Dustborn by Erin Bowman

Dustborn by Erin Bowman

Delta of Dead River sets out to rescue her family from a ruthless dictator rising to power in the Wastes and discovers a secret that will reshape her world in this postapocalyptic Western mashup for fans of Mad Max and Gunslinger Girl.

Delta of Dead River has always been told to hide her back, where a map is branded on her skin to a rumored paradise called the Verdant. In a wasteland plagued by dust squalls, geomagnetic storms, and solar flares, many would kill for it--even if no one can read it. So when raiders sent by a man known as the General attack her village, Delta suspects he is searching for her.

Delta sets out to rescue her family but quickly learns that in the Wastes no one can be trusted--perhaps not even her childhood friend, Asher, who has been missing for nearly a decade. If Delta can trust Asher, she just might decode the map and trade evidence of the Verdant to the General for her family. What Delta doesn't count on is what waits at the Verdant: a long-forgotten secret that will shake the foundation of her entire world.

• A Gritty Sci-Fi Western: In a world ravaged by solar flares and geomagnetic storms, Delta must navigate a brutal landscape where trust is as scarce as clean water.
• A Map Branded in Skin: The path to a rumored paradise, the Verdant, is scarred onto Delta's back--a secret she must protect with her life from the ruthless General who hunts her.
• Enemies to Lovers Tension: When her long-lost childhood friend Asher returns as an enemy, Delta must decide if she can trust the boy she once knew with the fate of her family.
• Secrets and Lies: The promised paradise of the Verdant holds a secret that will shatter Delta's understanding of her world, her family, and her own destiny.

Erin Bowman is the critically praised author of the Taken Trilogy, Vengeance Road, Retribution Rails, and the Edgar Award-nominated Contagion duology, among other works for teenagers. She has always been interested in conveying stories, both visually and verbally, as a web designer turned author. She enjoys hiking, remarking on fine typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter when she's not writing. She currently resides in New Hampshire with her husband and children.