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| Blood Red Road (Dustlands #1) by Moira Young |
"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."
Rating:
Let me tell you how far Blood Red Road got me badly hooked: On the 1st night that I read this since I usually read by sundown, when it was time for me to get some sleep, I placed the book on my shelf, laid on my bed and pulled my blanket up to my chin. And guess what, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was playing over the events I’ve read on Blood Red Road. I was imagining how Silverlake looked like; Saba and Emmi’s journey; Saba’s Cage fights (I stopped before getting to Hopetown One Month Later chapter). My mind was really musing over everything. It took me about 2-3 hours before I finally dozed off. Yup… That bad.
There are just so many elements that I found to love in Blood Red Road. I found the plot unique and the settings very vivid. Saba’s journey to and from Hopetown in finding her brother was an adventure I’d like to read over again and never get tired of. I do wish that I’d have more Cage-fight scenes, I love fighting scenes so I felt that it was too short and not as descriptive as I want, but totally forgivable. I also love the surprises I got over reading this, and just when I thought I had enough, here comes another one, more shocking than the other.
The characters, I found them beautifully created. I have to admit that I didn’t like Saba from the beginning, but as she grew throughout the book, dislike turned to respect and I eventually learned to love her. She may’ve been shallow and stubborn in the beginning, but as she came across more people, I’d gotten to know a better side of her. Jack, oh-so-cocky Jack, is someone that I really loved in this book. What is it with fictional, arrogant, good-looking guys that make readers like me so giddy and find them fascinating? If it were in real life, I know we’d be dissing guys like that but why do we find those in the book so attractive? Seriously?
Moving on, I kind of pity Emmi. She’s just a kid who has lived a life that her young age shouldn’t have yet and I admire her for that, but sometimes she can be way too stubborn and careless. Sometimes I hate it, other times I just know it can’t be helped.
I’m totally curious about DeMalo. He’s so mysterious and I really want to know more about him, I feel that he’ll be the villain on the next book after what happened to the King. Speaking of the King, oh seriously! Couldn’t help addressing his self as THE KING, Ugh! And yet he was a very distinct character.
Of course, it’s not perfect. I have to say that I don’t buy the whole written in the stars thing and the heartstone. Even without those, Saba’s father could’ve still told her to be strong for others and the events that occurred with Lugh would still have happened; and Jack would still be justified as Saba’s heart’s desire without the hint of heat from the heartstone. I also feel a bit disturbed by Saba’s “determination” in finding Lugh. Yes, I get that he’s her brother and she loved him but if I hadn’t known they were siblings, I would’ve thought they were lovers. Or maybe I just don’t have the same relationship with my brother the way she has with Lugh.
With how Blood Red Road, I know we’ll have another farfetched journey ahead and I can’t wait to know more about Saba’s world.
