Shadows

Title: Shadows: The Ashes TrilogyAuthor: Ilsa J. BickRating: 3 StarsMy ReviewWow there is a LOT going on here. It had been a while so I had to go back and re-read most of Ashes to figure out what was going on. And that's because in this title Bick uses many more characters and POVs than in Ashes. In fact, the overall cast is pretty darned huge. It's definitely a bridge book. You get the sense that she has all these pieces, people, and places that she's weaving together...but they are mostly so disjointed that the story jumping can be a little challenging to follow.Also, it gets hard to hold onto your love for the original main characters because you don't get to hear from them as much. I did like that there was still plenty of Alex. Without that, I'm not even sure if I would have been interested in the rest of the story. The first book gets you very invested in Alex's character and well-being and you wouldn't care for anyone else at all, I think, if you didn't get a lot of her perspective in this book.Ungodly disgusting things happen in this book. Unspeakable, horrifying, nauseating things. It adds to the terror, but for me it pushes it so far into the *yuk* category that it was sometimes hard to take. Alex is always smelling something rotten, or fetid, or putrid. I swear, I've never seen the word *snot* used more in a single book in my life. I know Bick's purposefully pushing the envelope and for real zombie lovers, that will probably go over well. For me it was a little too much phlegm, pus, blood, blowback, etc. in general and not enough love or triumph or peace to balance it. When nothing but bad things happen with no in-between, I get a little fatigued.When I was trying to characterize what I felt overall about this book the thing that came to mind was this: too many, "Dear God, No!"s. It's like the end of each POV has to have that DUHN-DUHN-DUHN moment to it. That sounds great because she does give you tension, but when you do that EVERY time you leave a character POV and there are (Alex, Chris, Lena, Peter, Jed, and I can't remember who else) THAT many characters, you end up with about 30 "Dear God, No!"s and you end up with the boy who cried wolf scenario... I ignore it. I don't believe it. I think, "Whatever. Everything is horrifying," and it all blends into one.What I Did LikeAgain, she used enough Alex for me to like it. I was always rooting for her. Also, I love Tom. Tom is completely impossible not to love. Her action scenes, though too many and too long for my taste, were well-written and gave you a proper sense of how bad-ass Alex is. I like the whole concept of the CHANGE and what may cause it or affect it. You know I love it whenever people try to get all science-y. I like the mysteries surrounding Rule. There is something much older and deeper than the EMP going on there and you really want to know what it is. I like the mysteries surrounding the cause of the EMP. Was it the military? Are they rounding up children? I also like the way she portrays all the different ways that people might react in this vastly different world of children and seniors. Since nearly everyone else is gone, you have to remember while you read that everyone in her story is either very young or very old. So militias form, but some are run by older people and some are run by younger people. Bounty hunters seek children and the Changed. There are looters and raiders who are unaffiliated with anything or anyone. And there's bastions like Oren and Rule. All of that world-building stuff that she's done, I really liked.First of all, Bick is a very capable writer. In fact, her vocabulary sometimes had me reaching for my dictionary, and that is quite a feat! Also, I did read this pretty quickly because I was dying for certain things to happen, that unfortunately didn't...in this book. (No spoilers since this is a new title.) Still, I'm not giving it 2 stars or saying don't read it. It was entertaining enough and my interest in finishing Alex's unique story is strong enough that I would recommend this to those who liked the first. That's why I'm giving it 3 stars, and that's why I plan to read the final installment. And if you really like zombie grossness and unending, teeth-chomping action, this one is probably a 4 or 5 star book for you.

I am a Big fan of Ashes. I pre ordered this book which I do not do often. I have to say I was disappointed with this book. It's not a bad book but since it is a second book in a trilogy you already have a vested interest in the main characters from the first book. I wanted to know more about Alex's story. I felt I got little of that. I didn't care so much about Lena and Peter for example. It was interesting to see what was happening to them and the other characters and maybe this is why the author choose to have POV book. The big issue was I felt like I was in too many heads. I would have liked it more if the book stuck to less POV on so many characters I felt bad for the cabin family that took Tom in but it seemed like a lot of time invested in them for the outcome. It's a time investment too when you read. So we know there are kind people left on earth and able bodied bad people. Clearly talk is cheap in this world.With all the POV going on I sometimes lost track of who was talking from section to section. It didn't throw me for a long time but just enough that I had to reset my head. It was just distracting. I also feel like nothing is resolved, and not enough brought out for me to be satisfied with this as a second book. I realize it must be hard to get that magic sweet spot but add more and work harder on the last book then. You still aren't sure why all this has happened. I was waiting for black helicopters to throw leaf lets. Yes, you do know more but not in a sense where you are thinking "Oh boy" I cannot wait till that guy gets it or you are scared by what happened and the next wave of horror that will descend in book three. You do know a little more and wish ill on a handful of people but you still don't know enough to judge completely. It is also rather annoying to see people who have, seen it all, believe too readily what they are told about Rule and Chris for example. I felt it was out of place.All I know right now is that there is a whole lot of setting people up, double crossing, lying, and confusion going on. Alert Spoiler.. Chris was just slouching around in the snow somewhere most of the book and is now on the brink of being dinner, Tom is with a crew he may or may not trust, Alex is trapped and experiencing mixed emotions on several levels, Wolf - MIA, Lena - turning, Peter - experiment, Jess - sick coma women, Weller - trader, lier, killer, Luke - nice kid, Cindy - nice kid, and back at the ranch... Now not all characters had POV but I was cringing at times when new people were introduced. I also didn't feel bad for Daniel. If you are investing the time in the characters I feel I should feel something for them because the author has made me feel, not just because I human. I again think there were just to many characters to track with deep emotion. The ending is a, tables have reversed, in the sense that this time Tom thinks Alex is dead and Alex knows Tom is alive.I do like the books concept and the overall story line. I don't mind the gore. I think it fits, but if you don't like it don't read it. This is a end of days type book so it is very graphic. There is little kindness and good times in the book. It is pure survival. I would recommend the book but maybe tell people to wait till the price drops.

If you've seen my review of Ashes you'll know that I was mega-excited about Shadows, I'd had it on preorder for some time and was counting down the days (yes I REALLY am that sad).Its rare that a book draws you in so much, and leaves you wanting to know whats going to happen next. So yes, very excited about Shadows.But you'll notice that this review is coming two months after its release, and as I read 3 books a week, it might seem strange that it took so long to finish.****SPOILER ALERT (1) If you've not read Ashes, please avoid the rest of this review - I will be referring to key events in book 1 that might spoil it for you*******SPOILER ALERT (2) - I don't put much in terms of spoilers, but there are a few names that might give you some clues as to whats going on - don't read on if you don't want to know!***The answer to that is simple - its just not as good as ashes. In Ashes the reader is focussed on Alex, whilst not narrated by her, your point of view is hers. You feel her ups and downs, and you are left wondering what's happened to Ellie, Tom and Mina. You wonder what is happening with her smell and the tumour - is it gone, did it save her, prevent her from changing? You know as much or as little as Alex does.This POV style means you don't know whats going on behind those closed doors in Rule, you don't know who to trust (although Jess was always dodgy in my book!)Shadows however tells the story from four or five different points of view - Alex, Tom (Yes he's still alive, but you never doubted that did you?!), Chris, Peter and Lena. It gets very confusing, as something happens the chapters will flip to another character and it often takes a few seconds to work out where you are and who you are with now. Even a simple name at the top of each chapter would have helped, although I'd of been tempted to split the book into 5 - telling each story in one complete go, and leaving the reader in the dark as to where the others fit in until they've read all five. Bick does once again deliver on this clever, plot twisting and brings the characters so close and then away again.Shadows picks up right where Ashes left off - with Alex in the woods outside rule, surrounded by Changed (or chuckies as they are called in this book), this was probably one of the best written action sequences in the book - you were there with Alex and it doesn't go the way you expect it to.Where book one was about survival and figuring out whats been going on, book two (whilst still about these themes to a certain degree) was centred around getting back together - be that chris and Alex, Alex and Tom etc, a nice change from the last book, it added a new dimension.I really can't tell you anymore without completely spoiling the story, the twists, action and heartbreak that made Ashes so successful are all there, by the bucket load. Shadows goes places I'd never thought of, and throws curve balls at you from every direction. The only complaint I have is that nothing seems to get resolved, you are left at the end no more satisfied than at the end of ashes, and you have a dozen more questions about who to trust, who's alive, who's not etc.Shadows is by no means a bad book, its excellent and as a stand alone piece it'd be a 4 or possibly a 4.5 star work. But its not a stand alone book, its part of a set and it just doesn't match up to Ashes, it doesn't flow as well (see the confusing narrative bit above) and because of that you are less invested in some of the characters.A solid 3.5 stars from me, I'm hoping book three picks it back up again

**4.5 stars**Alex has escaped from Rule - but what new horrors face her in the ravaged world outside?Tom is safe - but what will he risk to find Alex?Chris - how much does he really know about the terrible darkness of Rule? And what are his true feelings for Alex?Ellie - where is she?Yes indeed. All questions I had when I had finished "Ashes" the first book in this trilogy. Some are answered - some are not - and I can hardly wait to find out how this one turns out for all involved. Monsters await me - probably quite literally.So, you have Young Adult fiction. Then you have Adult fiction. And somewhere inbetween you have Ilsa J Bick's trilogy about a post apocalyptic, dangerous world, where no-one can be trusted and sometimes your best friend is also your worst enemy. A brilliantly imagined setting where in order to survive, ruthless is the only way to go.There are several interlocking stories going on here as we follow Alex, Chris and Tom amongst others - separate but linked - on their journey through a landscape fraught with danger, ever changing, and filled with those of nefarious intent. The "changed" are scary, downright horrific and if you have a weak stomach, fair warning, there are no punches pulled here. And its possible that the change is not over yet...Just because you are one of the "Spared" does not guarantee that you will always be entirely you...Multi stranded character arcs can confuse - I've heard people call this plot "convoluted" but for me it was rich in detail and imagination. Rather than give heart and soul to two or three main protagonists, Ms Bick breathes life into them all - whilst also managing to give the reader a full appreciation for the world they inhabit. Not an easy task and yes the plot building is complicated - you may lose some of the nuances of the journey - but its worth every second for the pure adrenalin rush that sometimes may overtake you.If you love YA Post Apocalyptic fiction, and enjoy a story with many different faces I would recommend these books. Monsters will be on my reading schedule soon - I am hoping that the ending to this particular trilogy will satisfy me more than the last one I read. Yes you people who follow my reviews you all know what I am talking about! Shadows has had the perfect lead in to the finale. I will let you know if it lives up to the promise...As an aside - I have the first two books in paperback (UK) and Quercus, James Fraser (cover design) and Arcangel Images (cover photo) have done another outstanding job here. I love the tactile presence of these novels on my shelf. Monsters is on my Kindle (I took the short route and went via netgalley) but I shall be purchasing the final paperback to complete my collection. Cover art. One of my favourite things about physical books...Happy Reading Folks!

I loved Ashes! It had me gripped from the first page but Shadows was a bit slow to be honest. I even skipped a few pages which I hardly ever do. It is also very very gory and detailed in its descriptions of cannibalism so be warned those readers who have weak stomachs.It is still worth reading and I will read the third when it gets published but I can't help being disappointed. Another reviewer mentioned she was disappointed that we didn't find out what happened to Wolf .. I have to agree with her as I enjoyed the exploration of that theme. Can the chuckies have feelings for the unchanged???? Did wolf have feelings for Alex?

I saw this book on a shelf in my local supermarket, read the first paragraph & loaded it onto my kinle first chance I got. An excellent book, well written & I can't wait for the next part. You might find it on the teen-reads shelf, but pay that no regard. A good book for anyone over twelve! I won't go into the story too much for fear of spoiling it for others but it is the sort of book that stays in your mind for a while afterwards as there is that "what if..." feel in the story. Especially as it is set today... or tomorrow... or next week... I would highly recommend it as it is good value for money.

Very disappointed. I loved Ashes and eagerly awaited the follow up. It took me several attempts to read Shadows, always stopped by the stomach churning details. Finally, I had to skim the book (which I hate doing) to try to pick out the important plot points, only to find it is a gore-fest with very little development of the excellent story which began in book 1. I will not be buying the third book in the series.