Dust Lands Book 2: Rebel Heart, by Moira Young (2012)

It's late afternoon.  Since morning, the trail's been following a line of light towers.  That is, the iron remains of what used to be light towers, way back in Wrecker days, time out of mind.  

Picking up the story where Blood Red Road left off, Jack is on his way to tell Ike's girl the bad news.  He's headed to a tavern in the storm belt called The Lost Cause.  All he wants to do is tell Molly, and then get back to Saba in Big Water.

The Tonton used to be dirty, rough, violent thugs, but now they are clean cut, organized.  This makes Jack feel uneasy.

It means that the enemy have changed their game.

The Tonton follow the Pathfinder and work to make his vision for New Eden come true.  Young, healthy adults are branded on their forehead to populate and New Eden.  These landgrabbers are called Stewards of the Earth, miracles to heal the earth.  Everyone else is eliminated or enslaved.   Homesteads are forcibly taken, family members are murdered.  

Saba wants to meet Jack in Big Water, but things don't go as planned as they start their journey.  First a disturbing message from Maeve from Jack.  Then Saba learns that the Pathfinder put a price on her head.  She is haunted by the ghost of Epona.  And she has an unusual attraction to the Pathfinder, Seth.

Read Rebel Heart to find out what happens to Jack and Saba.  Even though there are parts of the book that aren't ever answered, like when Ariel tried to help Saba with her demons, it's still a good read.

Rating:  6 out of 10 stars
* inferences of rape, prostitution, sexual references, language

To check this read out at NOLS, click HERE!

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1), by Moira Young (2011)

Lugh got born first.  On midwinter Day when the sun hangs low in the sky.
Then me.  Two hours later.
That pretty much says it all.
Lugh goes first, always first, an I follow on behind.

Eighteen year old Lugh and Saba are twins.  With their pa and 9-year old sister, Emmi, the twins have spent their whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant dustorms.  There hasn't been any rain for six months.

We bin watchin the land die, bit by bit.

The family is starving and Lugh wants to leave.

You aint really leavin, I says.

Ain't I?  There ain't no reason to stay.  I cain't jest sit around waitin to die.

Suddenly four armed men capture Lugh and take him away.  Saba's world is shattered and she embarks on a quest to get him back.  Not only does she learn that she's strong, she learns to trust others. 

Blood Red Road is an exciting start to the Dust Lands series.  If you like books like Hunger Games, Divergent, or Maze Runner, you'll love this read.

To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!

Rating:  8 out of 10 stars
*mild language

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