aknas22's review against another edition
3.0
I'm wavering between giving this 3 stars or 4. As usual I like the world and I'm glad a couple of characters were mentioned again. However I didn't like the way some of Charlie's relationships seem to be going.
andimontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. This series just keeps getting better. I love Charlie, her budding relationship with Hank, and what she's willing to do for Bryn, Emma, Will, and Rex. Brim is also probably my favorite series pet - who wouldn't want a hellhound, anyway?
chllybrd's review
4.0
reviewed by http://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
There is a lot of things happening in THE HOUR OF DUST AND ASHES. Charlie has to figure out a way to protect her sister and the other ash addicts so that they can not be controlled into committing suicide by things that are possessing them. Charlie, Hank and Rex have to step out of there world to try and stop an assassination attempt on another and Charlie has to undergo some life ending "gifts" to help save her sister from her possession before it is to late. There is a great deal of heart pumping scenes, a ton of romantic frustration, as well as some heartbreaking conclusions. Hank and Charlie continue there little dance around each other. Can we say stubborn much?? It is 100% clear that Charlie wants to be with Hank yet she is too stubborn to take the necessary steps and boy is it frustrating.Charlie has to come to a decision concerning her daughter Emma and if she will support her pursuing and studying magic. We finally learn about Hanks past and I think you will be just as shocked as I am. You really cant go wrong with the books in the Charlie Madigan series, I would recommend them to any Urban Fantasy fan.
There is a lot of things happening in THE HOUR OF DUST AND ASHES. Charlie has to figure out a way to protect her sister and the other ash addicts so that they can not be controlled into committing suicide by things that are possessing them. Charlie, Hank and Rex have to step out of there world to try and stop an assassination attempt on another and Charlie has to undergo some life ending "gifts" to help save her sister from her possession before it is to late. There is a great deal of heart pumping scenes, a ton of romantic frustration, as well as some heartbreaking conclusions. Hank and Charlie continue there little dance around each other. Can we say stubborn much?? It is 100% clear that Charlie wants to be with Hank yet she is too stubborn to take the necessary steps and boy is it frustrating.Charlie has to come to a decision concerning her daughter Emma and if she will support her pursuing and studying magic. We finally learn about Hanks past and I think you will be just as shocked as I am. You really cant go wrong with the books in the Charlie Madigan series, I would recommend them to any Urban Fantasy fan.
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
5.0
There was SO MUCH to love in this book, I'm struggling to gather my thoughts. First and most prominent thought is this: the Charlie Madigan series has now officially joined the ranks of my auto-buy favourite series.
The characters: Charlie ticks so many of the cliched urban fantasy heroine boxes, but not once did her behaviour or attitude make me roll my eyes. She is a living, breathing ball of energy who bursts off the page. Flawed, courageous, funny and loving, Charlie would make for an awesome drinking buddy - I doubt I would be able to keep up. And the relationship with Hank - well, let's just say I have loved watching the romance blossom between these two and book 3 offered enough progress to keep me happy. Revelations about Hank are shocking and heart breaking and help offer context to elements of his character that have been hinted at in previous books. Charlie's recollection of their first meeting was a moment of genius and actually made me laugh out loud in public as I read, earning me a few strange looks.
I could happily gush about the supporting characters (Rex! Emma! Bryn! Brim! Aaron! Love them all) but I'll talk about the world building next. It's a clever concept - heaven and hell-like beings living on earth and clarifying hundreds of myths and creation stories. Charlie's own growing abilities continue to provide seeds for future instalments.
The pacing was fast, despite all the carefully laid out character development and backstory spilling, and the action was exhilerating.
So much to love - hopefully my enthusiastic rambling has conveyed how pleased I was by The Hour of Dust and Ashes. The ending provoked a very strong reaction from me, as I suspect it would anyone with a pulse, and it is with baited breath that I await book 4. Awesome stuff.
The characters: Charlie ticks so many of the cliched urban fantasy heroine boxes, but not once did her behaviour or attitude make me roll my eyes. She is a living, breathing ball of energy who bursts off the page. Flawed, courageous, funny and loving, Charlie would make for an awesome drinking buddy - I doubt I would be able to keep up. And the relationship with Hank - well, let's just say I have loved watching the romance blossom between these two and book 3 offered enough progress to keep me happy. Revelations about Hank are shocking and heart breaking and help offer context to elements of his character that have been hinted at in previous books. Charlie's recollection of their first meeting was a moment of genius and actually made me laugh out loud in public as I read, earning me a few strange looks.
I could happily gush about the supporting characters (Rex! Emma! Bryn! Brim! Aaron! Love them all) but I'll talk about the world building next. It's a clever concept - heaven and hell-like beings living on earth and clarifying hundreds of myths and creation stories. Charlie's own growing abilities continue to provide seeds for future instalments.
The pacing was fast, despite all the carefully laid out character development and backstory spilling, and the action was exhilerating.
So much to love - hopefully my enthusiastic rambling has conveyed how pleased I was by The Hour of Dust and Ashes. The ending provoked a very strong reaction from me, as I suspect it would anyone with a pulse, and it is with baited breath that I await book 4. Awesome stuff.
aphelia88's review against another edition
5.0
This excellent third entry in what has become one of my favourite Urban Fantasy series brings together the ongoing plot threads of the first two books in an explosive way!
As the book opens, Charlie is visiting the cryptic Oracle, trying to track down an exorcist for her sister Bryn. Ash, the offworld drug Bryn was exposed to during the battle to shut down it's manufacturing, opens humans up to possession, and events in the last book make it clear that something or someone else is taking Bryn - a powerful mage in her own right - for a ride.
All the exorcists in the city have fled, scared of what the Darkness portends. But the Oracle, Alessandra, tells Charlie that there is another way to save her sister - and Charlie being Charlie, she jumps in head first without getting all the details. She can petition the Sylph, a shy Fae elemental race for help, and she does. Four of them give her a gift each - of water, air, earth and fire; a piece of their own power as a sort of temporary magical loan. When Charlie has received all of the gifts, they will combine to make a fifth rare element, and she will be able to look inside Bryn and see what is hiding within her.
Of course, being tricksy Fae, they neglect to tell Charlie that in order to receive each gift, Charlie will have to be willing to die to prove herself worthy. The four tests that she goes through - especially the earth one - are hellish, and leave her shaken. But she never waivers from the path, no matter how difficult it gets, which is the thing I most admire about Charlie: her steadfast determination to do the right thing, no matter the cost, and her loyalty to those she loves.
Meanwhile, Charlie is also being stalked by a strange shadow creature, having visions from the Star, and trying to up with her new super-charged metabolism, which demands constant feeding. And then there's her newly romantic feelings for her Siren partner Hank - which seem to be mutual.
A trip to hellish Charbydon reveals some very interesting information about Hank's past - which changes everything. My favourite part:
Bottom Line: This is a solid series with interesting, unusual world building, and Charlie is a heroine you can really root for! Looking forward to the next book, which I've ordered specially because I'm so curious to see how the series ends
As the book opens, Charlie is visiting the cryptic Oracle, trying to track down an exorcist for her sister Bryn. Ash, the offworld drug Bryn was exposed to during the battle to shut down it's manufacturing, opens humans up to possession, and events in the last book make it clear that something or someone else is taking Bryn - a powerful mage in her own right - for a ride.
All the exorcists in the city have fled, scared of what the Darkness portends. But the Oracle, Alessandra, tells Charlie that there is another way to save her sister - and Charlie being Charlie, she jumps in head first without getting all the details. She can petition the Sylph, a shy Fae elemental race for help, and she does. Four of them give her a gift each - of water, air, earth and fire; a piece of their own power as a sort of temporary magical loan. When Charlie has received all of the gifts, they will combine to make a fifth rare element, and she will be able to look inside Bryn and see what is hiding within her.
Of course, being tricksy Fae, they neglect to tell Charlie that in order to receive each gift, Charlie will have to be willing to die to prove herself worthy. The four tests that she goes through - especially the earth one - are hellish, and leave her shaken. But she never waivers from the path, no matter how difficult it gets, which is the thing I most admire about Charlie: her steadfast determination to do the right thing, no matter the cost, and her loyalty to those she loves.
Meanwhile, Charlie is also being stalked by a strange shadow creature, having visions from the Star, and trying to up with her new super-charged metabolism, which demands constant feeding. And then there's her newly romantic feelings for her Siren partner Hank - which seem to be mutual.
A trip to hellish Charbydon reveals some very interesting information about Hank's past - which changes everything. My favourite part:
Spoiler
I really like how Gay used Charlie's gifted powers to see inside Rex to her ex-husband's spirit, and how Will stood up for once and apologized, and asked to be let go. It was very well-written and affecting. I like Rex the Revenant (who was possessing Will, on contract), and I am so glad that Charlie and Emma consider him family now, even without the possibility of restoring Will's spirit to his body. I also liked Emma's new found ability to communicate with her hellhound Brimstone, and that her admittance to the League's magical training school suggests that she will have magic of her own to learn!Bottom Line: This is a solid series with interesting, unusual world building, and Charlie is a heroine you can really root for! Looking forward to the next book, which I've ordered specially because I'm so curious to see how the series ends
book_hoarding_dragon's review
3.0
Thank goodness there's a book four coming out next year.
