{Synopsis} – A CHILL RUNS THROUGH HIS SKIN AS THE PHANTOM APPEARS.
HE SEES THEM EVERYWHERE . . .
Eric Stark is not insane. Or at least he doesn’t think so. He wishes everyone in Dust, Texas felt the same way. But that’s not going to happen since the whole town thinks he’s crazy. Why didn’t he keep his mouth shut?
No one understands. Eric is alone as he battles his sanity in a town of tormenters. Suddenly a new friendship emerges after the new kid, Kyle Barrett, moves to town.
Eric reluctantly reveals his secret. Is it a curse or a gift? He isn’t certain, but with Kyle by his side he finds the courage to seek the truth.
They soon realize that something sinister is descending on the residents of Dust.
Is it caused by Eric’s phantoms or is it something else? Is it connected to the mysterious death of hundreds of townspeople over sixty years ago? One thing is certain—only Eric and Kyle can save them.
They set out on a heart-pounding adventure and find themselves transported to a disturbed and deserted version of their small southern town. They quickly discover that this new world has mysteries of its own to uncover. What they find could prove more than they bargained for, and it only leads to more questions. Eric and Kyle must face a horrifying fact—they may never get out alive.
“We’re gonna die here,” Kyle muttered.
“I don’t believe that,” Eric said. “And neither do you.”
Will they survive their encounter with these dark and mysterious beings?
Will they find a way back home?
Or will they be lost forever?
The Vanished from Dust series is perfect for anyone who craves a hair-raising thriller packed with mystery and suspense. This paranormal story for young adults can be compared to Stand by Me, mixed with Odd Thomas, and a twist of The Dark Tower.
{My Thoughts} – Eric is a teachers son that has an unusual talent. He can see phantom like creatures and have been able to since he was around eight years-old. A lot of the other kids in his town make fun of him and call him “Crazy Train Eric” because of it. He does however, have a few friends: Josh is a oversized boy with a stutter that still needs to grow up and mature a lot and then Kyle who his first few days after moving to town had stood up for Eric and they have been friends since.
Eric and Josh have a friendship that is of convenience. If Eric can’t be with Kyle then he opts to hang out with Josh. I don’t think it is fair to Josh, but like Eric I don’t think he has many options available as friends or he may not understand that Eric is in a sense using him.
Kyle and Eric have a lot in common. They both like two girls that are friends, they both accept each other for who the other is, they both like nintendo, and they both like to cause mischief. I am not sure which is the ringleader in most cases, but I believe it to be Kyle coming up with many of the plans they follow through on.
As mentioned before Eric sees phantoms or demon like creatures. These creatures seem to be only seen by him and another character in the book named Bop. Bop is more or less the town drunk and he is always saying things that make Eric believe he can see them too.
Eric decides that since when he is out at night with Kyle they go near the old theater in town. He notices a phantom looking out a window back at him and discovers that he has to go back there. He has to find out if he is crazy or not and if the phantoms he sees or real.
Once you get to this point the story picks up a lot. I was having problems wanting to keep reading the book because it was slow going. However, it got better, the story background had been laid out and it just got really good. I had problems wanting to stop reading it at this point.
Eric and Kyle are best friends. They are blood brother. They are resourceful, they keep their heads together and they work well together under pressure. They understand that any choice they make can effect the outcome of their survival so they are careful and try not to make to many lapses in judgment.
I enjoyed this book even the reading the beginning was some what of a struggle. I had started it on the 9th and ended it today on the 14th, it usually doesn’t take me this long to read a 300ish page book, but like I said the beginning was a struggle. If you don’t mind a slow beginning that works up to something brilliant I am positive you will enjoy this book.
I look forward to continuing the adventure of these boys in book two!
Final Conclusion: 5 Star Rating.
