You Are But Dust

by Hannah Clayton

Most people fear Death. But Samarra feels safest by his side.

Grief is drowning Samarra’s mind. Her sister’s death was too sudden, too senseless. No one will even speak of the night she died, leaving Samarra silenced and alone as her sanity begins to fracture.

That’s when she meets Death himself.

With piercing white eyes and a voice that sedates her spiralling thoughts, Death becomes her only comfort. He quiets her pain, offers relief from the unbearable weight of the world, and whispers secrets about her sister’s final moments, tempting Samarra with the vengeance she craves.

But when Death vanishes without warning, Samarra is left desperate to feel his presence again. She doesn’t know if he was real or a hallucination of her unraveling mind. All she knows is that she needs his peace once more.

And she’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back.

Genres: Thriller, Mental Health, Fiction, Horror, Young Adult

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2025

About the author

Hannah Clayton lives in Manchester, UK. By day, she supports people’s mental health while completing her doctorate in clinical psychology. By night, she writes unsettling psychological thrillers, fuelled by her fascination with the human psyche. This passion led to the creation of her novels 'Until the Shadows Lengthen' and 'You are but Dust,' which explore the power of our minds to both save and destroy us.

Drawing on her clinical psychology work, Hannah has witnessed both the darkest struggles and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. Through her novels, she explores this delicate balance, portraying the shadows that follow us all as well as the glimmers of hope that light our way.


To keep up with her, you can follow Hannah on Tiktok @hannahswritings or check out her website and sign up for new book email alerts: www.shadowlitbooks.co.uk

Reviews

[Hannah Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello!

Full disclosure: I wrote this book, so I'm very biased. But I wanted to use this space not to review my work but to give you a sense of what to expect, along with some important content warnings.

You Are But Dust is a young adult psychological thriller/horror that explores the suffocating weight of grief and the dangerous comfort Death promises. At its heart, it’s about a young student unraveling after her sister’s funeral, who turns to visions of Death himself as a way to cope with the pain she can no longer manage. Expect a chaotic, unsettling descent into madness with blurred reality, growing obsession, and self-destruction.

If you’re drawn to dark, psychological stories like Talk to Me, The Haunting of Hill House, Black Swan, or Requiem for a Dream, this book may resonate with you.

Content Warnings: grief, addiction, suicidal ideation, substance use, physical violence, and an overarching focus on death (both as a character and a concept). I’ve worked in clinical psychology for several years and have had personal experiences with these themes, so I’ve done my best to approach them with sensitivity and authenticity. Please take care of yourself and step away if these themes feel too heavy, as your wellbeing should always come first.

Lastly, I wanted to note that writing this book was my way of wrestling with my own emotions and ever-changing relationship with death. It took a lot of work to bring this story to life. My hope is that it finds the readers who need it most, to remind them they are not as alone as they might feel. As my dedication says, this book is:

For everyone who has thought about death because life was too much to bear. I’m so glad you’re still here.

[Martinni · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Are But Dust is such a powerful and emotional read. It’s a raw look at grief and loneliness but also the dangers of escape through addiction. I loved the way the book gets inside Sam’s head - the scribbled, diary-like notes make everything feel so real. It’s intense, beautifully written and made me stop and think more than once. Definitely one of those books that stays with you after you finish it.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant journey exploring grief, loneliness, and the allure of death.

Hannah Clayton's second foray into YA has been a stellar triumph in showcasing character growth and the the uglier side of grief. Those who have lost a loved one, or have almost lost themselves, will feel seen by the uncensored writing and questionable actions of our hurting protagonist Sam. Rarely is death portrayed as what it can feel for many: an appealing escape. You Are But Dust takes this a step further and characterizes death itself, as they perform a charismatic dance with the protagonist and distort reality, this book is one that makes you question everything.

The greatest strength of this story is the true raw emotions of going through life's hardest challenge, and feeling alone, angry and numb to the world. Using humour to distract, substances to relax and violence to feel something; the characters are an unfiltered representation of an unpretty look at what we are all afraid of: becoming dust. And it will have you examining your own mortality every step of the way.

[Avery Perleberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

could not put it down

[Amber Van · Rating 1 out of 5]

Een flinke badtrip om het zacht te zeggen.
CRASH-THUD-DING-CRACK is ook echt een ick.

[Michelle]

er zaten echt te veel superhelden-geluiden in de lopende tekst :( maarr wel een goeie unreliable narrator.. ik moet verder nog even nadenken wat ik er nou precies van vind

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really liked the premise of this book and the thought of it however my feelings after reading this are so conflicted because there were parts i didnt enjoy and some i did so i feel like i’m straight in the middle with this one. i really liked the idea of how grief can really control every thought and your actions and seeing how death controlled her i really liked that part and her relationships with zain and ria, however some parts just really fell flat to me and just felt like it was sometimes dragging abit to get to the point and just was a little more bored at times. this book is definitely not a bad book because like i said i still enjoyed alot of parts but some parts just fell flat for me sadly. the message of this book is beautiful though and something i definitely relate to.

thank you to hannah clayton for the arc :)

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are struggling with loss and grief, you NEED to read this book! The main character explores the inevitability of death and struggles with acceptance when a loved one dies. This book makes you question who is to blame for seemingly unexpected and accidental deaths, and as uncomfortable as the thought may be, it highlights the question of who “deserves” to die, a very common question that people with grief tend to ponder.

It is a thrilling read, with many plot twists I did not see coming!

Something we all have in common is that in the end we will die, but it is our choice to continue living life despite its many burdens. It is truly a life worth living.
“Enjoy the suffering of life while you still can.”

[Connor Stager · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Are But Dust really explains what the struggles are of loss, addiction, and the mental health struggle of not wanting to live. Through Samarra you are taken on this journey of loss and how grief can take hold of your life. This book really encapsulates what greof can feel like and the cycle it can put you down. This book shows how you can fight it and what people who care about you do. It is a really good message and this book can help a lot of people.

(Sidenote: If you didn't see it read the scratched phrase after the final page. It is a really powerful quote that not only encapsulates the book but also had a profound impact on me.)

[Millie-Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fortunately, I was able to read the book as a preview! Throughout the book, the action and pacing was incredible and all the twists were so perfectly timed, as you delve deeper down into the depths of Samarra’s life you can really see the detail and thought put in by the author- I would definitely recommend this book!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, intense, and ultimately engrossing, You Are But Dust is a perfect example of how to blend complex emotional beats with with a thrilling mystery narrative, resulting in a story which not only explores the forgotten faces of grief, but keeps you guessing with every plot progression.

[ali :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t lie this book was not at all what I was expecting. It was good but not exactly what I was after. Some of the writing like THUMP and CRACK during fight scenes made me cringe a bit but it was still very deep and insightful and cool jjst not very me.

[aj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book for what it was, but sometimes it felt like a bit much. The writing was hard to follow, but considering the premise it made sense? Idk, it’s a hard balance to find, but it still had me hooked!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a whole trip and a half! The emotional turmoil and psychological side of it is SO relatable. If you don't mind a bit of a cliff hanger and can handle a bit of an emotional roller-coaster I definitely recommend this book!

[Amanda Dinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good book about addiction, didn’t realize that was what it was going to be about. Not my most favorite topic, but it was done well.

[dana.rmm · Rating 3 out of 5]

don’t do drugs guys 😃
3,5⭐️

[Campbell Blum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was sad, but very well written.