I'm giving five stars to this bad boy and also five additional stars to Christian McGrath, the brilliant mind behind this awesome cover. I didn't really realize it till I got the book but Hank! On the cover! *Glomp*
I have to admit I am a huge Hank fan and I absolutely adore Rex. So, if you're fans of them get ready for some good times. Like the other books in this series there is ALOT going on.
~Hanks Smexyness towards Charlie and vice versa
~Will being trapped inside of his body with Rex in the pilot seat (Read book One to understand)
~Bryn's addiction to Ash and her possession
~The Blackness blob stuff over Atlanta
~Hanks Past (Big/Great reveal in this book. If you like Hank buy it just for this. I was so not expecting it! I was thinking along the lines of him being some sort of Elysian royalty or lordish or something.)
~The Jinn leader, Tennin, evilness
There is probably more to it, but I can't think of more at this stage. There are a few matters resolved here, but others are opened up (as River Song says, "sshhh, spoilers"). But Gays world-building is excellent and I really hope that we get to see more of Charbydon, I've been excited to see that one or Elysian ever since book one. It did not disappoint.
I'm giving five stars to this bad boy and also five additional stars to Christian McGrath, the brilliant mind behind this awesome cover. I didn't really realize it till I got the book but Hank! On the cover! *Glomp*
I have to admit I am a huge Hank fan and I absolutely adore Rex. So, if you're fans of them get ready for some good times. Like the other books in this series there is ALOT going on.
~Hanks Smexyness towards Charlie and vice versa
~Will being trapped inside of his body with Rex in the pilot seat (Read book One to understand)
~Bryn's addiction to Ash and her possession
~The Blackness blob stuff over Atlanta
~Hanks Past (Big/Great reveal in this book. If you like Hank buy it just for this. I was so not expecting it! I was thinking along the lines of him being some sort of Elysian royalty or lordish or something.)
~The Jinn leader, Tennin, evilness
There is probably more to it, but I can't think of more at this stage. There are a few matters resolved here, but others are opened up (as River Song says, "sshhh, spoilers"). But Gays world-building is excellent and I really hope that we get to see more of Charbydon, I've been excited to see that one or Elysian ever since book one. It did not disappoint.
alexiachantel's review
4.0
Hi, my name is Lexi. And I am an ash addict.
Well not exactly, but it would be much more of a mouthful to say Charlie Madigan series addict.
The Charlie Madigan series started out strong with book one, delivered a solid hit with book two. Now The Hour of Dust and Ashes manages packs in more action and deep emotion than the previous books. Can Urban Fantasy get any better than this?
Picking up right where book two left off, with Charlie right in the middle of potential inter species war and enemies on every side. With out such a strong group of friends, or paid oracles, Charlie would possibly be dust. Instead she meets the sylphs who give her four gifts. Who would willingly take a gift that basically kills you first, Charlie, knowing it will be her ticket to saving her sister. Bring on the unknown powers, see who is left standing in the end.
Urban Fantasy usually has some bit of romance in it, this series has always had a little hint but not much more than a flirty smile or heated gaze. Finally we get to see Hank and Charlie reacting stronger to each other, raw emotions coming out. Hank’s character and background is revealed, and you will not be able to help but fall for this siren.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet you are missing out. Kelly Gay knows her urban fantasy, do you?
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-hour-of-dust-and-ashes-by-kelly.html
(copy courtesy of publisher)
Well not exactly, but it would be much more of a mouthful to say Charlie Madigan series addict.
The Charlie Madigan series started out strong with book one, delivered a solid hit with book two. Now The Hour of Dust and Ashes manages packs in more action and deep emotion than the previous books. Can Urban Fantasy get any better than this?
Picking up right where book two left off, with Charlie right in the middle of potential inter species war and enemies on every side. With out such a strong group of friends, or paid oracles, Charlie would possibly be dust. Instead she meets the sylphs who give her four gifts. Who would willingly take a gift that basically kills you first, Charlie, knowing it will be her ticket to saving her sister. Bring on the unknown powers, see who is left standing in the end.
