By: Moira Young
Published: June 7, 2011
Published By: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Description: 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.
My Thoughts: This book is one of the most interesting books I've read this year. I'm not going to spend much time on the description, I feel it wouldn't be necessary. Instead, I'll tell you a bit about how I felt about he book.
First, I hated Saba. I know everyone seems to love her and think she's strong and this and that, but I personally think she's a jerk and a B***h. She's mean to like everyone, and treats everyone but her twin brother like crap, especially her little sister. I found myself wanting to put the book down if she didn't changer her treatment of her sister. She doesn't accept any one's help, seeming to prefer to die trying to do it herself than to do it easier with friends. I just don't understand it. That being said, Saba is a fighter, that's the one thing she has going for her. She has a ridiculous survival instinct that I envy.
Second, I hate the way this book is written. It's got some weird drawl in everything and it starts to make me feel like I don't know how to talk properly because the talk somehow sticks in my head.
Other than that it's a great book. It has a great journey in it, and there's a somewhat good ending. Saba does grow to be a bit of a better person. She stops being such a jerk and grows to accept help. I will be reading the next book in the series, but due to my intense negative feelings for Saba, I just can't give this book a high rating. I give it 3 stars.
3 comments:
I don't think Saba is supposed to be relatable but I love that's shes so gritty. Her relationship with her sister is so realistic. I didn't warm to the writing style either and coupled with the sort of slow pacing in the middle I liked this a lot less than what I thought.
Saba was definitely a bitch! Especially to her sister. I still loved this book I found the writing style was so unique and really compelled me to this world. It's a love or hate writing style though. Glad you still enjoyed some of it.
First, you start off saying that this book was one of the most interesting books you’ve read all year. That gives me a pretty strong vote of confidence that I’ll probably love this book too, but then…
*cue the shocking discovery music*
I get to the part about the writing style and the weird drawl. That raised a red flag for me. I can deal with the protagonist being a bit of a b*tch, or ever a lot b*itchy. I can even look past her and her sister’s awful relationship. Even though I can understand why that may have been a problem for you, seeing as you have a little sister yourself. Shoot, I can even get past the fact that you hated Saba, because there is a possibility that I might not. But the one thing I find a real hard time getting over is a horrible writing style, or an author that uses weird words that disturbs my flow, or crazy made up words like you might find in fantasy books. As shamed as I am to admit it, the use of weirdly and what I found to be some times unpronounceable names or things, is why I could never read the Harry Potter books…please don’t stone me! (Lol) I just really struggle with it, and I can’t shake it. I’ll sit there and try and read something a thousand times if I think I’m saying it wrong; or if every time I read a characters dialogue, it makes me feel I’m reading at a 2nd grade level, I just can’t get over.
So I say all of that to say, hmmm…I think I’m going to have to marinate on this one a bit before I decide whether I’m going to put it on my to-do list or not. The fact that it was a really interesting book to you, and a good read otherwise, really wets my appetite. And I love that it’s got a great adventure /journey vibe to it. Fortunately I have a hard time stretching my attention span, and the , A Song of Fire and Ice series is sucking up all of that right now. So hopefully by the time I finish all those ridiculously long books, the second one in this series will be out and your give that 4 stars. That will make my decision making process a lot easier! LOL
-YSA
Post a Comment
Leave me a message! I love Reading them. If you are a New follower, let me know and I will be sure to follow back!