Oil and Dust

The Elemental Artist #1

by Jami Fairleigh

When all has been lost, we find ourselves…

Out of the ashes of destruction, a new world has arisen. The plagues of the past—the worship of greed and pursuit of power—are gone. Now, the communities that remain in this post-apocalyptic world focus on creating connections, on forging futures filled with family and love. And all with the help of hard work, hope… and a little bit of magic.

Artist Matthew Sugiyama knows this well. Traveling the countryside in search of the family he lost as a child, he trades his art for supplies—and uses his honed magic to re-draw the boundaries of reality, to fashion a world that is better for those he meets.
Following glimpses of visions half-seen, Matthew—and the friends he encounters along the way—will travel a path from light to darkness and back again. A road where things lost in the past can only be found in the love of the present, and the hope for the future.

And he will travel this path wherever it leads. From joy to sorrow, from tears to laughter. Because Matthew is the Elemental Artist, and he knows that though dangers arise, humanity will always triumph… in a world he has painted in shades of Oil and Dust.

Author Jami Farleigh invites you to meet a rich tapestry of characters, and to travel through a world that blends fantasy, laughter, coming of age, and evocative literary stylings to create a perfect escape. Fans of The Goblin Emperor, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, The Language of Flowers, and Quarter Share will delight in this tale of humor, humanity, and the power of hope.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure, Post Apocalyptic, Magic

510 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2021

About the author

Jami Fairleigh is a biracial, Japanese-American writer, urban planner, and hobby collector from Washington. She shares her life with a husband, a trio of well-mannered horses, a pair of dubiously behaved parrots, and one neurotic dog.

Her writing has been published by Terror House Magazine, Horror Tree, Defenestration, and Amsterdam Quarterly. She is currently working on the fourth novel in the Elemental Artist fantasy series.

You can find her and more information about her writing at jamifairleigh.com.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s two hundred years after technology died. Now the world exists with medieval level tech. Matthew Sugiyama is an artist, able to bring to life whatever he depicts through his artwork. If he paints a building where seconds before there were only ruins, a building will appear, exactly as he depicted it. Needless to say, Matthew’s skills are very in demand and every community he encounters would love to have him be their artist in residence. I was captivated by the world building, which got quite gritty in places (it’s not easy being a traveler) and dystopian setting of OIL AND DUST and loved the descriptions of Matthew and Josephine’s time on the road, and the various communities they visited. Such interesting world building. Matthew could be very comfortable as an artist, but he wants more than anything to find out what happened to his birth family. Clues lie in letters from someone named “T” and as we draw closer to the end, your heart breaks as you wonder if you really want Matthew to find out the truth at all. I loved the side characters in this as well, particularly Genevie, Whistler, Sally, Ben and Charcoal the dog. This was an absolute delight and I cannot wait for part two!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight. A story of hope that walks the twee line between YA and adult fiction that I'm happy to lap up. Oil and Dust is exactly as the blurb says it is. We need more stories like it and I'm eager to continue with Matthew, the Elemental Artist, and his found family.

There's some content that will trouble those sensitive to criticism of religious fanaticism and one scene involving sexual assault that will keep it off the shelf of the DoBetter GR group, but Oil and Dust is a mostly upbeat and pleasant tale that I'm happy to recommend.

4.5 stars rounded up.

My thanks to the literary gods that blessed me with an eARC via netgalley.

[Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title:
Art, Magic, and Second Chances:
Why This Post-Apocalyptic Tale Restored My Faith in Humanity ✨

Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4 out of 5 stars)

Sometimes, you pick up a book expecting one thing and get something completely different, in the best possible way. "Oil and Dust" promised a post-apocalyptic journey, but Jami Farleigh delivered something far more nuanced: a meditation on hope, family, and the transformative power of art in a world that chose to rebuild better rather than just survive.

Matthew Sugiyama is the kind of protagonist who stays with you long after you close the book. As the Elemental Artist, his magic allows him to literally redraw reality through his art, but it's his emotional journey that forms the true heart of this story. His search for his lost family becomes a metaphor for all of us trying to find where we belong in an uncertain world 🎨

What sets this book apart from other post-apocalyptic fiction is Farleigh's bold choice to imagine a world that learned from its destruction. Instead of the usual Mad Max wasteland, we get communities prioritizing connection over competition, love over power. It's a radical act of optimism that feels both refreshing and necessary.

The magic system here is absolutely brilliant. Art as a tool for reshaping reality isn't just visually stunning (and Farleigh's descriptions make you feel like you're seeing Matthew's creations come to life), but it serves as a powerful metaphor for how creativity can heal trauma and build bridges between people. Every magical moment feels earned and meaningful rather than flashy.

The supporting cast deserves special mention. Each character Matthew encounters on his journey brings their own story and wisdom. The found family dynamics develop organically, creating genuine emotional stakes that had me completely invested in everyone's wellbeing. These relationships feel genuine, messy, and ultimately deeply loving 💕

Farleigh's prose is lyrical without being pretentious. It vividly portrays this rebuilt world while never losing sight of the human emotions at its center. The themes of belonging, identity, and the power of hope are woven throughout with a deft hand that never feels heavy-handed.

If I have any criticism, it's that the middle section occasionally slows down as Matthew travels between communities, and some of the resolution feels a bit too neat for the complex problems presented. But these are minor quibbles with what is ultimately a deeply satisfying and emotionally resonant read.

At 510 pages, this is a commitment that pays off handsomely. "Oil and Dust" is the kind of book that reminds you why you fell in love with fantasy in the first place:
It shows us not just what could be, but what should be, if we have the courage to choose hope over fear.

This debut novel announces Farleigh as a voice worth following. For readers who loved "The Goblin Emperor" or "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet," this book offers the same combination of genuine kindness and excellent storytelling. Highly recommended for anyone who believes that the best fantasy doesn't just entertain but inspires us to be better 🌟

Content warnings:
Some discussion of past trauma and loss, but handled with sensitivity

Perfect for:
Fans of hopeful fantasy, found family tropes, unique magic systems, and post-apocalyptic fiction that chooses optimism

Thank you to Jami Farleigh and VoraciousReaders for the gifted copy of this book. I was happy to leave my honest opinion. Woo Hoo!

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a way different type of fantasy than I am used to, but I quite enjoyed it.

I loved the concept of Art being used as a magic system and the rules and constructs Jami Fairleigh built around that.

The found family trope in this was *chef's kiss*, and I couldn't help but fall head over heals in love with every character we met.

This definitely had some slice of life moments that really gave me a feel for the world and fleshed out the characters for me.

There was also this interesting discussion sprinkled throughout about how money, politics, greed, religion and power can corrupt people. It was an enlightening to read about.


All in all, I had a great time with this and looking forward to following Matthew Sugiyama and his friends on their continuing journey.

[Rebecca Demarest · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start with, I want to acknowledge that Jami is a good friend of mine and I had the chance to read the ARC of Oil and Dust before it hit the market. I have since purchased a copy, but want to lay my prejudice out right up front. I've known Jami for almost a year now, we met last NaNoWriMo when she attended the write-ins I was hosting on behalf of the Neverending Bookshop, and we just keep doing events together! Not only is she an incredibly pleasant human being, she is also a great writer, and it shows in this debut novel. Oil and Dust is a post-apocalypse story wherein the world (well, the American continent at least) has somewhat recovered into a society of loosely interconnected small towns. Our main character, Matthew Sugiyama, is an Artist, which, in this reality, means he can bend physics to his will with the stroke of his paintbrush. Freshly graduated from the Abbey where he was trained, he sets off into the world to figure out who his family is and find answers to the questions that have plagued him his whole life.

Fairleigh does a fantastic job in this novel with worldbuilding and description. She definitely has an artist's eye and sensibility when it comes to scene-setting, and she makes the act of painting exciting and intriguing. The artistic bent of the magic system is unique, and very well executed. I get testy if magic systems aren't fully fleshed out and internally consistent, but Fairleigh does a masterful job of creating and utilizing the art=magic equation. Matthew is a sympathetic character, and though he at times is as self-centered as any 19 year old young man would be, it only adds to the realistic portrait she paints. My only qualm with the protagonist is that he at times seems too aware of his own emotions and analyzes his mental state and motivations better than most therapists. I personally like a bit more of that left up to the reader. Regardless, the struggle and adventure Matthew and his compatriots embark upon is delightful, a true page-turner that left me asking what on alternaEarth was going to happen next. Definitely worth the read!

[Jamedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/oil-and-...

Oil and Dust is the first book in the Elemental Artist series, by Jami Fairleigh, and placed 12th among the finalists of BBNYA 2022. Despite being labeled as a fantasy novel, I would call it better a post-apocalyptic story; set in an America where greed and corruption have brought the downfall on man, taking it to a world where technology is much less common; people have learnt to live in community, accepting each one a function to make it work. A world where artists are valued and treated as a fundamental part of society.

And that brings us to our main character: Matthew Sugiyama, an artist with a really valuable quality that makes him almost a star, as he's able to bring to life his paintings, altering reality with them. Any community would like to keep him as a part of them, but Matthew has his own mission: discover all that he can about his family, and hopefully reunite with it.This premise is the main point of the plot, living the journey through the eyes of Matthew, as he will be our narrator in this adventure that will take him to several communities; all in the search of that family, and with a surrounding mystery, as somebody called T is sending letters to those communities trying to keep him in one place.

Matthew is an exceptional character, and we will be able to experience his growth alongside the journey, mostly due to the experience with other people and the contact with a reality that wasn't part of the abbey where he was trained. Each single of the characters that Fairleigh has created is unique, with its own flaws and virtues, a singular piece that makes the machine this novel is work.

The world shown in Oil and Dust is really original, using the post-apocalyptic setting to construct a utopian society, where each one has a place in the communities. Art is valued as a treasure due to its ability to shape reality. The downfall of modern society has been taken as a lesson of what greed and corruption bring to society, and how it shouldn't be repeated; as it is embodied in the nursery rhyme "Politics, Money, Power, Religion, and Greed. These are the things we never again need.”

I can't end the review without talking about the gorgeous prose that Fairleigh shows throughout the novel. In a book where an artist is the main character, it is fairly interesting to see how detailed and vivid are the descriptions, creating gorgeous images with words.

Oil and Dust is an excellent novel, a novel about growth in a journey through the eyes of a really special character. Certainly, a well-deserved finalist on BBNYA 2022, and I recommend everybody to read it!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read a book in YEARS that made me feel the way this book did. At once triumphant and blindingly optimistic, and also powerful and compelling.

Matthew is the epitome of what a hero should be (even if he doesn't see it himself). Strong and resolute in his journey to find his family (and himself), he ends up finding a new family that he realizes he would die to protect.

I nearly cried in the last few chapters of this book. Viciously realistic imagery, a breathtaking pace and believable characters that make you love (or hate) them, combine to make this one of my favorite books that I've had the privilege to read this year. Highly recommended (keep your tissues close). Eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Thank you to Jami Fairleigh, Kitsune Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Azrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I was provided with a digital copy of the book for a blog tour with The Write Reads Tours in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, fire/fire injury, self-harm, murder, death, death of parent, abandonment, sexual assault, alcohol, toxic relationship, religious blasphemy, ableism, amnesia/memory loss, anxiety
--

Michael Sugiyama is an Artist, able to bend reality with a line of charcoal or a stroke of a paint brush. However, upon leaving the abbey where he apprenticed at, rather than settling with a community and putting his skillset to use as he is expected to in this post-technology world Michael wants to find his birth family.
With flashes of visions from his past as a guide, he travels across the country forming connections with people and place, trading his skills for resources and is determined to not let anything steer him from his mission. Whether that be the temptation to put down roots or the mysterious adversary causing trouble in the places he passes through.

“There was nothing better than clicking with someone – perhaps the reason I enjoyed meeting new people. Each new acquaintance was a potential confidant, helpmate, and friend.”

Though a lot lighter on the fantasy side of things than I expected, Oil and Dust is an enjoyable and insightful book perfect for anyone who enjoys journey based storylines. This one in particular falls more on the cosy / domestic side of adventure but it has some added mystery elements too which keep you intrigued.

I was wholly fascinated by the unique magic in the book which along with the stunning cover, was the reason it initially caught my interest. Though it plays a much smaller role in the overarching plot than I expected, every time our protagonist used his art to make little changes to the world I was awestruck.

Set in a post-apocalyptic variant of our world where technology has become obsolete and politics and religion are a thing of the past, the world and lifestyle in this story has a very rural and medieval feel to it. Thus the worldbuilding comes down to the subtle differences and structures of the communities that are dotted around. This did make some of the locations that we come across seem a little indistinguishable but it was very immersive and expansive. Plus the various characters that populated them are what keep you invested in the happenings.

“Home. Could it be as easy as picking a place with people you liked and making a life for yourself?”

The tone and overall narrative felt quite similar to that of The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner as it predominantly involves exploring and trekking across a country, with the slower pacing towards the beginning working really well to paint a picture of the wider setting as well as build the characters. The last third of the book is where the main conflicts that have been simmering in the background really pick up and though the shift in mood from the more relaxed start are jarring at first, the moments of action keep you hooked.

Our protagonist is young – I believe towards the beginning of the book it is stated he’s around 20 – and his travels allow him to come to terms with the way life is outside of the privilege he has grown up with which adds a coming-of-age aspect to his journey. He has a frustrating quality to him in how he reacts in certain situations but his compassion for others – including animals – and the relationships that he is able to form with people also make him endearing. Fairleigh is brilliant at writing authentic character relationships and there is a wonderful found family that forms in this book, which being one of my favourite tropes ever, I absolutely loved.

I’m definitely interested in checking out the sequel and seeing where their travels take them next!
Final Rating – 3.75/5 Stars

[S. Bavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil & Dust is a fantasy tale set in a post-apocalyptic version of our world. The surviving communities have fallen back into a much more basic style of life, there are no cars or phones and each permanent community comprises an administrator, cook, engineer, medic, blacksmith and scholar. There are other community members growing food and looking after each other’s needs – but these are the mainstays of every successful settlement.

Matthew Sugiyama is an artist who has recently graduated from the abbey in which he was trained, but instead of taking up one of many commissions he is offered, and joining a community, he is travelling alone, trying to discover his parentage and family history. There is a mystery surrounding Matthew’s family. Why did they abandon him as a young child at the abbey to become an artist, then never contact him his whole time there? He is an extremely likeable, good-hearted main character – the book is entirely told from his first person perspective. Devoted to his dog, Charcoal, and his horses, Magnesium and Oxide, he is also full of compassion for those he meets along the way, eager to trade his skills in improving tangible objects via art for a bed for the night and a warm meal. Artists are able to rearrange the physics of an item at a quantum level in order to improve it. In this way he restores buildings which have been burnt to the ground and creates bridges by painting them on canvas:

“Once you learned to restructure reality, the itch to fix or control the chaos was strong.”

“I manifested changes in the physical world through the artwork, not the finished art. They could destroy the painting without affecting the buildings.”

While on his quest for family he meets Josephine, a scholar. He saves her from attack by a passing ruffian who makes off with her horse and possessions when Matthew stops him from attacking her. Josephine’s face is half covered in scars and Matthew’s gentle demeanour and relaxed manner eventually persuade her to trust him and explain she was just a girl when a terrible accident with a horse and cart occurred, scarring her and killing her younger brother. An easy and comfortable companionship develops between Josephine and Matthew which is a joy to read. She becomes much like a sister to him. I really enjoyed her character. Reticent due to her scars she gains confidence during their travels and her intelligence as a scholar informs their decisions on many occasions. Her true beauty shines from within and it is not long before someone they meet, the engineer Ben, starts to fall in love with her and agrees to travel onwards with them.

Another person they meet along the way is the middle-aged administrator, Sally with her hilarious use of many glorious turns of phrase when cursing. Here is just a small sample of her gems:

“Bum-banging brawny packer”
“Dripping rag rider”
“Dipstick plonker”
“Llama wanker”

The author, Jami Fairleigh, writes beautifully evocative prose with the power to make your stomach rumble when describing food:

“Steam rose from the bowl in ghostly curls of mushroom and rosemary. The surface of the stew shimmered, and thick chunks of potato and carrot slid in and out of view as I tilted the bowl. Venison, cubed precisely, glistened amongst the root vegetables. I savored the stew, meaty and earthy, its salt-fat flavors familiar and comforting. The heat of the earthen bowl chased the ache from my hands.”

“Digging into my supper, I sampled the chicken, smiling as its salty-rich flavor swam over my tongue. The multihued succotash tasted of the harvest, rich and sun-toasted. The pickles, sweet and crunchy, made my tongue curl. Mopping up the gravy on my plate with a biscuit, I watched Charcoal circle the table, accepting treats and handouts from the children who passed tidbits in secret. I pretended not to notice.”

An immersive world comes alive as we travel with Matthew and Josephine. A world where the people have determined to learn from humanity’s past mistakes. No more religion, politics, money, or greed. However these are embedded in the flawed human psyche and there are some who have never given up their religious beliefs, their desire for power, or their greed. Violence erupts when such groups known as ‘Revivalists’ are encountered and Matthew finds himself dogged by a mysterious person known as ‘T’ who seems dead set on stopping him from seeking his parents and uses many methods to get in his way. Will Matthew figure out who this mysterious person could be? Will he find out where to go to seek his family? Or will he realise that his newly found family are all he really needs?

“Some truths can change the course of one’s entire life.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this unique book and am excited to continue Matthew’s journey in the sequel, Graphite and Turbulence. Thank you to the author and BBNYA for gifting me a digital review copy. My opinions are my own and my review is honest.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by pinpointing how surprised I am with this book, while I was drawn to it by its cover and title, once I started reading I found the slow burn of the book to be an important piece to the story.
Not expecting much I embarked myself in the adventure that would be the learning journey for Matthew.
I have to admit, the first half of the book had me intrigued, but in a boring way. However, I firmly believe this was intentional, you keep reading and reading to find the breaking point, and once you get it, you grasp it and live as if inside the book you were.

Jami’s descriptive writing made this adventure more real, I could feel myself indulging in letting my mind play the scene and feel what these characters felt.

Hope, doubt, selfishness, empathy, happiness, sadness, anger…These character have become my family too.
It had been a while since I both cried and laughed along with the character and words on a page, and I must say, this was the perfect story to bring exactly that to me.
With not only adventure, this author takes it upon herself to touch topics like selfishness in the human world, the danger in beliefs and extremism, the importance of connections, mental health and being conscious of our acts and empathy amongst other things. But most importantly, she makes us comprehend that we cannot decide what life brings us, our destiny is what it is, and what we find along the way may change our perspective in life and though hard, we must learn to accept an opens mind.

Farewell, my beloved Oil and Dust family, I will remember you in my travels, until we meet again.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep & Insightful

The premise of this story grabbed me straight out of the gate. The magical use of art, the familiar world that was also so different in the wake of "the world's end". The wonderful characters such as Matthew, Josephine, and Ben, not to mention Charcoal and the plethora of other memorable additions that weave in and out of the story. It was a beautifully written epic.

I will say this was a bit hard for me to read at times due to the multiple implications that the world would be better off if no one believed in God. As a Christian, my heart hurt on more than one occassion. But the truth of cults and evil men twisting the Word of God is also a painful truth that hurts my heart, along with the hateful things people are doing this very day in God's name. I would have liked to see someone like myself represented, someone who loves God and respects the lives and choices of the people around them, whether their beliefs aligned or not. But, that doesn't change the fact that this was an excellent story and obviously dear to the author's heart.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know what it feels like to grow up esteemed and admired, yet hiding a gaping hole inside? Wondering who you are and where you came from? For artist Matthew Sugiyama, these questions permeate his being, leaving him unable to settle down without answers. He revokes the life of comfort and security offered to him, in favor of a wandering life fraught with danger and uncertainty. Along the way he meets and collects a rag-tag bunch of human and animal companions, questioning his beliefs about the world, and what it is to be human. Can he find the answers he seeks, before a mysterious adversary catches up to him?

This is a masterful first novel from an up-and-coming author. This novel is well-balanced with descriptions, not too much and not too little, making this a well-crafted story that is both atmospheric and wistful.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series to come out!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words in this book drew me in even before I became invested in the characters. The plot is what keeps this book moving and keeps the pages turning with its twists and surprises.
Love the realness of the people in this story. Matthew starts out on a journey of self discovery that quickly turns into questions of what is family, what is community and does human nature change?
While this book is part of a series this first one ends satisfactorily with no cliff hangers. It does leave the reader missing new "friends" made and a curiosity for what comes next.
I received this book free from BookSirens as an ARC. I am pleased to be able to leave a reveiw.

[Lauren de Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really engaging, well-crafted story, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. My only complaint would be that some of the scene/chapter transitions are a bit abrupt, which throws off the flow of the narrative, but only for a few moments at a time. The world Fairleigh has built is fascinating and nuanced, and makes you think about the world we live in today and its implications for the future.
I received this book for free as an ARC from BookSirens and am posting this review voluntarily.

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil and Dust is a super unique take on a post-apocalyptic world. Although we aren't told exactly what event separated the Before from the After (when the book takes place), it's clear that politics, greed, money, and religion are ideas of the past. Or so we think...

The setting of Oil and Dust has a very western feel to it. People live in small communities where everyone has a particular skill or job. Blacksmiths, bakers, administrators, scholars, etc. However, Matthew, our protagonist, is an artist who has decided not to join a community. He is determined to travel (with his dog, Charcoal, and his two horses) around in search of his family. Matthew is highly revered as an artist and therefore, eagerly welcomed in every community he comes across. He's no ordinary artist though. He can actually manipulate matter. An old, decaying building can be made new again. Bridges can be built where there was none, and communities can be made much better due to his artistic skills. I'll be honest, at about 500 pages, Oil and Dust is a much longer book than I typically prefer. However, I was so engrossed in the story I barely even noticed the length. I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew's travels. I loved being there as he passed through different communities, trading his artistic skills for room and board. Oh, that's one thing I definitely need to mention. The descriptions of food in this book were absolutely marvelous. The world-building overall was amazingly detailed, but the way food was described really made it feel like I was there.

In my mind, Oil and Dust can be separated into two parts. Part one is full of rich world-building, learning Matthew's backstory from his time at the abbey where he learned to be an artist, and relaxing travels as Matthew continues his search for his family. Once he meets Josephine (who I love!) there is a slight shift as they get to know one another and we are able to watch their bond grow. But then there is a big shift. The light mood of the book darkens as we discover entire communities are being slaughtered. For me, this is where the second part starts. Up until that point, Oil and Dust was a light, fun read. A nice way to relax. But then it became more intense and I was eagerly turning the pages in an effort to learn exactly who was responsible for the killings and why. There's lots of action and by now, Matthew has many more friends in his group for us to worry about. Ben, Akiko, Sally, and many others. There's betrayal, realizations that their world isn't as perfect and progressive as they thought, and even more questions about Matthew's family.

Fairleigh definitely sets us up to crave the sequel and I, for one, am excited to see where this next installment takes us. What will they find in Toronto? Will "T" be found again? How will the world react to Akiko's desire/ability to be an artist? I can't wait to find out!! 5/5 stars!!

[Joy E. Rancatore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combines fascinating characters and a fantastic use of elemental magic in a world.

[Puck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy, I thought as I scrolled through ARC’s. I really need some fantasy.

I settled on Jami Fairleigh’s Oil and Dust, scheduled for publication on 1 September 2021. I absolutely loved the cover, and was drawn to a questing, “character-driven” story. And while vastly different to what I expected, it did not disappoint.

Matthew Sugiyama is an artist – one able to alter reality – on a journey to find his family. He lives in a world beyond technology, whose inhabitants believe they have outgrown politics, money, power, religion, and greed. “These are the things we never again need,” they claim.

There is much to take in as you travel with Matthew and his ever-growing group of companions. I read with breathless urgency, scared I’d miss something. Some of the dialogue and customs took a while to wrap my head around, but I soon settled into the story with enjoyment.

While this is fantasy, it is speculative, and that made this book so memorable. What really got me was imagining a world where religion is frowned upon as something to eradicate less it is abused. It was fascinating and disturbing to see the role of the revivalists and their religion. Such an interesting concept to grapple with.

The descriptions are lyrical and vivid (don’t read Oil and Dust on an empty stomach), and it is really hard to put down once you’re into it. Even if I struggled to keep the threads straight initially, my fascination with Matthew’s world and his journey kept me going.

Best of all, the characters are beautifully, realistically drawn. I loved Matthew’s discovery of what family truly means, loved seeing his relationships deepen. His friendship with Josephine was wonderfully done (can we please have more of that?!).

There is blood and gore and language, but nowhere near enough to detract from the book as a whole. And you’ll want to keep the tissues nearby.

I punched my palm. “Why is it happening at all, Josephine? We know what happened to the people of Before. Why is this happening again?”
She looked at me with pity on her scarred face. “Because we’re human.” (p. 389)

The world changes. We do not.

Still, the characters’ love for one another makes a hopeful ending, with lots of anticipation for the next book. Oh, yes . . . it’s a series! :)

A big thank you to BookSirens for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Garraway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! What a terrific book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book but it is thought provoking, moving and beautifully written.

Fairleigh has written a winner here.

Matthew is an artist, and not an ordinary artist, living in a post apocalyptic world. A world where politics, religion, and greed are no more, along with most technology. A sense of community and looking out for each other has grown out of the ruins of Before. Working together, and for each other these communites welcome travellers who barter for food and lodging with their skills.

Being an artist, Matthew is much sought after, as he can change things with his paintings.

But Matthew doesn't want to settle in a community, he is restless, needs answers about his family, and where he came from. Only those answers are not easily found, and someone keeps putting obstacles in his way.

Matthew is a heart warming character, no means perfect but lovable all the same, and he attracts like-minded people, or rescues most of them! Akiko is adorable, as are so many of the other characters, from Josephine to Charcoal. Each perfectly drawn, someone you would like to meet.

Fairleigh has created an interesting world, beautifully described. An insight into how life could be without the need for power, though of course not all are happy living in peace, even after the history of Before. A wonderful book, you should buy it now. I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC copy, but I bought my own copy anyway. Oil and Dust is definitely one to add to the book collection.

This is my honest review and I am leaving it voluntarily.

[Ralph Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had skipped this title a couple times, when I was going through possible books to request at a couple websites. The description made the story feel a bit too Young Adult to me, and I just was not in the mood for that style of writing. However, I took a chance, and am glad I did.

Sure it sounds a little cheesy... an orphaned boy trained in a magical art, out in the real world realizing he has no social skills. But Fairleigh makes it come together, and I felt pulled into the story. The world building was not the greatest, as all we can tell is it is a dystopian future, and I felt there were some parts that were not explained well. Characters come into the story easy enough, and there really isn't much background on them either. Almost as if they were written in, and that was when their lives began.

The story rolled along well, and I found myself drawn in. The main character's lack of social skills made for a couple humorous events, yet it felt good for him to learn from those mistakes. The search for his family, and information that was revealed in the story, make we wonder how long we will have to wait for the next book in the series.

I received this book through Booksirens and Kitsune Press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#Booksirens #OilAndDust

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Kitsune Publishing for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

This has the feel of a time far long ago, when actually it is very modern, futuristic even; it’s fascinating to see things come back around. It is a very unusual look at what our future could look like when it doesn’t contain hovercrafts and self-tying shoelaces.

It is full of such beautiful description that you can see the views, hear the horses hoofs, and taste the sumptuous feasts. It’s a long book but it doesn’t ramble or bore. There’s a lot of characters but you never feel lost. It’s twisty and turny but not confusing. Things are exposed to you in detail but it’s never patronising. It’s set in the future but without enough identifiable qualities to feel a part of it. It’s funny without being slapstick. It’s scary without being too horrific to read. It’s loving without being mushy. It’s an adventure without travelling too far. It’s violent without being too much.

I felt there was definitely a sense of CS Lewis about it, particularly at the end. I read a sequel is due in March 2022 and I’m already desperate to read it.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC from NetGalley, this an honest review. Set in a country where the technology that we've come to rely upon to survive no longer exists, leaving humanity to build itself back from scratch through hard labor, well-knit communities and fiery resilience. This is Matthew Sugiyama's world... growing up in an abbey honing his unique skill- painting destroyed builds and bringing them back to life through his artistic hand. The one thing he cannot change... is who are his parents and why was he left at the abbey called Popham? Accompanied by his trusted company of animal friends and helpers, Matthew sets out to learn the answers of his past. What starts out as solitary journey becomes a quest with an unexpected surprise: finding hope in others and what makes a family is far complicated but truly rewarding- something Matthew and his friends will fight for no matter the cost. Deeply transformative, eloquently written with harrowing twists and impressive characters that are unforgettable. Oil and Dust is an absolutely, wild adventure to behold....highly recommended.

[Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award]

Congratulations for placing 12th in the 2022 BBNYA Competition!

[U.L. Harper]

Let’s talk about Oil and Dust by Jami Farleigh.

Officially it’s a fantasy and coming of age novel set in a semi dystopic landscape. I say “semi” because the world that we know has faded away and a slightly newer one has taken hold. It’s not a worse world but it’s surely in reaction to what came before it. It feels as wide but smaller.
Our main character is a trained artist; he can change the world by drawing it. For you magic system geeks out there, his ability is presented mostly as science. Sure, you can just have a talent for it, but you need to be trained because it’s not simple. In execution, when the ability it presented it feels right. It’s part of the plot, but by far not THE plot.

The characters are all genuine and have a voice. You hear from them. As the novel moves on we gather more and more characters. To make this work through first-person perspective, what we know about the characters happens in front of our main character. There is more discussion about their surroundings and how they’re going to deal with things. Time is given to let scenes breathe. I’ll add that although the novel is over 500 pages, it’s not due to flashback and tons of time on character backstory. Everything feels like it’s happening in front of you.

I’ll add that in a writing world where folks lean toward using multiple point of views to tell more story, Oil and Dust stays firm in a single point of view. Dialogue crisp. Inner thought is a focus. Body language is present, especially since you’re not in everyone’s head, and yes, when you leave the novel you feel like you know these folks.

One element that struck me were the elements of the main character that is literally drawn out. For him to perfect his skill, he needs to see the world accurately and in different ways. In this manner, he’s not just a filter for characters but we get to see the world for what it is, in different aspects. It’s an interesting wrinkle from a development perspective. Also, when things don’t go well, that’s when we experience his insecurities. I feel that in a lot of novels these days, the main character creates the problems they solve and that’s how they grow, and while that eventually plays a role here, it’s not the point.

The point of this novel is to experience the world created. It’s a clinic in what this world could be, and in a way, it’s saying that magic is real if things changed a bit. Sure, the stated journey is for the main character to discover his past, but the path he takes and the time it takes for him to do so, makes it so the reader can see this extraordinary world from a near objective stance. Sure, it’s first-person but it’s an even keeled first person. There��s no deep point of view. The reader makes all the decisions about folks. The main character is just a filter.

Although Oil and Dust is well-written, readers looking for a fun or fast-paced novel that will knock them off their socks will be disappointed. This novel is about looking through perspectives and seeing this world. Many readers will be looking for a different kind of action than is presented. It’s my perspective that fantasy readers love their violence. They love fights that highlight who the hero is or isn’t. Oil and Dust gets exciting but it’s an inner exciting. I read one review that commented on the amount of violence towards the end. That element is here, but I shake me head when I think of warning folks about it.

Lastly, I can’t say enough about the kind of journey being presented. Let me explain it a bit differently. It’s a literary novel and it does what literary novels do. It talks about the world on its own terms. Some might refer to it as “low fantasy”. If you want to deeply visit a new world and meet the people and situations there, this is where you want to be. If you just want a quick fantasy read with a little action to check off the boxes because you need an escape, this might not be for you.

[meghann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the Nook serial read for March. This was an interesting post-apocalyptic world. Based on the first part of it, I really was not expecting how graphic the violence would get, especially at the end. There were some vivid descriptions of people dying some very horrible deaths. And of course I spent the whole time stressing over the dog and wondering if something would happen to him. If you would like to know: nothing happens--he is good!. I think it was just not the best time for me to be reading this, which is why I won't be continuing on with book two at the moment. Maybe when things are better and the world doesn't feel like it's on the brink of ending.

[Esme]

Read for SPFBO 8!

[Roger Alix-Gaudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a couple of centuries since whatever ended our society happened (the book is vague about exactly what the was), and the world is different now — mostly. The book shows us a post-technology world where things like politics, power, greed, and religion have mostly been set aside, and people live peacefully in small, scattered communities. A world where a lot of technology and science has been lost, but people value life and generally take care of each other.

But, not everything that was set aside is truly gone, and some human evils lurk in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to resurface. We are, after all, only human.

The story is a delightful journey through one young man’s struggle to find himself and his past as he wrestles with the unexpected joys and challenges of connecting with the people he meets along the way. The world is richly realized, and the relationships feel authentic. The main character’s meanderings through a post-technology New England feel almost like a travelogue, as he journeys through the wilderness, visits a number of communities, and wrestles with a range of challenges (extreme weather, opinionated community administrators, and his own inexperience). The whole is punctuated by a few episodes of violent action, and a mystery slowly unwinds in the background before coming to a head in the final chapters.

Overall, an excellent book, very well written. Very focused on character development and the exploration of the setting, the plot feels secondary (and that’s okay) and there is limited action. In spots, it felt like some of the world-building and interaction with community members could have been trimmed without losing impact, and a few times the transitions felt a bit uneven, but these minor issues do not justify taking away a star. Don’t read this expecting a lot of fast-paced action, but if a mostly-leisurely exploration of a new world is your cup of tea, Oil and Dust would make an excellent choice.

[Trudie Skies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oil and Dust had been on my TBR for a while, and I will readily admit it’s because the cover intrigued me. Though labelled as a fantasy novel, the world of Oil and Dust is set within a post-apocalyptic landscape with an American west feel. In this future, greed and corruption has led to the downfall of man, and the survivors have created a new society modelled on cooperation between communities, giving rise to the popular nursery rhyme “Politics, Money, Power, Religion, and Greed. These are the things we never again need.” Each member of the community takes on a role needed by that community, such as engineers, healers, administrators, scholars, cooks, and so on, leading to a fairly peaceful existence. Travellers pass news between the communities and there are also minstrels and artists who are much sought after.

You see, the author wanted to create a world where the arts were a much revered and vital part of society. The story, then, is centred around Matthew: an elemental artist who is not only an expert at his craft, but through his art, he has the ability to alter reality with his paintings. This skill is used to improve the lives of communities by repairing broken buildings or creating whole new structures, such as bridges. This makes Matthew a celebrity of sorts, and the communities scramble to get Matthew to settle down and join them.

Matthew, however, has his own quest – to discover more about his past after being placed with the artists at a young age. This journey takes him from community to community, helping them along the way while making friends and discovering that someone out there doesn’t want him to uncover the truth of who he really is.

Oil and Dust is thus a tale of travel and adventure, but it’s also a coming of age story as Matthew makes friends and connections with those communities he helps. I’ll be honest and say that the first half of the book is slow going, and it takes a while to get to the main conflict of the story, as Fairleigh takes her time in establishing this world and the characters. However, despite the length of the book, the writing style is easy to read, and I found myself racing through the pages to find out what happened next. Each chapter asks a question or includes a mystery which makes Oil and Dust a real page turner.

The story is told through Matthew’s eyes, and as he learns more and develops connections with other characters, so do we. He’s a relatable character who balances his flaws with trying to do the right thing. While he goes through a myriad of changes, this story isn’t just his, but also belongs to the side characters who also grow and change as the dynamics of their group do. There’s a wide cast here, and all of them feel at home within the world Fairleigh has created.

What I especially enjoyed was the detail that Fairleigh goes into regarding Matthew’s artistic abilities. The author certainly did her research regarding art tools and techniques, teaching me a few things! I was fascinated by the magic system of bringing alive paintings, and I imagined the possibilities as I was reading along. I hope we see more applications of this in the coming sequel!

There’s also a LOT of food description in this book, and I was again fascinated by the descriptions of food types I’ve not heard of. This book is best read on a full stomach!

I also appreciated that this book didn’t shy from criticising the society of the past, which is sadly our current society. The new society of Oil and Dust isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s refreshing to see a take on post-apocalyptic worlds that aims for a utopia instead of a dystopia. This story does have some dark themes, including religious criticism, which I again found personally refreshing, but I could see where others might feel uncomfortable with it.

Oil and Dust wasn’t what I was expecting, and that’s the joy of indie books – they can explore themes that I might not find elsewhere. It was a pleasure to take this journey with Matthew, and I look forward to seeing what’s next in the coming sequel, Graphite and Turbulence.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Oil and Dust
Author: Jami Fairleigh

Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 7/10
Cover: 4/5

Of the 18 readers:
13 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
14 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
10 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
13 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
“I enjoyed this dystopian novel. Although it has a YA feel to it, the central character, Matthew, is well-defined and interesting to follow. His ´artistic´ skills were interesting; to put it mildly. This is a long, long novel, and I feel a little cutting might have helped the pacing. Still, the world is superbly described, and I would happily read another book by this author.” Male reader, aged 43
“Matthew´s quest to find his family was a strong pull, keeping me turning the page. Although the story hasn´t finished, the ending wasn´t too annoying – I´m not big on cliffhangers – so much so, I will hunt out book two.” Female reader, aged 37
“A big block of book; but that´s okay, I´m a Harry Potter fan. Dark, often gritty, this is a fab read. I loved how the author described Matthew changing things with his art. Very clever! I did think the novel got off to a slow start, but it got much better as Matthew´s journey got going. Lots of interesting characters, good, bad and terrible. The plot twists and turns; I was often surprised. A bit gory in parts, particularly towards the end.” Male reader, aged 26
“Oddly, the last 25% of the book is very different to the first 75%. That´s not a criticism; it just took me by surprise. Enjoyed the book for the most part. Sluggish start, but the author seems determined for the reader to visualise the dystopian setting and get to know all the characters. Sweet dog by the way!” Female reader, aged 52
“The community way of life reminded me of Sweden in the 1970s. Although, saying that, Sweden is not particularly post-apocalyptic! Interesting read, simple to understand, often character-led with an underlying criticism of religion. Being not particularly religious, I didn´t mind that at all.” Female reader, aged 62

To Sum It Up:
‘A cleverly plotted dystopian novel with a strong cast of characters. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Michelle Hogmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for a free advance copy of this title, which was published on Sept 1, 2021 by Kitsune Publishing. I'm writing this review voluntarily.

Matthew Sugiyama is an artist in a world that highly values his profession--a futuristic world where technology has been destroyed and artists have the power to make physical changes in reality. After spending his entire youth in artistic training at the prestigious Popham Abbey, Matthew decides to make a radical break with tradition: instead of accepting a commission and settling down in a community, he sets out on the road to find his mysterious family, journeying with his loyal dog and two horses.

On the way, Matthew encounters a wide variety of people, some who become close friends and traveling companions, while others turn out to be deceptive enemies. Two things soon become clear: someone is trying to stop Matthew from finding out the truth about his relatives, and there's a dangerous group of people--believers in a harmful religious ideology from the past--that must be stopped. Matthew, along with other great characters like the intelligent scholar Josephine, the storytelling engineer Ben, and the foul-mouthed (yet sweet) community administrator Sally, will have to work together to assist Matthew on his quest and to save their loved ones and communities from harm.

Jami Fairleigh's "Oil and Dust" (The Elemental Artist #1) is a smart take on the fantasy genre that generally favors character development and emotional relationships over excessively complicated world building, although Fairleigh's world is certainly compelling--a much more cooperative society of communities, collectively shared labor, and bartering as a form of exchange. In terms of criticism, the book is a little slow to get started; the opening chapters are very episodic, making it unclear what the plot is building to, but this problem is mostly resolved once Matthew starts meeting and traveling with other core characters. Fairleigh does an excellent job putting her characters in tough situations, where they're constantly forced to choose between helping others or helping themselves--or learning to find a healthy balance between the two. Luckily, it looks like we'll get to spend more time with these characters and learn more about their stories in the sequels.

[MV · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was reading this, I couldn't stop thinking about it whenever I had to put it down. And now that I'm done, I still find my mind wandering to this book.

What I didn't love
I think where it fell a little short is the tonal shift that happens toward the end of the book. I found it a quite jarring when they start finding dead bodies, and when the battle breaks out and the threat of religion comes back, since the first 70% of the book was quite uneventful. I would have liked some kind of signal earlier on in the book or in the synopsis, as the synopsis led me to believe that this book would be purely nice and calming. It can hardly be called a "perfect escape" when things that caused the apocalypse (which are things that are going on in real life) come back to haunt this one. That all being said, this wasn't a deal breaker by any means. I still went on to read the sequel and plan to read the third book as well !

What I loved
Firstly, I'm a huge sucker for found family stories and this book has that in boatloads. I love that time is taken to get to know different characters along Matthew's journey, and I love that some of them come back and he ends up meeting up with them again. I also loved seeing Matthew's opinions change about living in a community, and seeing him get to know others and open up.

Secondly, I love Akiko! She's such a cute addition and her and Matthew's relationship is so fun to watch here.

Thirdly, the magic is interesting. I love reading about different magic systems, and surprisingly this is my first time reading about an art-based one. I think it's done in a really interesting way. This book is also light on the magic so that's something to keep in mind if that matters to you.

Fourthly, I'm obsessed with the world building. This is why I find myself constantly thinking about this book. I keep imagining what it would be like to live in this world. To live in small communities, trading skills and labor for food, shelter, and items. To depend on others and have others depend on you. I also had a lot of fun thinking about what the world looks at this point - what it's like traveling between communities, depots, just being able to camp on the side of the road. For me, this was the strongest aspect of this book and it's what kept me coming back to it.