The Boys of Fire and Ash by Meaghan McIsaac

They live in a pit full of garbage, fire and smoke and they have pledged themselves to the brotherhood.  They raise their little brothers, protect each other, and hunt to feed themselves.  They don't have much but their freedom.  And no one what happens when the older ones leave the pit and go into the forest.  They do know they don't come back...

Delacorte Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It was published May 12th, so you can grab a copy at your local bookstore now.

This is a fantasy world but the main factor that has torn people apart is religion.  The women are serene and believe in the Blessed One.  The men have created their own tower, have goblins for protection and believe in the Beginning.  Anyone who doesn't is killed.

The boys believe they are abandoned by their mothers and hate them.  But when the goblins steal his little brother, Urgle is going after him.  He doesn't know anything about the forest or the lands beyond the pit but he can follow a trail.  He has no idea what he's getting into but he'll find out soon enough.

This is a sad tale in many ways.  Urgle is called useless by his peers.  Cubby is imprisoned in the tower.  Rescue looks hopeless but Urgle will not give up on his brother.  He has friends to help but they are just boys like him.  He gets the man that came into camp to evade the goblins to lead him to the tower, but that's all he's going to do.  That man has secrets, too.

This is lot like a dystopian tale and the world Ms. McIsaac has created is not a easy world to live in.  I believe there will be more in this series.  I'll be waiting to see.