Rebel Heart – Moira
Young
Pages:
393
Publisher:
Marion Lloyd
Books (Scholastic)
Release
Date: 2nd
August 2012
Edition:
UK paperback,
review copy
There’s
a price on Saba’s head.
They
call her the Angel of Death. She defeated a tyrant, but victory has come at a
cost. Haunted by the ghosts of her past, she needs Jack. His moonlit eyes, his
reckless courage, his wild heart. But Jack has left, and a ruthless new enemy
searches for Saba across the Dustlands...
Blood
Red Road was
not just one of my reading highlights of last year, but also one of the best books I’ve
read in years so I was incredibly nervous and excited to have a copy of Rebel Heart in my hands.
I was quite hesitant when I started
Rebel Heart; it had a lot to live up
to and I really, really wanted to love it, and I did, just not quite on the
same level that I did Blood Red Road. That
began with the initial shock of a brief narration from Jack, but as the novel
progressed, I realised why it was essential – and it caused me some serious
internal debate.
And then Saba was back, but she
was different. Her trademark stream of consciousness narration was as stark and
beautiful as when I’d fallen in love with it in the first book and the dialect really transports me to another world; Saba’s world. But Saba was broken and
tormented by the events of Blood Red Road
and the ache of the absent Jack was only making it worse. My heart broke for
her. All I wanted was for her to be reunited with Jack and to be rid of her
demons, and there were moments when I doubted that either of those things could
possibly happen with the way that things were going.
There were some incidents surrounding
Jack, when he wasn’t even present, that made me gasp aloud. I was shocked
and didn’t quite know what to do with myself, as was Saba. In her confusion she made some
decisions that I couldn’t quite comprehend and that I think are going to have serious
repercussions in the final book in the Dustlands
trilogy and, honestly, I’m worried. I have a feeling that some serious
action and drama is going to go down as Saba’s story winds to a close...
Even though Rebel Heart didn’t quite live up to Blood Red Road, it still completely
delivered in style, drama and action and I loved it. Bring on book three is all
I can say really.
Sophie
Great review. Interesting that you enjoyed it but felt that it didn't live up to Blood Red Road. I wonder if that is because Moira had less time to write it. I heard her talking at a conference and I think she said it took her four years to write the first book.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently feeling the same way-that it won't be as good as Blood Red Road. I think that's why I've been putting it off. But you enjoyed it so I'm still pretty excited :) Great review, Sophie!
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