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Come To Dust
Ever since her mother abandoned her, five-year-old Sophie has had to depend on her uncle Mitch for everything. But he’s struggling. Restarting a life interrupted by time in prison is hard enough without having to balance work and single parenthood. Mitch is determined to make it work though, striving to keep their family together despite the obstacles in their way, because no matter how difficult things get, they are good for each other. And life for the two of them seems to be looking up. But when Sophie dies tragically, it all comes crashing down. Mitch descends into a crippling grief, coming to understand how little his freedom means without her to share it with. And though released from the sudden responsibility thrust upon him, all he wants is his niece back, safe and alive.
When he gets his wish and scores of children around the world begin to inexplicably rise from the dead—Sophie among them—everything becomes much harder.
Mitch rescues her from the morgue, determined to carve out a normal life for them no matter what, though it soon becomes clear that may not be possible. While the kids who’ve returned behave like living children, they still look very dead. And they can do something else that normal children cannot. Something terrifying. Beliefs differ whether the children’s return is a mercy or a sign of approaching judgment, and a congregation of religious fanatics determined to usher in the apocalypse has their own plan for salvation.
Now Mitch must find a way to save Sophie from an increasingly hostile world that wants to tear them apart and put her back in the ground for good.
When he gets his wish and scores of children around the world begin to inexplicably rise from the dead—Sophie among them—everything becomes much harder.
Mitch rescues her from the morgue, determined to carve out a normal life for them no matter what, though it soon becomes clear that may not be possible. While the kids who’ve returned behave like living children, they still look very dead. And they can do something else that normal children cannot. Something terrifying. Beliefs differ whether the children’s return is a mercy or a sign of approaching judgment, and a congregation of religious fanatics determined to usher in the apocalypse has their own plan for salvation.
Now Mitch must find a way to save Sophie from an increasingly hostile world that wants to tear them apart and put her back in the ground for good.
- GenresHorrorHorror Thriller
289 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2016
11 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Bracken MacLeod
70 books397 followersBracken MacLeod is the Bram Stoker, Splatterpunk, and Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of the novels, Mountain Home, Come to Dust, Stranded, and Closing Costs, as well as three short fiction collections including LET NOT YOUR SORROW DIE, coming this fall from Bad Hand Books. He's a former litigator who used to represent victims of domestic violence, sexual harassment, and racial discrimination.
He lives outside of Boston with his wife and son, where he is at work on his next novel.
He lives outside of Boston with his wife and son, where he is at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 25, 2018
"He knew from experience, it only takes a single night for the whole world to change."
After Sophie is abandoned by her mother, Mitch takes on the role of looking after his niece. After Sophie tragically dies, his life is flipped upside down. But then across the world, scores of children inexplicably rise from the dead, and Sophie is one of them...
Come to Dust was a bit of a mixed bag, the start was really promising and had a few chilling scenes that would unsettle even the most hardened horror veteran. However, around the middle it becomes a tad stale and drags on for longer than necessary. It also becomes more action heavy, which is not to my personal taste. Towards the end it became more of a crawl to the finish line, than a race, which is always a letdown.
Horror set against a backdrop of grief and loss can be bookish heaven if executed correctly, but this one just fell short of the mark. He does a great job of tapping into every parent's worst fear, the loss of a child. The author has a note towards the back where he explains his inspiration for the story and although it's particularly poignant, it isn't enough to save it. One redeeming factor is McLeod's writing - it's polished, heart-wrenching and effective - however, (fully aware that every good thing is followed by a negative, oops) there was quite a lot of description, too much at times. But at least it was written well!
Another complaint is the use of character names that are too similar - why do authors insist on doing this? (Also looking at you, King). A Mitch and a Mike? Half my time is spent clarifying which character is being referred to and that just takes me out of the story. So to all budding authors: don't do this.
Overall it's a unique take on the "zombie" genre and does have a lot of positives, so it's worth trying to see if it's more to your taste. I'm also very open to reading more of MacLeod's work, as some of his writing was truly breathtaking.
3 stars.
After Sophie is abandoned by her mother, Mitch takes on the role of looking after his niece. After Sophie tragically dies, his life is flipped upside down. But then across the world, scores of children inexplicably rise from the dead, and Sophie is one of them...
Come to Dust was a bit of a mixed bag, the start was really promising and had a few chilling scenes that would unsettle even the most hardened horror veteran. However, around the middle it becomes a tad stale and drags on for longer than necessary. It also becomes more action heavy, which is not to my personal taste. Towards the end it became more of a crawl to the finish line, than a race, which is always a letdown.
Horror set against a backdrop of grief and loss can be bookish heaven if executed correctly, but this one just fell short of the mark. He does a great job of tapping into every parent's worst fear, the loss of a child. The author has a note towards the back where he explains his inspiration for the story and although it's particularly poignant, it isn't enough to save it. One redeeming factor is McLeod's writing - it's polished, heart-wrenching and effective - however, (fully aware that every good thing is followed by a negative, oops) there was quite a lot of description, too much at times. But at least it was written well!
Another complaint is the use of character names that are too similar - why do authors insist on doing this? (Also looking at you, King). A Mitch and a Mike? Half my time is spent clarifying which character is being referred to and that just takes me out of the story. So to all budding authors: don't do this.
Overall it's a unique take on the "zombie" genre and does have a lot of positives, so it's worth trying to see if it's more to your taste. I'm also very open to reading more of MacLeod's work, as some of his writing was truly breathtaking.
3 stars.
November 19, 2017
There's a lot of things I enjoyed about this book but the one that really made me love it is that it's an emotional horror story. It doesn't come with the typical gore and scares that horror novels normally rely on, it's based mostly on the primal fear of losing a child.
This could technically be classified as a zombie novel, but it's also so much more than that. The zombie aspects aren't the most prominent part of the story, it focuses more on a parents love for their child and the lengths they'd go to to keep them safe given a second chance.
The story is incredibly fast paced and constantly had me guessing what would happen from one page to the next. Every time I picked it up I found myself immediately wrapped up in the story and wanting, no, needing to know more!
This could technically be classified as a zombie novel, but it's also so much more than that. The zombie aspects aren't the most prominent part of the story, it focuses more on a parents love for their child and the lengths they'd go to to keep them safe given a second chance.
The story is incredibly fast paced and constantly had me guessing what would happen from one page to the next. Every time I picked it up I found myself immediately wrapped up in the story and wanting, no, needing to know more!
June 15, 2017
In his afterword, Bracken MacLeod notes that the scariest parts of this book came by imagining the absence of his son in his life, and I would agree that those are, truly, the most horrifying aspects of this book. When I began reading Come to Dust this past Sunday, I was quickly turned into a devastated, quivering wreck. Since becoming a parent, I do not believe I have ever felt so exposed and afraid by the infinite unknown and the potential for life's terror. Mortality has never felt so real as it has since my son came along, and I have absolutely no idea how I would cope with losing him.
MacLeod has tapped into a very primal fear here, what is easily every parent's worst nightmare, and brought it home in a damningly effective way. Although Come to Dust is dark, at times despairingly so, there is a beacon of light at its core. It's about loss, but also rebirth and the hope of second chances in the face of overwhelming odds.
Mitch is a parent who has lost his daughter, at least until she comes back from the dead. Some may classify this as a zombie novel, and while I certainly enjoy my share of the undead I would not be quite so hasty in affixing that label here. Come to Dust is not of the EAT BRAINS! MORE BRAINS! vein, but it does it have its fair share of supernatural conceits and MacLeod does a fine job of exploring the societal repercussions of what happens when dead children mysteriously return to the world of the living. This world of "deadophiles" and religious nuts is filtered to us through Mitch, an every-man who, as an ex-convict, has his own share of his problems in the aftermath of Sophie's demise and resurrection.
I really liked the understated approach MacLeod took to the material here. This sucker could have gone off the rails at any number of junctures, but he's got a strong authorial command of the material and never lets it get the better of him. This could have been yet another dime-a-dozen zombie apocalypse story, but MacLeod opts for the softer approach, avoiding spectacle in favor of heart, focusing fully on emotional resonance rather than gory fun. I usually read horror for escapist entertainment, so this book took me completely by surprise in some of the best, heart-wrenchingly real ways. Come to Dust was a highly emotional read for me, one that left me worn out and fraught on more than one occasion, and MacLeod does not pull any of his punches.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from publisher.]
MacLeod has tapped into a very primal fear here, what is easily every parent's worst nightmare, and brought it home in a damningly effective way. Although Come to Dust is dark, at times despairingly so, there is a beacon of light at its core. It's about loss, but also rebirth and the hope of second chances in the face of overwhelming odds.
Mitch is a parent who has lost his daughter, at least until she comes back from the dead. Some may classify this as a zombie novel, and while I certainly enjoy my share of the undead I would not be quite so hasty in affixing that label here. Come to Dust is not of the EAT BRAINS! MORE BRAINS! vein, but it does it have its fair share of supernatural conceits and MacLeod does a fine job of exploring the societal repercussions of what happens when dead children mysteriously return to the world of the living. This world of "deadophiles" and religious nuts is filtered to us through Mitch, an every-man who, as an ex-convict, has his own share of his problems in the aftermath of Sophie's demise and resurrection.
I really liked the understated approach MacLeod took to the material here. This sucker could have gone off the rails at any number of junctures, but he's got a strong authorial command of the material and never lets it get the better of him. This could have been yet another dime-a-dozen zombie apocalypse story, but MacLeod opts for the softer approach, avoiding spectacle in favor of heart, focusing fully on emotional resonance rather than gory fun. I usually read horror for escapist entertainment, so this book took me completely by surprise in some of the best, heart-wrenchingly real ways. Come to Dust was a highly emotional read for me, one that left me worn out and fraught on more than one occasion, and MacLeod does not pull any of his punches.
[Note: I received an advanced copy of this title from publisher.]
June 23, 2017
Review copy
Last year, I got to read Bracken MacLeod's Stranded, sixteen crew members of the Arctic Promise who become ice bound under strange circumstances. If you haven't read it, you should. It's one of 2016's better reads.
Bracken's new release, Come To Dust, is even better. Children die. It's horrible when it happens, but we read about or hear about such tragedy every day.
Bracken beautifully captures the grief of laying a child to rest...
"Although green AstroTurf had been draped down to cover the bare earth sides of the hole, there was no imaginable way to disguise the fact that they were lowering a child into a grave. There was nothing loud enough to dispel the silence of a dead child."
Mitch LeRoux is taking steps to get his life back on track after a stint in prison. He's not just doing it for himself, but also for his niece, Sophie, who's been his ward ever since his sister took off with her drummer boyfriend.
I'm pretty sure you can see that things are not going to go well for Mitch, but that's not what Come To Dust is about.
The story unfolds at a blistering pace. I won't reveal all of its secrets. Those are best discovered in the process of reading the book, which I hope you'll do.
This is a powerful story with highs and lows and more than a few surprises. In many ways, Come To Dust is about second chances. It also shines a light on ignorance, and fear of those who are different. Very much a tale of and for the times in which we live.
Highly recommended.
Come To Dust is published by Trepidatio Publishing, a division of Journalstone, and is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Bracken MacLeod is the author of the novels Mountain Home and Stranded. His short fiction has appeared in several magazines and anthologies, including LampLight, ThugLit, and Splatterpunk, and has been collected in 13 Views of the Suicide Woods. He lives outside of Boston with his wife and son, where he is at work on his next novel.
Last year, I got to read Bracken MacLeod's Stranded, sixteen crew members of the Arctic Promise who become ice bound under strange circumstances. If you haven't read it, you should. It's one of 2016's better reads.
Bracken's new release, Come To Dust, is even better. Children die. It's horrible when it happens, but we read about or hear about such tragedy every day.
Bracken beautifully captures the grief of laying a child to rest...
"Although green AstroTurf had been draped down to cover the bare earth sides of the hole, there was no imaginable way to disguise the fact that they were lowering a child into a grave. There was nothing loud enough to dispel the silence of a dead child."
Mitch LeRoux is taking steps to get his life back on track after a stint in prison. He's not just doing it for himself, but also for his niece, Sophie, who's been his ward ever since his sister took off with her drummer boyfriend.
I'm pretty sure you can see that things are not going to go well for Mitch, but that's not what Come To Dust is about.
The story unfolds at a blistering pace. I won't reveal all of its secrets. Those are best discovered in the process of reading the book, which I hope you'll do.
This is a powerful story with highs and lows and more than a few surprises. In many ways, Come To Dust is about second chances. It also shines a light on ignorance, and fear of those who are different. Very much a tale of and for the times in which we live.
Highly recommended.
Come To Dust is published by Trepidatio Publishing, a division of Journalstone, and is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Bracken MacLeod is the author of the novels Mountain Home and Stranded. His short fiction has appeared in several magazines and anthologies, including LampLight, ThugLit, and Splatterpunk, and has been collected in 13 Views of the Suicide Woods. He lives outside of Boston with his wife and son, where he is at work on his next novel.
August 28, 2019
★★1/2
There's so much dramatic potential with a story that focuses on the death of a child and their subsequent and questionable "return." How do you reckon with the horrifying implications of a child being reanimated from the dead, when all you feel is happiness at their return?
This book tackles this idea and its opening third shows so much promise, with an ex-con struggling to make ends meet as he's trying to keep his niece safe after his sister abandoned her, and having to face his greatest fear when she dies. Then, after a number of kids around the world inexplicably wake from the dead, he has to deal with her return. This first third is emotional, deliberate and well-paced, really putting you in the protagonist's shoes.
But the final two-thirds of the novel betrays all of that as it devolves into a generic, forgettable, and frankly boring action thriller that loses most of the thoughtfulness that it promises in the beginning. It doesn't go very far at all in the exploration of its great conceit, and that's pretty disappointing.
There's so much dramatic potential with a story that focuses on the death of a child and their subsequent and questionable "return." How do you reckon with the horrifying implications of a child being reanimated from the dead, when all you feel is happiness at their return?
This book tackles this idea and its opening third shows so much promise, with an ex-con struggling to make ends meet as he's trying to keep his niece safe after his sister abandoned her, and having to face his greatest fear when she dies. Then, after a number of kids around the world inexplicably wake from the dead, he has to deal with her return. This first third is emotional, deliberate and well-paced, really putting you in the protagonist's shoes.
But the final two-thirds of the novel betrays all of that as it devolves into a generic, forgettable, and frankly boring action thriller that loses most of the thoughtfulness that it promises in the beginning. It doesn't go very far at all in the exploration of its great conceit, and that's pretty disappointing.
October 16, 2020
4.0 Stars
This was an intimate horror story that centres around a wonderful (surrogate) father-daughter relationship during an apocalyptic event. At times the characters actions felt unrealistic and the plot was convenient at times. Yet, I was so emotionally invested in the main characters that I didn't really mind. I would recommend this one to horror readers who love stories that involve the fears of parenthood.
This was an intimate horror story that centres around a wonderful (surrogate) father-daughter relationship during an apocalyptic event. At times the characters actions felt unrealistic and the plot was convenient at times. Yet, I was so emotionally invested in the main characters that I didn't really mind. I would recommend this one to horror readers who love stories that involve the fears of parenthood.
Want to read
December 29, 2016This book is copy 51 of 225 printed copies and is signed and numbered by Bracken Macleod.
Cover by Tomislav Tikulin
Cover by Tomislav Tikulin
February 5, 2017
I don't like zombie novels. I don't like those damned sappy parents go through hell for their kids books.
Come to Dust is a zombie novel about a put-together family that centers around a child. And it's heart-wrenchingly good. Why? Because the author put the work in. He didn't assume that we were going to feel for the father just because he acting like a father. Mitch is a character with depth, deep flaws, and only a certain amount of courage. But he's doing the best he can, and sometimes, that might not be enough.
Mitch his unofficially adopted daughter Sophie are the engines that drive the story. Their difficulties, partially because she's dead, form the majority of the book. And it works because you care, deeply, about them.
There's action and damned creepy zombies, and it's all good. But I hammered through this book because the characters were so vivid. Read this because you deserve to read a book this good.
Come to Dust is a zombie novel about a put-together family that centers around a child. And it's heart-wrenchingly good. Why? Because the author put the work in. He didn't assume that we were going to feel for the father just because he acting like a father. Mitch is a character with depth, deep flaws, and only a certain amount of courage. But he's doing the best he can, and sometimes, that might not be enough.
Mitch his unofficially adopted daughter Sophie are the engines that drive the story. Their difficulties, partially because she's dead, form the majority of the book. And it works because you care, deeply, about them.
There's action and damned creepy zombies, and it's all good. But I hammered through this book because the characters were so vivid. Read this because you deserve to read a book this good.
July 20, 2022
Going in blind is the way to go if you're planning on reading this one.
I thought this was going to be a really depressing book about grief and loss -something similar to a Chad Lutzke special- but I couldn't have been more wrong. Grief IS a big part of the story, just not the only part. The first few chapters were as I expected, but then we get into the supernatural. Things ramp up a bit with a new take on...something I can't mention without ruining the plot. Although I enjoyed the book, I can't help but feel that the second half dragged a bit. It does have a decent climax towards the end though.
In my mind It's not as good as 'Stranded'--One of my personal favourites-- It's still a decent book.
3.5 Stars rounded up.
I thought this was going to be a really depressing book about grief and loss -something similar to a Chad Lutzke special- but I couldn't have been more wrong. Grief IS a big part of the story, just not the only part. The first few chapters were as I expected, but then we get into the supernatural. Things ramp up a bit with a new take on...something I can't mention without ruining the plot. Although I enjoyed the book, I can't help but feel that the second half dragged a bit. It does have a decent climax towards the end though.
In my mind It's not as good as 'Stranded'--One of my personal favourites-- It's still a decent book.
3.5 Stars rounded up.
November 29, 2019
The worse thing that could happen to you is your child dying, right? Wrong... the worse thing that could happen to you is your child dying... and then coming back!
.
An original take on the Zombie sub-genre sees a selective 'plague' reanimate some dead children! Macleod sets about with some OK scene setting and character building, but it's his constructed reality of selective Zombism effecting some children that is the star of this book. The book ends up being a thriller centred around one family effected by this plague.. worth a read for the concept alone. 7.5 out of 12.
.
.
An original take on the Zombie sub-genre sees a selective 'plague' reanimate some dead children! Macleod sets about with some OK scene setting and character building, but it's his constructed reality of selective Zombism effecting some children that is the star of this book. The book ends up being a thriller centred around one family effected by this plague.. worth a read for the concept alone. 7.5 out of 12.
.
October 1, 2017
I received Come to Dust in my 'The Nocturnal Reader's Box' a month or so ago. My friend Amy and I decided to buddy read this book. I unfortunately slacked on reading it and she finished it before I could. I have to say...this is my first time reading this author. I don't have a problem with the writing itself. I don't know what it is. Maybe the characters were lacking. Maybe the villain was too villainy for my taste. I'm not sure, but I am giving this book 3 stars.
Come to Dust is about the reanimation of dead children. Our main character Mitch or Mitchel has come from a really terrible childhood. His father was a beater and in turn his sister fell in love with a beater. One day Mitch finds out that his sister's boyfriend is punching her again and tries to do right by hurting the boyfriend. He went a little over board and ended up putting the boyfriend in the hospital and going to prison. When we meet Mitch it's been a few years and he is out and taking care of his sister's daughter Sophie. The sister has been M.I.A. for almost a year now and Mitch is doing the best he can. But the best isn't enough and things get worse for Mitch.
The first 100 pages flew by. I really was invested in Mitch and his plight. I wanted everything to work out for him. Then the "horror" part of the story happens. The thing that stopped me from loving this book was the continued shitty luck Mitch kept finding himself in. A religious cult made the story unbearable to read. I hate fanatics and it was just awful. But the hits kept on coming. The ending was kind of... well underwhelming. After everything we had to face while endearing Mitch's pain it just seemed a little too late and I lost interest.
For those who received this book in their Nocturnal Reader's Box or like the author Bracken Macleod and are interested in reading this book, the only advice I can give is read it in one sitting if possible. This book isn't thrilling enough to put down because it will be hard to pick back up. Hopefully that makes sense. I do own another book by Bracken and I am still interested in his writing. I hope I like the next one.
Come to Dust is about the reanimation of dead children. Our main character Mitch or Mitchel has come from a really terrible childhood. His father was a beater and in turn his sister fell in love with a beater. One day Mitch finds out that his sister's boyfriend is punching her again and tries to do right by hurting the boyfriend. He went a little over board and ended up putting the boyfriend in the hospital and going to prison. When we meet Mitch it's been a few years and he is out and taking care of his sister's daughter Sophie. The sister has been M.I.A. for almost a year now and Mitch is doing the best he can. But the best isn't enough and things get worse for Mitch.
The first 100 pages flew by. I really was invested in Mitch and his plight. I wanted everything to work out for him. Then the "horror" part of the story happens. The thing that stopped me from loving this book was the continued shitty luck Mitch kept finding himself in. A religious cult made the story unbearable to read. I hate fanatics and it was just awful. But the hits kept on coming. The ending was kind of... well underwhelming. After everything we had to face while endearing Mitch's pain it just seemed a little too late and I lost interest.
For those who received this book in their Nocturnal Reader's Box or like the author Bracken Macleod and are interested in reading this book, the only advice I can give is read it in one sitting if possible. This book isn't thrilling enough to put down because it will be hard to pick back up. Hopefully that makes sense. I do own another book by Bracken and I am still interested in his writing. I hope I like the next one.
January 27, 2018
Bracken MacLeod's Stranded is still my favorite of his, but Come To Dust is better in some ways
I've been a fan of Bracken MacLeod ever since Ian McGuire's The North Water left me wanting more - and I picked up MacLeod's book Stranded.
That book - which you should read immediately - is still my favorite of his ouevre, but Come To Dust is better in some ways.
Why is it better?
It has better character development
Macleod really explores the dynamic of a single father - or rather in this case Mitch, an ex-con who is left with his niece after her mother disappears.
It is reminiscent of Nathan Ballingrud, in the sense that you really get a feel for the ups and downs of single fatherhood. Mitch, a basically good human who really loves his niece, almost becomes homeless because of his situation. Who babysits while he is at work? When he makes a mistake in life, which his type of person can do - what happens to this girl, who is not technically his daughter?
And though he is a more-than-recovering ex-con, the authorities don't always see it this way.
Mitch rises to the challenge. This is not Ballingrud, who portrays tales of cosmically mismatched couples, where the main character is inordinately deficient in some regard.
The main character here is great. The problem is the other characters and the situation - which leads to great character development.
MacLeod knows the situation of his characters well
The characters are not only interesting, but MacLeod gets their unique situation. Mitch is an ex-con, and knows how people of his ilk deal with the police.
And yet, being a tough guy has its limits -
This is not your average zombie tale
Yes, people rise from the grave, and exhibit strange powers. But this is not The Walking Dead, Compendium 1. The problem is people - though not in The Walking Dead way. The problem, more specifically - is those around Mitch.
It is filled with hope
How can such a desolate tale - of fleeing mothers, desperate characters and the risen dead - give nothing but hope?
Somehow it does. Stranded was great, but this one is more uplifting.
Conclusion
In short, Stranded is still my favorite. But this one is better in some regards - and whatever the case, you should definitely check it out!
I've been a fan of Bracken MacLeod ever since Ian McGuire's The North Water left me wanting more - and I picked up MacLeod's book Stranded.
That book - which you should read immediately - is still my favorite of his ouevre, but Come To Dust is better in some ways.
Why is it better?
It has better character development
Macleod really explores the dynamic of a single father - or rather in this case Mitch, an ex-con who is left with his niece after her mother disappears.
It is reminiscent of Nathan Ballingrud, in the sense that you really get a feel for the ups and downs of single fatherhood. Mitch, a basically good human who really loves his niece, almost becomes homeless because of his situation. Who babysits while he is at work? When he makes a mistake in life, which his type of person can do - what happens to this girl, who is not technically his daughter?
And though he is a more-than-recovering ex-con, the authorities don't always see it this way.
Mitch rises to the challenge. This is not Ballingrud, who portrays tales of cosmically mismatched couples, where the main character is inordinately deficient in some regard.
The main character here is great. The problem is the other characters and the situation - which leads to great character development.
MacLeod knows the situation of his characters well
The characters are not only interesting, but MacLeod gets their unique situation. Mitch is an ex-con, and knows how people of his ilk deal with the police.
Mitch shook his head again. He knew better than to say anything. No matter how friendly or innocent any question from a cop seemed, he’d learned the hard way that they weren’t there to help him.
And yet, being a tough guy has its limits -
He casually slid a hand over the tattoo on his forearm—a diamond inside a circle—but he was certain she’d seen it. When he’d gotten it, it was armor. Now it was a weakness—a signal to everyone else in the world what his vulnerabilities were.
This is not your average zombie tale
Yes, people rise from the grave, and exhibit strange powers. But this is not The Walking Dead, Compendium 1. The problem is people - though not in The Walking Dead way. The problem, more specifically - is those around Mitch.
It is filled with hope
How can such a desolate tale - of fleeing mothers, desperate characters and the risen dead - give nothing but hope?
Somehow it does. Stranded was great, but this one is more uplifting.
Conclusion
In short, Stranded is still my favorite. But this one is better in some regards - and whatever the case, you should definitely check it out!
January 30, 2017
Spoiler Alert!
My father died 31 years ago. I have often thought about, dreamed about him returning from the dead. He was one of the most important people in my life. Whenever I go down that road I am also left to contemplate what that would mean in terms of his health (he died of cancer) and the idea of losing him a second time. He would be 97 years old. His absence is a constant hurt in my heart but losing him twice would surely be unbearable.
“Come to Dust” by Bracken MacLeod is about the love shared by two people, an uncle and his niece, but their relationship is more a father/daughter connection because they are everything to each other; there is no one else for either of them to depend upon. When she dies his world becomes a place of horror and emptiness. He can barely cope even though his girlfriend does everything in her power to keep him breathing in and out. I have to credit the author’s abiding love for his own son for the beautiful words that not only describe these two in life but also in death. Imagining the loss of your child is nearly as devastating as the event. It is why if we do go down that road we do not tarry there.
This is not a zombie novel. It is a story of a man who gets a second chance only to find that there are a great number of people who would gladly take that from him for no other reason than that they hold on to a delusion. The delusion is that they have a direct line to a vengeful god who demands a sacrifice. This is a book that is so filled with love that some pages nearly glow but the turn of a page sends you on a dark and slippery slide down to the pits of depravity. There is resistance and heroism and page turning excitement all played out on a background of a small girl tucking her head safely into the neck of a man who would do virtually anything to keep her safely with him. It will most likely make you cry. MacLeod has a way of putting together a paragraph that does not just tug at your heartstrings but will shatter it into a million pieces.
Being reunited with lost loved ones doesn’t always turn out the way we would like, often because the reason for the separation continues to be a barrier to understanding and forgiveness. We will make people pay for their mistakes no matter how long it takes; children rarely forget the suffering of childhood. As Oscar Wilde said,"Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them."
“Come to Dust” will be available in June in a format available to the general public. I highly recommend it to anyone who has met and loved someone with their whole heart be it a child or an adult. Love doesn’t die with the body, it takes on a new aspect but it still burns. The question is does it consume with loss or gently keep one warm with remembrance.
My father died 31 years ago. I have often thought about, dreamed about him returning from the dead. He was one of the most important people in my life. Whenever I go down that road I am also left to contemplate what that would mean in terms of his health (he died of cancer) and the idea of losing him a second time. He would be 97 years old. His absence is a constant hurt in my heart but losing him twice would surely be unbearable.
“Come to Dust” by Bracken MacLeod is about the love shared by two people, an uncle and his niece, but their relationship is more a father/daughter connection because they are everything to each other; there is no one else for either of them to depend upon. When she dies his world becomes a place of horror and emptiness. He can barely cope even though his girlfriend does everything in her power to keep him breathing in and out. I have to credit the author’s abiding love for his own son for the beautiful words that not only describe these two in life but also in death. Imagining the loss of your child is nearly as devastating as the event. It is why if we do go down that road we do not tarry there.
This is not a zombie novel. It is a story of a man who gets a second chance only to find that there are a great number of people who would gladly take that from him for no other reason than that they hold on to a delusion. The delusion is that they have a direct line to a vengeful god who demands a sacrifice. This is a book that is so filled with love that some pages nearly glow but the turn of a page sends you on a dark and slippery slide down to the pits of depravity. There is resistance and heroism and page turning excitement all played out on a background of a small girl tucking her head safely into the neck of a man who would do virtually anything to keep her safely with him. It will most likely make you cry. MacLeod has a way of putting together a paragraph that does not just tug at your heartstrings but will shatter it into a million pieces.
Being reunited with lost loved ones doesn’t always turn out the way we would like, often because the reason for the separation continues to be a barrier to understanding and forgiveness. We will make people pay for their mistakes no matter how long it takes; children rarely forget the suffering of childhood. As Oscar Wilde said,"Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them."
“Come to Dust” will be available in June in a format available to the general public. I highly recommend it to anyone who has met and loved someone with their whole heart be it a child or an adult. Love doesn’t die with the body, it takes on a new aspect but it still burns. The question is does it consume with loss or gently keep one warm with remembrance.
July 10, 2023
After reading the prologue I thought this book was going to be a heart-wrecking one – an emotional rollercoaster. Everything was so very lovely at the start of Mitch’s and Sophie’s story, that the total destruction of my heart could be the only possible outcome of it all. I was right, but not in the way I had hoped. Yes, the start – Sophie’s dying – was very sad and it broke my heart, but the rest of the story was just so-so. Thrilling, but not super thrilling. Sad, but not super sad. I had hoped to shed at least one tear or to almost fall off my seat because it was so exciting to read, but alas, that didn’t happen.
Anyhow – I loved MacLeod’s writing style. I can’t pinpoint what it was exactly, but I think it was the lack of dialogue. Most of the writing was descriptions of events or surroundings. I’m not one to love endless descriptions of surroundings, which was sometimes the case in Come to Dust. These only take me out of the actual story, while I try to visualise what’s being described. But despite these elaborate descriptions MacLeod’s writing style was very calm and mysterious. At the start he describes Mitch in a way that I thought to know exactly who he was. I thought him to be a timid and shy person, which he is, but only because of his past. Another thing that had me hooked to the story was the way Sophie dies (the blurb already says that Sophie will die, so no spoilers there). She doesn’t only die, which was SO sad, but the way she dies was also highly suspicious!
All in all, the short chapters make Come to Dust a thrilling and fast read! If you like supernatural stories that involve walking dead, I’d highly recommend you read this!
* This book was included in The Nocturnal Reader’s Box of July 2017 *
Anyhow – I loved MacLeod’s writing style. I can’t pinpoint what it was exactly, but I think it was the lack of dialogue. Most of the writing was descriptions of events or surroundings. I’m not one to love endless descriptions of surroundings, which was sometimes the case in Come to Dust. These only take me out of the actual story, while I try to visualise what’s being described. But despite these elaborate descriptions MacLeod’s writing style was very calm and mysterious. At the start he describes Mitch in a way that I thought to know exactly who he was. I thought him to be a timid and shy person, which he is, but only because of his past. Another thing that had me hooked to the story was the way Sophie dies (the blurb already says that Sophie will die, so no spoilers there). She doesn’t only die, which was SO sad, but the way she dies was also highly suspicious!
All in all, the short chapters make Come to Dust a thrilling and fast read! If you like supernatural stories that involve walking dead, I’d highly recommend you read this!
* This book was included in The Nocturnal Reader’s Box of July 2017 *
January 20, 2017
After three previous great books, and now this one, Bracken MacLeod has become one of my favorite writers.
August 11, 2017
It's been a while since I've read a horror book. Loved this book! I loved the characters and story. Had just enough creepiness to it.
When I had a question on something in the book and messaged the author he took the time to answer my question.
I'm for sure going to read more of this author!
When I had a question on something in the book and messaged the author he took the time to answer my question.
I'm for sure going to read more of this author!
November 1, 2017
This book blew me away. Zombie children, religious fanatics, a bit of a YA dystopian vibe without actually being YA...it just hit all my buttons.
I was engaged the whole time, constantly eager to pick it back up once I had to put it down for a bit. I have no idea where the "boring" criticisms are coming from...I found it positively riveting. I'd love a sequel, not following Mitch and Sophie but focusing on someone else in the dystopian world that is outlined and starting to evolve at the end of the book. While I loved the characters, the concept of the book and how the world is starting to change as a result of the events in the book are what really interest me.
I was engaged the whole time, constantly eager to pick it back up once I had to put it down for a bit. I have no idea where the "boring" criticisms are coming from...I found it positively riveting. I'd love a sequel, not following Mitch and Sophie but focusing on someone else in the dystopian world that is outlined and starting to evolve at the end of the book. While I loved the characters, the concept of the book and how the world is starting to change as a result of the events in the book are what really interest me.
October 2, 2017
I didn't find this book to be terrifying in the traditional sense that horror often is. Instead, what I found was myself in Mitch's shoes, imagining what it would be like to lose one of my own kids. And then I found myself asking, how would I react coming face to face with them having risen from the dead? This was a story that made me think and feel a lot, and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish the story was longer and had more details; I feel like there was so much potential for that.
February 18, 2020
It has taken me way too long to pick up a book from Bracken MacLeod. With a premise that sells itself from page one, MacLeod has written a gripping horror novel that is, at its core, a story of family. In a world shaken to its core by seemingly supernatural change that may be either a blessing or a curse, fear, fanaticism, and conflict blossom in frightening ways. Amidst that, Come to Dust follows a small group of people pushed to their breaking points as they try to find a way to protect themselves and those they love in a world determined to tear them apart.
Come to Dust has plenty in it to shock and horrify. The landscape of the novel is harsh and often uncomfortable, and the people who inhabit that world are often worse. But in MacLeod's hands, the horror is never just for show and the weight of the novel always stands in service of story. It's a novel that looks into the face of some complex issues, asks some hard questions, and doesn't look to sooth the audience with trite answers. It is a novel that knows the world, family, love, can be challenging to hold onto and recognizes that best intentions may not always be enough. But it also is not a story of despair. At it's core, Come to Dust shows family--born and chosen--determined to do the best they can no matter what. And it is in these moments that MacLeod's skill as a writer is clear. As striking and effective as the novel's moments of horror are, it is the moments of beauty, of light, and of humanity revealed that make for some of the most touching passages of the novel.
There are lines written all throughout this book that ask you to stop and think, that cause you to linger, that do the thing which gives good literature its power--they reach across time and distance and speak something quietly beautiful that is larger than any one life, or any one experience. Come to Dust is a striking and effective horror novel, but in the midst of the horror, it is a book that never loses sight of the things that bind us together. It gives language to grief and sees a way through to the other side, even when the things that caused us pain may remain.
Come to Dust has plenty in it to shock and horrify. The landscape of the novel is harsh and often uncomfortable, and the people who inhabit that world are often worse. But in MacLeod's hands, the horror is never just for show and the weight of the novel always stands in service of story. It's a novel that looks into the face of some complex issues, asks some hard questions, and doesn't look to sooth the audience with trite answers. It is a novel that knows the world, family, love, can be challenging to hold onto and recognizes that best intentions may not always be enough. But it also is not a story of despair. At it's core, Come to Dust shows family--born and chosen--determined to do the best they can no matter what. And it is in these moments that MacLeod's skill as a writer is clear. As striking and effective as the novel's moments of horror are, it is the moments of beauty, of light, and of humanity revealed that make for some of the most touching passages of the novel.
There are lines written all throughout this book that ask you to stop and think, that cause you to linger, that do the thing which gives good literature its power--they reach across time and distance and speak something quietly beautiful that is larger than any one life, or any one experience. Come to Dust is a striking and effective horror novel, but in the midst of the horror, it is a book that never loses sight of the things that bind us together. It gives language to grief and sees a way through to the other side, even when the things that caused us pain may remain.
September 3, 2025
Let me start by saying I am not a zombie gal. I’m burnt out on virtually every iteration there is, and I actively avoid them.
While this isn’t specifically zombies, it is zombie leaning, and I still adored it. The name dropping was annoying and felt unnecessary, but the story was great. I could absolutely see the way this went being how it worked out should this happen in real life today.
I loved the characters, loved the twist, and even enjoyed the ending(which seems hard to find in a horror novel). I’d never read Bracken before this, but really enjoyed Come to Dust and will be searching out more. Is this perfect? No. Very few works are. Is it still pretty great? You betcha.
While this isn’t specifically zombies, it is zombie leaning, and I still adored it. The name dropping was annoying and felt unnecessary, but the story was great. I could absolutely see the way this went being how it worked out should this happen in real life today.
I loved the characters, loved the twist, and even enjoyed the ending(which seems hard to find in a horror novel). I’d never read Bracken before this, but really enjoyed Come to Dust and will be searching out more. Is this perfect? No. Very few works are. Is it still pretty great? You betcha.
July 30, 2017
Dust is a must!
Bracket Macleod is one of my favorite writers and I always look forward to reading anything he writes because he always has something original to say. Each book is so different and unique, yet they are each stamped with his innate ability to portray real characters with real feelings.
COME To Dust is one of his best yet. So heartfelt and so tragic, you feel the same since of loss as Mitch does in this story of the death and resurrection of a beloved child.
I cannot.adequately describe this book, you simply need to read it yourself.
Bracket Macleod is one of my favorite writers and I always look forward to reading anything he writes because he always has something original to say. Each book is so different and unique, yet they are each stamped with his innate ability to portray real characters with real feelings.
COME To Dust is one of his best yet. So heartfelt and so tragic, you feel the same since of loss as Mitch does in this story of the death and resurrection of a beloved child.
I cannot.adequately describe this book, you simply need to read it yourself.
December 16, 2020
Wonderful spin on the revenant story, rife with incisive social commentary, believable characters, emotional conflict and catharsis. A powerful story about second chances, and what it means to be a flawed human being trying repair yourself. Do yourself a favor and check this out.
May 11, 2021
2.5 stars rounded to 3: This book is an intimate look into the loss of a child with the twist on the “reanimation” troupe. While engaging at times; in my opinion it was generic and dull. It’s an ok story I just wish the last half had been as intriguing as the first half. The ending is so unbelievable and is completely jarring when compared to the heart wrenching storyline between a uncle and his niece.
July 4, 2021
Really liked the first half but thought the second half was a slog.
July 13, 2017
I'm a 'pull no punches' sort of person, especially when it comes to books. I have lived and breathed the horror genre since I was given my first Stephen King novel in the third grade (imagine a third grader lugging around a copy of "IT", that was me).
For those that adore horror, this book will seem to be a slow starter. My advice: Stay with it! Trust me it is relevant and you will be wanting the niceties of the beginning once you travel further down the rabbit hole.
If you have children this book will shake you to your core and make you ask yourself, "What would I do if my dead child came back to me?"
This is a must read for any fan of horror.
Thank you Bracken, for reanimating this book so the rest of us could enjoy it!
For those that adore horror, this book will seem to be a slow starter. My advice: Stay with it! Trust me it is relevant and you will be wanting the niceties of the beginning once you travel further down the rabbit hole.
If you have children this book will shake you to your core and make you ask yourself, "What would I do if my dead child came back to me?"
This is a must read for any fan of horror.
Thank you Bracken, for reanimating this book so the rest of us could enjoy it!
July 31, 2017
I received this book with July's Nocturnal Reader's Box and read it right away.
Although I love horror books, dead children always are a topic which is difficult for me. But in this story, this is okay, because yes, they are zombie children, but it isn't a cruel as I imagined it.
On the other hand, I have to say.. I had problems finishing 'Come to dust' cause I.. well... really got bored. I liked the beginning, but the middle part became more like an action movie (and I don't like these) and I really had to fight to get through it.
I was hoping there would be a bit more explanation about WHY children are coming back from the dead... so I'm a bit disappointed cause there is none.
According to the ending:
Nevertheless, I liked the writing style and the idea of a more gently zombie-novel. Thus I go by 2.5 stars for it.
Although I love horror books, dead children always are a topic which is difficult for me. But in this story, this is okay, because yes, they are zombie children, but it isn't a cruel as I imagined it.
On the other hand, I have to say.. I had problems finishing 'Come to dust' cause I.. well... really got bored. I liked the beginning, but the middle part became more like an action movie (and I don't like these) and I really had to fight to get through it.
I was hoping there would be a bit more explanation about WHY children are coming back from the dead... so I'm a bit disappointed cause there is none.
According to the ending:
Nevertheless, I liked the writing style and the idea of a more gently zombie-novel. Thus I go by 2.5 stars for it.
October 5, 2018
Mitch never really wanted to be a parent after his trouble childhood, but his sister Violette simply dropped little Sophie in his lap and left with her band. He takes the responsibility seriously and doesn't tell any government entities to keep getting Violette's benefits. A year later, Lianna finally asks Mitch out and he has a very rare night without Sophie to go on a date. A neighbor acts as a last minute babysitter, but she's obviously drunk when he comes home. Mitch spends the night with Lianna and doesn't realize until the next day that Sophie died. This event happens to coincide with some dead children rising from the grave, which includes Sophie. She's changed, but he cares for her like the same girl. Most others fear the returned children, their deathly pallor, and strange powers.
Come to Dust is a different zombie story than most. It starts with Mitch (real name Michel), who is an ex-con getting his life back together. He spent years in jail figuring out how to better cope with his anger. I enjoyed reading from his perspective because he was genuinely happy taking care of Sophie even though he wouldn't have chosen that path. He also has perfectly natural thoughts like thinking daycare worker Khadija looks like a model or Liana wears too much makeup, but then he follows up those thoughts with realizations like Khadija wears a hijab to be modest and Liana can wear as much makeup as she likes. Mitch is also good at sizing people up and assessing how dangerous they really are from a guy who wants to talk a big game but won't follow through to another who would shoot someone out of fear. Outwardly, his demeanor is a bit awkward, nervous, and fairly passive but still charming. Sophie's death breaks him because she was his fresh start and gave him motivation to move forward. They didn't have a lot of money or anything, but they had each other. I found him sympathetic and a good vehicle for the story.
This zombie book that many (especially parents) might find it hard to read. Child death in fiction holds a taboo more than any other type because they are the most vulnerable and innocent of humanity and in our lives. When four year old Sophie is found dead, the discovery is harrowing. The culprits leave town and lie through their teeth when found. Mitch's life falls apart around him from losing his job due to absence to losing all of Violette's government assistance. His whole life melts around him, but he and Liana have grown to love and support each other. The grief is accurately portrayed with moments of happiness and then guilt at being happy along with the waxing and waning pain of loss. Liana herself is also a pretty awesome character. She is much more assertive and sure of herself. In their relationship, she is an equal partner, not someone to be commanded. When Sophie came back, Liana was understandably disturbed and uncomfortable, eventually deciding to end their relationship when Sophie steals some her lifeforce and ages her. Apparently, an alternate effect of that power is affection and love? I found it disturbing that the only main female character has her agency taken away from her and has her making decisions against her own interest to help the male protagonist.
These zombies are a bit different than usual. These are all children and their condition when they come back is how they looked in the grave. Sophie was not very decomposed, but she comes back with a deathly pale skin, grey hair, dark veins, a slowly beating heart, no appetite, a muted personality, and eyes with white cataracts. She's obviously not a living child and everyone who helped them before rejects them now from the day care to the library. Between forward moving chapters are vignettes of other resurrections such as three boys walking out of an apparent child murderer's porch. These gave me a chill down my spine and showed what is happening outside of Mitch's story. As the story moves forward, more zombie abilities are revealed. They can weaponize rot, which in turn rots themselves, and alternatively, they can consume other's lifeforce to make themselves appear more human. If they consume enough, no one would know the difference between them and another child in any way. The different zombie abilities are interesting and mostly make sense except for the forcing some sort of emotion (examples in the book include positive and negative). It just doesn't make sense to me and has problematic implications.
The real villains of this piece are a religious extremist group. They view these children as demons from hell, sent by the devil to destroy people. The group operates as a cult, taking in those down on their luck, changing their lives, and then forcing them to commit atrocities in god's name, including imprisoning or killing anyone that gets in their way and setting fire to returned children. Mitch gets all mixed up in this because his sister comes back born again with this cult and her equally trouble boyfriend to collect Sophie. When they find out Sophie returned, the boyfriend shoves them in his truck and forces them to go to the cult compound. Mitch and other parents forced there break out and attempt to rescue their children, resulting in cars crashed into buildings and many dead and injured. The church disgustingly spins it as violence against them and uses the widespread media coverage to their advantage while the actual good people have to stay silent or risk being painted as terrorists. This is particularly relevant now where people prop up their religious beliefs as reasons to justify hatred, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, assault, murder, and child molestation just to name a few and cry discrimination or intolerance the minute anyone is against them.
Come to Dust took me almost no time to read because I was so sucked into the story. The characters are all compelling in some way and the lore is unique compared the rest of the genre. There were also small Lovecraftian references like Miskatonic University and the city of Dunwich. I thought this might play into the story a bit more, but I think it was included just to add some little easter eggs. Overall, the book moves quickly, packs an emotional punch, and features relatable and realistic characters even if the ending stretches the logic of the world.
Come to Dust is a different zombie story than most. It starts with Mitch (real name Michel), who is an ex-con getting his life back together. He spent years in jail figuring out how to better cope with his anger. I enjoyed reading from his perspective because he was genuinely happy taking care of Sophie even though he wouldn't have chosen that path. He also has perfectly natural thoughts like thinking daycare worker Khadija looks like a model or Liana wears too much makeup, but then he follows up those thoughts with realizations like Khadija wears a hijab to be modest and Liana can wear as much makeup as she likes. Mitch is also good at sizing people up and assessing how dangerous they really are from a guy who wants to talk a big game but won't follow through to another who would shoot someone out of fear. Outwardly, his demeanor is a bit awkward, nervous, and fairly passive but still charming. Sophie's death breaks him because she was his fresh start and gave him motivation to move forward. They didn't have a lot of money or anything, but they had each other. I found him sympathetic and a good vehicle for the story.
This zombie book that many (especially parents) might find it hard to read. Child death in fiction holds a taboo more than any other type because they are the most vulnerable and innocent of humanity and in our lives. When four year old Sophie is found dead, the discovery is harrowing. The culprits leave town and lie through their teeth when found. Mitch's life falls apart around him from losing his job due to absence to losing all of Violette's government assistance. His whole life melts around him, but he and Liana have grown to love and support each other. The grief is accurately portrayed with moments of happiness and then guilt at being happy along with the waxing and waning pain of loss. Liana herself is also a pretty awesome character. She is much more assertive and sure of herself. In their relationship, she is an equal partner, not someone to be commanded. When Sophie came back, Liana was understandably disturbed and uncomfortable, eventually deciding to end their relationship when Sophie steals some her lifeforce and ages her. Apparently, an alternate effect of that power is affection and love? I found it disturbing that the only main female character has her agency taken away from her and has her making decisions against her own interest to help the male protagonist.
These zombies are a bit different than usual. These are all children and their condition when they come back is how they looked in the grave. Sophie was not very decomposed, but she comes back with a deathly pale skin, grey hair, dark veins, a slowly beating heart, no appetite, a muted personality, and eyes with white cataracts. She's obviously not a living child and everyone who helped them before rejects them now from the day care to the library. Between forward moving chapters are vignettes of other resurrections such as three boys walking out of an apparent child murderer's porch. These gave me a chill down my spine and showed what is happening outside of Mitch's story. As the story moves forward, more zombie abilities are revealed. They can weaponize rot, which in turn rots themselves, and alternatively, they can consume other's lifeforce to make themselves appear more human. If they consume enough, no one would know the difference between them and another child in any way. The different zombie abilities are interesting and mostly make sense except for the forcing some sort of emotion (examples in the book include positive and negative). It just doesn't make sense to me and has problematic implications.
The real villains of this piece are a religious extremist group. They view these children as demons from hell, sent by the devil to destroy people. The group operates as a cult, taking in those down on their luck, changing their lives, and then forcing them to commit atrocities in god's name, including imprisoning or killing anyone that gets in their way and setting fire to returned children. Mitch gets all mixed up in this because his sister comes back born again with this cult and her equally trouble boyfriend to collect Sophie. When they find out Sophie returned, the boyfriend shoves them in his truck and forces them to go to the cult compound. Mitch and other parents forced there break out and attempt to rescue their children, resulting in cars crashed into buildings and many dead and injured. The church disgustingly spins it as violence against them and uses the widespread media coverage to their advantage while the actual good people have to stay silent or risk being painted as terrorists. This is particularly relevant now where people prop up their religious beliefs as reasons to justify hatred, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, assault, murder, and child molestation just to name a few and cry discrimination or intolerance the minute anyone is against them.
Come to Dust took me almost no time to read because I was so sucked into the story. The characters are all compelling in some way and the lore is unique compared the rest of the genre. There were also small Lovecraftian references like Miskatonic University and the city of Dunwich. I thought this might play into the story a bit more, but I think it was included just to add some little easter eggs. Overall, the book moves quickly, packs an emotional punch, and features relatable and realistic characters even if the ending stretches the logic of the world.
November 23, 2017
I understand that this book was written with deep emotional ties, according to the author's own Afterword. That being said, I will write this review with that in mind; I will not be completely cold or uncaring about those facts.
The toughest thing about this book is the amount of description. I certainly have never written a book myself so I cannot say it is an easy thing that anybody can do. I commend the writer for following his dreams of not only writing a complete novel, but also selling it and getting it published. However, I do think that the sheer amount of description muffles the excitement of its own story. There are times where I have been "pained" to read a single paragraph because the description reads a little like stereo instructions... (He entered the room. The room was blue. The television was on. The windows were open. The windows were bright. The sun was out. It was afternoon; etc). To write poetically and still maintain the feel and soul of the novel while always giving the plot a breath of life is definitely a hard thing to balance.
The general plot of the story was good and I really wanted to like it. But of course, what got in the way was just the way it was written. I hope I'm not being too harsh in this review, but I'm personally convinced that a good writer is still within these pages and will soon evolve into a great horror writer.
I hope what I've written is sufficient. If you got this with Nocturnal Reader's Box, read it. I think it may be one of the better ones we got over the summer. I'm really behind with those books because I cycle between Stephen King, Science Fiction, random fiction, non-fiction, and then these guys. Okay, this is the end. Over and out. Enjoy.
The toughest thing about this book is the amount of description. I certainly have never written a book myself so I cannot say it is an easy thing that anybody can do. I commend the writer for following his dreams of not only writing a complete novel, but also selling it and getting it published. However, I do think that the sheer amount of description muffles the excitement of its own story. There are times where I have been "pained" to read a single paragraph because the description reads a little like stereo instructions... (He entered the room. The room was blue. The television was on. The windows were open. The windows were bright. The sun was out. It was afternoon; etc). To write poetically and still maintain the feel and soul of the novel while always giving the plot a breath of life is definitely a hard thing to balance.
The general plot of the story was good and I really wanted to like it. But of course, what got in the way was just the way it was written. I hope I'm not being too harsh in this review, but I'm personally convinced that a good writer is still within these pages and will soon evolve into a great horror writer.
I hope what I've written is sufficient. If you got this with Nocturnal Reader's Box, read it. I think it may be one of the better ones we got over the summer. I'm really behind with those books because I cycle between Stephen King, Science Fiction, random fiction, non-fiction, and then these guys. Okay, this is the end. Over and out. Enjoy.
December 2, 2017
Mitch and Sophie are all they have, since Mitch’s sister took off to follow her drummer boyfriend. He hasn’t put himself first since Sophie became his ward, but with the little girl’s help he has learned how to re-enter society after a stint in prison for attacking Sophie’s father and nearly killing him over a misunderstanding. But when he finally decides to do something for himself by going on a date with a beautiful girl he met at the grocery store everything changes. He comes home to find his baby-sitter MIA and her “mother” drunk in his living room. Sophie appears to be fine when he check on her but after a night spent with his date he wakes up to find Sophie dead. This spirals him into a police investigation and mourning the loss of his niece. Until weeks later he gets a call from his now girlfriend frantically telling him to turn on the news, but he doesn’t understand what she’s trying to tell him until they show up at the morgue to find his dead niece sitting on a chair, seemingly alive..
Is this a sign of the second coming or as some of the religious zealots think they were ghouls that should be shot in the head. Mitch knows that he must do everything to protect Sophie from those that wish her harm and protect them from Sophie. What he doesn’t plan on is his sister showing up with Sophie’s father, and that they both are now members of the religious cult that is calling for people to shoot these children in the head.
Full of action, suspense and zombie goodness. This was a quick read and did not disappoint. @nocturnal does it again, this was from their July box! A freakishly good zombie fiction.
5⭐️’s
Is this a sign of the second coming or as some of the religious zealots think they were ghouls that should be shot in the head. Mitch knows that he must do everything to protect Sophie from those that wish her harm and protect them from Sophie. What he doesn’t plan on is his sister showing up with Sophie’s father, and that they both are now members of the religious cult that is calling for people to shoot these children in the head.
Full of action, suspense and zombie goodness. This was a quick read and did not disappoint. @nocturnal does it again, this was from their July box! A freakishly good zombie fiction.
5⭐️’s
July 17, 2017
My best friend and I are both horror fans, and we both have things we avoid in horror. Her rules are no animal deaths and no sexual violence. (She may never forgive me for recommending Mongrels by S.G. Jones...) On the other hand, my sticking spot is the violent deaths of very small children. Especially if there's neglect or abuse involved. So Come to Dust put me off a bit because it's about dead children. Poor sweet little children. It's also full of grief and devastation and rumination on how lives go south. It's honestly a little rough to read.
But for all that, it's a solid 3 stars and would have been a four stars for me except that there was some unevenness in the beginning 75 pages or so. In the author notes at the end, MacLeod notes that he wrote this novel years ago and had done some revisions for publication- I think he should have done a bit more work on the beginning because it doesn't have the same confidence as the second half.
The prose is pretty standard. Again, it gets better in the second half, and as I got more engrossed in the story, I stopped fixating on clunky descriptors and background info awkwardly inserted into the story. By the time the main reanimated child showed up, I was pretty well hooked. It also packs a lot of story into small chunks and then wanders a bit before another push into action.
It's also not particularly SCARY, although it's undeniably dark and occasionally gruesome. The dead kids are unsettling, but the real horror is what the living do.
But for all that, it's a solid 3 stars and would have been a four stars for me except that there was some unevenness in the beginning 75 pages or so. In the author notes at the end, MacLeod notes that he wrote this novel years ago and had done some revisions for publication- I think he should have done a bit more work on the beginning because it doesn't have the same confidence as the second half.
The prose is pretty standard. Again, it gets better in the second half, and as I got more engrossed in the story, I stopped fixating on clunky descriptors and background info awkwardly inserted into the story. By the time the main reanimated child showed up, I was pretty well hooked. It also packs a lot of story into small chunks and then wanders a bit before another push into action.
It's also not particularly SCARY, although it's undeniably dark and occasionally gruesome. The dead kids are unsettling, but the real horror is what the living do.
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