Blood Red Road By Moira Young Review #78

Author:Moira Young
Publisher: DoubleDay Canada
Pages: 544
Source: Publisher
Available: Now
First Lines: "Lugh got born first. On Midwinter Day when the sun hangs low in the sky. Then me. Two hours later."
Rating: 3.5/5

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.

I dare everyone to read this. Then I dare everyone, who is reading it, to try putting it down. You can't can you? Because Blood Red Road is a addicting piece of literature. It sucks you in and won't let go. Of course it is a dystopian novel with romance and adventure. There is so many, these days, dystopian novels and in all of the ones I have read in the past year and half this is by far the best. It is a really unique story and the author isn't afraid or cautious to go deep, gritty and truthful about how evil and dangerous the world she created is with it's kidnappings and cage fights. I definitely would be to scared to live in this world.

Saba is the heroine of the story. She loves her brother to death and she finds her little sister a constant reminder of her mother's death. When her brother is kidnapped her world is turned upside down and now it up to her and the new acquaintances she meets along the way to save him. I must admit that Saba is the most determined character I have ever met and I love that about her. She has a goal and she won't stop until she accomplishes it. However because she is so determine she comes off as a bit rude, un-thankful and selfish. Also she doesn't really let people into her personal life or realize her faults. She is kind of like a porcupine who lets out it spikes when people are to near. As a reader you see all of this through the eyes of her friends (as if your alongside them on the adventure to) and I won't lie it can be quite annoying. There was times when I really hated Saba and then really loved her. However her character develops majorly along the way.

The writing style was different. Saba, who is telling the story, speaks in broken English. Which shows her personality and roots. I like that that because you get a better understanding of her characteristics and it easier to imagine how she speaks.

Their was some scenes that could of been cut out. I felt they were unnecessary and random. However the version I read was an ARC so it could be different in the final version.

There wasn't a single character I hated. I love them all with their different personalities. I especially loved Jack's cockiness and how a single crow could be used a character/important part of the story. I really didn't feel the connection because Saba and Jack but this is a trilogy so they have two more books to grow closer (or maybe father apart). I wish Saba's brother had more of a appearance in this.

The ending resolved all my questions. It was very fast past. The end of the book wasn't a cliffhanger. It left me wanting more, but not be anxious as to what would happen next (since there was no cliffhanger).

Overall it was a great novel. I look forward to seeing what Moira Young does next in the trilogy. Also Ridley Scott has optioned Blood Red Road for the screen. I can't wait to see the adaptation. Yours Truly,