Review - Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa Bick

Let me just start by saying I try REALLY hard to not give spoilers or tell too much about the story in my reviews. I tell you what I would rate them and give a few tidbits on things that really struck me. These may not be the in-depth synopsis reviews you're looking for, but I try not to disparage the author or ruin the fun in reading for the reader. 

4 Stars

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.

 

4 Stars

VERY SLOW build-up with EVERYTHING. And there is a LOT of things happening at once. It can be confusing at times as to who's story is being told at any given moment, but it is interesting and keeps up the suspense. It didn't really start getting good, to where you're teeth are clenched and you're cursing your interruptions, until about the last 10 or so chapters. And then it just ended. It was a decent book, but I hope Monster has an actual conclusion and I didn't just waste a few days of my time.

2 Stars

SO disappointed. While still maintaining a heady suspense, the culmination of this trilogy really leaves you with more questions than answers. I'm not really sure what to say without giving things away, but if you really want to feel as if you've wasted a ton of time, read this trilogy. I'm very disappointed with this ending. Ms. Bick should've edited out a whole bunch in this series and actually taken the time to finish it. Answer some questions. Come to some sort of conclusion. My husband is so bored listening to this book he's actually making up songs and calling me. He can only listen to about 30 minutes at a time without wanting to destroy Audible. Such a disappointment.

The Last Boyfriend

Fourteen years ago today, I was asked out on a date. He was a young man, with loads of potential, and a lot of fun to be with. He took me to my favorite restaurant, the Olive Garden, and proceeded to look like he was going to either faint or throw up in the middle of the restaurant.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yah," he croaked out.
I looked at him with one eyebrow crooked, but shrugged it off. He'd tell me what was bothering him when he was ready. We ordered and he started fidgeting with everything on the table. I knew then that he was nervous, not sick.
"How was your day?" I asked, a smile playing at the corners of my lips.
"Fine," he replied. "I have to ask you something."
"What's up?" I tilted my head and tried to suppress the grin.
"Well," he ducked his head, twisting his napkin on the table top.
He took a deep breath, "will you be my girlfriend?"
I couldn't hold it back. I grinned, giggling just a bit with how flustered he was. Taking his hand in mine, I replied.
"Of course I will."
He smiled back and kissed my hands.
Leaning over, we kissed, sealing the agreement.
Life would not always be easy, and our relationship would not always be roses. There are thorns in the mix, and those things bite! But, every year I would remember this adorable young man. His nerves, how scared he was at me saying no, and the look of pure amazement that I said yes that crossed his expression will continue to remind me of why I fell so hard for him. Fourteen years ago the last man I will ever date asked me to go steady. We will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary in a few weeks and all I can say is, "I love you babe. Always and Forever."

Changes

For those of you following me on FB, you already know that I've begun to work with Blue Harvest Creative to revamp the books. What you may not know is the major overhaul Zombie War is getting. It will no longer be a trilogy, but a single book in three parts. I'm SO excited for how it's coming, and I know you will be as well.
For those of you who already have the Zombie War Trilogy- CONGRATS!!! You have a FIRST EDITION copy! You should feel special. They are no longer available for purchase, and you can brag to all your friends how you read them first - you lucky duck you!
For those who have been waiting - be patient. The wait is almost over and you will be able to snatch your copy of the completed (trilogy?) book soon!
I can't wait to share the updates and the re-vamped version of Zombies with you. Updates will be posted as I receive them.

Another thing, I've been doing a lot of soul searching this past year. I've been working on Convergence, but am not certain when it is going to be released yet. It's not finished, and I want to make sure I'm completely happy with it before sharing it with you. I'm sorry for the delay, but I refuse to put out a book I'm not pleased with. I know you understand and I appreciate your patience with me on this. I've been doing a whole lot of reading lately and have decided that for the foreseeable future, Tuesdays are going to be dedicated to Review Days on this blog. I hope you enjoy and appreciate the reviews.

You guys are awesome and I love ya!

Last day for this sale!!! Check it out!!!

Award-winning author Katie Jennings is running a sale on all of her eBooks from September 19th thru September 21st! Check out what's for sale below: The Dryad Quartet: The Vasser Legacy: So Fell The Sparrow: Also, in addition to the collection of eBooks being on sale, she's running a birthday raffle for a signed print copy of her ghostly romance, So Fell The Sparrow! Sparrow won an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and is a #1 bestseller in Ghost Suspense on Amazon.

Please help spread the word and share this post! :)

Come One, Come All!!!

On September 20th (TOMORROW!!!!), from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. at Grassroots Bookstore in Reno, NV Vassal: The Second Book of Tir Athair will be available in both print and eBook formats. To celebrate, Reno’s best independent bookstore will be hosting me as I sign print copies of all available Tir Athair works. But book signings aren’t the only attractions that day.

Book cover and advertisements designed by Blue Harvest Creative

Schedule of Events:

• 11am: Storytelling for the kids by aspiring author Dave Nightingale
• 11am: Falconry demonstrations by Darkwell Renaissance Festival
• 11:30: Old world fibers by Beck, including spinning wheels and hand-spindling
• 12:00: Renaissance music by youth musician Jaidyn MacDonald
• 1pm: Book readings by authors Marissa Ames, Jean Booth, and Kurt Winans
• 1:30pm: Face painting for the kids by Beck
• 2pm: Renaissance music by youth musician Lauren Hutchings
• 2:30pm: Storytelling for the kids by youth book critic Sahara Wilcock

Throughout the day:

• Heavy combat demonstrations by the Society for Creative Anachronism. (The public will only be spectators for combat demonstrations.)
• Craft demonstrations by the Society for Creative Anachronism
• Historical representations by Reno Celtic Celebration’s Scottish/French Court of Mary Stuart

Other events are still being determined and will be added to the schedule once finalized.

Other authors include Jean Booth, authors of Zombie War and The Origins paranormal series, and Kurt Winans, author of science fiction works Pilgrimage and Second Moon. Works by all three authors are kept in stock at Grassroots Books.

On site food, including vegan and gluten free options, served by J&J’s Italian Ices

Grassroots Books is the preferred storefront for the Tir Athair series. Print prices will always be lower at Grassroots than on Amazon.com. However, if you prefer eBooks, you can pre-order Vassal for only $3.49 until September 20th. Upon the book’s release date, the price will rise to $4.99.

Fringe

If you haven't watched Fringe, or haven't yet seen the finale and hate spoilers, stop reading now. I'm going to spend this post talking about the 5th season finale - the last episode of Fringe and don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't seen it yet.
As Shark Week is in full bloom, I spent the evening bawling as I watched the last few episodes of Fringe, alone in my living room with my cats. Even as I was frantically clearing my vision of the tears, all I could think about was, "they have it all wrong," and how much I hate fluctuating hormones.
That aside, I don't know how the writers of Fringe could have missed such a crucial moment, especially when they reminded us of this event when Michael caused Walter to have his flashback. When Michael and Walter went into the wormhole into the future to eliminate the observers, September would have been eliminated too. (Thereby eliminating the possibility that Michael could have ever been created in the first place, but I could argue myself in circles for that so I'll leave it alone) Now, if September had lived and went through the wormhole with Michael, I could understand and argue this point against myself, but as he died before being able to enter the wormhole, I just can't see it.
Here's my problem - Peter and Olivia would never have met because Peter died when he was a boy. Walternate would have never been distracted by September when making his cure for alternate Peter because September would have never existed (he was an observer) and Walter would have never had a reason to enter the alternate universe, therefore, the fractures in the two universes would have never been created and Fringe events would never have happened. The entire story of Fringe would never have happened because the focal point would never have occured. Walter would have become the crazy mad scientist he was afraid of becoming, and then blipped out of existence at some point because of the wormhole thing.
The fact that the observers disappeared at the 2016 timeline just doesn't make sense. If Michael was supposed to show the scientist that he didn't have to eliminate the emotional part of the brain, and avoid creating the observers, then they never would have existed in any time, not just 2016. It makes for a nice, happy ending, but it's not accurate. I think if they would have avoided reminding us, yet again, of how September saved Peter and Walter from the frozen lake, then maybe most people could have forgotten that part of the timeline. But they did (and truthfully, I saw that flaw WAY before that flashback) and the ending just didn't make sense.
That being said, humans like happy endings, and it doesn't get better than seeing a family being reunited. I still liked that show, flaws and all. :)