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Dust (Of Dust and Darkness #1)

by Devon Ashley (Goodreads Author)

3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 · rating details · 170 ratings · 61 reviews

4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back.
68. The number inked upon my skin, marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.
87. The number of days I’ve been wrongfully imprisoned.
88. The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.

Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make...more

Paperback, First, 344 pages

Published September 18th 2012

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Nov 10, 2012 Devon Ashley added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: dark-horse-indie-books

Excited for Dust? Help promote it with a sidebar banner. Code available on my site.

I might as well use this space to clear the air about Day 88 being the first day the faeries will regret stealing Rosalie. There are 88 days in Dust, and it's what Rosalie does on that final day that's gonna cause the faeries grief; hence, the first day of the nightmare that's about to come their way, but the actual regret won't be seen in book one.

Cheers! Hope you enjoy Rosalie's story as much as I do!

12 likes · like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Momo the Mome Rath rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie, faeries, pub-2012, read-in-2012, favorites-all-time, reviewed, fantasy, arc, 2012-favs

Originally posted on my blog Where the Mome Raths Outgrabe

Disclaimer: I’m rather hungry, so I’m going to use a lot of food analogies and metaphors. Dust was delicious. I was taken in at first bite and it left me licking my plate clean, ravenous for more. I need more fae on my plate…okay that came out weird, no more food talk.

From the first page, we are vividly introduced to Devon Ashley’s world of pint sized fae. We get a sense of the true freedom Rosalie has as she flies through the forest cano...more Originally posted on my blog Where the Mome Raths Outgrabe

Disclaimer: I’m rather hungry, so I’m going to use a lot of food analogies and metaphors. Dust was delicious. I was taken in at first bite and it left me licking my plate clean, ravenous for more. I need more fae on my plate…okay that came out weird, no more food talk.

From the first page, we are vividly introduced to Devon Ashley’s world of pint sized fae. We get a sense of the true freedom Rosalie has as she flies through the forest canopy that is painted in such detail that the reader can just feel the wind rushing through her hair as Rosalie dives through the sky. But! these feelings of weightlessness are ripped away from Rosalie and the reader; she is stolen from her home, has her wings bound and broken, and is forced to make pixie dust for faeries (who in this book are their own race along with pixies and spriggans).

Rosalie’s account of survival in the faerie’s work camp is heart-wrenching -- working long days with very little food and in miserable heat. I found myself very emotionally involved in Rosalie’s journey; I would despair with her at her situation and cheer for her as she tried to overcome it. I may have even audibly ‘wooted’ when she repeatedly insists on being called her name by her captors, and not the number they assign her. Within the camp, Rosalie and the reader learn bits about her world together, and along with that, find Rosalie’s inner strength. Watching her grow into the survivor she didn’t know she was at first was beautifully and expertly done.

Dust is the first fae book I’ve read in a long time that was told by a fae. Not one that didn’t know what it was yet, not a half faerie, not a human who half-wittingly stumbled into the faerie world -- no, Rosalie is a normal pixie. Standing tall at six inches, it was pleasure to read how her small stature changed the normal forests we know into a brand new world. For example, a berry was almost a whole meal and a raccoon, instead of just being a menace, was an actual threat.

As I awkwardly noted above, I am desperate for the sequel. I need it.

Dust was received and reviewed as part of an ARC tour

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Apr 07, 2013 Elisabeth Wheatley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure-and-magic, indies, obtained, reviewed

5 out of 5 stars
Looky! Looky! Santa/Daddy decided I’d been good last year and got me exactly what I asked for! It was such a great read that I finished it on Christmas day.
This story was an engaging, fascinating tale and Ms. Ashley certainly isn’t afraid of making her characters endure hell. Though this was a wonderful book and I enjoyed it immensely, as noted by the five sparkling stars, there was one thing I had a problem with.

The plot:
In a world of faeries, pixies, and spriggans, young Rosal...more 5 out of 5 stars
Looky! Looky! Santa/Daddy decided I’d been good last year and got me exactly what I asked for! It was such a great read that I finished it on Christmas day.
This story was an engaging, fascinating tale and Ms. Ashley certainly isn’t afraid of making her characters endure hell. Though this was a wonderful book and I enjoyed it immensely, as noted by the five sparkling stars, there was one thing I had a problem with.

The plot:
In a world of faeries, pixies, and spriggans, young Rosalie is different from the other young pixlings. She prefers the presence of nature to that of her hyper-active roommate and the quiet of the trees to the chatter of her friends. Then one day she is abducted and made into a slave for the faeries along with dozens of other pixies to make an endless supply of pixie dust. There she witnesses and suffers terrible conditions and brutal treatment of her and her kind while trying to stay alive and maintain her sanity. Then, after the death of a close friend, Rosalie snaps and attempts an escape. She fails and is thrown in prison where a boyish young faerie is assigned to break her, but ends up falling in love with her instead.
Now, here’s my problem—this story is labeled “romance” and, once that element got going, it was incredibly sweet, touching, and heart-melting. However, there are 336 pages in this book and we get to page 171 before we actually meet Jack, our love interest. I’ve contemplated this problem, wondering if the author could have cut down on the beginning portion, the part where Rosalie is imprisoned and working as a slave, and came to the conclusion that a good deal of it was necessary to the development of the plot. Yet I think about a hundred pages of the “hardship” sequence could have done with snipping or been condensed or perhaps the “romance” sequence been lengthened. As it is, it felt a bit lopsided.

The characters:
Okay, so I seriously considered taking down my star rating by one, but I enjoyed this book way too much to do that. Rosalie is compassionate, kind, and yet has enough steel in her to keep from buckling under the horrible conditions she and the others are subjected to. Her relationship with Jack was my kind of love story—sweet with heaps of difficulty for good measure. It was interesting to see her begin to question the social convention of her pixie hollow and even wonder if some parts of faerie family structure were better.
Jack was adorable. In the beginning, he’s a bit of a spoiled brat and more than a little mad at Rosalie because he thinks she’s a criminal and blames her for having to watch her instead of running around with his friends. But as time goes on and Jack realizes that Rosalie was kidnapped and forced into bondage for no reason, he becomes more empathetic and even protective. He cares for her wounds and begins to make plans to free her, even though that will probably mean never seeing her again.
There were several other characters we are introduced to in the first 171 pages of the book—Poppy, Rosalie’s roommate; Holly, the matriarch of the captive pixies; Willow, the sardonic, kind of mean pixie who is softer on the inside, but with an understandably prickly exterior; and Finley, the sadistic, narcissistic faerie who assigns Jack to Rosalie in the first place. The supporting cast was diverse and interesting and each served their purpose in the story. But I must admit, I got kind of impatient for the romance element to get going and didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to them.

In conclusion, I am very much looking forward to the next installment of the Of Dust and Darkness series and I recommend it to fans of clean, sweet, YA romance who don’t mind a 171-page wait for the romance to start. I do think it’s worth a try!
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Sep 15, 2012 Michele (Reading Lark/CanadianTwiMom) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fey-faeries, arc, ebook, cliffhanger-ending, reading-lark, softcover

My review can also be found on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.ca/2012/0...

Anyone who knows my taste in books knows I love reading about the fey...and I usually love each author's unique take based on this magical world. I've always been intrigued by the fey's capriciousness, their passion, their otherworldliness, their hierarchies, and I even have a bit of a fascination with their cruelty. Dust by Devon Ashley encompasses all these things in an interesting way and packages it up in a...more
My review can also be found on Reading Lark: http://readinglark.blogspot.ca/2012/0...

Anyone who knows my taste in books knows I love reading about the fey...and I usually love each author's unique take based on this magical world. I've always been intrigued by the fey's capriciousness, their passion, their otherworldliness, their hierarchies, and I even have a bit of a fascination with their cruelty. Dust by Devon Ashley encompasses all these things in an interesting way and packages it up in a grim little tale that had me totally sucked in.

However, I will confess that I was quite worried at the beginning...and must have let out an audible groan when I began the first chapter where we're introduced to Rosalie and her Hollow...a small population made up entirely of PIXIES...as in the 6", and sometimes mischievous, variety! I already knew the story was about a pixie and pixie dust but I have to confess that I wasn't thinking Tinkerbell size little faeries...but here they were. But I also know from experience that you have to give a book more time than just the first chapter before drawing conclusions so I sat back and patiently carried on. Before too long, I forgot Rosalie's diminutive size and the small world around her and was totally pulled in to the story and her plight...and Rosalie and her fellow pixies became life-size with their monumental struggles.

And I have to give kudos to the author for pulling me in and getting me past the initial wariness I had with a story about little pixies, too. Her world building and character development was wonderfully entwined in the story. We first learn about Rosalie through her simple, care-free life in the Hollow before her little world comes crashing down around her when she's stolen by the more powerful fae, and kept isolated and starved before she is forced into a pixie slave-labour camp. To the powerful fae, pixies are at the bottom of the totempole. Above them are the spriggans who are considered the enforcers for the fae and then the true faeries themselves are at the top of the food chain where they have been capturing pixies for years, using them till there is nothing left but a hollow husk, to manufacture pixie dust used to create their illusions.

This is so NOT a Tinkerbell tale...as this story is dark and illustrates the cruelty faeries are often capable of. And they can be very cruel!

As I mentioned, we follow the story through Rosalie. To say that this little pixie is small and sweet would be a terrible injustice! Sure, she started off that way -- initially, she didn't have a care in the world except the peer pressure she felt from her best friend to start 'courting'. Rosalie is a bit of a loner and appreciates nature more than anyone in her Hollow. But when she is stolen away into the cruel life forced upon her, she literally becomes larger than life. I can't under-emphasize the lengths of cruelty the fae put upon her with the intention of breaking her spirit...and at many times, they nearly succeeded but she found the strength deep within herself and became all the stronger for it. She managed to keep her insecurities hidden when required and kept her snarky personality at the forefront, which sometimes got the better of her and subjected her to even more tortures. But her strength was so admirable that there was no way that I could not root for Rosalie!

During one of Rosalie's bouts of imprisonment, she finds an unlikely ally in Jack, a faerie who is sent to guard her as his own punishment for playing one too many pranks. There is an obvious and expected contentiousness between them at first, but through the horrors of Rosalie's captivity at the hands of Finley and his brute spriggans, a friendship blossoms, which eventually becomes something much more and I was a total sap for it.

I adored Jack! He showed another side of the fae that gave us hope that not ALL of them are capable of such evilness. The things he did for Rosalie, often humiliating at times for her, just made me appreciate him all the more. And as their relationship grew...so did the realization that their being together is absolutely forbidden. But Jack was unselfishly bound and determined to free Rosalie from her imprisonment.

If I had one complaint, it would be that this story suffered from a little TMI (too much information) at times. While I'll admit that I have sometimes wondered in other stories what the characters do when 'nature calls' while being kept in a crude prison, this story didn't leave anything to the imagination. However, I believe that the author intended it to be that way because it resulted in me feeling so bad for Rosalie having to suffer the humiliation of such issues in front of Jack...and he definitely saw her at her worst.

The ending does wrap up on a bit of a cliffhanger, and left me wanting more...so you can bet that I'm on board for the sequel!!

Finally, I'd like to thank the author for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to it's release.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Michelle Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, loved-it, own-it

Book Talk Reviews:
http://www.facebook.com/VampiresBite2012
http://www.michelle808205.blogspot.com/

Dust was a Wonderful read with a great story line and plot.

Rosalie is a Pixie who loves mother earth and all it has to offer.while laying around on a leaf during a storm Rosalie is shot in the neck with something sharp and her world tuns dark and she passes out.The next thing she knows she is waking up in a deep dark cave with no way out and to make it worse she has some kinda clamp on her wings and...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a huge faery fan, so I was so excited to be asked to review DUST. On my nook, the book is only a mere 150 pages. Dust is a fairly short read and I easily knocked it out pretty quickly. What I loved about the book was the plot: a pixie that gets wrongfully imprisoned and seeks for a way out. Another thing I liked about it is that these pint size faeries and pixies are the sole characters; not a single human to be found. To me, I find that is rare. So many books today are about fae and humans...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Persephone rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, fairies, pixies

A good blurb is captivating but sometimes can give a wrong impression. The blurb of Dust pulls the reader in two different directions. The escalating numbers make it seem like the book is ready for a dark showdown of revenge. It makes the book seem dark and gritty and I was sort of expecting the book to maintain that dark tone…but it doesn’t. It doesn’t because the second half of the book is a love story just like the blurb mentions. The blurb is very true to the book. It’s dark and a love story...more A good blurb is captivating but sometimes can give a wrong impression. The blurb of Dust pulls the reader in two different directions. The escalating numbers make it seem like the book is ready for a dark showdown of revenge. It makes the book seem dark and gritty and I was sort of expecting the book to maintain that dark tone…but it doesn’t. It doesn’t because the second half of the book is a love story just like the blurb mentions. The blurb is very true to the book. It’s dark and a love story. I was still expecting more dark themes because of the numbers though. It’s the word “Regret” that is drilled into me.

Character-wise, Rosalie was a fantastic main character. She is independent, a nature-loving girl, strong-willed and defiant. She doesn’t accept the circumstance of her kidnapping and attempts to be brave in the face of that. Rosalie does have moments of weakness but that just make her character more realistic and stronger because she is dealing with harsh situations. Juniper, the eldest of the slaves, roots Rosalie in maintaining her strength and her desire to live. Jack, her captive guardian, is a strong male lead. He comes off a bit snobbish but he has a decent heart and no stomach for torture. The relationship that builds between them builds over time and seems genuine. He treats her with respect after witnessing the breaking wings incident and shows he is a decent guy. Not just by taking care of her but looking for a legal way out for her. None of the villains are complex but the reason why could be that all the bad guys appear to be henchmen. No one has really claimed responsibility for the slave camp. Looking forward to seeing who is the antagonist of the series.

Being the first book in the series, there are questions that need to be answer such as what is the real reason faeries are kidnapping pixies and making them slaves? Jack says there is a belief about the superiority of fairies over pixies and that could be a factor as to why this is happening. The book focuses more on character development more than the background of the story so that could be a reason why the kidnapping are not explained or why the segregation of pixies and faeries is not either. It looks like there is some politics involve in the kidnappings but we will see just how deep they go. Hopefully the previous questions are answered in the second book and this one as well: Why did Rosalie’s Hollow (village) raised children as a communal effort instead of family effort? The other Hollows don’t raised their children like that.

I keep coming back to “88. The first day the faeries will regret kidnapping me.” I thought this phrase would define the book because it is just filled with anger and determination. It means there is punishment heading towards the faeries and there isn’t. Not in this novel at least. The illusion of a counter-attack is invested in that phrase and the dark themes as well. I’m almost wishing that phrase would disappear from the blurb because it makes the blurb (and the book) appears less menacing. Dust is more about the injustice done to Rosalie which is the 87 days phrase. 87 days and the love story make the book more tragic but hopeful. 88 days is revenge time. Amazing how one phrase can elicit a different tone for the entire book. Try it.

Having heard the playlist first, I found running themes that match the scenes in the book and the lyrics. “Missing” by Evanescence fits it so well, especially the part about Rosalie wondering if anyone is looking her (and in some way knowing that the answer is no). “Part of Me” by Katy Perry is another perfect fit for Rosalie because she is so resilient and so determine to survive. “We Found Love” by Rihanna and “Falls to Pieces” by Avril Lavigne are great songs that describe the blossoming romance between Rosalie and Jack.

Overall, it was a pretty mellow read. It reads like a diary because of the how the chapters are labeled. There is an emphasis on character development instead of world-building but it is a trilogy. There can’t be much world-building when the main character is stuck in prison though.(less)

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Sep 21, 2012 Karie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thank you Devon for giving me the opportunity to read and review Dust! It was an awesome book. Hearing that this book was about pixies I didnt know what to expect, wondering if it was going to be more like the pixie's in the need series or the fae in one of the many fae books out there. I was pleasantly surprised that it was kind of dark to be a pixie story. It starts off with Rosalie in her homemade tree house in the Hollow. I love the way Devon was with her imagery throughout the book. When Ro...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Chelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

The introduction of this book was a pleasant surprise. I was so caught up in the Pixies and their own little world. I loved how Rosalie described her home and her friends Poppy, Mustard, and Tin. Everything just felt so real. Devon writes in a different style and it is one that I can appreciate. She makes sure to leave out no detail at all, no matter if it is big or small. When you introduce a new world like this, as a writer, you almost have to pretend that you are writing to an audience of peo...more The introduction of this book was a pleasant surprise. I was so caught up in the Pixies and their own little world. I loved how Rosalie described her home and her friends Poppy, Mustard, and Tin. Everything just felt so real. Devon writes in a different style and it is one that I can appreciate. She makes sure to leave out no detail at all, no matter if it is big or small. When you introduce a new world like this, as a writer, you almost have to pretend that you are writing to an audience of people who have no knowledge of fantastical worlds so that you don’t leave anything out.

Rosalie’s character is courageous and I knew from the start that she has a slight desire to leave the fae world and see what else was out there. I almost wanted her to stay and explore the world of the fae more just so I could meet other Pixies and Fairies for myself; I know totally selfish of me. The imagery is beautiful and the descriptions from Rosalie led me to believe that I was going to be reading a book that was light and fun and would explore this fairy world more and more. I didn’t get very far into the book before I realized that I had made the wrong assumption.

This book takes a drastic turn near the very start. Rosalie is captured and is taken into what seems to me like a slave labor ring. Her wings are broken and her life has been changed in a way that she never saw coming. It almost made me feel bad for Rosalie because only a few pages prior to this she made a few comments about wanting more. She got out of the confined like fairy realm that she was living in, but this one is vial and cruel and I did not like it at all. I was taken aback by what happened and I just couldn’t help but picture these tiny little fairies laboring away all day without decent sleep or food.

I loved the writing of the book and I think Devon does a great job of taking you, as the reader, on an incredible journey where you will meet some inspiring and rough around the edges characters. I just did not like all the torture and suffering that these captured fairies faced. I was so sad for most of the book and I wanted to be happy about something. I felt like I did grow closer to Rosalie and I loved her character more at the end of the book than at the beginning.

***An e-copy of this book was provided to me by the author in participation with her blog tour***
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Jan 02, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-tour, four-star-reviews

See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews!

I haven't read too many books about fae in the past, so I didn't really know what to expect out of this book, especially one where there are absolutely no humans present. Rosalie doesn't interact with the human world at all, and in fact doesn't even mention them at all. So it was neat to read something that focused entirely on the world of pixie, faeries, and other woodland creatures. The author does some pretty cool worldbuilding that is presente...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book should be given a reward for how amazing it is, I think this is the best book I've read and I've read hundreds of books.I wont lie I may have cried once or twice ( maybe five times, but who's counting?).
Okay, lets get serious now, I'm not going to give anything away on how this ends or any juicy detail, but if you like books about pixies with romance and some violence in it you'll love this. There is nothing about this book that I would want changed, though I wished the pixies and fair...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Felicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

To begin I have to mention my reading process. I begin by researching books I want to read, then I read reviews then I read the sample. If I am so inclined I continue and buy the book. I do not like wasting time with a book I'm not really interested in. This book passed all my tests and when I finished I was absolutely amazed I had failed to research if the book had a sequel. I am currently on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel!

This book is about Rosalie, a pixie is stolen away from her...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Monaliz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, ebook, favorites, read-2012

My rating: 4/5 stars
Read the review in my blog!

May contain some spoilers
Pixies and pixie dust. First thing you think is Tinkerbell, right? And the story starts pretty much the bubbly and happy pixie way, but soon turn into something completely different.
I did expect something pretty dark based on the synopsis, but I was still pretty surprised. Because.. Who would ever think about torturing Tinkerbell?! Well, Devon did, and I wasn't disappointed! In a good way ;)
Rosalie lives her life somewhat...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Peggy(Le BookSquirrel Blogger) Warren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lebooksquirrels-top-2013-book-list

Dust is a story of a Pixie called Rosalie who is captured and forced into slave labor.She tries to flee and is put into a lockdown area so to speak where she meets Jack.Jack is a Fairy and Rosalie is a pixie.They dont mix.This was a first fairy book for me and what an adventure it was.The emotions were all there.Everytime Rosalie's wings were broken I flinched.Devon Ashley knows how to write emotionally.I think my issue was the quickness of the read and how the book ended at what felt like its C...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Corina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who like YA Fantasy

Shelves: ya-paranormal-hop

Dust

“Why can’t our existence be like the stars? Happily twinkling and dancing in the night sky, bringing light and entertainment to all who see?” – Rosalie, Dust.

Poor Rosalie.

That was the one constant thought going through my head throughout this whole story. Rosalie is a Pixie who is stolen from her home and forced into slave labor. Devon Ashley, author of Dust, does a remarkable job of getting inside Rosalie’s head and showing the reader what the torture and torment is doing to her inner self...more Dust

“Why can’t our existence be like the stars? Happily twinkling and dancing in the night sky, bringing light and entertainment to all who see?” – Rosalie, Dust.

Poor Rosalie.

That was the one constant thought going through my head throughout this whole story. Rosalie is a Pixie who is stolen from her home and forced into slave labor. Devon Ashley, author of Dust, does a remarkable job of getting inside Rosalie’s head and showing the reader what the torture and torment is doing to her inner self and her faith. I’ve got to say that as far as female characters go, while Rosalie is a bit naïve she makes up for it with heart.

She is a strong female character who is used to living a carefree life. But once she’s a slave her spirit, her heart doesn’t fade and the way she stands up to the Spriggins and Finley is truly inspired. Despite the constant beat downs, the fact that they starve her and lock her away in a dark hole, she still fights for her life and for her freedom. This book is dark and full of violence, which I think makes it that much better. It proves how much a person can really live through when they are fighting for their life.

Ashley delivers a very gritty story that captures you and pulls you in. It was hard to read them breaking Rosalie’s wings and it was hard to read about how she had to defecate on the ground and eat mashed up food in rations not fit for any living creature, but it also made me see how determined she is. The conditions that Rosalie and the other Pixies were in broke my heart. It makes my heart hurt to see anyone being treated this way even and the fact that I was so emotional about it goes to show what a great job Ashley did with creating a world people could fall in love with.

My favorite part of the book though has to be when Jack was introduced. Sure he was a bit of an ass at first, but that all changed after he saw how they treated Rosalie. He took care of her, he helped her, he loved her. Watching them get to know each other and grow closer over the days she was imprisoned was a beautiful story all on its own. I seriously want to hug Jack for everything he did for Rosalie you know it’s probably going to come back and bite him in the ass, but it was so worth it. Their connection makes me let out these happy sighs.

I don’t want to give too much away about what happens with them, because I absolutely think you should read Dust and form your own opinion, but I would highly recommend this book. If you’re looking for some light fluffy read this isn’t the book for you, but if you’re looking for a book of substance with constant character growth, full of hope and courage then you’ve come to the right place.(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Jennifer Bielman (Reading and Writing UF and PNR) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, fae, fantasy, reviewed

From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

3.5 stars

At A Glance
I loved the unique concept and dark feel to Dust. I was glued to the pages, I just wish more happened.

The Good
Here's The Story...
Rosalie is a young, energetic pixie who loves to spend her time with mother earth. That is until she is enslaved by fairies and used for free labor making pixie dust. In this pixie prison, Rosalie sees horrors and desolation beyond comprehension. Almost driven to the point of madness, Rosalie attempts to...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Jessie Harrell rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had a big problem with this book - I couldn't put it down and go to bed at a decent hour!

Rosalie is a strong and amazing character who has to overcome some ridiculous obstacles. Her willingness to not become another nameless prisoner is stubborn and brave beyond what I would be able to face, that's for sure.

And then comes Jack. Jack the brat, or Jack the sweetie? I loved the person (faerie) Jack became.

I couldn't believe it when the book was over. I was like NO!!!! And yet it's a great endin...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Summer Lane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rosalie is a pixie. She spends her days lounging in the soft green grass of her hollow, leisurely taking one day at a time: unconcerned, happy and free-spiritied. Too bad for her, she gets captured by Spriggans and Faeries who enslave her kind and force them into strenuous labor. After days, weeks, and months of abuse, Rosalie begins to wonder if she can ever escape.
Or if she'll even survive.

This was a fairly short read. The pages went by quickly. I love faery-lore, so this was an enjoyable st...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Stephanie ♥Loves Adrian Ivashkov and Warner!♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I got this book for review from the author, Devon Ashley. I've seen this book around before and I've always thought it sounded amazing. The cover is just gorgeous and so magical looking. I also love the catchphrase on the left up corner; With broken wings we fly. It fits perfectly with this fantastic story. The first part of the synopsis is very alluring to me because of the numbers. It just totally catches the attention of the reader in my opinion. The other half of the synopsis suck the reader...more I got this book for review from the author, Devon Ashley. I've seen this book around before and I've always thought it sounded amazing. The cover is just gorgeous and so magical looking. I also love the catchphrase on the left up corner; With broken wings we fly. It fits perfectly with this fantastic story. The first part of the synopsis is very alluring to me because of the numbers. It just totally catches the attention of the reader in my opinion. The other half of the synopsis suck the reader also right in. Pixies enslaved by faeries? Sounds fascinating, right? Well, it didn't only sound that way, it was also pretty darn good!

Dust is a very original fae story that sets around a sixteen-year-old pixie girl named Rosalie. She lives in her Hollow with other pixies. She loves is there and yet she seems to be kind of an outsider. Even so, she would never have dreamed about leaving her home. One thing she hadn't count on was getting kidnapped to be forced into slavery. It's where this tale gets a darker twist. And I just loved it!

I was hooked instantly by this story. The writing, I mean, wow! It was amazing. So detailed and simply mesmerizing to read. I can say that this is one of the best books I've read writing-wise. I could simply not stop reading! So, it's not surprising at all that I finished this book in less than two days. So good!
I'm also very excited to check out some more of Devon Ashley's books. I have a feeling they'll also be brillant as Dust is.

I loved Rosalie. She's truly one of the best main characters I have read about. I had never read about pixies except for Tinker Bell. Rosalie is so damn brave, spunky, smart and absolutely not a quitter. We need more of this kind of female main characters ASAP!
I also loved Juniper and Willow, pretty much the two only pixies also trapped in the slavery with Rosalie that still could think straight. Juniper was so sweet, such a mother figure. I was pretty much crying when she died. It was so terribly sad. Willow on the other hand was more of a tough, don't get in my face kinda girl, but when Juniper died she and Rosalie got a little closer. I liked that.
I loved this entire fae world. I've always loved books like that but this one is absolutely, without a doubt high on my favorite list. There were some dark scenes, where I could almost feel Rosalie's torment, especially when they broke her wings over and over again. But it's dark YA books like these that I find amazing.

It took a little while before Jack came into the story. But once he did, I knew right away that I would love him. He's so darn cute. And so sweet to Rosalie, once he got over being stuck with her for punishment. Slowly but surely I saw their feelings for one another grow. It was so refreshing to read something like this for a change, where love slowly grows instead of the insta-love you read almost in every YA book nowadays. And did I mention it's forbidden love? Who can resist that!
The end was heartbreaking and so hard for me to read. I just wanted for Rosalie and Jack to stay together and be happy even though I knew it had to happen like this. Thank god there will be a second book! I, for one cannot wait to get my hands on it. I can only hope it'll be as mind blowing as this one.

Dust is a captivating fae tale with a dash of romance that will entertain any reader who is remotely interested in reading young adult fantasy, paranormal or just any books that's simply astonishing to read with its richly detailed writing. (less)

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Jul 02, 2012 J.A. Redmerski rated it 5 of 5 stars

DUST by Devon Ashley was a fresh surprise! I thought going in that the story being about pixies and faeries and such that it would be a light, fun, bubbly sort of read. Boy was I wrong! DUST is a beautifully descriptive, dangerous and intense story about a pixie named Rosalie who finds herself in a traumatic situation where she can, and almost does, die at any moment. DUST is filled with beautiful imagery, unforgettable characters and a vivid look into the darker side of human (or fae!)nature. T...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Daphne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bored-to-death, facepalm

The author started out with a great idea and theme, but at times I felt she was a bit too overzealous with her details. The protagonist, Rosalie, was a great, strong character in the beginning. I had no problem with her and admired her strength as well as her determination to live and fight another day. However, as the story progressed, I found myself becoming annoyed with her thought process and reactions to certain situations. The action was slow moving as well. To the point where I was skippi...more

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Mar 13, 2013 Zoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-fantasy, ebook

So, so conflicted about this book. Did I like it? Um... I don't know. Would I recommend it? Well, yes. I know, that's confusing. Allow me to explain.

The premise for Dust drew me in instantly, being about a pixie named Rosalie who is taken prisoner by faeries and held in a pit with other slaves. The blurb kind of gave me the impression that she would escape and start a revolt. Well, that didn't happen.

I liked the vivid details, and I liked the characters. But there is a LOT of torture going on in...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Dejana Vuletić rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

This book was SO GOOD that I'm actually a little bit in shock right now. Holy. Cheesecurls. :O

So I haven't read too much in the faerie genre of YA yet, and this is one of the first books I've encountered, but I don't know if there's any book that'll beat this one. Devon's writing and her story-telling ability kept me roped in so tightly that I finished this book within 3 days (neglecting to do my homework in the process).

I absolutely love Rosalie. As a female lead, she is tough, resi...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Stephanie Constantinople rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

I am constantly searching for new stories and diamonds in the rough, and I think that Devon Ashley's Dust was both. The book is not divided by chapters, but by the number of days Rosalie spends in captivity. The first half of the book is written mostly in Rosalie's head and though there are others around, the pixie slaves don't talk much. Around the midway point Rosalie tries to escape and is thrown in solitude for her efforts. That is when the male love interest comes into play. Jack i...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Tricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: faries, books-i-own

When I first started reading dust I really wasn't sure if it was going to be something I enjoyed. It was definitely different from a lot of books i have been reading lately. Pixies are not creatures i have read a lot of books about, which was a refreshing change of pace! The first 50 pages, nothing was really peeking my interest. Then as I continued things really got going. After awhile you couldn't do anything but feel sorry for poor Rosalie. She continued to wedge her way into my heart the mo...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is actually the first book about Pixies I've ever read. My initial reaction to the beautiful cover and ever so enticing summary, convinced me almost instantly, this was a book I just had to pick up. I was not disappointed, not in the least! Dust is different, it’s a take on pixies that I honestly never thought to imagine. In my mind, when I think “Pixie”, I think Tinkerbell. Yes I know, that’s totally cliché. But my mind went there. Couldn’t help it.
So here I am imagining Tinkerbell kidnap...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

First Thoughts:
I absolutely love the cover of this book! It is whimsical and just plain awesomeness. I most likely would not have picked this book up if not for the Dust ARC Tour hosted by The Book Babe. Although I am super glad that I joined the tour and had the chance to read this wonderful story.
And Then:
When I first started this book, I honestly didn't think it was going to be for me. It starts off pretty cutesy. The main character, Rosalie, is in her hollow where she lives, she is talking...more

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Sep 11, 2012 April (Books4Juliet) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-fantasy-paranormal, galleys-arc-review, 2012-releases

I don't normally judge a book by its cover, but the gorgeous look of DUST made me want to read it. I'm not a fan of faeries or pixies whatsoever, but the summary of this book was so enticing that at the moment I wanted to grab a copy and devour it.

DUST reminds me Tinkerbell and the Pixie Hallow. It reminds me of those cute and adorable Disney fairies which I loved and enjoyed watching. Though this book isn't entirely about fairy tales and happy endings, I think it's beautiful and inspiring.

Befor...more I don't normally judge a book by its cover, but the gorgeous look of DUST made me want to read it. I'm not a fan of faeries or pixies whatsoever, but the summary of this book was so enticing that at the moment I wanted to grab a copy and devour it.

DUST reminds me Tinkerbell and the Pixie Hallow. It reminds me of those cute and adorable Disney fairies which I loved and enjoyed watching. Though this book isn't entirely about fairy tales and happy endings, I think it's beautiful and inspiring.

Before the Spriggans captured Rosalie, she was living with her roommate Poppy in their Hollow. She was an adventurous, free-spirited little pixie who finds happiness and comfort in her humble little tree-house. Now, she's living in a pit away from home with fellow slaves who have broken wings and deteriorating bodies. They are forced to work long hours making magic dusts--deprived of food and most of all, freedom. This isn't that Rosalie wish for and she will do her best to get her freedom back and save the other pixies from forced labor and near death. But in her attempt to escape, she was caught and put back into prison for torture and breaking of her wings. She prepared herself for the worst, but what she didn't expect was to become friends with the suddenly nice, gorgeous faerie who is assigned to guard her.

The story is interesting and might as well unique since I haven't read any stories like this one before. I'd say though, that the first half of the book was a little slow for me and I was fighting the urge to skip a few lines just to get to the part where the action and romance will happen. During the first part of the story, I felt mixture of emotions, most of them sadness and pity for those poor pixies that were deprived of their freedom and soon die without hope. It was a bit emotional for me too, especially when it comes to the characters I began to care for. I just think that it could have been more exciting if we could see more than just glimpses of the other characters in the story. I can see big potentials for some of those minor characters and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the next installments.

Even though the first half was a little slow for me, I'd say that my favorite part happened in the second half of the book. When I pictured Jack descending from the top of the prison down to the hole where Rosalie was, I finally see myself smiling and dreaming for that love story that I was waiting for since the beginning of the book. It wasn't love at first sight but their chemistry has been obvious to me ever since. I know that some may find their romantic relationship a bit rushed but I still enjoy it and the fact that these two characters finally found each other made me giddy and excited. I know there are more to anticipate in their relationship and I want to see how everything will work out for the two of them.

Some books know how to make their readers hanging by the end of the story, and this book did it BIG time! I wasn't expecting something like that. And I wasn't prepared for such a cliffhanger ending. This book surprised me! After the ending I was left open-mouthed. I didn't know how to react at first. It wasn't something I expected but I believe it's good that the readers have something more to anticipate in the coming sequel.

If you're looking for a fast and enjoyable read that will touch your imagination as well as your heart, read this book. It has a promising plot, interesting storyline, and likable characters. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward for the next book.(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r-complete, read-2012

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis as part of the Dust blog tour. Thanks to Devon Ashley.)
Rosalie is a pixie who likes nothing more than sleeping in a bed of leaves in her old tree-house (much to her housemate’s disgust). She likes to be left alone, and is a bit of a free spirit. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to face though.
Drugged, kidnapped, and nearly killed, Rosalie finds herself imprisoned by fairies, branded with a number, and...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Alexia Purdy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: faeries-not-fairies, fantasy, so-can-t-wait-to-read, some-sort-of-paranormal, reviewed

Review of Dust by Devon Ashley
I warn you, don't stop reading this book because the beginning is all Disney fairies-like in pixie hollow kind of thing. It is so misleading; I cannot state that more strongly. Keep reading, it is over so fast that you are left with mouth agape and wondering, what just happened? Don't get me wrong, it was a sweet opening, I love any kind of fairy story, even the perfect world Tinkerbell kind of stories. This is just not that, which was awesome! So, fair warning.

The...more Review of Dust by Devon Ashley
I warn you, don't stop reading this book because the beginning is all Disney fairies-like in pixie hollow kind of thing. It is so misleading; I cannot state that more strongly. Keep reading, it is over so fast that you are left with mouth agape and wondering, what just happened? Don't get me wrong, it was a sweet opening, I love any kind of fairy story, even the perfect world Tinkerbell kind of stories. This is just not that, which was awesome! So, fair warning.

The rest of the story finds Rosalie, the main fairy character in this story, kidnapped and possibly left for dead in deep, dark, rank hole of a cave. Who did this to her? More importantly, why? She discovers she has been snatched to work as a slave making pixie dust for the larger Faeries in this magical world. They are left with near nothing to eat and long hours of arduous work. How can anyone last that long in such horrible conditions? Plus, being a flying fairy, she gets to experience the horrendous pain of having her wings broken and weighted as a way to keep them from escaping.

I was shocked. Poor Rosalie! She is so likable in her determination to make it out of that hell hole alive. But there are others there, others she befriends and worries about. Can she escape and get them out too? With the help of a new Faery guard Jack, who finds this prison beyond his morals and finds himself falling hard for the little pixie, help her make it back home?

I loved this story! It was so sad in some parts that I found myself teary eyed and just wanting to cry. I felt for the characters and enjoyed the vivid imagery, though most of it takes part in a dark, dirty prison cell. I absolutely adored Jack! He was so dreamy and a gentleman, who can’t help but fall for him? He is a huge part of her life now and I want to see what happens in book 2 with these two. The story gets you sucked into the emotions and lives of these fairies, you won’t want it to end.

Totally get en-snarled in this fantasy full of magic, love and some shockers.

I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
(less)

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About Devon Ashley

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Ordained awarded 2011 Reader Views First Place for Best Fantasy

Favorite Silly Quote: Cedric didn't die. Carlisle found him and turned him into Edward.
Interesting Fact: I share my birthday with my favorite author, Jane Austen.

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Quotes from Dust

“Why can't our existence be like the stars? Happily twinkling and dancing in the night sky, bringing light and entertainment to all who see? The stars make everyone ponder unanswered questions, makes everyone smile. And no matter who you are, where you are or what you've done, they're always there for you. No matter what.” — 9 people liked it

“But there's one thing all the pixies do have in common. There's no magic left in any of their wings. No shimmer. No luminescence. And I have this awful feeling that my wings look no different.” — 3 people liked it

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