Dnf felt like the story was not moving forward…I think this book was just not for me. The characters were interesting but I was kind of bored and just didn’t want to read it further so I dropped it. May be it gets better so I will try to pick it up after sometime again…

What a fun genre mashup! Featuring historical and western, and set during the Dust Bowl era, What Blooms From Dust had just the right amount of fantasy with historical moments from the past.

I listened to the audio format and would recommend!

*many thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

There was a lot going on in this book not only is it more of a western genre, but you also have historical and supernatural sprinkled into it.

The Story is a heartfelt and sometimes captivating journey through a small town struggling during the Dust Bowl era. It centers around Jeremiah Goodbye, who returns to his hometown after a wrongful conviction, just as a mysterious dust storm hits. The book explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and resilience amidst the bleak and harsh realities of that time. The plot of the book is heavily based on the development of the characters.

I did enjoy the author's vivid descriptions of the setting brought to life beautifully by the narrator. It made you feel like you were really there and experiencing the dust storms in real time.

I also loved the no nonsense heroines of this book. In a way I think they save all the men in this title, they are. not your average damsel in distress type of girls. They are strong, lovable women who are provide for their family and know when to shield everyone from the choices that are made.

Overall this book had its moments of brilliance, but the story did drag from time to time. It's a slow page turner and I wish there was more than just a sprinkle of supernatural in there. Also the explanation of the supernatural stuff, is still a little unexplainable to me.

This story really ended up surprising me! It had a bit of a slow start that almost put me off, but I decided to stick with it a little longer and I'm thankful I did because it almost instantly picked up. I ended up getting wrapped up with the characters and mystery and magic. This isn't your typical fantasy by any means. I would classify it as more of a historical fiction with magical realism elements. This is such a complex story and I do feel like it's the kind you really sit with and let it take it's time, but it's so worthwhile. I would definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for the providing a digital ARC.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

You should never judge a book by its cover, but this cover drew me in. I love starting a book with a beautiful cover, and I love that this cover incorporates some aspects that are fantastic in the book itself. This book is set during the Dust Bowl. If you are unaware of the Dust Bowl, it was not only during the Great Depression, it was a devastating, nearly decade-long event, that was caused by the lack of knowledge of how to farm and the lack of rain. Literal dust blew in killing livestock, and people, and it was terrible. There are a lot of great documentaries out there about this event if you so choose. Anyhow, this book is set during this time and follows Jeremiah Goodbye, also known as the Coin Flip Killer, who was strapped into an electric chair and managed to escape due to a tornado blowing down the building, but not without getting a bit of a zap. This zap changes something inside Jeremiah, and as he flips his coin he heads home to Nowhere, Oklahoma, which by the way is a real town. Along the way, Jeremiah picks up a boy named Peter. Peter adopts Jeremiah and follows him, leaving his bad situation. Alongside Jeremiah, Peter will help the town of Nowhere, amidst a terrible time when it was easiest to give up hope.

This book is beautifully written, but the pacing is a bit slow. The narration was also very slow, which I suppose is fitting given that nothing was happening at a quick pace during this time. However, there were times I wanted to give up on the story because it wasn't moving along at any sort of pace. In the end, I'm glad I stuck with it. After the events of Black Sunday everything seemed to change and the heart of the story began to unfold. When the town leaves itself to die the most unlikely things happen and miracles and hope spring forth. How the characters were able to bring the town together was so sweet and unexpected that it really made the story worthwhile. Though this story harkens to historical fiction or Western, kind of, it also has a tiny dash of magic. Not enough to classify this as a fantasy, but enough to make the story a bit more special. Overall, very slow, very well-written story about finding hope in the hardest of times.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This took me a minute to get into but I ended up really enjoying it! Not what I expected but very well written, it had my attention the whole time. The narrator did a great job as well.

This is a powerful, grueling, strugglesome book that drives home the suffering of people in the middle of the Dust Bowl. It is the most empathetic story about the dust storms I've ever encountered. Funny, I only know JH Markert (James Markert) from his horror novels, and those are very, very... horror. This was horrific and terrifying in a completely different way. The starvation, the dirt, and the hopelessness were heartbreaking. To think how long that lasted, I don't know how people lived through it. And the woman who sold her kid to Jeremiah, that was disturbing. I also was surprised to learn that people from Oklahoma who were relocated during this time were discriminated against in other areas, barred from entry, and not welcomed in many places. The whole story was shocking in the historical aspect alone.

There's some paranormal or magical realism involved. I was glad the history of the characters came out and we understood a little better about Jeremiah's nightmares and his interesting abilities. It deals with injustice and false accusations, being on the lam, small towns in America, and climate/abuse of the lands, which felt like a warning. There's also a neurodivergent character who becomes one of the most precious aspects of the book. The characters have great arcs and I became very attached to them all, sad when it ended.

“What Blooms from Dust” by James Markert is an exquisite novel that weaves mystery, magic, and unexpected kindness. Just as Jeremiah Goodbye faces the electric chair, a tornado grants him a second chance at life. He returns to his hometown of Nowhere, Oklahoma, only to find it overtaken by the Dust Bowl. Guided by an unrecognizable gift, Jeremiah rescues a young boy and faces his nightmares. Filled with hope amidst darkness, this book is a captivating tale.

What Blooms from Dust by J.H. Markert

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC and the chance to review it honestly.

What Blooms from Dust is a mysterious and magical book with a great narrator. With J.H. Markert’s atmospheric writing plus the fantastic narration, this book was set up for success. I found this book to be unique and engaging in a way that had me focused on solely listening to it instead of doing things around the house like I normally would when listening to an audiobook. The magical realism aspects of the book were my favorite parts and the rest were just major pluses! This ended up being way more than I expected, in the best way. The last part of the book was phenomenal and that’s where you get answers to questions you may have had throughout the book. Overall, I enjoyed this one and it was truly beautiful.

Happy reading!

James Markert's story is so many things but most of all, uplifiting. I'll admit it took me a while to get into this one, but once I caught on to the story line and the author's writing, I was hooked! A story about a family drawn apart by misunderstandings and past mistakes. A story about Jeremiah Goodbye and his second chance to live the life he always wanted. A story about the Dust Bowl and the hardships families faced during that time period. And, how they eventually come to find each other again with the help of a lost boy, Peter Cotton. This story had everything you could want - drama, intrigue, love, and a touch of magic. My first book by Mr. Markert, but certainly not my last. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC (although I noticed it was published in book format in 2018?) At any rate, I would have missed out on a great story had it not been offered as an audio ARC. The narrator was also fantastic and did an excellent job making the character of Jeremiah and Peter Cotton come to life.

"You say you've seen me before, well I think I've seen you too, because sometimes the angels fall to the earth and walk as normal people."

My first tears fell at 17% listening to the absolutely beautifully written What Blooms From Dust by the fantastically gifted James Markert. This story is the reason why literature is considered art.

Jeremiah Goodbye, The Coin Flip Killer, survives the electric chair when a tornado hits and he escapes. He feels different; more aware of people, places, and himself after his jolt from "Sparky." He heads back to Nowhere, Oklahoma for revenge on his brother who called the cops on him.

Along the way he saves a very special boy, Peter Cotton, and his beloved typewriter. In Nowhere they see the devastation from the Dust Bowl of the 1920s in the town. The writer captures the grainy weighted down atmosphere of the dust, not just on the physical town, but the people. Nothing is clean, nothing grows and no one moves. Jeremiah explains it as, "First they turned mean, then they turned quiet...then they (gave) up."

I'm awed by voice actor David Bendena using scratchy voices like he swallowed all the dust and the exhaustion from trudging through the dust storms. He brought truth to this magic storytelling. Among the dust a tale of pure kindness and perseverance blooms.

Listening to the author's horror books and this modern classic I believe James Markert is the heir apparent to legend Stephen King. With touches of The Green Mile, The Gunslinger and The Grapes of Wrath, this redemption story exemplifies that with a kind word, a helping hand and hope, What Blooms From Dust can save souls.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book absolutely immersed me in the dust bowl experience, and in a good way. It is the story of twin brothers Jeremiah and and Josiah Goodbye who long ago had a falling out when Josiah turned Jeremiah in to the police for four murders he did not commit. Jeremiah wins a reprieve when the electrocution that was supposed to kill him runs awry and he escapes. He travels back to Nowhere Oklahoma to take revenge against his brother and on the way picks up/rescues a young non verbal boy named Peter. When the dust settles on the brothers feud they have a truce of sorts. Jeremiah decides to stay in Nowhere and he and Peter move in to an abandoned home in town. Dust storms are common and sometimes deadly and the town people are just about done in by them, many of them have given up, but that is where Peter and Jeremiah can do their best work and help the towns people survive the hideous dust. There are elements of magical realism and the age old fight between good and evil interwoven throughout the story and I really, really liked these tropes. I love a story with a little bit of supernatural thrown in the mix. The characters are all well fleshed out and believable and I loved the underlying message of 'kindness breeds kindness'. The narrator was excellent and gave voice to each individual character. The author James H. Markert's writing and story telling style reminds me a little of one of my favorite authors Michael McDowell, although not as dark. I can highly recommend this book, especially the audio version.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher Dreamscape Media for an ARC of this highly entertaining audiobook.

