This book is fantastic. It coaxed my long dormant inner Star Wars fangirl out of her little shell (it was the desert world thing - love the Tatooine feel), and I couldn't help but wonder about the conversations Saba and Katniss would have if they met up in literary wonderland. It's that kind of rad. 
 First off, the characters: can I tell you much I appreciate that Young wrote Saba in the vernacular? To most readers, I think Saba's language appears to be a variation on (forgive me) stereotypically 'redneck' talk (the kinder word is 'folksy' - if that even is a word). It's very much in keeping with idea that she grew up in deserted, desert-backwoods. But keep in mind that famous quote from Sweet Home Alabama: "Honey, just because I talk slow don't mean I'm stupid." You need to adjust to her talk because she is so running this show, and her speech juxtaposes smoothly with her keen survival skills, and this makes her a formidable opponent for the odds against her. Furthermore, I think the speech allows you to really get to know her on a personal level and shows what she's up against. It separates her a bit from everything new coming into her life. Other characters follow suit in that they are well-developed and defined, form the much despised Emmi (Saba's younger sister whom she loathes; I pitied that little girl something fierce), and Jack. Oh, JACK! I love Jack, the incorrigible young devil with heart of mischievous goodwill. Adore him, and adore how he adores Saba (even when she is awful). 
 Does it sound like I dislike Saba? Sigh. I don't. I really like her, and moreover, I respect her. She had a straightforward mission: rescue and be united with Lugh (major dependency there). She had a similar approach: let NOTHING get in her way. And she didn't. Saba only compromised when forced or shamed into it. You can call this a fault, and I guess mmmmmmmmaybe, when it came to letting people in and helping her, it was. Personally, I like her grit. I think an attitude made of anything less would have weakened her resolve. Dux femina facti, baby. 
 Okay, let's talk the best character of all in the book: SETTING. This is what makes Blood Red Road have Amazing Movie Potential. The sweeping desert, the field of airplanes, a city of junk with a Colosseum, a field of deadly I'm-Not-Going-To-Ruin-It-And-Name-Thems, and a scene that feels like a cross between Gone With the Wind and Versailles. I am not a huge fan of the Systematic Whoring of Young Adult Lit for Hollywood profits. They rarely do justice to the books they film flip, and then there are the ridiculously redundant marketing campaigns aimed at people who never read the books in the first place. HOWEVER, this film has screen potential of EPIC proportions. Ideally, I'd like to see something with the set design vision George Lucas combined with the screenplay prowess of David Franzoni and David Hare (book gods know that Lucas can't write the script - did you see SW 1-3 - shudder). Since she was outed from the role of Katniss, I think Hailee Steinfeld would be old enough and talented enough to play the tough, rough, intelligent and conflicted Saba. 
 Of course, this whole thing could turn out horribly wrong and end up like Waterworld. Just saying. If it even is made into a movie (the rights have been acquired by Ridley Scott). 
 Anywho, if you are worried about how you will adjust to Saba-speak, don't. If you are worried that the minimal punctuation will give you trouble, I wouldn't. It develops a rhythm and you just go with it. You likely won't even notice it after a while. This book was so enjoyable to read. It was full of adventure, chance and romance. Odd thing, and please let me know if you felt this way, too - I didn't have this overwhelming feeling of 'grey' reading it, despite its post-apocalyptic grittiness. The inherent hero quest aspect of it made it feel more exciting than suspenseful (although it was, at times). The characters were so well-described, so colorful, and added so much heart that it was hard to feel a prolonged sense of despair. Was there bleakness? Oh yeah, definitely, especially during the opening attack and later captivity scenes. There's a real desperate overtone in certain scenes, but. . . I don't know, I kept thinking Princess Bride while I read it. My only little complaint is that it has Just-In-the-Nick-Of-Time syndrome - seems like when all is lost, something or someone unexpectedly comes to the rescue. Still, taking that into consideration, I really enjoyed Blood Red Road and definitely recommend that you give it a shot (dare I even say that I 'loved' it, perhaps). 
 I give you far warning, though: Jack is Mine. He's got a young Han Solo with a twist of Peeta-like accessibility and advice thing going. MINE, I tell you! You have been advised.