Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)

Jun 07, 2012 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all fans of dystopian/post-apocalyptic teen lit

Shelves: 2011, ala-ya-2012, dystopias-post-apocalyptic, ya, series-in-progress-still-like, b, 2012

As seen on The Readventurer

This book is not going to be out until June, so I feel very lucky for having had an opportunity to read it so early. I hope it will get enough promo buzz over the next few months to reach tons of readers, because Blood Red Road very much deserves it. It is a stand-out in the new crop of dystopian/post-apocalyptic YA fiction, most of which is crap.

The novel is basically an adventure quest set in a distant post-apocalyptic future. Saba's twin brother Lugh is kidnapped in...more As seen on The Readventurer

This book is not going to be out until June, so I feel very lucky for having had an opportunity to read it so early. I hope it will get enough promo buzz over the next few months to reach tons of readers, because Blood Red Road very much deserves it. It is a stand-out in the new crop of dystopian/post-apocalyptic YA fiction, most of which is crap.

The novel is basically an adventure quest set in a distant post-apocalyptic future. Saba's twin brother Lugh is kidnapped in front of her eyes. Why and where he is taken, Saba doesn't know, but she is determined to do everything she can to find and rescue him. Obstacles and adventures are ahead of her.

I quite liked Saba. There is a bit of Katniss Everdeen in her - that familiar determination, stubbornness, strength, charisma and heightened survival instincts. In fact, Blood Red Road is a celebration of girl power. You will not see a single limp damsel in distress in this novel. Women here, regardless of their age, are strong and self-reliant and, surprisingly, they don't waste their time on trying to prove they have balls to the men around them by wearing pants and rejecting everything feminine. They simply are women and they kick ass. No gender politics and struggles here. Very refreshing.

What else is great about the book it the writing style. I am guessing it will be a hit or miss with the readers. Saba lives in a world where almost all traces of civilization are gone. She can't read or write, so her narrating style consists of abrupt, grammatically-incorrect sentences. Somehow it adds character to Saba's voice and urgency to the story itself. The pacing of this novel is fast and it is never boring.

On the other hand, I agree with other reviewers who think the first part of the novel is stronger than the second. Very true. The first half is intense and suspenseful, colored by Saba's single desire to save her brother. The second half is still well-paced, but is diluted by rather predictable plot twists and formulaic romantic back and forth. Although I won't be complaining about romance for too long. I would have been upset if there was none and the main male squeeze is a cool, likable dude. Sufficiently hot make-out sessions were greatly appreciated as well.

All in all, I am left with a feeling that the beginning of the novel indicated that the book would be something more ambitious, something more important and meaningful. What it is is a well-written, fast paced adventure-type commercial teen fiction which is not such a bad thing IMO.

Blood Red Road might not be my favorite book in the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genre, but it is definitely one of the better ones. I look forward to reading the next two books in this promising new trilogy.(less)

131 likes · like · see review

Apr 30, 2011 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who enjoyed books such as The Hunger Games and Poison Study

Shelves: dystopian-worlds-hells-and-cesspits, covers-i-love, couldn-t-stop-reading-it, surprisingly-liked, best-characters, best-couples, best-endings, glad-i-gave-it-a-chance, exceeded-my-expectations, 2011-reads, wowed-me, writing-to-which-i-aspire, amazing-storytelling, out-of-the-box-ideas, ultimate-favorites, worth-every-star, heroines-i-love-and-or-admire, reviewed

Listen up since you may never hear these words from me again about any other book: I am not surprised in the least that this book is getting such buzz, nor that rights to the film have already been acquired by Ridley Scott. You want to know why? Because this book has everything that will keep anyone, whether a reader or movie-goer, hooked: action, suspense, drama, unpredictability, emotion, romance, and great characterization.

Unlike other dystopian YA novels, Blood Red Road isn't focused on issu...more

105 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2011 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Younger Ceridwen

Recommended to Ceridwen by: Secret mermaid friend

Shelves: america-and-environs, young-adult, omg-were-all-going-to-die

Cross-posted on Readerling

If I had read this younger, I would have loved this. People say stuff like this all the time, and sometimes it's a dig. You know, the old saw about how teens are stupid and they cannot differentiate good writing from bad so we as older readers should either a) not read books directed at the teen market or b) not judge it according to the literary standards of books aimed at adults. A pox on both ideas. I don't think we should just hang out in our little genre marketing...more

43 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, heroines-butt-kicking, young-adult, sci-fi-or-futuristic, read-2011, paranormal-general, ebook-egalley, 2011-publication, action-packed

This review may contain mild spoilers, but they're nothing that you won't see in the trailer for the film. That's right, Ridley Scott optioned this book for a film before it was even published, and it's easy to see why. It's a hugely entertaining spectacle full of adventure and excitement and thrills, with action scenes that you can clearly picture as you read them.

Saba's twin brother Lugh has been kidnapped by a band of horsemen, and she sets off alone on the quest to bring him back. Well, she...more

91 likes · like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Caitlin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Alright. I wrote a review for this (probably in the middle of the night--or early in the morning) when I first finished the ARC. Now. Going through that review, I cringe a bit. It's riddled with mistakes and some of it doesn't make any sense. So, I decided to write a briefer, clearer review.

But if you're interested, I'll leave the old one under a spoiler tag.

(view spoiler)...more

36 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2011 Flannery rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley-or-first-reads, read-in-2011, so-good-i-stayed-up-to-read-it, young-adult-teen, reviewed-2011, read-on-tour, wishlist-for-books-to-keep

Have you ever wanted to read a bleak quest novel narrated by a rough and ready Elly May Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies? If so, this one’s for you! Just kidding. Er, sort of. The narration style of this will certainly alienate some readers but after the first 15-20 pages, I didn’t really notice it anymore. In fact, it actually felt comfortable. Saba, the protagonist in this work, lives in a barren dustland with her Pa, younger sister Emmi, and her twin, Lugh. Saba’s narration is due to the...more

55 likes · like · see review

Mar 10, 2012 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of dystopia

Shelves: 2012, awesome-covers, science-fiction, series, sibilings, favorites

I must warn all of you who read this that I'm gonna have a bit of a gush fest before I write anything of real relevance. Ok so right now I should be doing lots of other things (responsible people things), but I just cannot contain my excitement for this book. This hasn't happened to me in a long while. Sure I read great books often enough but none that have made me SO excited I might burst. I frankly really love this book to pieces. I'm surprised I returned the book to the library in one piece!...more I must warn all of you who read this that I'm gonna have a bit of a gush fest before I write anything of real relevance. Ok so right now I should be doing lots of other things (responsible people things), but I just cannot contain my excitement for this book. This hasn't happened to me in a long while. Sure I read great books often enough but none that have made me SO excited I might burst. I frankly really love this book to pieces. I'm surprised I returned the book to the library in one piece! Rebel Heart cannot come out soon enough.

