Review of The Red Dust

[John Owen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Red Dust" by D. E. Barretto.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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"The Red Dust" by D. E. Barretto is a dystopian novel set on Ertha, a planet where a mysterious red dust has covered everything, feeding off life forms and eventually killing them. The origin and purpose of the dust are unknown, but some believe it's a weapon of mass destruction unleashed by a rogue nation or nefarious groups in other Fae worlds.

The story follows Evie, Elijah, Bev, Dick, and Johnny, five survivors who live in an abandoned military command center and work as a team to uncover the truth behind the red dust. They have limited resources and face many challenges and enemies. Their only hope is to find other survivors who might have more information or clues.

One day, while gathering supplies, Evie discovers an unconscious man in the street. Evie brings him back to the bunker, hoping he can provide answers. The only information they have is that his name is Theo, and that some people, fearing his power, wanted him out of the way in the Shadow World kingdom. They abducted him and left him in Ertha, hoping he wouldn't survive the red dust. Back at home, Theo's friend Chimy realizes Theo's absence and reaches out to Zoey to bind him to Tony, Theo's job partner, so that they can join forces in the search for Theo. Inadvertently, their lives are in danger, as those who were after Theo target them as well. Read the book to see how it all went down.

Overall, this was a great novel with a stellar storyline. While it bears similarities to a movie I have watched before, involving a mysterious metal-eating dust and people trying to stop it, the book adds a unique fantasy touch with Faes, werewolves, and other worlds. It also shares similarities with a movie called "His Dark Materials," where people have beings called "Daemons" tied to them that are part of themselves but are still distinct beings. Those are called "Shadows" in the book, although their portrayal in the book has significant distinctions, making them sound a bit different. While the book may seem cliche to me due to familiar plots, it incorporates nice additions and improvements that make it uniquely interesting.

The story flows seamlessly, and the author's storytelling is excellent. All characters are wonderfully developed. However, I had an issue with the character of Dick, who felt exaggerated and took too much attention away from other more interesting characters. He was just all over the book. However, Dick's character improved as the book progressed. Additionally, Zoey's romantic involvement with both Tony and Chimy didn't sit well with me. I don't oppose polyandry, but I would have preferred if she had chosen one among them, despite their complicated "bonding" thingy. The love triangle felt detracted from the overall plot and rushed, with Zoey dating Tony one moment and having feelings for a familiar she just met the next.

Taking everything into account, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars. One star is deducted for the criticisms mentioned above and another for the numerous errors and typos present in the book. If you enjoy dystopian novels exploring survival, loyalty, friendship, love, and sacrifice in a post-apocalyptic world, this is a good choice.

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The Red Dust
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[Cara Wilding]

Overall, this was a great novel with a stellar storyline. While it bears similarities to a movie I have watched before, involving a mysterious metal-eating dust and people trying to stop it, the book adds a unique fantasy touch with Faes, werewolves, and other worlds. It also shares similarities with a movie called "His Dark Materials," where people have beings called "Daemons" tied to them that are part of themselves but are still distinct beings. Those are called "Shadows" in the book, although their portrayal in the book has significant distinctions, making them sound a bit different. While the book may seem cliche to me due to familiar plots, it incorporates nice additions and improvements that make it uniquely interesting.

This book sounds like it has a good mystery element to it! I've watched "His Dark Materials" - and enjoyed it, but I get how a similar plot would make it seem cliche. Your review makes me want to know more about Theo! What were some of the elements that made it "uniquely interesting"...?

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this book!

[RutvikPatel]

"The Red Dust" by D. E. Barretto is a compelling dystopian novel set on the planet Ertha, where a mysterious red dust threatens all life forms. The story follows a group of survivors who live in an abandoned military command center and are determined to uncover the truth behind the deadly dust. Their journey is filled with challenges, including encountering an unconscious man named Theo, whose mysterious powers make him a target.

[John Owen]

Overall, this was a great novel with a stellar storyline. While it bears similarities to a movie I have watched before, involving a mysterious metal-eating dust and people trying to stop it, the book adds a unique fantasy touch with Faes, werewolves, and other worlds. It also shares similarities with a movie called "His Dark Materials," where people have beings called "Daemons" tied to them that are part of themselves but are still distinct beings. Those are called "Shadows" in the book, although their portrayal in the book has significant distinctions, making them sound a bit different. While the book may seem cliche to me due to familiar plots, it incorporates nice additions and improvements that make it uniquely interesting.

This book sounds like it has a good mystery element to it! I've watched "His Dark Materials" - and enjoyed it, but I get how a similar plot would make it seem cliche. Your review makes me want to know more about Theo! What were some of the elements that made it "uniquely interesting"...?

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this book!

Hello Cara. Thanks for going through my review and leaving a feedback... I appreciate it! It's so difficult not to have clichés nowadays, so it all comes down to how well you write, which I think the author did. I guess you'll have to read the book to find out how. Have a great time!

[John Owen]

"The Red Dust" by D. E. Barretto is a compelling dystopian novel set on the planet Ertha, where a mysterious red dust threatens all life forms. The story follows a group of survivors who live in an abandoned military command center and are determined to uncover the truth behind the deadly dust. Their journey is filled with challenges, including encountering an unconscious man named Theo, whose mysterious powers make him a target.

Hello Patel, thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you've understood what the book is about from my review. Have a great day ahead.

[Rabia Qanit]

I often enjoy reading thrillers and mysteries. Your review gave me "Dune" vibes, and I think the second movie will be released in 2024. I could tell from the title of the review that this book is as good as other mystery stories. I enjoyed reading through your review, John. I liked your honesty about the book and you have mentioned every part in detail. Good luck, John, and thank you for an excellent, well-written review.

[NetMassimo]

A fantasy mystery can be intriguing, even if some elements seem derivative. I have to say that I don't like love triangles and many errors can be distracting. Thank you for your honest review!

[John Owen]

I often enjoy reading thrillers and mysteries. Your review gave me "Dune" vibes, and I think the second movie will be released in 2024. I could tell from the title of the review that this book is as good as other mystery stories. I enjoyed reading through your review, John. I liked your honesty about the book and you have mentioned every part in detail. Good luck, John, and thank you for an excellent, well-written review.

Thank you so much Sahoor for the heads up! I'll definitely check out Dunes. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed my review.

[John Owen]

A fantasy mystery can be intriguing, even if some elements seem derivative. I have to say that I don't like love triangles and many errors can be distracting. Thank you for your honest review!

Thank you NetMassimo for the feedback!