I enjoyed this audiobook, the narrator was great, and the story was enjoyable. J. M. Miro does a great job at keeping the reader captivated and entertained throughout the entire story. Thank you for the opportunity!

We are back where we left off in Ordinary Monsters. I found this book to be a decent installment of the franchise. I wished it wasn't as long as it was. I Though I found the reveals to be satisfying it was way to slow-paced for me. I can't wait to see what the last book will bring.

I enjoyed the first book despite its flaws but this one had way too much breadth to make listening an enjoyable expeirence.

Overall I liked the narrator, but his southern accent is terrible.

I have been waiting for this book since I finished Ordinary Monsters in 2022...it did not disappoint! This book didn't do so much introduction of characters, as we met most of the cast in the first book, but it did expand the world building and magic system which is greatly appreciated.

I enjoyed this sequel much better than the first book in the trilogy. Where I felt the first book was slow and took too long to build to the plot, this book picked up right away and we were immediately engaged with the characters.

I really like the world that Miro has created here. His characters are interesting, the theme of found and chosen family, a layered plot, and the atmospheric experience that is heightened by the dark and sinister forces that are cosing in on our favourites. This is a chunky read, but the twists and the world and the characters that Miro writes kept me turning the pages. We are rooting for the good guys but we also want to learn the backstory of the villains. What is motivating their actions and can our little family prevail? Be prepared for loss and some body horror, but also keep an eye out for the tender moments between our favourites. We all need someone in our corner and the family we choose to make can give us hope in dark times.

This series is so much more than meets the eye. It has an intricate story full of characters that are as unique as their talents, aka their gifts. The world building as well as the story itself keeps you entranced in this world that is gritty, dark and unforgiving. There is action, heartbreak, monsters and profound grief that leaves you gutted by the ending. I cannot wait to see what happens in the last book!!

Also worth mentioning is the narration. Probably one of the best narrated book series that I have listened to. Ben Onwukwe does an amazing job and brings all of the characters to life.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. I was especially happy to be approved for the audiobook because I adored the first book in this series in audio format. The narrator, Ben Onwukwe, truly deserves all the praise for this amazing narration. One of the best aspects of The Talents Trilogy is the eerie, gloomy atmosphere, which Onwukwe captures perfectly with his sonorous voice.

I was worried that I was going to be lost without re-reading the first book, and although there were times I was a little murky on details, for the most part I was able to follow along with no problem. However, I definitely plan on re-listening to both the first and second book before the third book publishes, but that’s simply for the pure enjoyment of seeing how well this trilogy is developing.

Fans of Ordinary Monsters will not be disappointed by this next installment.

Author J.M.Miro expands the world of the Talents by introducing more characters, taking us to the Land of the Dead, and deepening the history of the Talents.

The first previous book of “The Talents” series ended in tragedy with various Talents harmed or dead, Marlowe vanished into the land of the dead, and the Charlie, Komako, Alice, Miss Davenshaw, Lymenion, Oskar leaving Cairndale behind them to find a safe haven where they could regroup and determine how to retrieve Marlowe.

Alice and bbb go to France looking for another orsine, while Charlie, who has lost his talent as a result of events in book one, investigates when a body full of corrupted dust is found at Cairndale. He comes into conflict with a stranger, a Talent, Jeta Wajs, who is there for the same reason. Jeta can sense bones, and manipulate them; she injures Charlie and he ends up infected with the corrupted dust.

Charlie seeks help from Caroline Ficke, and the two, along with several glyphs, head to London.

Jeta heads back to London empty-handed, to her boss, crime gang leader Cracker Jack. He’s protected her from his Talent-hating minions, but he’s not impressed with her, as the Abbess, a mysterious, powerful figure, wants the dust, and he can’t deliver.

Nefarious people are hellbent on acquiring the dust, while back at the estate, Komako and Miss Davenshaw are increasingly alarmed, as something is outside the gates, leaving eviscerated bodies nightly. The two rightly fear that someone, likely a drughr, will attack them, and begin training everyone to fight.

Meanwhile, Marlowe is alone and scared in the Land of the Dead, and has only Charlie’s word that he’ll come for him to keep him from panic. He suddenly meets a familiar, and now weirdly not totally unwelcome figure, who does their best to protect Marlowe, while educating him about the history of the Talents, and what Marlowe’s role is amidst this large conflict with its roots in the past.

