Release Date: August 2, 2012Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Rating: YA 15+
Genre: Dystopian, Adventure, Romance
Pages: 393
Danger. Betrayal. Destiny. Passion.
The superb sequel to Blood Red Road, the most exciting YA debut of 2011
Saba has rescued her kidnapped brother and defeated the fanatical Tonton. But the price to be paid for her violent victory is terible. Jack has disappeared – and can no longer be trusted. A new and formidable enemy is on the rise in the dustlands. No one is safe. And Saba must confront the terrible secret hidden in the darkest depths of her soul.
The superb sequel to Blood Red Road, the most exciting YA debut of 2011
Saba has rescued her kidnapped brother and defeated the fanatical Tonton. But the price to be paid for her violent victory is terible. Jack has disappeared – and can no longer be trusted. A new and formidable enemy is on the rise in the dustlands. No one is safe. And Saba must confront the terrible secret hidden in the darkest depths of her soul.
Confession time: Lately, I've been in what you could call a reading slump. I just couldn't get into any books, I was feeling really lost and my love of books, and blogging (go ahead, hate on me :P), was fading. I needed something to get me out of the dumps, and I needed it fast. Bloggers, sound familiar?? Well anyway, I desperately tried at least five or more books, to only be disappointed time after time. And then came along Rebel Heart. Thank the gods, the stars, the fiddle sticks that I picked up this sequel! It was exactly what I needed! Faith in reading, restored!
Rebel Heart reminded me why I loved reading so much and why I put so much effort into my blog and it really showed me the power of books! That just by reading one you can be brought to tears, jumping up and down, and laughing hysterically. How you can grow so attached to the characters that it physically hurts to be torn away from them. Holy macaroni, this book just knocked my socks off.
Maybe it was Saba, Jack, Emmi and all the wonderful characters, or maybe it was the unique and different writing style. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn't stop reading once I started, but Rebel Heart, in my opinion, deserves best sequel of the year. One of my biggest fears when reading a sequel is that it will disappoint, and that it'll kind of drag on, and with Blood Red Road being one of my favorite Dystopians EVER, these two paranoias were high on my list, trust me. So that's why I was SO surprised when I ended up loving Rebel Heart just as much as Blood Red Road! I don't know how Young does it, but whatever she does, she better keep doing because it's just magnificent. Beautiful story-telling.
The plot was so fast and it kept me hooked until the very end! I honestly wasn't expecting to be that into it once I found out that Jack is barely in the book, but only a few chapters into the book, I realized that I didn't care. Okay slow your horses I'm not saying I don't love Jack because bloody hell (LOL I've always wanted to say that) I DO. I do I do I do. It's just that the storytelling and characters and everything was just so exciting and thrilling and fabulous that I did't miss him that much, and although every page without him was like walking a hundred miles without water, I still managed to enjoy it!
I was also seriously impressed with all the twists and turns in the book, some of them, OKAY, all of them were really surprising and I didn't see them coming at all! One of the biggest shocks, and probably saddest too, was Lugh. He jus wasn't the same. As Saba said, he was different, he wasn't the same Lugh. And maybe that's a good thing, but it made me a little nostalgic! Also, Saba. In the beginning I felt like shouting at her and saying girl, you better get your act together, or Imma send you off in the crazy train! Yeesh, she was really scary sometimes and I just kept wishing that Jack would come along and make it all better. But she got her act together eventually, and reminded me why she was one of my favorite, fiercest heroines.
And Jack, Mr. Hottie McHotPants on the cover, did come along... in the end. Best. Ending. Ever. I'm not even kidding. I'm not going to say anymore because I really don't want to ruin it for you, but guys. Woowee! It was amazingly spectacular and oozing with awesome sauce! Trust me, this is one sequel you don't want to miss out on. Read it. I'm telling you.
If you like this, try:
Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi
Once (Eve, #2) by Anna Carey
Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver
Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth
Yaaay, I'm so glad you've finally found a book to pull you straight out of the dreadful reading slump!
ReplyDeleteI was recently sent Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart for review, but just couldn't get into Blood Red Road. I couldn't understand why this series didn't grab me, but after reading your brilliant review for the sequel, I'm determined to try again!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Riya! :) xxx
So excited to see your positive review! I just read Blood Red Road earlier this year and I am very much looking forward to reading this sequel.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you loved this. I started to get really nervous because people just weren't as fond of it as the first. Very fun review! Thank the fiddle sticks something great came along for you :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back, Riya! I did notice your absence in the blogging community lately. I missed you! Haha! I guess I have to thank Moira Young for writing this awesome book thus bringing your love and enthusiasm for books. I haven't read Blood Red Road but I've heard good things about it, it's been on my tbr and hopefully I can find time to squeeze it in on my too tight reading schedule. So glad to see you enjoyed this book! It's always nice to find a sequel being just as good as the first one seeing that most of the time they suffer the so called "second-book syndrome". Brilliant review as always, Riya! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see you loved this, Riya! I loved the first one so I can't wait to read this. I'm so excited to see you wrote: "best ending ever"! Great review. :)
ReplyDeleteI might just have to read this series now. I LOVE when you find a book that brings you out of a slump and reminds you why you love to read. I'm also glad to hear this one doesn't fall into the trap of what I like to call the second "filler" book in a series.
ReplyDeleteI really loved the ending too! It was torture at times, waiting for Mr Hottie McHotPants. ;) I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this, Riya! Reading slumps are the worst - we all fall into them from time to time and it ALWAYS feels like you'll never be able to read another book again. I'm pleased to hear Rebel Heart got you out of it! :)
ReplyDeleteI have missed you. I go through reading slumps too and just lately I was feeling the same way and then I discovered Storm Dancer and loved it. I admit, I didn't think this series was for me, but your enthusastic review changed my mind! Thanks! Weldome back!
ReplyDeleteI just read the first paragraph of this review because I have yet to read Blood Red Road (it's awaiting me on my shelf.) But SO happy that this was able to take you out of your reading slump! I have been there girl, and you begin to wonder if there is something wrong with you when you are reading books that other people have enjoyed so much and you're all WTF?!?! So anyways, I'm rambling. Happy you loved it!
ReplyDeleteYAY! I'm so glad your reading slump is over! :D I went through one once... *shudders at the memory*
ReplyDeleteI picked this up in a bookstore but I didn't get it, now I wish I had. This sounds amazing, thanks for the great review :) x
I've been in an epic reading slump as well Riya! It's so hard when that happens, and then I put all this extra pressure on myself to get myself out of the slump and then I only end up making it worse. The best feeling in the world though is to find that book that reminds you what you love about reading though, and I'm so glad Rebel Heart was that for you! I really need to read Blood Red Road so I can then pick this one up:)
ReplyDeleteWow you gave this book 5 stars? and there I was avoiding this series over the mixed reviews, I seriously need to bump this series up my tbr pile Riya. I'm glad this helped you out of your reading slump! A wonderful review as usual Riya! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I haven't heard of this series!!!?? It sounds so intriguing and different! Plus the characters sound very promising as well! Adding to my TBR list. Don't you just love the power of books, when they can bring you out of a reading slump! :D Thank you for the awesome review! :)
ReplyDelete~ Maida @ Literary Love Affair