Book Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS

By A.S. King

2009

320 Pages

From Back Cover:

In the late seventeenth century, famed teenage pirate Emer Morrisey was on the cusp of escaping the pirate life with her one true love and unfathomable riches when she was slain and cursed with the dust of one hundred dogs, dooming her to one hundred lives as a dog before returning to a human body-with her memories intact. Now she's a contemporary American teenager and all she needs is a shovel and a ride to Jamaica.

My thoughts:

I LOVE the cover!! It draws you in and begs to be picked up. It's absolutely perfect for the story.

The Dust of 100 Dogs was such an unusual tale to say the least. I admit that I struggled to write a review for lack of the right words. I love stories about pirates-Bloody Jack comes to mind. As well as stories about reincarnation-remember Audrey anyone?  A.S. King has put the two together and created an amazing story.

Main character Emer Morrisey is born during the 1600s in Ireland and lives an eventful life. After being reunited with her one and only true love she dies tragically, but not before burying a treasure chest full of jewels and gold in a secret location. Don't worry-I haven't disclosed details to ruin the story for you, this all happens in the first chapter of the book! As Emer is dying another pirate hell bent on revenge curses her to a life of 100 dogs. So A.S.King includes little snippets of Emer's different dog lives sprinkled through out the story. Genius! It helps the reader remember the curse. Eventually Emer completes the curse and lives the life of the 100th dog. She now is reincarnated as Saffron Adams during the 1970s in Pennsylvania. Saffron/Emer is born with all of her memories. She remembers her previous life as a pirate and her precious treasure buried along the coast of Jamaica. She is determined to get there and claim her riches. What she doesn't count on is the dysfunctional family she is born into and the trials of being an American teenager.

I loved this book and can't wait to get my hands on something else that A.S.King has written. Reader be warned there are parts of this book that are violent-after all Emer/Saffron is a pirate. Some scenes may affect a weak stomach.