Thursday, March 22, 2012

Review and Giveaway!

Blood Red Road (Dust Lands, #1)  Blood Red Road (Dust Lands #1) by 
Hardcover, 459 pages
Published June 7th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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.
Can I just start off by saying Saba is AWESOME?...
Right, probably not. 
Well, she is, just for the record.
Even from before Blood Red Road's release this past summer, there have been comments of its similarity to The Hunger Games. At a first glance, that sounds pretty reasonable. 
Prior to reading, I expected to be transported back into some world comparable to Katniss', but what I got was something else completely different. And get this-better
I know how that sounds, because The Hunger Games is all the rage now and most people think books don't get better than that, but I'm here to tell you that Blood Red Road tops The Hunger Games. It really does. 
Just ask MTV Crush. 
There words were, quote on quote: "Better than The Hunger Games." 
They weren't lying. BRR takes you into a brutal, unfamiliar world with a girl who hasn't really ever been anywhere other than her home in Silverlake. She starts out on a journey to find her kidnapped brother, and runs along a few obstacles, and allies, in the process. 
What I really liked about this was that Saba wasn't some trained fighter who had experience in weapons before being thrown into the ring. Throughout her fights in the book, we get a look into the mind of Saba, and see she's just like any other person trying to get by in the world: relying on her fight or flight instincts. I thought it was refreshing to finally get an MC who doesn't just happen to coincidentally be a martial arts BA. Inexperience always makes for an interesting story line, and Moira gave us just that. 
Saba's dedication to Lugh was evident all throughout the book, and was extremely admirable.
To add to this, Saba was totally and completely independent. While she had help from friends throughout the course of the novel, never once did I feel like she was forcing herself on anyone and that just made me love her even more...and the side characters were equally lovable(I'm talking Jack and every single one of the Free Hawks).
Moira Young did a great job of making lovable characters and one of the best plot lines I've probably seen in years. We need WAY more books like this.
Way to go, Moira! 5 stars to Blood Red Road!
Now, on to the goods!
To honor the awesomeness that is this book, we'll be giving away 2 hardcover BRR's thanks to Moira's generous publisher. 
You all have 8 days to enter, starting, well, TODAY. Gogogo!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

17 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to the next Cassandra Clare release :)

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  2. I absolutely can't wait until the realease of Kelly Creagh's sequeal to "Nevermore" XD

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  3. Yes I am so looking forward to go see the hunger games I read it a few months ago and I loved it. It is one of the best books I have ever read.

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  4. Looking forward to watching the Hunger Games this weekend!! :DDD

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  5. I'm going to see The Hunger Games Tomorrow (Sunday)

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  6. Going to watch The hunger Games tomorrow. So excited!
    Anyway, I'm dying to read this book. Blood Red Road sounds amazing!!!

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  7. Awesome book, best blog around! Follow people!!! :) ~ Yoanny

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  8. Can't wait to watch The Hunger Games tonight! Planning on trying to read the book in 6 hours! Wish me luck!

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  9. Totally saw HG yesterday. Great times with my tweens in tow.

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  10. I read this book not long after it came out and thought it was AMAZING!!! I recommend it to everyone!

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    1. Oh, and I went to the Hunger Games midnight showing and thought it was just awesome!

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  11. This book sounds amazing, you only get to enter in once for the giveaway right?

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    1. Just follow the rafflecoptors instructions! It's pretty simple once you get the hang of it. :) You can only follow the twitter/blog/etc. once, obviously :P but you CAN tweet about the giveaway more than once! And that'll get you extra points!

      Take a go at it!

      If you're unsure you got entered click on the 'who entered' tab and your name should be there once you click DO IT for each section.
      Hope I didn't confuse you! lol!

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  12. I'm watching The Hunger Games this friday xD and I don't really know which book i'm looking forward too

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