Urban Fantasy usually has some bit of romance in it, this series has always had a little hint but not much more than a flirty smile or heated gaze. Finally we get to see Hank and Charlie reacting stronger to each other, raw emotions coming out. Hank’s character and background is revealed, and you will not be able to help but fall for this siren.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet you are missing out. Kelly Gay knows her urban fantasy, do you?
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/08/review-hour-of-dust-and-ashes-by-kelly.html
(copy courtesy of publisher)
audiobookmel's review
4.0
Review originally posted at RabidReads.com.
I read the first two books in this series a few years ago while on vacation. I read them both back to back and really enjoyed them. I came home from vacation to new releases from other authors and series that made me have shiny object syndrome. These books fell off my radar. I have no idea why, because I really enjoyed them. I was going through my TBR list on Goodreads to find books to take with me on my vacation this year and I saw these. I requested both books three and four from the library to take with me. I’m really glad that I did. I had forgotten how much I loved this series.
Charlie Madigan lives in Atlanta, but not the same Atlanta we know today. There are now off-worlders who exists from alternate dimensions. There are many different creatures that we know from mythologies from these dimensions. From the heaven-like dimension of Elysia there are sirens and angel-like, Adoni. From the hell-like Charbydon dimension, there are hellhounds, jinns and goblins, just to name a few. Charlie is a single, divorced mother and a member of the police force (though by this book she isn’t part of the regular Atlanta PD anymore). Her partner is a male siren named Hank.
In this book, some humans that are addicted an off-world drug which makes them very susceptible to possession. They are also committing suicide. On top of this, Charlie’s sister is one of the people addicted to this drug. Charlie, Hank and Rex, a Revenant, all venture to the hell-like dimension of Charbydon to prevent any more deaths, including Charlie’s sister and one of her daughter’s best friends.
There is a little bit of romance in this story, but no sex. There has been somewhat of a relationship building between Charlie and Hank. It takes an even bigger leap in this book. And I completely approve of this relationship development. I love Hank. He is so good for Charlie and her daughter. There is no awkwardness when they work together as partners. You can really tell that they are both willing to lay their lives on the line for each other, but have tons of fun together too.
While this series is on the darker side, there is still humor mixed in to lighten things up at time. Not only is Hank funny, but the Revenant Rex is really funny and provides a lot of comic relief. This is great urban fantasy series that brings all the aspects I expect to see in a series that I love. The heroine is strong and independent, but can take help from her friends when it is needed. I don’t require romance in my urban fantasies, but I don’t mind if it is there. This one is slowly building, which has been great to follow. I do love that even though this series is dark, there is humor mixed in with it. Like most urban fantasies, I would recommend that you start this series from the beginning.
I read the first two books in this series a few years ago while on vacation. I read them both back to back and really enjoyed them. I came home from vacation to new releases from other authors and series that made me have shiny object syndrome. These books fell off my radar. I have no idea why, because I really enjoyed them. I was going through my TBR list on Goodreads to find books to take with me on my vacation this year and I saw these. I requested both books three and four from the library to take with me. I’m really glad that I did. I had forgotten how much I loved this series.
Charlie Madigan lives in Atlanta, but not the same Atlanta we know today. There are now off-worlders who exists from alternate dimensions. There are many different creatures that we know from mythologies from these dimensions. From the heaven-like dimension of Elysia there are sirens and angel-like, Adoni. From the hell-like Charbydon dimension, there are hellhounds, jinns and goblins, just to name a few. Charlie is a single, divorced mother and a member of the police force (though by this book she isn’t part of the regular Atlanta PD anymore). Her partner is a male siren named Hank.
In this book, some humans that are addicted an off-world drug which makes them very susceptible to possession. They are also committing suicide. On top of this, Charlie’s sister is one of the people addicted to this drug. Charlie, Hank and Rex, a Revenant, all venture to the hell-like dimension of Charbydon to prevent any more deaths, including Charlie’s sister and one of her daughter’s best friends.
There is a little bit of romance in this story, but no sex. There has been somewhat of a relationship building between Charlie and Hank. It takes an even bigger leap in this book. And I completely approve of this relationship development. I love Hank. He is so good for Charlie and her daughter. There is no awkwardness when they work together as partners. You can really tell that they are both willing to lay their lives on the line for each other, but have tons of fun together too.
