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DUST: A Novel
In DUST by Josh Plasse, the epic adventures and ragtag friendships of Guardians of the Galaxy meet the cunning and betrayal of Game of Thrones for the first installment of this action-packed fantasy saga.
The kingdom of Alyonia has long known peace. But when its sovereigns are mysteriously murdered and its young princes are absent, it’s up to the last royal issue Taryn Kaldor to assume the throne in the interim. But Taryn is hiding a dark family secret, one that threatens to pull apart not only Alyonia, but all the kingdoms of Adria and plunge them into a new world swallowed by shadow.
Prince Taaivetti, rightful heir to the throne and commander of the desert fortress at Hann, is torn between his return home to rule Alyonia and stabilize his dying kingdom, or stay to defend Hann against desert terrors like the monstrous Gorsh. In search of answers, Taaivetti discovers the magical dust of legend and the creatures who protect it. Ignoring their warnings, Taaivetti taps into the dust’s power to travel back and forth in time, each trip leading him closer to uncovering the truth of his parents’ deaths, his kingdom’s future — and his own fate.
On the run in the degenerate island of Tourtoufa, Prince Hendrix Kaldor has only his mother’s outlawed book of prophecies, proving strangely accurate of late, to accompany him. With time however, Hendrix grows a band of local misfits and begins deciphering these mysterious prophecies. But as the prophetic puzzles become clear, so too do the horrific shadow gods desperate to hide and destroy them.
Secrets and sibyls, pain and prophecy, alliances made and broken sweep through the lands of Adria as its inhabitants face the evil forces that threaten to submerge them into darkness forever.
But how, exactly, do you fight an enemy made of shadow itself?
The kingdom of Alyonia has long known peace. But when its sovereigns are mysteriously murdered and its young princes are absent, it’s up to the last royal issue Taryn Kaldor to assume the throne in the interim. But Taryn is hiding a dark family secret, one that threatens to pull apart not only Alyonia, but all the kingdoms of Adria and plunge them into a new world swallowed by shadow.
Prince Taaivetti, rightful heir to the throne and commander of the desert fortress at Hann, is torn between his return home to rule Alyonia and stabilize his dying kingdom, or stay to defend Hann against desert terrors like the monstrous Gorsh. In search of answers, Taaivetti discovers the magical dust of legend and the creatures who protect it. Ignoring their warnings, Taaivetti taps into the dust’s power to travel back and forth in time, each trip leading him closer to uncovering the truth of his parents’ deaths, his kingdom’s future — and his own fate.
On the run in the degenerate island of Tourtoufa, Prince Hendrix Kaldor has only his mother’s outlawed book of prophecies, proving strangely accurate of late, to accompany him. With time however, Hendrix grows a band of local misfits and begins deciphering these mysterious prophecies. But as the prophetic puzzles become clear, so too do the horrific shadow gods desperate to hide and destroy them.
Secrets and sibyls, pain and prophecy, alliances made and broken sweep through the lands of Adria as its inhabitants face the evil forces that threaten to submerge them into darkness forever.
But how, exactly, do you fight an enemy made of shadow itself?
- GenresFantasy
478 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2025
10 people are currently reading
6124 people want to read
About the author
Josh Plasse
1 book52 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Plasse studied at Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to Los Angeles and dedicating his life to writing and filmmaking. With over fifty episodes of network television under his belt, (you may have seen him on iCarly, Grey's Anatomy, etc)! Josh has also penned and produced three feature films and two documentaries. Josh’s debut novel, DUST, will release on February 4th, 2025. He is responsible for raising over $50,000 throughout his multiple campaigns for veteran suicide awareness, and he currently resides in Nashville with his wife and two fur babies (dogs). He is new to Goodreads and wants to meet readers!
Josh Plasse studied at Virginia Commonwealth University before moving to Los Angeles and dedicating his life to writing and filmmaking. With over fifty episodes of network television under his belt, (you may have seen him on iCarly, Grey's Anatomy, etc)! Josh has also penned and produced three feature films and two documentaries. Josh’s debut novel, DUST, will release on February 4th, 2025. He is responsible for raising over $50,000 throughout his multiple campaigns for veteran suicide awareness, and he currently resides in Nashville with his wife and two fur babies (dogs). He is new to Goodreads and wants to meet readers!
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 18, 2025
Dust by Josh Plasse is a multiPOV epic fantasy that primarily follows the princes and princess after the murder of the king and queen of Alyonia. The story is heavy on court politics and manipulation as one child is on the run after being accused of murder, another busy at war but meant to inherit the throne, and another bent on taking the throne for herself.
Overall I had a very fun time reading this book. It had great pacing and solid world-building with enjoyable court politics. The story was very easy to follow and had a lot of depth as more POVs, beyond the main three, were added in. Though described as almost a combination of guardians of the galaxy and game of thrones I felt like the novel as a whole was unique with minimal comparison on my end to other series I’ve read which is always refreshing. The characters were very interesting however I think the villain of the book definitely stole the show for me as far as character intrigue. This is a great first installment and impressive debut novel.
February 7, 2025
"I believe those of us most hungry for knowledge can do no better than fully comprehend our own ignorance."
"Wisdom is power.... And do you know what is even more powerful than wisdom?
It is the controlling of wisdom."
I had a good time with this one. The politics, the deceit, the mysterious magiks and supernatural gifts, the inebriated talking squirrel! The ominous shadow gods running rampant throughout the empire, come on! It's brutal, clever, and pure entertainment.
The book starts off quick and really never slows down. I enjoyed the political intricacies, especially the ploy on changing history to fit a narrative in order to manipulate the masses.
The magic in this book was probably my favorite part. Josh drops hints of magic throughout the story and left me wanting more.
Solid fantasy debut!
"Wisdom is power.... And do you know what is even more powerful than wisdom?
It is the controlling of wisdom."
I had a good time with this one. The politics, the deceit, the mysterious magiks and supernatural gifts, the inebriated talking squirrel! The ominous shadow gods running rampant throughout the empire, come on! It's brutal, clever, and pure entertainment.
The book starts off quick and really never slows down. I enjoyed the political intricacies, especially the ploy on changing history to fit a narrative in order to manipulate the masses.
The magic in this book was probably my favorite part. Josh drops hints of magic throughout the story and left me wanting more.
Solid fantasy debut!
February 4, 2025
As someone who’s been reading fantasy for 18 years, Dust was the perfect next step—shifting from fae and dragons to a more intricate, high-stakes world. Josh Plasse blends the adventure and humor of Guardians of the Galaxy with the political intrigue of Game of Thrones, creating a story that’s fresh, fast-paced, and full of surprises.
The mix of time-warping magic, shadowy enemies, and prophecy-driven rebellion kept me hooked, and I loved how the world of Adria felt so alive. If you want something that bridges fantasy with a bit of sci-fi and a whole lot of heart, Dust is it. Can’t wait for more!
The mix of time-warping magic, shadowy enemies, and prophecy-driven rebellion kept me hooked, and I loved how the world of Adria felt so alive. If you want something that bridges fantasy with a bit of sci-fi and a whole lot of heart, Dust is it. Can’t wait for more!
April 1, 2025
Well… that was fun! For being the first book in the upcoming and ongoing series, this was a wonderful journey into the chaotic world of Alyonia.
It’s a wild ride that begins with the brokenness of a single family and is wonderfully paced in its introduction of a whole cast of characters. At the same time, each new turn uncovers something strange about this underlying power at work. You get a since that this is just dramatic politics at first, but then come to understand that there is something much bigger and more fundamental at play here. Good and evil is fought on the ground level through these characters, but they are all subject to light and shadow.
A few quotes I enjoyed: (I should have been keeping track from the beginning)
“ if endlessness is not possible, then eternal life in the stars is not either, this seems true… but upon reflection, I believe you’ve missed a critical point”… “ your father said that since we’ve reached the present time, endlessness is impossible, and as such, time and life have begun somewhere. He then said that something must have created both… But what I think you’ve missed, my prince, is that for something to create both time and life, it must exist outside of them and be greater than each.”
“When Elonity dies, fear of a higher judgement dies. When fear of a higher judgment dies, morality dies. When morality dies, man is doomed.”
“Life is harsh, isn’t it? And unexpected. So very unexpected.” Trakkonious nodded, puzzled. “Things are only unexpected if they are overlooked. What is your goal here?” “Chaos”
These are from the last quarter of the book.
Great book and I am looking forward to continuing on in the series!
It’s a wild ride that begins with the brokenness of a single family and is wonderfully paced in its introduction of a whole cast of characters. At the same time, each new turn uncovers something strange about this underlying power at work. You get a since that this is just dramatic politics at first, but then come to understand that there is something much bigger and more fundamental at play here. Good and evil is fought on the ground level through these characters, but they are all subject to light and shadow.
A few quotes I enjoyed: (I should have been keeping track from the beginning)
“ if endlessness is not possible, then eternal life in the stars is not either, this seems true… but upon reflection, I believe you’ve missed a critical point”… “ your father said that since we’ve reached the present time, endlessness is impossible, and as such, time and life have begun somewhere. He then said that something must have created both… But what I think you’ve missed, my prince, is that for something to create both time and life, it must exist outside of them and be greater than each.”
“When Elonity dies, fear of a higher judgement dies. When fear of a higher judgment dies, morality dies. When morality dies, man is doomed.”
“Life is harsh, isn’t it? And unexpected. So very unexpected.” Trakkonious nodded, puzzled. “Things are only unexpected if they are overlooked. What is your goal here?” “Chaos”
These are from the last quarter of the book.
Great book and I am looking forward to continuing on in the series!
February 14, 2025
Dust is a solid fantasy that also wouldn't be out-of-place in a military sci-fi collection.
It took me a while to get into because Plasse's writing isn't really to my taste. His style is quite plain, and he (only sporadically) uses older sff conventions that I personally find grating - but I know that others will disagree. The in-book Prophetics are not strongly written, and I think showing us entire pages of them was a misstep (there's a reason that even Frank Herbert didn't do that).
What kept me going was the setting, and the military action and the politics - especially the foreign affairs end of things. Plasse's background in a military family, and as a student of homeland security and criminal justice, is on full display. Some of the allegories are a little blunt, but the politics are generally well-done and interesting to explore.
The more I saw of the setting, the more I wanted to know. Placing it something like a millennium after what was basically an apocalyptic event is an interesting touch. The plot is satisfying - I had misgivings about the keys and altars thing, but refreshingly, this isn't just a race for the artifacts. I'm not a connoisseur of found families, but that dynamic seemed well-written enough to me. If found family fans agree, I think that'll be the most popular part of this book -- among those who don't care about tactical withdrawals and military alliances, anyway.
It took me a while to get into because Plasse's writing isn't really to my taste. His style is quite plain, and he (only sporadically) uses older sff conventions that I personally find grating - but I know that others will disagree. The in-book Prophetics are not strongly written, and I think showing us entire pages of them was a misstep (there's a reason that even Frank Herbert didn't do that).
What kept me going was the setting, and the military action and the politics - especially the foreign affairs end of things. Plasse's background in a military family, and as a student of homeland security and criminal justice, is on full display. Some of the allegories are a little blunt, but the politics are generally well-done and interesting to explore.
The more I saw of the setting, the more I wanted to know. Placing it something like a millennium after what was basically an apocalyptic event is an interesting touch. The plot is satisfying - I had misgivings about the keys and altars thing, but refreshingly, this isn't just a race for the artifacts. I'm not a connoisseur of found families, but that dynamic seemed well-written enough to me. If found family fans agree, I think that'll be the most popular part of this book -- among those who don't care about tactical withdrawals and military alliances, anyway.
February 12, 2025
An Epic fantasy with incredible world building, political intrigue, and a group of misfits trying to save a dying kingdom. There were so many parts that made me scream, cry, and I was trying to theorize what was really going on the whole time. I was glued to the pages.
Multiple POV with many characters across the realm who are all linked together as the story progresses.
It was so interesting to see how the prophecies were coming to pass.
As the story progressed, I became more involved with the characters and their individual stories. Each one had a part to play. I was especially intrigued with Taaivetti and using the dust to basically travel back in time to learn information and seek answers, but there is a darkness that blocks him from gaining the answers he truly seeks. A darkness that may be the reason behind his dying kingdom. With all the kingdoms and wars, comes the politics and the secrets and betrayals. And man are the secrets interesting!
Incredible debut!
This is the first in a series so it ends in a way that makes you want to keep reading.
Multiple POV with many characters across the realm who are all linked together as the story progresses.
It was so interesting to see how the prophecies were coming to pass.
As the story progressed, I became more involved with the characters and their individual stories. Each one had a part to play. I was especially intrigued with Taaivetti and using the dust to basically travel back in time to learn information and seek answers, but there is a darkness that blocks him from gaining the answers he truly seeks. A darkness that may be the reason behind his dying kingdom. With all the kingdoms and wars, comes the politics and the secrets and betrayals. And man are the secrets interesting!
Incredible debut!
This is the first in a series so it ends in a way that makes you want to keep reading.
February 12, 2025
We’re introduced to the land Adria courtesy of a memorable cast of characters. There are a lot of them, and the multiple POVs can be a blessing and a curse at times, but Dust’s pacing moves nicely, never leaving the reader wanting for long. Plasse’s ability to weave legend and backstory into the ever-advancing plot was well done.
Being just Book One, and a debut from the author at that; hopes are high for things to continue.
Being just Book One, and a debut from the author at that; hopes are high for things to continue.
July 14, 2025
DNF. This just wasn’t for me. It’s not bad and I’m sure it’s for someone, but life’s too short. Moving on.
February 17, 2025
This captivating debut fantasy novel introduces readers to a richly imagined world where ancient magic, political intrigue, and family secrets intersect. The story follows three royal siblings—Taryn, Tyvetti, and Hendrix—who grapple with their parents' assassination and wrestle with questions of morality, identity, and the true nature of power. The author skillfully weaves multiple storylines and perspectives, creating a complex narrative of ambition, betrayal, and the high stakes in claiming one's destiny.
From the first page, "Dust" completely transported me to its immersive and vividly depicted world. The author developed nuanced main characters and explored universal themes through a fantasy lens. Taryn navigates the struggle between good and evil, Tyvetti grapples with right and wrong as a soldier, and Hendrix embarks on a quest to remain true to himself. Their journeys kept me engaged with tantalizing secrets and rising stakes. "Dust" is an ambitious debut in a series that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the sequel.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
From the first page, "Dust" completely transported me to its immersive and vividly depicted world. The author developed nuanced main characters and explored universal themes through a fantasy lens. Taryn navigates the struggle between good and evil, Tyvetti grapples with right and wrong as a soldier, and Hendrix embarks on a quest to remain true to himself. Their journeys kept me engaged with tantalizing secrets and rising stakes. "Dust" is an ambitious debut in a series that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the sequel.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
January 21, 2025
Honored to have read an ARC of this amazing debut, and to have given a blurb to my immensely-talented friend Josh!
"With Dust, Plasse has created a sprawling epic with dynamic characters, impossible stakes, and breathtaking landscapes. Readers will find themselves instantly transported to Adria and pulled into the twisty, complex narrative. It's a compulsively readable novel that deserves a spot on your shelf beside Lewis, Tolkien, and Herbert. A truly staggering debut."
"With Dust, Plasse has created a sprawling epic with dynamic characters, impossible stakes, and breathtaking landscapes. Readers will find themselves instantly transported to Adria and pulled into the twisty, complex narrative. It's a compulsively readable novel that deserves a spot on your shelf beside Lewis, Tolkien, and Herbert. A truly staggering debut."
January 3, 2025
I was given an ARC of Dust and now I’m telling everyone about it. I can’t believe it’s a debut – it’s so well written with all the elements that make an epic fantasy. I’m predicting big things for Dust and excited for everyone else to read it so I have people to discuss it with!
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed Dust. This is a very interesting world with very interesting characters. Taryn gives me the feeling of a what could be a very good antagonist. I’m really interested in Hendrix’s story and where that will lead. Really hope that the next book is released soon.
February 10, 2025
Review coming!
February 18, 2025
It takes a minute to really get into it, but then again, that's no different than any other fantasy book I've read in the past 10 years. Hats off to this first time author! I strongly recommend.
February 23, 2025
Even though I haven't finished reading Dust yet, I wanted to encourage others to pick up a copy and read it. It is rather intriguing and so stimulating for my imagination. I look forward to getting my work done so I can pick up Dust and read uninterrupted as it invites you into the creative action! I encourage you to get your copy today and maybe gift a friend a copy so you can discuss it! Nicely done, Josh!
March 18, 2025
Firstly, thanks so much to Josh Plasse for sending me an ARC of Dust. The premise of Dust definitely intrigued me, which was why I was so excited to dive into this debut novel.
Dust is a multi POV fantasy novel, that follows the royal siblings of Alyonia in the aftermath of their parents’ murder. It blends a whodunnit plot, in a rich fantasy world on the brink of war, with a heavy mix of political intrigue and betrayal. The world itself is quite unique and I liked how Plasse swayed away from traditional fantasy, taking on a complex, dark world, filled with new creatures and races, rather than the traditional kind. I know this novel has been compared to others, but I would argue it definitely has its own voice.
One thing that really stood out for me was the military style plot. There was a strong focus on strategy and warfare, with a lot of intrigue and a huge potential for some large conflicts in the sequel.
The focus on characters started with the royal family, but later opened up to other characters, who really stood out. Overall, however, I found Taryn an absolutely fantastic and multi-facetted character and I loved her inner battle with herself. Hendrix and Tyvetti, here brothers, also had particularly good POV’s, but I did not find them quite as intriguing as Taryn.
One area I did struggle with was the descriptions. I'm not a huge fan of overly descriptive writing as I focus much more on dialogue, however I would say Dust could have had more descriptive writing, as at times I struggled to picture scenes.
Overall, a fantastic fantasy debut, with a strong cast of characters, a unique fantasy world and a great focus on military fantasy!
Dust is a multi POV fantasy novel, that follows the royal siblings of Alyonia in the aftermath of their parents’ murder. It blends a whodunnit plot, in a rich fantasy world on the brink of war, with a heavy mix of political intrigue and betrayal. The world itself is quite unique and I liked how Plasse swayed away from traditional fantasy, taking on a complex, dark world, filled with new creatures and races, rather than the traditional kind. I know this novel has been compared to others, but I would argue it definitely has its own voice.
One thing that really stood out for me was the military style plot. There was a strong focus on strategy and warfare, with a lot of intrigue and a huge potential for some large conflicts in the sequel.
The focus on characters started with the royal family, but later opened up to other characters, who really stood out. Overall, however, I found Taryn an absolutely fantastic and multi-facetted character and I loved her inner battle with herself. Hendrix and Tyvetti, here brothers, also had particularly good POV’s, but I did not find them quite as intriguing as Taryn.
One area I did struggle with was the descriptions. I'm not a huge fan of overly descriptive writing as I focus much more on dialogue, however I would say Dust could have had more descriptive writing, as at times I struggled to picture scenes.
Overall, a fantastic fantasy debut, with a strong cast of characters, a unique fantasy world and a great focus on military fantasy!
February 21, 2025
If you want a fun read that still has depth and deeper meaning, Dust will definitely be up your alley. I got totally lost in the world, transported to another reality of interesting characters and hyper visual world building. The pages practically turned themselves, highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews