DUST
Joan Frances Turner
ISBN: 978-0441019281
September 2010
Penguin Putnam/Ace Books
Horror
Hard Cover

Courtesy of Amazon

Jessica Anne Porter is a zombie, although she finds that term offensive.  She’s literally falling apart in a world inhabited by other gangs just like the one she is in. However, things are starting to change in Jessie’s world. Will she and her fellow Fly-By-Nighters learn to adapt and cope or is this the end of humanity, both living and undead?

DUST takes an intriguing approach to zombies, making them sentient beings who survive in small gangs. Humans, called the derogatory term of hoos, are the evil ones. Jessie finds herself caught in between worlds, between her new family and the world of the hoos she left nine years ago when the car crash killed her the first time. The conflict is well done as Joan Frances Turner puts a different perspective on zombie society as a whole. The concept of the music and the dances is particularly fascinating, although I’d have liked just a bit more explanation about it.

DUST is as gory as one would expect, perhaps even more so. I’m fairly immune to most horror novels but this one had me a bit queasy with some of the descriptions involving the bugs. The beginning is a bit slow, focusing more on the zombies with all their gruesome feedings. However, these aspects are necessary as it sets the stage for how much things are about to change. Once the story really kicks in, DUST is hard to put down!

Joan Frances Turner does a marvelous job at creating multidimensional characters. Be forewarned- there are no real good or bad guys in DUST. Instead, there are characters who make choices, sometimes well intentioned, that can cause quite a few unintended consequences.  It’s hard not to like Jessie, though, for her sheer determination to keep going even when it flies in the face of all logic.

DUST is a phenomenal entry into the zombie literature! Joan Frances Turner creates a world that is both frightening and grisly while creating characters that pull the reader into the storyline. Enjoyable for fans of zombie books who want something just a bit different.

Reviewed By:

My name is Debbie and I love to read just about anything. My favorite books, however, are generally paranormal romances. I am a social worker with the school system in Florida so I get a lot of time off in the summer to read (except when I'm sitting in the dark with no ac thanks to a hurricane)! I'm happily married and have 2 doggie children. I also enjoying working out, "American Idol", and cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team.

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