Erin Bowman's Dustborn is a decent post-apocalyptic story about limited resources and the fight to control them. There is a fabulous twist in the middle of the story that you don't see coming and that drastically changes the narrative in a fun way. Meanwhile, Delta is a fantastic survivalist, reluctant to lead but knows the importance of loyalty and teamwork when it comes to survival. With good pacing, fun action, and a satisfactory ending, Dustborn is a solid story that is as entertaining as it is timely.

Delta of Dead River lives in a barren world and every day life become harder. Water is getting less by each day and there is no solution in sight. She also carries a secret: a map was engraved on her back - a map that should lead to a place filled with endless greens and water. Unfortunately, nobody is left who knows how to read such a map ...

After a journey through the wastes, Delta finds her whole pack missing and in an effort to find them, she is captured and turned over to The General. He takes a special interest in the map on her back and demands her to read it for him. If she does not comply, he is going to kill her pack - every third day, another member is going to suffer the consequences. However, Delta cannot give him something she does not have.

What makes "Dustborn" fantastic, is the world it plays in. I fell in love with in from the first page on. There are mentions of old world relicts and languages that have gotten lost. So you know that it must be related to "our" world. At the same time, nobody can read those words anymore, the knowledge got lost. Nobody even knows how the world became a desert wasteland.

I enjoyed this, I loved it even! It seemed realistic, after hundreds of years of fighting for survival, this seemingly unimportant knowledge would be no more. So while reading, you are not even sure how it came to be such a way. Was it a nuclear apocalypse? Or was it always this way? Who can tell ...

In fact, "Dustborn" is written in such a immersive way, that Bowman uses words specific to this world. The wastes are never a desert, having sex is never sex instead it is to roll with someone, there is old world tech, and when encountering such things there is never a name to it. However, the reader knows that this strange vehicle that doesn't seem to have an attachment for the horses is a car.

It is also easy to follow this new world, and even to understand the harshness of it. This is not a chummy place. Everyone has their own, mostly selfish, motives. However, there is room left for kindness. Old friends reunite, and some people show mercy and empathy. Some do not.

"Dustborn" raises a few issues in that regard: Is not everyone simply trying to survive? Does the General think it justifies his choices? Then Delta wonders who gave her to right to use the same violence against him. As well as are you allowed to take people's faith away? Is it the correct choice to keep the truth from them because they might not like it?

These questions do not find their answers because the Wastes are morally grey. And if the reader wants to ponder on those is left up to them. So is the story's ending. It ends on a happier and hopeful note but one that is fits the tone of the book. This is not a fairy-tale happy ending, where everyone leaves the battles unharmed.

Even though, it may sound like a contradiction, I enjoyed those aspects. I am a sucker for stories with such endings. In "Dustborn" it just seems right. People are going to carry scars from fighting such battles and so do these characters. Yet, they still smile and continue to live.

However, there is only one nitpick I have with "Dustborn". The story is told from Delta's point of view and yet, there are hardly any emotional reactions. Yes, she screams and shouts, and you can tell that sometimes she a little too stubborn and hot headed for her own good, (and we love her for it).

Yet, when she sees something absolutely tragic happen - which I won't go into detail for due to spoiler alert - there is hardly an emotional reaction at all. She just watches, and then ... it happens and then it is a next day.

There is only one time when we see her truly struggle and break down, and it does not last that long either. Personally, I wish that there would have been more inner turmoils and conflicts on her parts.

Otherwise, the book is well paced and I enjoyed reading it. I liked the world it painted alongside the conflicts. Delta is an enjoyable heroine to follow and I would recommend this novel to everyone who enjoys a bleak but cautiously hopeful post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

Post apocalyptic/ dystopian stories are one of my favourites. And this did not disappoint, I did get into a huge reading slump so it did take me longer than normal. I love Erin Bowman’s female vigilante characters that she puts out. She’s one of my will always read authors. I also liked the quest trope that happened. The love interest was cute and that other somewhat of a twist.
I’d recommend this story to everyone.

