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A review by lorilaws
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
4.0
Where do I even start? With the good...or maybe with the bad? I think I will start with the good...or should I say the amazing? I read 260 pages in this book in a matter of hours. I was hooked from page one. It was the epitome of unputdownable. I was utterly addicted. Phrases like 'best book of the year' and 'the most intense thing I have ever read' were going through my head. Now I guess I should tell you why I had those thoughts...
Ashes kicks off with a bang. Or a zap. The action starts from the very beginning with a totally awesome WTF situation. Alex was amazing. She was smart, she knew how to take care of herself and she handles this horrible situation superbly. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to handle Ellie. She was bratty and whiny, but she grew on me the same way she grew on Alex. As a whole, all of the characters were great. There were a few times I wanted to smack Alex, but I can't hold that against her.
The book revolves much more on action than romance. I had absolutely no problem with that. I did really, really like Tom, though. That's all I'm going to say on that issue because it would be very easy for me to spoil some things and I want you to get the full affect while reading this.
The entire plot, the EMP, the Changed, and the mountain setting were completely amazing. It was freaky. It was one of the creepiest things I have ever read. I honestly think it was Stephen King creepy. It was awesome. Be warned that it's also pretty gory. I'm not bothered by those things, but some of it was a little shocking. Don't let that put you off from reading it! Maybe just skim those parts? I don't get freaked out very easily, but Ashes scared me just a little. It really was one of the most intense things I have ever read...if not the most intense.
So, what was the bad I mentioned above? Well remember when I said I read 260 pages in a couple of hours? I had to make myself stop reading and go to sleep. I was full of regret that I didn't start the book earlier in the day so that I could read the entire thing, but I didn't so I forced myself to go to bed. Sometime while I was sleeping someone switched the utterly amazing book that I was reading with another one that wasn't nearly as good. That's what it felt like anyway. The second half when compared to the first half was boring and uneventful. Maybe I was just still too in awe of the first half. I don't know, but it stopped me from giving it 5 stars and naming it my favorite book of the year.
It was still good...it was just nothing like the first 300 pages. I can't really get into what disappointed me without spoiling lots of things. So I will only say that I still highly, highly recommend this book. The first 300 pages was some of the most compelling writing I have ever read. And the ending left me very excited for the next book. I think it will be just as gripping and freaky as the beginning of this one. Definitely read this one!
Ashes kicks off with a bang. Or a zap. The action starts from the very beginning with a totally awesome WTF situation. Alex was amazing. She was smart, she knew how to take care of herself and she handles this horrible situation superbly. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to handle Ellie. She was bratty and whiny, but she grew on me the same way she grew on Alex. As a whole, all of the characters were great. There were a few times I wanted to smack Alex, but I can't hold that against her.
The book revolves much more on action than romance. I had absolutely no problem with that. I did really, really like Tom, though. That's all I'm going to say on that issue because it would be very easy for me to spoil some things and I want you to get the full affect while reading this.
The entire plot, the EMP, the Changed, and the mountain setting were completely amazing. It was freaky. It was one of the creepiest things I have ever read. I honestly think it was Stephen King creepy. It was awesome. Be warned that it's also pretty gory. I'm not bothered by those things, but some of it was a little shocking. Don't let that put you off from reading it! Maybe just skim those parts? I don't get freaked out very easily, but Ashes scared me just a little. It really was one of the most intense things I have ever read...if not the most intense.
So, what was the bad I mentioned above? Well remember when I said I read 260 pages in a couple of hours? I had to make myself stop reading and go to sleep. I was full of regret that I didn't start the book earlier in the day so that I could read the entire thing, but I didn't so I forced myself to go to bed. Sometime while I was sleeping someone switched the utterly amazing book that I was reading with another one that wasn't nearly as good. That's what it felt like anyway. The second half when compared to the first half was boring and uneventful. Maybe I was just still too in awe of the first half. I don't know, but it stopped me from giving it 5 stars and naming it my favorite book of the year.
It was still good...it was just nothing like the first 300 pages. I can't really get into what disappointed me without spoiling lots of things. So I will only say that I still highly, highly recommend this book. The first 300 pages was some of the most compelling writing I have ever read. And the ending left me very excited for the next book. I think it will be just as gripping and freaky as the beginning of this one. Definitely read this one!