Saba lives in Silverlake. She has a twin named Lugh, a sister named Emmi, and a Pa. Ma died nine years ago and it's just them. No one else lives around them really. There has been a drought and they are struggling. Saba's Pa can read the stars and he sees some things he doesn't like. Lugh is thinking his Dad is full of hogwash, but one day a storm comes. A storm that brings men with black robes who take Lugh away but the question is why? Saba vows she will find him, no matter what it takes. Here is where the adventure begins.

The language took some time to get use to but I feel it fits this society. More people live in the outskirts and try to keep to themselves. Most people can't read, so the language is bound to change. The beginning may feel slow to some people but I assure you it picks up, and you need that background to get a feel of how the place is. I imagine dust gets into everything and the world has lost most of its color. It's interesting to see how these dystopian societies always have a form of escapism. Here they have the cage games and the chaal, but we have these things too just in different forms. I think this is one of the main reasons why I love to read dystopia. It reflects us to a certain extent.

Now onto characters! Saba (what a cool name) is who carries the book the most I think. She is genuinely tough. Not tough sometimes and only when it's convenient but because that's who she is. It's so rewarding to see how she grows from being a girl that had never been outta of Silverlake to a survivor. I imagine she always had it in her; it just didn't come out till she needed it. Then of course I have to mention Jack. Goodness Jack is perfect for Saba and I like how he doesn't always take what she dishes out. And I'll have to try to stop talking about him so much. Then there is Saba's sister Emmi who is such a complex character that you root for too. There are many great people in this book. No way could I cover it all.

Despite how much I loved this book the harsh critic (this part is really small) in me for some reason wanted to grant this book with less stars. There is the language the reader has to get used to, the absence of quotations marks, how stubborn Saba is, her obsession over Lugh, Saba's misplaced apathy towards Emmi, and the lack of explanation of how exactly the world got this way. But you know what? I forgive all of it.(less)

18 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2011 Sparrow rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: humans with a brain

Recommended to Sparrow by: Ariel

Shelves: classic-young-adult, favorites, girls-rule, reviewed, romantic, utopia-dystopia, up-hill-both-ways-in-the-snow, young-adult, slaves, motherless-daughters, chosen-girls

!!!!! This book kicks my ass. Moira Young has gotta be the Beatrix Kiddo of y/a writers. She comes in here, probably blindfolded or some such, turns the conventional rescue story on its head, and then writes it all out in solid, beautiful dialect because that’s just how badass she is. The effortlessness alone is enough to make me think we’ve arrived in some new country of storytelling. Suddenly, we’re in the middle of it, and I didn’t even realize the tour bus could go there.

I don’t even want t...more !!!!! This book kicks my ass. Moira Young has gotta be the Beatrix Kiddo of y/a writers. She comes in here, probably blindfolded or some such, turns the conventional rescue story on its head, and then writes it all out in solid, beautiful dialect because that’s just how badass she is. The effortlessness alone is enough to make me think we’ve arrived in some new country of storytelling. Suddenly, we’re in the middle of it, and I didn’t even realize the tour bus could go there.

I don’t even want to talk about all of the incredible women in this book because the telling of it is so nonchalant and so free from politics that it seems a shame to freak out about it. Even though it does make me freak out. We should have been talking about women like this the whole time. These girls are so legit. They talk to each other like girls talk. They kick ass the way girls kick ass. They are smart, but they’re not trying to throw it in your face. They’re just incidentally as cool as actual girls.

I won’t tell you much about this book because I don’t want to spoil all the transitions from one kind of beauty to another. I don’t want to spoil the easy absence of agenda, the genuine relationships, or the well-timed action.

As I said before, this book kicked my ass, so I’m still in the fetal position, spitting blood and reflecting on the wussiness of my life and writing. However, I will pull myself together enough to reflect that, aside from being a post-apocalyptic story about how to be a sister and how to be a woman, this book is incidentally also about power and slavery.

Don’t get me wrong, though. This story is not allegorical in the way the Hunger Games is. (I really don’t want to compare the two books, though, even though they are somewhat similar. The comparison really annoys me because I feel like it comes down to the scarcity of books with truly badass female characters. Comparing the writing would be like comparing Zora Neale Hurston and Willa Cather. Why would you? Both are wonderful and wonderfully different. It seems vulgar to compare authors only because they talk about women living in similar settings.) I am reading in a message about slavery here because, while this book contains slavery, it is ultimately about adventure, not about slavery or morality or politics.

I am studying slavery in Zanzibar right now, though, so I’m going to comment on it. Estimates say that there are about 30 million slaves in the world right now – more than all of the slaves in the 19th century trans-Atlantic slave trade. Most of them are women and children. They process our sugar and coffee and chocolate. They work in fields and in brothels and in homes. They live all around us. The Oregon State Bar estimated that in 2006, slave traffickers made more money than Nike, Starbucks, and Microsoft combined. Slavery doesn’t just exist in post-apocalyptic dystopias. And, as this book gracefully illustrates, it is perpetuated by both men and women. Young does a lovely job of showing the grotesqueness of feeding off violence and humiliation. She also shows the beauty of revolution.

My only complaint about this book is that I think the second half loses steam. Spoiler alert? There are many excellent parts still, but it doesn’t have the magic of the first half. It felt like the plot got heavy, and she sacrificed some of the story-telling to a checklist of what characters needed to die to fulfill y/a requirements. It didn’t feel as careful as the first half. I think I would have preferred to leave more unanswered questions than to tie the plot up so neatly and formulaically. **End possible spoiler alert**

I’m not sure I’m even complaining about that, though, as I still enjoyed it. If I had loved the second half as much as the first, I think this would have become my favorite book of all time. As it is, this book is still probably in my top 10.

!!!!!

_______
(I read this as an ARC on my Kindle that a friend gave me before I went to Zanzibar. Thank you, friend!!!)(less)

40 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2011 Jo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: boy-crush, things-are-rotten-in-the-state-of-d, ya, you-got-a-friend-in-me, oh-come-on, e

“If you know how to read the stars, you can read the story of people’s lives.”

Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Blaaaahhh I had such high hopes for this book and I thought I was going to love it. And I did until about half way through… and then ~~I just wanted to punch things~~ the red hot descended and things got fuzzy.

High Points.
The first half. Emmi. Jack (and his hairless chest). Ike. Tommo. Nero. The setting, Ms Young certainly knows how to set up a story and build a world. Loved it. Written in the...more

40 likes · like · see review

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia-utopia, ya-na, 2011, arc

This is the novel that I wanted Graceling to be. An alternate world/reality full of adventure with a hardcore warrior heroine, and here's the key bit, who doesn't feel the need to unsex herself (à la Lady Macbeth) and prove that she's not feminine. In fact, all the female characters are wonderfully strong and unforgiving, no damsels finally, and there's just a general sense of equality - pretty much everyone is a warrior without a masculinity v. femininity contest. Where Graceling seemed in som...more

31 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, own, favorites, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

After seeing all the wonderful reviews of this book, I was excited to see it appear at my doorstep, and I didn't wait long to dive into it. A violent futuristic world, fast pace action, with a kick-butt heroine? Count me in! It delivers what it promises, as I instantly became absorbed in Saba's journey to save her brother.

"Once, we could count on pullin a fish from the lake an a beast from our traps. Fer everything else, we planted some, foraged some, an all in all, we made out okay. But fer th...more After seeing all the wonderful reviews of this book, I was excited to see it appear at my doorstep, and I didn't wait long to dive into it. A violent futuristic world, fast pace action, with a kick-butt heroine? Count me in! It delivers what it promises, as I instantly became absorbed in Saba's journey to save her brother.

"Once, we could count on pullin a fish from the lake an a beast from our traps. Fer everything else, we planted some, foraged some, an all in all, we made out okay. But fer the last year, whatever we do, however hard we try, it jest ain't enough, Not without rain. We bin watchin the land die, bit by bit."

As you can see from the above quote, the first thing anyone will notice going into this will be the writing style. If you look at the reviews, some love it, and others hate it. Luckily, I am on the loving it side, though it helped that I knew what to expect going in. I read a short excerpt beforehand, and in turn, I had absolutely no problems getting into the story right away. I also could not imagine the book without it. It has character! It makes it so unique, so filled with personality that you can't help but feel like Saba is sitting in front of you, recounting her journey. I'm telling you, I could hear her. It's a brilliant way to give life to a story.

Saba is off to find her brother who's been kidnapped, which also left her in charge of her pesky little sister. At first, Saba seemed like she was going to be a whiny, exasperating protagonist. She was awful to her sister, and a bit too reliant on her brother. However, as the story progresses, we get to see Saba grow and change into this strong-willed, feisty person overflowing with bravery. She never ceases to be extremely stubborn, even a bit too much at times where I wanted to scream at her for it. But for the most part, I loved her fearless personality and determination.

The world: So ugly, but so beautiful. The moving sand dunes, the everlasting nothingness, the red dust; everything is so impressive, yet intimidating. I constantly felt a sense of longing for the world that was. Even though Saba has never seen anything but, you can feel the loneliness everywhere. There are also hints of fantasy and magic elements throughout the novel that make it even more impressive, not to mention unnerving.

The book is not without a few flaws: Some turnabouts at the end felt a bit too Hollywood-like; The world itself left me with a few questions- some of the details are a bit fuzzy at the edges; Then the stars- all this intriguing astrology in the beginning that gets abandoned by mid-book. Though these are all pretty minor overall, and since this is the first in its series, it felt to me like we were sent off into a strong, fast pace story that concentrates on action and excitement at first, but will (hopefully) give us a more refined world building in the following installments.

Incredibly gripping and grossly entertaining, Blood Red Road sends us on a journey full of bumps and scrapes that will leave your heart pounding with energy. I highly recommend it to every fan of The Hunger Games. Oh, and there's cage fighting! Enough said!

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads (less)

23 likes · like · see review

Apr 30, 2011 Vinaya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Vinaya by: Michelle R

Shelves: arc-galley, books-i-liked, books-i-ought-to-love-but-dont, dystopian-fiction, post-apocalyptic-fiction

The whole time I was reading Blood Red Road, there was a part of me standing away and thinking — where is it? Where is the part that's going to twist me up and spit me out? Where's that intense feeling that marks a book I truly loved? Tragically, I never did reach that part.

In part, my expectations are to blame. I read too many reviews and they all loved the book so much, I think I was expecting it to be as spectacular as the Second Coming of Christ. My expectations were pretty much sky high, an...more The whole time I was reading Blood Red Road, there was a part of me standing away and thinking — where is it? Where is the part that's going to twist me up and spit me out? Where's that intense feeling that marks a book I truly loved? Tragically, I never did reach that part.

In part, my expectations are to blame. I read too many reviews and they all loved the book so much, I think I was expecting it to be as spectacular as the Second Coming of Christ. My expectations were pretty much sky high, and this book had to pay for their unrealistic nature. But the other part of it is all on Moira Young.

Unlike a lot of other readers, I had no problem with the dialect. I've read books with way harder dialects, and this one was an easy transition. The problem wasn't so much with the dialect as it was with the sparsity of the prose. There were sentences. Very short sentences. With no description. Which is one of the biggest reasons why I never really felt connected to the book. I wanted heat and fire and passion - what I got was a terse factual recitation of the surroundings. Some authors, notably Marillier, have a talent for using a few words and pulling you into their world. This is not a talent Moira Young possesses. I knew there was a desert, vast and unending; I knew there was a bunch of mountains and forests. But I never felt the burning heat of the sun on red baked land, or the dark shadows of the green trees in the deep forest.

If there was one thing I cannot fault Young on, it's her characterizations. Saba has a very distinctive voice, one that managed to single-handedly earn this book 3.5 stars. This book is full of kick-ass woman and children. Saba is so beautifully flawed; and the joy of finding a character who can be petty and self-absorbed and mean but still courageous and vulnerable and loyal is almost painful. This is the sort of woman we need more of in YA lit. Saba is a better role model than the damsels-in-distress that populate YA paranormals. And none of the other women in the book are any less, either. From nine-year old Emmi to the tough-yet-friendly Hawks, no-one is less than capable of taking care of themselves and their group.

Emmi was great, and I sort-of wanted to hurt Saba for being such a bitch to her; one of my favourite scenes in the book is when Jack stands up to Saba and calls her on her lack of feeling for Emmi, saying that he thinks Emmi would be safer with him than with Saba. Jack was my absolute favourite character in the story. Despite not having a voice, his personality emerges clearly, cocky and funny but with unexpected depths. I thought the chemistry between Saba and Jack was pretty damn hot, and I almost never say that about YA couples.

Apart from the sparse world building, the other thing that didn't really grip me about this book was the several instances of logic fail. Seriously, Saba, you need to learn to take a pulse before you assume someone is dead. And I hated the random death at the end. What was the point? Not to mention how The Hawks turned up at the exact moment they were needed; that was a little too Hollywood for me.

But I did like how Young hints at the possibility of magic, without ever confirming it outright. From Saba's father's star gazing to the heartstone to the strangely long-lived King, there are subtle signs of the paranormal, but no obvious presence.

I like how this story could function as a stand-alone, even as it leaves many unanswered questions that form the foundation for the second book in the trilogy. All in all, I think this was a great debut novel - not too profound, but a kick-ass adventure that does its job well, and with maximum entertainment. Moira Young has an interesting voice, and I'd be very interested in seeing where she heads from here.

Disclosure: This is a review of an ARC galley. Thank you, Michelle, for sending this book across oceans and continents and making it possible for me to read it without waiting forever for the release date! (less)

37 likes · like · see review

Sep 18, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalypse, female-lead, young-adult

Apocalypse plus positive Trudi review (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) equals irresistible read. She was right, it was high on the addiction scale; once I sat down to devote attention to it, I read until I ran out of pages.

The short form: a pair of fraternal twins, their younger sister and their worn-out pa father are scraping by in the the dustbowl of the ~~20s~~ some apocalypse time in the future. They are miles from neighbors, except one who drinks a little too much ~~moonshine~~ char or wh...more Apocalypse plus positive Trudi review (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) equals irresistible read. She was right, it was high on the addiction scale; once I sat down to devote attention to it, I read until I ran out of pages.

The short form: a pair of fraternal twins, their younger sister and their worn-out pa father are scraping by in the the dustbowl of the ~~20s~~ some apocalypse time in the future. They are miles from neighbors, except one who drinks a little too much ~~moonshine~~ char or whatever it is. Ma is dead, of course, from birthin' little Emmi. Lugh is the light of Saba's life, while poor little Emmi exists to be a target for her resentment for stealin' ma away. One day a giant red dust storm blows in, followed by four evil horseman and the neighbor. They steal Lugh away, and stubborn Saba goes after him.

Despite dialect prose of someone who has never had book learnin', I was soon captured by the stark setting and the fast moving plot. The focus is strictly on Saba and her experiences, and Saba is not one to ask many questions about her life or the way things are, so readers who want a thoughtful analysis of this destitute world will be disappointed. She more-or-less accepts the givens and works around them to achieve her objective. With the exception of her twin brother, she has very little emotional connection to anything. This makes for a strange dissociation, and a narrator who has more than a little to learn about empathy, emotion and caring. She also has a lot to learn about the negative side of people skills as well--understanding deception and manipulation--Young cleverly explores both aspects of Saba's deficit. Her indifference to Emmi's feelings show in every interaction. As the story develops, one of the joys is seeing Saba discover her care for her sister and willingness to accept her as a person.

Saba sets off across the wasteland, discovers past towns under shifting dunes of sand, and confronts a land-ship. In the edge-of-civilization Shantytown, she is forced to fight for her life, and I admire the way Young was able to walk a fine balance between survival and the horror of having to defeat other captured girls in the process. She meets a male scoundrel in the prison-yard, and is strangely drawn to him. (view spoiler) Young has a marvelous vision of the post-apocalyptic landscape; as in all quest books, a significant part of the fun is the journey. Of course, there are more than a few hints dropped in this book to pave the way for the next--a common symptom in sequelitis. Why can't authors trust the strength of their world and their characters?

There is a background romance here, but the socially-impaired Saba is slow to recognize her feelings as well as the concerns of others. For me, that's all to the benefit in a young-adult novel; there only so much longing and angst I can take. Don't shoot me, kids, but I have to confess that the romance reminded me of The Ladies of Missalonghi by Miss Colleen of the Thornbirds fame (see, that's how old I am). It honestly reminded me of a sweet, old-fashioned fake-hate romance, based on the Shakespeare kind with that couple I never saw--the one that has to do with the shrewish woman and the devoted guy who tames her. Maybe that's one reason this book transcends generations so well--it took a traditional theme, a quest story, and girrl-powered it up with female initiative, fighting and determination. Still, I feel like the romance piece kind of detracted from it. Oh, if only she could just admit she lurved him!

Still, I like it, and I love the band of merry Amazons even more, even if they don't know how to set a perimeter.

Three-n-halve stars. Brave heroine, emotional reconciliation with sisters and kickin' booty. Surely a movie waiting to be made.(less)

12 likes · like · see review

Jan 12, 2011 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya

this book is one of the most-anticipated release titles in teen fiction, and i got to read it early because ariel is a gift to mankind.take that, teens!! you guys get fast metabolisms and hopeful outlooks and unlimited potential, and i get advanced readers copies. even steven.

so she gave me this book about twins and a bird, which is like giving a new young mother a buddy book where a kidnapper teams up with SIDS for adventures and romance.but i braved my fears and read what i was hoping would be...more this book is one of the most-anticipated release titles in teen fiction, and i got to read it early because ariel is a gift to mankind.take that, teens!! you guys get fast metabolisms and hopeful outlooks and unlimited potential, and i get advanced readers copies. even steven.

so she gave me this book about twins and a bird, which is like giving a new young mother a buddy book where a kidnapper teams up with SIDS for adventures and romance.but i braved my fears and read what i was hoping would be cormac mccarthy for teens- a postapocalyptic meditation on evil where a chick on a horse roams the desert enacting vengeance and trying to reclaim her kidnapped twin.

sounds rad, right???

i started reading this on the subway home from going to see true grit. as blood red road is about a rugged sunbaked environment and a girl on a horse with a mission, there was no way i wasn't going to visualize that true grit actress in this role, even though she was considerably younger than the girl in this book.this is simply anecdotal and maybe i am stalling??

the book is very fast-paced, and the story is exciting and original - the kids are going to love this. me, i had troubles with my disbelief-suspension because i have been around the literary block and have read all sorts of books, but i was still enjoying it and turning the pages rapidly with anticipation.

the cage match stuff was the best, and i would love to have read more of that segment. it reminded me of blood of heroes, which is an excellent movie. WHY DOES NO ONE AGREE WITH ME ON THIS? but in this book: two girls, one cage - anything goes. and any girl who loses three times gets to "retire" by being torn apart by the rabid crowd. why have any additional plot? this is all i needed to love this book. alas, it was but fleeting. but while it was happening, it was badass and i was riveted.

however, the romance subplot was the weakest element. she is eighteen, he is ... older, but they act like teenagers in their mood swings and emotional fumblings. and ariel pointed out that in this situation, where there are so few people and no way to pattern behavior and no expectations based on media, etc, they would naturally behave in an awkward way, but if this is the case, it requires a lot of psychological extrapolation on the part of the reader, which seems unkind to a teen audience, who are necessarily weaker in their extratextual assessments, simply based upon inexperience, so i am dismissing that explanation. hear me, ariel - i dismiss it!

it was good, and i will read the rest of the books when they come out, no mistake, but it didn't turn me inside out the way hunger games did. it just seemed... superficial. katniss has depth as a character - she is flawed, but her flaws make sense and humanize her. this character is just single minded to her own detriment, and prone to little hissy fits. again, this might be a result of not having anyone in her life to teach her behavioral norms, or just of different norms for a different world, but characters take really serious actions that should have repercussions and consequences, and they make these decisions so casually. YOU ARE LIVING IN A WASTELAND! WITH SCARY SANDWORMS AND A MANIACAL KING!! CAUSE AND EFFECT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE. don't just assume there is going to be a "later." y'all need to communicate better.

it may be the next big thing, but it may not be my next big thing. i will most definitely read more of this series, and the rest of you can wait until june to make up your own minds. (less)

64 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2011 Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker rated it 5 of 5 stars

My First Impression-

What the hell is this writing style?

Immediately, you notice the grammatically incorrect sentences. For example:

“Lugh’s bin sayin it fer a while now. Pa’s gitten worse. Mind you, he ain’t bin right fer a long time”

My thoughts on this writing style:

At first, I had a hard time reading it. After about 20 pages, I did not even notice it. As the story progresses, you realize how important this writing style is to portray Saba. The grammatically incorrect sentences reveal Saba’s raw...more

52 likes · like · see review

May 01, 2011 Isamlq rated it 5 of 5 stars

Highlights: a kidnapping, cage fights to the death, a delusional psycho King and killer worms. Ha! Blood Red Road is chock full of adventure that I could not get enough of. So, yup, I loved almost every moment of it. There’s also the added bonus of a Jack and Saba~ their interaction was a cool (sweet?) break in between all the heart pumping action.

Saba is so strong. I won’t lie, she did have moments of “duh” but overall I found myself admiring her strength. With her father killed shortly after...more Highlights: a kidnapping, cage fights to the death, a delusional psycho King and killer worms. Ha! Blood Red Road is chock full of adventure that I could not get enough of. So, yup, I loved almost every moment of it. There’s also the added bonus of a Jack and Saba~ their interaction was a cool (sweet?) break in between all the heart pumping action.

Saba is so strong. I won’t lie, she did have moments of “duh” but overall I found myself admiring her strength. With her father killed shortly after her twin is kidnapped, she’s left to rescue him and tend to a little sister she despises. Touching a little bit on that, the sibling’s relationship was another thing I found fascinating. There’s a lot of bias in her for Lugh and against Emmi; Emmi, IMO, reacted rather appropriately. But once their circumstances changed so did they

There’s a section in it that just made me want to read The Girl in the Arena. When Saba found herself in such a place, my first reaction was to wonder what a book focused solely on that hook would read like. If BRR was just about that, I’d probably be even more excited than I am now and start pushing it on my buddies. My point? Even if it was a just a short (but important) part of the whole story, I thought it was so convincing/effective despite the few number of chapters it dealt with. I may come across as blood thirsty, but I wanted more!

Their world is Cool. I love “dystopian” just as much as the next reader, and if it hasn’t slipped by yet, there have been a ton of “dystopians” dished out of late. A ton that haven’t been living up to my expectations given the focus on lurv. But BRR? didn’t disappoint. Point One, one aspect of the story that may or may not work for some readers is the eye dialect. I loved it, the same way I loved Todd’s voice in The Knife Of Never Letting Go. Her voice just (like his) so clearly demonstrates the state of things in their world. And Point two, there isn’t a big rebellion in it, although it could have worked out that way. At BRR’s core is Adventure.

The biggest negative for me had to do with Saba and Jack. Yes, their “connection” injected the necessary sweet, funny elements that would have made this book totally well rounded for me, but IMO it could have been dealt with a bit more fairly. What exactly am I saying? Why did the author have to take some of Saba’s awesomeness away by making her out to be the jealous shrew type? It’s a good thing those instances only happened a few times; if not for those few instances, I would have loved everything about the way things were developing for them.

So freaking good!

4.5/5
(less)

16 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lisa O. by: readalong with a bunch of people

Shelves: fantasy, ya-lit, dystopian-or-post-apocalyptic

2.5 stars

There are many successful books that get turned into movies. Not necessarily good movies. Actually, it is very rare for the movie to be better than the book. But not impossible.
Blood Red Road might be one of such rare cases.
I read somewhere that this book was optioned to be become a movie even BEFORE being published. That's where the problems lies: Blood Red Road is trying too hard to be a movie before even being a book.

That means that while it's got some elements that would be of...more

38 likes · like · see review

Sep 01, 2012 Katy rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars - I have SO many mixed feelings about this book, and it wasn't that I loved particular things and hated others. It was more of certain things that I could not decide whether I liked or not. But I will give Young credit for writing something so different from your typical dystopian book.

WRITING STYLE

This book took a little bit to get used to. And I'm a Southerner. Yikes! I guess Young was trying to do something different, but in a way, it made them sound like uneducated savages, which...more

8 likes · like · see review

Sep 10, 2011 Rollie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Rollie by: Maria

Shelves: favorites

This is indeed a great book. Special thanks to my friend Maria for letting my eyes get into the pages of this book.

On a midwinter day, when the sun sets low they were born. Lugh, handsome and shines like a sun, was born first; whereas Saba, beautiful like a darkness of night, followed after two hours. The twins lived bonded to each other in an isolated place named Silverlake. As they continue to grow, they realized how much neither of them was worthy to live if either would be separated away fro...more This is indeed a great book. Special thanks to my friend Maria for letting my eyes get into the pages of this book.

