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Fly Stone, Fly
A boy, his dog and a monstrous friend.
16-year-old Clayton Stonefly, who lost his parents four years ago and is being raised by his Granma Lina, just wants to be brave like Dammit, his dog, and face the town bully, Big Jim. That, or read Shakespeare on the porch alone in the Idaho wilderness.
But Clay has an unfortunate he’s haunted by monstrous dreams of his family’s dead nemesis, Das Ungeheuer, and every time he tells a story, someone dies. That — and he just watched his friend, MK, suck the soul out of a man, leaving the man clawing at his chest.
Who is MK anyway? Is Big Jim just a small town pastor, or something else? Something with insect eyes sacrificing boys to bring a greater evil? Is there a chance that Clay’s new friend, Penny — the one with the dark eyes and twisted smile — could be more than a friend? Clay learns that his parents kept many secrets from him — not the least being there’s a family calling that involves monster-wrangling, and a family axe with a mind of its own that may or may not be trying to talk to him.
If you like Dark Fantasy and Magical Realism — if you love dogs and riddles, folktales and Shakespeare, the rivers and mountains of the West — then you'll enjoy this Naturalist Western Gothic.
Fly Stone, Fly is soul music, it is the the further in you go the more you feel its thumping heart -Kwesi Dansonne
“If Faulkner wrote fantasy, he'd have written something like this… unique, lyrical, and steeped in Americana folklife.” Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters
16-year-old Clayton Stonefly, who lost his parents four years ago and is being raised by his Granma Lina, just wants to be brave like Dammit, his dog, and face the town bully, Big Jim. That, or read Shakespeare on the porch alone in the Idaho wilderness.
But Clay has an unfortunate he’s haunted by monstrous dreams of his family’s dead nemesis, Das Ungeheuer, and every time he tells a story, someone dies. That — and he just watched his friend, MK, suck the soul out of a man, leaving the man clawing at his chest.
Who is MK anyway? Is Big Jim just a small town pastor, or something else? Something with insect eyes sacrificing boys to bring a greater evil? Is there a chance that Clay’s new friend, Penny — the one with the dark eyes and twisted smile — could be more than a friend? Clay learns that his parents kept many secrets from him — not the least being there’s a family calling that involves monster-wrangling, and a family axe with a mind of its own that may or may not be trying to talk to him.
If you like Dark Fantasy and Magical Realism — if you love dogs and riddles, folktales and Shakespeare, the rivers and mountains of the West — then you'll enjoy this Naturalist Western Gothic.
Fly Stone, Fly is soul music, it is the the further in you go the more you feel its thumping heart -Kwesi Dansonne
“If Faulkner wrote fantasy, he'd have written something like this… unique, lyrical, and steeped in Americana folklife.” Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters
496 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2025
6 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 30, 2025
First, let me warn you that this sucker starts out hard. The quote on the cover says,"If Faulkner wrote fantasy, he'd have written something like this..." This quote is the most accurate statement I've ever read in any review, on any book, ever. (NOTE: going forward, this review contains phrases that are entirely the wrokd of Dusk Kunkel and are taken from 'Fly Stone, Fly'. The lack of quotation marks is intentional, however the phrases are entire Dust Kunkel's creation and used here to emphasize the lyrical style.)
'Fly Stone, Fly' is prosy, cerebral, and strange. Steeped in lyrical rhythms, stewed in imaginative settings, and worth every damn second spent reading it, Dammit. From the start, you aren't quite sure what is happening, but you know something is definitely happening. Clay's mind wanders, wonders, ponders, and flounders, as he retells the events after his parents disappear. Terrifyingly dangerous and emotionally frightening, Dammit it's a ride. And, Dammit, the story is compelling.
Sometimes it's a dream, Dammit. Sometimes, it's an adventure, and other times it's a love story. It's special, the very best kind of special, Dammit. I've tried to describe this book to myself and all I can can say is this book isn't read, it is experienced. It will crawl under your skin, beg for you to keep going and cost you at least one late night staying up too late reading.
Fly Stone, Fly, is a dream you can't wake up from and aren't sure you really want to. It starts out heavy and accelerates into a beautiful story filled with American Folklore, magic, monsters, and loyal dogs, Dammit. Every day is dog day, Dammit, and Fly Stone, Fly should have every day. I loved every second I spent lost in the pages of this book. It is unique and should be a best seller. Dust Kunkel's FLY STONE, FLY will not let go, even after the last page is turned. Put it on your TBR. If I could give it 6 stars, I would.
'Fly Stone, Fly' is prosy, cerebral, and strange. Steeped in lyrical rhythms, stewed in imaginative settings, and worth every damn second spent reading it, Dammit. From the start, you aren't quite sure what is happening, but you know something is definitely happening. Clay's mind wanders, wonders, ponders, and flounders, as he retells the events after his parents disappear. Terrifyingly dangerous and emotionally frightening, Dammit it's a ride. And, Dammit, the story is compelling.
Sometimes it's a dream, Dammit. Sometimes, it's an adventure, and other times it's a love story. It's special, the very best kind of special, Dammit. I've tried to describe this book to myself and all I can can say is this book isn't read, it is experienced. It will crawl under your skin, beg for you to keep going and cost you at least one late night staying up too late reading.
Fly Stone, Fly, is a dream you can't wake up from and aren't sure you really want to. It starts out heavy and accelerates into a beautiful story filled with American Folklore, magic, monsters, and loyal dogs, Dammit. Every day is dog day, Dammit, and Fly Stone, Fly should have every day. I loved every second I spent lost in the pages of this book. It is unique and should be a best seller. Dust Kunkel's FLY STONE, FLY will not let go, even after the last page is turned. Put it on your TBR. If I could give it 6 stars, I would.
June 19, 2025
10/10 A Hauntingly Beautiful Must-Read
As someone who typically lives in the world of YA and New Adult fantasy (think A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince, Fourth Wing, etc.), I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. It’s definitely outside my usual reading comfort zone — but wow, am I glad I gave it a chance.
Recommended by a friend, this book completely surprised me in the best possible way. Yes, the writing leans more toward what you'd find in a literature course, but once I settled into the rhythm, I was hooked. If one of my college professors had assigned this book, it would’ve been the first required reading I devoured from cover to cover — and loved every minute of it.
The writing is gorgeously lyrical, the characters are rich and unforgettable, and the themes are powerful and thought-provoking. It’s easy to imagine this being discussed in a classroom setting because of how layered and deeply moving it is. The front cover features the quote, “If Faulkner wrote fantasy, he’d have written something like this” — and honestly, that’s the perfect way to describe it.
Marketed as Gothic Fantasy (and yes, it nails that vibe), this book also pulls you into a fascinating, slow-burning mystery. With each chapter, more pieces of the puzzle fall into place, constantly shifting your perspective. Just when you think you know where it’s going — BAM! Kunkel throws in something that changes everything. It’s clever, intricate, and totally immersive.
This story is haunting, emotional, and wildly creative. It’s a journey full of heart, darkness, and surprising moments of light. And at its core? A boy, his dog, his gramma, and a monstrous companion(?!). It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s absolutely unforgettable.
A bold, beautiful, genre-defying masterpiece. I highly, highly recommend.
As someone who typically lives in the world of YA and New Adult fantasy (think A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince, Fourth Wing, etc.), I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. It’s definitely outside my usual reading comfort zone — but wow, am I glad I gave it a chance.
Recommended by a friend, this book completely surprised me in the best possible way. Yes, the writing leans more toward what you'd find in a literature course, but once I settled into the rhythm, I was hooked. If one of my college professors had assigned this book, it would’ve been the first required reading I devoured from cover to cover — and loved every minute of it.
The writing is gorgeously lyrical, the characters are rich and unforgettable, and the themes are powerful and thought-provoking. It’s easy to imagine this being discussed in a classroom setting because of how layered and deeply moving it is. The front cover features the quote, “If Faulkner wrote fantasy, he’d have written something like this” — and honestly, that’s the perfect way to describe it.
Marketed as Gothic Fantasy (and yes, it nails that vibe), this book also pulls you into a fascinating, slow-burning mystery. With each chapter, more pieces of the puzzle fall into place, constantly shifting your perspective. Just when you think you know where it’s going — BAM! Kunkel throws in something that changes everything. It’s clever, intricate, and totally immersive.
This story is haunting, emotional, and wildly creative. It’s a journey full of heart, darkness, and surprising moments of light. And at its core? A boy, his dog, his gramma, and a monstrous companion(?!). It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s absolutely unforgettable.
A bold, beautiful, genre-defying masterpiece. I highly, highly recommend.
November 4, 2025
This book was so good, it gave me chills thinking about it after I finished reading. Not chills in the it’s-scary sense, but chills because it was so incredibly beautiful and well written. (It is scary too), but also a wonderful story with love at the heart of it.
March 1, 2025
Kunkel creates one of the most unique story experiences I have ever read. From page one, be prepared for a strong, lyrical literary voice reminiscent of classics and rich in poetry. I am a weak reader, I often struggle with text that gets too wordy or dense. This piece walks exactly down the razor’s edge of meaty prose and invigorating narration. It hooked me in immediately and held on tight all the way through. I dreamed about this book while reading.
The book follows the story of an orphaned boy named Clayton and his dog (or is he the dog’s boy?) Dammit from the mystical woods of Idaho to fantastical pocket-worlds of dream and nightmare, and back. You will encounter fables, folklore, disgusting monsters and landscapes of impossible beauty. At its core, Fly Stone, Fly is about legacy, loss, and taking agency in one’s own story.
This book isn’t ‘like’ anything that I’ve read before, but I would place it on a shelf beside The Master and Margarita, another book of stories within stories.
I don’t believe in putting age ranges on books, so when I say this is a book for more mature readers, I mean that it has a different feel, it isn’t mainstream fiction. It isn’t easy or comfortable. Nothing is spoon-fed and you would be hard pressed to make a trope spread for it. These are strengths. This book doesn’t just take you on a journey, it is a journey.
This is a fable, a folk tale, a coming-of-age, gothic Americana nightmare-scape about bullies and reckonings, heroes, villains, and very good dogs. This book is for folks who crave deliberate, flowing prose, careful overlays of imagery and intension, and some damn fine action. I hope with my whole heart that this book finds its readers and they are plentiful. It is a painstaking work of art, pain, and through it all, beauty.
The book follows the story of an orphaned boy named Clayton and his dog (or is he the dog’s boy?) Dammit from the mystical woods of Idaho to fantastical pocket-worlds of dream and nightmare, and back. You will encounter fables, folklore, disgusting monsters and landscapes of impossible beauty. At its core, Fly Stone, Fly is about legacy, loss, and taking agency in one’s own story.
This book isn’t ‘like’ anything that I’ve read before, but I would place it on a shelf beside The Master and Margarita, another book of stories within stories.
I don’t believe in putting age ranges on books, so when I say this is a book for more mature readers, I mean that it has a different feel, it isn’t mainstream fiction. It isn’t easy or comfortable. Nothing is spoon-fed and you would be hard pressed to make a trope spread for it. These are strengths. This book doesn’t just take you on a journey, it is a journey.
This is a fable, a folk tale, a coming-of-age, gothic Americana nightmare-scape about bullies and reckonings, heroes, villains, and very good dogs. This book is for folks who crave deliberate, flowing prose, careful overlays of imagery and intension, and some damn fine action. I hope with my whole heart that this book finds its readers and they are plentiful. It is a painstaking work of art, pain, and through it all, beauty.
June 16, 2025
Fly Stone, Fly
by Dust Kunkel
As an avid backpacker living in the Pacific Northwest, I found the early chapters of this book instantly welcoming. I settled in, expecting a familiar formula: lush, beautiful scenery; an epic struggle; the good guys prevailing—and maybe a little magic along the way.
Then I reached chapter four. A winged, translucent creature appears—glimmering, breathtaking, and described so vividly it leaps off the page. I was hooked. Was there more of this? As it turns out, Kunkel was just getting started.
The characters are so well developed that I quickly felt like I was traveling alongside Clay, fully immersed in his journey.
Fly Stone, Fly is absolutely worth the read—you won’t be disappointed. And whatever you do, slow down and savor chapter four.
Doug Miller
by Dust Kunkel
As an avid backpacker living in the Pacific Northwest, I found the early chapters of this book instantly welcoming. I settled in, expecting a familiar formula: lush, beautiful scenery; an epic struggle; the good guys prevailing—and maybe a little magic along the way.
Then I reached chapter four. A winged, translucent creature appears—glimmering, breathtaking, and described so vividly it leaps off the page. I was hooked. Was there more of this? As it turns out, Kunkel was just getting started.
The characters are so well developed that I quickly felt like I was traveling alongside Clay, fully immersed in his journey.
Fly Stone, Fly is absolutely worth the read—you won’t be disappointed. And whatever you do, slow down and savor chapter four.
Doug Miller
December 12, 2025
Unique and Entrancing Novel
I read this book, and thought to myself, “Dang, Dust has some serious talent.” Also, “I’m not worthy.” There is some genuine beauty in the construction of this novel: the prose, the character work, the overall plot. While it may not have been precisely quite the style I usually read, it undeniably is of a literary quality that is worthy of praise. Wow, Dust. Well done. Long live Shakesbear.
I read this book, and thought to myself, “Dang, Dust has some serious talent.” Also, “I’m not worthy.” There is some genuine beauty in the construction of this novel: the prose, the character work, the overall plot. While it may not have been precisely quite the style I usually read, it undeniably is of a literary quality that is worthy of praise. Wow, Dust. Well done. Long live Shakesbear.
Want to read
February 6, 2026I read this as a judge for FanFiAddict for SPFBO 11
Review/rating to come.
Review/rating to come.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews