Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Title: Vengeance Road
Author: Erin Bowman
Series: N/A
Edition: Digital Review Copy, 336 pages
Publication Details: September 1st 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Genre(s): YA
Disclosure? Yep! I received a free copy in exchange for an HONEST review.

Goodreads

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When hers father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Review

Vengeance Road is a fast-paced, action-packed, tale of adventure and revenge in the shape of a good old-fashioned Western.

Plucky protagonist Kate thought her father was hung for the sake of it, but when she makes her way to Abe’s ranch, someone her father instructed her to seek out should anything happen to him, she discovers that she didn’t know him as well as she thought.

Hell-bent on seeking revenge for his death, Kate, along with Abe’s children – for he too is dead when she gets there – heads off across the arid plains on the trail of the Rose clan – the notorious band of outlaws who killed him.

Hurrah for this is basically what I want to say! It’s not often you come across new and exciting strands of YA, and Vengeance Road was definitely that. Bowman weaves a thrilling, old fashioned yarn of an adventure and makes it look all shiny and new.

Kate is a wonderful character. She’s strong-willed, resourceful, and presents herself as fearless. But deep down she’s just like any teenager, lacking in confidence, and feeling lost in the world.

I really enjoyed this book the whole way through. I enjoyed Kate’s banter with the brothers, and her unlikely friendship with Lilulwe, an Apache girl. It has a bit of everything.

There is of course some romance too, this is YA after all.

This was my first helping of Erin Bowman, and I think she’s certainly one to watch. I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next, and I might even have to check out her previous books on the strength of this one.

This Week in Books 23.09.2015

Welcome to my weekly post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Now: Golden Boy ~ Abigail Tarttelin

I’m almost finished with this one. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a read.

Then: Vengeance Road ~ Erin Bowman

I loved this action-packed, revenge-fuelled, YA Western! My review will be up next week.

Next: ???

I think I’ll make a start on my Horror October reads and begin with The Lost Girl by R.L Stine as it’s released on the 29th Sept.

New on the Shelves

I was approved for the following titles via Netgalley:

The Light That Gets Lost by Natasha Carthew, and Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes. Both of which I featured on my Autumn TBR Top Ten yesterday.

I’m Waiting On…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

The Black Tongue ~ Marko Hautala

I really want to get a hold of this ASAP. Sounds creepy-good! It actually came out yesterday, but I have to wait until I get paid to buy it!

For generations, the urban legend of Granny Hatchet has plagued the quiet residential area of Suvikylä in northern Finland. As the story goes, this immortal killer murders her victims with a hatchet, then buries the hearts in a potato field and eats them after they’ve rotted black. But not everyone is convinced it is just a story.

Maisa Riipinen has returned to her hometown to complete her dissertation on urban folklore at the same time that Samuel Autio has come home to arrange his father’s funeral. As hazy, disturbing memories from their pasts meld with strange events in the present, Maisa and Samuel attempt to make sense of the town’s fearful obsession with the mythical Granny Hatchet. But if it’s only a legend, then why are people still vanishing without a trace?

From Finnish author Marko Hautala comes The Black Tongue, a gripping novel about a terrifying story with the power to silence—and the power to make those who dare speak disappear.

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #TWIB, and I’ll come and visit!

This Week in Books 16.09.2015

Welcome to my weekly post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Hope you guys are having a good week!

Now: Vengeance Road ~ Erin Bowman

I’m not very far into this, but I have high hopes!

Then: This Crumbling Pageant ~ Patricia Burroughs// The Reckoning Stones ~ Laura DiSilverio

I had mixed feeling about This Crumbling Pageant, my review will be up next week, and my review of The Reckoning Stones went up yesterday.

Next: ???

I’m not really sure this time. As a reward for finishing off nearly all of my outstanding review requests, I think I’ll pick up something off my physical TBR bookshelf. I have Golden Boy, Alice in Zombieland, and Don’t Look Now amongst many, many others…

New on the Shelves

I was approved for the following titles via Netgalley:

Seize the Night ~ Various, Edited by Christopher Golden

I’m mega happy I got approved for this collection as I want to review it for my annual Horror October.

A blockbuster anthology of original, blood-curdling vampire fiction from New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors, including Charlaine Harris, whose novels were adapted into HBO’s hit show True Blood, and Scott Smith, publishing his first work since The Ruins.

Before being transformed into romantic heroes and soft, emotional antiheroes, vampires were figures of overwhelming terror. Now, from some of the biggest names in horror and dark fiction, comes this stellar collection of short stories that make vampires frightening once again. Edited by New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden and featuring all-new stories from such contributors as Charlaine Harris, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Scott Smith, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Michael Kortya, Kelley Armstrong, Brian Keene, David Wellington, Seanan McGuire, and Tim Lebbon, Seize the Night is old-school vampire fiction at its finest.

Corrupted ~ Lisa Scottoline

This is the third book in the series and I haven’t read the previous two but it sounds like that won’t be an issue from Goodreads. I couldn’t resist after reading the synopsis

Bennie Rosato the founder of the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm hides her big heart beneath her tough-as-nails exterior and she doesn’t like to fail.

Now, a case from her past shows her how differently things might have turned out. Thirteen years ago, Bennie Rosato took on Jason Leftavick, a twelve-year-old boy who was sent to a juvenile detention center after fighting a class bully. Bennie couldn’t free Jason, and to this day it’s the case that haunts her.

Jason has grown up in and out of juvenile prison, and his adulthood hasn’t been any easier. Bennie no longer represents those accused of murder, but when Jason is indicted for killing the same bully he fought with as a kid, she sees no choice but to represent him. She doesn’t know whether or not to believe his claims of innocence, but she knows she owes him for past failures–of the law, of the juvenile justice system, and of herself. Forced to relive the darkest period of her life, Bennie will do everything in her power to get the truth, and justice.

I’m Waiting On…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

The Light that gets Lost ~ Natasha Carthew

This looks and sounds right up my alley!

A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there’s no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he’s only small, he swears that he’ll get revenge one day.

Years later, Trey enters a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It’s packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey’s been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he’s he not here for saving: this is where he’ll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark.

Expected Publication: November 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury Children’s

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #TWIB, and I’ll come and visit!

This Week in Books 09.09.2015

Welcome to my weekly post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Hope you guys are having a good week!

Now: This Crumbling Pageant ~ Patricia Burroughs// The Turing Test ~ Chris Beckett

I’m trying really hard to get into This Crumbling Pageant, and I’m still going on my lunch-time read too.

Then: The Wolf Wilder ~ Katherine Rundell // The Reckoning Stones ~ Laura DiSilverio

My review of The Wolf Wilder went up on Monday. The Reckoning Stones was a slow-burner but I mostly enjoyed it. I’ll be reviewing it next week.

Next: Vengeance Road ~ Erin Bowman

Really looking forward to this one. Here’s the blurb:

When Kate Thompson’s father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, the eighteen-year-old disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers and justice. What she finds are devious strangers, dust storms, and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, she gets closer to the truth about herself and must decide if there’s room for love in a heart so full of hate.

In the spirit of True Grit, the cutthroat days of the Wild West come to life for a new generation.

I’m Waiting On…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

The Winter Place ~ Alexander Yates

Ahhh can’t wait for this one, I love the cover, and it sounds beautiful!

When a mysterious stranger and his brown bear show up on the same day that Axel and Tess’s father dies in an accident, Axel fears he might be going crazy, especially as only he can see them. However, the strange duo are quickly forgotten when Axel and Tess are shipped off to Finland to stay with grandparents that they’ve never met. But when they arrive in Finland, Axel is stunned when the stranger and his bear reappear. More incredibly, the stranger tells him that his parents are lost and need help.

Desperate to see his father again, and actually meet his mother, Axel follows the man and his bear, disappearing deep into the frozen wilds of northern Finland.

When Tess realises that her brother has vanished she’s distraught. And so begins the frantic search across snow and ice into the dark forest. But as the hours creep by and with no sign of Axel, Tess begins to wonder if her brother has ventured onto a path that she cannot follow.

Delving into the timeless, fantastical world of Nordic mysticism, set against the harsh beauty of a frozen landscape, The Winter Place is an imaginative, beautiful story of loss, love and hope, a story of family, and of a brother and sister who find each other again.

Expected Publication: October 22nd by Simon & Schuster

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #TWIB, and I’ll come and visit!

This Week in Books 19.08.15 #TWIB

Welcome to my weekly post, where I sum-up what I’ve been up to in bookland the past week.

Now: Memoirs of a Dipper ~ Nell Leyshon // The Turning Test ~ Chris Beckett

Nell Leyshon is doing a talk and Q&A session in the prison library I work in tomorrow so I thought I better check out her book. I’m really enjoying it and hopefully tomorrow will go well!

The Turing Test is my lunch time read – it’s pretty insane. In a good way.

Then: My Soul Immortal ~Jen Printy

This was such an addictive, quick read. Loved it! My review will be up next week.

Next: ???

It’s back to the review request pile, so the next one will be This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs.

I’m Waiting On…

(Linking up with Breaking the Spine)

Vengeance Road ~ Erin Bowman

The cover drew me to this one!

In the spirit of True Grit, the cutthroat days of the Wild West come to life for a new generation.

Expected Publication: September 1st 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers

So, that’s my week in books, now how about yours?

If you still do a similar WWW post (or just want to join in, leave your link/answers in the comments, OR why not tweet using #TWIB, and I’ll come and visit!