Dustborn is set in the distant future in a world that is dying. The land is dust. Water is scarce. Oceans have all but dried up. Dust storms come frequently. Crops can’t grow. It’s a dystopia world at its finest.

While I normally hate making comparisons, I have to say this story is perfect for fans of The 100 – I adored both the book and tv series, and if you liked either, you’ll love the vibes of Dustborn too. I also had slight LOST vibes, (but I’m a huge LOST fan and will try and relate everything to it).

Delta, our main character, knows life isn’t easy and does what she must to protect her (community) pack, and vice verse, they protect her. As children, Delta and Asher, another member of her pack, both received maps branded into the skin of their backs, the only two in existence, which leads to a paradise in the wastelands – the only problem, nobody can read the map.

While Delta is traveling to bring her sick sister to the healer, her camp gets raided and she returns to find dead bodies and the rest of her meager pack gone. Stakes are high in The Wastes and death is a real thing. We see our first death of a known character within the first 30 pages, and more swiftly follows, showing nobody is safe in this book. Delta sets off north to find help and find out what happened to her pack, only to be reunited with Asher and then kidnapped herself.

The world building in Dustborn is incredibly detailed. The map at the beginning of the book is a great reference point which I found myself flipping back to constantly, as every place on that map is mentioned or visited throughout the novel. Bowman really knows how to build up a world and make it feel real – the setting & the struggle of surviving another day.

This is a story of whoever can find paradise first will prosper and be the victor – its a race to read the map in a long forgotten language of the Old World, and most people are willing to do anything to get that map. This is a survival story, but also a story of family, both by blood and by choice – those in your pack are your family.

Delta felt like a well developed character, growing throughout the story, and sometimes making stupid choices – but we all do when those we love are at stake. While I was annoyed at her choices at times, they always felt like genuine choices in the moment and I can’t fault that. A character that has flaws and uses both her heart and her head is a character I like to read about.

“And besides, I don’t need kids to live. I don’t need to settle down with [redacted] – or anybody – to have my life mean something.”

This was one of my favorite quotes – living isn’t just about surviving and making a family. Life can mean something without having a child or a partner, and that quote rings true in real life as well. Don’t go into this one expecting much romance, when you’re struggling to survive, there isn’t much time to find love.

The plot had me guessing until the very end and I truly didn’t know what would happen, and I love when a story and its characters keeps me guessing. For just over 400 pages, this book was fast paced and never wasted a moment – there was a lot of story to tell. I can see why Bowman wanted this book to be a series of at least two books and I can feel that especially towards the ending. The ending was satisfying but felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the story.

Overall I really enjoyed Dustborn and couldn’t put it down! This is one you want to have on your radar and check it out if you like dystopia settings.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a great gritty YA western post-apocalyptic standalone novel. I haven't read a lot from Bowman, but I was incredibly impressed by her YA western Vengeance Road series. I particularly enjoyed this genre mashup here. Bowman's world-building is outstanding. It's incredibly vivid and the character voices are quite unique. The author's writing style is easily able to pull you in right from the start and it doesn't let you go until the very end. If you're a fan of Mad Max and Vengeance Road, I have a feeling you'll enjoy this book as well.

This book felt like Contagion meets Blood Red Road and I liked it!

This world was definitely something that I tried numerous times to wrap my head around, thought that I had it figured out, and then was proven to be incorrect. The plot twist reveal wasn't exactly out of the blue but there were numerous details that took me by surprise and helped make the book all the more interesting.

I did feel some distance between myself and the characters a s found myself thinking that they would be a bit two-dimensional at times. Delta was very loyal to her lack and I admitted her adaptability, dedication, and ingenuity, but I also felt a disconnect with her emotions and vulnerabilities. I didn't feel her grief like I thought I would at some scenes, and never really felt any strong emotions from her at all now that I think of it.

The plot was fairly fast-paced and I'm glad that this was a standalone instead of being stretched into a duology or trilogy. There were lots of smaller conflicts that helped keep me interested while building up into the larger conflict. I liked the blend of sci-fi, politics, dystopia, western, and romance.

