Author: Moira Young
Series: #3 - Dustlands
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 13th, 2014
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
Her passion kept them alive. Now it may destroy them all.
Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo...until she meets him and finds herself drawn to the man and his vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to build a stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The young and the healthy. Under his control.
Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Presumed dead, he's gone undercover, feeding Saba crucial information in secret meetings. Saba hides her connection with DeMalo and commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, and her sister, Emmi, Saba leads a small guerilla band against the settlers and the Tonton militia. But the odds are overwhelming. Saba knows how to fight—she's not called the Angel of Death for nothing. But what can she do when the fight cannot be won? Then DeMalo offers Saba a chance—a seductive chance she may not be able to refuse. How much will she sacrifice to save the people she loves?
The road has never been more dangerous, and betrayal lurks in the most unexpected places in the breathtaking conclusion to the Dust Lands Trilogy.
Saba is ready to seize her destiny and defeat DeMalo...until she meets him and finds herself drawn to the man and his vision of a healed earth, a New Eden. DeMalo wants Saba to join him, in life and work, to build a stable, sustainable world…for the chosen few. The young and the healthy. Under his control.
Jack’s choice is clear: to fight DeMalo and try to stop New Eden. Presumed dead, he's gone undercover, feeding Saba crucial information in secret meetings. Saba hides her connection with DeMalo and commits herself to the fight. Joined by her brother, Lugh, and her sister, Emmi, Saba leads a small guerilla band against the settlers and the Tonton militia. But the odds are overwhelming. Saba knows how to fight—she's not called the Angel of Death for nothing. But what can she do when the fight cannot be won? Then DeMalo offers Saba a chance—a seductive chance she may not be able to refuse. How much will she sacrifice to save the people she loves?
The road has never been more dangerous, and betrayal lurks in the most unexpected places in the breathtaking conclusion to the Dust Lands Trilogy.
My Review:
Raging Star was one of the books that I wanted to love, I did enjoy the ending to such a great series. This book brings home and makes me second guess Saba and my love for her. Which humanizes her to a point, but then you have Jack who is just doesn't see the world or want to act in a way that would preserve the group. The plot of the book is rather simple, there isn't a whole lot of twisting which I thought made the book a bit lackluster when I was done. Thinking back on the book, frankly I wish there was a lot of things elaborated on in this book, mainly cause I wasn't ready for the series to end.
Saba in the previous books was a straight-up badass. There wasn't much she was afraid of or willing to do to save those she cared about: that was similar to this book, but she changed from the badass in this novel. I enjoyed the transition, to a softer side of Saba, but don't get me wrong, she's still ruthless. I just think that will all the stress and the pressure put on her shoulders, she's voted and feels like she must save this little band. I feel for the pressure and the stress she's under, but at the same I wonder why Jack doesn't help with anything or ease the stress she's under.
Jack is the one part I disliked about the book. He's so flaky and in and out that I couldn't get into him at all in this book. When it comes down to it, I think Jack feels sort of betrayed by Saba, ultimately he does know about her and DeMalo, I mean how could he not? But instead of bucking up, staying and fighting for her, he pretends he's dead and helps as an infiltrator for Saba. The one upside is the work that Jack does to feed information would make a great novella.
The plot is rather simple throughout the whole book and it irritated me. I wanted some twist with Jack coming out and surprise I can help save the day. Frankly that just irritated me and I know the world isn't that simple where they are. However, at the same time, Saba is just in over her head, so when DeMalo offers her a timeline an an escape, how does she not take it ans save the lives of her friends. DeMalo is the star male character in this book, imo. He's steps up and while his presence isn't there much, there's a part of intent and ruthless resolve that drives everything home.
What does DeMalo want from Saba in exchange for the lives of those she loves? Marriage. Why is it always marriage? I mean if you marry her, the chance of kill DeMalo sometime. You are asking for it, and it's simply overdone. I wish there was something else, or give the Heartstone some more meaning. I mean why isn't there anymore expansion on what the stone is, or why it is. I don't mean to sound bashing on the novel, but these are the reason I couldn't and won't give it a perfect rating.
