Review: Moira Young - Blood Red Road

Moira Young - Blood Red Road

• Pub Date: June 7, 2011
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
• Format: Audio CD 11hr 17min
• Age Range: Young Adult

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.

Not a huge fan of this one. I got tired of the hillbilly speak really fast. And I thought the way Saba talked about her brother was slightly creepy. It wouldn't have been surprising to me if, at the end, they hooked up. I was getting a little grossed out.

This book had me lost for a while. The author doesn't offer up much information about this dystopic world, so I didn't always understand the reasons behind certain events or actions. Things seem to just come out of nowhere. Maybe I missed something.. I don't know. I just know that I didn't understand this world while attempting to see it through Saba's eyes.

I was really sad when Lugh got kidnapped, but what I felt the most emotion about was the relationship between Saba and her sister. I can completely relate with the way Saba treats her. My own sister and I have had a similar relationship in the past when we were younger. The progression and development of their relationship, and the growth both girls go through, are probably the best part of the novel.

The novel felt like a mash-up of Gladiator and Princess Bride without the humor in a way. I just wasn't into this book like everyone else seems to have been. It felt strange with all the different groups of people, and I'd just read Pure by Julianna Baggott, which is slightly similar in my mind. Maybe it was the audio versions that make me feel like they're kind of the same. I don't know.

I saw a lot of great reviews for this book. I feel like maybe I just missed something in here. I didn't feel like this was the next epic love story. This just isn't my new favorite book. I do hope you enjoy it though.

Bottom Line: It's different, so try it out if you're looking for a new type of read.

Rating:

3/5 book sharks