Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Series: Vengeance Road
Format: e-ARC
Source: Netgalley
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REDEMPTION IS NEVER FREE
When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece's path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom—or a noose. As the two manipulate each other for their own ends, past secrets are unearthed, reviving a decade-old quest for revenge that may be impossible to settle.
In this thrilling companion to Vengeance Road, dangerous alliances are formed, old friends meet new enemies, and the West is wilder than ever.
When I first read Vengeance Road in 2015, I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I had not really read any YA Western books, so I was apprehensive. All of my fears were quelled when I began the story. Erin Bowman wrote a wonderful story set in the Wild West, and I loved every second of it. So of course when I saw that Retribution Rails was available on Netgalley, I immediately requested it.
Retribution Rails is set in the same Wild West world as VR, but 10 years later. The main character is 18 year old Reece Murphy, also known as the Rose Kid. He is an unwitting member of the Rose Rider gang, and has been accused of multiple murders that he did not commit. He meets the very fierce Charlotte Vaughn while attempting to rob the train she is on. Their meeting sets off a deadly chain of events that is non-stop throughout the book.
First off, I LOVED Reece and Charlotte. Sure, Charlotte was really impulsive and did plenty of stupid things throughout the book, but she was also fierce and determined to get her life back. I can't fault her because I think plenty of us would be willing to do whatever it took to get out of bad situations like she and her mother were in. Reese on the other hand, was not your average bad guy. He was caught up in a bad situation and forced to do what he had to do to protect his mother. Despite his reputation and tough exterior, Reese was actually a very good guy.
Both of them had quite the dynamic together. It was a lot of tension when they got together, that's for sure.
I must say that when I got to the last page, I was SO confused because I kept swiping trying to get to the last page only to realize that I had already reached the last page! Then I read the epilogue and was still shocked that it just ended like that. Why Erin, why?!
Overall, I was very happy with this companion story to Vengeance Road. Erin Bowman does a wonderful job at writing Westerns, and I hope she continues to do so.
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