Bill Swiggs "Blood in the Dust" (Chloé W)

 Blood in the Dust : 

During the holidays, I read Blood in the Dust. This book by Bill Swiggs was published in 2019 and is a Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing prize winner. Set in Australia in 1853, it tells the story of two young boys on a quest to restore what is rightfully theirs, as well as the story of a family arriving in Australia to start a new life. 

 

Toby and his younger brother Patrick are forced to set off on a long journey after their parents’ murder and the loss of the family farm. They don’t know where they are going or for how long they will be gone. But, one thing is for sure: they will be back and will restore the family fortune. On their way, they will make friendships and create forever-lasting bonds. They will, however, have to fight to survive; and, whatever happens, stay together. 

 

Meanwhile, a family of four has just arrived on the promissing land that is Australia. At first, they struggle to build a new life. The father has to find a job to support his family. His two girls have to adapt to their new life ; and, their mother is still grieving from the loss of her son who died during the crossing. More importantly, they have to learn to survive. This will prove to be more challenging then what they had imagined. Eventually, their path will cross the one of two brothers on a mission to survive. They will become family to them; and, together, they will find a way of living. 

 

I greatly enjoyed this book. It is such a gripping story. You will feel like you are living the adventure yourself. Something I also particularly liked was how attached you get to the characters. I was especially fond of Toby who’s life was changed in only a few minutes. He had to learn to take care of his brother and make life-changing decisions. As the story went on, I discovered him under different angles and liked getting to know him.

On top of that, it’s a very suspensful read. I was always impatient to find out what was going to happen next. One moment that has you waiting is the struggle the brothers face while driving their cattle to the market. Circumstances force them to associate with two men. They decide to trust them. Unfortunatly, these men had made another deal that involved stealing the precious cattle. This put the boys in an unsafe situation. Will they find a way to survive and to find their cattle before it is too late? 

 

I definitly recommend Blood in the Dust! If you are looking for a gripping read, full of adventure and many upheavals, this book is for you. 

 

So, are you ready to embark on this adventure trying to restore what is rightfully yours ?