Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on November 7, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Western, Historical Fiction
Pages: 384 – hardcover & ebook
Format Read: eARC
Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Previous Books in Series: Vengeance Road
PURCHASE LINKS
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.
Review:After Vengeance Road, I didn’t think I’d really enjoy any follow-up novel to this series. Boy, was I wrong. Retribution Rails was just as good as, if not better than, Vengeance Road, IMO. If you’re reading this book just for Kate and Jesse, you definitely won’t be disappointed, because there’s plenty of them to go around in this book. Although this is just a companion novel to Vengeance Road, I advise reading the first book to really get the full story.
Erin’s ability to write tough-minded, strong young women of the west truly never ceases to amaze me. Charlotte has such a vivacious character that you just can’t help but root for from the very beginning. Throw in her determination and quick wit? You’ve got yourself a helluva character! Oh, and don’t get me started on Reese Murphy. His character really brings in a certain kind of complexity that was not present in the first book. Haunted by his actions, he struggles to reconcile who he is versus how he views himself. He tries to right his wrongdoings every chance he gets, and is constantly at war with himself. When Charlotte and Reese collide, they slowly change each other’s perceptions of themselves and of the other. Their interactions were something I constantly looked forward to!
The writing, as always, was top notch! Erin has such a vivid writing style that immediately transports you to the Wild West, infusing your imagination with exciting train robberies, gunfights, and showdowns. The world is very impressively well-built and immersive. It’s really unlike anything I’ve ever read — very refreshing!
I truly can’t recommend Vengeance Road and Retribution Rails enough! Before VR, I never would’ve thought of myself as someone who would pick up a book from the Western genre, but I’m a changed woman now! Trust me, you’ll thank me later.
From the well-written vernacular to the complex characters to the immersive world, Retribution Rails is a wild ride from start to finish. So buckle up!
*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
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Rating: 4 fish!
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