New Fiendish Review: Dust City by Robert Paul Weston

Book:                   Dust City

Author:                 Robert Paul Weston

Publisher:             Razorbill

ISBN/ASIN:         9781595142962 (galley proof)

Release Date:      September 30, 2010

Rating:   4 Stars

Buy: | Amazon | B&N | Borders | Powell’s | Indiebound | 

Find out more about Robert Paul Weston

Dust City so named for its legacy of fairy dust, that incomprehensible gift of luck, destiny, or your worst nightmare bestowed by benevolent fairies has dried up. And in its place, corruption and avarice has gripped a once thriving and vibrant city with a class struggle.

Hominids and animalia stand apart, as do elves, water nixies, goblins and all manner of non-human species. And at the forefront, flashing like a neon sign, is the on-going mystery of the disappearance of the fairies from Eden who left remnants of their magick-making dust in the very soil and foundations of the City.

Despite the absence of the fairies (who’ve seem to have abandoned the City for good), the need for dust reigns. People need it in their daily lives, depend on it. And when there is need, Nimbus Thaumaturgical is there to fill the demand for dust. The huge conglomerate mines the old magick from the soil and dirt, refining it and selling it to an addicted clientele. Even though what is manufactured resembles nothing to its original.

No one questions where the dust comes from-until Henry Whelp stumbles upon a conspiracy that will rock the foundations of Dust City to its rotten and rancid core.

Henry has been forced to grow up in the St. Remus Home for Wayward Youth because his father offed Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma. Since the murders, his dad has always professed his innocence to the deed but no one believes him. When Henry’s therapist dies mysteriously, and Henry stumbles upon letters from his dad he’d never received, he ends up following the breadcrumbs with help from his friends.

Robert Paul Weston distinguishes himself as the creator of a unique and complex young adult urban fantasy fairy tale gone awry. Dust City might bear a passing resemblance to some famous fairy tales we are familiar with, but Weston has twisted them to suit his purposes. We have a bit of Jack and the Beanstalk and Wolf Boy meets the Juvie Thugs. And it works. Surprisingly so.

Colossally fresh, fluid, and injected with enough greed, suspense, action and courageousness, that readers will just eat it up-along with a bit of sugar and spice. Dust City will appeal to Gaiman, Gorey, Hurley, or Burton fans, or anyone who wants a bit of sharp teeth with their nighttime fractured fairy tale.

Westons’ climax totally threw me under the school bus. Thanx man. Bravo.

What a stunning reveal to such a mystery. I couldn’t help but remember that Futurama episode when we finally find out where Slurm comes from…(gulp).

A Fiendishly Bookish Review (and one grumpy cat)