Blood Red Road by Moira Young [Reviews]

5 out of 5 Robots!

  

Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Series: Dustlands #1

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia

Release: June 7, 2011

Hardcover: 459 Pages

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

My Copy: Purchased

Reviewer: Shannon

Buy the Book: Amazon

Book Summary:
Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. 

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. 

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.. (Courtesy of the Publisher)

 
Shannon's Thoughts:

Ah, I loved Blood Red Road so much! I was captivated within the first couple chapters, but didn’t realize how much I enjoyed it until I was surprised I was at the end of the book already!  I would have been happy to keep going and continue the journey with Saba.  

I love the setting of the novel. It is desolate, gritty and harsh.  It is the Wild West meets Mad Max.  I ate it up.  And so much happens too!  There are sandstorms, desert crossing, cage fighting, sandships, sacrifices, mercenaries, hellwurms (!!) and on and on.  But I never felt the plot was overstuffed or over the top.  There is a lot of action and a lot of excitement.  And for an almost 500 page book it is extremely well paced.  Also, the characters are very well developed.  I really felt their personalities, their strengths, and their weaknesses. 

It doesn’t mention it in the synopsis, but one of my favorite parts of the book is the relationship between Saba and her younger sister Emmi.  Saba’s mother died giving birth to Emmi and Saba never forgave Emmi for it.  So when Lugh is taken and her father killed, she is left with the one family member she doesn’t want.  Saba and Emmi butt heads the entire way and to see their relationship develop is extremely rewarding. I loved Saba.  She is part ass kicker and part cranky old man.  I loved her crusty personality. And girl knows how to get the job done.  She is fierce, stubborn and determined.  She is definitely a force to be reckoned with.  Watch out Katniss!  

I will mention that the author employs a unique writing style. The entire story is told from Saba’s POV and she speaks and thinks in a uneducated phonetic way.  It could potentionally throw some readers off.  Especially since Saba’s dialect is not just confined to dialogue.  It takes some getting used to and at times I still found it distracting.  But it does create an intimacy with Saba.  And it fits.  I don’t think Saba’s thought, perceptions, etc., would be as believable if she spoke in one voice and thought in different one.

This is a great read for fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Under the Never Sky.  The second novel, Rebel Hearts, is due to come out in October and I can’t wait!