Dusk and Ember

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Pub Date 15 May 2019 | Archive Date 31 Aug 2019

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Description

Can a life come apart and be rebuilt in one night? 19-year-old Richard Issych is about to find out. One friend is dead—murdered by another friend—and all Richard wants to do is get to the wake, come home, and start a new life. But for one life to begin another must end.

Since graduating high school the year before and not knowing how to live, or even if he wants to live, Richard has wandered into the graveyard shift at a local foundry, a hellish world of molten metal, rote work, and no prospects. Drawn into a downward spiral of motorcycle gangs and easy drugs, he finds himself on the cusp of a decision that will change his world forever.

Part road trip, part boomerang into past and back, part wrestling with the forces that make us and break us, Dusk and Ember is a hard truth coming-of-age tale in dark Americana. This night, Richard grabs hold and hangs on for the strangest car ride of his life with his oddball friends on their way to the wake.

Dusk and Ember is a prequel to There Are Reasons Noah Packed No Clothes, which Kirkus Reviews called “a confident, strongly voiced portrait of despair and the flickering light at the end of the tunnel.”

Can a life come apart and be rebuilt in one night? 19-year-old Richard Issych is about to find out. One friend is dead—murdered by another friend—and all Richard wants to do is get to the wake, come...


A Note From the Publisher

Pre-publication Kindle version is available for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P8TH5X8

Pre-publication Kindle version is available for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P8TH5X8


Advance Praise

"Jacoby's prose...is dense and dynamic.... The book is conceptually impressive, ... and fans of epic postmodernist novels may find themselves enthralled by it." — Kirkus Reviews

"Dusk and Ember is a smart and interesting concept that has real literary and conceptual merit..." — IndieReader

"Jacoby's prose...is dense and dynamic.... The book is conceptually impressive, ... and fans of epic postmodernist novels may find themselves enthralled by it." — Kirkus Reviews

"Dusk and Ember is a...


Marketing Plan

Goodreads giveaways (pre-publication Kindle and print)

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Goodreads giveaways (pre-publication Kindle and print)

Promotion on author's social media and newsletter


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780983969723
PRICE US$14.99 (USD)

Average rating from 18 members


Featured Reviews

Dusk and Ember tells the story of Richard Issych. A recent high school graduate who has no idea what he wants to do with his life. He is not one of the popular kids, or the jocks, or even the nerds. He is a kid who seems to live on the fringes. Richard’s belief is that he likely wouldn’t even be missed. He is also the middle child. So maybe, there’s a little bit of that middle child thing going on as well.

Beautifully written, this novel tells Richard’s story of leaving high school and going to work in a foundry on the night shift. In the foundry he becomes a different Richard. He starts using drugs, some to keep him awake and some to help him sleep during the day. He hangs out with his coworkers, some who deal drugs and some who just take them. He loses himself in this world until something drastic happens to his coworker Melvin. That seems to snap Richard back to reality and the burning question of what next.

Robert Jacoby has crafted a beautifully written story. His descriptive skills are amazing and are what kept me reading. Mostly I believe it is the structure of the book, which flickers between the one night and all the events leading up to it. Also, Richard’s drug fueled imagination leaves the reader wondering what’s real and what isn’t. I reread the epilogue three times, and still am not sure how it ended.

Perhaps it just wasn’t my kind of book, but this book left me confused. Or perhaps it is because this book is a prequel to another of Robert Jacoby’s works. No matter what, I finished this book more confused than I was in the middle. Yet, this novel is a beautiful display of writing, if not a bit too long.


This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.

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Whoa. This one cut close to the bone, and I had to take a day before reviewing. Nineteen-year-old Richard Issych, just out of high school, is emotionally adrift and socially awkward. Richard is completely unready for adult life, the plot shifts from different periods and memories of early childhood and its own confusion about how the world works, how to fit in, how to understand what is going on in his little world - moving to his dead end job at a foundry. He doesn’t enjoy the job there, but is slowly befriended by his co-workers. Unfortunately, the new friends come with an introduction to hard drugs: drugs to stay awake (Black Beauties and Crank), drugs to sleep (quaaludes). Still living in his parents’ house, life is miserable, and Richard doesn't feel he belongs or fits in with his family. And violence explodes among his small circle of friends, leaving one dead and another arrested for the murder.

Now about the writing. I thought it was brilliant, and call it what you will (postmodern?), Robert Jacoby got into Richard Issych’s head as well as my own. I remember how I felt in Richard’s position, with uncertainty and post-high school mental confusion. I identified with Richard and his thoughts/questions/confusion. Gorgeous writing, great descriptive passages, and a realistic feel all around. This book is probably not for everyone, but I recommend it strongly. I loved it, and because this is a prequel, I'll be reading its companion book as well.
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Dark. Poignant. Thought-provoking. Captivating and suspenseful Easily kept me engaged throughout.

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Dusk and Ember - Can a life come apart and be rebuilt in one night? 19-year-old Richard Issych is about to find out. One friend is dead—murdered by another friend—and all Richard wants to do is get to the wake, come home, and start a new life. But for one life to begin another must end.

I had to include part of the synopsis so that you would understand how those words are captivating. The story does not fall short. It's well written and kept me intrigued. I enjoyed the characters and overall highly recommend this book.

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