Dust Blog Tour Stop #35

Welcome to GraceBought, Lost Boys and Girls! You’ve come so far!!

If you got a little turned around and need to fly backwards, Stop #34 can be found here.

Thanks for stopping in for a spot of NeverTea! Come on in, settle into these super comfortable pelts here in the Hollow by the nice warm fire, and let me tell you a story about the boy who dreamt up this crazy magical land you’re sitting in and the girl made of golden pixie dust…

Dust by Kara Swanson

Fantasy. 368 Pages. 5 Stars

Synopsis: 

The truth about Neverland is far more dangerous than a fairy tale.

Claire Kenton believes the world is too dark for magic to be real–since her twin brother was stolen away as a child. Now Claire’s desperate search points to London… and a boy who shouldn’t exist.

Peter Pan is having a beastly time getting back to Neverland. Grounded in London and hunted by his own Lost Boys, Peter searches for the last hope of restoring his crumbling island: a lass with magic in her veins.

The girl who fears her own destiny is on a collision course with the boy who never wanted to grow up. The truth behind this fairy tale is about to unravel everything Claire thought she knew about Peter Pan–and herself. 

My Review: 

Kara Swanson delivers the most vibrant, glittering Stars and lurking, heart-wrenching Shadows in an enchanting tale.

I cannot say that Peter Pan was ever one of my childhood favorites, but Kara brings the story to such life and truly makes the characters feel so utterly magical. Reading this book made me want to read the original. And it very much made me want to read the sequel!

Man! The characters are what make this story! Peter. I simply adored Peter from the first moment I met him. He captivated me and I was sold, hook, line, and sinker! I loved watching his character unfold and I can’t wait to see more of him in the sequel. He felt so alive and real. His past and his motivations, his raw fear and determination, his crazy wiles and playful nature. I loved the innocence that warred within him like a desperate plea slipping from his grasp and the hint of something deeper, more mature struggling to take root. Claire was positively magical. A girl who drips pixie dust? Count me in! Sign me up! She was so easy to identify with that it wasn’t even funny. This girl was devoted to her brother, the last remnant of her family, and scarred by a broken world. She was fiercely loyal, but struggled to trust. And I loved her for it.

The Guardian fascinated me. I just loved the duality of his role and the responsibility he held in his hands, the precarious balance his inheritance demanded. I hope we see more of him and his story at some point. Lily was super cool. She was sweet and strong and not someone I ever really considered much before. Kara brings a new side of her to life that piqued my interest. And, of course, Hook and the Lost Boys at odds in a new dynamic. My heart went out to the Lost Boys. Their dynamic with Peter, that loss, betrayal, hurt, confusion, and deep-rooted companionship was the stuff of stories. I’ve always admired their brotherhood and seeing it brought to life in such a way was really satisfying. I know there’s more to Hook’s story (and I can’t wait to see that croc!), and I’m honestly intrigued by his past. Definitely hoping we get a bigger glimpse into that story.

And then there are the characters to come. I’m so excited to see what the conclusion brings. The crocodile. Hopefully more pixies. Oh, man, and everyone knows I’m obsessed with Tinkerbell! I know Neverland is broken and twisted right now, but I still can’t wait to see mermaids and fairies and magic and everything else Kara’s dreamed up!

The story starts out in California in a Circle K. I don’t know why but this just made me smile. The first few scenes from Claire’s perspective were so down to earth and zoomed in. I was right there with her. We moved to London and experienced the rich, historical town from both Peter and Claire’s perspectives in the modern day. We saw some iconic spots and were introduced to a few special areas unique to this particular story. I really liked the pub, actually. That was a fun bit.

Dust follows a broken girl who is searching desperately for her abducted twin brother. Claire’s devotion to Conner was touching and I spent much of the book wondering if she would ever really see him again. Her desperate search brings her onto a collision course for Peter Pan, a boy trapped in a rotting world. He misses his home and he’ll do anything to get back. He’s facing his own battles, but I don’t know that he was truly prepared to match wits with Claire. But the story is far from over. The conclusion will catapult us into the finale, and I’m so hoping it will be just as amazing as this first part!

Kara writes with such a whimsical style! It’s so fun to read her writing. She uses vivid imagery and powerful language to create an intense ride of a story. Reading her work is like being washed away by a wave to a whole new world in sharp focus. She fills her stories with magic and hope and contrasts dark and light, heavy and lightweight. The idea of flying in this story was almost tangible. I could practically taste the freedom Peter and Claire so yearned for. It truly is unique and captivating.

The story does not have any foul language, though Peter swears some and some of his British phrases may be considered swearing in some areas. I personally loved his quips, but that may just be me. There is very little violence, though some flashbacks allude to violent memories and the characters are clearly emotionally scarred (and physically in some cases). The romance is sweet and subtle. There are a few kisses, but nothing graphic or explicit. The themes are strong and there is a lot of dark vs. light in the novel. The characters deal with worth and regret, anger and hurt. They face dark pasts and challenge an uncertain future. I’d be comfortable giving this to a teen.

More:

Your keyword is: shattered

Add Dust to your Goodreads list!

Preorder Dust from Amazon or Barnes & Noble! You can also follow Kara on Amazon to stay tuned for all her new releases! 

Connect with Kara on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for awesome bookish boards, photos, chats, and more!

Follow Kara on Facebook or join her Starchasers group where we have loads of fun getting to know one another and nerding out on all things bookish!

And, lastly, you can find all things Kara on her website and even sign up on her newsletter to receive a free short story! 

You’re almost to the end! Keep pressing on! Only one stop left to go! Go ahead and head off to Tisha’s blog here! But you have to hurry! I just saw Hook and the Jolly Roger fly through here not long ago!