First off I'm so thankful to Lauren for sending me this arc in a trade because after the publishers emailed me saying they had no more physical arcs, I was basically devastated. BUT NOW THAT IS CHANGED AND YOU GUYS DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS BOOK. Words always seem to fail me on my favorite reads. They never fully convey my feels, but I'm gonna try!
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#1 I just gotta mention how PERFECTLY COHESIVE VR and RR are- I'm not gonna talk about it much because spoilers, but when we see familiar faces and the convergence in the two tales.. I basically was a screaming, squawking, fangirl mess!
#2 REECE MURPHY DESERVES THE WORLD AND MORE! OH HOW MY BABY WAS SUFFERIN SO MUCH!
#3 ERIN BOWMAN'S QUOTE GAME AND COMMENTARY HAVE MOVED TO NEW LENGTHS, AND I AM ON THE GROUND DEAD AT THE GLORIOUSNESS OF THEM ALL!
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Examples:
"It is fear that fosters silence, that breeds ignorance, that causes half-truths to be printed over fact. It is fear that has kept me dutiful so far. No more"
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"I won't be a journalist today, I'll be a writer of fiction. I'll deal in whispers and sensations and legends."
🛤
'"Now what's the [SPOILERS!] name?"
"Funny," she says, "but I don't feel all that inclined to help you further. Perhaps you should have asked that before shutting me back in my cage."
"What's [the] name Charlotte?"
"Don't call me that."
"What's [the] g*****n name?"
Silence.'
💥
"All right, Charlotte Vaughn. If you say so." [This quote has much more to do with just MY FEELS!]
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Now I have loved the Wild West since I was a little girl, and Erin Bowman has always held a special place in my heart. You can tell how much research she does because all of it seems as realistic as a textbook. 
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I also love that she adds in strong female protagonists. In the first book Kate showed her strength in her cunning intelligence (though stubborn she may have been) and other worldly aim, and now in the second book, I love the contrast to where the main female isn't great with a shot. She rather wishes to be a journalist and proves her strength through her attitude and words. Charlotte and Kate both don't conform to the barriers women of their time so often dealt with (they both do it differently as well!), and while they're women in westerns that fit these descriptions, they're a tremendous amount who fit the "dutiful" female role. I ultimately just loved both of these protagonists and what they stood for.
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Also I just LOVED Reece! My lil' baby was suffering the whole entire time, and I just wanted to envelope him in a hug of protection. He was really adorable and hysterical. His commentary with Charlotte was AMAZING, and I applaud everything about their interaction and tension!
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I also loved the contrast in the setting of both books. Erin brushes upon this in her authors note, but you really see the difference in the 10 years separating these two books. 
The train aspect gave me chills because it was first off new to the story and then reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows Hell on Wheels, and I just felt completely nostalgic from that. The time changes were perfectly done, and I applaud Erin Bowman.
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Anyway, Retribution Rails releases November 7, 2017, and y'all best believe I'll be waiting by my mailbox for my preorder! Though before that I'll be meeting Erin Bowman at TX Teen Book Festival, so you know I'll be thanking her in person for her western tales! But pick RR and the preceding book VR up because you guys won't regret it!