Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick: Audio Review

Ashes
By: Ilsa J. Bick

All Alex wanted to do was take a hike in the woods to say goodbye to her parents, and go out on her own terms. But, when a huge EMP blast sizzles through her brain, she's left fighting for her life. She meets up with Ellie, an incredibly stubborn 8-year-old girl whose grandfather died in the blast, Ellie's dog Mina, and a young soldier named Tom. Together they have to figure out how to survive with all the dead, changed, and horrible mobs that would like to see them dead.

Audio Review: I make a snap judgment on the narrator from the very first words. I was not immediately taken with the narrator, Katherine Kellgren. Her voice seemed too deliberate and labored over every single word. But as the book picked up, I was really pleased with the way that her voice and pacing matched the tension of the book. I became so enthralled with the reading, that I finally put the book on my ipod and finished the last 5 hours all in one sitting.


Book Review: Ashes is a toe-curling, hide your head under the covers, and suck you in kind of book. Just how I like them. It was a little bit zombie (though these people aren't really dead, are fast, and smart), but mostly a great survival story.

There is a little bit of belief that must be suspended in order to really enjoy the book. For instance, Alex is a survival expert, and remembers everything her father taught her but can barely remember him. Also, I'm not sure it's very scientifically sound that an EMP would cause teenagers to become cannibalistic psycho-killers. But, I was willing to overlook a few of those holes for the greater story.

I loved Alex. She's my kind of girl. After the EMP blast, she doesn't waste any time in taking in her surroundings (including discovering her superior sense of smell), and assessing the situation. She also doesn't leave Ellie behind. And believe me, that must have been a test of wills. Ellie was a brat. I probably would have left her. But, Alex saw Ellie for what she was, a scared girl who just lost her grandfather in a horrible accident that she didn't understand. At Tom's arrival to the story, I had just about reached the point where I thought there wasn't any more that Alex and Ellie could take.

Alex and Tom work together well as a team, and their relationship is a slow burn. But, there isn't anything like trying to fight to stay ahead of crazy cannibal kids to speed up a relationship. The Alex and Tom relationship is one of the absolute best that I've read lately. I don't know how else to say how much I loved it.

Then, there is a big plot break. It's almost like a second story emerges after a series of events (of which I won't reveal). I loved the second half just as much as the first, although they were very different. I know that there will be many people that will disagree with me, but I'm just not sure I could have taken all the tension that was in the beginning for much longer.

There are several points in the book where Alex has a lightbulb moment. The pieces begin to fall into place very rapidly. Because of the audio format, I found myself doing a lot of GET THERE FASTER!






The ending is a giant cliffhanger that honestly made my subconscious go into a tailspin. I ended up dreaming about the final scene in the book, in what I can only think was an attempt to bring some closure. The good news is, there will be a trilogy, with the next book out this Fall. (I wasn't able to find a release date).

My suggestion would be this. If you like this genre at all (think Forest of Hands and Teeth style scary), give this book a go. But, if you hate cliffhangers, hold off until the rest of the series is out. Younger teens should also be aware that Ilsa Bick does not shy away from some pretty gory descriptions. I expect that some of them can be skipped if you're just reading. But, it's almost impossible to escape in audio.

edit: I forgot to mention this before, but there is a very brief reference to Mormons. And I was really surprised at how accurate/fair it was. In the context of the story, it could have been handled in a very different way. But, I appreciate the fair reference.

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