If you are like me and have been searching for a good sci-fi/dystopian read, just needing a little chaos to break up the monotony of COVID-19 quarantines, then Dustborn will hit the spot! It is so reminiscent of the movies Mad Max and Waterworld, creating that sense of nostalgia of when we could go outside without a mask, but is so entertaining all on its own. Some people may not like the similarities to these films, but I, personally, really enjoyed the story and its characters.

Delta is a teenage girl living on the edge of Dead River in a post-apocalyptic world that is one continuous desert. Water is hard to come by, and family is all anyone can count on. When she is sent to bring her pregnant sister to another colony to see a healer, her pack is attacked and either killed or enslaved by the mysterious man they call the General. Delta is not one to take this lightly, and sets out to find her pack and kill anyone who gets in her way.

Erin Bowman truly achieved a great thing with Dustborn. The story is familiar, but also told in such a way that it stands all on its own. I really enjoyed Delta and Asher's character development, and the detail Bowman put into building this world without it bogging down the pace of the book. I highly recommend Dustborn to anyone who enjoys dystopian and post-apocalyptic books, or are a fan of the Mad Max movies.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was such a fantastic read. It’s about Delta who discovers that her family/pack is kidnapped when she returned from her nieces’s birth. She goes out to find them in the wasteland with the newborn but realized that she can’t trust no one and that she is on her own. This was a really well written book with an amazing plot. I loved the pacing and the world building for this one. The world was complex but was very easy to under. I’m a huge fan of dystopian when it comes under the sci fi genre is this is one of my favorites.

I enjoyed the characters in this book a lot! Delta is such an amazing fierce and brave character who reminds me of Katniss. She knows how to fight but is also very caring. There were amazing supporting character from the General’s HG and PowderTown. There is also romance in this book which is a friends to enemies to lovers. I enjoyed the slow burn romance with the very small love triangle.

This book had a lot of page turners and I was wowed. This was an action packed filled book that made you want to binge read it in one sitting. I had no problems with this book and didn’t even struggle with it. I think a lot of sci fi fans will love this book especially those who are fans of Marie Lu.

Note your normal dystopian love story! Great character development, and I loved the plot twist! I will definitely be ordering this one for my library.

Oooh this one was so close to being a 5 Star for me. It's a sort of Mad Max/Waterworld (without the Water) Mash-up with those Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian vibes I love. There's great world-building here, and the writing is on point. This was a "hooked me from the start, didn't put down, and stayed up all night reading" read for me. 

Welcome to a barren waste, where dust and magnetic storms reign supreme. Across this dry and desolate landscape you'll find scavengers, settlers, shanty towns, raiders, half buried oil tankers, kidnapping, slavery, evil Generals, Oracles, Wind Ships, and more! So many great settings and scenarios in this story, I loved all of them.

Enter our protagonist Delta who's back is branded with a map (that no one can read) to the Verdant (a legendary Green and thriving Eden), making her a target of all the above. After her settlement is destroyed and her family taken prisoner (while she is elsewhere) Delta must cross the wastes to try and save them. Of course nothing goes as planned and through various adventures, captures, and escapes she eventually determines to find a way to read the map on her back and locate the legendary Verdant (and save her people). The eventual "revelation" of Verdant is not totally unpredictable, but it's still definitely one of the cool factors and major pivot points of the story.
 
All in all this has a bit of a dark vibe, and like its ruthless environment, is harsh it's characters outlooks and actions, but she does do a good job of balancing that with sentimental moments. However, without being too spoilery I really did not like the death of Rune, and it separated me from Delta a bit. I get it, but I can't help it from a relational standpoint, I stopped rooting for her so hard. I really liked the interplay between Asher and Delta, even if her stubborn refusal to acknowledge things was a bit trying at times. Reed started out so interesting and then just sort of fell flat, despite all his duplicitous action and interesting plot points.  

Basically I loved it, but was a little disappointed in the ending. For all that happened in the first 3/4 of this book, this could have easily wrapped up after the discovery of Verdant, and left the big endgame for a part two duology or even a trilogy. As it was the last 1/4 felt too fast and the big finale ended too quickly in my opinion. I wanted more from this book, and rarely do I say that, it's a good thing. Love this world, hope the author decides to maybe explore a sequel :)

Great dystopian novel.  The antagonist is complex and deals with near-impossible choices.  It does tend to remind of a desert version of "Waterworld", however.  Reading it, I couldn't shake that feeling and it pulled me out of the story too many times for a 5-star review.

I tried and failed. Then tried and failed again. 

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. It was almost too dystopian. I struggled with Delta from minute 1- can people be ergonomic? If so, that’s Delta. And because I had absolutely no stock in Robocop and her would-be love interest and found her narration monotonous and detached, I had to give up. 3 stars because I don’t think I can fairly rate this. 