This book was so well written. I wanted to keep going through the whole thing, even when darker topics were covered it was a page turner. Excellent depiction of living through the dust bowl, the feeling of living in such a small town, and how relationships can shift and change through time and experience.

It had some supernatural elements, but they were minimal. Excellent book, would recommend.

A depression era supernatural tale full of twists you won’t see coming. The angst, suspense, and secrets make this a book you’ll want to read over and over. Themes of good vs evil, the human condition, and the power of kindness resonate throughout the story to leave the reader deep in thought. This will be one I recommend to everyone! The narrator absolutely brought this story to life.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book but was very pleasantly surprised! The characters are complex yet relatable in an unexpected way. The harsh time period of the dustbowl is contrasted perfectly with the love endures undertone. The plot was well thought out and the historical elements of this book really pulled at my heartstrings! I wondered constantly where this story would go, and the magical realism had me questioning how everything play out in the end. I wouldn’t have necessarily guessed that this specific time period and magical realism would pair nicely, but this book was powerful and heartwarming. I found myself thinking of two other greats after finishing this book, The Four Winds and The Green Mile. Although very different, the raw emotion driven by my compassion for the characters, and the thought provoking storyline really got me especially at a few specific parts.

The narrator did a wonderful job navigating through this story. The little details and twists (especially towards the end) were so well done. This was my first book by this author but surely won’t be the last. Wonderful! I would like to thank NetGalley, the author J.H. (James) Markert, and the publisher for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Rarely do I give five stars but I really enjoyed this audiobook and will surely be sharing it with others whom I know will enjoy it as well!

The cover of this book is beautiful and honestly, that is what caught my attention on NetGalley. When I read the description, it mentioned magic so immediately I had to request it, because duh!

The book starts when Jeremiah escapes the electric chair due to a tornado hitting the prison. He was convicted of murdering 4 people and now he returns to his hometown of Nowhere, Oklahoma as a fugitive to have a reckoning with his brother. When he gets to town, it has been devastated by the dustbowl, and we learn that he is actually a good person.

The story follows, the twin brothers, Jeremiah and Josiah, their father and Josiah‘s wife, Ellen. Jeremiah also picked up a slightly strange boy on his way back to town as the weather continues to beat down the town, dirt makes everyone mean, and then they start to give up on living.

The writing is atmospheric and visceral, and the characters are gritty and real. The story combines fate, magic, and hope in a very powerful way. This was my first book by Markert and it will not be my last! Never thought I’d love a book about the depression but I loved the themes of hard work and decency throughout this book.

I was not prepared for how much this book brings out the feels.

It has such a depressing premise. A convicted murderer survives his execution and escapes. The Depression and dust bowl are severely impacting a small town. Times are so tough that a child with special needs is up for sale by his family who can’t take care of him.

The threads of forgiveness, endurance, mental health, & community really shines through- despite the mayhem that surrounds them. I ended the book with a smile on my face and it’s going straight to my favorites shelf.

Dnf at 52%

I‘ve been debating with myself about dnfing this and I do it with a heavy heart.

First of all thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc audiobook!
The narrator David Bendena has such a perfect voice for this story and it was a treat listening to him!

Up until this point the story was also interesting, although it is not something I would usually read! For the plot alone I might’ve kept listening to the end as it was interesting and well written, as were the characters. They felt very real and fleshed out.

However, the relationship with Jeremiah, Josiah, Ellen and now Rose has become a bit too messy for me. It is not fully a love triangle but it does kind of feel like one (or two now I guess) and that’s just the kind of thing that always makes me drop books because it makes me so uncomfortable.
I‘ve thought about it for a while, because I feel so bad dnfing this, but I just can’t bring myself to continue listening right now.

I would still rate this 3⭐️ and recommend other people give this a try because it was otherwise good, I just can’t really like it as much as it deserves and that’s on me, not the author.
I‘m terribly sorry for not being able to provide more for this feedback!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💚 I loved the not to subtle nod to the fact that the land was fighting back against the people that abused it for so long.
💚 I loved the character development between characters when things were falling apart and through the process of trying to learn, grow, and heal.
💚 I loved the character that was not supposed to amount to anything be the glue that held the town together.
💚 I loved the resolution

This was an interesting read to me, because all throughout, I never actually knew if I liked this book (personal preference, not a fault of the writing). I definitely knew there were important themes that I admired. I found myself compelled to keep reading, driven by the plot and intriguing characters. At the end of the day, I’m glad I read this book. This was not my preferred sense of place in a book and I learned about myself that that does matter to be as a reader. Lol