Rebel Heart (Dust lands) [Hardcover]

Moira Young (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 30, 2012 | Series: Dust lands (Book 2)

Nothing is certain and no one is safe in the second book in the highly praised Dust Lands trilogy, which MTV’s Hollywood Crush blog called “better than The Hunger Games.”

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Readers will be champing at the bit to get to the conclusion of this poetic, action-packed trilogy. (Jennifer M. Brown Shelf Awareness)

"Her immersive storytelling will lure readers deeper into this dangerous, starkly lovely terrain." (Publishers Weekly STARRED)

About the Author

Moira Young is the author of the Dust Lands series. The first book, Blood Red Road, won the Costa Children’s Book Award, was a Cybils Award Winner for fantasy and science fiction, and was a Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. The Dust Lands continues with Rebel Heart, which received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. A native Canadian, she lives with her husband in the UK. Learn more at DustLandsBooks.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781442430006
• ISBN-13: 978-1442430006
• ASIN: 1442430001
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A new and improved Saba! Better than the first!! January 17, 2013

By Darlene

Format:Hardcover

This second book in the Dust Lands trilogy picks up right where Blood Red Road left off. Jack is heading for the storm belt to find Ike's girlfriend, Molly Pratt, to give her the bad news that Ike is dead.

Following the death of Vicar Pinch during the battle atop Pine Top Hill, someone named The Pathfinder has taken his place and his stewards say that he is going to heal the earth. Who is the mysterious Pathfinder?

When word gets back to Saba that Jack is running with the Tonton, she can't believe her ears. She thinks that it must be a mistake because Jack would never betray her or work with the Tonton. Is this all part of Jack's plot to destroy the Tonton from the inside, or has he been playing Saba all along?

I enjoyed Rebel Heart so much more than Blood Red Road! I like this new and improved version of Saba, the one who doesn't worship the ground that Lugh walks on and doesn't put him on a pedestal. Saba realizes that what she has gone through has changed her, and she isn't the same person anymore...and neither is Lugh. Saba has much more strength and confidence than she did before, and she is so much better for it! She is also much more caring towards Emmi; it was her lack of love and concern for Emmi that bugged me so much in Blood Red Road.

I want to know more about the Pathfinder and how he figures into Saba's future. I have my suspicions, and I can't wait to find out if I'm right!

In my opinion, Young's sophomore book is stronger than her debut. I love the character arcs that she has developed, and I am really intrigued to see how everything pulls together in the last book of the trilogy, which is slated for release in January 2014.

I even enjoyed Heather Lind's narration more this time around.... I think that it is her vocalization of Jack that I dislike, and his role in this book is not as prominent.

I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own. Read more ›

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the first March 28, 2013

By Melanie

Format:Hardcover

'They're gonna need you, Saba. Lugh and Emmi. An there'll be others too. Many others. Don't give into fear. Be strong, like I know you are.'

While Blood Red Road promised an awe inspiring debut, Rebel Heart says otherwise. If I were to describe this book with two words, they'd definitely be 'disappointing' and 'infuriating'. It turns out that not all novels get better as they go, fortunately though, I still enjoyed the premise.

The sequel to Blood Red Road, Rebel Heart is filled with just as much action, blood-shed and twists. Saba has a price on her head now. Yet still, she and her friends venture towards a new home-and meet Jack.

As I had just finished Blood Red Road two days ago, the book is still quite fresh in my head.Maybe that is a bad thing, as now, I'm consistently comparing the two simultaneously. For instance, I admired Moira's skill of creating such realistic and loveable characters. However, Rebel Heart is a totally different strong in general. Saba turned into some sort of sensitive-irritating-slut-love struck-impulsive chick, rather than the kick ass female protagonist that I once loved. Additionally, the character connections were weak.

Shut up! Jest shut up! he explodes. Gawdammit, Saba, give it a rest an stop lying to me! His face is hot. Flushed dark and red. The little muscle in his jaw-the one Emmi calls his mad muscle- is bunched tight an jumpin. This happens a lot these days. This quick snap of rage.

Lugh changes from the caring brother in Blood Red Road, he is snappy, short tempered and he is hiding something. I really hate how the author changed this brother sister relationship, for once I had found something less stereotypical- and it left again.... *sighs*

You reading this book because there is a picture of Jack on the front cover? Well stop right there because this book will infuriate you. Jack is some of the only characters who stay consistent and relatable yet we barely come in contact with him. At all. *sobs* Stupid cover deceived me.

Rebel Heart takes a downfall but still can satisfy with it's action and twists. Lovers of Blood Red Road will still love this, but may possibly get disappointed and annoyed by the suddenly-changed female protagonist. I will be definitely sticking around book 3! Recommended to lovers of The Knife of Never Letting Go and Divergent. Read more ›

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An action-packed ride September 21, 2012

By polkadottychair

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

You know that feeling you get after you've finished watching/reading a movie/book and you remember basically nothing of the plot from the beginning to middle of the movie/book because the ending and the parts leading up to the ending just completely distracted you? My English teacher calls this "entertaining and not engaging audiences"; something with very little plot, but non-stop, rollicking, hurtling down a hillside, dizzying, action. Yeah, well, Rebel Heart is kind of like this.

There were some aspects that were much better than BRR (like the plot - I found it much harder to get into than BRR), then there were those aspects that weren't (like how there was no Jack).

Now that I think about it, Young's Dust Lands series is a little on the weak side with its world-building. I'd go further into this, but that would be kind of an extremely long explanation. And I'm trying to keep things short/sweet/non-ranty. I just hope all the holes in the world-building will be patched up in future.

BUT.

Action-packed.

Action-packed.

I feel as if I need to say this twice just to get my point across. Reading some parts became quite hard-going for me. Ack, the tension, the heart-stopping moments, the tension, it was so tense, guys, just omigggggd. It was intense. AND I LOVED IT :D

I also found the secondary characters to be much easier to care about this time round. I can actually count on more than the one hand the ones that I genuinely liked!

My biggest problem with this book, however, is pretty straightforward: No Jack. OK, that's a little unfair. What I mean to say is: Not Enough Jack. Even Not Enough Jack and Saba.

I cry, people, I cry.

And also, I long all sorts of hard for Book 3. Urgh.... Especially, especially with that ending. What. Was. That.

And also, I've realised that this has become somewhat of a rant.

Oops.

OK... I'm just gonna go now. But read this book!!! It's got great characters, exciting plot, and Jack (but not nearly enough of him). What more could you possibly want?

Just a caveat: Keep in mind that I went into REBEL HEART having read a lot of negative reviews, so I was somewhat prepared for what was to come. Therefore, I felt as if I had somehow grown used to what others hated about this book and wasn't bothered by it as much. Read more ›