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Mika Bare-Hand #1
Duster: Book One of the Mika Bare-Hand Books
An uneasy truce between the four races has lasted for twenty years.
Until now.
The Dusters, a race of cat people from the north, have invaded and now former soldier Mika must make a grim choice: take up the sword again or watch everything he loves burn.
With his old friend from the military, Gair, and a mysterious, half-breed Duster, Mika makes his way from his Northern border home to the southern capital, across the frozen wastes of the Duster homelands, and deep underground where the legendary Gallochs dwell, desperate to unravel the mystery of the invasion and how it’s connected to his origin. Hunted by his own kind and unable to trust his companions, he finds that to save his family, he may have to defeat not only the Duster army but the very Gods themselves.
Penned by award-winning author, Adam Stemple, Duster is an epic, page-turning fantasy for adult readers who like their tales grim and dark but with just enough light at the end of the tunnel to keep them wanting more.
"I can, without reservation, recommend everything Adam Stemple has written, and Duster is no exception." — Steven Brust, best-selling author of The Baron of Magister Valley
"No one writes bastard-son-of-a-bitch characters as brilliantly as Adam Stemple." — Naomi Kritzer, Hugo-Award-winning Author of Catfishing on Catnet
Until now.
The Dusters, a race of cat people from the north, have invaded and now former soldier Mika must make a grim choice: take up the sword again or watch everything he loves burn.
With his old friend from the military, Gair, and a mysterious, half-breed Duster, Mika makes his way from his Northern border home to the southern capital, across the frozen wastes of the Duster homelands, and deep underground where the legendary Gallochs dwell, desperate to unravel the mystery of the invasion and how it’s connected to his origin. Hunted by his own kind and unable to trust his companions, he finds that to save his family, he may have to defeat not only the Duster army but the very Gods themselves.
Penned by award-winning author, Adam Stemple, Duster is an epic, page-turning fantasy for adult readers who like their tales grim and dark but with just enough light at the end of the tunnel to keep them wanting more.
"I can, without reservation, recommend everything Adam Stemple has written, and Duster is no exception." — Steven Brust, best-selling author of The Baron of Magister Valley
"No one writes bastard-son-of-a-bitch characters as brilliantly as Adam Stemple." — Naomi Kritzer, Hugo-Award-winning Author of Catfishing on Catnet
- GenresFantasy
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2020
25 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Adam Stemple
62 books44 followersAdam Stemple is an award-winning author, poet, and musician.
Like most authors, his life experience is broad and odd. He spent twenty years on the road with a variety of bands playing for crowds of between 2 and 20,000 people. He started, ran, and sold a poker training site with poker pro, Chris "Fox" Wallace. He worked in a warehouse. He picked corn. He traded options and demoed houses. He drove pizzas for nine months in 1986, which for twenty-seven years was the longest he'd ever been employed. He drank too much and has now been sober for over fifteen years. He published his first book at the age of sixteen, "The Lullaby Songbook," which he arranged the music for. His mother is a famous children's book author. His children are artistic. His wife is a better person than him in nearly all regards.
Like most authors, his life experience is broad and odd. He spent twenty years on the road with a variety of bands playing for crowds of between 2 and 20,000 people. He started, ran, and sold a poker training site with poker pro, Chris "Fox" Wallace. He worked in a warehouse. He picked corn. He traded options and demoed houses. He drove pizzas for nine months in 1986, which for twenty-seven years was the longest he'd ever been employed. He drank too much and has now been sober for over fifteen years. He published his first book at the age of sixteen, "The Lullaby Songbook," which he arranged the music for. His mother is a famous children's book author. His children are artistic. His wife is a better person than him in nearly all regards.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 26, 2020
‘Duster’ is the phenomenal new fantasy novel from Adam Stemple, The subject of dead gods has been presented to readers before, but never told quite like this. Adam has a gift for storytelling, weaving his words around you and ensnaring you in his world.
There was war, and oddly enough, the Gods were losing. The Galloch, a race of giants, was winning. To turn the tide, the Gods were forced into creation - the Illenthrell from stone, Duarsteri from cats, and mankind from young Haggan’s own hands. And so the battle was won, at least temporarily. But the Gods’ creations turned on each other.
Mika is long retired from the King’s Own army, when marching and fighting the Duarsteri, or ‘Dusters’ kept him busy. He has happily settled into this calmer existence, running a tavern with his lovely wife Jehannna in the town of Cairburn, watching as his three sons grow into men. Life is good and Mika is content, for the most part.
The happy picture is torn apart when a Duster half-breed comes seeking the couple’s middle son, Ferran. The Duster doesn’t ask nicely, and Mika finds himself forced to use his wits to get rid of his assailant. Then comes the immediate question, why is a Duster looking for Ferran?! The boy is known to be a bit of a party animal, enjoying his ale and the very addictive Mad Apple. For the life of him, Mika cannot figure it out. He immediately goes in search of his son, hoping to find him before anyone, or anything, else does.
One of the first stops is the local den of darkness, run by Gair, Mika’s best friend and army mate. Gair offers prostitution and gaming, alcohol and Mad Apple, anything to suit the clients vices - but no help for Mika. Although… as he continues his search, Mika is rather clumsily followed by one of Gair’s working ladies, who tells him that his friend desires a night time meeting. Mika wonders at all the secrecy surrounding the meeting, and why Gair couldn’t have just told him what he knew. Little does he know that this almost perfect world is about to be spun around, torn inside out and upside down, then blasted apart at the seams!
A tale rich with imagery, action and love; the kind a bard would love to put to tune. It’s a rollicking great read from start to finish!
There was war, and oddly enough, the Gods were losing. The Galloch, a race of giants, was winning. To turn the tide, the Gods were forced into creation - the Illenthrell from stone, Duarsteri from cats, and mankind from young Haggan’s own hands. And so the battle was won, at least temporarily. But the Gods’ creations turned on each other.
Mika is long retired from the King’s Own army, when marching and fighting the Duarsteri, or ‘Dusters’ kept him busy. He has happily settled into this calmer existence, running a tavern with his lovely wife Jehannna in the town of Cairburn, watching as his three sons grow into men. Life is good and Mika is content, for the most part.
The happy picture is torn apart when a Duster half-breed comes seeking the couple’s middle son, Ferran. The Duster doesn’t ask nicely, and Mika finds himself forced to use his wits to get rid of his assailant. Then comes the immediate question, why is a Duster looking for Ferran?! The boy is known to be a bit of a party animal, enjoying his ale and the very addictive Mad Apple. For the life of him, Mika cannot figure it out. He immediately goes in search of his son, hoping to find him before anyone, or anything, else does.
One of the first stops is the local den of darkness, run by Gair, Mika’s best friend and army mate. Gair offers prostitution and gaming, alcohol and Mad Apple, anything to suit the clients vices - but no help for Mika. Although… as he continues his search, Mika is rather clumsily followed by one of Gair’s working ladies, who tells him that his friend desires a night time meeting. Mika wonders at all the secrecy surrounding the meeting, and why Gair couldn’t have just told him what he knew. Little does he know that this almost perfect world is about to be spun around, torn inside out and upside down, then blasted apart at the seams!
A tale rich with imagery, action and love; the kind a bard would love to put to tune. It’s a rollicking great read from start to finish!
November 30, 2020
This novel caught me a little by surprise and the feeling of urgency to try to get out ahead of a nearly impossible situation as layers of dangers both certain and uncertain... multiplied...was visceral and seemingly merciless. Compelling escapism if "hurts so good" escapism is your poison !!!
Adam Stemple has a gift for putting you right into the protagonist's skull...looking out on the world at hand in an almost synesthetic way... and his ability to bring texture in his world-building is rock solid, even if the ground being walked on in the story, gets shaky as hell. Gritty, intensely engaging, and sharply entertaining. I'm glad a sequel is in the works.
Adam Stemple has a gift for putting you right into the protagonist's skull...looking out on the world at hand in an almost synesthetic way... and his ability to bring texture in his world-building is rock solid, even if the ground being walked on in the story, gets shaky as hell. Gritty, intensely engaging, and sharply entertaining. I'm glad a sequel is in the works.
July 17, 2020
Love this book. Action started on page one and kept on through the book. The world is fascinating
November 26, 2023
Brilliant Fantasy adventure novel. Mika and his family join his oldest friend as they run from mysterious attacks, while three dead gods await resurrection and the world's four races vie to bring their patron back first. Amazing and unique world building and a solid story. Highly recommended.
The story is told by Mika and his wife Jehanna, and is populated with wonderful characters like their drug addled son Ferran, the smart-mouthed Gair and the halfbreed cat-man Heftraas, and the stone-borne song wizard Armalis.
What I liked about this story was the fast pace and unique setting, well defined magic such as "illinthrell-path-stone" and the frozen mists of the cat-people, "mad apple fiends," and the weaving of ancient text references into the narrative. The first person narrative draws the reader into the story as Mika could "smell death of the wind," and we feel his dismay when he his threatened his legacy, "the line of Hagganson One-arm, Destroyer of Gods, ends with you."
What I didn't like in the story was Gair's survival of all his brushes with death. But this was a minor annoyance, as the character was fun.
If you are looking for a masterfully plotted and unique fantasy, this is a great story!
The story is told by Mika and his wife Jehanna, and is populated with wonderful characters like their drug addled son Ferran, the smart-mouthed Gair and the halfbreed cat-man Heftraas, and the stone-borne song wizard Armalis.
What I liked about this story was the fast pace and unique setting, well defined magic such as "illinthrell-path-stone" and the frozen mists of the cat-people, "mad apple fiends," and the weaving of ancient text references into the narrative. The first person narrative draws the reader into the story as Mika could "smell death of the wind," and we feel his dismay when he his threatened his legacy, "the line of Hagganson One-arm, Destroyer of Gods, ends with you."
What I didn't like in the story was Gair's survival of all his brushes with death. But this was a minor annoyance, as the character was fun.
If you are looking for a masterfully plotted and unique fantasy, this is a great story!
January 24, 2021
Duster started off as a simple fantasy adventure with the humor and wit of Steven Brust. It quickly reveals a more complex plot and some excellent world building. The fighting is some of the most realistic I've experienced in fantasy. The battles are gritty and suitably bloody. I enjoyed following the exploits of an older retired warrior with frequent references to whoring.
The world building all feels natural, told through plot and inference. The various races all feel unique and have their own languages. Stemple keeps the pace consistent throughout ramping up for the finale. I look forward to jumping into book 2 soon. Many thanks to Steven Brust for the recommendation or I might not have discovered this self published novel.
The world building all feels natural, told through plot and inference. The various races all feel unique and have their own languages. Stemple keeps the pace consistent throughout ramping up for the finale. I look forward to jumping into book 2 soon. Many thanks to Steven Brust for the recommendation or I might not have discovered this self published novel.
June 27, 2020
This is an epic fantasy well disguised as a dark fantasy romp.
Within the first few lines, I was wolfing down my metaphorical popcorn. A few pages later and I was inhaling the pungent alleyways and jonesing for Mad Apple. By the time things got seriously weird, I was surprised to be surprised. I've read and enjoyed Stemple before, so I expected my heart-strings to be tender by the end of the story. I'm still hearing the harmonics.
Within the first few lines, I was wolfing down my metaphorical popcorn. A few pages later and I was inhaling the pungent alleyways and jonesing for Mad Apple. By the time things got seriously weird, I was surprised to be surprised. I've read and enjoyed Stemple before, so I expected my heart-strings to be tender by the end of the story. I'm still hearing the harmonics.
September 8, 2020
Great stuff. Grim and dark and mean, this is hard hitting fantasy. If you liked GoT, read this book.
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April 18, 2021Adam Stemple has a gift for writing. This book is gritty, intensely engaging, and sharply entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews