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Dust to Dust (Prophecy #1)

by Heather Graham (Goodreads Author)

3.42 · rating details · 387 ratings · 54 reviews

Not long ago, Scott Bryant would have described himself as an ordinary guy. But one act of heroism has changed his life forever--or at least until the apocalypse occurs. Because the end of the world is on its way.

Suddenly and inexplicably possessed of superhuman strength, Scott finds himself allied with the enigmatic and alluring Melanie Regan in a quest to find the myster

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Mass Market Paperbound, 360 pages

Published June 30th 2009 by Mira Books

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Nov 25, 2010

Chibineko rated it

Shelves: amazon-vine

As a big Heather Graham fan, I sat down to read this book the instant the postman delivered this. I've read almost all of her books so far & I've only read one that I thought was terrible. It seems that this one is vying for that position, but is only marginally better than "Picture Me Dead".

The story surrounds Scott Bryant, a guy who helps an elderly couple & gains super strength & speed. Immediately after this the story jumps to Melanie, an animal trainer who suddenly gain...moreAs a big Heather Graham fan, I sat down to read this book the instant the postman delivered this. I've read almost all of her books so far & I've only read one that I thought was terrible. It seems that this one is vying for that position, but is only marginally better than "Picture Me Dead".

The story surrounds Scott Bryant, a guy who helps an elderly couple & gains super strength & speed. Immediately after this the story jumps to Melanie, an animal trainer who suddenly gains the powers to draw pictures of future catastrophes- and she's never before had the ability to draw. After a horrible earthquake, Scott & Melanie seem to keep running into each other until ultimately Scott discovers that he's one of several people destined to save the earth from Armageddon & evil beings bent on the destruction of mankind.

The story's biggest flaw is that it takes so long for things to get started & several parts of the story just weren't fleshed out enough. We learn straight away that Melanie is a part of a group called 'The Alliance', which confused me at first. I was given no information about this group or what made it's members special, so at first I flipped through the first few pages wondering if I missed something. We're given more information later on of course, but it would have been nice if there had been a bit more information given earlier in the book. The group's purpose is tied into another part later on in the book, so I get the impression that it's supposed to be a bit of a surprise. (Sadly though, my reaction was more of a "oh, that's why" reaction rather than the surprise it's supposed to be.) What would have been the harm in building up the purpose of the group earlier in the novel?

I just wasn't really liking this as much as I've liked her previous books. I'll give the next book in the series a try, but offhand I think that I might have to give this series a pass. This book was just sorta blah for me. It was just so freaking slow plot-wise that I couldn't really like the characters or empathize with them like I'd normally do with her books.

(ARC provided by amazon vine)(less)

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Sep 10, 2010

Elizabeth rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Last night I finished Heather Graham’s latest novel Dust to Dust. It is part of a series called The Prophecy, which deals with the Mayan prophecy that the world was going to end on December 21, 2012. Ms. Graham supposes that the world isn’t going to end in one big cataclysm, but rather by a series of minor events leading up until 12/21/12. In this first book, we are reintroduced to a group that calls themselves “The Alliance”. They have appeared in a few other of Ms. Graham’s (as well as her pse...moreLast night I finished Heather Graham’s latest novel Dust to Dust. It is part of a series called The Prophecy, which deals with the Mayan prophecy that the world was going to end on December 21, 2012. Ms. Graham supposes that the world isn’t going to end in one big cataclysm, but rather by a series of minor events leading up until 12/21/12. In this first book, we are reintroduced to a group that calls themselves “The Alliance”. They have appeared in a few other of Ms. Graham’s (as well as her pseudonym Sharon Sala) books. If you have read any of these other books, then you know the big secret about The Alliance: most of them are vampires. Despite the fact that this group has been used in some of her other groups, the book is more than a third over before “the big reveal,” even though there are some rather pathetic hints dropped throughout the book. For example, “He frowned. There was a tiny trail of red at the corner of her lips (p121).” Melanie, the female protagonist, keeps “cherry soda” stocked in her refrigerator. One of the other characters supplied everyone with rosaries to wear around their necks. But yet, the male protagonist, Scott, has trouble believing what was right in front of him from the very beginning. However, he quickly gets over his disbelief and confesses his love for Melanie.
I did enjoy this book, but I have to say it is not one of my favorites by Heather Graham or even one of my favorite vampire books. Ms. Graham takes the vampire myth and turns it on its head. According to legend, vampires cannot touch a cross or be splashed by Holy Water, but according to Ms. Graham those things only work against evil vampires. I’ve got to say that this is something that they could have used on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and True Blood. Its a really good way to tell a good vampire from a bad one, but my question is what happens when a vampire starts out evil and becomes good? Does it suddenly become unaffected by sacred objects? Or what happens when a good vampire turns evil? Another problem that I had with this book is that she claims that crosses and Holy Water are only effective when a vampire believes that they will be; they need to have faith. Wouldn’t a smart vampire realize that as long as they believe that they won’t be hurt by these things that they can’t be? It just isn’t logical to believe that in all of history no evil vampires would have figured this out.
There were also times when it felt like I was reading a fanfiction written by a 13-year-old girl. For instance, our heroes have found out that the demon Bael is releasing evil mist from fissures caused by earthquakes all over the world, so members of the Alliance have set out to “exorcise” the fissures. They soon realize that they need to keep people away from the fissures because the mist will infect them with evil and they will immediately begin attacking other people, so they go to the San Francisco police department to talk to a cop about getting word to the governor (I wonder if it would be the Governator because he would probably try to save the world himself), the president, and every world leader across the globe. At this point, I began to wonder whether Ms. Graham has seen Is There a Woogy in the House episode of Charmed one too many times. I mean an evil, black mist that makes people turn against their friends and neighbors? Doesn’t that sound like the Woogyman? Why didn’t someone just start chanting:

“I am light, I am one too strong to fight. Return to dark where shadows dwell. You cannot take this Halliwell. Go away and leave my sight, and take with you this endless night.”

I’ll admit that this was always my favorite spell, but you can’t take everything from television. Plus, the description of Bael sounds awfully like Moloch from the Buffy episode I Robot, You Jane. There is just so far that I will suspend my belief in coincidence.
The final problem that I had was the love story between Melanie and Scott. They both seem to have instantly fallen in love with each other despite everything that is going on around them. True, this happens a lot in romance novels, but here it seems rather forced, as if someone told her that she needed to have a little romance in her book. Honestly, the background romance between Judy and Blake was much more believable than Scott and Melanie’s insta-love.
I do have one final question. Why is it that Ms. Graham believes that all Catholic School students (or former Catholic school students) know Latin? I went to Catholic school from 1st through 9th grades, and I was taught very little Latin, and the Latin that I was taught would not allow me to translate a block of text carved in stone, unless the text is the lyrics to Adeste Fidelis.
In my opinion this was a rather mediocre book, and it was not worth the money that I spent on it. If you want to read a good book about a vampire check out the last book in Nora Roberts’s Circle Trilogy.
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Nov 02, 2009

Kelly Moran rated it

Shelves: my-reviews

for amazon vine review...
Author Heather Graham is a NY Times best-selling author of more than a hundred novels in the romance and sub-genres of romance. Her books have been on the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. She’s currently the VP of the Horror Writers’ Association. She resides in Florida.
One act of heroism had changed Scott Bryant’s life forever. Now, with superhuman powers, Scott has teamed up with the alluring Melanie Regan after both having mysterious dreams about...more

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Aug 03, 2011

Logan added it

if you cant think of any thing to reshearch and you read this book reshearch December 21, 2012 as some peaple beleave THE WORLD IS GOING TO END! so i like like this book because it has some stuff you can reshearch instering stuff too i kept stopped reading the book to reshearch more stuff that was in the book and thought this is instering with all that stuff about the world going to end and all and about some peaple joining the world to stop the ending and sense im reshearching i tell you one t...more

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Nov 09, 2009

Jodi rated it

Shelves: audiobook

This book had such potential but it required that you had read her other books that deal with the Alliance. Scott has a chance meeting with an old man (whose life is he trying to save) and the old man says some things that make Scott superhuman. He meets up with Melanie while trying to use his powers for good. (Don't mean to be snide. Up through this point, the book was terrific.) It was even interesting while trying to solve the 2012 Mayan prophecy. But the relationship between Scott and Melani...more

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Jul 06, 2011

Michael rated it

Shelves: mystery, own-it, read-in-2011, reviewed

This is a story of good against evil that is different enough to be entertaining and yet believable.

Scott Bryant and Melanie Regan are two normal people who are suddenly given powers that they can use to fight against evil.

They are drawn to the Oracle. It is a place of good but they don't know exactly what it is.

Heather Graham has a talent for telling a good story and creating memorable characters.

Told in a manner that reminded me of "T...more

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Nov 14, 2009

Gina rated it

Shelves: own, mini-group-read, paranormal-mystery, paranormal-romance, paranormal-suspense

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Now, I was surprised, for some reason. The names on the back of the book, especially Melanie's, should've clued me in, but it hadn't, until I cracked open the book. Before getting to the prologue, Heather Graham wrote a note to her readers, explaining that the characters in this novel have been introduced before, in her Vampires series that she wrote as Shannon Drake. There are six books to the series that she wrote as Shannon Drake, and two more that she wrote under her own name. So, the charac...moreNow, I was surprised, for some reason. The names on the back of the book, especially Melanie's, should've clued me in, but it hadn't, until I cracked open the book. Before getting to the prologue, Heather Graham wrote a note to her readers, explaining that the characters in this novel have been introduced before, in her Vampires series that she wrote as Shannon Drake. There are six books to the series that she wrote as Shannon Drake, and two more that she wrote under her own name. So, the characters were familiar to me. I do think, though, that if you haven't read the series, it won't make that big a difference. You learn who the characters are and what they mean to each other, so you don't really get that 'lost' feeling. At least, I don't think you will. Had I known this before I had suggested Dust to Dust for a mini group read, I wouldn't have, simply because I didn't know how Ms. Graham would bring the characters into the story.

With that said, on to my review.

**Spoiler Alert**

My fave genre, it had all the elements I like in a novel; paranormal, mystery and suspense, interesting characters, and a story line that intrigued me. It's a continuation from her Vampires series, but it is explained well so that you aren't missing anything.

Scott is a new character - he is not in any of the previous novels, so he was new to me. And I liked him, very much. Even after the 'weird' thing happened to him, he's an upstanding guy who does what is morally right, regardless of the danger to him. He isn't out to prove anything, but with the dreams he's having, with the events going on, he knows that he has to do what he must, that it's his destiny.

Melanie is a recurring character. And I still like her. She's a strong woman, very much like Scott, who will do what is necessary to keep people safe. Although she has accepted 'what' she is, her fear is what humans would think of her, of what Scott would think of her.

Many more characters return in this book as well; Maggie and Sean, Jade and Lucien, and Rainier, all characters that I loved from previous books.

Lucien and Scott actually meet in a dream before they meet face-to-face. Since the confrontation in the alley, Scott has been 'transformed'. He is stronger and faster than the average human, and his dreams keep pointing him to his destiny, and what he must do to protect the world. He is immediately attacted to Melanie, wondering who she is.

Melanie is a vampire, one who worries more about other people than herself. She risks herself time and again, to help those who need it, regardless of the danger. But something begins to happen; never able to draw more than a stick-figure, she's suddenly become an artist of museum quality, drawing pictures on everything from napkins, to her boarding pass, to the wall. Very lifelike, her drawings are of things that are either about to happen or of the past. Her destiny is with Scott, and Rainier, whom they run into in Rome, where they are to face an enemy.

While there isn't much of a mystery, they are wondering what is up with the strange dreams and events and why it's all happening. What I found interesting was the details about what was happening, the 'end of the world'. Or rather, the beginning of the end. Scott, Melanie and Rainier, all three signs of earth, need to work and battle together against the evil that threatens to destroy. The action is great. Watching Melanie and Scott fall for each other even better. Watching Scott accept Melanie for who and 'what' she is, after being told by Rainier, was interesting as well. He didn't run screaming, but he did have to figure it out, and I'm glad that it didn't scare him off. They compliment each other very well.

As I said, the details are great, but I was wishing there was more to the story. Obviously, by the time you reach the end of the novel, you know there is more, for the battle has just begun. I'm interested to see what's coming up next.(less)

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Aug 11, 2009

Sherry rated it

I really liked this book, this is Heather Graham at her best and at the top of her game. The way she described the "Alliance" and how "they" overcome or overcame their baser desires to be something more. It reminded me of how we humans are in a constant inner sruggle to overcome and be something better.

Although I did wonder about Sister Maria Elizabetas "blood sacrafice" there at the end and how it came down to being the "essence" of holy as t...more

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Dec 09, 2010

Andrea rated it

Shelves: favorites

Let me say wow. HG came through yet again with a wonderful start to a whole new series. Everyone I think has thoughts about the end of the world...how it will happen....when it will happen. HG hit this with leads from former books along with new people in a series written about saving the world. I thought it was very well thought out and written, and the leads were fantastic, and of course the whole plot was great. I'm looking forward to reading the next three novels in this series.

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Sep 16, 2009

Nancy rated it

After saving an old man from a gang of thugs, Scott Bryant finds himself transformed with special powers. He’ll need his new skills when mysterious Melanie Regan enters his life. Together they must fight a demon before it destroys Earth. Will Scott be able to resist the allure of his lovely partner who harbors a deadly secret? This tale has it all: vampires, fallen angels, and skeletons that rise from the dead.

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Nov 01, 2010

Miranda Nixon rated it

Shelves: couldn-t-bear-to-finish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 26, 2011

Melanie rated it

I wish the rest of the series would release, but I do have to say this book was such a significant omen to me. Because of this book, I knew what my last child was going to be and what "her" name was confirmed to be. It had too many names that oddly fit with my family. The book was great, but like I said I wish the rest of the series would release so I could continue the story.

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Dec 02, 2009

Sara rated it

Shelves: paranormal, suspense, romance

I really didn't think I would like this--I'm not usually into the Armageddon/end of the world type books--but this was really quite good. The characters are called together to battle evil and prevent the beginnings of the End of Days. Their unique skills and strength, as well as faith provide them with the tools to defeat a powerful demon. The question is, can they overcome his influence and work as a team?

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Jul 27, 2009

L.D. rated it

Finished today. What a web Heather Graham spun. I started to read and I was caught. I was drawn into the characters. I must remember that when the book is said to be Paranormal Romance, does not mean graphic love descriptions. I must remember that is erotica. I loved the story line. She tackles the Apocalyptic concept, as she has researched from other concepts. This could be what she believes. I want to read the others that follow.

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Jul 25, 2009

Marisella rated it

Heather Graham is a wonderful author, however, this book did not live up to my expectations. Vague, obtuse locations; Siciy, Italy. That's like giving England, Europe as a location for a car accident. Really, how about a city in Sicily? Most of the sentences started with prepositions and led nowhere. *sigh* couldn't get past the second chapter.

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Oct 12, 2009

Sharon rated it

I really wanted to like this book. It started out with such a fascinating premise: people developing superhuman strength, telepathy, etc., in view of the Mayan 12/20/2012 doomsday prophecy (which has some of my RL friends running around like decapitated Leghorns ... how embarrassing is *that*?).

It turned out to be Another Damned Vampire Novel.

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Jan 31, 2010

Ashley rated it

I guess I needed to read some of her other books first because I felt Luke I was missing something the whole time. As for the book, I didn't really like it. The concept of the world ending in 2012 is cool but it isn't played out well. I was disappointed especially after reading some of her past books like The Presence.

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Oct 29, 2009

MJ rated it

Shelves: liked-it, paranormal

Scott Bryant was an average guy until one act of heroism changed his life for ever. Events have been set into motion that will bring about the apocalypse and Scott is one of the Chosen to save mankind. Now with super human strength and speed Scott teams up with Melanie Regan a women with a secret that she will protect at any cost. But now is not the time for secrets, if they want to save the world they will have to trust each other completely or fail.

This is the first in Heather Grah...more

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Mar 29, 2011

Telissa rated it

I liked this book, but as i've noticed with a few other Heather Graham books there were quite a few editing errors usually they dont bother me no ones perfect but this particular book made a couple of mix ups on the names that messed with my head a bit. but i found the story interesting an am looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

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May 30, 2011

Yvonne Boag rated it

Shelves: supernatural

I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it very much either. The premise is 2012 is coming and the world is going to end. 12 people, one of each star sign are all that stands between mankind and destruction. Nothing original here. Only read if you can't find anything else to read

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May 02, 2011

Gwen rated it

Parts of it were slow but at the end things got a little better. I definitely want to read the rest in the series now. I need to find out who the other elements are and if they are successful in their missions to save the world.

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Sep 05, 2011

Bob rated it

I wanted to give it a 4, because I really enjoyed it, but the plot was not really up to Graham's capabilities, as she is really an excellent author. A lot of woo-woo which seemed to be put in just to fill up space.

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Aug 04, 2009

Cheryl rated it

Never finished. I kept trying and trying and by the time my brain would wrap around one concept she was throwing something else out there. I like Heather Graham but I just couldnt finish this one, gives me a headache

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Nov 20, 2009

Sherree rated it

Hmm, not sure what to say about this one. It's not the type of book I typically read. It did have some high points, but I probably won't read the rest of the books in the series.

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Feb 06, 2011

Darlene Johnson rated it

Shelves: heather-graham

Now I am in search of Book 2 in the The Prophecy series - From the Ashes. Basically if you are fascinated with 2012 prophecy ... this made be the fiction book for you.

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Mar 28, 2010

Ruth rated it

Shelves: paranormal, romantic-suspense

good. i thought it stood alone ok - it would probably have been a fuller experience if i knew more about the story line from other books but still ok.

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Oct 07, 2009

Colleen rated it

I haven't read the author's other novels, but her new "The Prophecy" paranormal romance series (4 books of stand alone tales with an overall story-arc) evidently contain characters from her other novels.

While I wasn't blown away by this first novel in the series, I did enjoy it enough that I will read the other three when they are released.

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Dec 08, 2009

Janetlee rated it

Heather Graham has another hit with this series. The next installment is due in July. Vampires, Oracles and the end of the world all wrapped up in a love story! What could be better?

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Aug 16, 2009

Amber rated it

Shelves: fantasy, momma-s-books, read-in-2009, urban-fantasy, vampire

The idea of this story really drew me in for the first 3/4 of the book. Near the end of the book, things really became predictable for me. I am intrigued to see how this series play out, and will most likely read on. (mostly to see how the water signs help to save the day). Also I am going to read more of Heather Graham's books.

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Apr 26, 2011

Cheyenne rated it

This book kind of confused me at first but I'd really love to read the other Prophecy books. Its awsomeness.

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About Heather Graham

Also published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. Af...more

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Quotes from Dust to Dust

“The world is not always ours to understand....” — 12 people liked it

“Lord knows---and we both know --- that too many wrongs have been committed in the name of religion. ... But you're not here in the name of religion. Religion is an organization. Faith is within. ... Catholic, cattolico--- it means universal. Too often we forget that. ” — 6 people liked it

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