Rebel Heart (Dust Lands #2) by Moira Young

Author: Moira Young

Publication: October 30, 2012

By: Margaret K. McElderry

5 STARS!

I LOVE this cover!

"We don't choose the time we're born in, he says.  The only choice we got is what we do while we're here.  To make it mean somethin'."

 

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.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Margaret K. McElderry books for this ARC. I could not WAIT to read the next installment in the Dust Lands Trilogy and believe me when I tell you, it does NOT disappoint!  This is an intense, thrilling sequel that will have you on the edge of your seat with your heart in your throat.

Rebel Heart picks up where Blood Red Road leaves off; with Jack making his way back to the "Lost Cause" and Saba, Lugh, Emmi and Tommo heading west with plans to reunite soon.  Saba and Jack have both admitted feelings for each other and it's those feelings they focus on while separated. However, like any good sequel with a budding romance, things will get worse before they get better.  With a new enemy on her heels and others who would seek to claim her heart, Saba will be in for a fight not just for her freedom but for her sanity as well. 

All that Saba's been through in the past months, losing her Pa, her time in Hopetown, the bizarre connection with DeMalo and the battle to rescue Lugh begins to catch up with her and takes an overwhelming toll. She can't seem to escape her personal demons but she's convinced everything will be OK once she and Jack are together again. But when an old acquaintance shows up with devastating news of Jack's whereabouts, Saba 's world threatens to crumble completely leaving her devastated and questioning all she believed to be true.

Hurt, betrayed and deceived is how Saba and several others feel with an intensity so strong it begins to cloud judgements as they make their way through The Waste.  It's feelings like these that can lead us to make choices we may later regret.  My heart broke for these characters as I sat helpless in my red reading chair while Lugh tried desperately to regain some kind of normalcy within his family. Poor Emmi is right on the cusp of adolescence but is still treated like a child despite her courage and fierce love. Tommo is no longer a boy yet still needs a man around to guide him and Saba...Oh, Saba...I went from wanting to hug her to shaking some sense into her. I wanted to yell, "WHAT.ARE.YOU.THINKING?!"  *clutches chest*

I fell in love with Jack in Blood Red Road and I think I love him even MORE now. While I wanted him to ride in and save the day, that doesn't always make for a good story.  We find out more about Jack and what kind of man he is and let's just say, he's full of surprises.  One of my favorite quotes from the book is when he's describing Saba, 

"But ohmygawd Molly, she shines so bright, he says. The fire of life burns so strong in her.  I never realized till I met her...I bin cold my whole life, Moll." ~ Jack  

I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in both Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart. Moira Young paints such a vivid picture, you feel as if you're walking through the dusty Waste right along with Saba; blood and grime collecting under your fingernails and you swear you smell just as bad. The language of her world is all it's own too and she uses words like, "sarcastical" which made me feel right at home. 

You know, none of us have any control over when we're born but we DO have control over the choices we make while we're here.  We can choose to do our best, knowing we're going to make mistakes or we can choose to be angry about what life's dealt us and live a life of bitterness and regret.

This was such a FANTASTIC sequel and I'm really looking forward to what the future holds for Saba, Jack and Lugh!