Bringer of Dust takes the rich, gothic world of The Talents Trilogy to new heights, blending magic, horror, and deeply emotional stakes. J.M. Miro excels at creating a haunting atmosphere with unforgettable characters and intricate lore. While the novel’s length and dark tone may be challenging for some readers, it’s a gripping and intense read that fans of the series will devour. A must-read for those who love dark fantasy with an emotional core.

This sequel is gripping, fastpaced and such a great read I could not put it down. The victorian atmosphere is so well written you feel like you are there. A great piece of work. Thank you for my advanced kindle copy.

Bringer of Dutst
Author: J.M.Miro
The Talents trilogy book: 2

We find ourselves in a world that is under attack by all kinds of dark forces.

It is of the utmost importance that Charlie and his friends succeed in tracking down the second Orsine that is located in the Land of the Dead. Orsines are a sort of sealed portals that grant passage to other dangerous worlds.

In the first book, Marlowe gets trapped in the orsine. Charlie's greatest mission is to reunite with his friend and free him.

Meanwhile, a former student of Cairndale resurfaces in the Land of the Dead. He has many sinister plans that could make him a major threat to the future.

One thing is for sure, the danger is far from over for Charlie, Marlowe and their friends...

To fully understand the storyline, it is recommended to read the first book in the series.

The second book focuses more on the future of the characters, while the first book focuses more on their talents, powers and past.
There are multiple worlds in the book and they are all worked out in equal detail.

You will encounter a diverse cast of monsters, artifacts, a bone witch and more.

The characters are intriguing. Their emotions and way of thinking are well described by the author.

I am very impressed with the writing style and originality. If you are a fan of the Fantasy and Horror genre then I can highly recommend this series.

I want to thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with an ARC.

A twisted, dark horror sequel that is tense and full of action. Captivating and gritty this gothic Victorian fantasy is well written and very engaging.

This was SO good!! Fast paced and action packed. It was quite a heft book and took me a while to read but it was very enjoyable. It starts pretty much straight off from the first book (Ordinary Monsters) so I would advise reading that one first. It took me a minute to remember what had happened and get back in the swing of it but then I was hooked once again. I loved seeing all the old characters and the introduction of new ones. I would say that the ending felt a little bit rushed but as I know there will be a third book it didn’t really affect my rating and love of the book. The author set the scene really well and the descriptions made me feel I was there with the characters, I enjoyed it being set in different countries and worlds as it kept the pace going. This book had everything and was fantastic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

This is a really good sequel that adds a lot of depth into the overall plot and storyline.

I can definitely see why this book/series is so well hyped

This is an absolute Empire Strikes Back of a sequel!

By which I mean, the pacing is lively and perfectly balanced, the characters are deep in their personal darknesses, fighting for air and light, there’s a load of chewy father-figure drama that I could eat all day with a spoon and the whole book is chock full of answers and resolutions that pull you—eagerly—through its hefty page count. This is a sequel that definitely improves on its opener.

Everyone from the first book has hit the ground running at the start of this second one, and the many perspectives—often a bane to recent fantasy books—are extremely well-judged and integrated here. In addition, there are new characters, who are just phenomenal. Murderous Micah sears the page when he appears, but it is the bone witch Jeta who captures the imagination most. I loved the whole ensemble and the new dynamics were compelling throughout. Sensibly, Marlowe’s situation is held off for quite a while, but once we get inside the orsine, already armed with a wealth of new understanding, his story remains the heart of the whole trilogy. Villains become heroes, allegiances are sliding every which way, and everything is visceral and immediate.

And yes, the book is full of answers; indeed the plot is propelled by constantly unravelling the mysteries rather than piling more on, as was the case in book 1. Miro judges every revelation here perfectly; about the drughr, the orsines, the long history of talentkind, and the parts in that history that belong to Berghast, Charlie and Marlowe. You never feel deceived in this part of the story, you always think you’re on solid ground and that you’re getting the truest sense of the wider world. And that’s when the twists come in, and the payoffs are so good! Miro knows this is the middle section, and has loads of road left to play with, but this is as assured and well-crafted a follow-up as I have ever seen.

Loved it. Would recommend to anyone.

This is the sequel to Ordinary Monsters - a sprawling, gothic, Victorian fantasy about children with special powers being hunted by a shadowy evil- which I absolutely loved, so go pick it up now if you haven't already!