This book has been compared to Mad Max, and I think it delivered on that. The main character Delta lives in a desolate and violent place that I definitely wouldn’t survive in. I liked that the story didn’t shy away from the brutality of such a dystopian world. Delta has loved ones who are viciously killed, and she in turn has to kill to survive. Some of the characters fell flat for me, and I found myself liking the side characters and finding them more interesting than the main leads. But I guess that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some parts were also unrealistic to me, but I was willing to overlook them because the story was so entertaining. If you enjoy a great classic YA dystopian, this is for you.

Akin to Blood Red Road with elements of Mad Max, Dustborn by Erin Bowman is an exciting YA standalone that reminds me why I love the dystopian genre. Bowman wastes no time setting up the dire situations that are the stark reality in the dust-storm-ravaged wasteland that is our setting. The bleak world is reflected in our MC, Delta, whose capacity for hope is tested again and again as her losses mount and struggles abound. She is not an immediately likeable character, but her rough edges hold a kind of familiarity that many readers will recognize in themselves.

Asher, on the other hand, is a bright counterpoint to Delta’s pessimism. His unflinching faith and optimism help to keep the story moving when all hope seems lost. I loved Reed’s character as well. I was simultaneously drawn to him and wary of him. The possibility of betrayal haunts his every move.

There are so many ups and downs in Dustborn. It’s gritty, hopeful, tragic, and exciting. There’s violence, but there is also love. I could feel the desperation leaking from the pages. The twists kept me guessing and the characters kept the story alive. Fans of YA dystopian fiction are sure to enjoy this harrowing tale of faith, trust, survival, and family.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a young adult post apocalyptic fantasy (that's a lot of words) that centers around the main character - Delta of Dead River. Delta, her mother, and sister live in a desert village. For safety venturing far from the village is frowned upon due to the thick dust that surrounds the village. With survival becoming more and more difficult and a sister whose recent childbirth doesn't go right Delta journeys out to try to save her sister and the baby. I love the characters and the setting of this book - I wasn't bored and the story was full of action and kept me intrigued the entire way through.

I'll be honest, I loved this one so much I preordered it so I could get a signed copy from the author.

Delta is one of the chosen with a map branded on her back, and she’s always been told to hide it at all costs. It’s rumored to lead to the Verdant, a rumored paradise. When a man known as the General attacks her village, she knows it’s the map he seeks. She’ll have to team up with an untrustworthy childhood friend she thought dead to brave the wastelands and save her pack.

I mostly enjoyed this book. I didn’t know almost anything going into it beyond the author, but I liked the story. It dragged a tad at times, just for the sheer distance Delta covers without adequate water, and I was a little stressed out, invested in Delta and her pack, even when she’s headstrong, stubborn, and doesn’t make the best decisions. The romance definitely wasn’t a draw for me, but I liked that it was secondary to the story and seemed pretty a pretty natural progression.

I enjoyed the Mad Max type setting, and would be interested to revisit this world in the future to see where the characters go from here. It’s out now, and if you like books set in the desert and hot places in the heat of summer, definitely check this one out.

I really enjoyed how atmospheric this book was. The descriptions and the details really enable the reader to see and feel the wastes. I enjoyed this story's plot and the character's journey, she came a long way.

4.5 STARS

In the wastelands, survival is far from guaranteed.


Delta of Dead River has scraped out a life for herself alongside her pack, surviving dust storms, sweltering heat, and more. It's not comfortable living, but she's alive, and more than that, she still protects the map to the Verdant. It lies branded on her back, a secret poised to change the world as she knows it, if only she can decode its mysteries.

And soon, she must. When the General attacks her village and claims her pack as hostages, Delta must find a way to give him the information he wants about the Verdant. Failure means the death of her pack, all the way down to her newborn niece. Caught between her inability to read the map and her desperation to save everyone she has ever loved, Delta must brave everything the wastelands have to offer, if only to have a sliver of hope for survival.

For the future.


In Dustborn, atmosphere is everything.


I'm more than just impressed by the way Erin Bowman crafts Delta's world. In fact, I'm truly in awe. Every ounce of this book explodes with dust and scorching sun, evoking the wastelands with incredible vibrancy. For a world that constantly skirts around the brink of death, every description gives it startling life. Maybe there are long stretches of hard, baked earth, but there are also towns dotting the dry landscape, thin rivers trickling their way through the world. There are towering, claustrophobic canyons, and even in one location, a soaring waterfall majestic as it is lonely.

All in all, the atmospheric descriptions lend the landscape power. This world is as much a character as Delta, or Asher, or the General. The only difference is that its whims are unknowable, and its power unmovable. It grows, though. It grows and shifts, and at the end of the day, there is no ignoring how central it is to this book.


The characters, though, are as impressive as the atmosphere.


Truth be told, I'm in love with Delta of Dead River. How could I not be? She starts out cynical and hardened against this world's cruelties, and devastating loss only makes her guard her heart more fiercely.

But Delta also commits to giving anything to see her pack out of the General's clutches and into the safe, long-imagined embrace of the Verdant. Though it may sometimes go against her survival instincts, she learns when to trust, when to take risks. And more than that, she learns what kind of power she has, even as one lone girl in the wastelands. Dustborn is the book it is purely because of her steadfast determination, tempered by her realistic grief and fears and frustrations.

And I have to admit that I like Asher quite a bit, too. Though he seems deeply unlikeable at his proper introduction, the more we see of his open, hopeful heart, the easier it is to enjoy his presence on the pages. Sometimes, he even drives home how young some of these characters are. There are plenty of adult supporting characters in the book, but Asher in particular serves as a reminder that teens and young adults are poised to bear the burden of the wastelands. The power to direct the future is in their hands, no matter what power the General lays claim to.


Overall, Dustborn is a hit, and if you like dystopian YA or Mad Max: Fury Road, this one is going to belong on your shelf!


Really, I have to recommend it. Difficult to put down and triumphant in its resolution, it soars past a somewhat slow beginning to stick the landing with explosive force. I absolutely believe Fury Road fans will enjoy Dustborn, but I also think it will strike a chord with readers interested in stories of resilience in the face of monumental odds.

And luckily, you don't have to wait to read it! Dustborn is available on shelves already, just waiting for you to pick it up! Or, of course, request it from a library, if that's more your speed. Either way, I encourage you to give it a try, and see what kind of wonder you can discover despite the fury of the wastes.


CW: animal death, gore, violence (including gun violence), graphic injury, child death, human trafficking, slavery, drug use, implied torture, implied child abuse, loss of a loved one

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 10am EST on 5/19/21.]

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a young adult fantasy novel that was both intensely different to other stories I had read and also fairly gripping. The genre mix of post apocalyptic & western were a strong combo and conjured up elements of Westworld meets Mad Max.

The main character Delta is a badass. Plain and simple- the whole family dynamic and the way the story unfolds was a great way to develop them all as characters. The story never felt slow, it was jam packed with action from the very beginning and held my attention until the very last word. I would recommend this to anyone who likes action packed- fantasy/sci-fi western apocalyptic novel.

The whole concept of the novel was extremely original from the paradise that is apparently tattooed on the back of Delta's back to the Verdant itself and the relationships within the novel. I was extremely unsure of how it would play it out and it's very hard to keep me guessing. I was captivated by the world builidng, lore and the characters.

Some reader might find the high action elements of the story to be hard to follow, but I kept at a solid pace while reading it and I don't think I lost my way at all.

Thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this novel.

Very captivating and entertaining, for sure. This one was so different from anything I’ve read and it was exactly what I needed this week. Such a different concept but it was well thought out and whole some parts of the story moved in a faster pace then others, it was still easy to follow and read along.

I am sorry to say that this book was very hard for me to finish. I almost threw in the towel but I skimmed to the end. So many plot holes created an unclear world. I also could not stand Delta and the way she expected people to drop everything and help her on her impossible mission.. Convenience was also used to drive the plot.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of the movie Waterworld (1995), there’s a chance you’ll enjoy this book. Instead of being set in a world covered in one giant ocean, it’s set in one that has been reduced to dust. Water is a commodity nobody can afford to live without, and even though life is tough in the wastes, the people who have survived are even tougher.

A man named the General attacks Delta of Dead River’s pack while she’s away, looking for someone branded with a map to the Verdant, an oasis somewhere on the other side of the barren planet. In other words, they’re looking for her. She must save her pack without giving up her biggest bargaining chip–a way to salvation for the entire planet.

It’s difficult to express exactly how much I loved this book. Every chapter was a perfect puzzle piece that fit into the entire picture. Every detail comes full circle, and the ending is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. If you love dystopian novels and post-apocalyptic worlds, Dustborn by Erin Bowman deserves a prominent place on your bookshelf.

This was not the book for me. I struggled to read it, my brain latching onto any distraction presented, from reruns of How I Met Your Mother to webinars on the difference between legal advice and legal information to out-of-order envelopes. It just wasn’t engaging. And it should have been, because it’s basically Waterworld, but with the tweak that instead of everything being water, nothing is water. I like Waterworld, but somehow this story about a chosen one with a map to the promised land branded on their back does nothing for me. (About that, Am I the only one who thought naming a Chosen One character after the Greek letter 𝚫 which can be used to represent “change?” This grated on my nerves for the whole book.)

Storywise, Delta braves the dusty wasteland beyond Dead River to take her pregnant sister, Indie, to see Zuly, who may be able to help her when her pregnancy goes wrong. Unfortunately, Indie dies and Delta is left with her living baby, and by the time she gets home, everyone is dead or captured by raiders reporting to the General. There’s a vanished childhood friend who reappears to be a love interest, a rival community that refuses to get involved with fighting the General, a surprise half-brother, and lots of adventuring across deserts to get to the promised land. It’s not engaging, but it is predictable. I’m impressed with the survivalist research Bowman did for it, but that’s really about it.

Finally, I have a lot of issues with the way Bowman uses language in this book. Clearly she is trying to create an atmosphere with it, but she doesn’t do well: using both “pack” and “herd” to refer to the same group strikes me as very odd, given the very different sorts of animals which are described with those collective nouns. Perhaps “pack” refers to the group when it’s staying in one place, and “herd” is for when they’re moving? Eventually it settles consistently into “pack” but it was weird to see the variation. Also, it’s odd that they measure in “clicks,” and not “klicks,” and if this is meant to be the former USA it’s doubly odd, since most Americans don’t measure in klicks/kilometers. Finally, I get very tired of reading “binos” for binoculars.

Ultimately, this may be the book for someone, but it was definitely not the book for me, and I really regret requesting it from NetGalley, and spending so many hours struggling through it.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a young adult fantasy read that mixes in a lot of different elements. This one is a post apocalyptic with a western feel to it, think along the lines of Mad Max. Along with a sort of western dystopian setting you have a bit of sci fi and some romance making a good mix involved in the story.

Delta of Dead River is the main character in this dust covered fantasy world. Delta, her mother and sister live with their pack in a village in the desert. Venturing away is frowned upon as the thick dust encompasses all that surrounds the village but survival here is getting tougher and tougher each day. Delta’s sister however is pregnant and when things don’t go right with the birth Delta sets out to try to save her sister and her child.

I was quite taken with what the author created with these characters and setting immediately upon beginning to read this one which is sort of rare with me when it comes to fantasies these days. Most times picking up a chunky fantasy, which this one is over 400 pages, I will find myself bored as the stories seem to drag on instead of progressing any action. Thankfully Dustborn was full of action right from the start with a creative world that kept me focused on just what would come next for Delta and with one event after another with interesting elements all the way through I really enjoyed reading this story.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For those of you wondering, Dustborn is that book that kept me up until well after in the morning to finish it. I just could not put it down and I was so engrossed in this beautiful self-contained rollercoaster.
In Dustborn, Delta of Dead River knows that life on the wastes is never easy and she’s never had the faith in the gods that her pack has but her pack is her family and she would do anything for them. So when her pack is taken from her, Delta embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of the map on her back, the map that is supposed to lead to the Verdant: a paradise of green in a land of dwindling water and sandstorms. Along the way, she’s reunited with a former pack member she’s long thought dead and her old best friend, Asher, but ten years in the Wastes have hardened and changed him. Can Delta trust him? Can she trust anyone to help her save her pack?
I will say that Dustborn has a bit of a slower and then a bit of a brutal beginning filled with sand and loss as Bowman sketches out life on the Wastes for us but the foundation she lays is strong and builds into a really wonderful crescendo. This book is such a unique and wild ride. It is not an easy one and perhaps not for the faint of heart but has a lot to say about endurance and the trust and family we can find in each other. The worldbuilding and lore of Dustborn was utterly fascinating. I would love to see more adventures of Delta but at the same time, it’s a joy to see such a well-executed standalone.
There was just so much to love. Asher and Delta’s chemistry was so palpable and gosh was it hot but I also just became so charmed by Reed! And Harley! And the Prime and the Reaper! And just what a fascinating world and THAT PLOT TWIST! I am still not over that. Like my mind was sufficiently blown. Incredible.
Dustborn has it all, romance, plucky side characters, beautifully flawed and human cast, plot twists, post-apocalyptic western setting, found family, and falcons. I’m sure I’m missing something but I am having a lot of feelings about this book. The bottom line is please read this book y’all, I need more people to talk to about it with.

In a future world, plagued by dust storms and drought, Delta and her pack struggle to survive. She’s learned the hard way that it’s dangerous to trust anyone. When her pack is taken by the General, drugged, and forced to work the fields, she is determined to save them. The General says he will let them go free if she will read the map that was tattooed on her back long ago, a map that has been passed down through her family for generations. It is believed that the map shows how to get to the Verdant, a paradise where water is plentiful, and the General wants to get there first so he can take control. Delta wants to find the Verdant first and save her pack, but to do that she will have to find a way to trust someone who once betrayed her.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman takes place in an post-apocalyptic world where water is scarce and dust storms are deadly. Although there are similarities to the movie Waterworld, the author changes the setting and adds her own twist to keep it interesting. Although the story comes to a satisfactory conclusion, I would love to read more books set in this universe.

The world is a dystopian wasteland filled with dust and raging storms. The water is all but gone and the people follow the stories of the gods who say that there’s a special green oasis out there. Delta doesn’t believe in the gods anymore after half of her pack died. She’s carrying a map branded on her back that her pack believes leads to the special Verdent. Unfortunately Delta has a lot of challenges ahead of her in order to find salvation for those she loves.
Delta is a strong and stubborn protagonist attempting to deal with the horrible works around her all while trying to save her pack. I liked her and her adventures kept me hooked. I just wish there was more character development. There wasn’t much of a true bond or relationship between any of the characters. Liked the action but needed more from the characters. There was also a couple unanswered questions that are driving me crazy. Maybe there will be more books in this world.

I LOVED this book so much! Full of action and adventure as well as characters who have heart. Delta is my favorite type of heroine--hardened by the world she's grown up in and learning to trust those around her. Erin Bowman's books are FANTASTIC and this one was no different!

Dustborn by Erin Bowman exceeded any expectations I had for it! I was shocked at every turn of the page, nothing happened the way I expected it to!

The worldbuilding and settings are so simple yet so complicated. In each part of this book (divided into five parts) a new layer of the world is revealed, all while keeping it easy to understand. The map at the front is BEAUTIFUL and just how I envisioned while reading.

The plot was one of the most unpredictable I have ever read! I was engaged the whole time and read most of this in one sitting. I loved Bowman’s descriptions of the desolate desert plant!

The characters are so wonderful, the good ones at least.

I fell right into step with Delta, her story, her voice, and her passion. I related to her in that I needed someone to look up to and her selflessness.

“Women who inspire me to be more than I ever dreamed.”

Asher was one of the unexpected parts of this book. I had no clue when he would come into the story, but I was so glad he did.

The bad guy, he was bad. I know this sounds simple, but it takes a lot for me to consider someone bad. His story and how he ended up as the General was so genius and I savored every part of the big reveal and each break-taking scene he was in.

Dustborn felt a little slow at first, but once things picked up, they kept going! I really enjoyed the writing style, it was descriptive, but not overly so and flowed in a way that was easy to understand.

The small romance element of this was perfectly well done to just the right amount and was a slow burn in the best possible way.


This story was so much fun to follow and I will certainly be reading more of Bowman's novels!