Nothing is certain and no one is safe in the second book in the highly praised Dust Lands trilogy.
It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.
What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.
***
(This might contain spoilers of Blood Red Road and even Rebel Heart)
Blood Red Road is a great book. It's full of action scenes. This book is also like that but... not as much as in Blood Red Road. That's kind of a let down because I expected so high on Rebel Heart (esp. with a cool name like that). It's actually pretty good in ways. But this just can't get to my heart like Blood Red Road does.
There are tons of good things. Like the whole fulfilling quests thing. Just as Saba and Lugh and Emmi heading to Big Water for a better new life, another danger is rising. And she must defeat anything that stands in her way in order to honor her quest. I love how Moira Young plot the storyline because there are times that multiple problems are rising at the same time in dystopian novels and it can get really confusing. Not this time. The path is clear. The intentions are clear. And it's all set.
Emotions are very strong in this book, even stronger than in Blood Red Road. Saba has to face the... can I say unstable emotions? of Lugh's. She also has to face betrayal and hurt and heartbreak. More than that, she encounters more confusion and passion that she doesn't really want. This book is so energetic emotionally, but not too emotional to make me choke. A really good balance here.
But there are major let down parts, particularly with the action part. In Blood Red Road there's fighting and fighting and fighting. But in this book... this element is lacking. And that disappoints me a lost. I mean, Saba is a good fighter and I assume that in this book she will have to fight harder for her life. Okay, maybe she does fight. But definitely not physically. Not even in the last few pages of the book. Call me vicious or anything, but things won't be exciting if there's no fighting.
Moira Young does a good job in summarizing up the book. Hurt. Betrayed. Deceived. Those are the three words that keep popping up over and over again. And truly, I felt them over and over again. Hurt. Betrayed. Deceived. I wonder how Raging Star will turn out.
Rating: 7.5/10
***
Info: (from goodreads, so I can't
Raging Star (Dust Lands #3)
Release Date: April 14, 2014 (What?! That's too far away!)
Synopsis:
When the star reader, Auriel Tai, challenged Saba to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo and the Tonton, Saba was so confident in her purpose. Then she met DeMalo and he confounded all expectations with his seductive vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo and Saba had an intense and passionate encounter - physical, emotional and psychic - that changed her life, and now he wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to create and build a healthy, stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few.
Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop his dangerous New Eden project. Still uncertain, her connection with DeMalo a secret, Saba commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother Lugh, anxious for the land in New Eden, Saba leads an inexperienced guerilla band against the powerfully charismatic DeMalo, in command of his settlers and the Tonton militia.
What chance do they have? Saba must act. And be willing to pay the price.
Cover: currently unknown.
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