While this series is on the darker side, there is still humor mixed in to lighten things up at time. Not only is Hank funny, but the Revenant Rex is really funny and provides a lot of comic relief. This is great urban fantasy series that brings all the aspects I expect to see in a series that I love. The heroine is strong and independent, but can take help from her friends when it is needed. I don’t require romance in my urban fantasies, but I don’t mind if it is there. This one is slowly building, which has been great to follow. I do love that even though this series is dark, there is humor mixed in with it. Like most urban fantasies, I would recommend that you start this series from the beginning.
“For the record,” he said, looking up at me with a crooked smile, “this is not how I pictured removing your pants for the first time.”
“That confidant, are we?”
His smiled filled out, deep and brimming with humor. “When something is this inevitable. Yes.”
He tossed my wet pants into the pile with the rest of my soiled clothes, then turned back and froze.
“You’re wearing SpongeBob underwear.”
Shit.
My gaze flew downward and my mortification was finally complete. “Emma got them for me…for my birthday.” What the hell. I might as well get it over with. “Patrick is on my ass.”
drey72's review
4.0
drey’s thoughts:
The job never stops when you’re Charlie Madigan. Now that the fate of the world is in good hands (for the time being!), she’s got to track down the reason ash addicts are committing suicide, preferably before anything happens to Bryn… In the course of her investigation, she finds that not all is as it seems, and the fate of the world may not be quite as happily-ever-after as she’d thought.
Charlie is one of my favorite female characters in an urban fantasy. (Now why does that sound like an award category? Hmm…) She’s not perfect, but she’ll do the right thing no matter what it takes–and if it involves her family or her friends just doing the right thing isn’t going to be enough.
In this third installment she goes all out to help her sister and in doing so finds out that there’s so much out there she doesn’t know. She gets to meet sylphs (eek!) and go to hell. Literally. How much more fun can she have? Shall we talk about the shadowy creature who shows up whenever she uses her power? Or how about Hank’s past–that comes back to bite him in the behind, as pasts are wont to do? Never mind that he didn’t do anything wrong.
Juggling everything takes a lot out of Charlie, and the ending leaves even more for her to pick up in book four. Which I want to get my hands on, like right now!
drey’s rating: Excellent! Kelly Gay does not disappoint with the action in The Hour of Dust and Ashes, or with the story and character development. And I love that her cover girl’s covered up (except for the lil’ midriff shot in The Better Part of Darkness)!
The job never stops when you’re Charlie Madigan. Now that the fate of the world is in good hands (for the time being!), she’s got to track down the reason ash addicts are committing suicide, preferably before anything happens to Bryn… In the course of her investigation, she finds that not all is as it seems, and the fate of the world may not be quite as happily-ever-after as she’d thought.
Charlie is one of my favorite female characters in an urban fantasy. (Now why does that sound like an award category? Hmm…) She’s not perfect, but she’ll do the right thing no matter what it takes–and if it involves her family or her friends just doing the right thing isn’t going to be enough.
In this third installment she goes all out to help her sister and in doing so finds out that there’s so much out there she doesn’t know. She gets to meet sylphs (eek!) and go to hell. Literally. How much more fun can she have? Shall we talk about the shadowy creature who shows up whenever she uses her power? Or how about Hank’s past–that comes back to bite him in the behind, as pasts are wont to do? Never mind that he didn’t do anything wrong.
Juggling everything takes a lot out of Charlie, and the ending leaves even more for her to pick up in book four. Which I want to get my hands on, like right now!
drey’s rating: Excellent! Kelly Gay does not disappoint with the action in The Hour of Dust and Ashes, or with the story and character development. And I love that her cover girl’s covered up (except for the lil’ midriff shot in The Better Part of Darkness)!
amyextradot's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first time in a long time that I've had ALL THREE books of a series in my house at the same time. :)
Yes, this yet another book in the urban fantasy genre, but this one is a bit different...which is why I think I like it. Instead of your vampires and werewolves, and zombies, (oh my!) we have the angelic people from Elysia and the "demonic" creatures from Charbydon, yet nothing is black and white. There are evil Elysians and people who are from Charbydon that do good...even if it is for their gain.
Great characters, the budding romance is intriguing, and who doesn't love a cuddly hellhound in their stories?
Yes, this yet another book in the urban fantasy genre, but this one is a bit different...which is why I think I like it. Instead of your vampires and werewolves, and zombies, (oh my!) we have the angelic people from Elysia and the "demonic" creatures from Charbydon, yet nothing is black and white. There are evil Elysians and people who are from Charbydon that do good...even if it is for their gain.
Great characters, the budding romance is intriguing, and who doesn't love a cuddly hellhound in their stories?