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sayrin426's review against another edition
5.0
Read it cover to cover without stopping. Can't wait for the second one!
kathydavie's review
2.0
First in the Broken Destiny urban fantasy series for young adults and revolving around Ivy Jenkins and Adrian and set in Bennington, Vermont. On this side.
My Take
I was so excited to discover a new Jeaniene Frost series! Until I read it. Talk about teenage-bland. Sorry, teens, no offense. It's not directed at you. Teen is what I've come to categorize as a level of poor writing; bland because it is. Oh, so, dull. Yes, there is action, betrayal, twists-and-turns you won't expect. And somehow, Frost manages to pour the bland on. The tropes, they were a'plenty. You could plot your way through this with your eyes closed and your brain asleep…oh wait, I did! Oops. I hate it when my OCD kicks in and won't let me stop reading — 'cause I was so tempted at so many points in this story.
It starts well enough with the mystery to pull you in, with Ivy's frantic worry, but it doesn't last. And the bland starts with Fate and bloodlines.
Frost tosses out the tension with dramatic interferences, and it all seems so lame. It feels like a kind of play time with slight swells of melodrama, including Ivy using the slingshot. You know, the one that supposedly can only be used once.
It swells on with the stupid tropes like the one where a character holds something back that could make things easier. It makes Ivy's first trip to the demon realms so much more "exciting", *eye roll*. And Frost uses this trope over and over — I really hate that trope. I also hate the one where a character is expected to know how to do something simply because it's part of their ancestry. Especially when they've only just learned about it. The HUGE deal Frost makes of hiding Adrian's bloodline? *major eye roll*
If her adoptive parents knew about her abilities, why did they subject her to all those shrinks, tests, and drugs?
It is funny when Tomas suggests the incoming bad guys could be members of a drug cartel — and that seems a safer bet.
Oh, brother. I'm sorry, but that leather bikini routine to "spare Ivy her blushes" when she's glamored to be a hound doesn't cut it. If clothes on a hound look suspicious, how does wearing a bikini not look just as suspicious? Although, the machinations the three of them have to go through to "hide" who the hound really is are funny.
Don't bother with this one. It's a cute idea but too dull for words.
The Story
It's a desperate Ivy who races into the B&B, only to be met with unwelcome news. Again. It only gets worse when she returns to her hotel room to find a stranger. But the police showing up just in time isn't the aid she was hoping for.
Although it begins to explain the hallucinations.
The Characters
Ivy Jenkins has suffered hallucinations all her life — and suffered the attentions of numerous shrinks, tests, and meds. Part of her talent is being able to find hallowed ground and objects and see beneath demon glamor. Jasmine is the missing sister. Beth and Thomas Jenkins are the parents dead two days earlier. Delia is Ivy's roommate and her best friend.
Adrian had demon foster parents, but after he discovered the truth, he has been retrieving souls for Zach. Part of Adrian's gift from his Judian bloodline is to move into the demon realms from earth. Tomas and Costa are friends of Adrian's who rescued them from the demon realms; now they live in Miami. Taco, Danny, and Jorge show up to help. The gargoyle is a pet of Adrian's: Brutus.
Zach is an angel, to be honest, he's an Archon as are Sarai and Dreadlocks.
Demetrius is a demon and Adrian's "father". Obsidiana is also a demon and was Adrian's lover. Mayhemium and Ryse are perverse demons.
Mrs. Paulson runs that latest B&B in Bennington. Detective Lionel Kroger is with the Bennington PD and one of Demetrius' dogs. Goliath was descended from demons. Hoyt is the little boy they rescue.
Manna is a miracle cure provided by the Archons. Archons are angels, soldiers sidelined until the issue of humanity is settled. Demons are angels who rebelled against the boss. The danger from demons is that they absorb a little more of our world into theirs. Hounds are vicious ancient reptiles.
The Cover
The cover is grays. A bare-branched tree against a blurry backdrop with a profile of Ivy, her head turned to look at us.
The title is too true, for The Beautiful Ashes means only one thing.
My Take
I was so excited to discover a new Jeaniene Frost series! Until I read it. Talk about teenage-bland. Sorry, teens, no offense. It's not directed at you. Teen is what I've come to categorize as a level of poor writing; bland because it is. Oh, so, dull. Yes, there is action, betrayal, twists-and-turns you won't expect. And somehow, Frost manages to pour the bland on. The tropes, they were a'plenty. You could plot your way through this with your eyes closed and your brain asleep…oh wait, I did! Oops. I hate it when my OCD kicks in and won't let me stop reading — 'cause I was so tempted at so many points in this story.
It starts well enough with the mystery to pull you in, with Ivy's frantic worry, but it doesn't last. And the bland starts with Fate and bloodlines.
Frost tosses out the tension with dramatic interferences, and it all seems so lame. It feels like a kind of play time with slight swells of melodrama, including Ivy using the slingshot. You know, the one that supposedly can only be used once.
It swells on with the stupid tropes like the one where a character holds something back that could make things easier. It makes Ivy's first trip to the demon realms so much more "exciting", *eye roll*. And Frost uses this trope over and over — I really hate that trope. I also hate the one where a character is expected to know how to do something simply because it's part of their ancestry. Especially when they've only just learned about it. The HUGE deal Frost makes of hiding Adrian's bloodline? *major eye roll*
If her adoptive parents knew about her abilities, why did they subject her to all those shrinks, tests, and drugs?
It is funny when Tomas suggests the incoming bad guys could be members of a drug cartel — and that seems a safer bet.
Oh, brother. I'm sorry, but that leather bikini routine to "spare Ivy her blushes" when she's glamored to be a hound doesn't cut it. If clothes on a hound look suspicious, how does wearing a bikini not look just as suspicious? Although, the machinations the three of them have to go through to "hide" who the hound really is are funny.
Don't bother with this one. It's a cute idea but too dull for words.
The Story
It's a desperate Ivy who races into the B&B, only to be met with unwelcome news. Again. It only gets worse when she returns to her hotel room to find a stranger. But the police showing up just in time isn't the aid she was hoping for.
Although it begins to explain the hallucinations.
The Characters
Ivy Jenkins has suffered hallucinations all her life — and suffered the attentions of numerous shrinks, tests, and meds. Part of her talent is being able to find hallowed ground and objects and see beneath demon glamor. Jasmine is the missing sister. Beth and Thomas Jenkins are the parents dead two days earlier. Delia is Ivy's roommate and her best friend.
Adrian had demon foster parents, but after he discovered the truth, he has been retrieving souls for Zach. Part of Adrian's gift from his Judian bloodline is to move into the demon realms from earth. Tomas and Costa are friends of Adrian's who rescued them from the demon realms; now they live in Miami. Taco, Danny, and Jorge show up to help. The gargoyle is a pet of Adrian's: Brutus.
Zach is an angel, to be honest, he's an Archon as are Sarai and Dreadlocks.
Demetrius is a demon and Adrian's "father". Obsidiana is also a demon and was Adrian's lover. Mayhemium and Ryse are perverse demons.
Mrs. Paulson runs that latest B&B in Bennington. Detective Lionel Kroger is with the Bennington PD and one of Demetrius' dogs. Goliath was descended from demons. Hoyt is the little boy they rescue.
Manna is a miracle cure provided by the Archons. Archons are angels, soldiers sidelined until the issue of humanity is settled. Demons are angels who rebelled against the boss. The danger from demons is that they absorb a little more of our world into theirs. Hounds are vicious ancient reptiles.
The Cover
The cover is grays. A bare-branched tree against a blurry backdrop with a profile of Ivy, her head turned to look at us.
The title is too true, for The Beautiful Ashes means only one thing.
yodamom's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
This book, this book has me stumped, did I like it or not ? I read it and I'm still unsure what it was. I went from ohhhh, to huh? to WTH ? and oh just shut up, through most of the first 3/4. I picked it up based on the author. I did not know anything about it, I didn't even read the back cover blurb before diving in. I'm not sure if this is NA YA or what it read like a YNA. I'm not found of the NA gene so far.
The first 85 pages where a trip down a familiar path. They covered details, personalities and story line almost exactly like my favorite series The Fever series, by KMM. I could tell you how but that might spoil some of the "surprise" for you. Bottom line I did not like Ivy the MC.
The story wobbled along, with her (Ivy) having many TSTL moments with the oh so sickening "I can change him" bursts in reality. Holy dumbness, this guy was terrible and she spent all her energy forgiving him, making excuses for him, taking all his negative comments and twisting them to her view. (oh excuse me I just got nauseous) What on earth is this silly idiotic girl thinking ? I know he really didn't mean that, I know he really wants me and I'm going to fix him ! (oh there goes my stomach again) I hate this unrealistic goal that so many women believe, they can " fix" people. To read it for entertainment purposes, not very entertaining.
Let's talk about love, no lust, no surreal bonding, no emotional abuse. Geesh, what a surge of hot, cold, freezing, hot, lust, cold hate, want, need, hate, leave. I thought I was reading a YA at one point it was so immature, then it went to NA Smexy, with total acceptance of arseholeness. The lusty moments where good, but then they where cut off and thrown into the unbelievable pile. I never got a complete moment out of these two, their relationship was totally confusing.
I enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book more. It raced through some serious action with all kinds of dangerous beauties and badness. Then it crashed and burned my jaded heart with a last " I can change him ! " not this poo pile again. Arugh !!!
Wow, looking back I didn't like it much did I ? It was hard for me to get over some of the really immature views of the MC. We all have our little peeves and Ivy just whacked mine over and over. Overall I did like the book enough to give book 2 a shot, a free shot from the library. It's a borrow book for me.
This book, this book has me stumped, did I like it or not ? I read it and I'm still unsure what it was. I went from ohhhh, to huh? to WTH ? and oh just shut up, through most of the first 3/4. I picked it up based on the author. I did not know anything about it, I didn't even read the back cover blurb before diving in. I'm not sure if this is NA YA or what it read like a YNA. I'm not found of the NA gene so far.
The first 85 pages where a trip down a familiar path. They covered details, personalities and story line almost exactly like my favorite series The Fever series, by KMM. I could tell you how but that might spoil some of the "surprise" for you. Bottom line I did not like Ivy the MC.
The story wobbled along, with her (Ivy) having many TSTL moments with the oh so sickening "I can change him" bursts in reality. Holy dumbness, this guy was terrible and she spent all her energy forgiving him, making excuses for him, taking all his negative comments and twisting them to her view. (oh excuse me I just got nauseous) What on earth is this silly idiotic girl thinking ? I know he really didn't mean that, I know he really wants me and I'm going to fix him ! (oh there goes my stomach again) I hate this unrealistic goal that so many women believe, they can " fix" people. To read it for entertainment purposes, not very entertaining.
Let's talk about love, no lust, no surreal bonding, no emotional abuse. Geesh, what a surge of hot, cold, freezing, hot, lust, cold hate, want, need, hate, leave. I thought I was reading a YA at one point it was so immature, then it went to NA Smexy, with total acceptance of arseholeness. The lusty moments where good, but then they where cut off and thrown into the unbelievable pile. I never got a complete moment out of these two, their relationship was totally confusing.
I enjoyed the last 1/4 of the book more. It raced through some serious action with all kinds of dangerous beauties and badness. Then it crashed and burned my jaded heart with a last " I can change him ! " not this poo pile again. Arugh !!!
Wow, looking back I didn't like it much did I ? It was hard for me to get over some of the really immature views of the MC. We all have our little peeves and Ivy just whacked mine over and over. Overall I did like the book enough to give book 2 a shot, a free shot from the library. It's a borrow book for me.
clairedrinkstea's review against another edition
2.0
The first of Jeaniene Frost's new Broken Destiny series and I'm really disappointed.
I went in with an open but hopeful mind as her Night Huntress series with Cat and Bones is good and I LOVE the Night Prince series. I also understand it is a new series, new characters, new concept and Ms Frost isn't a consistent 4/5 star author for me but I will give her works a chance.
I REALLY like the concept of Angels/Archons vs Demons and Frost's take on your Fate being tied for millennia to a great deed carried out by an ancestor. The execution, however, wasn't right for me.
I felt no sympathy for Ivy but a heck of a lot of frustration. She seemed whinny and, though she is trying to find and save her sister, a selfish creature. It seemed to be a lot of "me, me, me" and "how this effects me". Ivy doesn't seem to grasp that there is a much bigger picture than just her and more at stake than how she is effected by these HUGE multi-planed events. Adrian is a strong and determined character with mad kick butt skills and a lot of secrets. I don't know why these two feel in love other than their fates are tied together which seemed to draw them in!
I struggled with this book and kept checking the page count left. I don't know if I'll pick up the next in the series as I'm not sure how bothered I am in Ivy saving the day.
I've given it two stars based on the concept which I like and the potential of the concept.
I went in with an open but hopeful mind as her Night Huntress series with Cat and Bones is good and I LOVE the Night Prince series. I also understand it is a new series, new characters, new concept and Ms Frost isn't a consistent 4/5 star author for me but I will give her works a chance.
I REALLY like the concept of Angels/Archons vs Demons and Frost's take on your Fate being tied for millennia to a great deed carried out by an ancestor. The execution, however, wasn't right for me.
I felt no sympathy for Ivy but a heck of a lot of frustration. She seemed whinny and, though she is trying to find and save her sister, a selfish creature. It seemed to be a lot of "me, me, me" and "how this effects me". Ivy doesn't seem to grasp that there is a much bigger picture than just her and more at stake than how she is effected by these HUGE multi-planed events. Adrian is a strong and determined character with mad kick butt skills and a lot of secrets. I don't know why these two feel in love other than their fates are tied together which seemed to draw them in!
I struggled with this book and kept checking the page count left. I don't know if I'll pick up the next in the series as I'm not sure how bothered I am in Ivy saving the day.