The novel is great and the why Saba goes into the final confrontation and the whole war with DeMalo shows just how capable she is. Not only does it show how tight the group is, but also what it means for her to keep fighting. Yeah, she's not a badass in this book, but frankly there's a part of the book that shows she can fight and be the rebel she's known for without really killing anyone.
However the ending, is just meh. It built up so well, it made me sad, but when the book ended I was left asking for more. Not that its a bad thing, but it just sort of left me hanging with questions unanswered, and since there isn't a sequel (or follow up) I just felt the book needed something more. The relationship with Saba and Jack is never really resolved other than Jack's selfish and ignorant view, which I still hate.
In conclusion I guess I want to say, the book is partly what I expected, but there's parts of it I think let me down. For conclusions it's probably one of the weaker ones I've read, but it doesn't take away from the fact that the series is still rather good. Saba is unique will always be, and is one female character that should be remembered. I just wish that some changes were there to allow me to give this book the rating it deserves, I just can't fork it over this way. Sorry.
Saba in the previous books was a straight-up badass. There wasn't much she was afraid of or willing to do to save those she cared about: that was similar to this book, but she changed from the badass in this novel. I enjoyed the transition, to a softer side of Saba, but don't get me wrong, she's still ruthless. I just think that will all the stress and the pressure put on her shoulders, she's voted and feels like she must save this little band. I feel for the pressure and the stress she's under, but at the same I wonder why Jack doesn't help with anything or ease the stress she's under.
Jack is the one part I disliked about the book. He's so flaky and in and out that I couldn't get into him at all in this book. When it comes down to it, I think Jack feels sort of betrayed by Saba, ultimately he does know about her and DeMalo, I mean how could he not? But instead of bucking up, staying and fighting for her, he pretends he's dead and helps as an infiltrator for Saba. The one upside is the work that Jack does to feed information would make a great novella.
The plot is rather simple throughout the whole book and it irritated me. I wanted some twist with Jack coming out and surprise I can help save the day. Frankly that just irritated me and I know the world isn't that simple where they are. However, at the same time, Saba is just in over her head, so when DeMalo offers her a timeline an an escape, how does she not take it ans save the lives of her friends. DeMalo is the star male character in this book, imo. He's steps up and while his presence isn't there much, there's a part of intent and ruthless resolve that drives everything home.
What does DeMalo want from Saba in exchange for the lives of those she loves? Marriage. Why is it always marriage? I mean if you marry her, the chance of kill DeMalo sometime. You are asking for it, and it's simply overdone. I wish there was something else, or give the Heartstone some more meaning. I mean why isn't there anymore expansion on what the stone is, or why it is. I don't mean to sound bashing on the novel, but these are the reason I couldn't and won't give it a perfect rating.
The novel is great and the why Saba goes into the final confrontation and the whole war with DeMalo shows just how capable she is. Not only does it show how tight the group is, but also what it means for her to keep fighting. Yeah, she's not a badass in this book, but frankly there's a part of the book that shows she can fight and be the rebel she's known for without really killing anyone.
However the ending, is just meh. It built up so well, it made me sad, but when the book ended I was left asking for more. Not that its a bad thing, but it just sort of left me hanging with questions unanswered, and since there isn't a sequel (or follow up) I just felt the book needed something more. The relationship with Saba and Jack is never really resolved other than Jack's selfish and ignorant view, which I still hate.
In conclusion I guess I want to say, the book is partly what I expected, but there's parts of it I think let me down. For conclusions it's probably one of the weaker ones I've read, but it doesn't take away from the fact that the series is still rather good. Saba is unique will always be, and is one female character that should be remembered. I just wish that some changes were there to allow me to give this book the rating it deserves, I just can't fork it over this way. Sorry.
