Monday, July 28, 2014

Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

19486775Series: Broken Destiny #1
Release date: August 26th 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate. 

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her. 

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

*I was approved by the publisher on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.





It's kind of hard for me to write this review because on one hand, I liked the story, and then on the next, it sort of went away from me from the middle onward. I don't know, probably because everything started to slow down--the pace, the action--and then I felt myself getting annoyed by Ivy and some of the things she'd think and say. I mean, it was a good story, it had a great plot. The twists based on several aspects in history was something I hadn't read before, so I give it points for that. It's just that, I feel like after the middle it started to drag a bit and stress on things that were already established in the beginning. Like, Ivy kept repeating certain things and I felt like it was done to add a few extra pages when the story could have just kept rolling. 

I guess you can say I'm still iffy about my feelings in regards to her character. In the first few chapters, I liked her sense of humor and snarky remarks, but then it just started to fizzle for me and at one point her comments made me cringe. Not saying she's a terrible main character, only that certain things about her didn't work for me. 

As for Adrian. I liked him. I liked his seriousness and the way he made it clear right off that he was not good for her and that he could betray her. He was a straight to the core guy, even though he left a good chunk of details as mystery for the story to remain interesting. It can definitely be hair-pulling, how he along with Zach kept things from Ivy, but I guess it was worth it because towards the end we get to really see just how impulsive she can be when she goes and pulls off something so dangerous. However, it did get the story going again and I kind of liked how finding the weapon turned out to be for her. But then it gets messy again when Ivy is back to being mad at Adrian for reasons that baffled me. Well, I guess that's the kind of relationship they'll have throughout the series. It looks like it. 

This was my first taste of Jeaniene Frost and from what I've heard about her other books, I kind of expected so much more... like fireworks. It didn't happen for me but I did like her easy and fluid writing style, and even though it slowed down in some segments, I did like the pace for the most part. And, once again, I enjoyed the twists and play on historical elements. That aspect to me was different. Will I continue the series? Maybe, and probably with the hopes that certain things about Ivy are improved on.


3 comments:

  1. Hmmm ... I've been reading some reviews that feel the same as you did, Shane. Kind of in the middle when you had hoped for Fireworks. I'm still excited to read it, and I like the sound of the twists and play on historical elements you described. Thanks for the thoughtful review :)

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    Replies
    1. I don't know, it's like they were trying to filling pages or something. In some parts it felt repetitive. It could be me, though. Hope you enjoy it when you get to read it :)

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  2. Oh! And I was so excited to read something different from Ms. Frost! I love her Night Huntress series, and the spin-offs. Too bad Beautiful Ashes didn't completely do it for you, Shane, it is never fun when that happens.
    I hope your next book blew your socks off!

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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