We pick up soon after the devastating events that ended the first book, with the characters regrouping, investigating and trying to keep each other safe. The characters are given a little more room to grow and the fantastical elements- the mythology of the story- is explored in more detail, creating an even richer world (I particularly liked the time we spent with the Glyph-twisted children). We also discover that certain characters actions are perhaps more complicated and nuanced than we previously thought.
I wouldn't necessarily consider this to be grimdark, but it is definitely quite a dark and dangerous world with some devastating consequences for our young protagonists.

A fantastic sequel, that adds layers of depth and detail to an already rich and intriguing world. I'm looking forward to seeing how everything comes together in the final book.

A Fabulous sequel to the wonder that was Ordinary Monsters,

This 2nd book in the trilogy brings back the cast we loved so much In the first book as the world of the Talents is built ever more by J M Miro.

Whilst I felt the pace was much slower this time around, I think it was necessary as Miro builds the atmosphere in this much darker sequel. The horror really is abundant this time as Miro cranks up the imagination with some new monsters and Devilishly twisted characters and locals.

It’s great escapism, I truly care for what’s happening and that’s where Miro really shines, in creating a world of characters that draw the reader in and genuinely cause a real stir of emotion.

Fantastic

Bringer of Dust is the haunting sequel to Ordinary Monsters and J. M. Miro’s best book yet. With new locations, new monsters and new, deadly challenges, it brilliantly expands the world that was set up in the first book.

After the destruction and losses suffered at the end of the previous book, Bringer of Dust begins with our characters in a dark place. Without Marlowe, Cairndale or the orsine, all hope seems lost. The only solution is to take on an even more daring and impossible task than before. This quest takes them on a trip around the world and introduces the reader to more creatures than ever before. I think that the choice to travel around the world was a great idea. Whilst it was sad to leave the gothic world of London, I enjoyed reading more about some of the morbid places in Sicily and Paris (especially because some of them are based on real places that you can visit, like the catacombs!).

As well as the incredible setting, I think that the way in which Miro writes and develops characters has also improved. Whilst I loved Charlie, Alice and Marlowe in Ordinary Monsters, I think that we see much more growth in this novel.

That being said, my only complaint is that the novel is still extremely long. It managed to keep my attention because there were so many strong plot points, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other readers lost interest in the story or characters at some point.

If you love a mix of fantasy and horror, like in books like Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, you will love this series. We see the dark parts of the world but there is an underlying message of hope and love. And you have to admit that Miro’s writing style creates an incredible gothic atmosphere.

‘“The world of the talents is vaster and stranger than Cairndale ever was, Charlie,” she said grimly. “And you haven’t met the half of what’s in it, yet.”’
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One of my most anticipated books, the sequel to one of my favourites from last year, and the continuation of this story was just as magical and immersive as the beginning. Taking us on a darker turn though, this one takes us down more of a twisted, dark and almost horror route at times as we delve into the dark world of The Dreaming and experience new locations such as The Falls where things get VERY graphic
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I’m mainly a reader of mystery/thriller but sometimes a fantasy or a sci fi book can sneak up on me and refuse to let go, and this trilogy is proof of that, and I’m already scouring the internet for news on when the third will be released. The world building J.M. Miro has created is truly spectacular and fully immersive, it’s a world so like ours that you are forgiven for wondering if these things are actually happening in the shadows and Talents are wandering around hiding their skills
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A success all round and I couldn’t thank Bloomsbury more for the early review copy! This one is out 17th Sept 2024, so get your preorder in for this one whilst you give Ordinary Monsters a re read!! 📚

Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
J M Miro, you have done it again, this was a fantastic second instalment of the Talents trilogy, the world-building and plot is so immersive, it had me hooked from a few pages in. This book is so much darker than the first, filled with so much grief and anger, and while it also had the same characters as the first, we are also introduced to a few more, and while they added more dimension to the book, I think adding more backstory to side characters also increased the size of the book, which had it dragging in some places. I loved how Miro projected so much of the Innocence and naivety of Marlow compared to the other children of Cairndale and of the ex-talents of London, I just wanted to protect him myself.
Overall, I enjoyed this so much and can't wait for the final book in the series.