I've given it two stars based on the concept which I like and the potential of the concept.
hebberelle's review against another edition
3.0
Bluh. This was an odd mix of exciting and boring. Things keep happening, but they're the same things over and over again. I skipped over almost half of this novel and I couldn't care about the characters at all. Ivy is annoying and stupid, Adrian is just an asshole. Add in that all ivy can think about is hot bod, and I was just over it before it really began.
halynah's review against another edition
5.0
Surprisingly good, taking into account, that the blurb was not impressive. Interesting world-building, quite likeable characters and dynamic plot make the book easy to read, and the ending promises a good sequel, so - definitely recommended.
alisonhori's review against another edition
3.0
I am really not into the Judeo-Christian version of supernatural demon fiction so much....I'd rather learn the mythology of pretty much anything else but it was a fast and fun enough read. My least favorite of this author's books so far
redhairedashreads's review against another edition
DNF pg. 131 (45%)
For the first time ever, I am giving up on a Jeaniene Frost book. While I think the idea of the world is interesting, I am really struggling with the characters in this one. Ivy and Adrian are meh characters for me and they continue to do things that irritate me. Mainly, how often it is brought up that information is being withheld because they don’t want to stress out Ivy but then expect her to know wtf to do. Also, I got tired of hearing Ivy’s constantly thinking about how hot Adrian is, even as he was being an asshole to her.
Basically I think this would have been an interesting world if the characters hadn’t gotten in the way.
TW: kidnapping, violence; death of parents; grief; references to being institutionalized, slavery, cannibalism,
saphibella's review against another edition
2.0
This was kind of meh for me, 2.5 stars.
When this book originally came out I tried to read it but got bored pretty quickly. To be totally honest, the book cover also put me off.
I really love Jeaniene's other works, Cat and Bone's story is one of my favorite paranormal fantasy series, but this one did not really catch my interest in the same way. With the trilogy finally complete I decided to give it another try, but I chose to listen to the audiobook, since I therefore did not have to put in as much effort.
This time I actually got through it, but it is still not a book I like very much, and I definitely will not be continuing on with the other two books. It is not because it is not well written, it just did not catch my interest.
This might be in part due to the book's plot, but the audiobook also grated a bit on me at some points, because it became enormously apparent that the main character (Ivy) was running around panicked all the time due to the fact that the narrator gave a very vivid picture of this through her voice, which can be totally logical, but it got old really fast. I must say that Ive grew in competence and capability over the course of the book, it just came very late, when I had already grown quite tired of her antics.
In regards to the book's content, I must admit that I've read a Danish fantasy series that in my opinion utilized the Christian pantheon of God, the Devil, demons etc. in a much more clever and interestingly thought out way. When I began comparing these two The Beautiful Ashes just fell short in every way.
I must also admit, that while I enjoy fantasy series which are inspired by older mythology such as Greek or Norse mythology, I often am weary of those with more modern religious inspiration. Which might in part be due to the fact that I'm an atheist, and I always get a bit annoyed with religiously inspired storylines where the basis of reason is often thrown out the window due to mindless belief. This book was definitely not in that category, which was very nice, there was no mention of baseless belief in God, and it was all worked out in a very nice manner where the Christian faith was not beaten over your head, it could actually be based on any of the Abrahamic religions, as far as I can figure out.
When this book originally came out I tried to read it but got bored pretty quickly. To be totally honest, the book cover also put me off.
I really love Jeaniene's other works, Cat and Bone's story is one of my favorite paranormal fantasy series, but this one did not really catch my interest in the same way. With the trilogy finally complete I decided to give it another try, but I chose to listen to the audiobook, since I therefore did not have to put in as much effort.
This time I actually got through it, but it is still not a book I like very much, and I definitely will not be continuing on with the other two books. It is not because it is not well written, it just did not catch my interest.
This might be in part due to the book's plot, but the audiobook also grated a bit on me at some points, because it became enormously apparent that the main character (Ivy) was running around panicked all the time due to the fact that the narrator gave a very vivid picture of this through her voice, which can be totally logical, but it got old really fast. I must say that Ive grew in competence and capability over the course of the book, it just came very late, when I had already grown quite tired of her antics.
In regards to the book's content, I must admit that I've read a Danish fantasy series that in my opinion utilized the Christian pantheon of God, the Devil, demons etc. in a much more clever and interestingly thought out way. When I began comparing these two The Beautiful Ashes just fell short in every way.
I must also admit, that while I enjoy fantasy series which are inspired by older mythology such as Greek or Norse mythology, I often am weary of those with more modern religious inspiration. Which might in part be due to the fact that I'm an atheist, and I always get a bit annoyed with religiously inspired storylines where the basis of reason is often thrown out the window due to mindless belief. This book was definitely not in that category, which was very nice, there was no mention of baseless belief in God, and it was all worked out in a very nice manner where the Christian faith was not beaten over your head, it could actually be based on any of the Abrahamic religions, as far as I can figure out.