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Dustria
Warring kingdoms, backstabbing immortals, addictive magic & forbidden love intertwine in a dark, beautiful fantasy.
Gifted young surgeon Sula makes a terrible mistake and flees to Dustria, the land of monsters and broken things; of people too far gone in their addictions, or their crimes. A Prince about to claim his throne is kidnapped, and his sister Princess Radh rides out to save him, whatever the cost - or so she thinks. Both young women encounter monsters and mayhem as Radh is thrust into a mystery of assassinations and treason leading to war, and Sula discovers the tension between love, magic and forgiving oneself enough to save the world.
Dustria is a dark and beautiful fantasy with motifs from world folklore, wrapped around Sapphire, an addictive blue liquid which alters magic and the lives of those who drink it, by powerfully emotive author Madhurika Sankar. Set within a vibrant world of warring Kingdoms, backstabbing Immortals and the tension between love and magic, Dustria is an intense intertwined mania wrapped around the cerulean liquid which changed the world.
Dustria is for the questioning reader, examining themes in unrequited love, substance abuse, sexual diversity, and enduring friendships. It’s set against the backdrop of a constant exploration of the Can we redeem ourselves from terrible mistakes made in our younger years or do we, sometimes, need to find alternate ways to frame our lives in order to grow as individuals and forgive ourselves?
Gifted young surgeon Sula makes a terrible mistake and flees to Dustria, the land of monsters and broken things; of people too far gone in their addictions, or their crimes. A Prince about to claim his throne is kidnapped, and his sister Princess Radh rides out to save him, whatever the cost - or so she thinks. Both young women encounter monsters and mayhem as Radh is thrust into a mystery of assassinations and treason leading to war, and Sula discovers the tension between love, magic and forgiving oneself enough to save the world.
Dustria is a dark and beautiful fantasy with motifs from world folklore, wrapped around Sapphire, an addictive blue liquid which alters magic and the lives of those who drink it, by powerfully emotive author Madhurika Sankar. Set within a vibrant world of warring Kingdoms, backstabbing Immortals and the tension between love and magic, Dustria is an intense intertwined mania wrapped around the cerulean liquid which changed the world.
Dustria is for the questioning reader, examining themes in unrequited love, substance abuse, sexual diversity, and enduring friendships. It’s set against the backdrop of a constant exploration of the Can we redeem ourselves from terrible mistakes made in our younger years or do we, sometimes, need to find alternate ways to frame our lives in order to grow as individuals and forgive ourselves?
- GenresFantasy
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 16, 2024
Dustria by Madhurika Sankar is a fantasy book which takes place in a dark and magical world, where kingdoms are at war, immortals are plotting, and a mysterious blue liquid, Sapphire, alters the very fabric of magic itself. The story follows Sula, a gifted young surgeon who flees to the land of Dustria after a tragic mistake, and Princess Radh, who sets out to rescue her kidnapped brother, the heir to the throne. As Radh ventures deeper into a world of treason and danger, Sula struggles with her own inner demons and the consequences of her actions.
The inclusion of a character guide at the beginning was such a huge “turn off” for me (I don’t understand why this is becoming a trend honestly). I find this a bit off-putting as to me, it implies that the characters won’t be fully developed throughout the story. I had to keep flipping back to the guide to remind myself who everyone was, which disrupted my concentration in the plot. The sheer number of characters listed in the beginning feels overwhelming, almost like a jumble. I prefer when a book introduces multiple characters gradually, allowing me to understand and connect with them before they’re all brought together.
I did enjoy the book’s focus on strong female leads. Both Sula and Radh are intriguing characters, each with their own burdens to bear. I also appreciated how the story explores the tension between the past and future, which added an interesting layer of conflict to the narrative.
The writing style left me wanting more. The sentences were often short and felt too straightforward, which gave the narrative a flat quality. Conversations, too, lacked depth and fluidity, making it difficult for me to connect emotionally with the characters or their struggles.
Thank you to booktasters and the author for sharing the book with me
The inclusion of a character guide at the beginning was such a huge “turn off” for me (I don’t understand why this is becoming a trend honestly). I find this a bit off-putting as to me, it implies that the characters won’t be fully developed throughout the story. I had to keep flipping back to the guide to remind myself who everyone was, which disrupted my concentration in the plot. The sheer number of characters listed in the beginning feels overwhelming, almost like a jumble. I prefer when a book introduces multiple characters gradually, allowing me to understand and connect with them before they’re all brought together.
I did enjoy the book’s focus on strong female leads. Both Sula and Radh are intriguing characters, each with their own burdens to bear. I also appreciated how the story explores the tension between the past and future, which added an interesting layer of conflict to the narrative.
The writing style left me wanting more. The sentences were often short and felt too straightforward, which gave the narrative a flat quality. Conversations, too, lacked depth and fluidity, making it difficult for me to connect emotionally with the characters or their struggles.
Thank you to booktasters and the author for sharing the book with me
December 26, 2024
Thank you to Reedsy for an Advanced Reading Copy.
In Dustria, Madhurika Sankar weaves a haunting tale of a fractured world teetering on the edge of collapse. It is a place where addiction fuels chaos, magic is both savior and curse, and redemption comes at a heavy price. Centered on Sula—brilliant, broken, and battling the grip of Sapphire addiction—the story journeys through the desolate prison island of Dustria and the decaying kingdoms of Erath. As mortals and Immortals alike confront their sins and weaknesses, Sula’s path to redemption becomes a fight to save a world on the brink.
This is not your typical sword-swinging, dragon-slaying fantasy. Sankar's writing is wonderfully poetic and intense. The scenes are immersive and drip with atmosphere, transporting the reader instantly. From the grim alleys of Temelach to the barren dust plains of Dustria, every setting feels alive, every word carefully chosen. The prose is lyrical, even when depicting dark, gut-wrenching moments. The writing is, simply put, beautiful.
I found that the thematic elements hit hard: addiction as both tragedy and temptation, the cost of power, and the painful search for redemption. One of the most poignant moments in Dustria comes when a character reflects on the power of addiction to blur the lines between comfort and destruction. In a quiet, introspective scene, the character acknowledges their addiction—not just as a physical craving but as an emotional shield against pain, loss, and the sharp edges of reality. The moment is heart-wrenching because it captures the universal struggle of knowing something is harming you but feeling utterly unable to let it go. This scene resonates because it’s not just about addiction—it’s about coping, yearning, and finding meaning when everything feels lost. It lingered with me, reminding me of the quiet battles people face and the strength it takes to confront them.
Fans of N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy or Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy will feel right at home in Sankar’s world—dark, introspective, and morally layered. If you enjoy lush prose, character-driven narratives, and fantasy that makes you think and feel, Dustria is your next great read. It is a must-read for fantasy lovers. It is a stunning exploration of humanity’s darkest struggles wrapped in a gorgeously written tale. Those who embrace its beauty and depth will find a powerful, unforgettable story about redemption and the fragile line between salvation and self-destruction.