But the cover is absolutely magnificent.

Small communities struggle to survive in a future, devastated world wracked by killing dust storms. A dystopia shackled to a primitive religion full of superstitions, scavenging tech from a bygone era, using wilderness survival techniques. There are roving bands that kidnap the unsuspecting, a malicious dictator enslaving captive laborers, and children branded with unreadable maps to salvation. This is thoroughly engaging and well-told tale.

I was promised Mad Max: Fury Road and this book certainly delivered. Honestly, it delivered almost too exactly. If you've seen the movie, you know the general outline of the story already.

Delta lives with her family scrounging a living out of a dead and dying earth. Other vibes are present as well as MM:FR, such as Sand by Hugh Howey, and a tiny little bit of Dune. There's an evil man who presides over a too-powerful outpost. There's the mystery of the dystopian truth behind the origin myths and theology of Delta's people. There are strong themes of family and trust.

I would give this book a 3.5. It was enjoyable; I read it in one sitting and it certainly didn't lose my interest. I would have liked it more if the plot were a BIT less on the nose. I would have loved it if I had loved the characters, which I wanted to. I liked them, Delta especially, but I needed more in order to really invest.

I really enjoyed reading this book! In short, we follow the main character, Delta, as she goes on a journey across the wastelands she calls home to save her people and find the 'Verdant', a legendary place full of life, water, and plants. 

The characters are well developed, and the different ways each individual and 'town' have found to adapt to the wastes are really interesting to see. There's a lot of traveling between the various 'towns', but the author doesn't dwell too much on the hours of walking after the first journey so it doesn't get too repetitive, and the story flows well overall.  I also really appreciated that the main character was not infallible. Her decisions were not always the best or smartest decisions and other characters don't just go along with what she says just because she's the Main Character. Sometimes they have more information, or they have better perspective, or just think of a better idea than her, and while Delta struggles a little with everyone not just following her plans and her schedule sometimes, she's not so stubborn as to blind herself to their logic and stick to her own idea no matter what. She's headstrong but not unreasonable, and every character brings something new and different to the table. The villain was also pretty good and suitably scary, without seeming invincible or ridiculous.

Aside from that, the action is also well written and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. I was particularly pleasantly surprised by the 'big twist' towards the end, as well as how the consequences of it were handled by the characters. It was an unusual direction in which to take the characters and the story, and I think it worked quite well. 

Again, I just really enjoyed this book. It kept me invested and guessing the whole time, and had a really good major twist. My only real qualm was that one character felt a little like just an empty plot device. He may be only a minor character, but his existence had major effects on two major characters, and it felt a little like an easy way of getting those characters to work together. It took some potential depth away from one of those characters in particular.

Having really enjoyed Vengeance Road and Retribution Rails by the same author I was thrilled to be approved for an early copy of this (it's not out until April 21 - soz!). I was worried that it sounded a bit similar to those, and there are similarities - vengeance for one - but the characters and world building were altogether different. And I loved it. 

Bowman definitely has a distinct style, her worlds are stripped of any kind of comfort and luxury and generally ruled by a tyrannical, power-hungry leader, where the protagonists are fueled by two things, vengeance and hope.

In Dustborn, hope comes in the form of The Verdent, an Eden, or paradise which will solve all of their problems, but all they have to go on is a map they can't read and signs from the Gods. The religious subtext was something I found really interesting too. I believe that people do need hope, but to believe so completely in something you have no proof of is beyond my reasoning, personally, and the way this theme was explored in Dustborn gave it an added extra for me.  

Mad Max Vibes: Check!
Great protagonist: Check!
Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland: Check!
Water Wars: Check!

What more could you want? 

If you love Dystopian YA then Dustborn is definitely one to put on your preorder list!

4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.  

Delta of Dead River is a young woman living in a dry wasteland with her small pack of family.  Delta is forced to rescue her family from a power (and water) hungry general.  Delta is also trying to solve the secret map that was branded onto her back as a small child that is rumored to lead to a land of lushness and water. Delta is a fantastic character.  She is strong, smart, tough and loyal.  There were lots of very interesting ideas brought about and one huge twist I did not see coming.  

My favorite genre is post-apocalyptic, end of the world type, dystopian books and this was a blast to read.  This is my first book by Erin Bowman and I will definitely go back and read more of her books.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman was advertised as a dystopian Mad-Max like story and it sure did deliver!
The main character, Delta of Dead River and her friend Asher have a secret. As children they were marked with two halves of a map that supposedly lead the way to the Verdant. A lush paradise to be controlled by the first person to find it. 
Delta loves her "pack" fiercely and will do anything to protect them. So when they are captured and some slaughtered she has to travel with a newborn baby to try and save them. What she finds will not only change her world but of everyone alive. 
The characters in this book were strong and well written and the world building was fascinating with a surprise twist. I have no idea if there will be more to this story but I would certainly love for there to be!
Definitely for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction. It really reminded me of Blood Red Road which was also a great series to read with a western/madmax feel to it. I highly recommend this series.

#Dustborn #NetGalley
A great dystopian novel for teens. It is an action packed adventure from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and HMH publishing for the opportunity to read and review Dustborn by Erin Bowman.

This book was SO fun! It was pitched as Mad Max with a dash of The 100, and I absolutely think the bill fits. Delta is a tough character and the world is gritty but really interesting. I found myself reminded of the 2011 YA dystopian Blood Red Road when reading too. I thought the world building was a lot of fun and very fresh to what is being read today. I could not put the book down and dropped another book I was reading to finish this one. I will definitely be recommending this one. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cover! Fantastic job, HMH!

3.5/5 stars.  - To Be Released in April 2021.
Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

To quickly sum up the premise, Dustborn is Waterworld + Mad Max.  Water is limited, dust storms are constant, and the everyone lives with the hope of finding the Verdant - a lush, green, and prosperous area of the earth.   Delta of Dead River has been branded with a map to the Verdant on her back as a child and told never to show it to anyone.  

Dustborn had some excellent moments and an excellent twist, but unfortunately the rest of the novel was just okay.  The twist was the best thing about this book, and looking back the author did a great job planting hidden-in-sight clues.  Regardless, if you enjoy post-apocalyptic survival books, Mad Max, and/or Waterworld (which I have probably seen way too many times), this book will be right up your alley.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a dystopia that you don't realize is also kind of science fiction. Delta of Dead River (dead being the key term here) comes back from an effort to save her sister with a baby and no idea where her pack is. She sets out to search for them only to find that much of what she believes about her life may be wrong. As she confronts hard truths about her world, she also has to confront hard truths about herself and the people around her.  

This book had twists and turns that I did not see coming (and usually I see them coming). I loved how small details in the beginning ended up being important and helping wrap everything up in the end. Delta has to figure out what she believes and who she trusts and I think it also really looks into how we stand up for what we believe. 
I hope there is a second one! 

5/5 stars.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman was a page turner that will delight readers of all interest. Delta struggles to ensure the survival of herself and her pack in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. She holds out hope for a better life, and with the help of a map, searches for it against all odds. The novel is not only about survival, it is about community and hope for a better tomorrow, something we all need.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It was action packed with a unique setting and characters that were engaging. I loved how gruesome and unflinching Delta was. I loved learning about the lore and the "world building" of this solar-flair riddled Earth. I loved reading the descriptions of objects that were foreign to Delta and being like, oh that's a pair of binoculars or a bunker. The story was surprising and kept me guessing as I was reading as well. I will say that the one small drawback of this book was the length - it wasn't slow but it did feel like it could have been tightened up a little in a couple of places. However, the world building and characters are enough to make up for the length of the book. I also really appreciated that Erin Bowman was not afraid to get into the grittiness and darkness of this apocalyptic setting.

I accidentally posted the wrong review here. I'll be back when I finish the book and do it right this time. My apologies.

I was a major fan of Erin Bowman’s 2019 science fiction YA horror Contagion and I am delighted to say that she has followed it with an absolute corker in Dustborn. It has a superb setting; a world completely parched of water, where the rivers have tried up and the last surviving ‘packs’ of people scavenge to survive and follow the last traces of water. ‘Old Tech’ is mentioned frequently and is highly prized and sought after, the last functioning binoculars or compasses. Most survivors live in small groups and rely upon trading to survive, the main character is seventeen-year-old Delta of Dead River, whose ‘pack’ has shrunk drastically and is struggling to survive. Also, her sister is pregnant and in this very cruel world babies are a hinderance. With the baby coming soon, and her sister sick, Delta must try and find a medicine woman to try and help.

The setting of Dustborn is superb and you will be thirsty just reading it. It vibrates with echoes of both cult films Mad Max and Hardware and it will be easy to get behind leading character Delta who finds herself not only trying to survive but looking after a new-born baby. About a third of the way into the novel the story really opens up and Delta realises she has a much more complex part to play when she comes up against ‘The General’ who is also a very nasty piece of work. Delta also has an extensive and cryptic tattoo on her back which The General takes a very special interest in. I highly recommend this novel, which is an exciting blend of science fiction, action, strong characters in a very cleverly plotted post-apocalyptic thriller which teens should lap up. AGE 12+