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Dustwalker
A SYNTH SEARCHING FOR PURPOSE…
Walk. Scavenge. Destroy. Trade. A simple cycle that’s suited Ronin for one hundred and eighty-five years. With no clear grasp of his programming, the barren wasteland known as The Dust offers him purpose, a place where his armored undercasing, amped-up processors, and advanced optics can be put to use. The ramshackle towns on the edges of the waste serve merely as resupply stations between increasingly long treks. But one night — one human woman — makes him question everything.
A WOMAN WHO BRINGS HIM TO LIFE…
Lara Brooks struggles to survive under the strict rules imposed by the bots in Cheyenne. With her sister missing, she’s been on her own for weeks, and fears the worst. Her only hope comes from Ronin, a bot she catches spying on her. He promises to provide for Lara and search for her sister. All she has to do is dance. It should be easy; she’s done it before. But the longer she spends with Ronin, the harder it is to see him as just another bot.
A SANCTUARY HIDING DARK SECRETS…
In a city where humans are relegated to live in squalor, Ronin discovers a threat greater than any in the Dust — Warlord, Cheyenne’s tyrannical leader. When Ronin ignores the rules, he unwittingly puts Lara in danger. Warlord is as intolerant of disrespect as he is of mankind.
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Warning: This book contains foul language, explicit sexual content, and violence and is intended for mature readers only.
Walk. Scavenge. Destroy. Trade. A simple cycle that’s suited Ronin for one hundred and eighty-five years. With no clear grasp of his programming, the barren wasteland known as The Dust offers him purpose, a place where his armored undercasing, amped-up processors, and advanced optics can be put to use. The ramshackle towns on the edges of the waste serve merely as resupply stations between increasingly long treks. But one night — one human woman — makes him question everything.
A WOMAN WHO BRINGS HIM TO LIFE…
Lara Brooks struggles to survive under the strict rules imposed by the bots in Cheyenne. With her sister missing, she’s been on her own for weeks, and fears the worst. Her only hope comes from Ronin, a bot she catches spying on her. He promises to provide for Lara and search for her sister. All she has to do is dance. It should be easy; she’s done it before. But the longer she spends with Ronin, the harder it is to see him as just another bot.
A SANCTUARY HIDING DARK SECRETS…
In a city where humans are relegated to live in squalor, Ronin discovers a threat greater than any in the Dust — Warlord, Cheyenne’s tyrannical leader. When Ronin ignores the rules, he unwittingly puts Lara in danger. Warlord is as intolerant of disrespect as he is of mankind.
---------------------------------------------------
Warning: This book contains foul language, explicit sexual content, and violence and is intended for mature readers only.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2017
737 people are currently reading
5105 people want to read
About the author
Tiffany Roberts
51 books5,055 followersTiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert Freund, a husband and wife writing duo. Tiffany was born and bred in Idaho, and Robert was a native of New York City before moving across the country to be with her. The two have always shared a passion for reading and writing, and it was their dream to combine their mighty powers to create the sorts of books they want to read. They write character driven sci-fi and fantasy romance, creating happily-ever-afters for the alien and unknown.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 735 reviews
January 11, 2025
“I will love you even after darkness takes me,” he said, softly.
This story has a special place in my heart.
On this most recent re-read, I found the fmc, Lara, getting on my nerves. It’s like she’s a caricature of a wannabe, bad girl. It feels forced.
Ronin studies her behavior to find out why her moods fluctuate so wildly, and I found myself just as confused as he was. The juxtaposition of his calm, computing rationale, and her immature, brash emotional outbursts make it a frustrating beginning. Keep going!
The overall theme of this story is beautifully done.
Was that the purpose of life? Was it simply a transient state between creation and destruction, birth and death, existence and nonexistence?
I still can’t help but sob at this ending. It is heartbreaking, but perfection.
Dystopian/apocalyptic
Futuristic North America
Android/synthetic man
Human woman
Survival
Graphic violence
Off page SA
HEA - into old age
*****
I tend to inhale post-apocalyptic stories. I think it's a craving to understand the deeper meaning of humanity. On a rare occasion, I will find some small answers in a story like this one. You wouldn't think a book with this cheesy cover would have some spiritually deep moments, but it does.
That epilogue broke me.
This story has a special place in my heart.
On this most recent re-read, I found the fmc, Lara, getting on my nerves. It’s like she’s a caricature of a wannabe, bad girl. It feels forced.
Ronin studies her behavior to find out why her moods fluctuate so wildly, and I found myself just as confused as he was. The juxtaposition of his calm, computing rationale, and her immature, brash emotional outbursts make it a frustrating beginning. Keep going!
The overall theme of this story is beautifully done.
Was that the purpose of life? Was it simply a transient state between creation and destruction, birth and death, existence and nonexistence?
I still can’t help but sob at this ending. It is heartbreaking, but perfection.
Dystopian/apocalyptic
Futuristic North America
Android/synthetic man
Human woman
Survival
Graphic violence
Off page SA
HEA - into old age
*****
I tend to inhale post-apocalyptic stories. I think it's a craving to understand the deeper meaning of humanity. On a rare occasion, I will find some small answers in a story like this one. You wouldn't think a book with this cheesy cover would have some spiritually deep moments, but it does.
That epilogue broke me.
July 24, 2017
This is the most romantic cyborg novel I have ever read. And I have read 436 science fiction romance books in the past six years.
The husband-wife writing team of Tiffany Roberts has juxtaposed poetry of emotion with a decimated and dangerous post-apocalyptic world. Their talent at taking an unfeeling, emotionless Bot and turning him into one of the most eloquently romantic heroes I've read in any type of romance genre is impressive.
Here's the story. A synth named Ronin wanders The Dust of the former United States, scavenging for any usable salvage and selling it to the Bot community that controls a core part of what used to be Cheyenne, Wyoming. Humans live in squalor outside the wall of the pristine Bot settlement, living and dying at the whim of Warlord and his mercenary Bots. One day Ronin sees Lara Brooks weaving and swaying in dance in the privacy of her hovel, and his existence is forever changed. This is the beginning of his fascination, obsession and eventual adoration of this human who has endured deprivation and abuse (trigger warning), yet still manages to care for her fellow human beings and see the light and beauty beyond The Dust. She isn't perfect; she has a temper and is stubborn and willful. She occasionally whines and complains. I was holding my breath a few times, thinking she might head into too-stupid-to-live territory, but common sense pulled her back each time. Lara's sense of right and wrong and her bravery become the dramatic lynch pins of the story.
Everything in between is about the developing romance between Ronin and Lara. And it is heartfelt and sexy and blossoms into a love for the ages. This couple spends a considerable amount of time on page together, and I loved it. Synth Ronin is actually very puzzled at the illogical obsession he has for Lara. I loved the Bot-speak, and how he assessed and interpreted responses based on his synth body and processors. "He longed to touch her so he could experience her through a different sensory input." Snippets of his emerging possessive alpha behavior enliven the romantic back and forth.
There is intentional, ironic Bot humor, too. “What’s running through that head of yours?” “Nothing,” he replied. “My central processing unit and data storage are located in my torso.”
Plus, Bot sex is really hot and sensual. "He held himself over her, not yet withdrawing. After crossing into the White, her warmth and softness was comforting, a tether back to reality as much as it was a reminder of their shared pleasure."
Themes abound, related to tolerance, medical ethics, AI controversy, nuclear detente and more. How The Dust came to be is explored, to some degree. A lot of this book is about going with your gut - whether in love or danger or revolution. Instinct and guilt are powerful motivators, and several secondary characters such as Rodriguez, Newton and Gary get their moments in the spotlight.
My one criticism of this book is that it is overly detailed along the time line. Readers don't need to know about every meal and how many times Lara looked out the window to the park. Perhaps some scenes could have been eliminated or streamlined. However, this complaint was mainly in the first half of the book. By the second half, I was effortlessly absorbed. And by the exquisite, emotional epilogue I was crying.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited subscription.
The husband-wife writing team of Tiffany Roberts has juxtaposed poetry of emotion with a decimated and dangerous post-apocalyptic world. Their talent at taking an unfeeling, emotionless Bot and turning him into one of the most eloquently romantic heroes I've read in any type of romance genre is impressive.
Here's the story. A synth named Ronin wanders The Dust of the former United States, scavenging for any usable salvage and selling it to the Bot community that controls a core part of what used to be Cheyenne, Wyoming. Humans live in squalor outside the wall of the pristine Bot settlement, living and dying at the whim of Warlord and his mercenary Bots. One day Ronin sees Lara Brooks weaving and swaying in dance in the privacy of her hovel, and his existence is forever changed. This is the beginning of his fascination, obsession and eventual adoration of this human who has endured deprivation and abuse (trigger warning), yet still manages to care for her fellow human beings and see the light and beauty beyond The Dust. She isn't perfect; she has a temper and is stubborn and willful. She occasionally whines and complains. I was holding my breath a few times, thinking she might head into too-stupid-to-live territory, but common sense pulled her back each time. Lara's sense of right and wrong and her bravery become the dramatic lynch pins of the story.
Everything in between is about the developing romance between Ronin and Lara. And it is heartfelt and sexy and blossoms into a love for the ages. This couple spends a considerable amount of time on page together, and I loved it. Synth Ronin is actually very puzzled at the illogical obsession he has for Lara. I loved the Bot-speak, and how he assessed and interpreted responses based on his synth body and processors. "He longed to touch her so he could experience her through a different sensory input." Snippets of his emerging possessive alpha behavior enliven the romantic back and forth.
There is intentional, ironic Bot humor, too. “What’s running through that head of yours?” “Nothing,” he replied. “My central processing unit and data storage are located in my torso.”
Plus, Bot sex is really hot and sensual. "He held himself over her, not yet withdrawing. After crossing into the White, her warmth and softness was comforting, a tether back to reality as much as it was a reminder of their shared pleasure."
Themes abound, related to tolerance, medical ethics, AI controversy, nuclear detente and more. How The Dust came to be is explored, to some degree. A lot of this book is about going with your gut - whether in love or danger or revolution. Instinct and guilt are powerful motivators, and several secondary characters such as Rodriguez, Newton and Gary get their moments in the spotlight.
My one criticism of this book is that it is overly detailed along the time line. Readers don't need to know about every meal and how many times Lara looked out the window to the park. Perhaps some scenes could have been eliminated or streamlined. However, this complaint was mainly in the first half of the book. By the second half, I was effortlessly absorbed. And by the exquisite, emotional epilogue I was crying.
4.5 rounded to 5 stars.
Book source: Kindle Unlimited subscription.
December 3, 2020
Imagine my shock when I picked this book up thinking I'd get some light sexy robot smut and instead I got an epic, beautiful love story.
It ran me through the full range of emotions and by the end of it I'm not gonna lie I was a weeping mess which is not really a common occurrence for me (they were emotional happy tears)
The world building in this story is amazing, Tiffany Roberts paints such a crazy and scary new world where robots are cruel overlords, humans are reduced to nothing but grueling physical labour and cheap entertainment and because the world as we know it has been dead for over 200 years no one knows any different. Robots and humans don't coexist but live segregated with one offered luxury and comfort while the other live in slums.
There is an element of mystery to this book as the robot, Ronin who has been walking the earth for over 180 years has a corrupted memory and doesn't remember his time before the 'Black Out' and his reactivation but knows there must be more for him than just wandering the dust collecting scrap.
Lara, the human who he meets literally knows nothing of the world before it disappeared but all she knows is that robots are the enemy.
Their love story was simply wonderful and it raised the questions of, what makes someone human/living? Can a robot feel emotions and love?
If you want to be swept up in a love story that also has equal parts action and world building then I highly recommend this book.
It ran me through the full range of emotions and by the end of it I'm not gonna lie I was a weeping mess which is not really a common occurrence for me (they were emotional happy tears)
The world building in this story is amazing, Tiffany Roberts paints such a crazy and scary new world where robots are cruel overlords, humans are reduced to nothing but grueling physical labour and cheap entertainment and because the world as we know it has been dead for over 200 years no one knows any different. Robots and humans don't coexist but live segregated with one offered luxury and comfort while the other live in slums.
There is an element of mystery to this book as the robot, Ronin who has been walking the earth for over 180 years has a corrupted memory and doesn't remember his time before the 'Black Out' and his reactivation but knows there must be more for him than just wandering the dust collecting scrap.
Lara, the human who he meets literally knows nothing of the world before it disappeared but all she knows is that robots are the enemy.
Their love story was simply wonderful and it raised the questions of, what makes someone human/living? Can a robot feel emotions and love?
If you want to be swept up in a love story that also has equal parts action and world building then I highly recommend this book.
January 11, 2021
I loved it so much.
It wasn't my first book about sentient AI or synthetic humans, but it was definitely one of the good ones. Additionally, it was the most beautiful love story.
The authors created this broken world, where barely anyone remembered how it used to be 200 years before and what destroyed it. The pace of the plot was well balanced and the writing was so quietly beautiful, I wanted this book to be longer, just to enjoy it for a while more.
What does it mean to be human? What makes us feel what we feel and how do the feelings differ from person to person or from human to synth? What is our purpose in all this?
Those are some questions this books dealt with, while following a relationship between a human woman, Lara, and a synth man, Ronin; and I so enjoyed the ride!! It was not only romantic and just wonderful in so many ways, it was funny and heartwarming, I couldn't get enough.
Plus it was hot, had strong character development and was smartly written, so what's not to like.
I could say more, but I feel like nothing is going to be enough to show how much I loved it, so I'll just wait for my paper version to arrive and read it again.
It wasn't my first book about sentient AI or synthetic humans, but it was definitely one of the good ones. Additionally, it was the most beautiful love story.
The authors created this broken world, where barely anyone remembered how it used to be 200 years before and what destroyed it. The pace of the plot was well balanced and the writing was so quietly beautiful, I wanted this book to be longer, just to enjoy it for a while more.
What does it mean to be human? What makes us feel what we feel and how do the feelings differ from person to person or from human to synth? What is our purpose in all this?
Those are some questions this books dealt with, while following a relationship between a human woman, Lara, and a synth man, Ronin; and I so enjoyed the ride!! It was not only romantic and just wonderful in so many ways, it was funny and heartwarming, I couldn't get enough.
Plus it was hot, had strong character development and was smartly written, so what's not to like.
I could say more, but I feel like nothing is going to be enough to show how much I loved it, so I'll just wait for my paper version to arrive and read it again.
May 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ An pretty enjoyable audioboook
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ sci-fi romance
✨ post apocalyptic earth
✨ human FMC and robot MMC
✨ forbidden romance
✨ evil robot warlord
✨ intriguing world building
✨ 2.5/5 🌶️
✨ HEA
✨ TW: r@pe (flashback), poverty, starvation, violence, murder of child, gore, mutilation, dismemberment, genocide
My Thoughts:
First, I want to say the narrators were fantastic. From the different voices to inflection to pacing they did wonderful.
The story is actually very interesting, especially if you’re a fan of dystopia/apocalyptic science fiction stories. The world building was thorough and well-done. The writing is incredibly vivid and detailed so you really can imagine everything. So much so that it was a bit hard to take in because certain situations were so graphic.
I liked the MCs, Ronin and Lara, but Ronin was my favorite. I loved his POV the most. His journey to fully gaining humanity was interesting and endearing while Lara’s journey of empowerment and learning to trust was well deserved.
The first part was really exciting since the world was being explored and the romance was developing, but they do get together relatively quickly, even though Lara has a massive fear or robots. And once they’re together, it did get a little boring until the end aka the final battle. But since I was listening while driving, I wasn't too bothered. But I think if I was reading this on my kindle, I would have skimmed.
My one qualm towards the end is Lara demanding to go into the crossfire during the battle was a bit ridiculous and only done to make her more badass than she really would be, but I guess she deserved to exact some revenge on Warlord.
The epilogue is so moving I legit had tears in my eyes. 😭 It was the perfect happy ending to a story that had such a tragic and hopeless beginning.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ sci-fi romance
✨ post apocalyptic earth
✨ human FMC and robot MMC
✨ forbidden romance
✨ evil robot warlord
✨ intriguing world building
✨ 2.5/5 🌶️
✨ HEA
✨ TW: r@pe (flashback), poverty, starvation, violence, murder of child, gore, mutilation, dismemberment, genocide
My Thoughts:
First, I want to say the narrators were fantastic. From the different voices to inflection to pacing they did wonderful.
The story is actually very interesting, especially if you’re a fan of dystopia/apocalyptic science fiction stories. The world building was thorough and well-done. The writing is incredibly vivid and detailed so you really can imagine everything. So much so that it was a bit hard to take in because certain situations were so graphic.
I liked the MCs, Ronin and Lara, but Ronin was my favorite. I loved his POV the most. His journey to fully gaining humanity was interesting and endearing while Lara’s journey of empowerment and learning to trust was well deserved.
The first part was really exciting since the world was being explored and the romance was developing, but they do get together relatively quickly, even though Lara has a massive fear or robots. And once they’re together, it did get a little boring until the end aka the final battle. But since I was listening while driving, I wasn't too bothered. But I think if I was reading this on my kindle, I would have skimmed.
My one qualm towards the end is Lara demanding to go into the crossfire during the battle was a bit ridiculous and only done to make her more badass than she really would be, but I guess she deserved to exact some revenge on Warlord.
The epilogue is so moving I legit had tears in my eyes. 😭 It was the perfect happy ending to a story that had such a tragic and hopeless beginning.
August 9, 2017
5 Amo ergo sum: I need a Ronin in my life stars
I am not sure I can write the review this book deserves at the moment. Too many distractions, and I need to switch off a bit actually. The problem is, I loved this little thing with a fierceness I didn't expect, and it hurt so much when I finished it I got angry at the whole damn world, scolding tears keeping me awake next to my kids. Silly, really, true nonetheless.
In a way it is a classical sci-fi storyline: post-nuclear war dystopian future, humanity is decimanted and scattered in few very isolated places, scrapping and scavanging. In Cheyenne humans live in favelas, practically enslaved to robots who leave in a still pristine part of the city, lead by the sadistic scarfaced Warlord. In the midst of this misery, abjection, violence and hopelessness, an absolutely epic love will develop between young human Lara and Ronin, a synthetic creature, perfectly humanoid with additional war-apt gearing.
I don't want to spoil the plot, the important twists were unexpected and the explanations to some crucial points surprising and hard to hear at the same time, the world building is fabulous, the sense of grit and despair oozing from every page. Some parts were more descriptive than others but I could have read about this world forever. The reality level of human reactions when faced with constant fear of death and/or maiming, severe scarcity of food and water and any other aid, total absence of medical care, with the inevitable betrayals, was stunning and all in a very easy, uncomplicated style. Every single character, human or artificial, was alive and believable. The villain Warlord had a more complex background for his blind hatred.
Lara slowly changed from some sort of feral cat, set in hateful ways due to a lifetime of bot oppression and rape, into a dedicated, devoted, passionate, justice-seeker, selfless woman, a leader even, her need to save others like a straight arrow the whole time, and thank god for that, she had some asinine and mean reactions in the beginning that made me cringe. The way she moves from seeing Ronin as a thing - a it - to a man, her man, was magical to follow, her internal battle between unexpected attraction and learned hatred totally convincing. Once she opened her heart to him, all doubts and barriers disappeared. Lust for life and fairness, in that world, is a very precious thing. My heart, though, fell hard for Ronin.
Everything about him is fascinating, he's probably one of the most humane characters I've encountered in a looooooong while. An immortal being willingly facing the quasi-sure death out in the Dust, intellectually more taken by finding his own purpose than worried about his own safety, with a military program but allergic to just following orders. His self-discovery journey, the final revelation of where he came from and how he had been created, his constant ruminations/examinations on life and its ultimate sense, on what makes you alive, on his own feelings and the reality of them - fascination, lust, care, protection, possessiveness, need, undying love - from their first seeds to their full bloom is, quite simply, heartwrenching and heartmelting. His patience, control and will to learn, apologise even when he doesn't need to, his respect for Lara's feelings and choices over his own desire or fears are just some of the reasons why I adored him and felt for/with him till the very last word. He's a pained hero, considerate, tender, compassionate, strong, worried about his own and his specie's war crimes, about his immortality in the face of his human, fragile partner.
The sex scenes are so charged with unadulterated desire, surprise, discovery, emotion, raw need and pleasure they are scorching even if not overly graphic. The authors are so consistent in the description of his internal diagnostics and physical reactions you never lose sight of his mechanical body and synthetic skin, while making him one of the most romantic, and utterly desirable, male leads ever. And for once, is the male lead who finds his ultimate purpose and reason to be in his love for the partner. Old-fashioned or not, it was poignant to read and intense.
There are a few little errors throughout the book, but who cares when the story is so full of social commentary on politics, war, science, progress creating its own monsters, fear of what's different, genetics, memory, belonging vs selfishness, melting-pots societies, tyranny, revolutions, even bot humour and so much more? The end came too suddenly for me. After so much struggling and loss, I just needed a little bit more of Lara and Ronin, whose hearts are unaffected by time or physical changes.
No, not enough time to love you, you kept your promise to stay together in the darkness.
I am not sure I can write the review this book deserves at the moment. Too many distractions, and I need to switch off a bit actually. The problem is, I loved this little thing with a fierceness I didn't expect, and it hurt so much when I finished it I got angry at the whole damn world, scolding tears keeping me awake next to my kids. Silly, really, true nonetheless.
In a way it is a classical sci-fi storyline: post-nuclear war dystopian future, humanity is decimanted and scattered in few very isolated places, scrapping and scavanging. In Cheyenne humans live in favelas, practically enslaved to robots who leave in a still pristine part of the city, lead by the sadistic scarfaced Warlord. In the midst of this misery, abjection, violence and hopelessness, an absolutely epic love will develop between young human Lara and Ronin, a synthetic creature, perfectly humanoid with additional war-apt gearing.
I don't want to spoil the plot, the important twists were unexpected and the explanations to some crucial points surprising and hard to hear at the same time, the world building is fabulous, the sense of grit and despair oozing from every page. Some parts were more descriptive than others but I could have read about this world forever. The reality level of human reactions when faced with constant fear of death and/or maiming, severe scarcity of food and water and any other aid, total absence of medical care, with the inevitable betrayals, was stunning and all in a very easy, uncomplicated style. Every single character, human or artificial, was alive and believable. The villain Warlord had a more complex background for his blind hatred.
Lara slowly changed from some sort of feral cat, set in hateful ways due to a lifetime of bot oppression and rape, into a dedicated, devoted, passionate, justice-seeker, selfless woman, a leader even, her need to save others like a straight arrow the whole time, and thank god for that, she had some asinine and mean reactions in the beginning that made me cringe. The way she moves from seeing Ronin as a thing - a it - to a man, her man, was magical to follow, her internal battle between unexpected attraction and learned hatred totally convincing. Once she opened her heart to him, all doubts and barriers disappeared. Lust for life and fairness, in that world, is a very precious thing. My heart, though, fell hard for Ronin.
Everything about him is fascinating, he's probably one of the most humane characters I've encountered in a looooooong while. An immortal being willingly facing the quasi-sure death out in the Dust, intellectually more taken by finding his own purpose than worried about his own safety, with a military program but allergic to just following orders. His self-discovery journey, the final revelation of where he came from and how he had been created, his constant ruminations/examinations on life and its ultimate sense, on what makes you alive, on his own feelings and the reality of them - fascination, lust, care, protection, possessiveness, need, undying love - from their first seeds to their full bloom is, quite simply, heartwrenching and heartmelting. His patience, control and will to learn, apologise even when he doesn't need to, his respect for Lara's feelings and choices over his own desire or fears are just some of the reasons why I adored him and felt for/with him till the very last word. He's a pained hero, considerate, tender, compassionate, strong, worried about his own and his specie's war crimes, about his immortality in the face of his human, fragile partner.
The sex scenes are so charged with unadulterated desire, surprise, discovery, emotion, raw need and pleasure they are scorching even if not overly graphic. The authors are so consistent in the description of his internal diagnostics and physical reactions you never lose sight of his mechanical body and synthetic skin, while making him one of the most romantic, and utterly desirable, male leads ever. And for once, is the male lead who finds his ultimate purpose and reason to be in his love for the partner. Old-fashioned or not, it was poignant to read and intense.
There are a few little errors throughout the book, but who cares when the story is so full of social commentary on politics, war, science, progress creating its own monsters, fear of what's different, genetics, memory, belonging vs selfishness, melting-pots societies, tyranny, revolutions, even bot humour and so much more? The end came too suddenly for me. After so much struggling and loss, I just needed a little bit more of Lara and Ronin, whose hearts are unaffected by time or physical changes.
No, not enough time to love you, you kept your promise to stay together in the darkness.
February 18, 2024
Different but good!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💜💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😊😘😟🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Lara - she lives in Cheyenne alone since her sister Tabitha disappeared months ago. She is deathly afraid of the bots that work for the leader Warlord and live in the center of the city. She scavenges outside the city to find old metal and plastic to sell for food money. Though the family that has been helping her by selling her finds at market can no longer help her, so she is now truly on her own.
The Hero: Ronin - he is a synth (cyborg) and a dustwalker. Outside Cheyenne, the dust has taken over everything and destroyed so much. Everything is sandblasted and desolate, though as a dustwalker, he can travel from town to town and farther out than many humans to scavenge places most don’t get to, so he often returns with more goods than others.
The Story: It has been 185 years since the blackout and most of the old world has been destroyed and forgotten. Warlord and his bots reign supreme in Cheyenne and have strict rules to be followed by all. Ronin comes into town and is walking through the outskirts in the shantytown where humans lived, when he sees Lara dancing inside her meager dwelling. He is entranced by her, though when she sees him watching her, she is scared because she sees him as a bot.
I like that Lara overcomes her fear and gets to know Ronin until she sees him as more of a person. The romance between them is slow burn, but I really liked the progression and how they vow to protect each other. They eventually decide to leave Cheyenne together but have obstacles along the way. This is a very different story than any I have read before, but it kept my attention, and I did really like the characters.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner. Hollie Jackson is a very good narrator and though she sounds a bit too old for Lara, I am used to her narration from other books and like her as a narrator. Ryan Turner doesn’t have as deep as a voice as I would like, but he does a good job.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙❤️💜💚
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😊😘😟🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Lara - she lives in Cheyenne alone since her sister Tabitha disappeared months ago. She is deathly afraid of the bots that work for the leader Warlord and live in the center of the city. She scavenges outside the city to find old metal and plastic to sell for food money. Though the family that has been helping her by selling her finds at market can no longer help her, so she is now truly on her own.
The Hero: Ronin - he is a synth (cyborg) and a dustwalker. Outside Cheyenne, the dust has taken over everything and destroyed so much. Everything is sandblasted and desolate, though as a dustwalker, he can travel from town to town and farther out than many humans to scavenge places most don’t get to, so he often returns with more goods than others.
The Story: It has been 185 years since the blackout and most of the old world has been destroyed and forgotten. Warlord and his bots reign supreme in Cheyenne and have strict rules to be followed by all. Ronin comes into town and is walking through the outskirts in the shantytown where humans lived, when he sees Lara dancing inside her meager dwelling. He is entranced by her, though when she sees him watching her, she is scared because she sees him as a bot.
I like that Lara overcomes her fear and gets to know Ronin until she sees him as more of a person. The romance between them is slow burn, but I really liked the progression and how they vow to protect each other. They eventually decide to leave Cheyenne together but have obstacles along the way. This is a very different story than any I have read before, but it kept my attention, and I did really like the characters.
This audiobook was done in dual points of view via dual narration. It was narrated by Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner. Hollie Jackson is a very good narrator and though she sounds a bit too old for Lara, I am used to her narration from other books and like her as a narrator. Ryan Turner doesn’t have as deep as a voice as I would like, but he does a good job.
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December 15, 2024
Yes, I’m crying over the ending of an apocalyptic botmance. Whatever.
*****
My first robot romance! Curious how everything’s going to…work 🤖💋🤭 BR with Elle Jae 🫶
*****
My first robot romance! Curious how everything’s going to…work 🤖💋🤭 BR with Elle Jae 🫶
September 9, 2019
I have read several books by Tiffany Roberts (Tiffany Roberts is the pseudonym for Tiffany and Robert Freund) and they were all good stories and entertaining mostly 4 Star reading but the duo has hit it out of the park with this one.
I was concerned after reading a few chapters that this was going to be yet another depressing dystopian story which I tend to hate, after a couple more chapters I was really getting to hate our heroine as well, BUT then slowly things started turning around, there was light, warmth and understanding …. And above all adventure and danger.
This story takes us on a long journey, at one point I was sure the story was ending and I was somewhere around the 50% mark. The story takes off in a new direction more than once but this is really a romance/fairy tale/tragedy all wrapped up together wonderfully. Sadly, if I try to tell you more about how wonderful it was I would have to give you things that you need to find out for yourself as a reader.
This is going to be an emotionally charged story you will remember years later, in addition to all the above mentioned things throw in a bit of Pinocchio vibe on a much deeper level to just about cover all bases this book seems to touch on.
Bottom Line: Get this book, it is free on KindleUnlimited if not then buy it, if not then steal it because you NEED to read this book. 5 Stars for a book you never wanted to end.
I was concerned after reading a few chapters that this was going to be yet another depressing dystopian story which I tend to hate, after a couple more chapters I was really getting to hate our heroine as well, BUT then slowly things started turning around, there was light, warmth and understanding …. And above all adventure and danger.
This story takes us on a long journey, at one point I was sure the story was ending and I was somewhere around the 50% mark. The story takes off in a new direction more than once but this is really a romance/fairy tale/tragedy all wrapped up together wonderfully. Sadly, if I try to tell you more about how wonderful it was I would have to give you things that you need to find out for yourself as a reader.
This is going to be an emotionally charged story you will remember years later, in addition to all the above mentioned things throw in a bit of Pinocchio vibe on a much deeper level to just about cover all bases this book seems to touch on.
Bottom Line: Get this book, it is free on KindleUnlimited if not then buy it, if not then steal it because you NEED to read this book. 5 Stars for a book you never wanted to end.
July 24, 2017
I recently wrote a mini review for Tiffany Robert’s Dustwalker. I didn’t do it justice. The novel’s love story reached out an grabbed my heart. It remains there, firmly entrenched. It’s that good.
Unlike so many dystopian novels, Dustwalker is filled with hope, as well as with characters I’d love to meet again and again. The raw setting is so carefully crafted, the reader becomes immersed in a world of dust and death, where only the few find surcease from the brutal conditions of a planet soured by war.
Hope—the first glimmer comes with the marvelous Ronin, a robot of many parts. He brings a fresh dawn to Lara, a beaten-down human woman with the spirit of a warrior and the grace of a Misty Copeland. Dance, of all things, brings them together, and while the word tends to be overused, I’ll call their love story epic.
Don’t walk, but run to read Dustwalker.
Unlike so many dystopian novels, Dustwalker is filled with hope, as well as with characters I’d love to meet again and again. The raw setting is so carefully crafted, the reader becomes immersed in a world of dust and death, where only the few find surcease from the brutal conditions of a planet soured by war.
Hope—the first glimmer comes with the marvelous Ronin, a robot of many parts. He brings a fresh dawn to Lara, a beaten-down human woman with the spirit of a warrior and the grace of a Misty Copeland. Dance, of all things, brings them together, and while the word tends to be overused, I’ll call their love story epic.
Don’t walk, but run to read Dustwalker.
March 14, 2022
I beg that cover is photoshopped because that gal looks mighty uncomfortable 🤌🏻
I might be exclusively reading romance, but I’m not a romantic. And that becomes extremely prominent when I come across instalove stories like this, bc when I’m supposed to be aww I’m just eww
This heroine, let me just… omfg. If I was Ronin, I would've just kept on sedating her with laudanum forever. "Fiery and wild redhead" = whiny with a bad attitude
Laura: we need to leave!!! NOW!! I'm in danger!!
Ronin: we need to gather supplies, you won't manage walking so many days without a proper amount of food and water
Laura: idgaf I'm not weak let's fucking leave
Laura 2 sec later: I'm exhausted you can't expect me to walk this much
This is Laura unless that wasn't clear
I also realized I like my men more psycho and aggressive. You know when someone hurt the heroine really bad in the past and the guy runs out like a raging storm to get revenge, and we're rolling our eyes bc this mf is stupid and acts like a child. Yeah, that used to be my reaction. Until this guy came and was all mature and calm and just comforting. Like…I'm so toxic I'm getting icks from good guys now
Anyways I don't wanna rain on anyone's parade, this book has great reviews and I haven't had a 5-star read since September so it's probably just ✨me being the drama✨
I might be exclusively reading romance, but I’m not a romantic. And that becomes extremely prominent when I come across instalove stories like this, bc when I’m supposed to be aww I’m just eww
This heroine, let me just… omfg. If I was Ronin, I would've just kept on sedating her with laudanum forever. "Fiery and wild redhead" = whiny with a bad attitude
Laura: we need to leave!!! NOW!! I'm in danger!!
Ronin: we need to gather supplies, you won't manage walking so many days without a proper amount of food and water
Laura: idgaf I'm not weak let's fucking leave
Laura 2 sec later: I'm exhausted you can't expect me to walk this much
This is Laura unless that wasn't clear
I also realized I like my men more psycho and aggressive. You know when someone hurt the heroine really bad in the past and the guy runs out like a raging storm to get revenge, and we're rolling our eyes bc this mf is stupid and acts like a child. Yeah, that used to be my reaction. Until this guy came and was all mature and calm and just comforting. Like…
Anyways I don't wanna rain on anyone's parade, this book has great reviews and I haven't had a 5-star read since September so it's probably just ✨me being the drama✨
July 19, 2017
Humanity had to do it. We had to have artificial intelligence, robots and the like to make our lives “better.” What happens when our own creations become our own worst nightmares? Does humanity become obsolete, a burden? What happened after The Dark?
The dynamic writing duo that make up Tiffany Roberts has done it, again! Enter the dystopian, post-apocalyptic world of DUSTWALKER and witness a future where humans are excess baggage to be tolerated and relegated to squalor in a world where the land has been decimated and only rare outposts thrive, one in particular, Cheyenne, is under the harsh rule of the Warlord, a robotic being bent on the subjugation of humanity and his complete rule over all. But out there, in the unknown, beyond the wasteland called the Dust is there a chance for more?
Lara has struggled to exist as a human in Cheyenne, a female alone, tough and independent, because no one is going to look out for her until she meets Ronin. Ronin is a Dustwalker, a robot made long ago, warrior tough, but human in his appearance, a synth whose memory unit was damaged long ago when the Dark came. Together Lara and Ronin make an unlikely pair, allies that have each other’s backs and it is that alliance that could mean Lara’s torture and death at the hands of the Warlord.
Team Tiffany have done an incredible job of building a world of the future that could be seen as our worst nightmare, our worst “what if” scenario and turned it into something believable, somewhere alive. Their handling of Ronin’s reactions, functions and even his own self-doubt brilliantly, assigning him humanity with caveats, he doesn’t “see’ something, his optics adjust. He doesn’t “run,” his mechanics allows for faster movement, uneven terrain and he shouldn’t “feel” emotions, but…who knew he would come across Lara?
Lara is one tough woman who has faced loss, and pulled herself up and gone on to survive. Definitely NOT a fan of bots, no one is more amazed at the interaction between her and Ronin than she.
An incredible tale, from the first page to the last! This one is a dystopian gem where one robot almost becomes the Pinocchio of science fiction, almost…Highly recommended! Would make an excellent foundation for a series!
I received an ARC edition from Tiffany Roberts in exchange for my honest and voluntary review!
Publication Date: July 15, 2017
Publisher: Tiffany Roberts
Genre: Cyberpunk | Dystopian
Print Length: 467 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
The dynamic writing duo that make up Tiffany Roberts has done it, again! Enter the dystopian, post-apocalyptic world of DUSTWALKER and witness a future where humans are excess baggage to be tolerated and relegated to squalor in a world where the land has been decimated and only rare outposts thrive, one in particular, Cheyenne, is under the harsh rule of the Warlord, a robotic being bent on the subjugation of humanity and his complete rule over all. But out there, in the unknown, beyond the wasteland called the Dust is there a chance for more?
Lara has struggled to exist as a human in Cheyenne, a female alone, tough and independent, because no one is going to look out for her until she meets Ronin. Ronin is a Dustwalker, a robot made long ago, warrior tough, but human in his appearance, a synth whose memory unit was damaged long ago when the Dark came. Together Lara and Ronin make an unlikely pair, allies that have each other’s backs and it is that alliance that could mean Lara’s torture and death at the hands of the Warlord.
Team Tiffany have done an incredible job of building a world of the future that could be seen as our worst nightmare, our worst “what if” scenario and turned it into something believable, somewhere alive. Their handling of Ronin’s reactions, functions and even his own self-doubt brilliantly, assigning him humanity with caveats, he doesn’t “see’ something, his optics adjust. He doesn’t “run,” his mechanics allows for faster movement, uneven terrain and he shouldn’t “feel” emotions, but…who knew he would come across Lara?
Lara is one tough woman who has faced loss, and pulled herself up and gone on to survive. Definitely NOT a fan of bots, no one is more amazed at the interaction between her and Ronin than she.
An incredible tale, from the first page to the last! This one is a dystopian gem where one robot almost becomes the Pinocchio of science fiction, almost…Highly recommended! Would make an excellent foundation for a series!
I received an ARC edition from Tiffany Roberts in exchange for my honest and voluntary review!
Publication Date: July 15, 2017
Publisher: Tiffany Roberts
Genre: Cyberpunk | Dystopian
Print Length: 467 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 15, 2023
I actually picked this up by accident because I had it confused with Opal Reyne’s series that I saw on IG. It’s a sweet, beautiful at times love story between Cyborg Ronin and Lara a human trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
I liked both characters; they had a lot of personal growth and depth. Ronin is a synth, an android made to mimic a person as closely as possible. He exists sort of on autopilot until he sees Lara dancing and feels something for the first time ever. Lara is a survivor; she lives on the fringes trying to salvage/trade enough to get by. She was a bit much to take at times, (cliché “fiery redhead” quick to judge – a bit closed-minded), but she too grows and becomes more patient/accepting.
I don’t want to give too much away… it’s free on KU, and I’d recommend to sci-fi fans that enjoy complex worldbuilding and are patient enough for a slower burn--somewhat enemy to lover setup with a separate liberation side plot.
Bottom Line- I liked it a lot, it was just too slow at times for me to love it. Ronin was so romantic for a being discovering feelings for the first time. The epilogue is bittersweet. I’ve read a few books that used a similar formula (can’t say or it’d be a major spoiler) it’s not my favorite… I prefer a nice 10-15ish year update, but it does pack an emotional punch.
Triggers- Rape, murder, body mutilation, child and baby murder all discussed.
I liked both characters; they had a lot of personal growth and depth. Ronin is a synth, an android made to mimic a person as closely as possible. He exists sort of on autopilot until he sees Lara dancing and feels something for the first time ever. Lara is a survivor; she lives on the fringes trying to salvage/trade enough to get by. She was a bit much to take at times, (cliché “fiery redhead” quick to judge – a bit closed-minded), but she too grows and becomes more patient/accepting.
I don’t want to give too much away… it’s free on KU, and I’d recommend to sci-fi fans that enjoy complex worldbuilding and are patient enough for a slower burn--somewhat enemy to lover setup with a separate liberation side plot.
Bottom Line- I liked it a lot, it was just too slow at times for me to love it. Ronin was so romantic for a being discovering feelings for the first time. The epilogue is bittersweet. I’ve read a few books that used a similar formula (can’t say or it’d be a major spoiler) it’s not my favorite… I prefer a nice 10-15ish year update, but it does pack an emotional punch.
Triggers- Rape, murder, body mutilation, child and baby murder all discussed.
September 20, 2017
DNF 78%
One of the most used plots in romances is the worldly guy falling for the destitute girl. I have grown tired of that story because the rich guy is usually an overprotective jealous jerk and the woman is vibrant and incredibly beautiful yet no one else but our hero sees it. So I was very surprised I loved this book - until about 60%.
I will start with the good. The fact that Ronin is a synth (not human but programmed for higher functions than robot) makes it a refreshing take on a worn out storyline. He is caring, considerate and tries hard to understand Lara, who is a human. Lara grew up Cheyenne, where robots control every aspect of life and treat humans like pets at best and a nuisance at worse. She is poor but is also portrayed as vulnerable and strong. Because Ronin is a synth, all the inner musing, doubts a human PoV would give are replaced by mechanical descriptions and a pure attention to details. It's a way showing us how Ronin reacts instead of telling us. It worked.
Quite a few of my GR friends loved this book and I was ready to love it too. But it deteriorated when they start leaving their central location, Cheyenne. So now comes the bad. First, Lara, who was an ok character until now, turned hysterical every time she met people (or robots) who were better at surviving and lashed out about them not helping the humans in Cheyenne. SHE never helped anyone and, of all people, I would expect Lara to understand the scarcity of resources. Then, through Ronin's pondering, the authors went into a dull and cliche reflection about the cohabitation of robots and humans. Let me just say that this is no Asimov. I don't expect that level of intricacy, but it was FAR from interesting. So I stopped.
To summarize, this is an excellent book until the half-way point. The romance and questioning of the nature of emotions and consciousness were great. Then the authors got too ambitious. The book turned into a mix of adventure and pontification about technology. Sigh.
One of the most used plots in romances is the worldly guy falling for the destitute girl. I have grown tired of that story because the rich guy is usually an overprotective jealous jerk and the woman is vibrant and incredibly beautiful yet no one else but our hero sees it. So I was very surprised I loved this book - until about 60%.
I will start with the good. The fact that Ronin is a synth (not human but programmed for higher functions than robot) makes it a refreshing take on a worn out storyline. He is caring, considerate and tries hard to understand Lara, who is a human. Lara grew up Cheyenne, where robots control every aspect of life and treat humans like pets at best and a nuisance at worse. She is poor but is also portrayed as vulnerable and strong. Because Ronin is a synth, all the inner musing, doubts a human PoV would give are replaced by mechanical descriptions and a pure attention to details. It's a way showing us how Ronin reacts instead of telling us. It worked.
Quite a few of my GR friends loved this book and I was ready to love it too. But it deteriorated when they start leaving their central location, Cheyenne. So now comes the bad. First, Lara, who was an ok character until now, turned hysterical every time she met people (or robots) who were better at surviving and lashed out about them not helping the humans in Cheyenne. SHE never helped anyone and, of all people, I would expect Lara to understand the scarcity of resources. Then, through Ronin's pondering, the authors went into a dull and cliche reflection about the cohabitation of robots and humans. Let me just say that this is no Asimov. I don't expect that level of intricacy, but it was FAR from interesting. So I stopped.
To summarize, this is an excellent book until the half-way point. The romance and questioning of the nature of emotions and consciousness were great. Then the authors got too ambitious. The book turned into a mix of adventure and pontification about technology. Sigh.
December 12, 2020
"Do you believe in destiny, dustwalker? Logic says it's all just a game of probability, but for all these pieces to fall into place..."
On a normal day I'd say that I'm not one to believe in destiny, at least not in the way that we're meant to think of it. There's a romantic quality to the word that my cold, black heart turns its nose up at. But in the grander scheme of things, when you get philosophical about the whole concept, I suppose its almost inescapable. Countless books have attempted to examine this idea in depth, but only two of them have caught my attention. One is Speaker for the Dead, which is one of my favorite novels of all time. And the other is this book. Dustwalker.
The story is set about 150 years in the future where robots and humans inhabit an earth that has seen its fair share of devastation. Ronin, a bot who travels "the dust" as a scavenger, has spent his time trying to figure out his purpose. Lara, a human caught in the squalor of the city of Cheyenne, is missing her sister and trying desperately to survive each day under the thumb of Warlord - a bot who despises humans and is fixated on his own power.
Ronin sees Lara dancing one day and becomes intrigued, although he's confused as to why. A series of small circumstances lead them into each other's arms and eventually into events that end up changing the world as they know it.
"My thoughts follow strange paths when I'm with you, Lara."
"What do you mean? Like what?"
"Like what it means to be alive."
"What do you think it means?"
"I'm not sure. But I think I get a little closer, every moment I spend with you."
Ronin is such an amazing character. He assesses the world clinically and rationally... he's a robot, after all. His feelings for Lara confuse him, mainly because feelings in general confuse him. With her help, he slowly starts to see things deeper than his optics have ever seen them. He falls in love with her, unconditionally, and accepts his importance in the world beyond being a bot.
He's also kind of hilarious.
Lara shook her head and smirked. "Smart ass."
"My ass is, at best, of average intelligence."
And this gem.
"What's running through that head of yours?" she asked.
"Nothing. My central processing unit is located in my torso."
There is so much more to this story. I don't know how to do it justice, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone who decides to read it. And you should read it. There's more emotional depth than you'd ever imagine for a cyborg story. And the philosophical depth leads your mind in all kinds of interesting directions. Its strong, beautiful, tragic, and thought-provoking. At first I was shocked at how much I was enjoying it, and by the end I just... well, I was crying and a little overwhelmed with emotion.
I mean, look at me! I've written an entire review and haven't ONCE mentioned the hot robot sex! Which totally happens, yes. I'd go "into the white" with Ronin any day. That's what they call a robot orgasm, by the way. So, yeah. The more you know.
It's impossible for me to review books that I love, good grief. If this sounds even remotely like something you'd be interested in, do yourself a favor and give it a shot. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020!
February 18, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up because of the super sweet epilogue.
Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner do a fantastic job reading, taking turns with the alternating POVs of Ronin and Lara.
This wasn't what I was expecting but then this is also my first read by this author. The plot is full of conveniences and the dystopian world is decidedly small. But I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
It has a kind of Hollywood flair to it (as the villain points out in his monologue at the end, -snicker-).
In a dystopian future in and around Cheyenne (Wyoming?), Bots and Humans struggle to survive but keep themselves separate. Mostly they are separated because of the Warlord who runs Cheyenne.
Ronin is a synth, which is an android made to mimic a person as closely as possible. He, as almost all bots, doesn't remember his purpose and longs for the knowledge to fill a void in his soul. Then when he glimpses Lara dancing, he sees the life in her movements as though it is a thread leading to the knowledge he craves.
Lara, like all the other humans clinging to survival on the edges of Cheyenne, is feeling particularly bereft after the disappearance of her sister, and a thousand other disappointments conspiring to smother her hope for the future.
Ronin makes a pact with her that leads to a mutual appreciation that leads to a fairytale love and his complete devotion.
Like Romeo and Juliet, their love is doomed so they decide to run. But as we all know, you can't run from your problems... especially when they follow you with guns and metal fists.
Unlike Romeo and Juliet,
Safety is very good but a warning of violence
Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner do a fantastic job reading, taking turns with the alternating POVs of Ronin and Lara.
This wasn't what I was expecting but then this is also my first read by this author. The plot is full of conveniences and the dystopian world is decidedly small. But I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
It has a kind of Hollywood flair to it (as the villain points out in his monologue at the end, -snicker-).
In a dystopian future in and around Cheyenne (Wyoming?), Bots and Humans struggle to survive but keep themselves separate. Mostly they are separated because of the Warlord who runs Cheyenne.
Ronin is a synth, which is an android made to mimic a person as closely as possible. He, as almost all bots, doesn't remember his purpose and longs for the knowledge to fill a void in his soul. Then when he glimpses Lara dancing, he sees the life in her movements as though it is a thread leading to the knowledge he craves.
Lara, like all the other humans clinging to survival on the edges of Cheyenne, is feeling particularly bereft after the disappearance of her sister, and a thousand other disappointments conspiring to smother her hope for the future.
Ronin makes a pact with her that leads to a mutual appreciation that leads to a fairytale love and his complete devotion.
Like Romeo and Juliet, their love is doomed so they decide to run. But as we all know, you can't run from your problems... especially when they follow you with guns and metal fists.
Unlike Romeo and Juliet,
Safety is very good but a warning of violence
December 28, 2021
And as promised below, here is my review
I’m not sure what made me pick this book up. I know I watched a YouTube video where someone recommended it and it sounded interesting and was available on KU to I went for it.
I was not prepared for the love I felt for this book while reading it. It’s an apocalyptic romance as I mentioned and as such not a simple read. The set up is the world as we know it has been destroyed. Before that destruction, the abilities of robots had come a long way to the point where they were able to experience emotions. Bu then the war started and most were converted to soldiers. It’s now hundreds of years later and world is an ugly place. This story takes place in Cheyenne and is run by a sadistic “bot” who calls himself Warlord. The humans are consigned to live outside the city where they simply exist. Lara is our heroine and everyday she goes out scavenging for enough to get through the day. She exists and that’s pretty much it until one day she is dancing in her excuse for a home. ,That’s the only real sign of life in her and she is observed by Ronin, an advanced bot. He can think and reason and he is puzzled by this human and knows he must know more about her and approaches her. Lara hates him, she hates all bots as well she should. But Ronin assures her all he wants is to watch her dance. She finally agrees and thus slowly begins a strange friendship. Before long they develop deeper feelings for one Despite being a bot and not supposed to feel love, begins to feel it for her though he doesn’t know what it is for a while. He was severely damaged during the war to the point he was out of commission. When he came back, he didn’t have a purpose and has been searching for his purpose for hundreds of years, and he realizes that taking care of Lara is his purpose. Like Lara, Ronin was just existing, doing scavenging. Because he’s a bot, he can move about and is often goes for months at a time but now he has Lara to take care of.
But they are being watched, there are no secrets from Warlord and what he hates most of all is intermingling between bots and humans. They are in grave danger from him and the only way to stay safe is to eliminate him.
I know I haven’t done just to the story of this book. I found it breathtaking. The way Ronin cared for Lara was one of the most touching things I’ve read in a while. She really was his purpose, his reason for existing and everything he did, he did it for her. Their love story was touching and believable and dangerous for them both. And the ending had me in tears, real tears. This book gets my stongest recommendation with 2 thumbs up.
I for sure will do a review for this book. It’s a combination cyborg/sci-fi/dystopian romance and I wish I could give it more than five stars. I was very affected by it. I got it through KU but I’m going to purchase it as there’s no question I’ll read it again and again. I think it’s the best book I’ve read this year in a year of great books.
It’s not an easy book to read, it has a very dark tone to it, but it’s an amazing read.
I’m not sure what made me pick this book up. I know I watched a YouTube video where someone recommended it and it sounded interesting and was available on KU to I went for it.
I was not prepared for the love I felt for this book while reading it. It’s an apocalyptic romance as I mentioned and as such not a simple read. The set up is the world as we know it has been destroyed. Before that destruction, the abilities of robots had come a long way to the point where they were able to experience emotions. Bu then the war started and most were converted to soldiers. It’s now hundreds of years later and world is an ugly place. This story takes place in Cheyenne and is run by a sadistic “bot” who calls himself Warlord. The humans are consigned to live outside the city where they simply exist. Lara is our heroine and everyday she goes out scavenging for enough to get through the day. She exists and that’s pretty much it until one day she is dancing in her excuse for a home. ,That’s the only real sign of life in her and she is observed by Ronin, an advanced bot. He can think and reason and he is puzzled by this human and knows he must know more about her and approaches her. Lara hates him, she hates all bots as well she should. But Ronin assures her all he wants is to watch her dance. She finally agrees and thus slowly begins a strange friendship. Before long they develop deeper feelings for one Despite being a bot and not supposed to feel love, begins to feel it for her though he doesn’t know what it is for a while. He was severely damaged during the war to the point he was out of commission. When he came back, he didn’t have a purpose and has been searching for his purpose for hundreds of years, and he realizes that taking care of Lara is his purpose. Like Lara, Ronin was just existing, doing scavenging. Because he’s a bot, he can move about and is often goes for months at a time but now he has Lara to take care of.
But they are being watched, there are no secrets from Warlord and what he hates most of all is intermingling between bots and humans. They are in grave danger from him and the only way to stay safe is to eliminate him.
I know I haven’t done just to the story of this book. I found it breathtaking. The way Ronin cared for Lara was one of the most touching things I’ve read in a while. She really was his purpose, his reason for existing and everything he did, he did it for her. Their love story was touching and believable and dangerous for them both. And the ending had me in tears, real tears. This book gets my stongest recommendation with 2 thumbs up.
I for sure will do a review for this book. It’s a combination cyborg/sci-fi/dystopian romance and I wish I could give it more than five stars. I was very affected by it. I got it through KU but I’m going to purchase it as there’s no question I’ll read it again and again. I think it’s the best book I’ve read this year in a year of great books.
It’s not an easy book to read, it has a very dark tone to it, but it’s an amazing read.
December 13, 2022
This was so much more than I was expecting managing to equally captivate and enthral me, beautifully written with such vivid world-building that was ofttimes brutal and unforgiving. This paints a bleak picture of life in Cheyenne a town existing amidst the endless dust that operates all under the regime of a brutal cruel Warlord.
Humans and Bots are segregated in Cheyenne and humans reside under a cruel tyrant bot called Warlord. He and his Gear-heads rule the town and humans are subjected to a life of hunger fear and squalor with severe repercussions if they dare to break any of their overlord's many rules. This is all set long after a brutal war the reasons and memories for it lost through time and what’s left behind now is a decimated scorched landscape.
Lara Brooks is just trying to survive she’s now alone after her friend and confidant vanished and each day is becoming harder to endure so when an unexpected offer from an unknown bot is placed on the table and with limited options, she takes the only logical road and accepts despite her natural apathy towards his kind.
Ronin is a Bot and a duskwalker he has traversed the dust gathering salvage for trade all of his long existence. When he spies Lara dancing he’s instantly fascinated aimless and without a true core purpose for so long he longs to understand just why he’s so drawn to her. So an agreement is struck Lara will dance for him and in return Ronin will provide care shelter and food and also attempt to locate her missing friend.
Close proximity causes Ronin and Lara to then reevaluate everything they thought they knew about each other's kind and a beautiful bond starts to emerge but under warlords regime being together is forbidden he hates all humans and Lara is just another meat-bag. Their only hope of a future together lies away from Cheyenne but running will bring a whole new set of problems and can they really hope to escape unscathed.
I definitely thought this was going to be some lighthearted dystopian romp and It so wasn’t my god the emotion and feeling and sheer perseverance on both sides was bloody stunning. I adored both Ronin and Lara equally she is so strong with such determined resilience and Lara managed to put aside her preconceived ideas and just embrace her unexpected feelings for Ronin with such acceptance. As for Ronin Lara became his everything and it was so obvious just how much he adored her and was willing to sacrifice to keep her safe and each he used her full name I got tingles. The chemistry was played just right and their connection and eventual physical relationship felt believable and authentic.
This builds everything slowly and the first half had a slow steady pace then it all just took off at supernova speed and I was on the edge of my seat heart in my mouth. This has got to be one of my top reads this year I totally recommend it if you want to experience a beautiful epic love story between a bot and a human. By the finish here I’m not gonna lie the tears were rolling unchecked down my face and very few books manage to move and connect me so completely as this did what a finale and what a story I totally recommend.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
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July 24, 2017
I voluntarily received an ARC of Dustwalker in exchange for an honest review. Every so often a book will touch me on such a fundamental level that it will break me down to a sobbing mess. I am not talking a little tear here or there, I am talking big bawling, snotty mess. By the end, that is what Dustwalker did, and it was worth it!
This is a post-apocalyptic tale unlike any I’ve read before. The world and character building are vivid and complex. I could feel the dust through the pages, I could see the barren wasteland. I knew what utter desperation Lara's life was until Ronin came into it.
“The inhabitants of the old world were fond of boundaries, it seemed. Their reward had been the boundless Dust.”
Dustwalkers touches on some great concepts that I have read in other stories but never put in such a complex form.
“Was that the purpose of life? Was it simply a transient state between creation and destructions, birth and death, existence and non-existence? A thing made more precious by its very frailty, made more miraculous because it had survived overwhelming odds, a thing that defied the universe by simply being.”
In Dustwalker that sentiment seemed true for all those in the world. Along with this one.
“Bots were created to endure,”…..”Sometimes it seems like humans were created to suffer.”
Lara and Ronin's story was truly an epic tale of love through diversity. It didn’t matter that she was human and he was a bot, they found love. Regardless of what anyone thought or that is was forbidden. The loved and risked it all to be together.
“Your life is my purpose”
I am totally in love with Dustwalker. This is a story that will stick with me and I will most likely read it again and again. So, of course, it is getting 5 HUGE Boundless Stars.
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This is a post-apocalyptic tale unlike any I’ve read before. The world and character building are vivid and complex. I could feel the dust through the pages, I could see the barren wasteland. I knew what utter desperation Lara's life was until Ronin came into it.
“The inhabitants of the old world were fond of boundaries, it seemed. Their reward had been the boundless Dust.”
Dustwalkers touches on some great concepts that I have read in other stories but never put in such a complex form.
“Was that the purpose of life? Was it simply a transient state between creation and destructions, birth and death, existence and non-existence? A thing made more precious by its very frailty, made more miraculous because it had survived overwhelming odds, a thing that defied the universe by simply being.”
In Dustwalker that sentiment seemed true for all those in the world. Along with this one.
“Bots were created to endure,”…..”Sometimes it seems like humans were created to suffer.”
Lara and Ronin's story was truly an epic tale of love through diversity. It didn’t matter that she was human and he was a bot, they found love. Regardless of what anyone thought or that is was forbidden. The loved and risked it all to be together.
“Your life is my purpose”
I am totally in love with Dustwalker. This is a story that will stick with me and I will most likely read it again and again. So, of course, it is getting 5 HUGE Boundless Stars.
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January 22, 2021
DNF @50%
Lara goes from hating all bots to moving in with one, to marrying him, to falling in love with him at warp speed.
Lara goes from hating all bots to moving in with one, to marrying him, to falling in love with him at warp speed.
April 1, 2020
A post-apocalyptic tale focused on human Lara Brooks, who struggles to survive under the strict rules imposed Cheyenne and bot (robot) and Dustwalker Ronin, who finds himself drawn to Lara, in a way he has never been drawn to any other human or a bot.
Lara like other humans in Cheyenne are forced to live in squalor, the basic comforts once enjoyed by humans forgotten. As Lara and Ronin get closure dangers lurks near as the self-appointed leader of Cheyenne - Warlord tries to ensure Ronin knows who is boss. The author revealing Warlord's history/past didn't shift my dislike of him at all.
The ending was sweet, although . I really wanted more intricate and rich worldbuilding, the extracts from the journal Lara found and Ronin read added to the image in my mind, but I still would have like more.
Overall, a nice read but I've not finished this with a burning urge to read more in the series or by the author.
Potential Triggers:
Acquired via KU.
Lara like other humans in Cheyenne are forced to live in squalor, the basic comforts once enjoyed by humans forgotten. As Lara and Ronin get closure dangers lurks near as the self-appointed leader of Cheyenne - Warlord tries to ensure Ronin knows who is boss. The author revealing Warlord's history/past didn't shift my dislike of him at all.
The ending was sweet, although . I really wanted more intricate and rich worldbuilding, the extracts from the journal Lara found and Ronin read added to the image in my mind, but I still would have like more.
Overall, a nice read but I've not finished this with a burning urge to read more in the series or by the author.
Potential Triggers:
Acquired via KU.
September 14, 2019
**uncontrollable ugly-crying and indecipherable weep-talking**
April 18, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: Wow, this was a beautiful book that made me ugly cry!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: There is excellent world building— the setting is a dystopian/apocalyptic Wyoming where humans are basically enslaved and tortured by bots. The suffering is vividly described. This book uniquely and beautifully told this story.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I almost didn’t pick up this book because it is a love story between a human and a bot. Ronin’s case for humanity is very strong though, and he is very lovable. Lara is a very strong, pragmatic h.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Philosophically, this subject matter is very deep, and something I will be digesting for some time.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Love between organic and artificial intelligence
* What did you think about the ending?: The epilogue left me in tears.
* What is your impression of the author?: I will look for more by this author.
Triggers: rape, murder (most of it off page)
* How did the book make you feel?: Wow, this was a beautiful book that made me ugly cry!
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: There is excellent world building— the setting is a dystopian/apocalyptic Wyoming where humans are basically enslaved and tortured by bots. The suffering is vividly described. This book uniquely and beautifully told this story.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I almost didn’t pick up this book because it is a love story between a human and a bot. Ronin’s case for humanity is very strong though, and he is very lovable. Lara is a very strong, pragmatic h.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Philosophically, this subject matter is very deep, and something I will be digesting for some time.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Love between organic and artificial intelligence
* What did you think about the ending?: The epilogue left me in tears.
* What is your impression of the author?: I will look for more by this author.
Triggers: rape, murder (most of it off page)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2019
Impossible to explain the rating without spoiling a great part of the story. Maybe the problem is, I was expecting a romance, and this novel doesn't quite fit the standards of this category. But still largely enough to rebuke the hardcore fans of sci-fi, adventure and dystopia.
Many triggers in this mixture of genres, and some of them really bothered me. We got it all, and then the icing of the cake, (don't read this if you want to give the novel a try)
2.5 stars, reflecting only my lack of enjoyment, not the overall quality, which is quite good.
Many triggers in this mixture of genres, and some of them really bothered me. We got it all, and then the icing of the cake, (don't read this if you want to give the novel a try)
2.5 stars, reflecting only my lack of enjoyment, not the overall quality, which is quite good.
July 27, 2020
This book should be a movie!
Dustwalker is very well written, with carefully crafted descriptions that created vivid pictures in my mind as I was reading it. I loved both characters, and their love story was epic. Their relationship was well-developed, and the reader can follow their growing feelings for each other as the story progresses.
Please, if anyone knows a movie producer, could you put a bug in their ear? This book would make a great movie, with dystopian landscape, wasteland, sand storms and the contrast of the cities perfectly well maintained by robots. I would definitely re-read the book, and I would so go watch the movie!
Dustwalker is very well written, with carefully crafted descriptions that created vivid pictures in my mind as I was reading it. I loved both characters, and their love story was epic. Their relationship was well-developed, and the reader can follow their growing feelings for each other as the story progresses.
Please, if anyone knows a movie producer, could you put a bug in their ear? This book would make a great movie, with dystopian landscape, wasteland, sand storms and the contrast of the cities perfectly well maintained by robots. I would definitely re-read the book, and I would so go watch the movie!
July 23, 2024
This was a solid blend of science fiction and romance set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans and Westworld style robots coexisted. We got an intriguing world, likeable characters, some cool robot related sci-fi happenings, and a murderous robot warlord who made the lives of the humans living under his harsh rule very difficult and who had a particular dislike for human and robot couples!
The action sequences and world-building were solid but nothing overly exciting. The desolate and harsh environment and the challenges faced by the characters was depicted well and added depth to the setting and kept the plot engaging enough. The dynamics between humans and machines created an interesting tension that drove the story forward.
The main characters, Lara (a human woman hunting for her missing sister) and Ronin (a robot with a damaged memory), were likeable and well-developed. Their relationship evolved naturally, if a little too quickly for my liking, but it was still easy to root for their romance. The emotional journey they embarked on together was heartfelt and their interactions were a definite positive for the story. Lara and Ronin also had a relatively drama free relationship after the early moments which was a fun change of pace from the other drama laden romances I’ve been reading of late! All the problems they faced were mostly external threats.
The sad thing is Dustwalker just fell short of being a truly captivating read. While the elements of the story were compelling and the characters very likeable and easy to root for this story just lacked that special something that sucks me completely into a tale. I’m not sure what was missing as the building blocks were all in place for a really fun story. I was just not fully sucked into this one which is a real shame as I had super high expectations after being fully enthralled by Tiffany Roberts The Spider's Mate trilogy which was one of my favourite reads of last year.
All in all this one was an enjoyable read with a fun premise and well-crafted characters that delivered an interesting blend of action and romance in a post-apocalyptic setting but still fell a little short of being anything more than an OK read. It was still a solid entry in the sci-fi romance genre but just nothing memorable.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner. Both were solid.
The action sequences and world-building were solid but nothing overly exciting. The desolate and harsh environment and the challenges faced by the characters was depicted well and added depth to the setting and kept the plot engaging enough. The dynamics between humans and machines created an interesting tension that drove the story forward.
The main characters, Lara (a human woman hunting for her missing sister) and Ronin (a robot with a damaged memory), were likeable and well-developed. Their relationship evolved naturally, if a little too quickly for my liking, but it was still easy to root for their romance. The emotional journey they embarked on together was heartfelt and their interactions were a definite positive for the story. Lara and Ronin also had a relatively drama free relationship after the early moments which was a fun change of pace from the other drama laden romances I’ve been reading of late! All the problems they faced were mostly external threats.
The sad thing is Dustwalker just fell short of being a truly captivating read. While the elements of the story were compelling and the characters very likeable and easy to root for this story just lacked that special something that sucks me completely into a tale. I’m not sure what was missing as the building blocks were all in place for a really fun story. I was just not fully sucked into this one which is a real shame as I had super high expectations after being fully enthralled by Tiffany Roberts The Spider's Mate trilogy which was one of my favourite reads of last year.
All in all this one was an enjoyable read with a fun premise and well-crafted characters that delivered an interesting blend of action and romance in a post-apocalyptic setting but still fell a little short of being anything more than an OK read. It was still a solid entry in the sci-fi romance genre but just nothing memorable.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Hollie Jackson and Ryan Turner. Both were solid.
April 21, 2024
This book took 2 attempts to get through. The beginning drags a bit and the romance feels stilted. I had a hard time grasping the fast burn aspect of the book, as Laura had a lot of trauma surrounding bots. Laura was passionate and driven by her trauma and desire to find her sister again. The MMC is obsessed with finding his purpose, but is distracted by seeing Laura dancing. The book had a true villain, a power mad murderous warlord who hated and oppressed humans.
The book had its tender moments and moving subplots, but was a bit of a letdown for me.
Spice: 3/5
SPOILERS IN TRIGGER WARNINGS
Triggers: rape, poverty, starvation, attempted murder, murder of child, mutilation, dismemberment, violence, gore, near death experience, coma, nuclear war dystopia, genocide
The book had its tender moments and moving subplots, but was a bit of a letdown for me.
Spice: 3/5
SPOILERS IN TRIGGER WARNINGS
Triggers: rape, poverty, starvation, attempted murder, murder of child, mutilation, dismemberment, violence, gore, near death experience, coma, nuclear war dystopia, genocide
August 8, 2017
4.5 bittersweet stars!
Uhmmm yeah, so these wonderful authors gave me this wonderful book to read and review. I realize now that it's been close to a month since release...SORRYYY!!
I'll start off by saying that humanoid robots have never been a thing I care for because I always had a problem buying into the authenticity of their emotions and actions. I strongly believed that they are fabricated by their makers. Which was why I could not, for the life of me get into the show Westworld.
HOWEVER!!! These wonderful authors changed my views so quick it's not even funny! I loved, LOVED this story and how everything was set up. I was strongly afraid that it would be dark and desolate with how it was set up. Yes, it did have dark undertones but boyyyy oh boyyy, it did not shroud the wonderful simplicity of the love story between Ronin and Lara.
Lara was a character I liked right from the beginning. I knew she suffered hardships but she didn't let that break her in this awful place. She found the beauty and the good in so many things. Ronin, he at first, was so puzzling because of my views on robots, see above! I couldn't wrap my head around him being able to have his own emotions but then even he, himself, was confused and I found it endearing.
The love story.
WOW. It. Left. Me. Speechless.
Their feelings consumed me and I couldn't stop reading for the life of me. They were just so sweet and intense..can that be a combo?? Well I made that one now.. so yeah, sweet and intense it what I would use to describe this couple.
The writing was sublime as always and the pacing was great! Although, during the climax I did find some chapters too descriptive causing me to not enjoy it as much as the others but the level of enjoyment barely dropped.
This book pulled at the heart strings more than their other stories and it is by far my favourite Tiffany Roberts book out there! Shucks... do you know you made me cry with that epilogue...goshhh!!!!
Thanks to Tiffany Roberts for giving me an ARC to read and review!
Uhmmm yeah, so these wonderful authors gave me this wonderful book to read and review. I realize now that it's been close to a month since release...SORRYYY!!
I'll start off by saying that humanoid robots have never been a thing I care for because I always had a problem buying into the authenticity of their emotions and actions. I strongly believed that they are fabricated by their makers. Which was why I could not, for the life of me get into the show Westworld.
HOWEVER!!! These wonderful authors changed my views so quick it's not even funny! I loved, LOVED this story and how everything was set up. I was strongly afraid that it would be dark and desolate with how it was set up. Yes, it did have dark undertones but boyyyy oh boyyy, it did not shroud the wonderful simplicity of the love story between Ronin and Lara.
Lara was a character I liked right from the beginning. I knew she suffered hardships but she didn't let that break her in this awful place. She found the beauty and the good in so many things. Ronin, he at first, was so puzzling because of my views on robots, see above! I couldn't wrap my head around him being able to have his own emotions but then even he, himself, was confused and I found it endearing.
The love story.
WOW. It. Left. Me. Speechless.
Their feelings consumed me and I couldn't stop reading for the life of me. They were just so sweet and intense..can that be a combo?? Well I made that one now.. so yeah, sweet and intense it what I would use to describe this couple.
The writing was sublime as always and the pacing was great! Although, during the climax I did find some chapters too descriptive causing me to not enjoy it as much as the others but the level of enjoyment barely dropped.
This book pulled at the heart strings more than their other stories and it is by far my favourite Tiffany Roberts book out there! Shucks... do you know you made me cry with that epilogue...goshhh!!!!
Thanks to Tiffany Roberts for giving me an ARC to read and review!
March 23, 2021
Surprised me how much I liked Dustwalker. It shouldn't have surprised me because it has many elements I love in my fiction reading, sex, sweet romance, dystopian setting. Yet there's been so much baaaaad out there with these elements also. Much like my dating life, I went in with lowered expectations. Unlike said love life, I was pleasantly surprised to find love 😆
The hero, a synthetic life form, seemed more "man" than most heroes in romance novels, with his genuine puzzlement over human female emotions. Yet he somehow managed to be the most romantic one I've read in awhile. He fell for the human he spied dancing in her hovel of a home and instantly committed himself to her protection.
The heroine, a firery redhead naturally (a little worn characterization if you ask me), was nevertheless likeable and sympathetic. She was handed a raw deal being born into this world as a human woman, but she managed to survive with compassion intact.
The big bad reminded me quite a bit of some sorta distastefully evil character from HBO's Westworld. It worked well here. The gathering of community to defeat the big bad had me cheering and wanting to read more books set in this world, although Dustwalker concluded the H/h's journey with a HEA to satisfy the romantic in me.
As someone else mentioned in a review of another "bots take over the world" sci fi novel, let's face it- it IS going to happen one day, might as well prepare ourselves by going over as many sceneries and outcomes as possible. :D
The hero, a synthetic life form, seemed more "man" than most heroes in romance novels, with his genuine puzzlement over human female emotions. Yet he somehow managed to be the most romantic one I've read in awhile. He fell for the human he spied dancing in her hovel of a home and instantly committed himself to her protection.
The heroine, a firery redhead naturally (a little worn characterization if you ask me), was nevertheless likeable and sympathetic. She was handed a raw deal being born into this world as a human woman, but she managed to survive with compassion intact.
The big bad reminded me quite a bit of some sorta distastefully evil character from HBO's Westworld. It worked well here. The gathering of community to defeat the big bad had me cheering and wanting to read more books set in this world, although Dustwalker concluded the H/h's journey with a HEA to satisfy the romantic in me.
As someone else mentioned in a review of another "bots take over the world" sci fi novel, let's face it- it IS going to happen one day, might as well prepare ourselves by going over as many sceneries and outcomes as possible. :D
October 28, 2018
It was so good but I hated the epilogue :( I like to end books on a happy note. It's escapism for me. I just was hoping it would not end that way but of course it did.
I would really recommend not reading (or listening to) the epilogue if you don't like death and bittersweet endings, granted the writing is amazing and so is the story. I just want to forget the last 6 minutes of the audiobook and pretend it ended after they won the battle and settled into their home.
I would really recommend not reading (or listening to) the epilogue if you don't like death and bittersweet endings, granted the writing is amazing and so is the story. I just want to forget the last 6 minutes of the audiobook and pretend it ended after they won the battle and settled into their home.
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