On a midwinter day, when the sun sets low they were born. Lugh, handsome and shines like a sun, was born first; whereas Saba, beautiful like a darkness of night, followed after two hours. The twins lived bonded to each other in an isolated place named Silverlake. As they continue to grow, they realized how much neither of them was worthy to live if either would be separated away from another.

And in a sudden, it all happens in a very unprepared day. A sandstorm has visited their place and brisk soldiers have been behind it. Lugh has been taken away and Saba is left behind with a memory of her mother, body of her dead father and, of course, her gawdfowsaken sister—Emily.

A month, I think, was consumed before I finished reading this book. A negative word to reason out the period of time objects how I honestly felt towards the book, much less how I rated it. It's not easy to comprehend unlike memorizing one-plus-one-equals-to-two kind compared reading a perspective of an illiterate narrator. Fortunately, I neither did find it annoying nor disgusting. On the contrary, it instead served me as a challenge on how probable would I bite the wrongness of the character's perception. In fact, it dared me more to point out the flaws instead of applying them for myself.

However, I can't figure out any slight knowledge that suits the reason why Saba is illiterate. Speaking up about her isolation? Well, it hadn't bought me enough and I have many thoughts to counteract that weak reasoning. If there's evolution of language and writing, wouldn't it be great and factual to be more futuristic, as this book represents, than leaping back to Stone Age? Lucky for it being the first of the series because it has still a long bloody road to go before the end, and I might find the reason while I'm on my way.

The places are amazingly reconstructed. But then, Young has given hints on what places are they at present era. If there is a thing to consider for myself that justifies being a dystopia, I guess it's the unique names that the characters have. In addition, though I don't really like crows, I love how Young associated the main characters journey with a savior crow. Another thing, I was touched at how Saba, being a mean and evil against her little sister, turned a protector and so did Emily towards Saba. Furthermore, Emily as a younger sister never failed to get my attention. Though sometimes unruly, she showed a more fearless persona than Saba.

Moira Young did a good job at making Saba's character--hard and potent. No doubt, it lines up among Katniss Everdeen, Beatrice Prior and other female dystopia protagonists. In fact, this book has been compared to Hunger Games of Suzzanne Collins and The Knife of Never Letting Go. To be honest, I'm one of them, unfortunately. I'm very much glad that in a way, my personal view on how would have it ended had failed. To clear things out and at the same time my conclusion: this book is neither just about running; nor just about arena or cage fighting; it's more not less an epic adventure of a lady who was dependent, weak and just a follower who turned to be a strong, independent instigator. Likewise, this is neither Hunger Games nor The Knife of Never Letting Go but just a very mere Blood Red Road.

(less)

11 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2012 Jami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, young-adult

Okay, wow. I mean, seriously, wow. I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't think I was going to love Blood Red Road like I did. In a land now over-flowing with post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels, many of them really stinking, this one was a breath of fresh air.

So here's the thing. I don't love when authors try to get all dramatic by not using quotation marks to indicate dialogue (and why that creates drama, I have yet to figure out). In fact, I stopped reading a book once that was makin...more Okay, wow. I mean, seriously, wow. I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't think I was going to love Blood Red Road like I did. In a land now over-flowing with post-apocalyptic, dystopian novels, many of them really stinking, this one was a breath of fresh air.

So here's the thing. I don't love when authors try to get all dramatic by not using quotation marks to indicate dialogue (and why that creates drama, I have yet to figure out). In fact, I stopped reading a book once that was making me crazy because of that very factor. But somehow, the narrative style of Blood Red Road really works. Saba is an 18-year-old girl living in a future world that has clearly been messed up by its previous inhabitants (i.e. US). She is tough, stubborn, fiercely loyal, and of course illiterate, given that there are no books around. So the fact that her narrative is written in simple, straight-forward, grammatically-incorrect prose just propels the story, in my opinion. Rather than distracting the reader, it actually pulls the reader in making her feel a part of Saba's world. I could really hear Saba's voice, along with the voices of the all of the other characters. I felt immersed in the story.

And despite its length, it felt like a fast read. It was intense and action-packed right from the start, and I could hardly put it down. Saba's father is killed and her twin brother taken hostage for unknown reasons. She knows she will do whatever it takes to get him back. She refuses to give up, even after she is kidnapped herself during her journey and forced to be cage fighter. If she loses 3 fights, she'll get killed by a mob of crazy drugged-up townspeople who watch the fights. Crazy, right? And yet, I was reminded of The Hunger Games a bit in that the author was able to pull off incoporating huge amounts of violence into the story without actually describing it too heavily or even really dwelling on it. No more than Saba, herself, dwelled on it. Her sole focus was saving her brother and keeping her little 9-year-old sister safe. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the little sister is along for the ride, complicating things for Saba throughout.)

Here's what I loved about the female characters in this novel: they were strong and self-reliant, and yet they didn't hate all men or refuse any and all male help! Amazing, no? I mean, there's a whole gang of women called the Free Hawks who fight to save enslaved people and generally make things better in the land, and they are seriously awesome. But at the same time, they're cool with getting help from other people . . . women AND men! No big deal, no commentary or struggle to accept masculine help. I loved it. True feminism, if you want my opinion. No male bashing or anti-marriage propoganda. Kristin Cashore, you could take a lesson here . . .

This is one of those books that you can't stop yourself from devouring, but you just really don't want it to end. I'm not always a trilogy fan, but in this case, I'm pretty excited I get to read more about Saba and friends.(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2012 Brad rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian-lit, cinematic, hackosaurids, curiousity-killed-the-bananas, dystopian

The criticism "derivative" was designed for this schlockfest. Fun first person, which delivers it from one star hell, but when the whole book is derived from the lives of Han Solo, Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian from the Trilogy and the canon books, no one can argue that this book isn't derivitive in the extreme.

"You're full of shit, Brad!"

Really?! Fuck you! I am full of knowingness you heathen! Look and learn:

Sarlac moment with crazy lake worms. ✓

Ike as Chewbacca/Lando. ✓

Jack and Saba as H

...more

18 likes · like · see review

Feb 17, 2012 Leyoh rated it 4 of 5 stars

A mini review for those of you who are yet to move this from your to read pile:

It's a fantastic adventure, fast paced, feisty and fun. The perfect book for an escape from the real world.

