“I got some coin and a vengeance strong enough to cut any throat that tries to cross me.”
I knew I was going to love this from the very first chapter, which was an explosion of violent and gritty awesomeness. My love for this book only grew as I got to know the protagonist, Kate, who was hardcore and had no regrets.
Kate is out for cold hard revenge. Her father was keeping a secret from her: he discovered a gold mine years ago and made a map to it. Now a nasty gang called the Rose Riders have strung her pa up and Kate swears to kill every last one of them.
Kate may seem a bit cold-hearted, but that’s exactly what was so awesome about her. She was spirited and filled with such a strong determination that made her totally admirable. And she wasn’t so tough that she became unrealistic, either. She was compassionate and determined to bring justice to her father’s death.
She was the opposite of a feminine, ladylike girl, though she did develop feelings for her fellow cowboy partner on the road, Jesse. But she never let him distract her from her goal, even though Jesse was one heck of a cute cowboy. She prioritized revenge above everything else.
Kate grudgingly formed a band with Jesse and his brother, Will, and an Indian girl, Lil. There was the perfect amount of romance that grew slowly and steadily. Jesse and Kate were sure something together. They were adorable and their banter made my heart beat wildly.
“And girls danced with the likes of you?” I tease.
“If I managed to bathe first and put on a clean shirt, I couldn’t fight ’em off.”
“Such a gentleman.”
“All cowboys are.”
There are guns, shooting lessons, poker games, saloons, bar fights, drinking, cussing, lies, betrayal, and lots of killing. Not to mention explorations of how deep revenge can go and the cost of gold. It was pure western awesomeness.
Also, after Jesse confesses that he’s not the best reader and he doesn’t think he could ever finish a whole book Kate tells him this:
“Then you ain’t found the right book yet,” I says. “There’s something for everyone.”
The ending was perfect. If you’re in the mood for a revenge plot, a band of cowboys riding through the dusty plains, and a tough-as-nails heroine, pick up Vengeance Road. It’s one fast and gritty story set on a road paved by blood.
No comments:
Post a Comment