Overall this book was good. It incorporates many different genres and themes which was fun to see. The setting was really cool and I felt a lot of the conflict and struggle through the descriptions of the setting alone. The characters felt pretty flat and the plot was complex enough to keep me interested but not enough to give me that "I need to reread that, what just happened" moment.

Liked this one enough from the first 15% that I preordered a hardcopy. The Mad Max meets Book of Eli dystopian vibes are compelling. Bowman doesn't hesitate to show the grit and fatality of such a setting. Full review will be posted to goodreads when I finish reading the hardcopy.

So as soon as I read that there was a secret map branded on Delta’s back – I knew I was in. But I wasn’t expecting the ride that it took me on. I typically am weary going into stand-a-lone books because I read so many series, I wonder how an author is going to tie everything up in one book. But Bowman did an excellent job keeping my interest, not giving too many details, and giving a satisfying ending. The beginning of this book takes place at Dead River where Delta’s sister Indie goes into childbirth early, leaving Delta to take her to a healer. As Delta arrives back at her village, raiders had attacked it and now Delta must find her pack. Broken into 5 parts, this novel takes us on Delta’s journey to discover what her branded map means for Verdant (a supposed paradise) and how to get her pack back. At first it took me a bit to get into, the first part was slower for me but it set up the rest of the story. Once I reached part 2 I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down. The more and more I read, the harder and harder it became to put the book down. I loved the pacing and all of the situations Delta had to come through and if reading this book has proven anything to me, it’s that I definitely wouldn’t survive.

I absolutely loved following Delta in this book. Her character has some amazing development and even though it might not seem like it at some points, she definitely did. While Delta’s pack always came first, it was nice to see her start to take other people’s life into account for and making right decisions, even if it meant time. One of the biggest developments on Delta that I enjoyed was her relationship with Bay. I’m so glad that Bowman decided that Delta wasn’t going to have Bay with her the whole entire time and it was smart the way she went about this. The trust that Delta makes with other characters also is a huge growth that takes nearly the entire book to happen. In a world like this, it would definitely be hard to trust any outsiders but Delta is smart and I love her reasonings behind everything she had done in the book.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, Dustborn by Erin Bowman was a fantastic dystopian stand-a-lone novel. The story took the first part to establish itself which dragged a little for me but as the book continued, so did my investment. As I continued reading, I had a hard time putting the book down. The adventure Delta had to go on to save her pack was exciting and gritty. There was so much development and the book definitely had a cohesive ending. I would love to see more of what happened to Delta after everything but Bowman closed the book well that I feel satisfied with what was given. Delta was a great character to follow throughout and I could only hope I would be as brave and smart as her if that was my life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a apocalyptic/dystopian setting with secret maps and unbreakable bonds.

Set in a wasteland plagued by plenty of dangerous environmental phenomena, Dustborn tells the story of Delta of Dead River, who has always been told that she must keep the map branded on her back - the one that leads to a supposed paradise known as the Verdant - a secret. When her family is taken by raiders on the order of the General, Delta must find a way to decode the map and the way to the Verdant in order to save her family. I’ve said it before, but I really think that Erin Bowman has some excellent, unique concepts for her novels; Dustborn is certainly no exception! While I generally don’t read a lot of sci-fi, I’m happy to make an exception for Erin’s stories. Her storytelling has always worked for me as a reader, as she really manages to coax immersive worlds and thrilling plots into existence with her words. In the case of Dustborn, because I haven’t read a lot of literature quite like it, everything felt really fresh. I was thrilled and excited and terrified at turns, and the uncertainty of how Delta’s story would end (or how she would get out of the predicaments she finds herself in quite often in such an unforgiving world) kept me turning the pages as quickly as I possibly could. It was truly an adventurous sort of read, and I genuinely would recommend checking it out!

Readers looking for an exciting dystopian adventure with elements from classic westerns and science fiction epics can look no further than Erin Bowman’s young adult novel Dustborn. This tale of love, loss, and hope when there seems to be nothing to live for proves to keep readers interested from beginning to end.

Erin Bowman’s Dustborn follows the life of Delta of Dead River, a young woman living in the vast deserts known as “The Wastes”. Living in The Wastes proves difficult for the majority of the different packs who have no choice to live there—they constantly search for water, food, and have little to no shelter to shield themselves from the burning heat and raging storms. For Delta, life has been more difficult than others because the has a secret that could cost her her life—she was branded with a map to a paradise called The Verdant when she was a child alongside her best friend, Asher. The map to The Verdant is crucial to the survival of the people of The Wastes, but no one except for the rumoured “gods touched” can read it. When Delta’s village Dead River is attacked by men in dark clothing known as the Loyalists and Asher goes missing, Delta knows that she needs to find the leader of these men known as the General. With her pack gone and only the barren landscape in front of her, Delta sets out on a mission to find the General and save her family before it’s too late.

One of the strongest aspects of Dustborn are the characters that the reader is able to meet throughout the entirety of the novel. Delta is well-rounded, strong, and has a snarky sense of humour that keeps readers wondering what she could come up with next. In addition, with her resourcefulness in The Wastes and the sheer willpower Delta has in finding her family, readers know that Delta is a character to root for. Aside from Delta, another character that becomes one of the most enjoyable aspects of the novel is the old woman Harlie that Delta and Asher meet as they trek through The Wastes. Despite living completely on her own trying to complete a seemingly impossible invention, Harlie remains spunky and proves that she has a zest for life. Following Harlie on her journey with Delta and Asher proves to warm readers hearts and prove that old age does not mean that life’s adventures come to an end.

In addition to the well-rounded and interesting characters, another aspect that readers may enjoy is the emphasis on interpersonal relationships throughout the novel. From the very beginning, it is clear that family is the most important thing to Delta and many others in The Wastes—the people living in their packs are the only people they can truly trust. Delta’s bravery in fighting against the General and beating the odds in order to save her family even in her weakest moments shows readers that even when a person is at their lowest point they can still fight for what they believe in and the people they love.

While the majority of characters that the reader meets throughout the novel are well-rounded and memorable, there are a few who’s stories can be evolved more in order for the reader to fully understand them. Reed, one of the elite Loyalists that serve the general, is introduced as such and becomes an integral part to the effort to save Delta’s pack. However, there is not much backstory provided for Reed and this fact makes it difficult for readers to feel like they know him and can root for him. Additionally, it would be helpful for the General to have a backstory as well. All of the information that is provided to the reader about this dictator is that he is vicious, cunning, and willing to do anything in order to read the map and get to The Verdant. If the reader is able to learn more about the General, they would be able to understand just how evil this antagonist is.

Overall, Dustborn is a true adventure of the importance of family and the importance of trusting in one another. Delta is a fierce main character and through her valiant efforts and the relationships she makes throughout the novel, readers looking for a strong female lead will find what they are looking for.

Dustborn was an incredibly interesting and engaging story, with a setting not often approached in YA storytelling.

The future is a dust-ridden drought called the Wilds and is becoming increasingly harder to survive. After an attack on her village, Delta is left behind to find her family and venture beyond the home that she knows. On top of this, Delta carries a deadly secret on her back.

While this was not a story that blew me away, Dustborn is a YA story that holds its own, without relying on any of the tropes or typical storylines found in other books written for this audience. This alone is something that sets the book apart for me.

The setting is all-encompassing in this story and Bowman writes and illustrates it brilliantly.

Title: Dustborn
Author: Erin Bowman
Pub. Date: April 20, 2021
Rating: 5

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Erin’s books, and boy have I been missing out.
I remember reading Taken in one sitting, in preparation for meeting Erin at a writing workshop. I inhaled that book. I desperately need to read her other books – they’re sitting on my shelves. I’m ashamed I haven’t picked them up yet, but clearly, I’ve been missing out.
Big time.
This new release, Dustborn, is everything, and I mean everything I love about Dystopian novels. If we’re bring back Dystopian as a genre, I am here for it. Give me more SF in YA and I’ll be so incredibly happy.
I loved this book. I inhaled this book. I threw me a curve ball I did not expect but thoroughly and absolutely loved. In all the things that I *thought* could happen, could explain everything, that wasn’t on my list. I was shocked, and then giddy with excitement.

I loved the Mad Max vibe this book had – pure survival dystopian. And I can’t reiterate enough how much I love this genre. I will say that I was a tad concerned at the beginning, because a certain element is introduced, and to be honest, I’m not a fan of it in YA. But with that being said, I loved how Delta’s feelings changed, and instead of a burden, this element became what she fought for.

Delta was a fantastic character. The growth she goes through in this book is incredible. From where she starts out, unbelieving, jaded, judgmental and only wanting those she loves to survive, she finds new purpose. A new reason to live, to carve out a better life. She learns that for how hard life is, it can always be harder. Her love and desire to protect the ones she claims as family is the source of her drive, her conviction.

The last thing she ever expected to find on her journey, was the boy she left behind years ago.

I loved Asher. The way he’s introduced, phew. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot. I want to say he’s the start of Delta’s misfortune, but let’s be real, her misfortune started way earlier than that. He was just a large bump in the road that knocked her for a loop.
But their relationship, how they complement each other’s personalities, is just so good. They’re in high stress, high stakes situations all the time, so their outbursts make sense. They feel realistic. They’re two teenagers, fighting for the people being hurt by those who claimed the power to lord themselves over others. They’re fighting for a chance at surviving, at having a future worth something. They’re bound to make mistakes, let emotions run too hot, and too high.
I loved that even though we only get snippets of their past, their reuniting and subsequent growing feelings don’t feel forced or even insta-love-y. It just feels like the next natural step – like, we’d spent countless of pages watching them grow together, and fall for each other.

I just loved them so much and their journey. Erin did a fantastic job at writing two characters who are just trying to survive in a world that’s seemingly designed to kill them.

And speak of the world – I mention that it had a Mad Max vibe to it. It truly does. It’s a desolate, dust filled planet. There are freak sand storms, and other storms. The atmosphere and terrain feel very wild west. But it also feels wholly unique – especially with the reveal that happens towards the end – the truth that Delta learns. That truth really flipped everything I thought I knew on it’s head. It made me view the world in a whole new light, and I loved it. Erin created something truly amazing.

I really, really hope that this gets expanded into a series. I loved that this book ended in a satisfying way but left enough open that there could be more. I need there to be more. I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters, this world. I feel so starved for Dystopian YA, that I just want more from authors who do it so flawlessly.

A Western about a girl trying to save her family in a world full of dust squalls and geomagnetic storms? Sounds like my kind of book! 🌄

Delta of Dead River needs to find the mystical paradise called the Verdant to save her family, but all she has is an unreadable map branded into her back. The Wastes are treacherous, even with her childhood friend Asher by her side. Who can she trust to help her? And what if the Verdant isn’t what everyone says it is?

This is definitely my kind of book. Bowman builds a harsh, dusty world—the perfect setting for Delta’s quest for truth and salvation. I could feel the dust at the back of my throat and the sun beating down on my face as I read.

Delta matches the setting in that she’s a gritty character, and Bowman doesn’t shy away from loss and violence in this story. Delta has been hardened by her life, but she has so much compassion as well that drives her on. She’s a tough woman, and I rooted for her even when I didn’t agree with her actions. Delta’s struggles and her growth are at the heart of this story, and I couldn’t put it down.

Bowman also explores faith in unexpected ways as Delta pieces together what’s going on. I won’t go into detail here, but Bowman’s depiction of faith and hope is intriguing.

Dustborn is a fast-paced, tense, emotional ride, and I loved every minute of it.

This is another great epic story from Erin Bowman. I loved the world building that she was able to create with this one. She turned the harsh landscape and raging sands into a character of their own and that added a lot to the story. I liked the main character but as is typical of Bowman's books the story was far more about the plot than the characters. There were a few slow points, and the twists were a little predictable but overall it was a great read.

First off, let's talk about how gorgeous the cover for Dustborn is. I love all of the oranges and and blacks and the underlying blue shadows and the highlights of blue and the blue on the spine. It all comes together into a striking cover and dust jacket that really captures the essence of the setting of this book. And now, let's talk about that setting- I've read a lot of postapocalyptic books and what I liked most about this world was that even without the map that was provided (which, let's be real, was an incredible map), you could really picture where everything was and how it looked. I especially liked how Bowman described the Barrel as thin and narrow, like it was the barrel of a rifle. I really liked Delta and how she stuck to her beliefs no matter who questioned her or how hard things got. I also liked how she was able to reconnect with Asher and even though she didn't trust him at first, they were able to work together. The secrets held at the Verdant were definitely not what I expected, but I really liked the way that Delta was able to take that information and use it to make allies to work towards what she wanted. She showed a lot of resilience and that was super cool. Pacing wise, the first half was a lot slower than the second half, which is why Dustborn was a 4 star instead of a 5, but I still think that it's and incredible read and I highly recommend it to anyone. You won't be disappointed while reading Delta's story!

[Review will be posted on 4/28/21.]

Dustborn is everything I wanted it to be and will be a book I shove lovingly to everyone I know and I'm not even remotely sorry about it. Dustborn is a must-read for fans of Mad Max and and stories of humanity's hopeful perseverance in the face of adversity. Honestly, how am I supposed to review such an amazing book?

"The northern sky is alight with ribbons of green and white, dancing and twining above the darkening horizon. A silent storm is coming."

Fast-paced and instantly engaging, Dustborn gripped me with its strong and vivid opening that highlights the dangerous postapocalyptic setting. Bowman manages to balance a quick pace with beautifully descriptive language while effortlessly weaving worldbuilding into the narrative. Expertly plotted and paced, the book starts out running and never loses steam. Light on technology so this is a book that'll appeal to a wide audience there isn't a lot of worldbuilding beyond the setting (what happened to this planet), the beliefs of the Wastes (the stories passed down of gods and history), and the dangers of life in the Wastes (if the planet won't kill you, the raiders probably will).

"'Someday you too will die, and a new soul will take your place. The cycle continues. Even in these wastelands, where our gods have abandoned us, life will not cease."

Don't let the high octane pace fool you: there's plenty of time for the reader to catch their breath. It's a book with high stakes and a lot of death. Dustborn is set in a dangerous world and I was on pins and needles the whole time worrying about the characters (who I loved). Who can we trust?! I don't know but I am anxious about it. Delta has so much love and devotion for her pack, as well as a sense of duty which saddles her with the weight of the world. This coupled with her teenaged impetuous makes for a dogged pursuit of rescuing her loved ones, and I really appreciated her growth.

"Do not carry the mistakes of others as though they are your own. Life is hard enough already."

Delta and her decision-making captures the impulsive optimism of teenagers not thinking things through; I like that she acts like a teenager, but learns from the mistakes of her impulsiveness to share the burden with those she trusts. So often in YA the world is saved by the impetuousness of teenaged characters, but I appreciate how Bowman remains true to her YA character's actions but also tempers the 'run in guns a-blazin' with the pragmatic and careful planning of others. Delta's dogged and narrow-minded pursuit of her pack isn't begrudged on, it's understood, but the people around her are also point out flaws in her plan and troubleshoot with her. It's a far cry from either ignoring the opinions of teenagers because "they don't know better" or having an entire system fall.

"I see now that the wastes turn us brutish and short-sided. All any of us try to do is survive, and that means doing what feels right from moment to moment. I did what I had to. You did the same."

I love how the book touches on morality in times of crisis and cultural devastation. How the water gets muddied between right and wrong solely based on whether or not you are the one making the choice and the duality of those choices. Inevitably societies in a postapocalyptic setting will fall towards utilitarianism - good is based on if it will help the majority of people (the greater good), but our characters do grapple with this throughout the text in various scenarios: morality shifts depending on the situation at hand.

"'And besides, I don't need kids to live. I don't need to settle down with [redacted] - or anybody - to have my life mean something.'"

Can I just say THANK YOU for having representation for women not wanting to have children?! There's nothing wrong with procreating but it's frustrating that it's the default in our society, a desire to not have children is looked at as a defect. More of this, please. Periods are also present and discussed, as well as consent.

"I like to believe that we are more than the actions of our past."

For those of you who enjoyed Goddess in the Machine but found the linguistics aspect of it challenging or unnecessary, this is a great book for you! So much of this book in setting and tone remind me of Goddess but the narrative isn't bogged down by trying to decipher words in text. There are really only two: plas (plastic) and binos (binoculars), and they are super easy to understand based on the content clues.

"Distrusting is how we survive in this world. But to move beyond surviving - to truly live - we need to trust each other."

All in all, Dustborn is top tier science fiction and I can't recommend it enough. Bowman crafted a spellbinding story of hope, perseverance, and love for your chosen family (pack) while touching on compelling philosophical themes if you want to think about them. This is one of my favorite books ever and solidifies Erin Bowman's status on my insta-buy list!

Content warnings: amputation, animal death (pg. 275-278), blood, death, death during childbirth, forced labor, imprisonment, loss of a parent (on page), memory loss (drugging), murder, underage drinking, violence, war

eARC and finished copy provided by the publisher for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from a finished copy and subject to change upon final publication.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Delta of Dead River lives in a world that is slowly dying. For those like her who live in the wastelands, lack of water and food makes life progressively harder and harder as resources dwindle. Infants and young children are seen as a drain on resources, and often the fathers of those children roam the land as traders rather that staying in the same community as their children.


Delta protects a secret handed down from generation to generation that makes her the target of a would be dictator who wants to use that secret to solidify his own power and keep the benefits of the secret for his own benefit. The rest of the story involves how Delta and her childhood friend Asher first try to escape from the dictator, and then how they attempt to turn the tables on him and claim the power of the secret for their own.

I gave Dustborn four stars on Goodreads, mainly because it started out a bit slow. Once the plot picked up speed, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Everything about this book is amazing, from the cover to the story. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is very much a fiction read for those who love the Mad Max dystopian concept, with the world as we know it destroyed, water and resources scarce, and a man who thinks he deserves all the power controlling everything. Wow this was dark and rough, full of heartbreak and challenges including death and torture, dehydration, kidnapping, slavery, drugging... Keep in mind the story was interesting and unique, this was just a hard dense read- not a light fluffy book you can pick up for a relaxing day. There were tons of interesting twists, both positive and others heart-wrenching (and super realistic for the story) to keep the plot moving forward and enough action to please most any reader. And yes there was a romance as well, but not over the top or the main focus of the book.

I really like the fact that this one book is a complete story, I feel like the world is so full of series (which are fine when you know going into the book that there will be more) but this was wonderful in the way the author created a complete alternate world, characters and plot and confined in within this one book. I got a pretty satisfying conclusion (that was moderately rushed but left no open endings) and I don't feel disappointed in the end result or the ride. I think it takes a lot of skill to build a whole world in a single book and the author made it work

Okay so Dustborn is a "Shannon" book, no question. And just when I thought it couldn't be any more "me", it did. So I'll preface with this: If this sounds up your alley, it quite likely will be wholly satisfying.

Here's the thing: I was pretty sure, as I started reading, that it was going to be a sort of "run of the mill" dystopian situation. I was enjoying the characters and the world, but I thought I knew how things were going to turn out. And without giving anything away, I am going to tell you this: I thought I knew, but I had no idea. And that is the most delightful reading experience for me, frankly.

As it was, I really enjoyed Delta's journey. I am a sucker for a survival trip, and Delta certainly had some of those. The world she lived in was so bleak, so desolate, so dry, it was quite a miracle she'd survived thus far. The author does a phenomenal job of nailing the atmosphere and making the reader feel how rough things are. And of course, not only is the world trying to kill her and her people, other humans are too.

Because look, dire straights will bring out either the best or the worst in people. Delta has seen both, frankly. And as such, she doesn't know if there is anyone she can trust. She has a lot of things to figure out, with pretty much zero good choices remaining. And when she does start to figure things out... well, the answers are much, much more than she bargained for.

While the first half of this book is solid, it was the second half that blew my mind. And the ending? It's one of those perfect ::chef's kiss:: endings that feels both realistic, yet wholly satisfying. I wish I could tell you more about the book, but I am so desperate for you to go into it as blind as I was, and hopefully as thrilled by the outcome as I was!

Bottom Line: A strong story with a fabulous main character that only gets better (and more exciting) as it goes along!

I was given an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This is a TRUE post-apocalyptic novel! Many novels label themselves as such, however, this really is. I can appreciate the vagueness of the planet too where we could assume that this may have been Earth, but you never really know... This is definitely a Mad Max (whether original, Thunderdome or new...) based sitaution not only with the different groups and how they live, but with the visual descriptions of things as well.

In this novel we follow Delta of Dead River and her pack as the land they are on is becoming more dire and other packs/hunters around them are getting closer. Delta's pack has always held a map to the elusive Verdant, the perfect, green wonderland. The map is passed down to two people in every generation and it is an honor and a terrifying situation to be chosen. As things begin to go wrong for Delta she must decide whether or not she wants to figure out how to read the map to brave the journey and find the dreamland that could save them all.

This was an action packed standalone novel and I quite enjoyed it. I also REALLY appreciated that it was a standalone. The ending felt a little bit rushed and 'let's tie this up with a pretty bow' but otherwise, rather good!

I haven't really read Erin Bownman's early novels, but the summary of this novel appealed to me.

We feel the influence of Mad Max in this book, the deserted world, dust storms, the rule of the strongest to survive is a universe that can be scary in view of the actual climate change because we know that some regions will transform into this kind of huge desert. I really enjoyed immersing myself in this world which remains simple but effective.

Delta our heroine is a good MC, she has a great sense of family and her core motivation is truly her clan and her people. I found her rather thoughtful and mature, she knew how to make the right decisions at the right time in this book.

For the plot, everything is fluid unfortunately the story really gives the impression of déjà vu, a deserted world, the quest for an El Dorado to save humanity are strings that we have already seen several times and this novel did not manage to add an original touch to what has already been done.

In summary, a nice read but nothing new.

Erin Bowman can paint one h*ll of a scene. She has a talent for that. Within the first few pages of Dustborn, you can almost feel the crust of salt on your skin, the fine grit of sand, the unrelenting heat. Bowman has the gift of vivid world building, which is especially remarkable in a standalone. Dustborn is the story of Delta of Dead River, and her pack, who are just trying to survive in a wasteland of little food and dwindling water. Two children in each generation are branded with a map, said to lead to the last green paradise on earth. Delta herself bears this map on her back, but it's worse than useless to her, because no one knows how to read it, and she suspects it's the reason her pack has been taken by raiders. Delta will stop at nothing to get them back.

I really enjoyed this mashup of western/sci-fi/dystopian goodness. Delta was a great character, and I could really see her growth, and how she acquired empathy through her journey. There were some fascinating side characters I would have loved to spend more time with, and I think that time itself was my one real complaint. Bowman has shown an excellence with duologies, and Dustborn would have been another fabulous example. I know that she planned it that way initially, so I still give her kudos for doing so much in so little space. If you like richness of detail, touching character arcs, and a rip-roaring plot, then this dystopian spaghetti western romp should prove right up your alley. I found it fun and fantastical. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's and Netgalley for the chance to review this advance copy.