Ashes

Ashes starts really strong. Alex hikes into the woods when she meets Ellie, an 8 year old girl, and her grandpa. While she is talking to them she suddenly feels a tremendous pain and pressure in her head. Ellies' grandpa keels over with blood spurting out of his ears and mouth. Alex sees birds falling from the sky and the deer acting strange. Alex and Ellie have to get out of the woods to find help. They decide to head to the rangers station further up the mountain. Along the way they stumble on some teenagers eating a person, they are freaked and quickly run away. They meet up with Tom when he saves them from a zapped teenager that tries to eat them. Tom is Army and tells Alex he reckons it was an electromagnetic pulse or something like that and isn't just happening here.
Ilsa Bick draws you into a world that is bleak and what people are left will do anything for survival. The first time Alex sees the Zapped kids is one of the gruesomest, goriest, scariest, heart pounding, nail biting parts. The author isn't afraid to describe exactly what was happening. She pulls you into the scene and you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens. Alex is such a likeable character. Despite what is happening with her she tries everything to keep Ellie safe even with Ellie being a typical 8 year old and making nothing easy. She is a very scared little girl and Alex does all she can to make sure Ellie is OK.
Then they meet up with Tom and he makes the girls feel protected and safe. He is so good and kind with Ellie and helps Alex learn to defend herself. He is a really strong character.
In this Post Apocalyptic time Alex, Ellie and Tom have to deal with Zapped kids, raiders, savage dogs and trying to survive. Ashes read like a typical post apocalyptic book and then bam the author throws something else into the mix. Something happens half way through and Alexs journey isn't the same. From then on its twists and turns and you honestly don't know what will happen. Ashes is a action packed, scary, heart stopping story and Im really look forward to seeing what happens to these characters and Im glad I can dive into book two because with the ending of book one I was like NOOOOO!!

Ashes was an interesting mix. I don’t even know what to say without giving away a big chunk of the second half of the book. What I can say is, it’s a zombie book, but these zombies aren’t ‘dead’. The electromagnetic pulse that has destroyed so much technology has changed something inside them, made them animalistic and crazed. I loved how everyone was effected in some way. Awesomely enough the crazy behavior doesn’t spread in your typical manner by a bite either!

I really enjoyed the first half of this book more so than the second, it almost could have been a book of it’s own. Things take a big detour in the second half that I completely did not expect. The meat of it felt so completely different when Alex gets to the town called Rule. I wasn’t sure I was going to like how it turned out but. Thankfully Alex and I were of a similar mind, so I was rolling right along which her. I seriously dig this chick. She’s one tough as nails survivor. Admittedly, I don’t normally like it when I feel I’m reading two big stories in one but it works here. My one pick point is I feel it could have had about 100 pages shaved off of it. But that’s just me – I say this only because then I wouldn’t have felt the way I did about the first and second half. For me, Ashes had a similar feeling to it as The Passage by Justin Cronin.

There was a touch of romance which didn’t overwhelm things, so you romance lovers out there will like that. I tell you what though, was thrown for a loop because it was a total bait and switch. Looking forward to book two, Shadows!

A different spin on an Zombie apocalypse .
Our main character has been diagnosed with brain cancer a young lady named Alex .
She has decided on a Hiking trip in Waucamaw as a child had hiked with her parents.
On the second day however Ellie a young child and her grandfather run into Alex
And than it happens piercing pain strikes them and animals as well.
And there starts a gripping tale of survival .
This book had me turning pages , Definitely looking forward to read the other books in this trilogy..

"Today I am torn! I received Shadows (book 2) from Netgalley but then my ereader died so I waited to get a finished copy! So I have Ashes in paperback (I so don't like the cover to the hard back) and the hardback of Shadows (love the new covers!). I finally finished Shadows after a week of trying to get it all done. (yes I know thats slow for me. My 2 year old was sick and then everyone else got it. It wasn't fun.) So after finishing Shadows last night at around midnight. My mind was racing and I couldnt sleep. Shadows leaves you with a lot of questions unanswered as well as wondering if our main charcater Alex is still kicking. You just don't know! I do love the zombis or Chuckies/Changed as they are called. I love the fact that you dont really KNOW what the book is about until you get into it. My issues come with the fact that book one was in nothing but Alex's POV. But, when you start to read Shadows it is in multiple POV's. Which is not a bad thing. I loved how you got parts of the story from all the characters and then ended up with a larger view of what was going on. I just wish she would have put in when the POV changed. So NORMALLY I would take a star for that. But, I loved this story so much and I cant wait for book 3! I am going to suck it up and give the star back!
"I purchased both copies from Books a Million as well as getting Shadows in an Ecopy via Netgalley" Reviews are 100% my honest thought of the book!"

I love a good post-apocalyptic story: stories of life after a nuclear war or contagion outbreak. It is at once thrilling and terrifying to think of how the survivors would react in a world where there is suddenly no law and no justice. I often wonder how I myself would carry on in a world like that, where I would go for supplies and safety.

Ilsa J Bick's Ashes is just that type of story, and a pretty good one too. EMP's knock out all electrical devices except older ones that don't have modern electronic components in them. Then the nukes. Many people die, but many are also mysteriously changed into cannibalistic monsters. Still others, like young Alex, are changed in more subtle ways, suddenly having extra-powerful senses like Alex's sense of smell.

I like how Bick doesn't explain everything right off the bat. The main characters have no idea what's going on and have to piece things together bit by bit as they meet other people. Bick lets us learn right along with the characters, which is the best way in my opinion.

I've already said so many good things about Katherine Kellgren in other reviews that I don't quite know what else to say. She is simply one of the best in the business. Ashes wasn't quite the kind of story for Kellgren to really flex her narrative muscle on, but she still turned in a fine performance. For a real sample of what Kellgren can do check out L A Meyer's Bloody Jack Adventures.

(Source: I purchased a copy of this book on Kindle.)
17-year-old Alex has a monster in her head. A malignant tumour that isn't responding to chemo, radiotherapy, or the new PEBBLES treatment.
Deciding that enough is enough, Alex has taken her parents ashes, cut school, and driven to Michigan, intending to do some hiking on the Waucamaw, and to scatter her parents ashes on lake Superior. She's had enough of the treatments, and she's decided to just make the most of the time she has left.
An electromagnetic pulse changes everything though. People drop dead, other people become wild and start attacking people and eating them, and nothing electronic will work.
Forming a friendship with an 8-year-old girl (Ellie) stranded in the same place, and an ex-army man Tom who rescues them from a cannibal. Together the three must try to survive in the wilderness, and eventually try to find their way back to civilisation.
What chance do the three on them stand though, with not only cannibals out there but mercenary's trying to rob them.

Wow! This book was just awesome! There was mystery, suspense, horror, and even a touch of romance. At times I was angry, shocked, disgusted, screaming at my kindle, and loving every minute of it!
I loved Alex who always tried to make the best of her limited resources, and took time to care for a lost little girl, even when it meant rising her own life. I loved Tom and Ellie and the storyline was just explosive. So many ups and downs, and just when things are looking up, something else awful happens!

I'm loving dystopian books this year, and this is definitely one of the best. Ashes is better than `the hunger games', and totally a 5 star book. I can't even begin to explain how much this book gripped me, and how totally suckered in I was! I'm so happy that the sequel `Shadows' is already out so that I can jump straight into it, but I'm already not looking forward to the wait for book 3! I can't wait to find out what will happen to Alex, Ellie, Tom, and all the other characters.
This whole book was a total rollercoaster ride, and I just loved the storyline. If you like dystopians you're gonna want to get a copy of this, and fast!
9.5 out of 10.

Warning!! Do not read when the sun is down, might cause a spike in heart rate and an urge to grab your childhood blanket and hide under the covers...Read after hours only if you dare but don't say I didn't warn you.

First thoughts:

Okay, so I didn't really know how dark this book was until I started reading it, and I started it at night just like so many others but boy do I regret it. This book was so detailed and so descriptive that I literally felt like I was the main character, which is saying something. The things this girl went through, Goodness, I'd hate to be her, to see what she saw, I'd be scarred for life!! but overall, I really enjoyed the read and definately saw some connections to the book "The Road" which is yet another dark and interesting story.

Summary:

Alex was on her own with just her Aunt, her parents long dead, leaving her to fight a terminal brain cancer but then she decides to take her parents ashes to a lake where they wanted their ashes scattered and there her life changed forever, along with everyone elses. A electromagneticc pulse sweeps across the nation, killing millions, changing thousands and destroying all electronic decvices except the very old ones...Alex runs into a girl named Ellie who had just lost her grandfather, Ellie is a bitter eight year old who has lost her parents and just wants her life to go back to it used to be...Soon the two embark on a hard journey in search of both safety and answers and instead finds a young army veteran named Tom. And soon the three stick together and fight off the ones that "Changed" which is in essence like zombies, and most of the changed are kids and that hit puberty and up to the age around 60...Alex who soon finds out something that has changed in her and answers that are far more dark than the pulse that started the whole thing.

But soon, things happen, people get hurt and taken and Alex finds herself in a place where it seems nice but in reality trapping her from the things she wants the most.

In this first installment of the "Ashes" series you'll find a new world where everything is not what it seems and danger is around every corner, can Alex survive it and come out of it with the ones she loves?

Last thoughts:

I again loved the attention to detail and the darkness, definately violent and gruesome at time, but references to sexuality is light and language is mild. Definately not for an audience that isn't mature and isn't used to gore. But without all of these things the book just wouldn't be as good as it meant to be. Ilsa Bick did a fantastic job and I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series. I give this book 4.5 stars, be warned though that there are images that just won't ever leave you, this book that left we with images that I'm still trying to get out of my head, but deep down know will never leave me...

Alex has decided to go on one final camping trip - to say goodbye to her family and end her life. Little does she know that she will actually be saying goodbye to the world as she knows it. Ashes is simply brilliant- it had my heart pounding, it kept me up at night, I was literally holding my breath from one moment to the next. Bick has me believing these characters, they're so real it is incredible. They popped off the pages. The writing here is beautiful and fascinating. I never once skimmed or felt I was drowning in details and useless information, yet the world seemed so alive. I couldn't stop thinking about these characters for days after I finished reading.

Alex already seems old for her age due to losing her parents, but the situation only further evolves her character. Tom is a solider and the perfect counterpart to Alex. I am extremely excited with this small makeshift survival family. Ellie is infuriating, just as any eight year old girl put in dire situations would be. I just can't get over how pragmatic these characters are and how well they develop throughout the plot.

Alex, Tom and Ellie are put through the ringer surviving the wilderness and running into all types of monsters - not only Zombies. In a world gone crazy, the ugly side of humanity rears its head. The ending leaves a lot to be desired! I want to know moooore! This is easily one of my top five favorite reads of 2011. Bick is now on my must-read author list!

Really interesting take on "zombies". It is a fast read and hard to put down. It is well written but lacks in some character developments. Maybe she will focus on those other charcters more in the following two books. I can't wait to see what happens next!
This is a book I keep coming back to and rereading. I loved it even more the second and third time around. It is fast, interesting and different. I love both Tom and Chris. Alex is a smart strong character that has the instinct to survive without losing her humanity. She unwilling to settle down and keeps serching for those she loves even knowing shes's going to be facing danger.
The book begins with Alex going on a hiking trip. The reader learns that Alex is fighting a losing battle with a brain tumor and has recently lost her parents. What makes this worse is that brain tumor is eating away her sense of smell. With that sense gone she is slowly losing memories of her time with her parents. On the hike she meets Ellie, her grandpa and thier dog. Ellie has also just lost her father in the war. She is clearly not coping with it well and has a serious baditude. Shortly after meeting Ellie and her g-pa a massice EMP goes off. Causing the old guy to die right there on the spot. Ellie is so freaked out that she refuses to leave with Alex to head to the rangers station to get to safety and get answers. En route they meet Tom. But not after stumbling upon some brain zapped teens (on a school camping trip) eating thier teacher. Tom, Ellie and Alex make it to the rangers station and stay there for awhile. They feel it is in thier best interest to leave. After they leave the safety of the woods all heck breaks loose and through various circumstance they get separated.
It is then that we meet other characters some bad and some good. We get a little background on each character but not enough to feel like we really know anyone except for Alex. This maybe intentional on the authors part to show how hard it is to maintain relationships in this brand new messed up world. The cliff hanger ending was so frustrating because I was really wrapped up in Alex's story and then boom end of book. Ahh I can't wait for the next installment.

As part of my participation in the the store Vines program, I received an uncorrected proof copy for review.

Overall, this is a decent read with an interesting premise and take on the whole Zombie Apocalypse. There were some parts I liked about it and others that I didn't particularly care for. If you're reading this and other reviews, you'll probably have a good idea about the plot, so there might be some mild spoilers ahead.

The good first - The author does a nice job of maintaining a level of tension throughout without it becoming a huge angstfest. A few times when Alex begins wallowing in self pity, someone else comes along and tells her that things are tough all over and she should snap out of it.

Alex did have a voice that sounded right for her age as the central focus of the story. The descriptions of her enhanced smell added an extra layer to the story. The character is well conceived.

The nebulous and evolving theories of who survived and why makes is good reading - lots of stuff in there about brain chemistry and such. The author covered lots of ground with various mental illnesses. It would have been intriguing to see the take how the pulse affected people on the various locations in the autism spectrum (or perhaps she is saving that for later).

Okay, now onto things I thought could be better.

Alex's depth of character casts a bad light on the rest of the cast. Tom, Chris, Ellie, and Kincaid get enough characterization to be serviceable, but not much more. Beyond that, everyone else is very flat.

The constant repetitve theme where Alex and the person/people she is traveling with scramble to acquire supplies only to have them taken away almost immediately. The hand of the author is just too obvious in these situations along with the way the characters in the latter part of the story would know the "full" sitiuation, but decline to share the reality with Alex.

Despite Alex's enhanced smell, she is surprised way too often and only seems to be a capable survivor when by herself. If someone else is there, she becomes a clumsy damsel in distress. Late in the book it is shown that she can do stitches, because her late mother was a doctor and taught her, but she is fairly useless in previous scenes where a character is injured, so I felt like there were some inconsistencies to Alex in places.

For me, the ending was a headscratcher and I was left with a sense of "huh." Obviously, I won't explain more than that.

In summary, the good outweighs the bad. The writing is solid and the plot moves along. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd go with a 7. Since this is the store, it gets 3 and 1/2 stars with a round up to 4. I'm interested enough to read the sequel.

I read a fair amount of dystopian fiction, but in most cases, the big event that triggered the new society (war, apocalypse, etc.) is long in the past or not really relevant to the story. I'm not as familiar with the post-apocalyptic genre, but I was attracted to Ashes because of the interesting premise (a dying heroine trying to survive an apocalypse). As I was reading it, I realized there might a reason that I stay away from books about apocalypses: they freak me out. And Ashes definitely freaked me out and got me thinking, not necessarily about the apocalyptic event itself, but about how people behave after such an event.

Alex is a teenage girl who is dying from a brain tumor. She's in the final stages of cancer, she's sick of the awful treatments, and she's taken off into the wilderness with her late parents' ashes. While she's off on her own, a massive electromagnetic pulse sweeps across the country, wreaking havoc. It kills most people, sparing only the very old and some younger people. Most teenagers become zombies. Alex survives the pulse, but something is different about her. Because of the tumor, she had lost her sense of smell and some of her memories. Now, her memories are back and her sense of smell has returned and become enhanced so she can smell what people are feeling and she can detect the zombies. Alex joins forces with a little girl named Ellie, who lost her grandfather in the event, and a young soldier named Tom, who's on leave from Afghanistan. They form a makeshift family and hide out in the woods for a while, trying to figure out what to do and avoiding the zombies and the other survivors.

The book does a complete 180 about halfway through, and there's a major change in the plot's focus. I won't go into any details to avoid spoilers, but some crazy stuff happens. I didn't necessarily mind this, but I do wonder if maybe the author was trying to cram too much into the book. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I sort of feel like the whole second half of the book could have been the second book with some expansion, and the first half could have been expanded a bit and just been the first book. But without being able to read the next two books in the series and having no idea where the author is going with the story, it's hard to say.

My issues with this major change in focus may stem from the fact that I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. There's a lot more characterization, and it really focuses on the relationships of the three main characters, all of whom are damaged in their own way. None of them are perfect. Ellie can be a brat, Alex is a mess, and Tom has secrets. But together, they're an interesting trio, and I liked the dynamics of their interactions as they try to find a way to survive an almost unimaginable horror. In the second half of the book, the newly introduced characters didn't feel as well fleshed out to me, but that may be because there's more focus on the plot and its twists and turn.

Despite these complaints, I really enjoyed Ashes. Alex is an engaging heroine, and the plot is intriguing. I found it hard to put down, and when it ended on a crazy cliffhanger, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

This novel blew me away. With the proliferation of post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, I always start a novel like this is the slightest bit of apprehension because surely this one can't be as good as "X." As is the case so often, there was absolutely nothing to be worried about with this book--it was probably one of the most riveting novels that I have read this year.

When the novel opens, we are introduced to Alex, who has set off on a hiking/camping journey to Lake Superior. Although we're not privy to her reasons for the trip, there is the distinct feeling of running away from something and an attitude of finality and closure to her journey (which makes more and more sense as you learn about her history and reasons for the trip later). Alex is immediately an intriguing character who captures your imagination with her slightly brash personality. She has a slight air of self-pitying at the beginning but that is quickly overshadowed by her fiercely independent nature coupled with her deeply caring spirit. There's no denying that she's been through a lot and that may have caused her to be slightly wary of and abrasive toward people, but as you see her interact with the other characters, you quickly learn that she has a compassionate side that can't be shut away or overlooked.

The characters are a major factor in what made me fall in love with this book. Alex was obviously well-developed and incredibly realistic in her strengths and flaws. However, each and every character that we meet has a complex, fascinating nature. First, there is Ellie. Ellie has all the signs of being a bratty, spoiled child unaccustomed to not getting her way, but she is slowly revealed as simply a truly scared child with a rough past and also as a fiercely loyal child as we watch her become attached to Alex. Tom is just as mysterious with his uncertain past in Afghanistan and guarded personality. As Alex becomes attached to Tom and we slowly learn more about him, he becomes more complex and appealing. Even the character we don't get to know quite as well later in the novel, including Jess, Chris, and the Reverend, are all engaging characters that you easily find yourself drawn to. I definitely look forward to the second book so that I can learn more about these characters.

Now, the characters are fabulous, but no story could truly be as spellbinding as this one without fabulous storytelling and writing. Ms. Bick's writing is so fantastically realistic that it is absolutely terrifying at times to be reading this novel. The ideas that she brings forth about mutually assured destruction and the true weapon capabilities that we have in our world are terrifying, and that makes the story that much more engaging. The ending to this novel will leaving you gasping for breath and begging for more! I seriously kept attempting to turn to the next page on my Nook because I could NOT believe that was the end of the book. I will definitely be waiting on pins and needles for the next book in 2012.

This book may start out with a quiet rebellion, but it goes out with such a bang that it stayed with me for days afterward. This story doesn't just approach the idea of zombies differently, but also explores how current technology may be used to trigger the end as we know it in a way I hadn't even thought of. To do all of this in one book is ambitious, to pull it off is amazing. This is why "Ashes" has made my best of 2011 list.

Usually, with apocalypse stories, your hero(ine) is usually your regular citizen turned hero when the end comes. Bick goes straight for the jugular by choosing a heroine who is already trying to speed ever closer to her own end because she's sick of being sick, sick of being tired, and just wanting some peace. When we're introduced to Alex and her backstory, this immediately got my attention. It takes major balls to pick such a heroine when weaving a story within the apocalypse/zombie YA sub-genre - this cannot be emphasized enough. We now have a heroine and a hero, Tom, who are both broken and trying to protect the lost Ellie.

I absolutely love how Bick is unafraid to pick protagonists that people may not like, and even more so, the subtle message that maybe there is no real redemption, no real haven in this sort of situation. We quickly see that Rule has become its own little dystopia in a larger hell on earth, and for all of its harping on biblical traditions and being the light in the darkness, by the end of the book, we see that this is completely turned around. Again, I praise Bick on her choices in how to portray her own vision of the end, and how dark human nature can become in long periods of fight or flight mode. If anything, this makes her zombies from the Zap look positively innocent, and I think this is what she may have been aiming for in the sense of "who's really the bad guy here?". The zombies are just kids, completely microwaved, stick-a-fork-in-them done and now following pure animal instinct. Those of Rule and raiders are operating also on animal instinct but with our "moral" side intact, but by the end of the book, it's almost as if the Zap zapped those morals, too.

To put it lightly, I didn't see that ending coming at all. It's hard to catch me off guard like that, so I have to give Bick props for that. Good job with that cliffhanger! It looks like there are more stories from the "Ashes" world on the way, and with all of the twists Bick puts into her stories, it looks like we can't let down our guard just yet as the reader. But you know what? This is a book that hurts so very, very deliciously, and will leave you wondering who really is the hero, the villain, and the wronged long after the book has been shut (or the nook shut down).

Look for "Ashes" on shelves in North America in September, and the second book, "Shadows", out sometime in 2012. Seriously. If you're going to read a zombie book this year, choose "Ashes" to spice up your bookshelf.

(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)

Alex has hiked deep into the Michigan woods to say goodbye to her parents. After the accident that took both their lives, she had them cremated and has carried their ashes around with her for months; it's finally time to say goodbye. Alex doesn't know how much time she has left. Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, she's endured months of intense therapy, none of which seems to be working. Before she turns into a vegetable, Alex needs to take care of a few things. She escapes into the woods, alone, to scatter her parents ashes and decide what she's going to do with the rest of her life.

One morning during her trip, a man named Jack, his eight-year-old granddaughter Ellie and their dog Mina come upon Alex's campsite. Not long after their arrival, Jack collapses, birds begin falling from the sky, and Alex's head is filled with an immense pressure, causing her to lose consciousness. When she wakes up, the world is forever changed. Left alone with a temperamental eight-year-old, Alex has to get them both off the mountain. This proves more difficult than she originally thought. Their supplies are limited, they are days away from the ranger's station and a group of wild, cannibalistic zombies scour the woods, hunting them.

When Alex and Ellie come across Tom, he saves their lives and helps them to safety. It turns out the flash that caused all the chaos on the mountain was a massive EMP and affected more than just them and a few animals. It's affected the entire world. Many people died, teens and twenty-somethings are all flesh-eating zombies, but the elderly and young children were left untouched. Alex notices another change. Her sense of taste and smell have returned - two senses she'd lost because of the tumor. Did the EMP have something to do with it? Even more important, why was she not turned to a zombie like other kids her age? Is it only a matter of time?

I absolutely loved everything about this book. Every chapter left me hanging, wanting more. The writing is crisp, action-packed and moves at breath-taking pace. What I especially enjoyed was how the author takes the reader through the beginning of a dystopian world. So many dystopian books place the reader into a world that is already established. In Ashes, Ms. Black starts you out in a world we all know and quickly turns it on its head. The reader is thrust into a story where their world, the world in which they feel safe, is suddenly shattered. You can't help but wonder what you would do if a similar thing were to happen today. I highly recommend this one to dystopian lovers, readers who enjoy lots of action and anyone looking for a fresh take on zombies.

This book poses many ethical questions since our main characters are in a life or death situation: What is family? What would you do to survive? If a loved one was suffering and asked you to kill them, would you? Is there such a thing as fate? When can you let go of loved ones who have passed?

The first chapter of Ashes pulls you in right away. Alex is a mystery- you know she has a deadly brain tumor and her parents are dead, but there are so many questions. At the beginning, it is her mystery that keeps you reading, but within the first 30 pages, the story expands to so much more. Suddenly, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) wipes out almost everything including most living things and electronics. Alex, who was camping in the woods contemplating life vs. death, falls into the middle of a cataclysmic event. Alex, along with Ellie, an 8 year old who lost her grandfather, and Tom, a young army veteran, decide to make their way to the ranger station to find help. They must survive in the woods of Michigan while not only scavenging for food, avoiding hungry wild life that survived the EMP, but also eluding cannibalistic zombies (the changed) that were somehow transformed by the EMP. The make shift family promises to protect each other and this begins a survival story straight from a horror movie. And a horror movie is just what you will feel like you are in while reading Alex's story. Every time something happens, you just wonder how much more she can take and what else can happen to her.

One thing that makes this book stand out from others is that Isla Bick's descriptions of some very simple things like pain and smells are so dead on that you can feel or smell what she is talking about. When the EMP first hits, Alex describes the pain and other side effects of the EMP so well, that the reader would have no problem understanding what Alex was going through. Then, after surviving "The Zap", Alex regains her sense of smell that she lost because of the tumor, so Ms. Bick must describe the new scents that Alex smells and she is so precise in the descriptions comparing the smells to things like wet pennies and curdled milk. The precision doesn't stop there, though. It is obvious that Ms. Bick has done her research when it comes to EMPs and other nuclear information. The physics within the book is not only detailed and specific, but understandable. It makes the possibility of the type of destruction that happens in Ashes seem reasonable which is a terrifying prospect.

Not all of my questions were answered in this book, though, but based on the cliffhanger there will definitely be a sequel which will hopefully tell us more about the EMP, the changed, and what will happen to Alex next.

From my blog, Never Gonna Grow Up! Reviews:
Wow. That was the first word that entered my mind as I finished reading "Ashes" by Ilsa J. Bick. This story was intense and definitely not my usual read. It's a thrilling tale of a survival in a world of chaos. Plus, um, it takes place in dah U.P. of Michigan, my college turf. It gets a little gold star for that.

So basically, Alex, a seventeen year old girl with a brain tumor, goes out into the wilderness. It's kind of a last hurrah, a need to feel alive and connected with her deceased parents. Her treatments aren't working. She's out of options. She can't smell, so she's losing memories along with her sense of taste, etc. She's out in the woods and runs across a Grandpa and his sassy young granddaughter. They share a cup of coffee and then BOOM! The world goes cra-zay due a bunch of EMPs going off. Some people, like the grandfather, drop dead while others are changed into something not quite human. Desperate to figure out what is going on, Alex takes the granddaughter and begins the journey to the ranger station. Along the way, she meets Tom, a soldier on leave from Afghanistan, and the three join forces and become a family of sorts, doing their best to survive in this strange new world full of familiar landscapes.

This story is essentially two stories (both about Alex and this apocalyptic world), put together. It seems a lot of my fellow reviewers enjoyed part 1 far more than part 2. The first part follows the story I summarized above, while the second part moves into Alex settling into a culti-ish community for protection. She battles with the decision to stay safe and accept the strange culture or to be free out in the wild. While I agree that the survival story was much more exciting, I really enjoyed seeing Alex in captivity, having her deal with the emotional troubles caused by her actions in part 1 and becoming attached to members of her new town. I'm not usually a reader of thrillers/survival stories, so had it continued to go on I probably would have put the book down. It was INTENSE. Wonderful, cinematic, but super intense. I needed a breather and so did Alex. It makes sense why she ended up where she did and why she struggled, trying to decide whether to stay or go. I liked it, but readers who prefer that level of intensity all the time, may be disappointed.

"Ashes" is NOT a book to read before bed or to give to young teens. It is chock full of violence in Alex's battle to survive. Some of the descriptions are quite graphic and grotesque, but are appropriate to the story. As I said before, it's intense. Be prepared for an adrenaline rush and the inability to put the book down.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher for review.

Exhausted and disillusioned after months of grueling chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor that tenaciously refuses to submit, 17-year-old Alex escapes to the Michigan woods to say good-bye and scatter the ashes of her deceased parents and come to terms with The Monster that grows within her brain. She is discovered by Jack, and his surly granddaughter, Ellie, whose father died while on duty in Iraq, along with their dog, Mina.

Introductions are made and information exchanged when IT happens:

"The pain was fire, a laser that scorched her brain. A sudden metallic chattering buddle in her ears, and her vision sheeted first red and then glare-white, and then she was stumbling, her feet tangling, and she fell. Something wet and hot spurted from her throat and dribbled down her chin."

Jack does not survive, but Ellie and Mina do and they set out to find information about what has just taken place and discover to their horror that, whatever did happen, is was calamitous and has left those that were not killed, "brain-zapped" and zombie-like. It is an encounter with one of these zombies that Alex and Ellie meet Tom who saves them from one of his brain-zapped camping buddies. This is when Alex learns from Tom about what he thinks caused the world to be turned upside down: An electromagnetic pulse. But, why weren't Tom, Alex, and Ellie affected? The answer is speculated but never fully answered.

I found the first half of Ashes to be very gripping and Bick knows how to keep the pages turning. There is no gore, nor violence, spared, but one can imagine that if such an event were to take place, there would be carnage and plenty of brutality as humans, Spared and zombie alike, all venture to survive. The second half of the novel takes place in the town of Rule where Alex meets other young people that are spared and elderly folks that, in the other world, had Alzheimer's disease; now, whose brains had been jolted into normal functioning again, are known as The Awakened.

My overall impression of Ashes is that it's a well-written young adult novel. Bick, at times, uses interesting descriptive phrases to give a sharp mind-image while reading. Once I completed it, I knew that this either had to be a series or at least one more book would be forth coming to complete the story.

I'm a big fan of the dystopian/apocalyptic genre of YA novels and I would most certainly recommend this one. Especially, if you like Michael Grant's Gone series or perhaps Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games.

!!!! Just thinking about this book gets my heart racing. I read it in about four hours and, honestly, I have not had a reading experience like this in a long time; it was absolutely intense and I'm not exaggerating. It only took a few pages in for my eyes to grow as wide as saucers and for me to start chanting my "OH MY GOD"s over and over again. When I was done, around 3AM, I sat in bed for a while after because I simply could not calm down and get my brain to shut off.

The main character, Alex, was introduced after she decided to stop treatment for her inoperable brain tumor. Seeking an escape for herself, she set off into the woods to bring closure to one part of her life. While on the hike, she meets Ellie, a cranky eight year old, her dog, Mina, and her grandfather, Jack. They don't spend much time together before it all goes to hell with the Zap. I won't detail what happened but believe me when I say that it was CRAZY.

I have no idea how factual the details of the EMP were, but I appreciated the effort from Ilsa J. Bick because I definitely felt like I could understand and put myself into the situation. And guys? It terrified me. Again, I don't know how likely any of it is, but it all came together so realistically that alarms were going off in my head.

Bick did not hold back in the events following the EMP. I dreaded every page turn because things continued to go from bad to worse for the cast of characters. And yet...I couldn't read fast enough, either. There were, however, also several scenes that I had to take a break from because they were TOO much. Gruesome, violent, MINDBREAKING... I'm a big dog lover and there's one specific scene where I actually woke up my dog to give her a hug. Ridiculous? Probably, but this book brought out many strong reactions from me.

Okay, here's the thing: I've read some other reviews and I completely understand the issue people have found with the second half of the book. The shift in the story is so obvious and I definitely think there should have been a way to make the transition more seamless. However, while I definitely preferred the first half of the book, I can very clearly imagine both storylines coming together in an amazing way for the next installment.

Ahhhh, there's still so much to say but this book has made my brain into mush. Here are a few snippets: makeshift family, eye balls, kick ass dogs, sweet romance, strange community, badassness...I could go on. In conclusion, this book is explosively good and you should read it!

Really 4.5 stars

Ashes is, without a doubt, unlike anything that I've ever read. With an interesting cast of characters, imagined situations that became all too real, and constant surprises, Ashes is an edge-of-your-seat read the entire way through.

Alex is tired of living with a brain tumor, tired of the constant treatment attempts, tired of having other people not know how to react to her. She decides to go on a final wilderness hike and spend some time in the seclusion of nature. And then an electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the world, killing a vast majority of people, rendering electronic devices useless, and changing the world as Alex knew it. She soon finds herself with an unwanted traveling companion and trying to survive with just what was in her pack. And then Alex meets Tom, a former soldier who is also trying to survive in this world. They work together to make a life in the wake of all the destruction, all the while worrying that they may end up changing into little more than animals, as other humans have. But they eventually realize that they can't stay hidden in the woods forever, and then the real adventure begins...

Because of the nature of this book, it's hard to say much without giving something away. The suspense, the constant obstacles, and the emotional journey are what make this book riveting; the characters were just as compelling as the action. Ashes is post-apocalyptic rather than dystopian, and both Alex and Tom have some basic survival skills; this allows the story to focus on deeper issues, including learning who to trust in a world with people gone mad and what to live for when it seems there are no reasons left. Everything was so vividly described (including the behavior of the "changed" people) that I felt like I was right beside Alex and Tom, both in the woods and out of it. In Ashes, elements of science fiction, dystopian, and coming-of-age books merge into something new and exciting.

I will say that this book left me with some unanswered questions. Because of all the hardships that Alex and Tom face, this book is not exactly an easy read. There were a few times that I was frustrated because I just wanted something to go right for them. But despite the sadness, and despite all of the loose threads left at the end, the intensity of this book left me wanting more.

Ashes is a book that you will stay up late into the night to read - I know that I did. I am already counting down the days until the next book. I cannot wait to see what else Ilsa has in store for this trilogy!

This is the strongest zombie novel I have read since "Feed" and the strongest YA novel I have read since "The Maze Runner." While on the grisly/adult/horror side of the YA category, Ashes is a well-written and interesting read. The descriptions are vivid (sometimes even more vivid than may make you comfortable), with all of the senses being engaged and explored. The events are intriguing, but well-thought out and both subtly foreshadowed and reasonably-well explained in digestible dollops as the plot unfolds. The characters are sufficiently complex to be realistic and interesting. The main characters are sufficiently likeable and intelligent, yet flawed and fallible, to make them relateable and compelling. While not perfect in execution (I understand why the author found the decision on p. 184 to be desirable, but it was not easy to understand why the characters would have made such choice despite the effort to explain) and the book concludes with a frustrating and somewhat weak reveal which does not tie up or explain all of the loose ends (suggesting, though not compelling, a sequel), there is a sophistication and maturity and confidence in the writing that is often lacking in lesser products in the same genre. Recommended. Donald J. Bingle, Author of Forced Conversion. A free copy of this book was received in connection with the store's Vine Reviewer program. Feed (Newsflesh, Book 1) The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1) Forced Conversion

Wow! Ashes was a fantastic read! It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely a great debut to what will be one heck of a suspenseful series! Dystopian novels are really popular right now, and so are zombies, and I am definitely on the train with all the other people that love these kinds of books. Consider me a fan!

