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Dust of the Dead
Not yet published
Expected 3 Aug 26DUST OF THE DEAD
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
EARLY PRAISE FOR DUST OF THE DEAD
“Michael Fletcher was a fine writer out of the gate, but with Dust of the Dead he’s hit a new level. It’s a wonderfully inventive tale with bags of imagination scattered in all directions, and exciting magic that manages to be both familiar and different at the same time. I expect excellent world-building from this guy but what really elevated it was the quality of the character work, tying everything together emotionally for a story I could really invest in on all levels. This is a tale that just works. Read it!”
–Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
“Absolutely literally bloody superb!”
–Anna Smith Spark, author of Empires of Dust
“With Dust of the Dead, Fletcher has cemented his position as one of the most consistently brilliant must-read authors in the fantasy genre. This is an absolutely amazing fantasy adventure and among my top favorite fantasy reads ever.”
–Dyrk Ashton, author of the Paternus trilogy
“Fletcher’s best, most intense work so far, and I am desperate to see more!”
–Grimdark Magazine
“Heroic Fantasy with a protagonist my aching knees truly related to. I loved every page!”
–Rob Hayes, Author of The God Eater Saga
“Gritty in the same measure as it emotional, Dust of the Dead is a truly immersive and deliciously intertwined dark fantasy epic from a modern master of story craft. It’s highly unfair that Fletcher just keeps getting better and better.
—Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series
“Essential dark fantasy, unwavering in its humanity. I couldn't get enough.”
–Rob Leigh, author of Performances of a Death Metal Bard
“Heart and humanity. Dust of the Dead solidifies Fletcher on my list of all-time favorite authors.”
–Pete Reviews Books
“Fletcher weaves horror, heart, tragedy, and humor. One of my favorite reading experiences this year!”
–Z.B. Steele author of Whispers of the Storm
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
EARLY PRAISE FOR DUST OF THE DEAD
“Michael Fletcher was a fine writer out of the gate, but with Dust of the Dead he’s hit a new level. It’s a wonderfully inventive tale with bags of imagination scattered in all directions, and exciting magic that manages to be both familiar and different at the same time. I expect excellent world-building from this guy but what really elevated it was the quality of the character work, tying everything together emotionally for a story I could really invest in on all levels. This is a tale that just works. Read it!”
–Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
“Absolutely literally bloody superb!”
–Anna Smith Spark, author of Empires of Dust
“With Dust of the Dead, Fletcher has cemented his position as one of the most consistently brilliant must-read authors in the fantasy genre. This is an absolutely amazing fantasy adventure and among my top favorite fantasy reads ever.”
–Dyrk Ashton, author of the Paternus trilogy
“Fletcher’s best, most intense work so far, and I am desperate to see more!”
–Grimdark Magazine
“Heroic Fantasy with a protagonist my aching knees truly related to. I loved every page!”
–Rob Hayes, Author of The God Eater Saga
“Gritty in the same measure as it emotional, Dust of the Dead is a truly immersive and deliciously intertwined dark fantasy epic from a modern master of story craft. It’s highly unfair that Fletcher just keeps getting better and better.
—Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series
“Essential dark fantasy, unwavering in its humanity. I couldn't get enough.”
–Rob Leigh, author of Performances of a Death Metal Bard
“Heart and humanity. Dust of the Dead solidifies Fletcher on my list of all-time favorite authors.”
–Pete Reviews Books
“Fletcher weaves horror, heart, tragedy, and humor. One of my favorite reading experiences this year!”
–Z.B. Steele author of Whispers of the Storm
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 3, 2026
About the author
Michael R. Fletcher
54 books1,364 followersMichael R. Fletcher lives in the endless suburban sprawl north of Toronto. He dreams of trees and seeing the stars at night and being a ninja. He is an unrepentant whiskey-swilling reprobate of the tallest order and thinks grilled cheese sandwiches are a food group.
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
His novels include the Manifest Delusions trilogy (BEYOND REDEMPTION, THE MIRROR'S TRUTH, A WAR TO END ALL), the Obsidian Path trilogy (BLACK STONE HEART, SHE DREAMS IN BLOOD, AN END TO SORROW), the City of Sacrifice trilogy (SMOKE AND STONE, ASH AND BONES, SIN AND SORROW), and the standalone novels, SWARM AND STEEL, GHOSTS OF TOMORROW, THE MILLENNIAL MANIFESTO, NORYLSKA GROANS (co-written with Clayton W. Snyder). He also has a short story collection A COLLECTION OF OBSESSIONS.
http://michaelrfletcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRFlet...
Twitter: @FletcherMR
Instagram: fletcher_michael_r
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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February 24, 2026I’ll call this one either “dark heroic fantasy” or possibly "Heroic dark fantasy."
Obviously, the difference is HYUGE!
The cover art, an acrylic painting, is the work of Adam Burke.
I’ve long dreamed of an old-school painted cover so this is scratching yet another delusion off my bucket list.
Obviously, the difference is HYUGE!
The cover art, an acrylic painting, is the work of Adam Burke.
I’ve long dreamed of an old-school painted cover so this is scratching yet another delusion off my bucket list.
May 1, 2026
To quote the great Mark Lawrence “This is a great book!” Holly hell is this a great book! This stand out work will without a doubt cement MIchael R. Fletcher as a must read Grimdark author! The magic system and world building is second to none. I cannot wait to see what else he is able to do with this world and will be following along closely for the series to continue!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I first met Michael R. Fletcher through Five Rivers Publishing, back in 2012 when the Earth was new and unicorns roamed the land. Then came Michael with his grimdark tales, and his captivating storytelling. The unicorns fled the darkness. In their place came a character known as 88, and an eponymous novel I was thrilled to publish. But then Five Rivers Publishing went the way of the unicorns, and 88 fled back to her progenitor, reintroduced as Ghosts of Tomorrow.
Since then, Michael has produced 12 other novels, and now in August 2026 yet another, Dust of the Dead (Tales from the Listening World).
The marketing blurb for Dust of the Dead:
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
In the 14 years since I first read any of Michael’s work, it becomes clear to me he’s honed his craft to a very high standard. What he presents in Dust of the Dead is a darkly gorgeous tale populated with believable characters, reluctant heroes, hapless followers, and manipulative tyrants. His world-building is astonishing in its originality, complexity and realization, and how he presents new concepts, flora, and fauna is done with skill and ease, so that there’s rarely a moment the reader is left behind in this fast-paced, gritty, relentless epic. Frankly, not since reading N.K. Jemisin’s work have I been this impressed with a writer’s imagination and craftsmanship. Michael Fletcher is, in my opinion, top of his game, and despite not having a banner of Prix Auroras, Sunbursts, Hugos, Nebulas, or any other genre literary award, he is right up there with all the other current greats.
What he presents in Dust of the Dead is a story of the cost of service to a belief, to a country, to a craft. He sets about demolishing ingrained prejudices by demonstrating the common ties of dedication to family, to friends, to a truth beyond rhetoric. Species who are apparently monstrous are, in fact, no different than any other being trying to survive, to make sense of a world and political situation in which they find themselves. And in defining this alien fantasy world, Fletcher peels back the layers of our own humanity and prejudices, and even our own monstrosities.
And you, dear reader, must realize I am a tough critic and editor. I do not offer praise lightly. Yet here was this critical reader weeping at the end of this dark tale, so moved was I. So, there, Michael R Fletcher. Well done!
And you, dear reader: if you’re of a mind to be darkly and helplessly captivated, I highly recommend you delve into Dust of the Dead.
Since then, Michael has produced 12 other novels, and now in August 2026 yet another, Dust of the Dead (Tales from the Listening World).
The marketing blurb for Dust of the Dead:
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
In the 14 years since I first read any of Michael’s work, it becomes clear to me he’s honed his craft to a very high standard. What he presents in Dust of the Dead is a darkly gorgeous tale populated with believable characters, reluctant heroes, hapless followers, and manipulative tyrants. His world-building is astonishing in its originality, complexity and realization, and how he presents new concepts, flora, and fauna is done with skill and ease, so that there’s rarely a moment the reader is left behind in this fast-paced, gritty, relentless epic. Frankly, not since reading N.K. Jemisin’s work have I been this impressed with a writer’s imagination and craftsmanship. Michael Fletcher is, in my opinion, top of his game, and despite not having a banner of Prix Auroras, Sunbursts, Hugos, Nebulas, or any other genre literary award, he is right up there with all the other current greats.
What he presents in Dust of the Dead is a story of the cost of service to a belief, to a country, to a craft. He sets about demolishing ingrained prejudices by demonstrating the common ties of dedication to family, to friends, to a truth beyond rhetoric. Species who are apparently monstrous are, in fact, no different than any other being trying to survive, to make sense of a world and political situation in which they find themselves. And in defining this alien fantasy world, Fletcher peels back the layers of our own humanity and prejudices, and even our own monstrosities.
And you, dear reader, must realize I am a tough critic and editor. I do not offer praise lightly. Yet here was this critical reader weeping at the end of this dark tale, so moved was I. So, there, Michael R Fletcher. Well done!
And you, dear reader: if you’re of a mind to be darkly and helplessly captivated, I highly recommend you delve into Dust of the Dead.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had a chance to read an advance copy of this book, and I’m glad I did.
I’ve been familiar with Fletcher since his Black Stone Heart days (a series I really enjoyed), and I had high expectations coming into this one. It reminded me a bit of Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughters’ War. The characters were clever, the dialogue was sharp, and the world had a pervasive and unsettling grittiness. I couldn’t put it down.
Great independently published fantasy is a rare thing, and Fletcher raised the bar for the rest of us. I’m excited for the next one!
I’ve been familiar with Fletcher since his Black Stone Heart days (a series I really enjoyed), and I had high expectations coming into this one. It reminded me a bit of Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughters’ War. The characters were clever, the dialogue was sharp, and the world had a pervasive and unsettling grittiness. I couldn’t put it down.
Great independently published fantasy is a rare thing, and Fletcher raised the bar for the rest of us. I’m excited for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I, truly, have nothing to say other than "READ THIS BOOK WHEN IT COMES OUT PLEASE!".
Amazing, emotionally devastating, great action, great magic, great world that I really want to get more of and the characters were great.
Amazing, emotionally devastating, great action, great magic, great world that I really want to get more of and the characters were great.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews