She’s an intergalactic pixie, a harbinger of destruction. He's humanity's last scholar, clinging to hope in a desolate world. Together, they’re all that stand between the annihilation of mankind and a glimmer of salvation.
In the far-flung future, Earth is a dead world. To make room for new life, the alien Nya is tasked with blasting everything humanity ever built to dust. But when an encounter with a pack of resilient humans sparks a transformation within her, her plans soon change. The good-hearted Nya appeals to her overseers, the Watchers, hoping her discovery will put an end to the destruction so she can return home.
Instead, the Watchers go hunting.
Born with a rebellious spark, Nya vows to use all her power to overthrow her sinister masters and save what remains of the human race. But nobody rebels against the Watchers. Her own mother died trying.
As Nya desperately tries to lead her fellow terraformers to stop a powerful Watcher invasion, she soon learns that victory will come at a terrible price. If she succeeds, she’ll be trapped on a dead world for all eternity.
And that’s the best-case scenario…
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Dust is a richly imagined dystopian story that draws from fairy tale elements. In the future, Earth has all but been destroyed. Nya, an intergalactic pixie, is tasked with obliterating humanity for good in order to make room for new settlers. When she discovers a group of humans still occupying Earth, she's forced to reevaluate her mission.
Prose: Devoe has a detailed prose style that conjures a lush future world and provides engaging forward momentum.
Originality: Dust introduces an unusual future world that blends elements of sci-fi and fantasy. Devoe offers a wholly unexpected vision through the pixie characters, while the focus on waning humanity ups the stakes.
Character/Execution: While the novel is largely driven by action, Nya is a striking character who is both spunky, stubborn, and tough as nails. Readers will relish witnessing her deepening sense of morality and psychological transformation.
Date Submitted: August 29, 2024
