The Six-Gun Tarot

The Six-Gun Tarot combines Western and horror genres in an alternate 1869 Nevada. In the isolated mining town of Golgotha, newcomer Jim arrives with only his father's mysterious jade eye and dark memories of his past. The town harbors secrets beneath its rough exterior, from the enigmatic Sheriff Highfather to the deputy who cannot die. Ancient mystical forces converge on Golgotha as multiple characters navigate supernatural threats and personal struggles. The story integrates elements of Chinese mythology, Mormon history, and Lovecraftian horror into a Western framework. Multiple viewpoint characters reveal different aspects of Golgotha's hidden nature while confronting both human and otherworldly dangers. The novel explores themes of faith, redemption, and the price of power through its blend of supernatural horror and frontier culture. Its mix of religious mythology and Western elements creates commentary on American identity and belief systems.

Readers describe this as a complex blend of Western, horror, and fantasy that requires attention to follow multiple storylines and characters. Many appreciate the unique Mormon mythology elements and creative mashup of genres. Positive reviews highlight: - Strong world-building of the town of Golgotha - Diverse, well-developed characters - Fresh take on familiar supernatural elements Common criticisms: - Too many plot threads and characters to track - Pacing issues in first third of book - Some find religious elements heavy-handed Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (280+ ratings) "Like American Gods meets Deadwood" appears in multiple reader reviews. Some readers note it works better as horror than as a Western. Several mention struggling through early chapters but finding it worthwhile to continue. A recurring complaint is that the multiple viewpoints fragment the narrative momentum.

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🌟 Author R.S. Belcher worked as a private investigator, a DJ, and a comic book store owner before becoming a novelist. 🏜️ The town of Golgotha, Nevada, where the story takes place, is inspired by real "weird west" mining towns of the 1800s that were known for strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena. 🔮 The book blends multiple genres including western, steampunk, horror, and fantasy while incorporating elements from various mythologies including Mormon, Chinese, and Lovecraftian lore. 🏆 The Six-Gun Tarot won the 2013 Stabby Award for Best Debut Novel from the r/Fantasy community on Reddit. 💫 The novel is part of a larger series called "The Golgotha Series," which includes two other books: The Shotgun Arcana and The Queen of Swords.