Rebel Heart
by Moira Young
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: October 2012
Pages: 432
Source: Library
For: Fun (and Dystopian Challenge)
Series: Dust Lands, Book 2
*Spoilers are inevitable for Blood Red Road*
Saba has finally found Lugh and has everything she wants. But she can't seem to shake the ghosts of her violent past. Not only that, but Lugh has changed and their relationship is no longer what it used to be. So when a cryptic message comes from Jack, she's determined to return and find him, despite the danger to herself and her family.
Things I Liked:
Unfortunately, it's been months since I finished this and I didn't write much in the way of my thoughts after finishing it. I had to go and remind myself what happened in the book (and then I remembered just how crazy the ending seemed to get). It was not as amazing as the first one for me, but I still like Saba a lot and I still love the dialect and simplistic writing style Young uses. It makes the whole book more engrossing (once you can get into the rhythm of the story). I do remember thinking Saba, Lugh, Jack and the others seemed to be experiencing realistically the effects of the first book. The tension in all those relationships, and the new ones, was painful, but real. An interesting and definitely unique kind of post-apocalyptic story.
Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit the romance was the thing that bugged me the most. It seemed everyone was in love with Saba and she was rather cruel to some of those in love with her. She made some interesting choices that I think will have even more painful consequences in the future. Still, I couldn't believe how much of the book ended up focusing just on these romantic relationships and less on Saba adjusting to her world that's changed. I'm still very interested to see where the story goes in the next book.
Read-alikes:
Start with Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Reminds me a bit of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
mild ones, mostly
mrg-factor: X
an "incident" that isn't described so much as implied
v-factor: ->->
plenty of action, but not gory
Overall rating: ***
Which of the people in the love quadrangle would you choose?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (Simon & Schuster)
Publication date: June 2011
ISBN: 9781442429987
Source: e-ARC provided by Galley Grab
When Saba's brother Lugh is kidnapped and her father killed, Saba is willing to do anything she can to get him back. She's determined to cross the wasteland she's always lived in and find him, so things can return to normal. But things become complicated when she is forced into an unwilling daily battle for her life. Can she escape from this new tortured existence, with the help of a mysterious group called the Free Hawks, and possibly the intriguing Jack? And more importantly, will she ever see Lugh again?
Things I Liked:
Oh this was a such a great story! Not only that, but I fell in love with the main characters. Those two, Saba and Jack, had me smiling and laughing in the middle of a depressing and painful story. Saba has this great voice and character that you can't get out of your head, and I started to think and talk like her, because I got so into the story. This will grip you from the beginning to end. Start reading for the awesome dangerous futuristic world and keep reading to know more about Saba. Really well done. Can't wait for more from Moira Young. Here's a taste:
What was that fer? he yells.
Fer kissin me! I yell. An don't you dare do it agin!
Oh don't you worry about that, he says, I'd rather throw myself over that waterfall!
He picks hisself up.
I'd rather sleep naked in a nest of scorpions! he says.
He stomps off, leadin Ajax behind him.
I follow with Hermes.
My lips is tinglin. p 326 of ARC
Things I Didn't Like:
I was only bothered with the phonetic spelling and lack of grammar and quotation marks a few times. Which is surprising. Honestly, what I kept thinking about was how hard it must have been to edit it! Great, great book.
Read-alikes:
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, but not a lot
mrg-factor: X
just kissing, really
v-factor: ->->->
there is some action violence and fighting
Overall rating: *****
I've heard people say the phonetic thing bugged them. Not so much with me. What about you?
If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage
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