This was perfectly gothic and I devour it even with a slow start soon I realized what's going on I couldn't stop it and I'm happy that I did.. The first book Ordinary Creatures was great but this one was really amazing.. I can understand that some people didn't connect but if you like dark this is for you

I found this installment to be a slower start and took me a bit longer to get in to. However, once the story picked up, I really started to enjoy it. Reconnecting with the original characters and meeting new ones is always good, and being able to see their development. While the prose didn't flow as well as it did in the first book, making for a more challenging read in parts, I'm glad I persevered, as the last few chapters pulled the story together, making the book as a whole well worth the read. I'd read the conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

“Bringer of Dust” is the second novel in The Talents Trilogy which started with Ordinary Monsters. The first book was such an unexpected surprise that I was so excited about this particular ARC, but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations. I really wanted to love it, but it bored me from the very beginning, the plot didn’t seem to proceed, the events and the characters weren’t as compelling as in the first book.

However, a full review will come some days before the release date.

I have to agree with other reviewers of this book, Bringer of Dust by JM Miro, the sequel to Ordinary Monsters, stands head and shoulders above the first book in the trilogy. If only for the depths of the world building, horror and sheer twisted darkness it brings. Maybe this is because the first book in a trilogy always has a lot to do, establishing the world, the protagonists and opening the door to a whole new story, or because this book goes deeper into the darkness, destruction, grief and horror! I don’t know but, what I do know is that there is definitely no middle book syndrome for Bringer of Dust and this is a totally welcome second book in the Talents trilogy.

Bringer of Dust follows on from the devastation of book one, with the characters now seeking the second Orsine (door between worlds,) in their quest to cross into the Land of the Dead to find Marlowe. The stakes are definitely higher, The Orsine and Drugher are not just affecting Cairndale now, the risk is global – Are there stakes higher than saving the world? For Charlie, yes, saving his best friend from the Orsine.

This is where Miro truly shines, the character perspective and prose totally pulls you into their story, and there are multiple characters and perspectives, yet each one shines and stands both alone and united with the overarching plot. This book also brings much greater depth and substance to each character, shining a spotlight on their innermost thoughts, fears and truly pulling you in so that whichever character you are reading about is the protagonist in that moment and time, immersing you into their world and their perspective irrespective of whom they are.
The plot for Bringer of Dust is truly immense, twisting and turning, shocking with it’s depravity and gruesomeness at times, the sheer horror of some scenes and deaths are truly shocking but, always part of the plot and not there just to shock! Miro truly takes you on a totally insane and mind-bending journey that it is difficult to alight from…I was engrossed and even though the writing and pacing still weren’t technically perfect at times, this was a book I was loathe to put down…even if it was to hide behind a cushion for a little bit!

There’s no question that book 2 in this trilogy broke my heart a little but, that doesn’t mean I’m not here pacing as I wait for the final books in the Talents trilogy, and if you haven’t picked up this trilogy yet but, are a sucker for great worldbuilding, a cyclone of a plot (twisting and turning,) and something a little different, then pick up the first two books in the Talents trilogy!

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and sincere review.

This is a solid next installation in this series. I really enjoy the tone of Miro's writing and the world continue to shape up to be one I'm enthralled by.

Charlie and the Talents have grown.
We are in Sicily in the end of the 1800s and have a dark figure known as Abbess (very well done).
The pacing in the beginning is not entirely captivating, though it picks up soon after.
Plot, mood/atmosphere. old characters, locations and settings all 4/5

"Bringer of Dust," the second installment in "The Talents Trilogy," continues the captivating adventures of the children from the first book. While I am limited in discussing the plot due to its nature as a sequel, I can express my delight in being drawn back into the captivating world I cherished in "Ordinary Monsters." This book delves deeper into the intricacies of the world, presenting a darker and more fast-paced narrative that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Reconnecting with the original characters, as well as encountering new ones, was a delightful experience. Their development throughout the series is commendable.

"Bringer of Dust" stands as an excellent sequel, and I eagerly anticipate the concluding book of the trilogy. I sincerely hope the wait will not be too long.

If you have not yet embarked on this remarkable series, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and the publishers, Bloomsbury, for providing me with an advanced digital review copy (eARC) of "Bringer of Dust." The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own and are shared with the utmost sincerity and respect.

My Rating: 4.5

I loved it. This was such a great reading experience. I was instantly captivated. This book adds more depth to the world and I really enjoyed reading and discovering more about the Talents. Highly recommended and cannot wait for the final installment.