Kickass, sassy female lead
No virgins here
Six elite men, all what society considers broken
Medieval world with magic
Underdogs who will rise to Robin-Hood society of its riches – once they find each other and get over their issues
Medium burn
Plans for mm, mmmfmm
Dark scenes
Blaise is a shifter collared from birth to keep her from her abilities. It’s been her dream to get the collar off and … for mm, mmmfmm
Blaise is a shifter collared from birth to keep her from her abilities. It’s been her dream to get the collar off and vanish into the countryside. Working as a highly paid whore has gotten her close – she can almost taste it. Until her Mistress dies, and the new Master burns her contract. Now everything is gone, and Blaise has to fight just to keep herself out of his hands.
Keepers are charged with keeping the peace amongst shifters, mages, and humans. The Six Horsemen are an elite, high ranking, team, but to those who rule the kingdom, these six men are little more than instruments to do a job, and they’re getting sick of it.
When they’re ordered to take in a whore, a calculated move to prevent Keepers from forming meaningful relationships that will impact their job performance, the Six Horsemen go looking for Blaise. But there’s a pretty good chance she’s going to be dead before they find her.
Dust is season one of the Six Horsemen series and it is comprised of five individual episode style installments that fit perfectly back-to-back.
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Wanted to start by saying there are also quite a few triggers in this book so please read the trigger warning before starting. In this new installation by Amanda Cashure she did something new that I have never really seen in novels before. The whole book is set up more like a play, where each chapter is called a different scene in each scene has a different character as the POV. There were also different Acts to separate the various different parts of the book. Not sure if this has to do with the fact that the story was released in parts online before being released on Amazon. This could be completely normal for that format of book, I wouldn’t know as I primarily only read KU. While all of the other works I have read by Amanda have featured different POV’s (although I believe the first Shadows and Shade book was almost 100% Shade’s POV) this one felt slightly different as the POV changed so often between the seven main characters. At times I often forgot who the narrator was and had to go back and check. So, if you have a problem with multiple POV novels not sure if this is the book for you.
Despite my flighty brain forgetting who the POV was this story was engaging and compelling with a very different vibe than the other series I have read by Amanda Cashure. This one was far darker and at times felt dystopian like. Even though technically I believe this is a kind of space colonization story where humans colonized a planet with supernatural type creatures on them. Although, it does not feel sci fi like AT ALL, more high fantasy vibes. Our main girl Blaise is a horse shifter and who works as a sex worker. She has a good contract with the Mistress of the house, feels safe, and likes her work. Unfortunately, she gets put in a bad situation which forces her to leave everything she knows for her own safety. The story is full of some type of speciesism as shifters are collared and kept from using their abilities and thought of as disposable. In some kind of backwards torture though they are still used though to control and further marginalize their own population. This is a story of power dynamics, freedom, trust, greed, and probably love at some point although this isn’t touched upon really in the first book. It will be interesting to see where this story is taken as I always love a good underdog book and it would be interesting to see how this group decides to move forward with their lives. For example, if they are going to work just towards their own freedom and happiness or try and free their people as well.
So Amanda Cashure is amazing! I love her books. Dust was not an exception. It’s so original and twisted with some dark themes. I love that I was surprised by the ending! Blaise is amazing and I love the guys. The group is supper well rounded. I also love that there is a female in addition to the mc who isn’t immediately a villain type. This Tory has action, steam, magic, and thrills that will keep th pages turning. The end will leave you breathless. Can’t wait for more!
What a ride! Blaise’s life is turned upside down, and she finds herself on the run. I really like Blaise – she is smart, fierce, and caring. The guys are interesting, although I’m not sure I like Jensen and I’m not sure how he can be redeemed. The world Cashure has created is interesting, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next season!
The book was very good I enjoyed it.
I loved this book. It’s greatly written and full of twists and turns. Blaise is awesome ! I love the characters in this book. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend. Watch the trigger warnings but it’s worth the read! Can’t wait for the next
This is one dark and gritty story. It is full of triggers that some may not want to read. It is extremely well written and the characters are so incredibly intriguing with their pain and anguish. The descriptions are vivid to the point it is easily to picture them. It pulls you in and keeps you glued to it as you must find out how it ends. There is so much drama and suspense throughout the story. It is one that has a slower start but builds quickly. It is a must read!!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There are trigger warnings, but if you are not affected by them, you’re going to love this. You’ll hate some characters, love some, and completely laugh or cuss. All of Amanda’s books have been an absolute joy to take part in being an Alpha/beta reader. I’ve adored the entire process including watching the whole world come alive. If I say much more, there will be spoilers, so go get this book!
beautifully written … love the dimension and characters … anxiously waiting for the next!
Books can be a lot like relationships. Some are easy to fall into and some require commitment. Those you work for are usually the most satisfying. This book took some effort to get into. I’m thankful I am a fan of the author or I might have totally missed out until after the fact.
This book just did not speak to me in the beginning. Yet, I have faith and forge onward looking for that connection to spark. Then not even halfway through Episode 2 and I’m snookered. This is about when Blaise dishes out an amazingly deserved feminized revenge.
While shifters not so unique, this take is completely new to me. Get blown away just a little more by the world creation with each new series.
You don’t get a great amount of detail and introduction into each of the guys but they are fully formed individuals. Which plays great in their interactions.
Blaise was real. She accepted where she was in life and made it work for her. Had her goals and stood her ground with her limits.
I cannot wait to see how Season 2 develops now that they are no longer running in circles. Forcing them to live with the results they’re choices have left them.
I picked Dust up knowing to expect good things because Ms. Cashure has proven time and time again that she can weave one hell of a tale and I was not disappointed. In fact, Dust was better than I imagined, good doesn’t describe it.. it’s out of this world AMAZING!
This world that has been created is just brilliant and nothing like I’ve ever seen before. The world of Dust is a dark and dangerous place where the lines between right and wrong have have become so jumbled as the people have lost their way. In a world full of wrong, what’s right? Be ready to fall in love with the fmc as that bisch is STRONG and sassy as can be. Be prepared to laugh, cringe, question morals and become so angry that you may have to step away from reading and cool off. Even in a dystopian world on another planet, people will be stupid, horrible people.
Pay mind to the author’s trigger warning (forced drug use, noncon, physical abuse of the fmc) and if you can handle that, GET THIS BOOK! You won’t regret it. Dust is not a stand-alone and does end on a slight cliffhanger.
This is a dark fantasy reverse harem romance that is fast burn. I enjoyed the sassy strong mc and the variety of men. I can’t wait to read more.
Blaise is a collared shifter and has lived the life of a whore, but she’s worked for an honorable mistress. When her employer dies, life changes in an instant. Blaise finds the changes untenable and determines to escape forced servitude with a cruel new master. The Keepers are in charge of maintaining the balance and some sense of order by collaring shifters. The horsemen are not your average group though. They seem to have more of a group dynamic and more power than they should. They also seem to be given more latitude than would be wise. What happens when they’re ordered to find a whore? What happens when Blaise is forced to go on the run, hiding from both the Mercenaries working for the man who wants to be her master and the Keepers?
This book is full of heart racing moments. It may not be a good fit for sensitive readers. The author takes care to mark trigger warnings, but the whole book could serve as a trigger warning in some aspects. Know going in that there will be noncon, forced drug use, and violence against the FMC. Things aren’t going to be wrapped up in a tidy bow at the end either, but if you’re ready to get messy and go down this dirty road… Dive in and wait and see how the story plays out over the episodes to be released. It’s guaranteed to be a bumpy ride, but with Amanda Cashure at the wheel, it’s going to pay off.
This was a great read that I really enjoyed. It moved along at a great pace, which made for it being a comfortable read. The characters are interesting and you want to know more about them and no matter what you want to see them succeed. The story will grab you and keep you interested all the way to the end. This is a must read, no doubt about it.
*Spoiler Alert*
Whore and collared shifted Blaise (collared to stop her using her abilities) the FMC in this book has been working as one for years to save the money up to have her collar removed. When her Mistress dies and her son takes over (destroying her contract in the process) he uses violence and underhand tactics to get her to sign up to a new unworkable one. Running away is the only option. She runs right into a bunch of Keepers-Jensen, River, Everett, Gage, Xan and Scott a team charged with catching criminals and investigating murders. Blaise’s path crosses with each of the guys on numerous occasions through the 1st 3 books (1 being in the Land of Nightmares compilation) especially because they are looking for a whore to join their household. A brilliant action-packed, fast-paced, steamy book and a bloody great read. Just loved it
To me, this book is totally original. A shifter tale, but not the ordinary shifter tale. A historical story, but combined with a shifter tale. Add in suspense and you have something extraordinary. I did struggle to sink into the story right off the bat, but obviously, I eventually did. Read it! You won’t regret it.