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The Dark Monarch #1
Dust: A Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tale
2nd Edition coming Autumn 2024.
She’s an intergalactic pixie, a harbinger of destruction. He's humanity's last scholar, clinging to hope in a desolate world. Together, they’re all that stand between the annihilation of mankind and a glimmer of salvation.
In the far-flung future, Earth is a dead world. To make room for new life, the alien Nya is tasked with blasting everything humanity ever built to dust. But when an encounter with a pack of resilient humans sparks a transformation within her, her plans soon change. The good-hearted Nya appeals to her overseers, the Watchers, hoping her discovery will put an end to the destruction so she can return home.
Instead, the Watchers go hunting.
Born with a rebellious spark, Nya vows to use all her power to overthrow her sinister masters and save what remains of the human race. But nobody rebels against the Watchers. Her own mother died trying.
As Nya desperately tries to lead her fellow terraformers to stop a powerful Watcher invasion, she soon learns that victory will come at a terrible price. If she succeeds, she’ll be trapped on a dead world for all eternity.
And that’s the best-case scenario…
She’s an intergalactic pixie, a harbinger of destruction. He's humanity's last scholar, clinging to hope in a desolate world. Together, they’re all that stand between the annihilation of mankind and a glimmer of salvation.
In the far-flung future, Earth is a dead world. To make room for new life, the alien Nya is tasked with blasting everything humanity ever built to dust. But when an encounter with a pack of resilient humans sparks a transformation within her, her plans soon change. The good-hearted Nya appeals to her overseers, the Watchers, hoping her discovery will put an end to the destruction so she can return home.
Instead, the Watchers go hunting.
Born with a rebellious spark, Nya vows to use all her power to overthrow her sinister masters and save what remains of the human race. But nobody rebels against the Watchers. Her own mother died trying.
As Nya desperately tries to lead her fellow terraformers to stop a powerful Watcher invasion, she soon learns that victory will come at a terrible price. If she succeeds, she’ll be trapped on a dead world for all eternity.
And that’s the best-case scenario…
- GenresFantasy
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2024
32 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 5, 2020
Dust is the first installment in a new YA post-apocalyptic fairy-tale series by J.R. Devoe. I really love genre-bending stories, and this is one of the better YA versions that I’ve read. It’s fantasy and dystopian and science fiction all wrapped up with a lovely fairy-tale bow.
Dust is billed as a story about what happens in a near-future Earth when intergalactic pixies come to the planet. In this world, the alien pixies plan to destroy everything humans have built in order to make way for new life. When one of these fae-like pixies, Nya, finds a group of humans still alive on Earth, she reports back so that the destruction can stop. Only, her superiors don’t care about the humans remaining on Earth. Instead, the pixies gear up for battle and plan to kill off the remainder of humanity. Nya and Deka, a human boy she meets, must work together and learn to trust each other through their differences in order to protect the humans left on Earth.
I really enjoyed Dust as a YA novel. To me, the story read much like how YA novels read in the 2010s, and I loved that about it. The focus of the story is on the characters and the battles, and there is very little angst or drama interrupting the plot. There is the smallest hint of romance, but it doesn’t take over the story. Dust exceeds at world-building and plot, and that’s what I love in Young Adult literature.
Dust was released yesterday, April 4th, and is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. It looks like it’s currently available on Kindle Unlimited, so it’s a great time to check it out if you use that service!
Bottom line: I give this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story and characters, and I think it’s a really good YA novel. I will definitely pick up the next installment in story.
Thanks to the author for reaching out and providing me a review copy! I love reading Indie works, and this was an awesome experience!
Dust is billed as a story about what happens in a near-future Earth when intergalactic pixies come to the planet. In this world, the alien pixies plan to destroy everything humans have built in order to make way for new life. When one of these fae-like pixies, Nya, finds a group of humans still alive on Earth, she reports back so that the destruction can stop. Only, her superiors don’t care about the humans remaining on Earth. Instead, the pixies gear up for battle and plan to kill off the remainder of humanity. Nya and Deka, a human boy she meets, must work together and learn to trust each other through their differences in order to protect the humans left on Earth.
I really enjoyed Dust as a YA novel. To me, the story read much like how YA novels read in the 2010s, and I loved that about it. The focus of the story is on the characters and the battles, and there is very little angst or drama interrupting the plot. There is the smallest hint of romance, but it doesn’t take over the story. Dust exceeds at world-building and plot, and that’s what I love in Young Adult literature.
Dust was released yesterday, April 4th, and is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon. It looks like it’s currently available on Kindle Unlimited, so it’s a great time to check it out if you use that service!
Bottom line: I give this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story and characters, and I think it’s a really good YA novel. I will definitely pick up the next installment in story.
Thanks to the author for reaching out and providing me a review copy! I love reading Indie works, and this was an awesome experience!
April 5, 2020
Nya is courageous and one of the bravest protagonists I have ever encountered. Her drive to help humanity and do the right thing despite the serious danger of losing her life was incredible to read. I loved the inspiring message of being the spark of light in the dark and being kind to those who are different than you- something we should follow today in these dark times.
I loved Dexa's drive to save his own people, as well as Nya. I enjoyed the hint of romance between the two that I predict will be explored further in the coming installation. I enjoyed how their complex relationship did not hinder or distract from the plot development. The future scenario of a destroyed environment will quite frankly a possibility, and I enjoyed how while the book was very fantasy, there were hints of reality embedded.
Growing up, I have been obsessed with fairies and magic, so Dust was super fun for me to read. The cover is absolutely stunning and I love the magic glow surrounding Nya. Speaking of magic, the imagery surrounding her powers, especially near the end, was terrific and I enjoyed the increase of her ability and confidence in herself by the end. I loved the ending being filled with happiness and anxiousness and sadness all at the same time. I enjoy that there was a firm conclusion to keep readers satisfied, but also a gateway (no pun intended) to a huge problem with exciting promise for another story.
You can read this review and more at pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com!
I loved Dexa's drive to save his own people, as well as Nya. I enjoyed the hint of romance between the two that I predict will be explored further in the coming installation. I enjoyed how their complex relationship did not hinder or distract from the plot development. The future scenario of a destroyed environment will quite frankly a possibility, and I enjoyed how while the book was very fantasy, there were hints of reality embedded.
Growing up, I have been obsessed with fairies and magic, so Dust was super fun for me to read. The cover is absolutely stunning and I love the magic glow surrounding Nya. Speaking of magic, the imagery surrounding her powers, especially near the end, was terrific and I enjoyed the increase of her ability and confidence in herself by the end. I loved the ending being filled with happiness and anxiousness and sadness all at the same time. I enjoy that there was a firm conclusion to keep readers satisfied, but also a gateway (no pun intended) to a huge problem with exciting promise for another story.
You can read this review and more at pagesforthoughts.blogspot.com!
December 17, 2024
Dust maidens for the win.
I felt for Nya, when it came to always having to demolish rather than create. As a dust maiden, she spends her time making dust of Earth's history. Then there comes the day when she discovers that the planet Earth is not deserted as they have been led to believe and everything that dictates their existence on Earth says they aren't supposed to be there. Finding and meeting Deka and his people is an eye-opener. Nya has a new mission in life. She's going to save the humans! Great world-building and wonderful characters. I really enjoyed this first book in the series.
I felt for Nya, when it came to always having to demolish rather than create. As a dust maiden, she spends her time making dust of Earth's history. Then there comes the day when she discovers that the planet Earth is not deserted as they have been led to believe and everything that dictates their existence on Earth says they aren't supposed to be there. Finding and meeting Deka and his people is an eye-opener. Nya has a new mission in life. She's going to save the humans! Great world-building and wonderful characters. I really enjoyed this first book in the series.
April 7, 2020
An inventive plot with unique characters that really drew me into this story.The character voice was entertaining and witty with lots of room to grow which kept me engaged from start to finish.Also,really loved some of the secondary characters,(honorable mention goes out to Jinny),whose character arcs provided some great stand up and cheer moments.As Book 1 of a series,I feel it’s a great start and look forward to Book 2.
April 4, 2020
From the premise and first chapter, I was immediately hooked. The world is so cool to see through the eyes of Nya and to follow her through the book was immersive and fun. There's a lot here for sci-fi and fantasy fans alike, and I've never seen a post-apocalyptic book take a spin like this and do it so well.
October 12, 2024
Received as a review copy from Booksirens, this is an honest review. A complex and visually beautiful story with the viewpoints of Nya and Deka, as both together and within their societies explore the biases that makes up their lives... and willing to challenge the forces that could further erode their future.
December 17, 2024
I realize this got a lot of very good reviews, but I just couldn't finish it. The storyline was slow, the characters weren't engaging. I got to where I could care less about what happened.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews