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A review by inkyteacups
Dustborn by Erin Bowman
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
§ I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel. §
Delta lives in a barren world in which survival is tough. The water becomes scare by the day, the crops are harder to plant and there are bandits waiting for their chances. After a journey through the wastes, Delta finds that her whole pack has been attacked and taken to the General for slave labour. So she sets out to find them. During this journey she gets captured and sold to the General who learns of her secret:
Delta carries scars on her back, a map passed down through generations that is meant to lead to salvation and an ever green place with plenty of water. Nobody can read it. When the General learns of it, he threatens to kill one of Delta's pack each third day until she shares the route with him. But Delta cannot give him something she does not have.
"Dustborn" managed to create a fantastic atmosphere with which I fell in love. There are mentions of old world relicts and that the ancient language had gotten lost. Those are the touches of familiar, but it is clear how much time has passed and that these people struggle. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is anything but easy and kind. Delta mentions it time and again that the wastes are harsh and unforgiving. Yet, there are still moments of kindness. So overall, it is incredibly immersive and I loved the world from the very first moment on.
The only nitpick I have with the story is that at times, Delta seems emotionless. After all, it is told from her point of view. Yet, the emotional struggles and conflicts are often skipped or cut short in favour of the story. She watches a horrible thing happening and hardly has any emotional reaction. There is only one memorable time when she screams, truly struggles and breaks down and this does not last either.
While I would have wished for more exploration of these aspects, the overall story still remains a good, if not great one. There are morally grey aspects as one would expect from such a world. The characters are likable and the story, including plot-twists, kept me hooked. Furthermore, this book is one of the best paced books I've ever read - there are no slumps - it remains a constant and steady pace.
A full review of Dustborn is available on my blog.
Delta lives in a barren world in which survival is tough. The water becomes scare by the day, the crops are harder to plant and there are bandits waiting for their chances. After a journey through the wastes, Delta finds that her whole pack has been attacked and taken to the General for slave labour. So she sets out to find them. During this journey she gets captured and sold to the General who learns of her secret:
Delta carries scars on her back, a map passed down through generations that is meant to lead to salvation and an ever green place with plenty of water. Nobody can read it. When the General learns of it, he threatens to kill one of Delta's pack each third day until she shares the route with him. But Delta cannot give him something she does not have.
"Dustborn" managed to create a fantastic atmosphere with which I fell in love. There are mentions of old world relicts and that the ancient language had gotten lost. Those are the touches of familiar, but it is clear how much time has passed and that these people struggle. The post-apocalyptic atmosphere is anything but easy and kind. Delta mentions it time and again that the wastes are harsh and unforgiving. Yet, there are still moments of kindness. So overall, it is incredibly immersive and I loved the world from the very first moment on.
The only nitpick I have with the story is that at times, Delta seems emotionless. After all, it is told from her point of view. Yet, the emotional struggles and conflicts are often skipped or cut short in favour of the story. She watches a horrible thing happening and hardly has any emotional reaction. There is only one memorable time when she screams, truly struggles and breaks down and this does not last either.
While I would have wished for more exploration of these aspects, the overall story still remains a good, if not great one. There are morally grey aspects as one would expect from such a world. The characters are likable and the story, including plot-twists, kept me hooked. Furthermore, this book is one of the best paced books I've ever read - there are no slumps - it remains a constant and steady pace.
A full review of Dustborn is available on my blog.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Torture and Pregnancy