW and kept me reading! It is a strap in, hold on to the safety bar ride filled with dark gritty chaos and serious harsh reality vibes. I haven't read anything similar to this in a very long long time. J R1,032 12

really great book, i found at points it was quite a lot heavier and darker than expected but it was well done. thanks for the arc and cheers. takeeveryshot 338 1 followerRead

plot wise you lost me a little over halfway through but the writing itself scratched my brain in the best way Caleb Michael SarvisAuthor 3 books20

Coming of age western set in an alternative history of Florida. It's a wild ride that goes 0 to 100 real quick.

Would've d a slower burn, but doesn't mean I didn't have fun. Caitlyn31 8

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