Giselle's Reviews > Blood Red Road
Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)
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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
"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
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Feb 25, 2012 10:00AM
can't wait to see your review on this, I really want to read this!
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Purcheria wrote: "Would like to read it and want to see your review."
Oh. haha sorry I'm a bit slow tonight.
Oh. haha sorry I'm a bit slow tonight.
Kara wrote: "I loved this book. :)"
I really liked it too! However, I hate the "better than Hunger Games" quote on the cover. I mean.. really? Awful tactic!
I really liked it too! However, I hate the "better than Hunger Games" quote on the cover. I mean.. really? Awful tactic!
I agree. In bad taste. The old cover didn't have that though I don't think.
Kara wrote: "I agree. In bad taste. The old cover didn't have that though I don't think."
Not on the picture from Goodreads they don't. It's the first thing I said when I got it in the mail "HA! Better than Hunger Games? Egotistical much?" I mean, comparing yourself to the most epic dystopian ever written!?
Not on the picture from Goodreads they don't. It's the first thing I said when I got it in the mail "HA! Better than Hunger Games? Egotistical much?" I mean, comparing yourself to the most epic dystopian ever written!?
It must be on a later edition of the original cover. This is the first I have seen of the new cover, but definitely not the first time I've seen that quote on the cover. Pretty tacky.
I thought this was fun too, Giselle! Obviously not perfect, but pretty darned entertaining. :) I'm glad you liked it.
P.S. "Better than the Hunger Games" is pretty ballsy. But sorry, no dice.
P.S. "Better than the Hunger Games" is pretty ballsy. But sorry, no dice.
Wendy Darling wrote: "I thought this was fun too, Giselle! Obviously not perfect, but pretty darned entertaining. :) I'm glad you liked it.
P.S. "Better than the Hunger Games" is pretty ballsy. But sorry, no dice."
I'm glad you liked it too Wendy. It was really fun and I loved the dialect. With a bit more complexity this could have easily been a 5-star for me. And yes that quote should be removed from the cover. It bugs me. Even if it was true - which it is not.
P.S. "Better than the Hunger Games" is pretty ballsy. But sorry, no dice."
I'm glad you liked it too Wendy. It was really fun and I loved the dialect. With a bit more complexity this could have easily been a 5-star for me. And yes that quote should be removed from the cover. It bugs me. Even if it was true - which it is not.
Haven't read it yet, but we always view new things through the lens of what we already know. So from a marketing standpoint, using THG as a comparison is actually not a bad strategy. :P On that same note,I'm sure there are some people who are as equally appalled that THG has been compared to 1984. lol
But anyway, I'm looking forward to this one. The writing style has the potential to both intrigue and annoy me and the world sounds fascinating -- the desolation, the hints of "other," the longing for what once was. All very promising. :)
But anyway, I'm looking forward to this one. The writing style has the potential to both intrigue and annoy me and the world sounds fascinating -- the desolation, the hints of "other," the longing for what once was. All very promising. :)
Dani wrote: "Haven't read it yet, but we always view new things through the lens of what we already know. So from a marketing standpoint, using THG as a comparison is actually not a bad strategy. :P On that ..."
Comparing it by saying "For fans of Hunger Games" or "comparable to Hunger Games" is fine. But saying out right "This is better than the Hunger Games" on the front cover comes off as dissing the competition which just annoyed me. >.<
But yeah, you Have to read this one Dani. The writing- if you know what to expect you shouldn't have a problem with it. It's not hard to follow at all even if I wouldn't have known about it beforehand. But it's all very entertaining. There are killer worms Dani! KILLER WORMS!
Comparing it by saying "For fans of Hunger Games" or "comparable to Hunger Games" is fine. But saying out right "This is better than the Hunger Games" on the front cover comes off as dissing the competition which just annoyed me. >.<
But yeah, you Have to read this one Dani. The writing- if you know what to expect you shouldn't have a problem with it. It's not hard to follow at all even if I wouldn't have known about it beforehand. But it's all very entertaining. There are killer worms Dani! KILLER WORMS!
Your review is exactly how I felt about it :) Fun book, but lacking a bit of depth world and plot wise, though the characters rocked. Definitely not 'better' than THG though, tsk tsk book publishers :P
Kereesa wrote: "Your review is exactly how I felt about it :) Fun book, but lacking a bit of depth world and plot wise, though the characters rocked. Definitely not 'better' than THG though, tsk tsk book publisher..."
Yes I saw you enjoyed it too! I can't wait for the second book I hope the world building gets more detailed.
Yes I saw you enjoyed it too! I can't wait for the second book I hope the world building gets more detailed.
Yes, my um 'review' is pretty self explanatory :P I need to expand on it though, since I need to talk about how much I enjoyed the romance (for once!), etc..
I can't wait till the second one either, I'm finally glad I've found another dystopian series I actually really like again!
I can't wait till the second one either, I'm finally glad I've found another dystopian series I actually really like again!
Kereesa wrote: "Yes, my um 'review' is pretty self explanatory :P I need to expand on it though, since I need to talk about how much I enjoyed the romance (for once!), etc..
I can't wait till the second one eithe..."
Yes I thought the romance was well done too. I didn't mention it in my review because it was already long enough >.< Plus it's not a huge part of the book anyways -which is why I liked it. It wasn't forced and didn't take over.
I can't wait till the second one eithe..."
Yes I thought the romance was well done too. I didn't mention it in my review because it was already long enough >.< Plus it's not a huge part of the book anyways -which is why I liked it. It wasn't forced and didn't take over.
How did you get past the language? I am having a hard time adjusting to the "slang"....Does it get better? I actually moved to another book...Couldnt get into it..
How did you get past the language? I am having a hard time adjusting to the "slang"....Does it get better? I actually moved to another book...Couldnt get into it..