And for those of you who don't mind spoilers or have already read it:

It does have it's flaws as I'm sure you'll have noticed -

The star gazing theology disappeared half way through the book?!?!?
Pinch just would not die and damn you Saba for not making sure, not once but twice!
The moonstone made the romance with Ja...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Krystle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is like:

and

Why? Saba’s got that bad ass attitude like Katniss, cagefighting that Wolverine does in the first movie, and killer worms from Tremors. Awesome combination if I do say so myself.

The first thing you notice about the book is the terse, short, and simple sentences used stylistically to evoke Saba’s voice. Not to mention everything’s written out phonetically so that will give a lot of people cause to stop or stumble in the beginning. But you get used to it very quickly and th...more

29 likes · like · see review

Jan 02, 2013 Teresa rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nas 20 páginas que li, perdi a conta às vezes que apareceram as palavras: adonde, amandar, alevantar, raismapartam,...
Será o novo acordo?
Receio que um raio me parta se eu não mandar já este livro para onde ele pertence...

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi

I couldn't possibly have thought this was how the book was going to be. I think its supposed to be set in North America but I can't pinpoint where exactly, and of course Saba wouldn't know. Most of the past is forgetten. What her dad has told her about the past seems unbelievable, and the way she makes it sound I can see why.

The purposeful dialect with the misspelled words didn't bother me. What I got bothered at was the absence of quotations. I got over it of course but I would've rather had t...more

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 05, 2011 Ela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-heroines, my-favorites, holy-shit-ending

Also posted on my blog, YA Anonymous- For YA Addicts

What I thought when I read the first line of Blood Red Road was, "woah, what the hell?!"

I actually said this out loud in my local library, where it's usually silent, so I earned a number eyes my way and a harsh shushing from the librarian at the counter.

The sentence, "Lugh got born first", surprised me. But I read on, thinking it was just some random typo (everyone makes mistakes, right?) Then I started to notice other mistakes like 'an' in...more

29 likes · like · see review

Aug 18, 2012 Donna The Happy Booker rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of dystopian themed fiction

Shelves: dystopian-or-post-apocalyptic, ya-mg-2011-debut-author-challenge, read-in-2011, giveaway-win

The author sets us down in the middle of this bleak, formidable world without much explanation as to how the world became this way. This isn't really an issue though, it adds another fascinating element to this unusual post apocalyptic tale. Throughout the book, there are glimpses of our own world; sky scrapers, binoculars, and other gadgets that are no longer relevant in this future society. There are brief mentions of these items belonging to "the wreckers" and I assume that refers to what wou...more
The author sets us down in the middle of this bleak, formidable world without much explanation as to how the world became this way. This isn't really an issue though, it adds another fascinating element to this unusual post apocalyptic tale. Throughout the book, there are glimpses of our own world; sky scrapers, binoculars, and other gadgets that are no longer relevant in this future society. There are brief mentions of these items belonging to "the wreckers" and I assume that refers to what would be our world as it is now. Honestly, I didn't much mind being left in the dark about what happened to put the world in this state. I was so caught up in the intensity of Saba's existence in this world and the many challenges she faced as she journeyed across this desolate and dangerous landscape to find her kidnapped brother Lugh.

It seems that I use the words dark and gritty often when describing a dystopian themed book. Blood Red Road literally felt gritty, with the frequent sand storms, all the fighting in the dirt, and infrequent bathing practices. Saba was certainly no damsel in distress. She was more than willing do dish out punishment of a physical sort to anyone who crossed her. She was more of a "punch you in the face now and ask questions later" kind of girl. Normally, when I don't like the main character, I lose patience with and interest in the book. However, in Blood Red Road, while I didn't always like Saba and she often irritated me with her immature and selfish nature, her voice was so compelling I couldn't stop reading. What she lacked in manners and empathy, she more than made up for in general kick assery. She did grow as a character throughout the story, and that is always something I enjoy in a book, watching a flawed character change gradually in the course of the challenges she's faced with.

There's a hint of romance between Saba and a guy she meets in her travels. I thought their budding relationship felt plausible and imperfect. I very much enjoyed watching them interact with one another. It felt more like a friendship spiced up by a mutual attraction. The relationship between Saba and her younger sister was also intriguing. While Saba was almost obsessed with finding her twin brother Lugh who she adored, she resented and despised her 9 year old little sister Emmi. And though I often wanted to feel sorry for Emmi, I was time and time again reminded that she was tougher than one might think, probably due to being raised in such a harsh environment. Emmi managed to be endearing while still showing an inner strength that is unusual for a child. I hope that in any sequels, there is a lot more of Emmi.

The villain was pretty weak and unconvincing, bordering on the absurd even. He wasn't believable at all as either a king or the "bad guy" which is probably what I liked least about this book. The fight against him and his even more outlandish parents was another of the weaker points. His mother was a much more impressive and disturbing character. I'm actually surprised by how much I truly enjoyed Blood Red Road considering that I thought the main character was largely unlikable and the villain was ineffective. But the writing and the plot were more than enough to keep me reading and continue to be thoroughly entertained.

The writing style was unusual but it made sense in the context of the story. The author chose to write in Saba's voice which was understandably uneducated and and rustic, lazy pronunciations and a good bit of slang. This took a bit of getting used to but it made the characters feel all the more genuine, I think. Once I got into the book, reading it became almost effortless as I became more fully invested in the story.

Ultimately, Blood Red Road, like its main character, had a few flaws that were annoying, but it was so rich with action and bravado that it was an all around win for me. There wasn't exactly a cliffhanger ending but there were certainly enough questions left unanswered to warrant a sequel. I would love to learn more about the world and how it got to be that way in any future books. I would recommend Blood Red Road to fans of dystopian themed books as well as to those who like a tough female character that is not afraid of a fight.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Sep 04, 2011 Trudi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, dystopia, young-adult, apocalyptic-types, in-her-own-words, judge-a-book-by-its-cover, series, survive-this, kick-ass-heroines

This book is getting 5 stars from me because it provided the perfect kind of escapist, “down the rabbit hole” experience I’ve been craving. It’s awesome adventure on an epic scale. Once I read those first few pages I just had to read a few more, and well...after that I could not put this book down -- not even maybe. Okay, so it might not be “classic literature” but it definitely qualifies as “crack literature” keeping me enthralled for hours. Real life fell away and down the rabbit hole I went....more This book is getting 5 stars from me because it provided the perfect kind of escapist, “down the rabbit hole” experience I’ve been craving. It’s awesome adventure on an epic scale. Once I read those first few pages I just had to read a few more, and well...after that I could not put this book down -- not even maybe. Okay, so it might not be “classic literature” but it definitely qualifies as “crack literature” keeping me enthralled for hours. Real life fell away and down the rabbit hole I went. Woot! Woot! Perhaps on sober reflection 5 stars will seem a little too exuberant, but right now it feels just right.

