Rating: 5/5; Loved it. Re-readable. Add-to-your-collection worthy. Tell everyone to read it.
Release Date: June 2011
Synopsis:
Girl living in a dystopian world with her father, twin brother, and little sister. Has to find her brother/her world after he's been taken by mysterious men in cloaks. Now she must travel to lands she's never been to and battle dangerous people and creatures. With the help of some new friends maybe she can do it. As fate would have it, let the intense page turning BEGIN!
-T.V and Book Addict (I'm making this as non-spoilery as possible)
Thoughts:
Are you serious Ms. Young? This is your first book? It's incredibly hard to believe because this book was just so darn good! I have not read a book I gave five stars in a while and the reason I gave BLOOD RED ROAD five stars is because it had everything I love: great writing, pages that can't be turned fast enough, great characters, cheesy lines from a guy wooing a girl, action, adventure, dystopian world, fighting, monsters, action, action, and action! Seriously, it practically never stopped being full of something that kept you reading until the wee hours of the next morning (I only had four hours of sleep because of midterms and instead of sleeping, I kept reading). Now
that's a book you want to pick up.
The only issues that I really had with this book is that the beginning was somewhat slow for me and I found Saba's immensely strong attachment to her twin brother, Lugh, a bit odd, and I strongly disliked her anger towards her sister. I can see why she was so cruel to her sister, but I certainly didn't like it. Those kind of words to a 9 year old (and to hear them all her life) are psychologically damaging, I'm surprised poor Emmi wasn't damaged in the head.
Love story:
The love story is a side story. really cute cheesy lines from the male love interest. I did take note that another character is "beautiful" and quite the curious character. I also noticed how he said
"until next time" (highlight to view because it's spoiler-y). He had a way about him and I feel he'll be coming back to play a large role in Saba's life. I hope there's a love triangle hehe I'm such a dork when it comes to these things.
I wasn't a fan of how the book ended in terms of the love story (and overall), but at the same time I loved it. I disliked how things played out. It felt like there wasn't much
feeling to it. What I loved was how it didn't end in one of those crazy cliffhangers that makes you dislike the author a bit because you have to wait months or years for the sequel to be released. For that, I thank you so very much Ms. Young. And for the great story of course (that's a given).
Writing style:
I haven't come across writing style like this in a while and hardly ever in YA. The author writes the book in the point of view of an uneducated 18 year old so most of it is written in a phonetic type of style (ex:
33 Snowfish and
Pygmalion). I can understand how some readers will very much dislike this especially if they're sticklers of grammar and spelling or have never been exposed to writings where the author writes phonetically throughout the
whole book. I love it because you really get to
hear Saba and the others talking. If you don't think your'e into that, you might have a tough time, but I implore you to stick to the story, because it's wonderfully fun.
Topics:
Some topics covered in the book include: family relationships, fate, and inner strength (and psychosis possibly...).
Quote:
yer crazy, I said - girl
I was fine till I met you - guy
Ever heard of the rule of three? he shouts as we run. - guy
No! - girl
If you save somebody's life three times, their life belongs to you. You saved my life today, that makes once. Save it twice more an I'm all yers. - guy
thatisofreakingcute it turns me into squealing fan girl.
Resembles:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - strong female protagonist in a dystopian world
Enclave by Anne Aguirre - ditto
Fire by Kristin Cashore - ditto
Graceling by Kristin Cashore - ditto
~~T.V and Book Addict~~
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