I've often heard that when writing book reviews it is important to keep the talking about yourself to a minimum. Keep I, me, and my out of it. I find it impossible to do. I thought about attempting that with this review, but I failed in the first paragraph. Especially when you want to rave about a book like I want to rave about Ashes. It's impossible not to talk about how you loved it personally and why.

The first half of this book was absolutely amazing. I spent a good portion of it terrified. I actually had to put it down and stop reading a couple of times because I was having such a visceral reaction to what was going on. This book is not for the faint of heart. There are quite a few scenes where the description gets pretty grody. Lots of blood and guts and the eating of animals and human flesh and the like. So if that kind of stuff bothers you, you have been warned.

The action was also very subtle in the beginning and then all of a sudden BAM! here comes a freaky zombie to eat somebody and your heart is in your throat. I absolutely loved it!! I loved the characters, I loved Thomas and Alex. I hated Ellie in the beginning and I thought she was a brat, but then I realized her motivations and she changed quite a bit. I am dying to know where that situation and plotline is going to go, but alas it is continued in the next book.

Here's where it's going to get ugly. The second half of the book was pretty disappointing. It wasn't completely unenjoyable, but it was almost like I was reading a different book. I realize it was necessary to introduce a little more conflict, and I appreciate the effort, but I didn't know that religious zealots were going to be part of the picture. And it also got kind of boring! The zombies weren't in the story anymore, which was the main thing I liked about the book in the first place. They weren't really zombies, but whatever. It seems like the next book though is going to be a combination of both stories because of the way the book ended, and I am happily anticipating this.
Completely crazy cliffhanger ending too, but I've become desensitized to this so, ehh whatever. I highly recommend Ashes though. I think anyone that loves this type of story will be satisfied. It is not the best one I have ever read, but it was a solid effort and I look forward to continuing the series. I'm just sorry that I have to wait so long!!

Alex is a seventeen-year-old girl with enough problems - dead parents, an inoperable brain tumor, and few happy memories - that the end of the world might well seem like welcome respite. But after the EMP leaves the world without electricity and electronic devices, leaves Alex stranded on a fictional Michigan mountain with winter just around the corner, she finds herself fighting to live (along with her survival mates and makeshift family) after all.

I really enjoyed this book, pushed through its 450+ pages in about a week, with a busy family event taking up my weekend. The nature of the dystopia - a warfare-based EMP pulse causing technological and nuclear meltdown, the death of an entire generation and a terrifying Change in another - seemed plausible enough to give me the creepy-crawlies. Alex and her fellow survivors all seemed very real to me, their personalities broad and complex, not overly simplified and stereotypical as so often happens in young adult fiction.

Ashes (both a title and a theme which is mentioned *almost* too many times in the first hundred or so pages), is already split into three sections, but it could almost be two separate books. There is a major shift about halfway through and the plot changes so drastically that I can't even really discuss it without giving away the first half. I will say that there seems to be some sort of deeper plan in that second half that evaded me. I'm hoping it's made clear in the second book of the trilogy.

I'm actually a little disappointed that I came across this book before its publication, because that means I'll be waiting even longer for the next one to be released. The cliffhanger ending of Ashes definitely has me already eager for Shadows. Well, maybe I'll get access to that one early, too.

Wow. Ummm. Wow. End of review.

But seriously guys, I don't even know what to say about this book, because it blew me away!
Its beings with a girl named Alex going on a little hike. She's struggling with some things in her life and need a bit of time to figure things out. That one hike changes her life forever. The whole world changes. An EMP sweeps through the sky killing most of the population and leaving many "Changed." Alex meets Ellie and Tom. Together they create a family of their own, trying to survive.
I loved the relationships in this book. Each character is real. I expected good story as soon as I started reading. What I didn't expect was zombie. But I loved it! The way Ilsa writes, it's breathtaking. The reality of the savageness of these used to be people is outstanding. I'm definitely privy to one guy in the story, but I won't reveal who that is just yet. Alex is a strong character who fights for others before she fights for herself.
The story pulls you in from the opening pages and keeps holding on till the end. The last words of the book, oh my goodness, are unbelievable!!! Ilsa leaves as with the biggest cliffhanger since the time of cliffhangers and I want book 2 now!!!! This books will leave you wanting more. So much more! It's a dark, edgy read that is unique and entertaining. I highly recommend it! Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Will you be Spared, or will you Change?

"The Zap", as Alex calls it. Searing pain in her head, people drop dead for no apparent reason, and normal people turn feral. Feral, as in eating other people like a slice of triple chocolate, chocolate cake, or a delicious cheeseburger, with all the best toppings, after a long, tiring day. Ashes, by Ilisa J. Bick, is THE perfect name for this book. It's ominous start gets you curious about Alex, the main character, and what will happen. The title also connects to Alex and getting to know a bit more about her. It gets a little slow, then it picks up near the middle of the beginning. It is a perfect mix of every genre. Romance? Check! Action and excitement? There isn't one good doomsday book without any! Fantasy? This book wouldn't be happening without it! There is a little bit of language in it, but it makes it seem more realistic, as some people would have a foul mouth.

The author connects you to Alex, so that you share her feelings, her thoughts, her confusion and desperation. Her determination to fight back, to make her own decisions, her fear to let people know the two things about her that have changed the way she thought, felt, acted, lived, and how people react to her once they know, making her a character that everyone wants to win, to escape this nightmare that is life. The ending is one of the most suspenseful I've come across, and I've read too many books to count, yet none have made me as crazy with suspense as this one has. You will go crazy, just absolutely having to know what happens.

Review by: Mad Chocolate Beatle

This novel is all about surviving every worst case scenario you can imagine, both physical and emotional. Alex has survived the death of her parents, only to be stricken with an inoperable tumor that robs her of her sense of smell (and therefore taste) as well as many of her memories. She goes on a camping trip alone in the wilderness, presumably to spread her parents' ashes on Lake Superior, but she has considered suicide in the past, and you get the feeling that she might not have intended to return from this trip. We don't find out if she would have actually gone through with this plan, because the Zap incapacitates her temporarily. It kills some people immediately, and turns others into zombies.

When you read the last page, you will most likely throw the book against the wall in complete despair and frustration. However, this is the first book of a trilogy- but you will have to wait until September to find out what happens to Alex.

It is essential that you suspend disbelief to enjoy this story. For instance, while it is interesting to see the zombie apocalypse caused by something other than a virus, the premise is that an EMP explosion zaps all tech everywhere in the world, triggering nuclear waste facilities to go KABOOM, frying the brains of people of certain ages while leaving others exempt yet curing others of brain tumors and Alzheimer's and giving them extra abilities. Whew!

Alex is unusually capable for a girl of her age, which is not a bad thing. Her father taught her camping and wilderness survival skills, which she remembers although she has pretty much forgotten her dad. Her mother was a doctor that had her practice stitching wounds with chicken legs- now that's a really special mother-daughter bonding moment. However, I wish more parents taught their kids something useful.

If you like doomsday stories, you will probably enjoy Ashes. You will be invested in Alex's well-being from page 1, and after the Zap, the pace is unrelenting.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick was absolutely FANTASTIC. It was all kinds of creepy and gruesome and horrifying and utterly riveting, and even a bit romantic in certain areas.

You might look at the 480 page count of Ashes and be deterred. But let me just say - they flew by. I'd be on page 90 and then all the sudden on page 202 and I could not believe I'd already read that much. The pacing of Ashes is absolutely brilliant and the story really, really sucks you in.

I loved the variety of characters. Alex was brave and yet terrified at the same time, and I really admired her for her actions throughout the book. There is a bit of a love triangle but not really? It's hard to explain. And I really loved the character of Ellie, although she was (at times) a bit too mature for an 8 year old girl.

Just a fair warning to animal lovers like me - there are about 2 pages in Ashes that contains some pretty graphic dog attacking/dog death, but the rest of the book is SO worth it, so if you can stomach it or skip over it, I highly recommend reading Ashes despite it.

Overall, I freaking loved Ashes. I loved the pacing and the tone and the characters. Ashes has such an interesting concept - zombies but not zombies, and they're not even really the whole focus of the book. And the ending was like whaaaaat! I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in this series, Shadows, which releases some time next year.

I absolutely loved Ashes. It's got all the makings of a fantastic zombie novel, yet it's not quite about zombies as we know them. Ashes is a wonderful example of how to build upon a well-known and currently popular supernatural theme, making it completely your own.

Dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels are the "it" thing right now in YA literature and Ashes will delight fans of those genres without rehashing the same old story. Ashes is delightful in that it gives the reader the post-apocalyptic experience without skimping on the actual apocalypse. Reader get to see things from day one through Alex's eyes. I loved this, as I'm often one of those readers who wants to know more about exactly what happened that led up to whatever dystopian civilization I'm reading about.

The EMP killed lots of people. Many of those who survived were changed into violent, cannibalistic predators. Ashes is the story of the few remaining unchanged people. The humans left to figure out how to survive. The main character, Alex, a teenager on her own in the woods far away from her remaining family when the EMP hits, is perfectly written. She's strong, independent and can accept she doesn't have a clue what the right thing to do is in this particular situation.

Full of zombie-esque creatures, post-apocalyptic human evils and truly crazy twists, Ashes is flat out amazing.

So you probably read other reviews about this book what it's about and the last half of the book is... different or slower pace than the first half. I think readers feel that way because they expect the whole book to be about: "Need to keep moving to get away from the zombies, Watch over my shoulders all the time, How to survive, etc..." but it wasn't. Still I didn't think it was boring or not interesting, really the second half made sense to me. I will pick up the next book for sure.

***spoilers Alert***
I thought Ellie was the most annoying kid ever! A walking disaster, how many times bad things happen because of her? because she keeps going off by herself.
About the second half: True it was a big change but there are zombies everwhere, I have no food, no shelter, I know so little of what is going. Wouldn't I want to be where I know it's as safe as can be? so you see, I understood Alex. In reality facing the same situation, I think a lot of people would have stayed in the Rule. Alex got comfortable but was still trying to get away from the town or its cult.
Chris's character was sweet and as little we got of him, it was enough to make me like very much. I like Tom but...

If you are a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, zombie fiction, or YA fiction then Bick has written a book just for you. Ashes is a serviceable novel that reads as a greatest hits mashup from several of the genres listed above. However, it doesn't really push those genres into any new territories. Bick rushes through some interesting ideas she tries to develop and sometimes overly relies on cliffhangers at the end of chapters. If you are obsessed with any of those genres listed above then dive right in.

Interesting Apocalypse story. I started this series because it is the first book my husband started listening to on Audible. As he is not a reader, I wanted to support him in all things books. It gave us something to talk about that we were both interested in, and he was able to see a new perspective and has a better understanding on my writerly world. I had a difficult time really liking this book and honestly spent more time groaning over the stupidity of the characters than enjoying the story - until Rule. Ella is an extremely easy character to despise and makes me extremely grateful to not have children. Alex is complex. I'm still not sure if I'm rooting for or against her yet. I am intrigued enough to rest the next story. I just hope the storyline speeds up soon.

Ilsa J. Bick, the author of, "Ashes", has written a compelling story that comes to life from the very beginning. From those first pages, when the main characters are introduced, it grabs you by the throat. Alex, a by herself teen, camping in a Michigan forest, who is on a quest to fulfill her parents last request isn't lost physically but she's at the end of a personal battle with a "monster" in her head. A battle, with cancer, that she's losing. And then it happens, an apocalyptic nightmare brought on by what's suspected to be EMP explosions that presage "Chenoble" like disasters that bring the world to the edge of insanity and extinction. The story is like this throughout with a brief passage or two that lead you to feel the excitement has to loosen up a bit, but, then, wow! Gotcha! And you just can't put it down. Ms. Bick's writing brings not only the protagonists to life, but everyone, and everything, encountered; from zombies, unlike any you've run into in other stories, to religious zealots and an introduction to the reality of what people will do to survive worldwide cataclysmic circumstances. "Ashes", is the first installment of a promised trilogy. I truly can't wait.

Marketers, you need have only put one word on the cover copy, and this would've leapt to the top of my reading pile: "neuroscience". Yet that word appears nowhere in the summary, and whilst "electromagnetic pulse" is highly appealing, it isn't as awesome. Basically the description suggests that the EMP creates zombies, and omits the best bits of the story.

I still don't know what caused the EMP - something about bombs dropped over nuclear reactors, which overheated and exploded, or something like that. Doesn't say who dropped the bombs, so there's no naming and shaming (which is good, because I'm so over "America is good; everyone else is evil" themes).

The more you know: Illinois is a hotbed of nuclear power.

Without spoiling the nuances of the neuroscience that make this novel so fascinating, here's what ASHES is in a nutshell: a paranormal, dog-whispering, cannibalistic, surgical, weepie, relationship drama, with hidden agendas, arranged marriages, and neuroscience. It packs a lot into its considerable length, and I'm chomping at the bit for SHADOWS. ASHES is serious sequel-bait.

I read this book in under two hours while waiting to be called in at the doctors office. And while i was reading this book I look over my shoulder alot. Why? Well this book had a spur of the moment zombie apocalypse and sitting in a waiting room full of sick people....yeah... I totally let my mind run with my imagination a bit. LOL

I really loved this book. I loved the story line and the way it flowed. Ms. Bick did a great job in capturing the reader from the very first page. I admit I was confused at first, but as I continued to read and saw how it all came together...light bulb. I loved that the world created is so great descriptive that you can see it in your mind.

The characters were great! Ms. Bick did a great job in capturing the voice of a teenager. And not just a voice but a strong one. Alex is one tough cookie. I loved her and immediately feel into her shoes. Ms. Bick made it easy for the reader to relate to Alex as well as feel her strength.

If you love dystopian read this book! It has a strong kick-butt girl, zombies, and some hotties that blew my mind! Ms. Bick filled her book with great action, love, and read you will never forget!

Alright, so this is NOT your typical zombie book. These zombies are fast, strong, and still have memory of basic survival skills (including handling weapons), which makes this book mega intense from start to finish. The premise was very dark; brain tumors, dead family members, lost loves, and of course cannibals. Right from the beginning I was picking up eerie vibes from this book, and it remained stressful the entire way through. Just when there seems to be a beacon of hope, love, everything ripped away, only to repeat itself. And to top it all off, a mind numbing cliffhanger.

I would recommend Ashes to die hard zombie fans, survivalists, and even some romanticists. As a zombie/survival story fan myself, I was very pleased with how realistic it all seemed. I was practically there in the story myself; I even had to pause a couple of times to take a calming breath or two. It is a spectacular book that may just give The Road a run for its money!

Okay....so this isn't normally something I would read. That's such a funny statement, being that I couldn't put the book down! I would equate Ashes to the movie Red Dawn meets Hunger Games meets any Zombie movie available! CAUTION....This book is not for the weak! You better have a strong stomach if you are going to pick this one up! Anyone who enjoys survival, Dystopian, and apocalypse stories will eat this one alive....pardon the pun!

What I liked about Ashes was Alex, the lead female character. She's strong. She's a survivor. She kicks serious A**. Ilsa Bick does a great job of creating mystery, suspense, and does a fabulous job with the cliffhanger....but GOOD NIGHT.....what a cliffhanger......it'll leave you with your mouth dropped wide open!

So the question looms....will I read the 2nd one? Normally, I wouldn't....just not my type of book, but with the way the book ended....you better believe I'll be reading the next one!!

So why did I read it if it's not my type of book:

Reason #1 ....The 2012 Teen Top Ten Reading Challenge on my blog [...]
Reason #2....I like to read a variety of genres, as a school librarian, so I can recommend books to my students.

I was telling a student about the book, and he was already eager to read it, begging to be the first one to check it out when I got it processed....!!

This is from my blog, Studies in Storytelling.

I write this with a bias toward the first half of the book, which frames this apocalyptic story in a wilderness survival story, a hiking endeavor that's tense and harrowing even before the electromagnetic "zap" fries all watches, phones, pacemakers. I'm a fan of wilderness survival stories. Growing up, I loved reading The Cay, My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon was my first Stephen King (and I'd bet money Ms. Bick has read it).

Why set a zombiepocalypse story in the wilderness? Wouldn't a city have more advantages: the contrast between the advanced civilization of city life gone to ruins, masses of people who can run about and devour and advance shock factor, Interstate crashes, etc.

From the wilderness, "the apocalypse" emerges more quietly and spookily. (Some slight spoilers ahead!) At first, Alex thinks the zap happened very locally, in a place with few people: The damage is horrifying, but not cataclysmic. From that vantage, the damage broadens like a cancer: From the mountain, to the mountain and the valley. From the mountain and the valley, to an 80-square-mile segment of mountainous Michigan. From the 80 square miles, to all of Michigan. From Michigan to half the United States.

The wilderness characterizes the horrifying extent of the zap's power like no other setting possibly could: It is not a dropped bomb with a radius of radiation, or a virus to which one could be miraculously immune. It is not escapable. Even 25 miles out from the nearest ranger tower, it kills and infects.

That said, I've got just one more comment on Ashes' storytelling: I've heard numerous writers comment that smell is an underutilized and neglected sense in our writing. Naming how a place smells can bring it to life for a reader more than its colors ever could. Bick maximizes the olfactory, and I lahhv it. Exploit that competition's weakness!

Please view the complete post here: [...]

My family likes post-apocalyptic novels and zombie books. However, since the genre is glutted right now, it becomes a little harder to find the ones that will will all enjoy.

This one is one that I will recommend. It's a good balance of gore, action and plot twists. The character development almost all centers around Alex, hopefully the next book will have more about Ellie and Tom.

The plot meanders, but in an entertaining way, instead of having a firmly set focus, it follows Alex after the EMP changes the world. Things are discovered in the order she discovers them and how she understands them. The story is engaging enough that I read this fairly quickly.

The author has clearly used her experience and knowledge of child psychology in writing the relationships and reactions, so it rings true. No perfect characters in this book, they are damaged, impatient and prone to fits of temper. They are also caring and strong.

I'm looking forward to the next book.

If you're getting it for a ya reader, there is some adult language and gore in the story.

Ashes is an interesting start to a series of stories about Alex, a girl with a tumor. While on a camping trip to release her parents' ashes, an electromagnetic pulse shatters the world killing most of the adults and Changing most of the teenagers into monsters. Alex thinks those who are Spared, like her, have something different going on in their brains to have avoided whatever the EMP did to the others. Some even are Awakened, which means they have special abilities (like Alex's sense of smell). Since the EMP happens, every chapter in this book has something going terribly wrong. She eventually ends up staying in an Amish-like compound where things seem to be better, but she realizes things are still very wrong. The book ends right when it starts to get good. I think this book was used as a setup for the series, but by itself it is just not that strong. Basically it is disaster followed by disaster, with a little bit of romance, then a huge discovery and bam, end. I would like to read the next one though because it sounds like the story is going in a good direction.

The premise of Ashes was cool--original problem and characters, plus pseudo-zombies (who doesn't like zombies??). The characters were interesting too--all flawed, and not all are likable, including the main character, Alex.
However, midway through the book things get kinda weird. It becomes about religion as a social enforcer, and I got kinda confused about who wanted what from whom.
My biggest confusion was the ending--is there going to be another book? I couldn't tell if it was just open-ended, or if it was a set-up for a sequel. I don't know why Bick even brought up the whole issue with Chris in the last quarter or less of the book--it's certainly not resolved.
Other than that stuff, I also didn't really like that anything and everything that could go wrong did, everyone you like dies or disappears, and life for the main character pretty much sucks...really, really badly.
I was entertained while I read it, but I was not sorry to trade this book in for the $3 and change in the store credit--not a keeper for me.

Alex is hiking, coming across an older gentleman and his bratty granddaughter when something strange happens. They're zapped. Some mysterious electrical force sweeps through the area, knocking people out and killing some. Others are changed, becoming zombie-like cannibals. In the wilderness, Alex and other intact people she comes across fight for survival, fending off the cannibals who attack them as they find food and shelter. When they find a working radio, they learn about the devastation around the world. And not only are cannibals out there, but even the intact humans fight each other during their struggle to live, figuring out who can be trusted and who might change. Alex has a bit of an advantage, since the zap increased the power of one of her senses. This was gritty and horrific. I felt like I was in the wild with the characters, always on edge about what was to come. I didn't want the novel to end and I was mad when real life interrupted my reading. I read this via Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Based on ARC.

I've really struggled with this review. I feel like I can put this book into thirds. The first 2/3 were just amazing. I loved every second of it. It had just what I was looking for in a dystopian these days. But then the last 1/3 felt off. It really just gets stuck and doesn't progress. The writing felt completely different. It really just went in a stagnant direction. It did pick up again at the end only to leave with a cliffhanger. Had this been a stand alone, I would have been very annoyed. However, there will be more so I'm reserving complete judgement. I'm trying to leave an open mind, and hopefully the author will answer some questions I have. So what to rate it....it's been tough. I really felt like I could have justified a 5 star rating until the last 1/3. But I can't feel comfortable leaving it a 3, because I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of it. I don't know...3.5 or 4. I'm on the fence.

Ashes tells the terrifying story of Alex, a teen girl with an incurable brain tumor. She gives up on her treatments, and goes on a camping survival trip. While camping, she meets up with a grandpa and his eight-year-old granddaughter, Ellie. Suddenly, a crazy electrical pulse shock zapping thing happens and the world has changed.

After the pulse, many people are dead, others survive with a change (Alex gains a super sense of smell), and others become flesh-eating zombies. The really scary thing about the zombies, is that they are able to learn and change their behaviors. I really like this about the zombies because they are dynamic.

Alex and Ellie hook up with Tom, who has his own psychological wounds to deal with. I grew attached to this trio and I liked the way they played off of each other. Alex is resilient, Ellie can be moody but it makes sense given her age, and Tom holds the group together.

Then, a spoilery thing happens at the end of one chapter and it felt like I was reading an entirely different book in the next chapter. Huh? Some characters are gone, others are still around, there is a cult introduced, and I was pretty confused. Maybe this whole shift will be explained in a future book in the series, maybe not. I really did love the first half of the book. The second half, not so much.

Ashes is very graphic and violent. If you like your flesh-eating zombies with lots of blood and gore, then you will love Ashes. The way Ilsa J. Bick writes these scenes made them gruesome, but in a way that I wasn't scared off from continuing to read.

RATING

3 So-So

COVER COMMENTS

Terrifying comes to life on this cover. PERFECT!

I was warned. When I started reading this book, I was fully aware of several reviews praising the first half of this book and lamenting over the second half. I thought myself prepared, but I wasn't.

It is true that the introduction to Alex, Ellie, and Tom was magnificent. I was given time and space to fall in love with each of the characters and to learn to respect them for their strengths and weaknesses. Ellie's a brat and more than once I wanted to slap her, but she has real reasons for being that way and she's given a small chance to show personal growth. Tom is a young man shouldering more than any man should and I just wanted to cuddle him like both Ellie and Alex got to do.

And Alex. Had I finally found a young female protagonist worth cheering and following through a series of horrendous experiences? I really thought so, because at her core, Alex is a fighter and a survivor. And more than that, she has valid reasons for being those things.

Although, the first half does have its weaknesses too, including the tiresome use of explained cliffhangers - it isn't enough that there is one, but we're told why it's a cliffhanger - I thought they'd been wrong.

Halfway mark came and went. The narrative got a little slower, but for a reason, I thought.

Two thirds in I get a glimpse of insta twu vuw. I grimace and brave on. It's getting a bit sticky but it's nothing I can't handle.

A quarter to finish and my mind implodes. No, no, this can't be happening! But it can, and it is, happening. Everything built up in the first half of the book, the character I'd learned to respect, it all is decimated within few short chapters. Who is this character? It isn't Alex. It just isn't.

Let's be clear: I'm not objecting to *what* happened in the second half of the book. It was absolutely necessary for Alex, Ellie, and Tom to widen their horizons, because without outside contacts I would have kept thinking it was all happening in their heads, that it was just a local accident, not prevalent to the continent.

I disapprove of *how* it was written.

The rhythm of tight action-packed plotting all but disappears not to be found again until the very end, if then. Alex's character changes drastically without any real reason. Her strengths are sacrificed at the altar of meant-to-be love while I keep wondering who is this guy and why should I care. Where Bick showed me several reasons why I should care about Ellie and Tom, I was only told to care for Chris because Alex does.

I wish that the author will devote the sequel to rediscovering the characters and plot threads of the first half of this book after what I consider an unfortunate but necessary detour.

One thing I've noticed absent from the Ashes reviews I've read so far is the mention of guns. There's been pretty much a collective non-reaction to the all-permeating gun culture in this book. Maybe it's a sign of how new I am to the genre, or maybe it's a sign of where I grew up, but I was shocked and appalled at how frivolously firearms were used by the characters with little to no regard for the actual plot. I do understand the need for shotguns and rifles for hunters and I can even empathise with the gun enthusiasts, but really, there was a reason why I loved MacGyver so:

He never needed a Glock to say I love you.

***I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher through NetGalley.***

P.S. This was written before the book came out, but due to the store policies I wasn't able to post it and then I simply forgot.

I will refrain from a synopsis, since there are several other reviews that have that posted. I will say that I found this to be a quick read, and a really "believable" story - given that it is about zombies. This actually had the same feel as one of my favorite thrillers The Things That Keep Us Here: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle). The two stories are very different, but both have that 'what do you do when society breaks down' kind of feel. I also love a good zombie story, so this was a fun read. I do agree with some of the other reviews that mentioned the book dropped a bit in the middle. But for me, it didn't hurt my exeprience with the overall story. This definitely feels like the start of a series, or maybe a tv show or movie in the future...

Though I am (agewise) way beyond the market demographic for young adult fiction, I have found that the post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels written for this audience are great reading. Last year I discovered the Hungry City Chronicles and the Fever Crumb series--both by Philip Reeve. I am on the second book of the Hunger Games. I picked this up on a quick trip to the library and was immediately captivated by its heroine. When I was a teen, we had far fewer books in which girls were center stage -- and many of those were basically teen romances. It is nice to see a wider selection of role models and a great deal more diversity in the current YA lit.
My only complaint is the cliff hanger ending, and I am hoping there will be a sequel soon. Searching for post-apoc lit has led me to some great books -- some of which are not strictly of the genre but have elements of it -- those who like this kind of fiction might also enjoy Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and In the Country of Last Things by Paul Auster. Two books from my teen years that might also appeal to readers are The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Calico Captive, both by E Speare -- both with strong intelligent heroines and good writing.
Hoping for a sequel to Ashes.