**Edit 05/03/2012: I've since dropped to four stars, but I still stand by my original assessment that this is one whopper of adrenalized, escapist fiction of the kick-ass variety!

Blood Red Road is a credible dystopian landscape and while we are not offered a definitive explanation for how the world came to be this way, there are delectable hints along the way to keep the reader guessing. On the one hand, I was reminded of the Mad Max movies, on the other a Clint Eastwood western (Dying’s easy, it’s living that’s hard). This is a quest story, but it also has all the elements of a swashbuckling adventure too. Throw in some gladiatorial action and you feel like you’re watching an episode of Rome or Russell Crowe march into the Coliseum while the spectators bay for his blood.

We’re seeing a lot of YA novels these days featuring kick-ass heroines (Katniss Everdeen leading the charge), but there is something so compelling and magnetic about Saba – who I imagined as a hybrid of Ree from Winter’s Bone and Temple from The Reapers are the Angels. I adore her, even though there were times when I wanted to shake her and smack her upside the head. Saba doesn’t start out a hero; in fact, she’s got a lot of work to do to even come close. She’s a tough, guarded, contrary young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a bad attitude to match. She can be selfish, impulsive and cruel. Rather than a full-fledged mature heroine, Saba doesn’t always do the right thing, or even know what the right thing is to do. Her instincts are not perfect and that's what makes her human.

I love the love interest (even though I will be the first to admit the romance is fairly predictable derivative stuff - sue me, I have my weaknesses). The chemistry between Saba and Jack is fueled by quips and barbs and pheromones. The heartstone bit did a number on my gag reflex -- but Jack is the very stuff of western heroes. There is a strong supporting cast surrounding Saba and while not every character is equally fleshed out, a sense of convincing camaraderie is injected into the story ratcheting up emotions and suspense.

I thought the dialect and lack of punctuation would really bother me, but it didn’t. If anything, it makes Saba’s voice even stronger and the action soar as unfettered as Nero, Saba’s memorable pet crow. This is such a visual novel filled with spectacle that unfolds at a breakneck cinematic pace is it any wonder Ridley Scott has already optioned Blood Red Road for the big screen. Don’t wait for the movie, though. Read the book!
(less)

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 21, 2011 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic

4.5 stars
It took me a good 10% before my brain had finally adjusted to the writing style of Moira Young. Really makes me wonder how long it took the author to write this… if she had to stop and say to herself, “No, that sentence is much too proper. ‘They pretend it warn’t nuthin to do with ‘em.’ There! Perfect.” But really, I don’t think a lot of people will be able to put up with this book for that exact reason. I still recommend giving it a shot though, it may surprise you.
Blood Red Road tell...more 4.5 stars
It took me a good 10% before my brain had finally adjusted to the writing style of Moira Young. Really makes me wonder how long it took the author to write this… if she had to stop and say to herself, “No, that sentence is much too proper. ‘They pretend it warn’t nuthin to do with ‘em.’ There! Perfect.” But really, I don’t think a lot of people will be able to put up with this book for that exact reason. I still recommend giving it a shot though, it may surprise you.
Blood Red Road tells the story of Saba who sets out to get her brother Lugh back after he is captured by a group of horsemen. Together, with her younger sister Emmi, they leave the only home they’ve ever known to travel into the unknown. Saba intends on leaving Emmi with a nearby neighbor (although not neighbor in the natural sense; they don’t exactly live in suburbia), however; Emmi is a stubborn little shit and insists on coming with Saba. At first, the relationship between Saba and Emmi drove me nuts because those two COULD NOT get along and Saba was downright awful to her. Saba had blamed Emmi for their mother’s death because she died giving birth to Emmi. The change in their relationship throughout the book was done in baby steps, but once they started to care for each other it was really touching.
I loved the Free Hawks… talk about one awesome group of kick-ass girls.
The relationship between Saba and Jack… cracked me up, at times. Talk about a love hate relationship. I kept slapping my forehead over and over saying, “MAN! Saba really needs to lighten up! She is way too uptight for her own good.” But, when it came down to it, that’s just who Saba was and it was nice to have a not so typical character for once.
Speaking of ‘not so typical’… hellwurms. They have giant worms in this novel… and they are called hellwurms. (Well, they're really just big worms but I felt the need to use Saba-talk). I recommend that when you get to the part where they are first mentioned? That you continue only if you have not eaten recently. Don’t know about you but those worms FREAKED ME OUT. Lol
I’ve said too much already. Suffice it to say, I highly recommend this book… give it a shot, don’t let the Beverly hillbilly language throw you off, it’s really a great story I swear.
(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jun 30, 2011 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-books, oh-the-dystopia, reviewed, yay-for-ya, onward-to-adventure

I thought this was fun as hell. First of all, as my Goodreads friends know, I adore a good adventure road trip tale. I just love 'em--the stranger the people/lands, the shittier the conditions and the steeper the hardships, the better! There's nothing more entertaining to me than a bunch of random personalities dependent on each other for survival while they are saving the world/defeating evil/[insert epic quest here]. So obviously I was pretty on board after reading the story blurb. Yet, I've b...more

5 likes · like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Did your books not have quotation marks, or was it just mine?	17	102	May 19, 2013 07:52pm
YA Buddy Readers'...: Blood Red Road, by Moira Young START DATE: April 20th	44	25	May 17, 2013 01:44am
Read-along: Blood Red Road \| Estrada Vermelha, Estrada de Sangue	48	27	May 11, 2013 08:33am
Writing Style	6	27	May 07, 2013 02:37pm
Possible Plagiarism?	9	79	Apr 29, 2013 07:52pm

title link	preview: Blood Red Road
avg rating	preview: Blood Red Road Goodreads rating: 4.04 (20867 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917938-blood-red-road?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293651959l/9917938.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9917938-blood-red-road?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Blood Red Road by Moira Young[/url]

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (34)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Moira Young

Books by Moira Young

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Blood Red Road

Quotes from Blood Red Road