I couldn't finish this. It didn't make sense or wasn't believable on may levels: not the characters, not the world (or the spaces), not the travel, not the character relationships.

I'll preface my two-star review with the comment that I thought this book was okay, and I would definitely recommend it to some YA audiences. Its dusty, gritty, and desert aesthetic is something I'm always drawn to in a novel. With great excitement, I picked up this book . There's a few common tropes you'd find in any gritty YA book, and I typically forgive those. However, as I continued through the story, there seemed to be more and more plot hole questions I never found an answer to. Characters seemingly make random decisions around the main character with not much explanation, and it propels the main character forward, and that started to dampen my immersion in the story. Towards the end, there's an (in my opinion) unnecessary scene of animal cruelty and death, and it really soured how I looked at the rest of the book. I figured it's probably to show how desperate and rash the main character is in that moment of the story, but I think there are better ways to show it. However, by that point, I was hooked enough in the setting and worldbuilding itself that I wanted to know how the story ended. I didn't completely dislike this book, and my favorite part of this novel was the aesthetic and the world building, and I was very interested in the mystery that the main characters unravel throughout the novel, even if it felt a bit predictable at times. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a post-apocalyptic YA survival book.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review, this review will be posted on Goodreads and shared on my Twitter.

Delta has just lost her sister to childbirth and is struggling to care for the daughter left behind when she discovers that her village has been burned and her family taken. She sets out with the baby and is captured to be sold as a slave. She is about to be beaten because she resisted the baby being taken when it is discovered she has marks branded on her back. She has always been told to show it to no one. Now her secret is out and she has to get away. Will Delta be able to decipher the marks and save the people from her village? Is there anyone that Delta can trust as she seeks these answers?

Dustborn is a stand-alone post-apocalyptic adventure. This story pulled me in right away and I was invested in Delta and the world she lived in. Readers will love the back story that slowly unfolds and the strong female protagonist is a force to be reckoned with. Bowman weaved tidbits of the answer throughout the storyline and when Delta discovers the truth, most readers will have an a-ha moment with her. I loved that the story is complete and I believe that readers will be satisfied with how everything ended.

CW: death during childbirth

Ahhhh Dustborn was so freaking good! Though I knew what I was getting into with a book by Erin Bowman. Dustborn was exactly what I was after. A bit of Fury Road, a bit of The 100 (esp S2), and a whole lot of post apoc sci-fi Western goodness. Throw in a childhood friend (Asher) whose motivations are suspect and I'm hooked.

The world building is epic-level and, for me, steals the show: brutal and harrowing, and quite possibly my favorite thing about the book. That, and Delta, our protagonist. Her sister dies during childbirth, and Delta must now care for the kid. Needless to say she has it rough (of course she does >> see previous bit about the unforgiving world) but she's a fighter, even when the ever-rising stakes are against her. I liked Delta from the start.

A fun read with great twists and a satisfying ending. 4 stars!

This is a story about Delta, a girl struggling to make it on the wastes, where nothing grows and water is scarce. It's a story about how she loses everything. About how she goes in search of what she's lost and ends up finding so many unexpected things. 

Dustborn is full of action and emotion, and I was glued to my e-reader from start to finish. Bowman does not pull any punches, and she doesn't force Delta into any boxes. Our protagonist is strong but fallible, motivated but sometimes hopeless, and the world Bowman built for her story is vivid and unforgiving. 

This book gave me Life L1k3 vibes, with just a hint of Hall of Smoke, but the story is entirely its own. Don't miss this one!

Dustborn is a young adult post-apocalyptic story where clans scrape for survival in a water-starved world.

Delta of Dead River is supposed to hold the key to locating a water-filled paradise that will lead to salvation. Powerful people want to use her for their own ends but she's most concerned with saving her clan at any cost. The secret of paradise isn't actually what anyone had expected.

The world itself is probably the shining light of this book; it's well developed and easy to visualize. The politics are pretty straight-forward. It is kind of run-of-the-mill post apocalyptic with Walking Dead vibes (minus the zombies, plus devastating magnetic geostorms). Plots go in unexpected directions. I wanted more backstory to a lot of the bigger characters, especially the villains.

Overall, this is a fun concept with an interesting world but it could use some extra character development to make it truly come together. Still enjoyed it though.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reminiscent of Mad Max and Star Wars; The Force Awakens, Dustborn is a epic adventure set in the backdrop of towering mesa, sand storms, and the blistering sun.

With an ancient map to a fabled paradise branded on her back, Dustborn tells the story of Delta, a girl trying to survive in the desolate desert wasteland she calls home. That is until the general discovers Delta may hold the key to the paradise he so desperately yearns for he takes her family and pack hostage and gives Delta an ultimatum. Learn how to read the map and lead me to it’s paradise, or your whole pack will die. With the lives of others on her shoulders, Delta sets off on her adventure across the wastes to try and discover a secret that has marked her skin her whole life and may be the only way to save those she loves.

I really enjoyed reading this one so let’s start with what I enjoyed about this. What I loved most about this book and what I think really leaves a lasting impression is the setting. Erin Bowman has really gone all out to bring this desert land to life. From all the different locations we visit in the book, each one jumps off the page and really feels alive. I could visualise so clearly the natural landscapes of sun bleached rock formations, sand dunes and ramshackle towns. The concept of this story was also really good. I loved the idea of what we think of as modern day technology is actually old relics to our characters within this novel. I loved following Delta on her mission to find out the secret to the fabled paradise and having to cross such a barren and dangerous landscape.

The book started out with really good pacing and I was really along for the ride in the first 100 pages or so. But once I hit the romance it really started to slow down for me as I feel like the romance halted the story just so it could be fitted into the plot line. I actually found Delta a much more engaging character at the start of the book when she was really adrift on her own. I think her character held more presence compared to when more characters kept getting introduced which is where hers seemed to take a back seat. That brings me to the point of that I wish we had more character development which I guess could happen in a sequel if there is one planned. I also did find the ending a bit disappointing after going on such an adventure to get an end result that just didn’t pay off for me.

Overall though I really did enjoy reading this. It was a fun, quick read that really immerses into a different and daring world. If you are looking for an adventure book with a strong female lead, this is definitely worth a go.

I love the concept and the author, however Dustborn took me about 69 pages to really start getting attached to the story. The writing was well done but there was a disconnect between the reader and the characters.

Overall I enjoyed the book but wouldn't call it phenomenal.. I would give it 3.5 stars for writing and concept.

Dustborn is a post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel that will appeal to readers who loved The 100 and novels such as Blood Red Road by Moira Young.
In my case, I enjoyed this book but I never managed to “fall in love” with it.
The aspect of the novel that works the best for me is the setting. You can almost feel the dust in your mouth as you read, the fatigue from walking through the desert… I would even say that the sandstorms felt scarier than the villain of the book. You can fight people, but you can’t do anything against the wrath of the desert.
I usually enjoy books that involve travelling, especially if it is done by foot and facing all sorts of dangers. I got this in Duststorm and then some more, up to the point when it started to be maybe too much. After a while, having reached the second half of the novel, I thought I’d already had enough travelling through the desert, from one location to another.
I also had some troubles to fully connect with the characters. Delta is one of those ruthless and bold protagonists who will do anything that’s necessary to make sure she and her loved ones survive. But in some occasions I wasn’t able to understand her reactions and her behavior. The secondary characters felt like mere devices to help the plot move on most of the time, something that was very noticeable with the villain. He seemed interesting (in a devious, evil way) and I would have loved to know more about him, but that never happened.
My expectances were higher too with the romance, but the novel doesn’t focus too much on it. This will be disappointing for some people, like myself, but a bonus for others who may be sick of action books focusing on romantic aspects.
Apart from the setting, I really enjoyed the “surprise”. I am not going to say much more but I wasn’t expecting it and I thought it was great.
All in all, if you are looking for a survival novel with some moments of action and a kick-ass main character, you will probably enjoy Dustborn.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman is a must-read!!

Delta is on a life or death mission to find the Verdant - an oasis amidst their dry world of sand and dust. But to find the Verdant, she will first need to learn how to read the map branded on her back - a map she does not understand and no one is supposed to see. When she is suddenly reunited with her old friend Asher, he may be the only one who can help her, but can she really trust him?

Dustborn has the awesome feel of a dystopian/western/sci-fi and is full of action. I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely loved this book. My one complaint? That this is a stand-alone novel! Erin Bowman created such an interesting world, I wanted to know more about what happened before and after everything.

Read this book, you won't regret it!

I am a total sucker for a good dystopia novel and a lot of YA authors have gotten this genre down to an art form. I had high hopes for Dustburn after reading the book description, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. It was a quick and easy read, but didn’t have much depth. It suffered from a lot of YA tropes that made it feel like something I’ve already read dozens of times. There was a small twist that helped me swallow some of the early world building, but only made up for some of the frustration I had with the story. I am an older YA fan, so maybe I’m not the fan base this story was aiming for. Overall, it was an entertaining and light read, but nothing I would be looking to reread in the future.

I absolutely adored this book! It's a standalone and took me out of a small reading slump. I felt captivated by the characters and the world from beginning to end. I don't usually read from this genre but this book made me want to venture more into the genre and the author's other works!

This was a Mad Max/The 100 mashup that I cannot wait to recommend to the teens in my library. Top-notch world-building, high stakes, and a heroine I was rooting for the whole way. This is a stand-alone but I wouldn't say no to more books set in this world!

Honestly, Erin Bowman is an auto-buy author for me, so I didn’t even read the synopsis before requesting this from NetGalley. Dustborn is a fantastic YA, sci-fi/survivalist standalone. Yes, you read that right...STANDALONE! This author knows how to tell a story. I could easily imagine what everything looked like because the settings were so richly described. And oh my goodness, I was so thirsty the entire time I was reading. The plot starts moving right away and works it’s way to a crescendo at the end. I love how the mystery was revealed piece by piece, and I was so shocked at the final reveal. But looking back, there were little hints throughout the story. Anyway, I loved this story and highly recommend it.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman

I feel that good YA dystopian novels have been hard to come by over the last few years. It seems that since the days of The Hunger Games and Divergent, dystopia has been very few and far between. I think perhaps due to the increasing popularity of YA fantasy. I have been looking for a good post-apocalyptic read for a while and I think I have found it in Dustborn.

In a world that is just dust and bone, many people search for a new world, one that is gods blessed with an abundant source of food and water, they call this place the Verdant. However, a man known as the General will do whatever it takes to find the Verdant, so he can have ultimate control over the entire population. He is searching for a map, one he knows will help him locate the elusive place. During his search, he pillages, kills and burn villages to the ground. One horrid day, Delta the main protagonist leaves her village to help save her sister, however, when she returns her pack has been kidnapped and those who wouldn't go, murdered. Delta has a rising suspicion that the General is after her in particular, as on her back she holds a deadly secret, a map passed down from generations. In a bid to save her pack from the murderous General, Delta embarks on a mission to find the General and get her pack back.

Although all is not what it seems, and Delta may be in over her head.

If you enjoy YA dystopian then I would recommend this book to you. It has a Mad Max feel to it and I loved that about it.

<i>I received an e-arc of this book, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, in exchange for me leaving an honest review.</i>

<b>3/3,5 stars</b>
Dustborn was overall a fun and fast paced read from beginning till end. I really enjoyed everything I’ve read, but I also feel that this is a story that could’ve been developed more on some parts, in my honest opinion, especially seeing it’s a standalone. I remain hopeful that the author decides to venture out more into this world by writing a sequel or maybe a spin-off sometime in the future, because it has so much more promise and I feel like this was just the tip of the iceberg. I wish for more development on basically every front and it just doesn’t feel finished yet.

That having said… The main character reminds me a bit of Rey from Star Wars and I loved that so much. She’s feisty, fierce, brave and loyal; fighting for everything and everyone she loves. The minor characters were a fun addition but again; a lot of characters remained too superficial to my taste and I think it would’ve been better if the book was thicker (and with over 400 pages it's not like it's a slim book, but it does feel that way when looking at how some elements remain a bit underdeveloped) or if it would’ve become a duology or something like that. It now made me not As attached to most characters as I would’ve liked.

The dystopian setting is really interesting. Nothing you haven’t seen before, but the author still created a uniquely ‘vibe’ to it all and I loved exploring it all alongside Delta.

There’s enough story present to keep you wanting to finish the book, there’s enough action present, a bit of romance and a writing style that makes this book a fast paced read. It was a fun book to read in between, but not one that really stands out to me. That’s not a bad thing perse of course, seeing it was still enjoyable.

<b>Conclusion:</b>
It was a fun read, but I do think a lot of elements remain too superficial/underdeveloped and that’s just a shame with a story that has a lot of promise. I think it’s a fun one to pick up if you like dystopian stories that have interesting settings, a set of characters that has much promise, and a fair bit of action and adventure. If the synopsis speaks to you, I’d definitely recommend to give this one a go and find out what you’ll think of it yourself.

Dustborn by Erin Bowman gave me everything I was looking for in a Dystopian YA novel! Battles and love interests, death and new life! This book had soo much behind it and I loved every page within!

A well paced plot meets exciting western adventure with hints of sci-fi and post-apocalypse, the story of Delta of Dead River kept me on my toes throughout. Due to the plot, it's a real page turner and I found it hard to put down.

The world building was my favourite aspect of this novel. In a desert environment with no water but remnants of a world before, the landscaping tells as much of a story as Delta. The sands offer a trial of survival while also showcasing the things that are buried, meant to be uncovered. Giving hints of locations without over describing them also enables the reader's imagination to run wild with how this lifeless landscape might look and the danger Delta finds herself in.

Because, for much of the book, Delta is in a great deal of danger. From the moment she leaves her pack at Dead River to take her sister for medical aid in childbirth, Delta knows the peril both her world and the people in it possess over her. Then, to return with her niece and find her family abducted, Delta must go through much more strife to get them back. As the blurb suggests, the novel does provide on that Mad Max revenge plotting - Delta is quite ruthless at times. While I wouldn't say Delta and the rest of the cast of characters develop greatly, each fulfil a necessary role to progress the story.

Particular highlights for me were the use of technology and repurposing of old tech in a new light; the discussion of familial bonds and whether blood counts for everything; and the pondering upon faith - in gods and ourselves. Bowman does so much to address these concepts seamlessly within dialogue and descriptions that, by the end of the novel, there has been far more to this story than just a revenge plot. That, for me, is what makes this stand out as a novel unlike anything I've read for a long time.

In summary, if you're looking for a bildungsroman / character heavy novel, this isn't the one for you. However, if you want something with high stakes, fast driven plot and some great plot twists, Dustborn certainly fulfils on those aspects.

*Review will be posted to my blog on 4/5/21*

I Liked:
*When it takes me days to read a book it usually means I’m not into it. This isn’t the case with Dustborn ~ I think I’ve been so immersed in fantasy worlds that coming back to dystopian takes some getting used to, but really I enjoyed how cutthroat and no F’s given is this world that Delta lives in. I would not survive…at all.

*Aesthetic ~ the cover made me request the book! Love how fiery it looks.

*World Building ~ you get a sense right away, life is tough in this world where water is scarce, and dust storms rage often. Think Mad Max, where people live in small groups or packs. I could really feel Delta’s despair from the first chapter when she needs to get her sister some help. From there everything went downhill for Delta. I think it was unique, especially parts where they described how to make water in desperate times and vehicles they use with old tech/parts that they find.

*Characters ~ Delta is strong because she’s had to be in able to survive. The Wastes coddle to no one. Asher is Delta’s friend from long ago and when they meet again, she’s not sure if she can trust him. We meet other characters like the General who runs Bedrock and his people are loyal to him. The General has something Delta has and will do anything to get the information he seeks. Then there is the Prime who runs Powder Town, Delta gets caught in between trying to figure out who to trust in order to free her pack.

*Romance ~ yes…I mean how can romance bloom in a world like this? But something grows between Delta and Asher, not that it takes over the story at all, this one is all about survival and truth.

Random Notes:
*I didn’t totally connect to Delta and Asher, but that’s not a bad thing and seriously…reading this made me feel like I would die on day one without barely any water! Haha, you know how in reality we always say to hydrate? How do you do that when you have to turn your pee into water and you are dehydrated?! Ugh…I’m so grateful to have water right now haha. I was really intrigued by the characters in Powder Town though. Loved that they had a female ruler and soldiers.

*The twist in the end was good, we get to find out more history and what really happened in the early days.

*Triggers: violence, death

Final Thoughts:
If you like dystopian stories set in basically a desert world, then you will enjoy this one. Delta is practically alone in the world and has to save her pack. She has to do the impossible to do it. But when people come along can she trust them to help her reach her goal? Dustborn is a gritty dystopian story filled with adventure, desperation and even a little romance in the desert.

Thank you, NetGalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for the arc.

Yea so, when you've approved for the same book a month apart on two different sites, I took that as a sign to read this bad boy. Erin Bowman has solidified herself as one of my favorites authors, and I was so excited to see what this book had to offer. I was not let down whatsoever.

First, let's focus on the cover. I get Dune/Mad Max/Waterworld vibes and save for Waterworld, I was in like a chicken wing. The story starts off with Delta and her pack, who live in a sand-filled world where their gods have seemingly abandoned them. When her sister falls ill during childbirth, Delta takes her to a healer. But tragedy strikes and Delta finds that the General has attacked her home, killing and kidnapping those she loves. Little does she know, her world is about to get turned upside down when her childhood friend, Asher, appears. is he there to help or hinder her?? Dun, dun, DUNNNNNNN

Ok, the world0building was so epic. I love worlds that have been dried out or frozen over. It gives the book such a depressing vibe that our protagonist has to overcome on top of the main point of the story. The sands are an antagonist in themselves. It sucks to have to save your family but to also dodge vicious storms and bubbling hot lava-type fields, that's another ballgame.

Delta is a badarse heroine who, along the way, discovers how far she's willing to go for those she loves, and like most YA, she stumbles and enlists the help of others, whether she trusts them fully or not. She knows she cannot go at it alone.

The plot itself kept me engaged enough to slog through my days, exhausted because I stayed up way too late reading. I have slogged for you, Erin Bowman, but it was worth it one hundred percent. None of the twists was all that mouth-gaping and wide-eyed, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.

The cover is epic. Did I already say that?

5 stars. Duh.