Read Along: The Snake River

'You...are gonna be somethin else entirely'

At the Snake, the group settle into the camp for a few days, only to have their eyes opened to divinity, betrayal and a visitor.

Read Along RETURNED: Jack

   'He'll head west and he'll find her. Saba.'

Jack has some news to share with Molly and along the way, some unexpected twists in normal life occur.

'It's been a parched, mean road all the way'

Jack and Atlas have been travelling since they left Saba and the others. They finally come across some people with 'weary face, wary eyes'. Tired of this hopeless life 'they aren't social people but they aren't mean'. There seems to be a little humanity left. But Jack cannot stay long as he is 'headed to the storm belt' to find the Lost Cause and Molly as he is 'the bearer of bad news. The worst.'

'There's something up ahead'

The Tonton appear on the road ahead of Jack with a young couple. The 'enemy have changed their game' apparently as they wear different clothes and behave in a different manner. They travel towards the shack Jack has just left. He knows it is a part of 'a land grab. A resettlement party' which results in the murders of the two parents, the young boy, Robbie, and the suicide of Nessa, a young girl. 'It chaos'. Jack is almost speechless as he watches and can only pass comment on the Tonton' notorious ways: 'they're rolling over the land like the plague'.

'He's afraid.'

Jack believes that 'Molly's in danger' after seeing this and regrettably admits that 'you can't kill all the badness in the world'. Ge muses on the new commander of the Tonton with his 'new game, new rules'. He concludes that he must be a 'man with a plan', 'determined, disciplined, persuasive and very, very smart'. The match he finds for this description is DeMalo - 'the stiletto in the dark'.

'The Lost Cause. At last.'

As Jack finally arrives at his destination, 'his stomach's jittery with nerves'. He knows the awful news of Ike's death must be passed on. His 'deep' history with Molly makes this all the harder, and results in him putting off the news for a long time. Meanwhile, Molly fills Jack in on the Tonton whose new leader is called the 'Pathfinder' and his men are 'Stewards of the Earth', who have the aim of 'healing' the earth. Molly insists that she can 'take care' of herself in this time. The way in which she talks about Ike and 'acts like a nervous girl' as she awaits his entrance evokes great pathos. As does talk of hers and Jack's deceased child, who'd 'be six by now'.

'She kicked the door down.'

Molly finds Jack's own love just as obvious as she asks 'who is she' about the new woman in Jack's life. Jack gives a brief overview - a very accurate one: 'pigheaded, prickly an stubborn'. But it's not all negative. 'She shines so bright' - causing Molly to believe in the depth of his love. She advises him to 'be with her'.

'Ike's dead.'

The mood is disrupted by Jack's eventual revelation that Ike is dead and won't be returning. He attempts to console Molly by telling her that 'he died well. He went out big' but her grief is immediate and heavy. She resigns to the back rooms of the tavern.

'Two men walk in.'

No, that's not the beginning of a joke. The Tonton have arrived at The Lost Cause also. They hear Molly out back and the reader is left to wonder just what's about to happen next...

~Ella

The 1st Annual Dustlands.net Fan Fiction Contest!

Welcome Free Hawks!

Today I bring you a new contest from Dustlands.net, this time a proposed annual one. We'll see where this one goes.

Fan fiction. It's one my favorite things invented. Fans of stories, writing their own versions of their beloved books, movies, television shows, etc...

If you haven't ever read any fan fiction, head over to Fanfiction.net right now! That's your homework! Look up your favorite book/movie/TV show and see if there are any stories within that category. Click right here to head to a section of Fanfiction.net with stories dedicated completely to Blood Red Road! 

For this contest, we want you to submit your own Dustlands themed short story! Here are the rules: 

• Each story must be at least 500 words
• Each story must be related to the characters in the Dustlands series. (Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart)
• Each story doesn't have to necessarily take place IN the Dustlands. (Perhaps a story could feature Saba in a jungle? The possibilities are endless)
• Each story must be submitted by July 31st, 2013. 

Get planning and write your story soon so you don't forget! And make sure to make it the best it possibly can, you have the whole month of July!  Submit using the form below and spread the word! It's greatly appreciated.

Cheers, from the Dustlands.net family.

~Jake

Poll Results Are In: Saba & Nero Crowned Best Double Act!

Seemingly a dog is not a man's best friend, but a crow is. Saba and Nero have won this week's poll as the best double act in the Dust Lands!

With many wonderful, funny, villainous and loved-up teams as possible winners, the fan-favourite is one girl and her faithful flighty companion who's always that one step ahead of everyone else! Like owner, like pet! 

Poll Results Are In: Saba Has the Most Fight In Her Heart!

Our female hero, Saba, has won this week's poll for the character with the fiercest spirit. Let's be honest - who else could it possibly be?! 

So how did everyone fare? Read more after the jump...

Fighting Spirit

Everyone knows that the Dust Lands are filled with fierce, fighting-spirited characters who aren't afraid to go to battle for the ones, or the things, they love. But who, we're asking this week, is the one with the most fire in their heart?

Sometimes we judge characters on their appearance, or who they're friends with, what side they're on, their best and worst lines. But maybe it's more important to judge their motives, and if they go after their goals with passion, determination and persistence -  instead of just sitting back and waiting for it all to fall into their lap. 

So who do you think has the most fuel for their fighting spirit? In a land of fierce warriors and harsh circumstances, it's definitely going to be a battle to the end.

Click on the link below to cast your vote and leave us a comment explaining why! Results will be revealed on Sunday!

POLL

~Ella

Characters Walking The Dustlands

Every time you read a book, there's a certain character that just grabs your attention. You pay more attention to their dialogue, you've got a smile on your face when your read scenes they're present in. You want to pull them out of the page and have them stand next to you just so you can talk to them.

Different things make people connect with varying characters. Perhaps they are relatable or alternatively, so different from you that it's intriguing. Maybe they make you laugh or cry or swoon or so mad that you have to put the book down for a few minutes or else the pages could be showering down around you as you rip them out in rage! Whatever the reason, irrational or rational, it happens.

In the Dust Lands trilogy, there's a vast range to choose from.

And so this week's poll (the first in what we hope to be a weekly event and post) is based around characters. Quite simply - who's your favourite?

Leave comments with your reasons and maybe even your least favourite!

The poll will close on Sunday 31st March and a post will be written up on that character by a fan! If you'd like this to be you, just leave a comment or tweet us at: @DustlandsFans !

[polldaddy poll=6995881]

~Ella