Read Along: Darktrees

'I cain't stop till I find Lugh. I promised him.'

Upon arrival at the camp of the Free Hawks, Saba has to plan the journey she must take to find Lugh from her new starting point. Help comes from an unexpected source...

Read Along: Hopetown - One Month Later

‘They call me the Angel of Death.’

Saba has been fighting in the Cage for a month. Very successfully. Whilst she is separated from Emmi, she maintains her fighting spirit in order to hatch a plan with new allies to escape from Hopetown and head for Lugh. There are some...unexpected twists along the way in the Hopetown we encounter One Month Later.

Is it all written in the stars?

Saba lives in a world where fate and destiny and the writing in the stars, is believed in. At least by some. 

The question this week is: do you believe in fate?

Poll Results Are In: North America is YOUR Dust Lands!

Our poll this week asked you where you thought the Dust Lands might be found on the world - or universe- map! North America was the top voted location!

It was definitely a popular choice, but there were many other options that were also considered by fans! Keep on reading to find out just why that is...

Read Along: Sandsea

‘I caint count on nobody but me.’

Saba has set off into the unknown desert landscape of Sandsea in the hopes of following her brother and his captors to Hopetown. But on her journey, an unexpected companion meets her and together they walk into a truly unimaginable and horrific trap. But it will take them right into Hopetown.

Where is the Dust Lands?

The trilogy is named after it's setting. It's where Saba's blood red road runs and where her rebel heart beats. And yet we don't actually know where 'there' is. 

So where do you envision Saba and her friends, and foes, walking? Where in the world could possibly be so affected by climate change and human transgressions that it could quite literally become a dust land? You tell us!

Try It Tuesday: The Chaos Walking Trilogy!

Happy World Book Night, Free Hawks! For a special edition of Try It Tuesday I've decided to do one of the books from the list of selected works for World Book Night. The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness, focusing on The Knife of Never Letting Go.

I have been very lucky to be selected as one of World Book Night's 20,000 UK givers. This means that tonight, I will be going into the streets of London and distributing 20 copies of the wonderful KONLG to non-reading strangers. But that doesn't mean you all shouldn't get a copy yourselves! 

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! 

Read Along: Crosscreek

‘Stars is just stars.’

 Saba and Emmi have finally made it to Mercy’s home at Crosscreek. What they find there is unexpected paradise compared to Silverlake, the only place they’ve known for their whole lives.

Who Is The Dust Lands Best Double Act?

TV presenters, best friends, comedians, our favourite characters. They all have something in common. They wouldn't be anywhere without their partner. 

Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart's vast array of characters all have someone at their side who makes their job that much easier...or in some cases harder! The question is - who is the best team?

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...

Our First Giveaway Has A Winner!

It's been two weeks exactly since we announced our Dustlands Mystery: a giveaway of a signed copy of Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart, straight from the author herself! 

And so it's time for the winner to be announced!

Congratulations to Matt Imrie  who has won the giveaway!

Make sure to send us an email or a tweet so we can get in contact with you and arrange for your prizes to be sent ASAP!

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of you who entered - just the once or every single day! You've all made this very special for Dustlands.net and Moira! We can only hope to host many, many more giveaways and competitions in the future! 

Keep tuned to the site and our Twitter account to stay up to date on all BRR news and information! And keep the Dust Lands fandom growing, Free Hawks! 

~Ella

Read Along: The Trackway

‘I ain’t afeared of nuthin. I ain’t afeared of nobody.’

Saba and Emmi have set out to follow after Lugh, who has been taken away from their home, Silverlake, by four mysterious black-robed men. However, Saba is set on going alone, and leaving Emmi with a family friend called Mercy in Crosscreek. Emmi is not happy with this decision.

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

Poll Results Are In: International Covers voted as YOUR favourites!

Yes, the international covers for the Dust Lands trilogy have been voted as the favourite set by the fans!

To find out how the other editions fared, read after the jump!

Friday's Music: The Moon Asked the Crow - CocoRosie

So every Friday, I’m going to be choosing a song that reminds me of a certain scene/character from the Dustlands, or of the story in general. It'll be a mix of obscure and popular artists, with as much variation as possible.

The link to the song is here.

It might seem obvious why I picked this song, but it was for much more than that. Both the music and the lyrics brought about the underlying themes of destiny and fate that put a real twist on this story. The lyrics are like a short tale, the beginning reminding me of the wastelands and the forgotten past:

 I caught a glimpse out the window, A Polish graveyard filled with widows, I coddle a bottle of warm beer, I see a pool of liquid tears, Glimmering so sweet and mellow, A sea of lilting wilting willow, A secret book of forgotten wishes, Drown in ponds with broken dishes

This verse paints a sad, reminiscent image of the past, especially the references to the graveyard, the wilting willow and the books of forgotten wishes. (page 100 of Blood Red Road, where Rooster Pinch shows Saba a book for the first time in her life – that scene ALWAYS comes up in my head, it’s one of my favourite!).

The moon asked the crow, For a little show, In the hazy milk of twilight, No one had to know, The moon asked the crow, For a little show, In the hazy milk of twilight, No one had to know

The chorus is like a little tribute to Nero, and it makes me think of all those times Nero disappeared from Saba’s side for longer than usual. Where was he, and who was he with?  ‘’He’s always got an opinion does Nero, an he’s real smart too’’ – page 8. It also reminds me of De Malo and his relationship with Saba, how it's ‘hazy’ and mysterious.

this artwork was inspired by this song

Angel brother I miss your hair, Careless nature gentle stare, You fell like rain in the dark abysses ,  Kissed the lips of bloody twinsis, Sung to you a slew of sirens, Tricky mermaids and evil pirates,

Saba’s determination to find Lugh, no matter what comes in her way, screams out to me in this verse. And the particular mention of hair too, reminds me of their contrasting hair colours, and how she says ''My golden heart is gone'' when Lugh is taken by the riders.

You watched the sky, With kaleidoscopic eyes, Howling out right, To the blasphemous night, A wolf in the garden, Why do you linger so, Like a silky snail soul, The moon asked the crow

This verse always leaves me conflicted, bringing me a mix of memories and emotions from the story – is it about Saba’s father, his star reading and the way he’s so resigned about everything that’s happening? Or is it about Lugh and his blue eyes, and his hate for their Pa being a ‘star reader’? The mention of howling also strangely reminds me of the scene in pages 27 to the beginning of 30, where their Pa is shot down by the riders, and how Saba feels the red hot rage rise up inside her for the first time. (I still get chills when reading this part). This song certainly deals with the enigmatic fate business in the story, or I think so anyway!

CocoRosie are two sisters that believe in fairies, with unique voices and music. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who enjoys quaint but meaningful music!

~Bushra

Read Along: Silverlake

‘There can be beauty anywhere. Even here. And if it ain’t, you can make it yerself.’

Silverlake: home of Saba and her family. At least it is until mysterious horsemen appear out the red dust and take Lugh away from the only place he has ever known. Saba is left, with only Emmi at her side, to find a way to get him back when she, too, must leave the familiar for the unknown.

Dust Lands International Covers!

The Dust Lands trilogy has sold in 28 countries and whilst many of these sport variations of the same covers, there are other territories who have published completely new and beautiful covers of Blood Red Road!

Exclusive Q&A with Moira Young featuring YOUR questions!

We asked for your questions on our Twitter account (@DustlandsFans) and our Facebook page to pass on to Moira Young, author of Blood Red Road herself. Well she has kindly answered your questions along with some of our own and we have the Q&A right here. He's what Moira has to say:

I’m amazed and delighted that readers all over the world have taken Saba’s story into their hearts. This first Q&A on the Dust Lands fansite is a memorable event.

Don't forget to follow Moira Young on Twitter! @moira_young 

Poll Results Are In: JACK voted as YOUR favourite character!

It will come as no surprise to many in the fandom that Jack has won the poll for who you’d rather walk the dust lands with...by a mile!

The results are as follows: