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suze_1624's review
4.0
Well, what an emotional up and down read! I did like the humour that gave a respite from the drama, ManDonna was great.
RJ - well, the emotions his story brought on were just so much - sympathy, hatred of his father, anger at the Grandmother, so sad for RJ, Isiah and Ben - gah!
Isiah - so profoundly affected by what happened all those years ago and by what didn't happen - his parents passive stance, though they did give him Dr Dan. Could really feel how those actions were having impacts all the years later.
Ben - emotionally so traumatised by events, even if a lot are blocked or kept from him. His reunion with RJ so much (though in reality would be done different perhaps). His stepping away from Isiah showed his immaturity which came from his upbringing.
ManDonna and Hershel - brilliant! And thank goodness for them for Ben's sake.
Aaron - a great focus for Ben and Isiah when times are tough, someone else is having tough times too. I did want to more on how he was doing later on.
RJ - well, the emotions his story brought on were just so much - sympathy, hatred of his father, anger at the Grandmother, so sad for RJ, Isiah and Ben - gah!
Isiah - so profoundly affected by what happened all those years ago and by what didn't happen - his parents passive stance, though they did give him Dr Dan. Could really feel how those actions were having impacts all the years later.
Ben - emotionally so traumatised by events, even if a lot are blocked or kept from him. His reunion with RJ so much (though in reality would be done different perhaps). His stepping away from Isiah showed his immaturity which came from his upbringing.
ManDonna and Hershel - brilliant! And thank goodness for them for Ben's sake.
Aaron - a great focus for Ben and Isiah when times are tough, someone else is having tough times too. I did want to more on how he was doing later on.
tiggers_hate_acorns's review against another edition
5.0
Before 17% was up I was reaching for the tissues but although they came in handy a couple of more times this wasn't just a story of bad times. It was a story of growth, a story of the power of friendship and love, a story that showed the true meaning of family.
5 stars
5 stars
kaje_harper's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book about real people, men with difficult pasts who have built good lives, men with issues and needs and virtues, and mistakes.
Isaiah is a special ed teacher, and a good one. He has realistic views of his students, and the range of parents that come with them. He's gay, but pretty closeted, since it's a risk to come out when you're a teacher and he loves his job. But out of his rough past, there's still a boat-load of regrets driving him.
Ben lost his parents young, and was raised by an emotionally-abusive grandmother, starting a spiral into substance abuse, ending in two stints in rehab. He's now made a family of choice with a gay couple who mentored him - his construction worker boss, Hershel, and Hershel’s husband, Daniel—drag queen ManDonna who steps in as a flamboyant mother-figure for him at times. With them, Ben has both a steadying real-world situation and the chance to sometimes strut and flaunt the gay that his grandmother abhors and tried to deny him.
Ben is a Big Brother to one of Isaiah's students - they meet over the kid's acting out, and his foster mother's uncertain temper and possible alcoholism. Although they are both strongly attracted to each other, getting together has risks, particularly for Isaiah. Plus, with the student's home situation unraveling, they may soon be cock-blocked by a volatile pre-teen. It takes a lot of "this feels right" to work around their obstacles. But they do feel that right to each other.
Then a conversation reveals a new obstacle they hadn't even suspected. Maybe trying to be together was their biggest mistake yet.
Although there are some coincidences in this book, they were necessary to the story and didn't push me past the point of belief. I liked that the guys screwed up sometimes. I really appreciated the way the plot line with the student worked out - avoiding an easy feel-good resolution for something believable. I'd have liked more time with Isaiah's family toward the end, but I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up. There are dark moments in the flash-back parts of this book. For some readers they may be intense, although for me the simple realistic observant narration didn't pull me in overly emotionally. This is a book to come to when you're tired of pretty and perfect and want messy and complicated, with a happy ending.
Isaiah is a special ed teacher, and a good one. He has realistic views of his students, and the range of parents that come with them. He's gay, but pretty closeted, since it's a risk to come out when you're a teacher and he loves his job. But out of his rough past, there's still a boat-load of regrets driving him.
Ben lost his parents young, and was raised by an emotionally-abusive grandmother, starting a spiral into substance abuse, ending in two stints in rehab. He's now made a family of choice with a gay couple who mentored him - his construction worker boss, Hershel, and Hershel’s husband, Daniel—drag queen ManDonna who steps in as a flamboyant mother-figure for him at times. With them, Ben has both a steadying real-world situation and the chance to sometimes strut and flaunt the gay that his grandmother abhors and tried to deny him.
Ben is a Big Brother to one of Isaiah's students - they meet over the kid's acting out, and his foster mother's uncertain temper and possible alcoholism. Although they are both strongly attracted to each other, getting together has risks, particularly for Isaiah. Plus, with the student's home situation unraveling, they may soon be cock-blocked by a volatile pre-teen. It takes a lot of "this feels right" to work around their obstacles. But they do feel that right to each other.
Then a conversation reveals a new obstacle they hadn't even suspected. Maybe trying to be together was their biggest mistake yet.
Although there are some coincidences in this book, they were necessary to the story and didn't push me past the point of belief. I liked that the guys screwed up sometimes. I really appreciated the way the plot line with the student worked out - avoiding an easy feel-good resolution for something believable. I'd have liked more time with Isaiah's family toward the end, but I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up. There are dark moments in the flash-back parts of this book. For some readers they may be intense, although for me the simple realistic observant narration didn't pull me in overly emotionally. This is a book to come to when you're tired of pretty and perfect and want messy and complicated, with a happy ending.
the_novel_approach's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so unexpected in the best way. I mean, I expected it to be good—I requested it for review because the blurb grabbed me, and I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s last book—but, I did not expect the wonderful, rich, moving reading experience that I got. There is so much I can’t talk about in this review. So much that I’m dying to tell you guys about the brilliance of this story. But, yeah…I can’t. No one wants to live in Spoilerville, right?!?
Here are some things I CAN tell you…
First, there is such lyricism in both the title of the novel and of the four parts within. The four section titles—Gathering the Tinder, Stoking the Fire, Igniting the Inferno, and Sifting the Embers—speak beautifully to the flow of the book. This is masterful storytelling by Brandon Witt; the way the narrative was crafted and woven together honestly blew me away.
Witt’s last novel, The Imperfection of Swans, hit the ground running, with an intense attention-grabbing scene; Under a Sky of Ash begins in a similar fashion, with a gripping—in this case also harrowing and devastating—scene that immediately makes the book one that is impossible to put down. The story begins as a twelve-year-old Isaiah Greene experiences both the joy of his first kiss with a beautiful boy named RJ, and the horror and violence of hatred at the hands of RJ’s father.
Jump to twenty years later, we meet a grown up Isaiah, now a special education teacher, in a tense meeting at school regarding Aaron, one of his higher maintenance students. Aaron’s current foster situation is definitely less than ideal, but thankfully he also has Ben, his mentor through the Big Brother program. It is instantly obvious that Aaron responds very positively to Ben, and that they have a great relationship. Upon meeting him, Isaiah is immediately attracted to Ben, yet manages to maintain a professional discussion about Aaron at their first meeting.
Isaiah and Ben’s relationship builds in a really good way. They initially act on their shared attraction, but quickly start to feel connected in a variety of ways, first over their shared interest in Aaron, but also as they discover that they have even more in common than they realized.
The nearly four weeks since opening up to Ben had been some of the freest I’d ever know. I thought the same was probably true for him as well. Though neither of us brought up our pasts again, and despite them being different in many ways, the scars of deep trauma served as a bond.
One of the themes in the book—a theme that I really enjoy—is that of chosen family. Often the family we choose is healthier for us, or suits us better, than some of our blood family, and that is absolutely the case with Ben. Having lost his parents at a young age, Ben is raised by his hateful, bigoted grandmother. This woman is vile. But, after a difficult childhood and some rough years as an adult, he was fortunate enough to meet and eventually be basically taken in by Daniel, who is also the drag queen ManDonna, and his partner, Hershel. He eventually finds a job with Hershel, an NA sponsor in Daniel, and a family in them both.
Brandon Witt is so good at mixing in humor with the drama in his heavier themed works. This book is definitely on the heavy side. Extremely heavy at times. But, one gift he has given us here is the unbelievably fabulous ManDonna to help brighten up some of the darkness. ManDonna, who Ben calls “momma,” is unforgettable and hilarious. For more levity, there is also a wonderful wedding in the book. And, Isaiah’s relationship with his co-teacher and roommate, Charity, is so lovely and lighthearted as well.
Ok—I feel like I’ve given you all enough reason to go out and grab this book. Under a Sky of Ash is a fantastic, suspenseful, soulful read. I wanted to hug both MCs, as well as Aaron and Hershel and Daniel/ManDonna, throughout. I got goosebumps on more than one occasion. I need everyone to read this book so that I can speak openly about it, because ALSDFJSLFDJLASJDF!!! I highly recommend this one, guys.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-under-a-sky-of-ash-by-brandon-witt/
Here are some things I CAN tell you…
First, there is such lyricism in both the title of the novel and of the four parts within. The four section titles—Gathering the Tinder, Stoking the Fire, Igniting the Inferno, and Sifting the Embers—speak beautifully to the flow of the book. This is masterful storytelling by Brandon Witt; the way the narrative was crafted and woven together honestly blew me away.
Witt’s last novel, The Imperfection of Swans, hit the ground running, with an intense attention-grabbing scene; Under a Sky of Ash begins in a similar fashion, with a gripping—in this case also harrowing and devastating—scene that immediately makes the book one that is impossible to put down. The story begins as a twelve-year-old Isaiah Greene experiences both the joy of his first kiss with a beautiful boy named RJ, and the horror and violence of hatred at the hands of RJ’s father.
Jump to twenty years later, we meet a grown up Isaiah, now a special education teacher, in a tense meeting at school regarding Aaron, one of his higher maintenance students. Aaron’s current foster situation is definitely less than ideal, but thankfully he also has Ben, his mentor through the Big Brother program. It is instantly obvious that Aaron responds very positively to Ben, and that they have a great relationship. Upon meeting him, Isaiah is immediately attracted to Ben, yet manages to maintain a professional discussion about Aaron at their first meeting.
Isaiah and Ben’s relationship builds in a really good way. They initially act on their shared attraction, but quickly start to feel connected in a variety of ways, first over their shared interest in Aaron, but also as they discover that they have even more in common than they realized.
The nearly four weeks since opening up to Ben had been some of the freest I’d ever know. I thought the same was probably true for him as well. Though neither of us brought up our pasts again, and despite them being different in many ways, the scars of deep trauma served as a bond.
One of the themes in the book—a theme that I really enjoy—is that of chosen family. Often the family we choose is healthier for us, or suits us better, than some of our blood family, and that is absolutely the case with Ben. Having lost his parents at a young age, Ben is raised by his hateful, bigoted grandmother. This woman is vile. But, after a difficult childhood and some rough years as an adult, he was fortunate enough to meet and eventually be basically taken in by Daniel, who is also the drag queen ManDonna, and his partner, Hershel. He eventually finds a job with Hershel, an NA sponsor in Daniel, and a family in them both.
Brandon Witt is so good at mixing in humor with the drama in his heavier themed works. This book is definitely on the heavy side. Extremely heavy at times. But, one gift he has given us here is the unbelievably fabulous ManDonna to help brighten up some of the darkness. ManDonna, who Ben calls “momma,” is unforgettable and hilarious. For more levity, there is also a wonderful wedding in the book. And, Isaiah’s relationship with his co-teacher and roommate, Charity, is so lovely and lighthearted as well.
Ok—I feel like I’ve given you all enough reason to go out and grab this book. Under a Sky of Ash is a fantastic, suspenseful, soulful read. I wanted to hug both MCs, as well as Aaron and Hershel and Daniel/ManDonna, throughout. I got goosebumps on more than one occasion. I need everyone to read this book so that I can speak openly about it, because ALSDFJSLFDJLASJDF!!! I highly recommend this one, guys.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/review-under-a-sky-of-ash-by-brandon-witt/
karentje's review against another edition
5.0
This is an amazing read, such an incredibly touching love story though not always the easiest on a reader’s heart. Both MC’s are survivors of terrible trauma’s in their childhoods and are still struggling with the repercussions of those events in the present day. Isaiah and Ben are drawn to each other from their first meeting, and alongside the butterflies of attraction a deeper bond soon develops when they recognize a kindred spirit in each other because of what they’ve both gone through. Ben and Isaiah have to deal with homophobia, false accusations and racism on top of all the other baggage they already carry on their shoulders, sometimes even coming from people who should be expected to be care for them and support them. My heart broke for them several times throughout this book. This is definitely a love story to be enjoyed with a box of tissues on hand, but it is well worth it. The secondary characters are very well-drawn as well, authentic and layered, if not always likable. ManDonna especially is fabulous, with a heart and personality that seem larger than life. RJ and Aaron also deserve a special mention, all the love for both of them.
susanscribs's review
4.0
3.5 stars. New to me author, would buy his work again at the right price. A bit melodramatic and required a suspension of disbelief for the big plot twist, but the relationship between the two MCs was well developed and strong.
fantasyliving's review
5.0
I went out and bought this as soon as Chelsea's review came out. That cover... and Chelsea's words sold me on it. And then I read the dedication, and cried a little.
This story was beautiful. There was a fair bit of angst but it didn't feel suffocating, or contrived.
These two men truly had some massive hurdles to overcome, in terms of healing, and later pain uncovered by discoveries about themselves.
I wanted to know a little more about their past and how they got to where they were outside of their tragedies. I mean I was told in a brief way, but I wanted to get inside how they both developed after their respective traumas.
I felt that more time was spent developing Isaiah and his past, and not enough time spent with Ben.
Ben was a really intriguing character, and I really wanted more from him. To know him a little deeper. He seemed to be a chameleon in life, and I would have enjoyed exploring that more.
But it was still brilliant. Their relationship was not easy, but it was rewarding. The struggles that they faced, both together and apart was worth the outcome that was achieved.
And there were some tears from me towards the end. Which always leaves me feeling good, as bizarre as that may sound. I like a book that can pull that out of me.
So this is a definite winner for me. And I recommend it to everyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about characters who have to work a little bit harder to be together.
This story was beautiful. There was a fair bit of angst but it didn't feel suffocating, or contrived.
These two men truly had some massive hurdles to overcome, in terms of healing, and later pain uncovered by discoveries about themselves.
I wanted to know a little more about their past and how they got to where they were outside of their tragedies. I mean I was told in a brief way, but I wanted to get inside how they both developed after their respective traumas.
I felt that more time was spent developing Isaiah and his past, and not enough time spent with Ben.
Ben was a really intriguing character, and I really wanted more from him. To know him a little deeper. He seemed to be a chameleon in life, and I would have enjoyed exploring that more.
But it was still brilliant. Their relationship was not easy, but it was rewarding. The struggles that they faced, both together and apart was worth the outcome that was achieved.
And there were some tears from me towards the end. Which always leaves me feeling good, as bizarre as that may sound. I like a book that can pull that out of me.
So this is a definite winner for me. And I recommend it to everyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about characters who have to work a little bit harder to be together.
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