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livingin_ficiton's review against another edition
4.0
A really good and engrossing book after so long! It wasn't overly romantic or swoon worthy but it was a good read. The chemistry was good and the story had a charm to it with a captivating plot line.
At times it did get a bit difficult to relate to the female lead but nothing major.
Samantha young never disappoints! Love her writing always!
At times it did get a bit difficult to relate to the female lead but nothing major.
Samantha young never disappoints! Love her writing always!
amor_fati's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first of Samantha books and the music pulled me in. The way she was able to write about how Skylar wanted basically a sense of freedom and still have her passion, her lifeline was brilliant. Killian was and is a dark hero, he brutes and he does express until he makes us all swoon.
You will feel ever emotion. All the love. All the pain. And it worth them all. It’s a beautiful woven story of love and music and getting back all your dreams.
You will feel ever emotion. All the love. All the pain. And it worth them all. It’s a beautiful woven story of love and music and getting back all your dreams.
jennifertclaeys's review against another edition
5.0
This is honestly one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Everything about it got to me. I don’t even have the words about how beautiful the characters and this story is.
pjmorse's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That's a fantastic title, by the way, because on the one hand it can be this high-flying metaphor about the ephemeral nature of life blah blah blah, but on the other hand, it's in the "rock star" subgenre and if you've never noticed the way amplified music can literally pick up the dust on a surface and move it around, your concerts have not been loud enough. (Fine, I guess what's really happening is the surface is resonating with the sound, but it looks like the dust is dancing.) Unlike most of the rock star books I've read so far (I like this subgenre) it's the female main character who's the star, and the book doesn't open at the height of fame; she's abandoned her band, flying under the radar and busking anonymously on the streets in Glasgow. There's a "we're the biggest band in the world" trope which this book sort of bounces off, thankfully; I'd like to try one with a band that's just starting out, or just big enough to be sustainable, but I suspect the point of the subgenre is the fame, so maybe not. I also wonder if the changes in the music industry in recent years mean the idea of a "biggest band in the world" is an anachronism.
Anyway, aside from my thoughts about rock star romances, this story is a good example of what Young does really well: two people with attraction and obstacles realistically working through the obstacles. Some of the enabling factors for working through the problems come from within them, some from without, but there's no melting away of problems or "money/fame/power solves everything" or other deus ex machina solutions; these two have to figure it out for themselves, and eventually they do.
Anyway, aside from my thoughts about rock star romances, this story is a good example of what Young does really well: two people with attraction and obstacles realistically working through the obstacles. Some of the enabling factors for working through the problems come from within them, some from without, but there's no melting away of problems or "money/fame/power solves everything" or other deus ex machina solutions; these two have to figure it out for themselves, and eventually they do.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
greylandreviews's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
ARC provided by author for honest review
From the three ARC'S I have received, this one was probably my least favorite. I just didn't connect as much as I wanted to the characters but over all it still was good book. And warning! Might also need tissues for this one also, it seems like there is a theme of making the reader feel weepy for Young this year.
ARC provided by author for honest review
From the three ARC'S I have received, this one was probably my least favorite. I just didn't connect as much as I wanted to the characters but over all it still was good book. And warning! Might also need tissues for this one also, it seems like there is a theme of making the reader feel weepy for Young this year.
slovenianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars.
So it's been a while since I have read Samantha Young's book. The last time I do that, I've read two books I think of her On Dublin Street series (not sure about the names of the series).
While the book is okay, I found myself hating the side character Micah. He was so annoying with his actions and I think he hurt them both. At the end of the book we get forgiveness for both of them but to me, his actions were too childish and toxic for their friendship.
And even though he has done some terrible things, he apologizes and the heroine of course easily forgives him. I was so pissed at her. There is just so much drama at one time, it gets tiring. It really bothers me that she's the one that does most of the apologizing to Micah while he's guilty too.