In Dustria, Madhurika Sankar weaves a haunting tale of a fractured world teetering on the edge of collapse. It is a place where addiction fuels chaos, magic is both savior and curse, and redemption comes at a heavy price. Centered on Sula—brilliant, broken, and battling the grip of Sapphire addiction—the story journeys through the desolate prison island of Dustria and the decaying kingdoms of Erath. As mortals and Immortals alike confront their sins and weaknesses, Sula’s path to redemption becomes a fight to save a world on the brink.
This is not your typical sword-swinging, dragon-slaying fantasy. Sankar's writing is wonderfully poetic and intense. The scenes are immersive and drip with atmosphere, transporting the reader instantly. From the grim alleys of Temelach to the barren dust plains of Dustria, every setting feels alive, every word carefully chosen. The prose is lyrical, even when depicting dark, gut-wrenching moments. The writing is, simply put, beautiful.
I found that the thematic elements hit hard: addiction as both tragedy and temptation, the cost of power, and the painful search for redemption. One of the most poignant moments in Dustria comes when a character reflects on the power of addiction to blur the lines between comfort and destruction. In a quiet, introspective scene, the character acknowledges their addiction—not just as a physical craving but as an emotional shield against pain, loss, and the sharp edges of reality. The moment is heart-wrenching because it captures the universal struggle of knowing something is harming you but feeling utterly unable to let it go. This scene resonates because it’s not just about addiction—it’s about coping, yearning, and finding meaning when everything feels lost. It lingered with me, reminding me of the quiet battles people face and the strength it takes to confront them.
Fans of N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth Trilogy or Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy will feel right at home in Sankar’s world—dark, introspective, and morally layered. If you enjoy lush prose, character-driven narratives, and fantasy that makes you think and feel, Dustria is your next great read. It is a must-read for fantasy lovers. It is a stunning exploration of humanity’s darkest struggles wrapped in a gorgeously written tale. Those who embrace its beauty and depth will find a powerful, unforgettable story about redemption and the fragile line between salvation and self-destruction.
November 20, 2024
I did like very much the first part of the story, especially because the magic of this world seem so much intresting. Gabriel and Sula´s journey keep my attention too, the determation of Gabriel for saving his mortal lover and the long path of Sula for recovery of her addiction.
But I did not enjoy the tension and the war intrigues. I thought that the magic of Dustria was a bit lost in all that political part.
But I did not enjoy the tension and the war intrigues. I thought that the magic of Dustria was a bit lost in all that political part.
November 13, 2024
Thank you to Madhurika Sankar and Book Sirens for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!
"Dustria" is a multi-POV epic fantasy that primarily follows the adventures of Sulatant, a gifted young surgeon in a realm of magic and intrigue, who becomes addicted to a mysterious intoxicant called Sapphire which has shaped her practice, her relationships, and the struggles of her homeland for the last 3,000 years. We follow the perspectives of Sulatant and her friends, Immortals - supreme beings who can withstand the addictive and destructive tendencies of Sapphire, mortals, monsters, and rulers as the world turns and the all-consuming lust for Sapphire moves kingdoms and empires.
While I was really attracted to the idea of a fantasy series that centers a woman surgeon, I must unfortunately report that this book fell very flat for me in terms of world-building, character development, and overall storytelling. Broadly speaking and without diving into the weeds (and spoilers), this fantasy feels like a first draft of what could be a great series - the players tend to all have the same voice and make stereotyped decisions that don't fit their characters but are meant to move the plot, the POVs and timeline often get tangled and we jump back and forth between voices and times a lot in ways that don't keep the plot engaging, and the voice of the book really suffers from a "tell, but not show" mentality - I understand what the author was trying to do with their story and the world she was building, but as a reader there was no investment or buy-in on my part in what was going on in the world, and I had a hard time wanting to get lost in the story.
More specifically, while the author provides a guide at the beginning of the book as to who and what certain characters are and how they fit in, as well as a map of the world I feel as a reader I should get enough of a description of the characters and small reminders throughout of what and whom I am dealing with so I don't have to have the reference guide or the map open at all times for context. - this is especially important to me as an ARC reader and someone who primarily uses an E-reader. I felt like I was constantly having to remember what characters were supposed to look like and/or ad a hard time telling characters apart because there were scant descriptions of characters and/or descriptive language throughout the texts to remind the readers who you were dealing with and what was important to remember about them. For example, there is a specific monster that comes up towards the end of the story that was briefly described in the guide at the start of the book, but while in play in the story is only referred to as having big teeth and being physically large. There is no creative writing to remind the reader of its other features and things that made it terrifying in context and it honestly made it hard to be invested into how scared the characters were supposed to be while facing this monster. As another example, the "Immortals" were described as once overall as being very old and having white hair, and while there are about a dozen of them in play throughout the story the author barely describes any of them or sets them apart, and I had to read very carefully in any scenes where more than one was speaking as they were neither physically nor descriptively (in way of speaking, etc.) distinct. It was hard to be invested in them as characters, and while I know in reading the point is to paint a picture in your mind of what is going on, there was so little information about what I was looking at that my brain didn't have enough to form a mental picture while reading in context, leading to a very dry read overall.
I hate to leave low reviews for books and am generally a pretty easygoing reviewer in terms of reviewing favorably if the vibes were good and I had a good time reading. I found myself with this book just being very frustrated overall as I read, because as I stated, "Dustria" felt like more of an outline or a rough draft of something that has some potential to be a good series. In some ways this book just felt like a speed-run of a list of common epic fantasy tropes (e.g. comically evil rulers, The Power of Friendship TM, magical creatures, hero's journey, court intrigue etc.) and little time was taken to really flesh out the world and the characters at the expense of getting the story told, for some reason. There are a lot of gaps and missing plot points in the storylines and in this world to the point of being holier than Swiss cheese. If this book was reworked into like 3-4 books and everything was really fleshed out with regards to descriptive language I would be interested in revisiting the world of "Dustria", but this needs A LOT of work, and I can't in good conscience rate this book as it is any higher.
"Dustria" is a multi-POV epic fantasy that primarily follows the adventures of Sulatant, a gifted young surgeon in a realm of magic and intrigue, who becomes addicted to a mysterious intoxicant called Sapphire which has shaped her practice, her relationships, and the struggles of her homeland for the last 3,000 years. We follow the perspectives of Sulatant and her friends, Immortals - supreme beings who can withstand the addictive and destructive tendencies of Sapphire, mortals, monsters, and rulers as the world turns and the all-consuming lust for Sapphire moves kingdoms and empires.
