Review of The Red Dust
Posted: 18 Sep 2023, 01:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Red Dust" by D. E. Barretto.]
"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.
******
The Red Dust
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"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.
******
The Red Dust
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon