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cubierocks 's review for:
Vengeance Road
by Erin Bowman
Westerns bore me. My dad loves them, but to be honest, I get bored with the whole “you killed my pa now yer gonna get yer’s!” storyline that often arises in this genre. However, when I discovered that the new novel Vengeance Road would be a Young Adult book starring a female character hell-bent on nothing but revenge, I decided to give the story a chance; and after reading it, I eagerly implore others to do the same. For Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman is a unique, thrilling, engaging tale that I believe can engross anyone looking for a grand story.
Vengeance Road begins when the main character Kate Thompson returns to her home to find her father dead, killed by a notorious gang known as the Rose Riders. Grief-stricken and confused by their motives, Kate allows a thirst for revenge to fuel her hunt for this gang, letting nothing and no one stand in her way. Bold, hotheaded, and dangerously skilled, Kate Thompson is the fierce and morally ambiguous female character that the YA genre has long been lacking. Later joined by brothers Will and Jesse, Kate embarks on a brutal journey that, despite its YA labelling, is no less intense than any other western tale.
“It weren’t no secret Pa owned the best plot of land ‘long Granite Creek, and I reckon that’s why they killed him.” This opening sentence to Bowman’s story propels the reader straight into the thick of conflict. Where most novels would later backtrack after such an intro into a slower pace Bowman only speeds on, never losing the momentum gained within the first chapter of the novel. The quick, but never overwhelming pace of Vengeance Road makes a full reading in one sitting perfectly plausible, further supporting the raging spirt of the novel.
Moreover, as stated before, Kate Thompson is unique, and while not wholly relatable, likable main character, with both strengths and weakness that develop immensely over the course of the novel. Brothers Will and Jesse are no different. As the supposed love interest, Jesse, who appears to be honest, patient, and just, complements Kate in a very yin and yang way. Still, Jesse is not without his faults, and he is in need of just as much development as Kate (luckily the author grants him this as well).
This being said, while there is romance in Vengeance Road, it’s not cheesy or sudden, nor does it hinder the plot. Subtly growing by time, I was surprisingly pleased with the romantic element of the novel.
In fact, I enjoyed many elements of the novel that I was secretly dreading beforehand. The southern dialect, the lack of remorse Kate feels during gunfights, as well as her disguise as a man (which obviously is uncovered as the book progresses) all made me dubious of my choice in reading the book. Then again, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this western nearly as much as I did. Though the novel is hardly life-changing, and more fun than thought-provoking, I applaud Bowman’s skill in penning a well-written and exciting story. Overall, Vengeance Road, to me, deserves four out of five stars.
For those still on the fence on this novel, perhaps the most telling quote of Vengeance Road is spoken by Jesse to Kate, when he states,
“ ‘It don’t matter what I want. I promised my father I’d watch out for you. That don’t change if yer a girl on a vengeful road. It don’t even change if yer a liar. I ain’t one. I keep my promises, and seeing as yer bent on doing this no matter what I suggest, I’m stuck making sure you ain’t dead before dawn. Plus,’ he adds with a smile. ‘the promise of gold sure don’t hurt.’”
Recommended for those who enjoyed Blood Red Road by Moira Young, Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, and The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman, Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman was published September 1st of this year, on both hardcover and eBook format and runs about 336 pages.
Vengeance Road begins when the main character Kate Thompson returns to her home to find her father dead, killed by a notorious gang known as the Rose Riders. Grief-stricken and confused by their motives, Kate allows a thirst for revenge to fuel her hunt for this gang, letting nothing and no one stand in her way. Bold, hotheaded, and dangerously skilled, Kate Thompson is the fierce and morally ambiguous female character that the YA genre has long been lacking. Later joined by brothers Will and Jesse, Kate embarks on a brutal journey that, despite its YA labelling, is no less intense than any other western tale.
“It weren’t no secret Pa owned the best plot of land ‘long Granite Creek, and I reckon that’s why they killed him.” This opening sentence to Bowman’s story propels the reader straight into the thick of conflict. Where most novels would later backtrack after such an intro into a slower pace Bowman only speeds on, never losing the momentum gained within the first chapter of the novel. The quick, but never overwhelming pace of Vengeance Road makes a full reading in one sitting perfectly plausible, further supporting the raging spirt of the novel.
Moreover, as stated before, Kate Thompson is unique, and while not wholly relatable, likable main character, with both strengths and weakness that develop immensely over the course of the novel. Brothers Will and Jesse are no different. As the supposed love interest, Jesse, who appears to be honest, patient, and just, complements Kate in a very yin and yang way. Still, Jesse is not without his faults, and he is in need of just as much development as Kate (luckily the author grants him this as well).
This being said, while there is romance in Vengeance Road, it’s not cheesy or sudden, nor does it hinder the plot. Subtly growing by time, I was surprisingly pleased with the romantic element of the novel.
In fact, I enjoyed many elements of the novel that I was secretly dreading beforehand. The southern dialect, the lack of remorse Kate feels during gunfights, as well as her disguise as a man (which obviously is uncovered as the book progresses) all made me dubious of my choice in reading the book. Then again, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this western nearly as much as I did. Though the novel is hardly life-changing, and more fun than thought-provoking, I applaud Bowman’s skill in penning a well-written and exciting story. Overall, Vengeance Road, to me, deserves four out of five stars.
For those still on the fence on this novel, perhaps the most telling quote of Vengeance Road is spoken by Jesse to Kate, when he states,
“ ‘It don’t matter what I want. I promised my father I’d watch out for you. That don’t change if yer a girl on a vengeful road. It don’t even change if yer a liar. I ain’t one. I keep my promises, and seeing as yer bent on doing this no matter what I suggest, I’m stuck making sure you ain’t dead before dawn. Plus,’ he adds with a smile. ‘the promise of gold sure don’t hurt.’”
Recommended for those who enjoyed Blood Red Road by Moira Young, Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, and The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman, Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman was published September 1st of this year, on both hardcover and eBook format and runs about 336 pages.