Dust of the Dead
(2026)(The first book in the Tales from the Listening World series)
A novel by Michael R Fletcher
DUST OF THE DEAD
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
EARLY PRAISE FOR DUST OF THE DEAD
‘Michael Fletcher was a fine writer out of the gate, but with Dust of the Dead he’s hit a new level. It’s a wonderfully inventive tale with bags of imagination scattered in all directions, and exciting magic that manages to be both familiar and different at the same time. I expect excellent world-building from this guy but what really elevated it was the quality of the character work, tying everything together emotionally for a story I could really invest in on all levels. This is a tale that just works. Read it!’
–Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
‘Absolutely literally bloody superb!’
–Anna Smith Spark, author of Empires of Dust
‘With Dust of the Dead, Fletcher has cemented his position as one of the most consistently brilliant must-read authors in the fantasy genre. This is an absolutely amazing fantasy adventure and among my top favorite fantasy reads ever.’
–Dyrk Ashton, author of the Paternus trilogy
‘Fletcher’s best, most intense work so far, and I am desperate to see more!’
–Grimdark Magazine
‘Heroic Fantasy with a protagonist my aching knees truly related to. I loved every page!’
–Rob Hayes, Author of The God Eater Saga
‘Gritty in the same measure as it emotional, Dust of the Dead is a truly immersive and deliciously intertwined dark fantasy epic from a modern master of story craft. It’s highly unfair that Fletcher just keeps getting better and better.
—Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series
‘Essential dark fantasy, unwavering in its humanity. I couldn't get enough.’
–Rob Leigh, author of Performances of a Death Metal Bard
‘Heart and humanity. Dust of the Dead solidifies Fletcher on my list of all-time favorite authors.’
–Pete Reviews Books
‘Fletcher weaves horror, heart, tragedy, and humor. One of my favorite reading experiences this year!’
–Z.B. Steele author of Whispers of the Storm
Genre: Fantasy
In the peaceful decades since the Qalil War, Aakifah has gained a few pounds and taken a job as shairf of Basrah. Days from retirement, her plans for a quiet life are shattered when a local family is murdered, their daughters taken by pyumah, a race of ravenous predators.
Aakifah sets out with a handful of volunteers, including her lover, in what she knows to be a doomed rescue attempt. Even if the monsters haven't already devoured their prey by the time she finds them, a handful of farmers will be no match for the terrifying creatures.
Young Khayrat studies to be a lumin, speaking to the listening world to bring light to civilization. When her father is assassinated, she volunteers to learn the dark art of the unraveller. Like any act of imploratory, her studies come with a price. With each unravelling, her mind fragments, her sanity fraying as she forgets the peaceful woman she once was.
Khayrat travels with a band of hardened killers, intent on assassinating the foreign royal family. Driven by her need for vengeance, she swears to reduce her king’s enemies to dust.
EARLY PRAISE FOR DUST OF THE DEAD
‘Michael Fletcher was a fine writer out of the gate, but with Dust of the Dead he’s hit a new level. It’s a wonderfully inventive tale with bags of imagination scattered in all directions, and exciting magic that manages to be both familiar and different at the same time. I expect excellent world-building from this guy but what really elevated it was the quality of the character work, tying everything together emotionally for a story I could really invest in on all levels. This is a tale that just works. Read it!’
–Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
‘Absolutely literally bloody superb!’
–Anna Smith Spark, author of Empires of Dust
‘With Dust of the Dead, Fletcher has cemented his position as one of the most consistently brilliant must-read authors in the fantasy genre. This is an absolutely amazing fantasy adventure and among my top favorite fantasy reads ever.’
–Dyrk Ashton, author of the Paternus trilogy
‘Fletcher’s best, most intense work so far, and I am desperate to see more!’
–Grimdark Magazine
‘Heroic Fantasy with a protagonist my aching knees truly related to. I loved every page!’
–Rob Hayes, Author of The God Eater Saga
‘Gritty in the same measure as it emotional, Dust of the Dead is a truly immersive and deliciously intertwined dark fantasy epic from a modern master of story craft. It’s highly unfair that Fletcher just keeps getting better and better.
—Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series
‘Essential dark fantasy, unwavering in its humanity. I couldn't get enough.’
–Rob Leigh, author of Performances of a Death Metal Bard
‘Heart and humanity. Dust of the Dead solidifies Fletcher on my list of all-time favorite authors.’
–Pete Reviews Books
‘Fletcher weaves horror, heart, tragedy, and humor. One of my favorite reading experiences this year!’
–Z.B. Steele author of Whispers of the Storm
Genre: Fantasy
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