While I was really attracted to the idea of a fantasy series that centers a woman surgeon, I must unfortunately report that this book fell very flat for me in terms of world-building, character development, and overall storytelling. Broadly speaking and without diving into the weeds (and spoilers), this fantasy feels like a first draft of what could be a great series - the players tend to all have the same voice and make stereotyped decisions that don't fit their characters but are meant to move the plot, the POVs and timeline often get tangled and we jump back and forth between voices and times a lot in ways that don't keep the plot engaging, and the voice of the book really suffers from a "tell, but not show" mentality - I understand what the author was trying to do with their story and the world she was building, but as a reader there was no investment or buy-in on my part in what was going on in the world, and I had a hard time wanting to get lost in the story.
More specifically, while the author provides a guide at the beginning of the book as to who and what certain characters are and how they fit in, as well as a map of the world I feel as a reader I should get enough of a description of the characters and small reminders throughout of what and whom I am dealing with so I don't have to have the reference guide or the map open at all times for context. - this is especially important to me as an ARC reader and someone who primarily uses an E-reader. I felt like I was constantly having to remember what characters were supposed to look like and/or ad a hard time telling characters apart because there were scant descriptions of characters and/or descriptive language throughout the texts to remind the readers who you were dealing with and what was important to remember about them. For example, there is a specific monster that comes up towards the end of the story that was briefly described in the guide at the start of the book, but while in play in the story is only referred to as having big teeth and being physically large. There is no creative writing to remind the reader of its other features and things that made it terrifying in context and it honestly made it hard to be invested into how scared the characters were supposed to be while facing this monster. As another example, the "Immortals" were described as once overall as being very old and having white hair, and while there are about a dozen of them in play throughout the story the author barely describes any of them or sets them apart, and I had to read very carefully in any scenes where more than one was speaking as they were neither physically nor descriptively (in way of speaking, etc.) distinct. It was hard to be invested in them as characters, and while I know in reading the point is to paint a picture in your mind of what is going on, there was so little information about what I was looking at that my brain didn't have enough to form a mental picture while reading in context, leading to a very dry read overall.
I hate to leave low reviews for books and am generally a pretty easygoing reviewer in terms of reviewing favorably if the vibes were good and I had a good time reading. I found myself with this book just being very frustrated overall as I read, because as I stated, "Dustria" felt like more of an outline or a rough draft of something that has some potential to be a good series. In some ways this book just felt like a speed-run of a list of common epic fantasy tropes (e.g. comically evil rulers, The Power of Friendship TM, magical creatures, hero's journey, court intrigue etc.) and little time was taken to really flesh out the world and the characters at the expense of getting the story told, for some reason. There are a lot of gaps and missing plot points in the storylines and in this world to the point of being holier than Swiss cheese. If this book was reworked into like 3-4 books and everything was really fleshed out with regards to descriptive language I would be interested in revisiting the world of "Dustria", but this needs A LOT of work, and I can't in good conscience rate this book as it is any higher.
January 27, 2025
The world of Dustria felt like a wide thought out one, we had lots of different people across the kingdoms including one in the island prison of Dustria.
It was interesting to see how so many different people in different societal positions could be influenced and center their lives on substance abuse. Also interesting was the exploration of sexual abuse within such a drug-focused hierarchy. Khorda one of the powerful Immortals sleeps with Tansia, his much younger servant whom he knows is desperate for any kind of survival in this twisted world. Because it is in third person we observe the unfolding narrative and can note these little additions that truly show how much Sankar had put into her worldbuilding.
Sapphire is a drug that this world is centred on; the Immortals (who set themselves up as gods above everyone else as the only people who can drink it without suffering dark consequences and the Others who have succumbed to the Sapphire and become twisted monstrous animalistic not-people. Between these are the normal people, the ones who are not heavily imbibing on this forbidden substance but can fall easily prey to it because of the rampant black market.
One of the characters Nalin’s son aged around ten died because of the Sapphire abuse and Nalin was sent to Dustria with a life sentence for murdering his Sapphire dealer. Nalin himself has gone deeper into a twisted kind of morality, selling humans that are addicts to the Others (as slaves and possibly a food source).
Also the idea that you just throw away the societal problems but don’t seek to address the problem at the core which is society and the Immortals is really interesting.
However a negative that took this rating down a little was that the narratives jumped rapidly between a huge cast of characters, I struggled to grasp all their different stories and how they related to the overall plot of the Sapphire. However despite this it was still an interesting read.
It was interesting to see how so many different people in different societal positions could be influenced and center their lives on substance abuse. Also interesting was the exploration of sexual abuse within such a drug-focused hierarchy. Khorda one of the powerful Immortals sleeps with Tansia, his much younger servant whom he knows is desperate for any kind of survival in this twisted world. Because it is in third person we observe the unfolding narrative and can note these little additions that truly show how much Sankar had put into her worldbuilding.
Sapphire is a drug that this world is centred on; the Immortals (who set themselves up as gods above everyone else as the only people who can drink it without suffering dark consequences and the Others who have succumbed to the Sapphire and become twisted monstrous animalistic not-people. Between these are the normal people, the ones who are not heavily imbibing on this forbidden substance but can fall easily prey to it because of the rampant black market.
One of the characters Nalin’s son aged around ten died because of the Sapphire abuse and Nalin was sent to Dustria with a life sentence for murdering his Sapphire dealer. Nalin himself has gone deeper into a twisted kind of morality, selling humans that are addicts to the Others (as slaves and possibly a food source).
Also the idea that you just throw away the societal problems but don’t seek to address the problem at the core which is society and the Immortals is really interesting.
However a negative that took this rating down a little was that the narratives jumped rapidly between a huge cast of characters, I struggled to grasp all their different stories and how they related to the overall plot of the Sapphire. However despite this it was still an interesting read.
November 20, 2024
A conceptually beautiful debut that was lacking in execution
Starting off with what worked for me- I think the overall plot, character arcs, and themes from a high-level view are exceptional. I think painting a colorful atmosphere is one of Sankar's strong suits as well, and would have loved a higher page count to play to that strength and get more immersed in this world.
The biggest deterrent though, especially early on, is the prose, which just does not make for a smooth reading experience. I often felt like I was reviewing a first draft as opposed to a completed novel. The readability definitely improves around the 20% mark, but, honestly, if this wasn't an arc I would have dnf'd it before making it to that point.
I think Dustria also struggled with the number of pov switches. Though I did enjoy the different glimpses of Erath we received through them, I think introducing that many povs in this short of a book made it very difficult for the characters to be developed compellingly. Putting that together with the very tell don't show struggles and relationships the characters have made it so that I never truly connected with or cared about any of them.
While the internal dialogue wasn’t bad, I do think Sankar struggled with writing conversational dialogue. Some great themes were being explored here, but how they were explored was so overt and in your face that the dialogue became very stilted. Put a bit more trust in your reader- every message you're trying to get across does not need to be so explicitly spelled out.
Overall, I think some added length and reworked dialogue would do wonders for this. I do see a lot of potential in Sankar, and would love to see what she creates in the future.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the arc!
Starting off with what worked for me- I think the overall plot, character arcs, and themes from a high-level view are exceptional. I think painting a colorful atmosphere is one of Sankar's strong suits as well, and would have loved a higher page count to play to that strength and get more immersed in this world.
The biggest deterrent though, especially early on, is the prose, which just does not make for a smooth reading experience. I often felt like I was reviewing a first draft as opposed to a completed novel. The readability definitely improves around the 20% mark, but, honestly, if this wasn't an arc I would have dnf'd it before making it to that point.
I think Dustria also struggled with the number of pov switches. Though I did enjoy the different glimpses of Erath we received through them, I think introducing that many povs in this short of a book made it very difficult for the characters to be developed compellingly. Putting that together with the very tell don't show struggles and relationships the characters have made it so that I never truly connected with or cared about any of them.
While the internal dialogue wasn’t bad, I do think Sankar struggled with writing conversational dialogue. Some great themes were being explored here, but how they were explored was so overt and in your face that the dialogue became very stilted. Put a bit more trust in your reader- every message you're trying to get across does not need to be so explicitly spelled out.
Overall, I think some added length and reworked dialogue would do wonders for this. I do see a lot of potential in Sankar, and would love to see what she creates in the future.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the arc!
December 9, 2024
3 🌟
The sinopsis really got my eye when I read it, but I think that it makes you get a wrong idea of what awaits inside. I think that is a mix of everything, without becoming anything.
We are set in a big world, and eventho we have a map at the beginning of the book, I would love to get some references of the place, so I don't have to look at it constantly. I mean, I can get the place by looking at it on the map, but it feels cold. It get's you out of the reading.
I may say, that the biggest thing that made me put only 3 stars is that there are MANY characters since the beginning, and, if you don't take your personal notes, it would be hard to know who's talking at the moment. They all "looked" quite similar to me, which only made it more difficult to recognice them and even the porsonalities seem similar to me.
The author constantly jumps to one character to another, so you can't really connect with any of them properly. Seems to me like it has been "rushed", let's say. I wish that they were developed a bit more. Think that this world may have potential.
As a native spanish speaker who had read several english books, I also found this one quite hard to follow. Not due to the world building, or the sentences, but becasue of the very hard advjetives i was finding, so maybe i "missed" some deep details or the real tone of the book.
Appart from that I really enjoyed Madhurika's writting style and the lenght of the chapters.
Please, don't be scared of describing too much, we love to see character development and world building. Show us the world you have on your head. You have so much potential. I enjoyed it very much afterall.
Thanks to Booktasters and Madhurika for the copy.
The sinopsis really got my eye when I read it, but I think that it makes you get a wrong idea of what awaits inside. I think that is a mix of everything, without becoming anything.
We are set in a big world, and eventho we have a map at the beginning of the book, I would love to get some references of the place, so I don't have to look at it constantly. I mean, I can get the place by looking at it on the map, but it feels cold. It get's you out of the reading.
I may say, that the biggest thing that made me put only 3 stars is that there are MANY characters since the beginning, and, if you don't take your personal notes, it would be hard to know who's talking at the moment. They all "looked" quite similar to me, which only made it more difficult to recognice them and even the porsonalities seem similar to me.
The author constantly jumps to one character to another, so you can't really connect with any of them properly. Seems to me like it has been "rushed", let's say. I wish that they were developed a bit more. Think that this world may have potential.
As a native spanish speaker who had read several english books, I also found this one quite hard to follow. Not due to the world building, or the sentences, but becasue of the very hard advjetives i was finding, so maybe i "missed" some deep details or the real tone of the book.
Appart from that I really enjoyed Madhurika's writting style and the lenght of the chapters.
Please, don't be scared of describing too much, we love to see character development and world building. Show us the world you have on your head. You have so much potential. I enjoyed it very much afterall.
Thanks to Booktasters and Madhurika for the copy.
November 14, 2024
This book had me glued in the first part. There were so many characters, each of them with very intriguing storylines that I liked to read about. I was also taken aback by the plot twist regarding Gabriel’s human lover because I honestly did not see that twist coming. The fact that there were dragons involved in this story only made me want to read the book more.
But then I got to the second part of the book, and it all started falling flat for me. This book would have been more impactful for me if it had been spaced out in more than one story. We do not learn much about the characters and their motivations; we are told more than shown what happened in their lives. It would have been more impactful if we saw the effect Sapphire had on some of the characters and their families, like Nalin. How Sapphire affected a great prodigy like Sula.
The relationship development between several characters was also very unbelievable. I was told more than shown that Gabriel and Sula care for one another. I get that this book is more based on fantasy than romance, but I did not believe the romance existed between them at all. It read more like they were lusting after one another because there was no one else around.
Another thing that took me out of the story was the overuse of “big words." It sometimes felt like when, in an episode of Friends, Joey discovered a thesaurus and wrote a motivation letter for Chandler and Monica to adopt. Despite that, the writing was beautiful and if the story had been defined more, I think this would be a fantastic fantasy.
Thank you to Madhurika Sankar, BookSirens and Booktasters for this ARC for my honest review.
But then I got to the second part of the book, and it all started falling flat for me. This book would have been more impactful for me if it had been spaced out in more than one story. We do not learn much about the characters and their motivations; we are told more than shown what happened in their lives. It would have been more impactful if we saw the effect Sapphire had on some of the characters and their families, like Nalin. How Sapphire affected a great prodigy like Sula.
The relationship development between several characters was also very unbelievable. I was told more than shown that Gabriel and Sula care for one another. I get that this book is more based on fantasy than romance, but I did not believe the romance existed between them at all. It read more like they were lusting after one another because there was no one else around.
Another thing that took me out of the story was the overuse of “big words." It sometimes felt like when, in an episode of Friends, Joey discovered a thesaurus and wrote a motivation letter for Chandler and Monica to adopt. Despite that, the writing was beautiful and if the story had been defined more, I think this would be a fantastic fantasy.
Thank you to Madhurika Sankar, BookSirens and Booktasters for this ARC for my honest review.
March 12, 2025
This is very much a book where style has completely overwhelmed, obfuscated, ornati-fied and ostentatiousized the substance. It’s a chore to read. Descriptions are laboriously hammered out, every character speaks with the same pompous voice, and it’s a shame because at times there are some actually nice images, some very eloquent turns of phrase … but there’s so much nonsense around it that it’s like trying to see the diamonds amongst the cut glass.
It’s one thing for an immortal or a highly educated person attending a surgical college to use $50 dollar words, but some farmer from another country or kingdom or some local ruffians, all using the same language, speaking in exactly the same style? It makes it clear that no thought has been given to what these characters would sound like as people. Rather than having individual motives and motivations, they are merely there to be dolls, moved along by the plot and doing — and saying — what the plot needs them to.
I found it hard to care about the plot when I was struggling so much with the writing, and struggling to stay interested long enough to read the next page, let alone the next chapter. The world building is lackluster, forced into confusing and clumsy shape by the needs of the plot rather than being a support for the story. There are a few errors scattered about, such as breaches instead of breeches, and a few words used for flavour rather than accuracy — again, style over substance — that kept snagging my attention. This is, I think, a debut, but it’s not an enjoyable one.
I’m very sorry, but skip this book. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
It’s one thing for an immortal or a highly educated person attending a surgical college to use $50 dollar words, but some farmer from another country or kingdom or some local ruffians, all using the same language, speaking in exactly the same style? It makes it clear that no thought has been given to what these characters would sound like as people. Rather than having individual motives and motivations, they are merely there to be dolls, moved along by the plot and doing — and saying — what the plot needs them to.
I found it hard to care about the plot when I was struggling so much with the writing, and struggling to stay interested long enough to read the next page, let alone the next chapter. The world building is lackluster, forced into confusing and clumsy shape by the needs of the plot rather than being a support for the story. There are a few errors scattered about, such as breaches instead of breeches, and a few words used for flavour rather than accuracy — again, style over substance — that kept snagging my attention. This is, I think, a debut, but it’s not an enjoyable one.
I’m very sorry, but skip this book. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 24, 2024
3.5 out of 5 stars
First off, thank you to Book Sirens for the advance reader copy of this book and the extension to finish. Second, this review will be kept spoiler free.
I started off loving Dustria, it didn’t meet my expectations in the end though. The book follows Sulatant, a young gifted surgeon, after she makes a life altering mistake using the liquid drug Sapphire that put the world into ruin. She runs away to Dustria, a place of magic and broken people and things.
I enjoyed the character growth throughout the book, the world building, and how addiction was tackled throughout the book. How tightly the world was linked to Sapphire, the orb, and how the immortals were actually made was intriguing. The ending was cathartic and I appreciated Sula’s choice in the end to feel she had taken responsibility for her actions.
The lack of descriptions with characters, especially the immortals who were described usually being ancient with white hair and blue eyes, and not much else was a let down. It seems the author wanted you to remember from the character descriptions in the beginning and someone who has memory issues this made me enjoy the book much less. The amount of character point of view jumps and time made it confusing, I have enjoyed books that do this but this book fell short in the attempt it made.
All in all, I didn’t want to give book 3 stars or 4 because I really did enjoy it. In the end though I can’t confidently give it higher then 3.5.
First off, thank you to Book Sirens for the advance reader copy of this book and the extension to finish. Second, this review will be kept spoiler free.
I started off loving Dustria, it didn’t meet my expectations in the end though. The book follows Sulatant, a young gifted surgeon, after she makes a life altering mistake using the liquid drug Sapphire that put the world into ruin. She runs away to Dustria, a place of magic and broken people and things.
I enjoyed the character growth throughout the book, the world building, and how addiction was tackled throughout the book. How tightly the world was linked to Sapphire, the orb, and how the immortals were actually made was intriguing. The ending was cathartic and I appreciated Sula’s choice in the end to feel she had taken responsibility for her actions.
The lack of descriptions with characters, especially the immortals who were described usually being ancient with white hair and blue eyes, and not much else was a let down. It seems the author wanted you to remember from the character descriptions in the beginning and someone who has memory issues this made me enjoy the book much less. The amount of character point of view jumps and time made it confusing, I have enjoyed books that do this but this book fell short in the attempt it made.
All in all, I didn’t want to give book 3 stars or 4 because I really did enjoy it. In the end though I can’t confidently give it higher then 3.5.
January 7, 2025
“Can we redeem ourselves from terrible mistakes made in our younger years or do we, sometimes, need to find alternative ways to frame our lives in order to grow as individuals?”
When I read, I find myself wanting to get lost in a book but all this book has so far done is lose me. Claimed to be “dark, disturbing and beautiful,” I find this ‘praise’ to be slightly misleading as the only disturbing thing about this is how much this feels like a draft of a book that needs a phenomenal amount of work. Understandably, this is the author's Debut novel but I feel like more work needs to go into this to make it the masterpiece the author is selling it as. Starting with the synopsis of the book, I was led to believe that I was to be reading a fantasy novel, not pulling apart a book for an English essay. I don’t want to think about hidden messages when reading fantasy. I want to get swept up in a world that makes me forget about the day to day. So far, all this book has done is make me think. From having to constantly refer to the obnoxiously overdone character guide at the beginning of the book that in no way helps a reader but just hinders us to flat characters with no depth and minimal description. I take no pleasure in giving books bad reviews but when I have to DNF a book that shows so much promise if only more creativity went into it, I don’t know what else to do.
Thank you to Netgalley for thr arc. All comments are my honest opinion.
When I read, I find myself wanting to get lost in a book but all this book has so far done is lose me. Claimed to be “dark, disturbing and beautiful,” I find this ‘praise’ to be slightly misleading as the only disturbing thing about this is how much this feels like a draft of a book that needs a phenomenal amount of work. Understandably, this is the author's Debut novel but I feel like more work needs to go into this to make it the masterpiece the author is selling it as. Starting with the synopsis of the book, I was led to believe that I was to be reading a fantasy novel, not pulling apart a book for an English essay. I don’t want to think about hidden messages when reading fantasy. I want to get swept up in a world that makes me forget about the day to day. So far, all this book has done is make me think. From having to constantly refer to the obnoxiously overdone character guide at the beginning of the book that in no way helps a reader but just hinders us to flat characters with no depth and minimal description. I take no pleasure in giving books bad reviews but when I have to DNF a book that shows so much promise if only more creativity went into it, I don’t know what else to do.
Thank you to Netgalley for thr arc. All comments are my honest opinion.
February 11, 2025
Thank you Booktasters and the author for letting me read Dustria, and give an honest review in exchange.
I live fantasy books with large maps, so I was excited to read this one.
It started off pretty well with a murder, which increased my excitement despite the character list that felt overwhelming.
However, Dustria did not maintain this pacing.
I could see what the author was going for, however, I feel the narration is a little disjointed. It does not flow well, and by the time you're done with a POV, you've forgotten where you stopped for other POVs. Sulatant is meant to be one of the main characters, but her POVs felt...passive. I preferred the angry warrior princess'.
