Wednesday, August 27, 2014

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

Publication Date: August 26, 2014

Series: Broken Destiny (bk. 1)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Subjects: demons, angels, parallel worlds, magic, abilities

Setting: Various places in the USA and in other realms

POV/Tense: 1st person POV, past tense: Ivy

Age/Grade Level: Teens 16+/ New Adult ages 18-25 (Ivy is 20)

Length: 299 pgs.

HC/PB: Paperback

List Price: $14.95

Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Summary/ product description: “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…”





My Review:  This is the 1st actual New Adult book I’ve ever read. I read a few adult books back in high school, but I’ve stuck to YA because I like it best. The Beautiful Ashes feels more like YA that adult. The characters are adult. Ivy is 20, and a college student at WMU (Western Massachusetts University?), majoring in history. Her sister Jasmine is 18 and disappeared.

Ivy goes to a B&B in Bennington, Vermont because of the picture Jasmine sent her. Her sister isn’t there. Ivy has hallucinations of parallel versions of places. Ivy meets Adrian after Officer Kroger, the officer handling the disappearance investigation, attacks her. Adrian save Ivy and kills the officer.  The story starts off with a bang.

Adrian explains to Ivy that demons and other realms exist and that they have minions that look like regular people. Ivy find out that she’s a descendant of an important biblical figure a much find a special weapon that can kill demons. Adrian is friends with an Archon (angel) named Zach. I love the whole mythology behind it. It’s different from any other demon/angel book I’ve ever read.

There was this thing called glamour, which I read about usually in books about Fae, that can disguise appearance. There were some hilarious parts in which Zach glamoured Ivy to look like something or someone and no one told her what she looked like to other people. I cracked up so hard when she walked into the bathroom in one scene. Also, apparently mirrors are bad. And being glamoured to look like a creature can really freak people out.

The romance is definitely sexy. It wasn’t erotic, thank goodness. It’s just like any young adult novel with romance. Lots of making out and almost sex. Adrian is a great love interest and interesting character. He’s not perfect and has lots of secrets he’s hiding. This makes Ivy frustrated. She wants to find out what Adrian is. He’s fast and strong, but obviously not a vampire (they don’t exist). He says he’s not a demon, but she can’t be sure.

The book’s under 300 pages and the text is normal, not small. It’s fast when you get into it, but I kind of read slow and it took me a few days to finish it. The plot is interesting and the side-characters even help the story along. There’s a lot a appeal to fans of YA paranormal series. I recommend this book to fans of the TV show  Supernatural, and any movie that use bible mythology in a thrilling way. Also to fans of White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout, Fallen, Hush, Hush, Personal Demons, Everneath and other Angel/Demon books out there.


Cover Art Review: Very plain looking cover. Not really how I picture Ivy. Looks like Taylor Swift wearing a black wig for some reason.




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