Miro keeps his focus mostly on these characters this time:
-dear, sweet Charlie, hellbent on finding Marlowe,
-Marlowe, as he makes his way through a nightmarish landscape,
-Jeta Wajs, whose eerie hand graces the cover of the book, and who has been manipulated and hurt by most of the people in her life,
-Miss Ficke, who has protected the former Cairndale Talents, the glyphs, whose bodies appear the least human, and
-Komako, wrestling with her power and responsibilities.

There is never a dull moment in this well-paced door stopper. People are traveling after clues, having violent encounters, and gradually converging on a particular location, the second orsine. At the same time, Marlowe is not sitting on his hands, and despite all he learns, remains the kind, stalwart person he was in book one, but does mature, as he comes to better understand what he is.

Jeta cuts a tragic figure, used by everyone, and rarely seen for who she is beyond her frightening ability. Her confrontations with Charlie show her the possibility of a different path, and even friendship, something novel and unexpected in a life of violence and loneliness.

Miss Ficke proves to be much tougher than everyone around her expected, including me, and finds important and usefi; information that proves incredibly helpful in their mission to rescue Marlowe.

And Komako exemplifies the turmoil of someone who was harmed, and is full of fury consequently, but is also somewhat ambivalent about the power she and others have.

Over both of these long books, I’ve come to care deeply about Charlie and Marlowe, and Miro has given me more characters to care for: Jeta, and Miss Ficke. And the history between the drughr and the Talents is also fleshed out, and much darker and horrible than I expected.

And though there is a little peace achieved by the former Cairndale inmates by the end of this novel, the epilogue leaves us with new Talents, and hints at the complex conflict to come. I, for one, am looking forward to it.

I both listened to and read my way through this story, and narrator Ben Onwukwe does a fantastic job of inhabiting all the characters, and infusing humour, dread, horror or happiness, as needed, to the text to make the listening experience great.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.

4.75 stars, shinning brightly and blue.

Disturbing, unforgettable and wild second installment of the CREEPY AF Talents Trilogy!

Yes, I loved it and insist that this book should absolutely be experienced in the voice of Ben Onwukwe!! The 🎧audiobook🎧 narration adds levels of emotional dread to an already magically-fabulous script. In fact, I am deeply saddened that I no longer have access to the Audio-ARC of the first book (and my local library's hold line is astronomical), so that I couldn't revisit that installment before diving into this second.

This (audio)book, like the first, is L O N G - it is a true commitment. It's also one of the best ways that you could spend creepy-reading-season in autumn!

Personally, once begun, I am nearly unable to break free until the mad international dash to rescue a friend lost to the Land of the Dead, keep magically talented children safe, and fight against all that oppose this wholesome outcome are undone. But throughout, more fragments of the whole mystery unfold. Each of our dearest mains come to realize that everything is far, far bigger that any one of them can conceive. Some of the most nefarious characters are playing out only portions of the story, willfully denying that anyone else could possibly have less to lose or more to gain than themselves!

There are a few little tidbits that rang incredibly predictable/campy. But as these were few and so neatly interwined into sweep of the story, I am only docking 0.25 stars.

As we step into the continued story that began in *Ordinary Monsters*, several of our beloved main characters grow through the terrible traumas that they have faced. Each is deeply touched, and yet they continue to work desperately towards a hopeful future. Each damaged but resilient in the face of ever more, and trying to make choices to affect change. Not only is the world-building absolutely exquisite, but it too contains so much emotional punch. Raw. Wild. And all of this is so familiar to me personally, and I guess to those drawn to this sort of literature. The lasting after-affects of reading screaming to each of us to make choices that bring about am ultimately better world for everyone.

Fair warning that this book reads a lot like a graphic novel, inclusive of heart-wrenching developments and gore alike. Though, it is fantastical horror at it's best, with most of the true horror being psychological -- very akin to the works of T. Kingfisher, but different (if that makes any sense).

I will personally be revisiting this world again, and very much look forward to a time where the trilogy is complete. Until then, this audiobook is an absolute gift to reader kind!

Huge gratitude to the Canadian author J.M. Miro, the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an Audio-ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This picks up shortly after the events of book 1, so I don't recommend reading this as a standalone. You really need to read Ordinary Monsters first to gain a foundation on the characters and what is going on. As a forewarning, this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I am loving the series so I am anxiously looking forward to the next book in the trilogy.

This follows several different characters that we met in the first book as they recover from the destruction of Cairndale and the loss of Marlowe. We also meet some new characters that play a large role in this installment. We learn more about the origins of the Talents and the drughr and the roles each of our characters is to play in this gothic story.

As with the first book this contains a multitude of genres. It is a nice mix of of horror, fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction with wonderful world building and great characters. You won't love all of the characters but you will be invested in all of them and their storylines. The chapters focus on different characters, but at its heart Charlie and Marlowe are at the center of the story and everything that happens. This book is on the long side and there are quite a few characters to keep track of, but the author does a good job managing the pace and the storyline so that you don't forget what is happening and who everyone is. There is plenty of action throughout to keep you on your toes and plenty of expansion of the world and characters to keep you invested. The author describes the setting and the fantastical and horror elements with the perfect amount of detail so you aren't overwhelmed but you can visualize what is going on in your head. This book is dark and has some violent scenes, that was also true with the first book. It leans a little more into the horror aspects than the first book but I would let my 14 or my 16 year old read the series if they wanted. I think it would appeal to readers of any age.

The narrator is wonderful. Ben Onwukwe does different voices for the different characters, and is just a pleasure to listen to. This book clocks in at just under 25 hours, so you are going to spend alot of time with him, so having a good narrator is key. He narrated the first book as well, and I was really happy to see him return for book two, and I expect he will be back for book three.

I love this series and I can't wait for the final installment. If you enjoy epic fantasy novels that marry historical fiction and horror give this a try.

This was an absolutely fabulous next installment in this series by J. M. Miro. I truly feel like this is a unique story with a unique magic system and I was enthralled the entire story. I thought the narrator did a great job in bringing the characters to life. I felt each unique voice of the character matched the text and added an extra layer of dimension. I will definitely be reading more of Miro and waiting patiently for the next installment.

"Bringer of Dust," the second book in *The Talents* trilogy, takes everything up a notch with more tension, horror, and action than its predecessor. The characters continue their journey to rescue Marlowe, facing darker and more twisted obstacles. New villains like The Abbess and Cracker Jack add an even more gruesome layer to the story, keeping readers on edge. Fans of dark fantasy will appreciate the world-building, shocking plot twists, and the way the lore expands in this book.

The audiobook, narrated by Ben Onwukwe, is a standout. His voice perfectly suits the grim tone, and his range for the large cast of characters makes the listening experience feel immersive. His narration adds depth and suspense, making the long read feel engaging and intense. For fans of dark, epic fantasy and great narration, this is a must-listen.

*Ordinary Monsters* truly lived up to the hype for me so I was excited to see if *Bringer Of Dust* would be just as good and yet again the audiobook was an easy five-star listen for me. If you're a fan of historical fantasy, these books will be perfect for you.
The story is a multi-layered, epic historical fantasy that explores the blurred lines between heroes and villains.
an exploration in psyche, a narrative that spans not just across time but entire worlds. With Cairndale gone and Scotland no longer safe, the characters are scattered.
Some, along with Miss Davenshaw, have fled to an abandoned villa in Italy. Meanwhile, Ribs and Alice venture to Paris, and Charlie is left with the daunting task of locating and rescuing Marlowe. Along the way, they each face escalating dangers and powerful enemies, all while battling other gifted individuals and encountering the undead as they try to prevent the opening of one of the last orsines—a gateway between worlds.
*Bringer of Dust* is a sweeping epic, filled with new and fascinating talents and characters. As the original cast matures and sharpens their abilities, they come across forces and powers unlike anything they've ever faced-like a bone witch, for example. It's an exhilarating, unpredictable adventure from start to finish.
The narration is simply perfection - I loved my listening.

This audiobook was beyond my wildest dreams!

Bringer of Dust is the sequel to Ordinary Monsters, and continues the story of the Talents who are trying to rescue their compatriot Marlowe by seeking a fabled second orsine to travel between worlds.

The audio narration was fantastic, and set the tone really well. However, the pacing was tough to follow with the audiobook. Since the book is so long, its hard to feel like you’re making progress by listening.

The story itself is wildly horrifying: the author doesn’t pull any punches. He makes it clear that the world is a terrible place where people do terrible things. Its a bit more intense than the first book but the character development is amazing.

This was an amazing follow-up to the first book, and I’m excited to see how the story continues!

This was a little too horror for me, but I listened in the car during the day. I still give it 5 stars because it was beautifully written with well realized characters and a great story. I am sure I will read the next.

Bringer of Dust is the second book in the The Talents trilogy, picking up almost directly after the events in Ordinary Monsters. With the addition of a few new PoV characters and villains there will be a lot of tension, gruesomeness and obstacles to overcome for the characters. I would think of this as a mash up of Umbrella Academy, Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children and His Dark Materials set in Victorian London.

I wish I read Ordinary Monsters right before starting the book as it would have helped the story be fresh in my mind and while I think I got the gist of it, with some of the recaps through character interactions, it took a long time to get there. When you have a book that is ~600 pages long, I think sometimes it is smart to do a "the story so far" at the beginning to set the reader up for success. Still the story itself is interesting enough with hints of the first book here and there that I don't think I felt lost and eventually was reminded of enough of the key points by midway through that I did okay.

Characters, they are the thing that make this story great. I love Charlie from the first book and his desperation to save Marlowe from the terrible fate that became him. Even if that means he has to go through a portal into a strange realm where most mortal people die. With the help of friends, old and new, he will try to find another portal to save his friend.

The addition of The Abbess and Cracker Jack as new villains with some horrible minions, the level of the gruesomeness and horror aspects of Bringer of Dust definitely surpass the previous book. In this world, there are some truly terrible people willing to do horrendous things. Charlie seems to nice to be in a world like this but he will reach to protect those he cares about. I loved the addition of the Bone Witch talent and how her storyline eventually connects to Charlie and his search for Marlowe.

The only thing in the story that threw me off was about the middle of the book shifts gears and get to spend time with Marlowe and Berghast's in the 'other' realm. This is a great way to learn about the prison created to contain the biggest bad in the book, but it seemed like it went back in time to when we started with Charlie and the other new characters. It took awhile to shift gears, but this was a great way to get some more of the backstory and find out some of the history of both the prison and the prisoner.

Overall this is going to work well for people who love horror and grimdark and don't mind a really long story if it is interesting. There is plenty of action and things that make you fear for all of the characters. Expansion of the lore behind the story along with some set up for the final book, that will be a pretty epic showdown from what has been hinted at. There are some end-of-the-world type of huge stakes at hand.

I think Bringer of Dust does a few things better than the first book. The pacing was actually a lot better, the characters and world better established and the twist just as intense if not more.

Narration:
Ben Onwukwe is a seasoned narrator and seems pretty perfect for this grimdark tale. His voice and cadence fits the tone of the story and builds on some of the suspense and drama of it. He has a great voice and did really well with the large cast of characters. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Bringer of Dust by J.M. Miro is the dark and engaging sequel to Ordinary Monsters, which picks up not long after where the first book left off. Miro takes everything he gave us in the first book and throws the door wide open, introducing lush lore and world building that has me eager for more. There are familiar faces and new ones, each with their own character arc in which they grapple with the events of the first book and must confront the fresh problems arising in the world around them. None of the characters feel cumbersome or overdone and each offers a unique perspective.

Bringer of Dust ends spectacularly. It had me on the edge of my seat, desperate for the conclusion of this exciting tale. The Talents trilogy is quickly becoming one of my favourites. It is so different from everything I am used to reading that I find it endlessly refreshing. I highly recommend this book and its predecessor to anyone looking for something different from the usual urban fantasy.

I listened to the audiobook version of this ARC, and once again Ben Onqukwe was a phenomenal narrator. His range is truly impressive, and I really enjoy listening to him bring each and every character to life.

Thank you again to Penguin Random House and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review this ARC via NetGalley.

We continue our gritty journey with what's left of the Talents of Cairndale. Not too much time has passed between the ending of the first book and this one, so we are picking up in the wake of the horror and loss of the events of the first. Marlowe is trapped in the orsine and Charlie is looking for some way to get him out of the orsine and find his friend.

I was kind of a mess after the first book. It does not end happily, and this book does not start out happily either. It is a gritty tale and only verges on the edges of YA because most of the characters are young and the writing style is more YA. However, the atmosphere is certainly more adult, and some of the theming when dealing with harder topics of loss and vengeance are a bit more adult.

We get some new characters and mourn the loss of some of the ones lost in the first book. We get some bigger baddies and we get some changes and shifts in the talents we may not have seen coming, so I think it's worth the read. Personally, I thought it was a little bit slow to start but it does pick up and the pacing gets much better after the first 15 %.

I have to give the narrator credit. He does a phenomenal job of giving each character their own personality and voice. I am so glad and thankful NetGalley provided me with an advance audiobook to enjoy the narration which I highly recommend for others who plan to pick up this book.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars--

As a story, this was a solid follow up to Ordinary Monsters. I enjoyed finally tying up some loose ends about some of the characters' histories. That said, I don't feel like the young children themselves or their relationships had the depth or character growth I was hoping for. I continued these books for the world and the plot, but it didn't move very fast in this installment.

As an audiobook, this one wasn't for me. The narrator puts on voices and accents that I had a very hard time taking seriously and really pulled me away from the dark, moody moments of the book. It's fine when the writing itself is injecting some humor, like Ribs' banter, but the exaggerated British accents teeter over into absurdity.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review this book.