I enjoyed this book. It moved quickly. There was a lot of adventure. It changed genres from Zombie Story to creepy Big Brother distopian fiction half way, through. One very big objection is the frequent use of the word, "Fist," as a verb, used as a synonym for, "Grab." It's certainly an unusual word to use instead of 'grabbed' or 'held,' and was odd enough to break the flow of the story every single time, particularly as the first instance was, "Water fisted my boots." My spell check now tells me that, "fisted," is not even an official word; and we all know the slang definition, which makes for quite the metaphor. That alone lost the author one star.

A quick paced read with mysteries to explore.

The lead was interesting and the dynamics of the characters are fun.

We have fast zombies (sorta zombies?). We have humans as monsters (common zombie trope). We have unknown cause of the change (though there are theories).

All in all I'm glad I already have the second book in hand so I don't have to wait to find out what happens.

This book was addictive! When I started reading, it was night and I was home alone. Reading the part when Alex and Ellie are trekking through the woods when gun shots are heard and then they see the teenage kids eating a woman, well, I didn't sleep well that night!! But gee, it was fantastic.

Alex is a teenager that has run away, she is just 15 years old. Alex was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and decided she needed time to sort out her options. She was diagnose two years earlier and had been having treatment, but nothing worked. She hiked up a mountain in the Waucamaw Wilderness and a few days later a couple of visitors arrived. An elderly man, Jack and his Grand-daughter, Ellie (who is 8 years old) arrived with their dog Mina. Ellie wasn't really impressed with Alex and didn't really want to stay, but Jack wanted a coffee and to shared their Krispy Kreme's. A few moments later Jack was having a heart attack and Alex thought her head was going to explode. Ellie had taken off down the trail to cool off and didn't know what was happening on top of the mountain.

Alex's head cleared, Jack had died with blood coming out of his head and Mina was also bleeding. Mina became very protective of Jack's body while Ellie stumbled back up and she started to go into shock. Nobody knew what was going on, but Alex decided it was best to pack up camp and head down to the Ranger's Station. Ellie was fighting the idea, didn't want to leave Jack, but there was no alternative. Alex headed off without Ellie, knowing she would follow eventually.

They reached the bottom of the mountain and headed to the camp ground for an overnight stay. They heard noise, saw a couple of teenagers sitting around eating. Then they realised what they were eating. Alex and Ellie took off like a rocket, still not knowing what in the world was going on.

They had gotten away from those kids and set up camp for the night. Heading for water the next day, Ellie was fishing for something to eat. A bunch of wild dogs came upon the girls and decided they wanted lunch. Alex was trying to ward them off when a man stumbled out of the woods, grabbed one of the dogs and he then proceeded to eat it... yummo! After munching on the dog, he thought the girls looked tastier. With a bang another man came along and shot the CHANGED man. The other man was Tom!

The three decided to keep to the plan and head for the Ranger's Station. It was empty of people (all sorts), but fully stocked with food, weapons and beds. They stayed there a while trying to work out what to do. Tom was listed in the Army in explosives and told the girls he thought it was an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) or several that were detonated.

They made a plan to head to Canada. There was an old truck in the shed and they found plenty of weapons and food to take along as well. They headed out early one morning, following the old country roads to keep out of sight. They had also been told about a town that was taking in refugees and that was their second option.

There are some very exciting adventures that Alex partakes in following their departure from the Ranger's Station. I don't want to ruin the excitement, so will just say that Alex gets torn between two boys and has a strange affinity towards dogs.

My opinion: I rated it 5 stars. Wow, it ends in such a cliffhanger and now I want to read the next one, Shadows (Ashes #2), due out next year.

I loved that Alex was self sufficient, knew how to live off the land and protect herself. She had the courage to do what was necessary and not think about her own needs in the process.

This was a fantastic read, I loved all the details, although some were gruesome. The thing is this could actually happen in today's society, well except for the zombie part. We rely on technology so much that I couldn't imagine being without electricity or plumbing for that matter. Ilsa has a great method of writing and it was very easy to read. Looking forward to the next one.

Creepiness. Wandering. Healing. Hurt. Deception. The Changed. And much, much more, all in Ilsa J. Bick's spine tingling new young adult novel, Ashes. While it is, at times, formulaic and even a tad predictable, it is on the whole a book that captures your interest from the first Electric Magnetic Pulse and won't let go, even after you close the last cliffhanger page.

Alex has had a lot of tragedy in her life recently, including the deaths of both her parents and the long battle against the monster, otherwise known as the brain tumor slowly taking her life. So she's had it; with a phone call to her guardian aunt, Alex is off into the wilderness to reclaim her life and make decisions for herself. She expects to be alone on her quest, so she's taken aback to run into a grandfather and his granddaughter, though they seem all right. It is while Alex is talking with the grandfather that the world changes; there is a loud noise, everyone falls to the ground, blood pours forth, and very few are alive when the moment passes. The grandfather is dead and Alex finds herself unable to abandon his surly eight year old granddaughter, Ellie, but she believes they can make it to the ranger station and all will be fine. But the truth is, nothing will ever be fine again. And that is just the very tip of the iceberg that is Ashes--there's so much more going on, with so many twists and turns that it would be impossible to summarize it all in this review. The book could actually be divided quite nicely into three segments: Pre-EMP, the Tom/Ellie segment, and the Rule segment, but that would be leaving out how the stories overlap and the progress Alex makes.

Ashes is a zombie-pocalypse, and it's not easy to read. There is gore and plenty of it, in squeamish, stomach churning detail. There are hard life decisions that you wish you could take back immediately, and there is even a touch of romance (but that is very, very secondary to all the terror and strangeness). Things are Not Right, and it's not just because those at puberty and just beyond have turned into flesh eating monsters, while Alex finds herself among the Spared. The town of Rule adds a whole other level of weird to a story that is filled with people leaving, dying, and betraying, and the odd way dogs seem attracted to Alex has got to mean Something. That killer cliffhanger of an ending had me immediately looking online to see when the next installment comes out.

Ashes started just a bit slowly for me, but once it took off, I found myself totally immersed in the dystopian world in which Alex finds herself. I was often reminded of the television show The Walking Dead; there are similarities in the stories and both offer frightening looks at the horror of running for your very life. Of course this genre of books does stretch believability at times, and the story does take an odd turn with Rule. But I'm on board because this one has enough imagination and interesting characters that I'm vested in the outcome. Be forewarned that you'll need a strong stomach for Ashes, but the excitement is worth the adventure.

I'm a big fan of zombie, dystopia, paranormal thriller type books. I am also a big fan of young adult fiction. (Yes, I realize I am, in fact, an adult.) So I was super excited to read this book! In fact, I was even happy I got sick so I had a full day to just sit and read this book! (It has to be good book if it makes sickness worthwhile.) I really enjoyed this book, despite my main critique.

The book feels almost like two different books. It starts off in a very unique way. Girl- in the woods- brain tumor- end of the world. Yes! So, the first half of the book follows as the main character, Alex, is finding her way to help in the woods after some pretty crazy events. You have the end of the world bombing, zombies, animals gone crazy, main hero with sudden super powers- Awesome. Then you hit this transition section where the main character sheds the ancillary character half-way. It felt odd. Then the book almost turns into The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Which is odd. Where did that shift in plot come from exactly? I preferred the first abandoned plot line, but there is no getting it back now. The middle transition period started feeling a lot like Life As We Knew It, only with the added bonus of some zombie attacks to spice up the starving thing. (It also has a "weird moon" which is probably why I was thinking about Life As We Knew It to begin with.)

Despite that huge problem, I enjoyed the book. I couldn't help myself. Though I felt that at the beginning of the second plot line the main character's personality did a little odd change that didn't seem consistent with what the reader knew of her up to that point, I liked the book. I wish the author had figured out a way to stay true to the first plot line and first character traits of Alex. It would have been a 5 star must read. As is, it is a worthwhile read, but the plot flop makes you loose a bit of enthusiasm.

SInce this is a young adult book, I'll add my blurb to parents about it's content. There are some mild teen kissing scenes. There is some talk about sex for procreation, but not in detail. There is very mild language, but nothing too graphic, nor does it use the f-bomb. Just mild, run of the mill, the world is ending so sometimes people say minor curse words language. It does talk about suicide. Not in a positive light, but not in a necessarily negative light either. (Just letting you know that is in there.) There is talk of the current war, but nothing too politically motivated one way or the other.