Saturday, August 6, 2011

Review of Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Alex is in the mountains to spread her parent's ashes when she meets Ellie and her grandfather. They are chatting one minute when suddenly Alex and Ellie start bleeding and Ellie's grandfather dies. Alex and Ellie have no idea what is going on, but when they see a bunch of kids eating another human, they know it can't be good. They find an army soldier named Tom who worked as a bomb specialist in the military. He says all signs indicate a huge electromagnetic pulse has wiped out all common electronics and triggered something in the young and the old--the old die, while the young become cannibals. Alex, Ellie, and Tom do everything they can to stay together and stay alive.

No one is safe. in Ilsa Bick's world of Ashes (releasing September 6, 2011, Egmont USA). My adrenaline was pumping the entire time I read this book and I even had to take a few breaks because Ashes was stressing me out! It is an intense read that will leave you turning the pages to see what happens to Alex, Ellie, and Tom. The pace is quick and the writing is fantastic. Ashes is a longer YA novel at 480 pages, but it's not long enough. Ashes is unique in that it is spread out over a longer period of time. The reader is there pre-apocalypse, apocalypse, and post-apocalypse.

Ashes has one of those endings that definitely leaves you begging for more. If you enjoy fast pace plotting with high intensity action, Ashes will be a perfect read for you. I highly recommend this book.

3 comments:

  1. Interesting and very creepy! And it's not often a long novel is so fast paced and leaves you wanting more. I may have to check this out.

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  2. Scary setup! I'll check this one out.

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  3. Yes I agree creepy but intriguing..love the new look!

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