The heroine is at times so dumb. She's in a relationship with the hero and she almost screws that up too. She expects she will not have to talk about her past after basically disappearing from the world/society for two years. It's naive especially since she's a teenage rock star. I mean I agree with her that she doesn't owe the fans anything but at the same time you have to give them something, right? Like not the whole story but the basics should cover that. But no, she has to be dramatic and almost break up with Killian, the love of her life.
Also, a side note: this book has many mistakes mostly the words repeating itself. (I.e. hanging onto him to him...) It doesn't exactly bother me but an editor is needed.
So it's been a while since I have read Samantha Young's book. The last time I do that, I've read two books I think of her On Dublin Street series (not sure about the names of the series).
While the book is okay, I found myself hating the side character Micah. He was so annoying with his actions and I think he hurt them both. At the end of the book we get forgiveness for both of them but to me, his actions were too childish and toxic for their friendship.
And even though he has done some terrible things, he apologizes and the heroine of course easily forgives him. I was so pissed at her. There is just so much drama at one time, it gets tiring. It really bothers me that she's the one that does most of the apologizing to Micah while he's guilty too.
The heroine is at times so dumb. She's in a relationship with the hero and she almost screws that up too. She expects she will not have to talk about her past after basically disappearing from the world/society for two years. It's naive especially since she's a teenage rock star. I mean I agree with her that she doesn't owe the fans anything but at the same time you have to give them something, right? Like not the whole story but the basics should cover that. But no, she has to be dramatic and almost break up with Killian, the love of her life.
Also, a side note: this book has many mistakes mostly the words repeating itself. (I.e. hanging onto him to him...) It doesn't exactly bother me but an editor is needed.
chroniclesofabookreader's review against another edition
5.0
As Dust Dances was as romantic and whimsical as its cover. With a young woman long lost to the depths of fame and grief, Young easily portrayed Skylar’s reactivity to her past and pulled me into the small world she had created for protection. Her animosity toward Killian and his role in possibly affecting that obscurity she fought so hard for made for a combustible romance with a love-hate dynamic that turned the pages faster as it grew more impossible to ignore.
Young’s romantic and expressive writing style gave this story a memoir-like feel. The depiction of Skylar’s lack of privacy and the phenomenon of a too-fast celebrity felt incredibly stark and vivid. Her loss of control felt like the reader’s loss of control, and I was pulled into the spiral right along with her—a connection and empathy made even stronger by the amazing lyrics that flowed from her soul onto the pages. I was astounded by her resilience even if it didn’t seem that she was, and how even with her hard outer shell, it was still possible to see the woman hiding underneath it. Killian became the beacon guiding her to confronting her past and brightening her future; the true song of her soul.
The beauty of As Dust Dances lay in its gentle capturing of your heart as it explored the depths of two people coming together. Every moment of it was mesmerizing and breathtaking in its depiction. When Young takes readers back to Scotland there’s magic to be found.
**Received an early copy; this had no bearing on my opinions**
Young’s romantic and expressive writing style gave this story a memoir-like feel. The depiction of Skylar’s lack of privacy and the phenomenon of a too-fast celebrity felt incredibly stark and vivid. Her loss of control felt like the reader’s loss of control, and I was pulled into the spiral right along with her—a connection and empathy made even stronger by the amazing lyrics that flowed from her soul onto the pages. I was astounded by her resilience even if it didn’t seem that she was, and how even with her hard outer shell, it was still possible to see the woman hiding underneath it. Killian became the beacon guiding her to confronting her past and brightening her future; the true song of her soul.
The beauty of As Dust Dances lay in its gentle capturing of your heart as it explored the depths of two people coming together. Every moment of it was mesmerizing and breathtaking in its depiction. When Young takes readers back to Scotland there’s magic to be found.
**Received an early copy; this had no bearing on my opinions**
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great story by this author, killian gave me so many feels.
These main characters were so well written and the chemistry made me blush.
I highly recommend this story.
These main characters were so well written and the chemistry made me blush.
I highly recommend this story.
bookswitholivia's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0