Review: Blood Red Road

by Moira Young
publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
date of publication: June 7, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 459
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

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.

What I Thought

Upon hearing about the concerns people had about the style of writing that makes up Blood Red Road, I became concerned that I would have difficulty enjoying it.  I tend to notice each and every mistake concerning spelling, grammar, and punctuation, so my concerns were well-founded.  However, when I finally read the book, I understood just what Moira Young was after.  Rather than becoming overly distracted by the dialectical spelling and lack of punctuation, I became immediately engrossed in what is a moving, action-filled story of loyalty, survival, and forgiveness.

I was fortunate enough to hear Moira Young speak at a book festival with regard to the way in which her book was written.  Not only did she confirm my initial thoughts, she also introduced new insight into the intent behind the writing.  I was so glad to learn this, as it just made my reading experience all the more intriguing.  In addition to the writing style of the book, the characters are simply phenomenal, the plot riveting, and the setting brutal.  Saba made for a superb protagonist.  She may not be the nicest person, but she is loyal and a survivor.  She isn't afraid to speak her mind and will go to the ends of the earth to help those that she loves.  Jack, while cocky and somewhat suspect at first, quickly proves himself to be Saba's match in every way.  He can keep up with her, no matter what she throws at him.  Both characters are strong, which is wonderfully refreshing, as it seems that pairs such as this often have a weak link.  The adventure that leads Saba into the desert is comprised of a worthy purpose and a certain amount of danger, making for a brutally attention-grabbing reading experience.  The desert itself is every bit as intimidating and lonely as you would expect in a dystopian novel.  When you combine all of the above, you get a fantastic book that will hold on and won't let go until the very last page is turned.

I was so happy to read this book and wish that I hadn't waited quite so long to do so.  Blood Red Road is a whirlwind experience that left me absolutely breathless.  I can not wait to continue with the series, as I expect there will be more adventures in store for Saba and Jack.  If you are looking for an action-packed dystopian with the perfect amount of emotion, Blood Red Road is the book for you.  This is definitely a book for your TBR list.