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bree_h_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It took me FOREVER to finish this book, but that was more due to my sporadic reading than any fault of the book. Overall Ashes was extremely enjoyable and tackled a lot of really interesting and dark themes.
I felt like Angela was a really interesting, compelling character with complex struggles. Every character felt so realistic and alive, it was easy to get attached to them and want to learn more. The realness of the characters also helped raised the tension when they were in danger (which was often.)
The descriptions were clear and painted both beautiful and haunting pictures of the things within the story. It set such a clear tone for scenes and helped build tension effectively. The descriptions really helped the books atmosphere and followed Angela’s arc very well.
Every twist felt well built too as well. I especially liked the out of order flow of information. It helped tell the story while explaining more about the characters, overall a really great choice.
My only issue was the romance in the book feeling a bit rushed, but that wasn’t a huge hindrance on enjoyment.
Great book, I definitely recommend.
I felt like Angela was a really interesting, compelling character with complex struggles. Every character felt so realistic and alive, it was easy to get attached to them and want to learn more. The realness of the characters also helped raised the tension when they were in danger (which was often.)
The descriptions were clear and painted both beautiful and haunting pictures of the things within the story. It set such a clear tone for scenes and helped build tension effectively. The descriptions really helped the books atmosphere and followed Angela’s arc very well.
Every twist felt well built too as well. I especially liked the out of order flow of information. It helped tell the story while explaining more about the characters, overall a really great choice.
My only issue was the romance in the book feeling a bit rushed, but that wasn’t a huge hindrance on enjoyment.
Great book, I definitely recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Medical content, Abandonment, and Suicide
nixkelley's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Addiction, Blood, Death, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, and Suicide
caitys_pages's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content warnings: drug use, addiction, overdose, suicide, assault, rape (including a graphic flashback), graphic violence, homophobia, consensual sexual situations, grief, attempted murder.
What a wonderful Debut novel by Iona Wayland!
This novel is both beautiful and horrific all at once. The author’s perspective as a mental health professional showed in how compassionately they depicted such difficult experiences, and ways in which the trauma from such experiences can present. You could feel how artfully it was crafted.
The realities of serious traumas are mixed with dark fantasy in a way which enhances rather than detracts from these issues. The author does not hide behind puff pieces, this story is disturbed because trauma is not sunshine and rainbows. As someone who suffers from mental health I throughly enjoyed the fact that she wrote this is a dark and twisted manner. It was far more relatable and rather comforting.
The worldbuilding is breathtakingly beautiful, as is the way the writer mixes the main character’s present timeline with flashbacks and memories to gradually build the reader’s understanding of what has happened to what is happening, though at times the lines blurred from past to present it was overall very easy and clean to follow. I could close my eyes and easily imagine being in Hollow Forest, seeing, smelling, Fearing what was lurking under every leaf and around ever bend. I would love to read more on the worldbuilding as it was so beautiful, and I am not one who enjoys lots of worldbuilding in my reads as I find them boring but not here. I want more!
The character development was very fascinating as you were already dealing with grown adults so it was refreshing not to read about such childish behaviors and misunderstandings that occur in most novels even adult novels. The author showcased a variety of unique characters with varying levels of traits, and personalities. There where layers skillfully woven in each person making them relatable and real.
The overall storyline had me devouring each chapter in a matter of hours. I couldn't put it down though I was listening to the audible I went to bed listening to the story only to wake up to listen more. I was hooked and what was supposed to be my driving book became my all the time book. I was devastated when it was over and highly recommend others to get this book because it was amazing! Not to mention the twist at the end of the story will have your mind exploding!
10/10 Highly Recommend!
What a wonderful Debut novel by Iona Wayland!
This novel is both beautiful and horrific all at once. The author’s perspective as a mental health professional showed in how compassionately they depicted such difficult experiences, and ways in which the trauma from such experiences can present. You could feel how artfully it was crafted.
The realities of serious traumas are mixed with dark fantasy in a way which enhances rather than detracts from these issues. The author does not hide behind puff pieces, this story is disturbed because trauma is not sunshine and rainbows. As someone who suffers from mental health I throughly enjoyed the fact that she wrote this is a dark and twisted manner. It was far more relatable and rather comforting.
The worldbuilding is breathtakingly beautiful, as is the way the writer mixes the main character’s present timeline with flashbacks and memories to gradually build the reader’s understanding of what has happened to what is happening, though at times the lines blurred from past to present it was overall very easy and clean to follow. I could close my eyes and easily imagine being in Hollow Forest, seeing, smelling, Fearing what was lurking under every leaf and around ever bend. I would love to read more on the worldbuilding as it was so beautiful, and I am not one who enjoys lots of worldbuilding in my reads as I find them boring but not here. I want more!
The character development was very fascinating as you were already dealing with grown adults so it was refreshing not to read about such childish behaviors and misunderstandings that occur in most novels even adult novels. The author showcased a variety of unique characters with varying levels of traits, and personalities. There where layers skillfully woven in each person making them relatable and real.
The overall storyline had me devouring each chapter in a matter of hours. I couldn't put it down though I was listening to the audible I went to bed listening to the story only to wake up to listen more. I was hooked and what was supposed to be my driving book became my all the time book. I was devastated when it was over and highly recommend others to get this book because it was amazing! Not to mention the twist at the end of the story will have your mind exploding!
10/10 Highly Recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Violence, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Suicide
storyphile's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, Drug use, and Drug abuse
wanderonwards's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Ashes is a dark, emotional journey dealing with trauma and grief set against the backdrop of a magical and fantastical forest with horror elements. It’s compulsively readable: the story immediately grabbed my attention and I ended up finishing it in one day. Even though this story handles heavy subjects, it does so in an informed and compassionate way. Parts of the story were on the edge of too graphic for my tastes, but overall this is a stunning debut and I look forward to watching this author’s career progress.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Blood and Homophobia
maisierosereads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I won an eARC of Ashes from the author in a giveaway - thank you Iona! All views here are my own.
Content warnings: drug use, addiction, overdose, suicide, assault, rape (including a graphic flashback), graphic violence, homophobia, consensual sexual situations, grief, attempted murder
I sat down today thinking that I would start to read Ashes, not realising that I would also finish reading it today. Once I started reading I had to continue, capitvated by the writing and desperate to see where Angela's journey through grief and trauma would end.
Ashes is beautiful and horrific all at once. The author's perspective as a trauma-informed mental health professional showed in how compassionately she depicted such difficult experiences and ways in which the trauma from such experiences can present. The realities of serious traumas are mixed with dark fantasy in a way which enhances rather than detracts from these issues.
The flaws of all characters are very much on show through this story, but many of these flaws are addressed and the character development is handled really well. I would say that the cast of characters is diverse.
The worldbuilding is also excellent, as is the way the writer mixes the main character's present timeline with flashbacks and memories to gradually build the reader's understanding of what has happened.
I won't risk spoiling this story for anybody by going into detail but I felt satisfied with the ending and I'm very glad I read this book!
Recommended for:
Fans of dark fantasy & horror
Fans of the movie Annihilation
People who like their horror to be written from a trauma-informed perspective
Fans of magical realism
People who like diversity across a book's cast of characters
People looking for latinx characters written by latinx authors
Content warnings: drug use, addiction, overdose, suicide, assault, rape (including a graphic flashback), graphic violence, homophobia, consensual sexual situations, grief, attempted murder
I sat down today thinking that I would start to read Ashes, not realising that I would also finish reading it today. Once I started reading I had to continue, capitvated by the writing and desperate to see where Angela's journey through grief and trauma would end.
Ashes is beautiful and horrific all at once. The author's perspective as a trauma-informed mental health professional showed in how compassionately she depicted such difficult experiences and ways in which the trauma from such experiences can present. The realities of serious traumas are mixed with dark fantasy in a way which enhances rather than detracts from these issues.
The flaws of all characters are very much on show through this story, but many of these flaws are addressed and the character development is handled really well. I would say that the cast of characters is diverse.
The worldbuilding is also excellent, as is the way the writer mixes the main character's present timeline with flashbacks and memories to gradually build the reader's understanding of what has happened.
I won't risk spoiling this story for anybody by going into detail but I felt satisfied with the ending and I'm very glad I read this book!
Recommended for:
Fans of dark fantasy & horror
Fans of the movie Annihilation
People who like their horror to be written from a trauma-informed perspective
Fans of magical realism
People who like diversity across a book's cast of characters
People looking for latinx characters written by latinx authors
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Sexual violence, Suicide, Chronic illness, Vomit, Violence, Blood, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Homophobia and Body horror
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