Summary

is about a young woman who’s father is murdered and set her on a path of revenge. Along the way she ends having  two brothers, Will and Jesse Colton, with her one her quest and an apache maiden named Lilyue for a guide.

Book Cover

The book cover is simply stunning. It drew me to the book when I watched a friends haul or tbr. I knew I had to have it for myself and I am so glad that I did. It is very fitting for the them.

Theme

The book is set a little bit after the 1840’s when most of the west coast was still in motion of the Gold Rush era. The story takes place in the state of Arizona. It mentions the Superstition Mountains.

Main Character – Kate Thompson

is the only daughter of Maria and Ross Thompson. From flashbacks we learn that her mother died of what seemed to be influenza or scarlet fever when she was young. The book opens up with her returning to the homestead and her father hanging from a tree with a rose carved into his forehead. The rose is a symbol that the outlaw, Waylan Rose, carves into his victims. She decided to grab her Winchester, dress like a man for safety, and head after Rose and his gang called the Rose Riders. Kate tracks one of the stray riders to Prescott. There she kills him after getting some confusing information. Kate decides that she is going to go Abe’s in Wickenburg. Abe is a long time friend of her fathers that he made her promise to go see in case anything happened to him.

Once at Abe’s property she finds out that Abe died and his two sons -Jesse and Will, are running the property with their sister Sarah and her son. Sarah’s husband is a gambler and alcoholic that travels to Tucson. Jesse, the elder brother gives her a letter that Abe kept for her father. This letter reveals a deep family secret that somewhat confounds her. Her father and mother had struck gold after finding a dead mans journal leading them there. They took some of the gold and decided to go have a good life. However, since the gold mines were drying up families with ore were being killed for their gold. He decided to use it sparingly. Also that her name isn’t Kate Thompson but Kate Tompkins. Also that his name is Ross Henry Tompkins not Henry Thompson.  Kate decides that she doesn’t care about her fathers past and that she will go by Kate Thompson still. Despite the letter she decides to head on with her path of revenge. While on the path she is joined by Will and Jesse Colton & Lilyue. Her path leads her to two confrontations with Rose and his gang, Wills death, getting help with from Lilyue’s tribe.

Overall Thoughts

The book is wonderfully written. What I want from books with Western genre to play a movie in my head from start to finish. If it falls short then I find myself DNFing the work. Westerns are probably one of the hardest genres for me to read. This book is written in Kate’s POV and that would be one of the cons that I estimate for some. But honestly I enjoyed it. In my updates I stated that it reminded me of True Grit but after reading it the book gave me the movie Unforgiven vibes! The clint version.  The world building was perfection, the characters were well wounded, and the plot was great. It had all the points of a western. confrontations, slight angst romance, almost lethal injuries and murder.

Recommendation

I do recommend this book. I give it a 4/5 stars. I will be going onto its sequel Retribution Trail. Please share with me if you’ve read the book, planning on, or have other westerns to recommend!