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ladydewinter's review
4.0
The problem with sequels to books (or movies, or anything, really) you love is that there's always the danger that they might suck. Now, I loved "A Strong and Sudden Thaw" a whole lot, and even though I was very impatient to get the sequel, I ended up waiting four months before finally reading it.
Let me say one thing upfront: "Out of the Ashes" doesn't suck. David and Callan are as great as ever, and the plot is engaging and makes it torture to put the book down (so much so that I asked for a longer break the other day, so I could read a bit longer). But it's definitely a different book than "A Strong and Sudden Thaw" - this one is a lot darker, and I do not say that lightly. It does have a Sophie-approved ending, though, and since I hate unhappy endings with these types of books, that should tell you enough without spoiling.
The spoilers start here: after the events of the first book, Moline prepares for resisting the government's forced relocation. I expected that particular battle to last for the whole book, so I was surprised when that didn't happen and instead all of the town that survived are forced to go to a camp - except for David, who falls in with a band of actors and ends up going to Washington, DC to find out where his family has gone to. We follow Callan's experiences in the camp with the help of his journal, and to say that that part is upsetting is putting it mildly. The living conditions in the camp are horrible, and it is certainly reminiscent of a concentration camp. Callan is put with the other "sodomites", and has to undergo electric "therapy" to "cure" him from his sins.
David's adventures are different, but not that much more pleasant. He ends up having to play the "toy" of a rich politician so he can find out where his family is. He also - and this is admittedly more pleasant - falling in love with one of the actors, an older man named Sterling. And while all this made sense in terms of the plot, it was what I disliked the most. I just don't like infidelity, and while I understand it here, I still don't like it. I also wish the author had left out the kink part - in this context, it's pure abuse, and while, again, it makes sense on the whole - it had to happen to David so he could later understand better what happened to Callan - I still didn't like it.
What I loved so much about the first book was the way David and Callan fell in love. It was very romantic, and lovely, and you won't find that much of that in this book. But their love for each other is still strong, and powerful, and if you can say that a love can grow up, theirs certainly does so.
The first book already was a lot more than a love story, and this book takes that a bit further. But to be honest, that's part of the reason I liked the first book. The overall plot with the religious fanatics and government conspiracies is a thrilling read, and since the end didn't feel very final to me, there might even be another sequel, which I would welcome.
One note about the book itself - I can't say I care too much for the cover design, and there are quite a few spelling mistakes both outside and inside (most notably, Callan is called "Callum" on the cover). It didn't take away any enjoyment from the book, but it's still something that could have been done better.
So overall a good book, and I'm glad I finally got up the courage to read it.
Let me say one thing upfront: "Out of the Ashes" doesn't suck. David and Callan are as great as ever, and the plot is engaging and makes it torture to put the book down (so much so that I asked for a longer break the other day, so I could read a bit longer). But it's definitely a different book than "A Strong and Sudden Thaw" - this one is a lot darker, and I do not say that lightly. It does have a Sophie-approved ending, though, and since I hate unhappy endings with these types of books, that should tell you enough without spoiling.
The spoilers start here: after the events of the first book, Moline prepares for resisting the government's forced relocation. I expected that particular battle to last for the whole book, so I was surprised when that didn't happen and instead all of the town that survived are forced to go to a camp - except for David, who falls in with a band of actors and ends up going to Washington, DC to find out where his family has gone to. We follow Callan's experiences in the camp with the help of his journal, and to say that that part is upsetting is putting it mildly. The living conditions in the camp are horrible, and it is certainly reminiscent of a concentration camp. Callan is put with the other "sodomites", and has to undergo electric "therapy" to "cure" him from his sins.
David's adventures are different, but not that much more pleasant. He ends up having to play the "toy" of a rich politician so he can find out where his family is. He also - and this is admittedly more pleasant - falling in love with one of the actors, an older man named Sterling. And while all this made sense in terms of the plot, it was what I disliked the most. I just don't like infidelity, and while I understand it here, I still don't like it. I also wish the author had left out the kink part - in this context, it's pure abuse, and while, again, it makes sense on the whole - it had to happen to David so he could later understand better what happened to Callan - I still didn't like it.
What I loved so much about the first book was the way David and Callan fell in love. It was very romantic, and lovely, and you won't find that much of that in this book. But their love for each other is still strong, and powerful, and if you can say that a love can grow up, theirs certainly does so.
The first book already was a lot more than a love story, and this book takes that a bit further. But to be honest, that's part of the reason I liked the first book. The overall plot with the religious fanatics and government conspiracies is a thrilling read, and since the end didn't feel very final to me, there might even be another sequel, which I would welcome.
One note about the book itself - I can't say I care too much for the cover design, and there are quite a few spelling mistakes both outside and inside (most notably, Callan is called "Callum" on the cover). It didn't take away any enjoyment from the book, but it's still something that could have been done better.
So overall a good book, and I'm glad I finally got up the courage to read it.
juliemawesome's review
3.0
Darker than the previous book and I have to say I enjoyed that one much more. There were also a lot of typos in this one.
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