Review of Chancy

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 27 Mar 2025, 18:35

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Chancy" by Charles Sanford.]

4 out of 5 stars

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Do you like to read stories about the Wild West? Would you like to know how, in 1867, mining towns were built in Nevada to procure gold and silver? Would you like to know about the various types of people that traveled across America to build and settle in these towns? If you answered yes to these questions, you will enjoy reading Chancy by Charles Sanford.

This story started with a bang! Several men were lazily waiting for a stagecoach when a gunslinger walked in and tried to rob them. A flurry of action happened, and, voila, I was introduced to the Wild West. More action ensued during their trip to Nevada. A gang of bandits, riding horseback, ambushed the stagecoach in an attempt to rob the passengers. The pace of the story was amped up, and I was enthralled.

Several of the story’s main characters were in this stagecoach. They came from different walks of life but shared a desire for new opportunities that the mining towns provided. Bravery was a trait that they all shared. When this hearty group arrived in the mining town of Royce, Nevada, they joined other strong characters who had already laid a good foundation for this town’s development. Lots of money was to be made.

Chancy, Amos, Daisy, Cadel, Renee, Cass, Fred, Gwen, Jethro, and Kerry were some of the characters involved in running Royce, a mining town with a population of more than 2000 people. Chancy, a Union cavalry veteran, traveled to Royce to set up a dry goods store. Amos, a blacksmith, and his wife, Daisy, were freed slaves who moved to Royce to pursue Amos’ dream of setting up a blacksmith shop. Cadel was a miner with previous experience working at Cornish tin mines in Britain. Renee ran Royce’s classiest brothel. Cass started up Royce’s only newspaper. Fred, a conniving banker, influenced the successes and failures of Royce’s businesses. Gwen, Fred’s daughter, was used by her father to investigate Chancy’s background. Jethro, another Union cavalry veteran, operated an armed stone-hauling outfit and moved bullion for Royce’s mining companies. Kerry, an Irish gambler, migrated to Royce to try out his luck in Royce’s many gambling establishments.

The town of Royce’s neighborhoods were divided by race: Whites, Blacks, and Chinese. Chaos was commonplace in Royce, especially in the bars and gambling establishments. This chaos was often settled by gunfights. Mining accidents were brutal and resulted in death or infirmity. Amidst clamoring for unions, there were social tensions among the miners. The town also had to keep watch for the gunslinging Bracken Gang, who robbed anyone at any time. This story had many gunfights, a fair amount of profanity, and a few racist incidents. This was the harsh reality of the times.

I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The plots were varied. The character development showed the characters’ previous histories, motivations for moving to a mining town, plans, struggles, and daily lives. The action was intense. French, Irish, and Southern Black accents were successfully portrayed by using clever phonetic spelling. This made the characters more interesting and genuine. The plots were reasonably paced, and I never felt bored. The author’s descriptive sentences gave me good visuals of the Nevada landscape, the dangerous conditions of the mines, the processes used for mining gold and silver, the architecture and furniture used by Royce’s inhabitants, and the personal thoughts of the characters.

I enjoyed reading this story. It was vivid, exciting, and entertaining. I learned how mining was done during the Gold Rush period and how towns were developed. However, this story could use another round of editing as I noticed 11 minor typos. In all honesty, this did not affect my enjoyment of reading this book. The errors were neither blatant nor annoying. I gave this story a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

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Chancy
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Post by **Julie Basil** » 29 Mar 2025, 20:00

I have never read a story set in the Wild West like this one, but it sounds very interesting and I generally enjoy historical fiction. I am especially intrigued by your comment on how the author used phonetic spelling to hint at various accents that the characters had. This sounds like a very enthralling story. Thanks for another delightful review, Gerry!

Post by **Omneya Shakeep** » 30 Mar 2025, 09:33

I love the way you described the main characters and each of their roles in the story rather than focusing on the summary. The book sounds like a great read. I'll make sure to add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.

Post by **Stephen Christopher 1** » 30 Mar 2025, 19:49

I do like stories about the Wild West, and this one sounds fun. I'm concerned that there's a lot of characters, do they all get fleshed out enough to make it worth them being included?

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 30 Mar 2025, 19:57

Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: ↑30 Mar 2025, 19:49 I do like stories about the Wild West, and this one sounds fun. I'm concerned that there's a lot of characters, do they all get fleshed out enough to make it worth them being included?

Yes, Stephen. The characters were well described. I knew their backgrounds, motivations, relationships to the other characters, and how they contributed to the town of Royce. I never felt lost. Enjoy!

Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis · 30 Mar 2025, 21:51

Great review, Gerry! You have piqued my interest in this book with your review. I think that it will have to go on my list of good books to read. I don't think that I have read a book on the Wild West.

Post by **Sarah Zain** » 30 Mar 2025, 23:18

The story is about a completely different time.I have seen many movies about that era.I think the story might be interesting for me. Great review Gerry!

Post by **Priya Murugesan** » 30 Mar 2025, 23:19

The Wild West and mining sound interesting! Based on your wonderful review, I believe I would enjoy reading this book. Thanks for your review!

Post by **Anu Anand** » 31 Mar 2025, 01:24

This is a fantastic review! The rich historical details, diverse characters, and intense action make it sound like a thrilling read. It’s great to hear that the minor errors didn’t take away from the experience. I’ll definitely read this if I get a chance.

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 31 Mar 2025, 11:58

This sounds like it correctly follows everything that I have heard about the Wild West. Chaos and segregation seem to be a big part of it. The plot, though, sounds very engaging. Thanks!

Bettny Andrade · Post by **Bettny Andrade** » 31 Mar 2025, 15:21

I enjoy these kinds of stories in a visual format, as well as in a film. I like the reviews about this book, but it's not for me. The characters seem interesting and well-rounded, and the story is quite distinctive and rich in descriptions.

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 31 Mar 2025, 21:43

This book proves that the Wild West isn't just about cowboys. I'm interested to see how mining moves the plot.

Post by **Bethel Saint Bright** » 01 Apr 2025, 02:18

The Wild West and gunslinging are like two inseparable pals. I enjoy stories of the Wild West and I'm sure I'll enjoy this one. Thank you Gerry for the review.

Post by **Jeff Kanda** » 01 Apr 2025, 07:29

I have only watched movies about the Wild West, and I can say I really like them. I will definitely enjoy reading this book. Your reviews show that it is action-filled, and that is what I like about such books. Thanks for sharing your review!

Post by **Neha Panikar** » 01 Apr 2025, 10:50

Loved the review!
Your narration felt like I was watching a movie about the Wild West! I look forward to reading this book. Adding it to my bookshelf right away!!