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Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman is a wonderful western with a main character that is brave and desperate for vengeance and a theme that is fairly common, but with a western twist. This is the perfect book to introduce you to the western genre.
Title: Vengeance RoadSeries: Vengeance Road #1
Author: Erin Bowman
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genres: Western, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 1, 2015
Rating:
Series Rating:
When her father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, eighteen year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers--and justice. In the spirit of "True Grit"," "acclaimed young adult novelist Erin Bowman brings to life the unpredictable and cutthroat days of the Wild West.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
❀ A Western Story
I really enjoyed the genre of this story. It is a western, which I have never read before. This book was definitely a good start to the western genre for me, because it’s got everything that I would associate with the wild west: gold, pistols, horses, saloons, everything. Even the dialect is western, y’all!
❀ Wonderful Main Character
Kate is such a wonderful main character for Vengeance Road. She is brave and loyal to her father, desperate to get her revenge after he is killed. In the time period of this book, women weren’t taken very seriously, and neither is Kate. So, she dresses up as a boy to complete her mission, which works out pretty well for her. She isn’t a big fan of constricting dresses and having to please men anyways. Kate is just so adventurous and the perfect character for a book like Vengeance Road.
❀ Theme of Vengeance
One of the big themes in the book is, or course, vengeance. I am a big fan of books that have to do with vengeance and revenge, and boy does this one have a lot of it. What is interesting about this book is that Kate is actually angry for a good reason. In many other YA books, revenge stories are about girls getting back at their ex-boyfriends just because they can. But in Vengeance Road, it is understandable that Kate is angry and upset about her father’s murder and wants her vengeance. I really appreciated this fact, because it makes the book more realistic.
❀ Unique Genre
Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman is definitely one of the highlights of 2015 with its unique genre, valiant main character and entertaining theme. I strongly recommend this amazing book to everyone, even if you aren’t a western fan. You will become one after you read this book. Vengeance Road will honestly change your life.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
Awesome review. I’m looking forward to reading this one. It sounds so interesting.
I just finished this one and LOVED it! I am not usually a Western person, but this one was so much better than I thought it would be. Great review.
I’ve never read anything Western before but man, does this book sound great! Its been on my TBR for a while now. Hopefully I can pick it up soon!
Great review
xoxo💋
Definitely agree with you on all points with this one! I really enjoyed this one!
I loved your point about the revenge in YA. It was really refreshing to read something more than just a romantically scorned woman.
Nice review. I so loved this book as well. I don’t think I’ve ever read a YA Western before. Kate is definitely a strong heroine that you really root for despite all the challenges that she meets.
Grace @ Books of Love
Thanks for this since this is a western book but I love that it had to deal with vengeance over a killed father. Sounds great.
I am glad to know you loved this one so much! I have added it to my TBR as well. I have never read a YA Western, like you before this book, so it will be a first for me. Knowing it was a highlight makes me impressed ^^
I’m really looking forward to this book! Thanks for the review
I’ve been in an Old West mood, so I think that I need to read “Vengeance Road” when it comes out. Great review!
Great review! I’ve not read one of Erin’s books, and I will admit I’d always looked past this one, but I’m definitely keen to give it a try now after reading more reviews for it. Thanks for the recommendation! 🙂
The September release I was looking the most forward to. This review just confirmed my excitement! Can’t wait to read it~
I am a big western fan! The cover is awesome!