Reviews

An Inheritance of Ashes by Leah Bobet

cwalter01's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

A pretty good read with a good silent conclusion

madz2023's review against another edition

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3.0

Not sure what to say. Most books are about a war taking place, but we hardly ever get a look at what happens when the war is over but the land is still war-torn. This was unique and different and I enjoyed it except for the fact that some parts, for me, were rushed and under explained and some parts were overly drawn out, but still a good story.

jandi's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was so bleak and grim, and moves at a rather slow pace, so it was not an easy read. Once you are in the mood for it (get ready to get the cheer sucked out of you!), it is a very interesting premise, with a well constructed world and fantasy elements that seamlessly blend in. The Twisted Things seemed like something you would find in a Neil Gaiman story. The characters are fleshed out, and you do feel involved with them. I felt like yelling at Marthe and Hallie to stop being dumb a couple times, but hey, if you have siblings, you have probably acted that level of dumb at some point. OK, come on, stop being silly! Fortunately, once other characters like Nat and the Chandlers get introduced, it is not all self deprecation, disappointment and fear. I appreciated the subtle romance in the story; it didn't distract from the plot, and fit right in with the characters.

SpoilerThe disappointment over the pointless war which was not a real war. Was there ever a war that was not pointless, that did not make up for the loss of life and desolation in its aftermath?
I felt sad about the Twisted Things, causing destruction without intending to, just scared animals caught on the wrong side of a hole.


Now, I should go do my chores.

lsoccer12's review against another edition

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3.0

I finished this book weeks ago and I still don't know what to so.
Full review to come.

pollyroth's review

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1.0

1.5 Stars

An Inheritance of Ashes absolutely bored me. I would say it confused me, but honestly, I didn't care if I had no idea what was going on because it was so boring. The only reason I finished it was because I received it in a Goodreads Firstreads drawing. And believe me when I say it was a struggle. It was so long and drawn out, the majority of its pages pertaining to the inner workings of a failing farm. And I just didn't care.

thepaperreels's review

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WHAT WHO IS THIS WHAT WHY HUH BUT WHEN WHAT WAIT WHAT HOW WHO WHAT IS HAPPENING??????

That's just me the whole time.

snazel's review

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5.0

An intensely personal, painful book about anger, and relationships, and spider-birds at the end of the world. I loved it.

dianaliliana's review against another edition

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5.0

Dieses Buch ist fantastisch.
Man wird in Hallies Welt hineingezogen und fühlt sich gefangen, in einer Winterlandschaft, in einer Welt nach einem furchtbaren Krieg, in der zwei junge Frauen versuchen ihr Leben zu meistern. Eine ganze Farm am Leben zu erhalten.
Der Hintergrund von Hallie und ihrer Schwester Marthe ist schwierig. Ein ständig tobender Vater, der den einzigen Menschen (den Onkel) vertrieben hat, der zwischen den Kindern und seiner Wut stand. Der sogar nach seinem Tod ständig präsent ist und die Beziehung zwischen den Beiden belastet.
Eine weitere Schwierigkeit stellt der Krieg dar. Gerade erst zu Ende, warten die Beiden auf die Rückkehr von Marthes Ehemann. Verzweifelt, die Hoffnung nicht aufgeben wollend, warten sie darauf, dass er vom Krieg nach Hause kommt. Selbst nach Monaten...
Und dann sind da noch die seltsamen Kreaturen, die nach dem Kampf gegen einen der Götter auf einmal vom Himmel fielen. Schwelend, brennend, gefährlich.... Durch sie merkt man erst richtig, dass es sich hier um eine fantastische Erzählung handelt.

Hallie fühlt sich völlig überfordert. Während ihre ältere Schwester schwanger den Haushalt meistert, versucht sie mit ihren 17 Jahren die Farm aufrecht zu erhalten. Natürlich nicht sonderlich erfolgreich. Die Hoffnung auf die Rückkehr von Marthes Ehemann, der die Beiden so glücklich gemach hat, trägt nicht gerade zur Ruhe in der Familie bei. Ständig in Sorge halten die Beiden ausschau... Und eines Tages steht ein rückkehrender Soldat vor der Tür. Nicht der Vermisste Thomas, aber ein Mann, der Thomas sein könnte. Auf dem Weg nach Hause zu seinen Geliebten und nun, kurz vor dem Winter um Obdach bittend. Hallie beschließt ihn bei ihnen aufzunehmen und er arbeitet für seinen Unterhalt, was es der Familie ermöglicht über den Winter zu kommen. Doch sein Erscheinen bringt nicht nur Erleichterung.....

Leah Bobet schafft es, dass man in das Buch hineingesaugt wird. Man fühlt sich in dieser Welt gefangen. Überall diese tiefen Gefühle von Enttäuschung, Hoffnung, Angst, Wut, Misstrauen und der ständige Kampf eine kleine Familie zusammen zu halten. Die Autorin hat einen tollen Sinn dafür das alles so nahbar zu machen, dass es mich einfach nur glücklich macht.
Dieses Buch ist düster, spannend und einfach wahnsinnig gut. Wer ein kleines bisschen Spannung und Grusel mag, dem fantastischen nicht abgeneigt ist und die feinen Verstrickungen in Beziehungen jeder Art gerne nachfühlt, für den ist dieses Buch genau richtig.

mashockn's review

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3.0

I thought this book was going to have potential, but was disappointed. The story would peak my curiosity and then just not meet expectations. I appreciated the female heroine, Hallie, trying to save her family farm. I wish that the characters would have been developed more to make me feel some sort of attachment to them.

nipomuki's review

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4.0

Reading this book was a very emotional and sometimes disturbing experience for me. The setting seems to be in a near future, and there are some strange elements, more horror than fantasy. At first I did not understand about the war and the Twisted Things, and then I realised that it was the same for the people in the book: they had no way of understanding either. I cared instantly and deeply about the girl, Hal, and since her life, and the lifes of those around her are hard, I cried a lot. The subjects of war, and of family, and how you survive and even grow out of the trauma of both is shown in such a realistic way that it hurts. But tears can be liberating, and in the end there is hope. Which makes me glad I read the book, even though I hated being so sad and worried most of the time.

I just want to add that this book is incredibly well written, everything so vivid and real. And it contains one of the sweetest love stories I remember reading. Not cheesy at all.