Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also been six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them. But before they even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town, and as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, and insane murderers, and face the horrors of Gameland—where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive? In the great Rot & Ruin, everything wants to kill you—and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will survive….
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- YA Fiction & Indies
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- Dust and Decay (Benny Imura #2)
Dust and Decay (Benny Imura #2)
Author(s)
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
August 30, 2011
ISBN
1442402350
Buy This Book
Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also been six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them. But before they even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town, and as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, and insane murderers, and face the horrors of Gameland—where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive? In the great Rot & Ruin, everything wants to kill you—and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will survive….
Editor reviews
2 reviews
Where Are the Real Monsters Hiding?
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I have to give credit whe credit is due. My male students kept telling me to read the first book in the series once it arrived in the media center. Although I was hesitant,they were right! I loved the first book so much that I had to run to the store to pick up Dust and Decay before I was even finished with the first. I don't want to give too much away for anyone who hasn't read the first book in the series. But boy does this book pack a punch!
It has action, suspense, and most of all a big dose of humanity. This is not your typical killer zombie story. Each character has to deal with big questions; Is there anything worth saving? Who are the true monsters,the zombies or us? What or who should we truly fear? The entire story line kept me on th edge of my seat. Tom is the strong older brother that holds secrets from his past that he must amend. Benny is young still struggling to discover what is right and just. Nix wants more to her life than just playing it safe. She wants to find out how to live life to its fullest.
Dust and Decay does not dissapoint. I felt more connected with the characters as Maberry delves deeper into the characters inner most fears and desires. You feel their anguish and the inner conflict they face while trying to survive. The true question continues, who should they really fear?
For zombie fans, this series is a must read. For anyone who feels a little hesistant about the whole zombi genre, I advise you give this series a shot. I recommended the series to a few of my coworkers and a few of my students and all of them we hooked. One even admitted, " I can't wait for the next book. I miss Benny Imura already." I completely agree!
It has action, suspense, and most of all a big dose of humanity. This is not your typical killer zombie story. Each character has to deal with big questions; Is there anything worth saving? Who are the true monsters,the zombies or us? What or who should we truly fear? The entire story line kept me on th edge of my seat. Tom is the strong older brother that holds secrets from his past that he must amend. Benny is young still struggling to discover what is right and just. Nix wants more to her life than just playing it safe. She wants to find out how to live life to its fullest.
Dust and Decay does not dissapoint. I felt more connected with the characters as Maberry delves deeper into the characters inner most fears and desires. You feel their anguish and the inner conflict they face while trying to survive. The true question continues, who should they really fear?
For zombie fans, this series is a must read. For anyone who feels a little hesistant about the whole zombi genre, I advise you give this series a shot. I recommended the series to a few of my coworkers and a few of my students and all of them we hooked. One even admitted, " I can't wait for the next book. I miss Benny Imura already." I completely agree!
Good Points
Page turner
Action packed
Action packed
User reviews
2 reviews
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.5(2)
Characters
4.0(2)
Writing Style
4.5(2)
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A(0)
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Even Stronger Than the First Book
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
4.0
Characters
3.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
I liked Rot & Ruin. It was a solid read, if nothing completely exceptional. If you liked it, I can pretty much guarantee that you're going to like Dust & Decay. The formula is similar, just as full of action, zoms and danger. Actually, I think I liked this one a bit better, with one exception, although I can't say whether that's because I knew what to expect or because it was higher quality.
So I might as well begin here with the one thing I could not get over and did not like, even though I did try to come to terms with it: they get attacked by a rhino. My first reaction was approximately, "lol whut?" because, well, rhinos don't generally chill out west. Then I thought about zoos and how they wouldn't be manned anymore, so animals might just roam, which did turn out to be the explanation. I also briefly wondered if rhinos can survive here what with not being native and perhaps not used to rough winters, but gave up since I don't know much about rhinos. Anyway, explained or not, I really don't know why the rhino attack happened. I mean, it was a disheartening thing to have happen on their quest, but couldn't it have been a less ridiculous animal, like a big ass boar, which is what I expected?
Rhinoceros aside, I really liked the pacing of this book (except for the little snippets of Nix's notebook, which made her seem like an airhead and not like the badass we all know she is). It kept the action coming and blended in some interesting ideas and thoughtful moments well. For example, I really loved the Greenman's (please tell me this is a reference to It's Always Sunny...) observation that the earth was actually recovering because of the zoms. Oh, and the scene where a horse and zombie did a little do-si-do with the horse just staying out of reach.
Unfortunately, I am totally ready to read the next alliteratively titled book in the series right now, but I'm guessing it won't be published for another year at least. Sigh. It promises to be even better, because I really want to know what's happening in other parts of the country. How cool if different places reacted in different ways!
So I might as well begin here with the one thing I could not get over and did not like, even though I did try to come to terms with it: they get attacked by a rhino. My first reaction was approximately, "lol whut?" because, well, rhinos don't generally chill out west. Then I thought about zoos and how they wouldn't be manned anymore, so animals might just roam, which did turn out to be the explanation. I also briefly wondered if rhinos can survive here what with not being native and perhaps not used to rough winters, but gave up since I don't know much about rhinos. Anyway, explained or not, I really don't know why the rhino attack happened. I mean, it was a disheartening thing to have happen on their quest, but couldn't it have been a less ridiculous animal, like a big ass boar, which is what I expected?
Rhinoceros aside, I really liked the pacing of this book (except for the little snippets of Nix's notebook, which made her seem like an airhead and not like the badass we all know she is). It kept the action coming and blended in some interesting ideas and thoughtful moments well. For example, I really loved the Greenman's (please tell me this is a reference to It's Always Sunny...) observation that the earth was actually recovering because of the zoms. Oh, and the scene where a horse and zombie did a little do-si-do with the horse just staying out of reach.
Unfortunately, I am totally ready to read the next alliteratively titled book in the series right now, but I'm guessing it won't be published for another year at least. Sigh. It promises to be even better, because I really want to know what's happening in other parts of the country. How cool if different places reacted in different ways!
Dust and Decay
(Updated: June 03, 2026)
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Again I couldn't put it down,wish the book was longer. I can't wait for the third book!
Good Points
Lots of action again couldn't put it down.
S
susan
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