My biggest chalenge was the continuous need to refer back to the character list because I'd forgotten who am Immortal or royal was. The characters are much, yes, but that is not a problem. With adequate hints and descriptors (including flashbacks), readers should be able to deduce who is what.
Dustria does not have enough of these hints though. So, you'd need to break the 'spell' to look up a character's role in the book.
This slowed my reading.
I also felt the dialogue sometimes went from too flat to too heavy for the situation.
All in all, I think Dustria can be a good read if these parts are tightened up. I love the themes it explores (religion, addiction, castes, amongst others).
Thanks again Booktasters. And thank you Madhurika!
I live fantasy books with large maps, so I was excited to read this one.
It started off pretty well with a murder, which increased my excitement despite the character list that felt overwhelming.
However, Dustria did not maintain this pacing.
I could see what the author was going for, however, I feel the narration is a little disjointed. It does not flow well, and by the time you're done with a POV, you've forgotten where you stopped for other POVs. Sulatant is meant to be one of the main characters, but her POVs felt...passive. I preferred the angry warrior princess'.
My biggest chalenge was the continuous need to refer back to the character list because I'd forgotten who am Immortal or royal was. The characters are much, yes, but that is not a problem. With adequate hints and descriptors (including flashbacks), readers should be able to deduce who is what.
Dustria does not have enough of these hints though. So, you'd need to break the 'spell' to look up a character's role in the book.
This slowed my reading.
I also felt the dialogue sometimes went from too flat to too heavy for the situation.
All in all, I think Dustria can be a good read if these parts are tightened up. I love the themes it explores (religion, addiction, castes, amongst others).
Thanks again Booktasters. And thank you Madhurika!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2024
3.5/5
Disclaimer: Thanks to Madhurika Sankar, Booktasters and Book Sirens for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
Dustria is an intriguing fantasy novel set in a complex and profound world. The story features queens and princes, heroes and villains, and morally gray characters, creating a captivating tapestry.
I was so enthralled by the book, I read it in a few of days and I must say, it had me glued to the pages. The narration is compelling, and I appreciated that each character had their own story and depth, rather than serving merely as fillers.
For the story, I found it really compelling and the world-building was awesome. However, I felt that the plot could have been more developed, with more crescendos, twists, and action! The final chapters felt somewhat anticlimactic; I was anticipating a more intense climax. While I enjoyed the ending, it fell short of my expectations.
Despite this, there were some satisfying conclusions, I was particularly content with how one of the main character’s journey wraps up. The final lines about healing were truly inspiring.
All in all, Dustria is a good fantasy novel with interesting and complex characters, excellent world-building, and a touch of magic that will keep you reading page after page till the end.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Madhurika Sankar, Booktasters and Book Sirens for providing an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.
Dustria is an intriguing fantasy novel set in a complex and profound world. The story features queens and princes, heroes and villains, and morally gray characters, creating a captivating tapestry.
I was so enthralled by the book, I read it in a few of days and I must say, it had me glued to the pages. The narration is compelling, and I appreciated that each character had their own story and depth, rather than serving merely as fillers.
For the story, I found it really compelling and the world-building was awesome. However, I felt that the plot could have been more developed, with more crescendos, twists, and action! The final chapters felt somewhat anticlimactic; I was anticipating a more intense climax. While I enjoyed the ending, it fell short of my expectations.
Despite this, there were some satisfying conclusions, I was particularly content with how one of the main character’s journey wraps up. The final lines about healing were truly inspiring.
All in all, Dustria is a good fantasy novel with interesting and complex characters, excellent world-building, and a touch of magic that will keep you reading page after page till the end.
December 18, 2024
An epic fantasy with an interesting magic system, high stakes conflict, political intrigue and strong female characters.
I loved the idea of this story and, at a high level, how it played out. The redemption storylines always speak to me and I also enjoyed the inclusion of addiction recovery. Unfortunately, the execution of the story was just not my cup of tea.
Multi-POVs are tricky for me. In this story, we are given sooo many characters and I wasn't able to form a strong connection with any of them. With so many POVs, I would spend half of a chapter just getting myself back in the mindset of that character only to start all over again in the next chapter with someone else. It diverted my attention away from the progressing storyline and prevented me from getting "lost" in the book.
I also feel the author had a very "telling" style of writing instead of showing. The dialogue felt awkward and everything seemed very lined out, almost like this was a rough draft for the story without the final polishing to make it flow. This was especially jarring toward the end when major conflicts came to a head and the entire scene was finished in just a few paragraphs. It felt very anticlimactic.
I feel like this book could have easily been sectioned out into a few books for a series, which would have given the author the time/space to really flush out the story, character development, relationship building and more detailed "show" style scenes. Conceptually, the story was there!
I loved the idea of this story and, at a high level, how it played out. The redemption storylines always speak to me and I also enjoyed the inclusion of addiction recovery. Unfortunately, the execution of the story was just not my cup of tea.
Multi-POVs are tricky for me. In this story, we are given sooo many characters and I wasn't able to form a strong connection with any of them. With so many POVs, I would spend half of a chapter just getting myself back in the mindset of that character only to start all over again in the next chapter with someone else. It diverted my attention away from the progressing storyline and prevented me from getting "lost" in the book.
I also feel the author had a very "telling" style of writing instead of showing. The dialogue felt awkward and everything seemed very lined out, almost like this was a rough draft for the story without the final polishing to make it flow. This was especially jarring toward the end when major conflicts came to a head and the entire scene was finished in just a few paragraphs. It felt very anticlimactic.
I feel like this book could have easily been sectioned out into a few books for a series, which would have given the author the time/space to really flush out the story, character development, relationship building and more detailed "show" style scenes. Conceptually, the story was there!
January 23, 2025
I had high hopes for this book, especially with the intriguing premise, but sadly, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I was promised a dark and beautiful story, yet all I found was frustration and confusion. The writing felt flat, and the characters lacked any real development, leaving me disconnected from the story.
The book’s structure didn’t help either. The constant reference to a character guide at the start was more of an obstacle than a tool. It made the reading experience feel more like a chore than an enjoyable escape. I didn’t feel like I was being transported to a different world; instead, I felt bogged down by unnecessary details and lackluster descriptions.
I understand that this is a debut novel, and I wanted to give it a fair chance, but it felt like it was missing a lot of the creativity and polish needed to make it shine. There was too much focus on overanalyzing and dissecting the text, when all I wanted was to dive into an immersive story. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with it, and I ended up putting it down halfway through.
This book had potential, but it needed far more work to bring it to life. I hope the author continues to develop their craft, but this one wasn’t for me. That's why I'm giving it 1 aka 0 ⭐.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy!
