Erin Bowman’s Dustborn is a ruthless dystopian novel with plenty of heart

The desert is ruthless, and that’s something Erin Bowman’s newest young adult novel doesn’t sugarcoat. Dustborn throws viewers into a post-apocalyptic world that’s coated in sand and struggle, and the people living in it are just as cutthroat as the elements. For a story being touted as a must-read for fans of Mad Max and The 100, we wouldn’t expect anything less.

Of course, Delta of Dead River isn’t all hard edges. The story kicks off with her dragging her pregnant sister Indie through the desert in the hopes of reaching a healer who can safely deliver her baby. It’s clear from the get-go that Delta is dedicated to the people she cares most for, even if her inability to trust keeps her circle small.

And Delta has a good reason to avoid trusting others. Apart from living in a drought-stricken world where only the strongest survive, she has a secret branded onto her back: a map she doesn’t know how to read, but one that could lead to salvation for her people. But her pack aren’t the only ones looking for salvation, and Delta has been warned her entire life to keep the map a secret. Her childhood friend, Asher, had the same unreadable markings branded onto his own skin — and a brief moment of carelessness got the other half of their people killed.

Delta and her family were fortunate enough to avoid that particular tragedy, but the raiders searching for a map to paradise — a place they’ve deemed the “Verdant” — catch up to them eventually. While Delta is trekking across the desert with her sister, the men descend on her home. After her sister dies in childbirth, leaving her with a baby to care for and a ton of anger and frustration to sort through, returning to a destroyed camp is probably the worst that can happen to Delta. Like most YA protagonists, however, the devastation spurs her onward.

With only the knowledge that a man called the General sent the raiders, Delta sets out to save what remains of her people — the ones the men didn’t slaughter in their search for her. The journey reunites her with Asher in an unexpected way, takes her to the General’s twisted home, and puts her on a path to finding the Verdant and saving her people. Naturally, there’s plenty of action along the way.

Accompanying the action and the twists is a cast of characters that make Dustborn a truly gripping novel, if only because you’ll want to know what becomes of them by the end. When the desire to know more about the Verdant  or the markings on Delta’s back doesn’t pull readers forward, their investment in the characters will.

Its characters are Dustborn’s biggest triumph

The characters are perhaps Bowman’s biggest triumph of Dustborn, giving readers a reason to push forward and search for hope, even when Delta’s journey suggests there’s none to be found. As you’d expect from a story told in first person, Delta is the heart of the novel, and her growth from beginning to end is easily one of the most compelling aspects of this dystopian.

Despite being the most engaging character, however, Delta is far from the only person readers will be rooting for while making their way through Dustborn. From Asher, who risks everything for Delta time and time again, to the Prime, a powerful leader who is biding her time until she takes on the General, there’s no shortage of complex individuals in Delta’s world.

There’s only one character readers might find themselves wanting more from in this novel, and that’s the villain. Although the General is no doubt a formidable opponent — and one who is zealously committed to his cause — the lack of time we spend in his presence doesn’t offer much in the way of understanding him. Sure, power and faith can corrupt just about anyone, but taking a deeper dive into his motives and personality would have made him a more well-rounded antagonist (and perhaps rendered the final confrontation more powerful, too).

Bowman’s setting is immersive

Readers will no doubt power through Dustborn to learn the characters’ fates, but they’re far from the only reason this book is so difficult to put down. Despite some iffy pacing during the first half, Bowman’s world building makes the experience of reading her latest release so immersive that you’ll look up from its pages and discover hours have somehow passed.

The author nails the setting from the very beginning, opening the first chapter with a sandstorm that has the power to topple Delta’s home. Throughout her journey, there are similar obstacles, including solar flares, thieves and con artists, and a landscape that makes it difficult to find the barest of necessities.

Bowman doesn’t hold back when it comes to painting what a post-apocalyptic desert would look like, and her descriptions are enough to leave you thirsty. (Yes, you’ll want to keep a water bottle on hand for this one!)

It’s not all dark and devastating

Although the setting and characters offer viewers a bleak view of Bowman’s world, Dustborn has a heartfelt message at its core. The story proves that, even in a brutal dystopian society, trust and faith are necessary things to have — in fact, one could argue they’re more important than ever under the circumstances.

That’s what Delta comes to learn as she uncovers the truth about her world and fights to defeat a tyrant, and it’s a lesson that keeps the narrative shining even through its darkest moments. It’s that heart at the center of the story that makes it feel worthwhile. If you’re a fan of the dystopian genre, this is definitely a book to keep on your radar.

Dustborn is currently available in print, ebook and audiobook format. Are you planning on picking up Bowman’s latest? Tell us why or why not in the comments below!