Sarah Gailey
[isbn]
By pieces True Grit and Ocean's Eleven, but with hippos, this novella is as stunningly brutal as it is effortlessly entertaining. Set in an alternate universe that is almost true to life, the prototypical cowboy heist story becomes a grim and swampy romp with diverse characters that you love to hate and hate to love. The only downside? River of Teeth is so short that you'll be begging for the sequel.
Recommended by Allison S.