The book’s structure didn’t help either. The constant reference to a character guide at the start was more of an obstacle than a tool. It made the reading experience feel more like a chore than an enjoyable escape. I didn’t feel like I was being transported to a different world; instead, I felt bogged down by unnecessary details and lackluster descriptions.
I understand that this is a debut novel, and I wanted to give it a fair chance, but it felt like it was missing a lot of the creativity and polish needed to make it shine. There was too much focus on overanalyzing and dissecting the text, when all I wanted was to dive into an immersive story. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with it, and I ended up putting it down halfway through.
This book had potential, but it needed far more work to bring it to life. I hope the author continues to develop their craft, but this one wasn’t for me. That's why I'm giving it 1 aka 0 ⭐.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy!
November 15, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
Thanks to the author and booktasters for a copy it this book.
Dustria is a dark and enchanting fantasy book set in a world of warring kingdoms, deceitful immortals, and forbidden love. It follows multiple characters. A young women: Sula, a skilled surgeon running from her past who finds herself in a land of broken souls and dangerous creatures, and Princess Radh, who embarks on a desperate mission to save her kidnapped brother and many more. As their journeys intertwine, the story explores themes of magic, forgiveness, and resilience, with the mysterious and addictive substance Sapphire shaping the fates of those who encounter it.
At first, I found it difficult to get into Dustria because of the many characters and the challenge of understanding who they were and what their roles were. However, once I got past that initial hurdle, the story became truly engaging and interesting. The themes the author tackled—like addiction and self-doubt were handled with great care and depth. Overall, it was a great book and I had a great time reading it.
Thanks to the author and booktasters for a copy it this book.
Dustria is a dark and enchanting fantasy book set in a world of warring kingdoms, deceitful immortals, and forbidden love. It follows multiple characters. A young women: Sula, a skilled surgeon running from her past who finds herself in a land of broken souls and dangerous creatures, and Princess Radh, who embarks on a desperate mission to save her kidnapped brother and many more. As their journeys intertwine, the story explores themes of magic, forgiveness, and resilience, with the mysterious and addictive substance Sapphire shaping the fates of those who encounter it.
At first, I found it difficult to get into Dustria because of the many characters and the challenge of understanding who they were and what their roles were. However, once I got past that initial hurdle, the story became truly engaging and interesting. The themes the author tackled—like addiction and self-doubt were handled with great care and depth. Overall, it was a great book and I had a great time reading it.
December 19, 2024
This was an interesting story, with a unique world, rich world-building, and a variety of characters and storylines entwined within. There is an extensive list of characters at the start, but if that’s not your thing, you can easily skip over it. My biggest complaint is that there are a lot of characters that you need to keep track of, as well as their corresponding story lines. After reading the list of characters, I initially felt overwhelmed, and it wasn’t until I was quite deep in the story that I felt comfortable with everyone I needed to remember. I appreciated that each chapter told you which character you’d be following, but it could get a little overwhelming at times to keep track of everyone, who they were, and their place in the hierarchy of the world. That said, my favorite part was probably the magic system and the world that Sankar has created. Although it’s a bit dystopian, it has strong fantasy vibes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 4, 2025
Give it a chance!
I received this as an ARC through LibraryThings. I LOVE the cover art. I was confused when I first started reading and wasn't sure this was a book for me. In the end, I am glad I finished! This is a high fantasy book with large amounts of world building and character development. The change of POV with each chapter as well as the jump in timeline on occasion made my brain work to keep up. I would recommend to people who can stick it out until it makes more sense. There is romance, magic, evil, dragons, and other creatures, as well as mortals just trying to survive. It's definitely a story with a moral, so it isn't just fantasy. Addiction is addressed. My main criticism would be the use of large words when simpler words would have worked just as well. It may be a roadblock for some.
I received this as an ARC through LibraryThings. I LOVE the cover art. I was confused when I first started reading and wasn't sure this was a book for me. In the end, I am glad I finished! This is a high fantasy book with large amounts of world building and character development. The change of POV with each chapter as well as the jump in timeline on occasion made my brain work to keep up. I would recommend to people who can stick it out until it makes more sense. There is romance, magic, evil, dragons, and other creatures, as well as mortals just trying to survive. It's definitely a story with a moral, so it isn't just fantasy. Addiction is addressed. My main criticism would be the use of large words when simpler words would have worked just as well. It may be a roadblock for some.
November 24, 2024
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a beautifully written book. I loved the author's use of imagery, with lots of emphasis on colour, that helped to bring the story to life in my mind. The author's use of emotive language meant that I felt connected to the characters, and drawn into this world portrayed by the author.
The author wrote in a way that made me feel drawn into their world, but also outside of it. I felt an emotional attachment to the characters, enough for the story to tug at my heartstrings.
This was a longer read than I first anticipated, but it was definitely worth it. I also felt the book was beautifully illustrated. I think readers of dystopian fantasy will definitely enjoy this book.
This was a beautifully written book. I loved the author's use of imagery, with lots of emphasis on colour, that helped to bring the story to life in my mind. The author's use of emotive language meant that I felt connected to the characters, and drawn into this world portrayed by the author.
The author wrote in a way that made me feel drawn into their world, but also outside of it. I felt an emotional attachment to the characters, enough for the story to tug at my heartstrings.
This was a longer read than I first anticipated, but it was definitely worth it. I also felt the book was beautifully illustrated. I think readers of dystopian fantasy will definitely enjoy this book.
May 28, 2025
Dustria presents a world brimming with potential, monsters, magic, and emotional complexity, but ultimately struggles under the weight of its own ambition. While the concept of Sapphire and its addictive influence is intriguing, the story often feels overstuffed and disjointed, with too many threads vying for attention. Sula and Radh’s arcs are emotionally charged but lack the clarity and pacing needed to fully connect, and the rich themes of redemption, identity, and forgiveness get muddled in dense prose and uneven worldbuilding. There are glimpses of beauty and depth here, but they’re often buried beneath confusion and inconsistency.
December 24, 2024
This was a really creative and well thought out representation of different vices within a fantasy setting. It was really fun to dive into this and meet all of the characters, and then see how they're dealing with things like loss, political unrest, and unrequited love.
Sapphire is a dangerous addictive substance that people are punished for using. Sent to Dustria, these people are now trying to survive and deal with their new existence. But not all creatures experience the same effects, and the secrecy of everything puts us into a dangerous and fantastical world.
Sapphire is a dangerous addictive substance that people are punished for using. Sent to Dustria, these people are now trying to survive and deal with their new existence. But not all creatures experience the same effects, and the secrecy of everything puts us into a dangerous and fantastical world.
November 17, 2024
This was very good. I just wish it was longer so we could get to know the characters better and some of the tense moments could last longer.
Did Not Finish
December 20, 2024DNF: This one needs some work all around, but it seems to have a good foundation.
January 9, 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of Dustria and want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for giving me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest review!
Dustria is a multi-POV novel set in the high-fantasy world of Erath, a realm composed of three continents where Immortals, humans, and the Others exist—and sometimes coexist. There’s a lot happening in Erath: kingdoms teeter on the brink of war, addiction runs rampant, and Immortals—revered as gods—are revealed to be fallible.
One of my favorite aspects of Dustria was its exploration of addiction. The consistent mention and use of Sapphire by various characters—and their differing levels of dependency and perspectives on the substance—created an authentic depiction of addiction and the culture surrounding it. This book stands out for addressing addiction without fully demonizing it. The way it’s written makes me think Sankar has been personally touched by addiction in some way, which adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
Sankar’s writing is truly brilliant. Her prose is lyrical and captivating, making it easy to keep reading even when the plot feels overwhelming. She uses language masterfully, painting vivid scenes that linger long after the book is finished.
I also appreciated the complex and compelling themes woven throughout the story: addiction, betrayal, forbidden love, coming into one’s own, and reconciliation. Sankar does a fantastic job delving into these themes, and they kept me engaged from start to finish.
That said, I feel like this book only scratches the surface of the story it wants to tell. It could have benefited from being a short series rather than a standalone novel. So much is introduced right from the first chapter that a slightly slower, more exploratory pace would have allowed the story to fully unfold.
At the start of the book, there’s a character directory and a map. While helpful in theory, flipping back and forth to the directory felt like a hassle, so I decided to meet the characters as they were introduced. That approach worked better for me, though I still got confused at times. Once I identified the recurring voices, I focused on them, which made it easier to follow the story. The map, however, didn’t help as much as I’d hoped. Many locations mentioned weren’t marked, making it difficult to piece everything together. At times, I wondered if I was mixing up continents. Ultimately, I did my best to keep the locations straight and didn’t stress too much over the details.
The multiple POVs made for a challenging read, especially in the first half. There’s a lot happening all at once, and it took some time to understand how everything connected. By part three, I found my groove and became fully immersed in the story.
Despite my frustrations, I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy darker themes and beautiful prose. For me, it’s a three-star read. If it were the first in a series, I would have rated it higher—but both unfortunately and fortunately, it left me wanting more.
Once again, I’d like to thank Madhurika Sankar, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!
Dustria is a multi-POV novel set in the high-fantasy world of Erath, a realm composed of three continents where Immortals, humans, and the Others exist—and sometimes coexist. There’s a lot happening in Erath: kingdoms teeter on the brink of war, addiction runs rampant, and Immortals—revered as gods—are revealed to be fallible.
One of my favorite aspects of Dustria was its exploration of addiction. The consistent mention and use of Sapphire by various characters—and their differing levels of dependency and perspectives on the substance—created an authentic depiction of addiction and the culture surrounding it. This book stands out for addressing addiction without fully demonizing it. The way it’s written makes me think Sankar has been personally touched by addiction in some way, which adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
Sankar’s writing is truly brilliant. Her prose is lyrical and captivating, making it easy to keep reading even when the plot feels overwhelming. She uses language masterfully, painting vivid scenes that linger long after the book is finished.
I also appreciated the complex and compelling themes woven throughout the story: addiction, betrayal, forbidden love, coming into one’s own, and reconciliation. Sankar does a fantastic job delving into these themes, and they kept me engaged from start to finish.
That said, I feel like this book only scratches the surface of the story it wants to tell. It could have benefited from being a short series rather than a standalone novel. So much is introduced right from the first chapter that a slightly slower, more exploratory pace would have allowed the story to fully unfold.
At the start of the book, there’s a character directory and a map. While helpful in theory, flipping back and forth to the directory felt like a hassle, so I decided to meet the characters as they were introduced. That approach worked better for me, though I still got confused at times. Once I identified the recurring voices, I focused on them, which made it easier to follow the story. The map, however, didn’t help as much as I’d hoped. Many locations mentioned weren’t marked, making it difficult to piece everything together. At times, I wondered if I was mixing up continents. Ultimately, I did my best to keep the locations straight and didn’t stress too much over the details.
The multiple POVs made for a challenging read, especially in the first half. There’s a lot happening all at once, and it took some time to understand how everything connected. By part three, I found my groove and became fully immersed in the story.
Despite my frustrations, I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy darker themes and beautiful prose. For me, it’s a three-star read. If it were the first in a series, I would have rated it higher—but both unfortunately and fortunately, it left me wanting more.
Once again, I’d like to thank Madhurika Sankar, NetGalley, and BooksGoSocial for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!
January 11, 2025
I really enjoyed the start of this book!
The world building was nice and the magic system was intriguing!
I enjoyed the strong female characters being the focus. Sula's journey was interesting and the tension kept me hooked, until it didn't.
The writing left me wanting, the sentences were too short, too final. It made the narrative feel low quality and made it hard to connect with characters on a deeper, more emotional level: I was intrigued but I didn't really care.
I don't feel like I wasted my time reading Dustria but it's not something I would re-read!
Thankyou netgalley for the book
The world building was nice and the magic system was intriguing!
I enjoyed the strong female characters being the focus. Sula's journey was interesting and the tension kept me hooked, until it didn't.
The writing left me wanting, the sentences were too short, too final. It made the narrative feel low quality and made it hard to connect with characters on a deeper, more emotional level: I was intrigued but I didn't really care.
I don't feel like I wasted my time reading Dustria but it's not something I would re-read!
Thankyou netgalley for the book
October 4, 2024
Beautiful and cathartic, Dustria is a fantasy novel, where tension is high, intrigue and plot are villainous and the stakes rocket to the stratosphere on the backs of dragons. It is also one of the most powerful narratives of addiction, recovery and forgiveness I've ever read. Yes, Dustria goes to some dark places, evil is evil (and punished), good struggles to find its way, but by the end, I felt the sort of closure I've been looking for in a lot of fantasy lately.
Surrounding it all is Madhurika Sankar's pristine voice. Her characters are vivid and emotions range from the defeat of someone battling their sins, to the laughter and kindness between friends.
If you're looking for a dramatic story with monsters, murder, magic, unrequited love, tragedy, warring kingdoms and missing princes, wrapped around a world forever changed by 'that spurious liquid', Dustria is for you.
One of the best works of fantasy to come out of India in the last few years.
Surrounding it all is Madhurika Sankar's pristine voice. Her characters are vivid and emotions range from the defeat of someone battling their sins, to the laughter and kindness between friends.
If you're looking for a dramatic story with monsters, murder, magic, unrequited love, tragedy, warring kingdoms and missing princes, wrapped around a world forever changed by 'that spurious liquid', Dustria is for you.
One of the best works of fantasy to come out of India in the last few years.
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