Falling to Ash

Moth #1

by Karen Mahoney

You can’t choose your family... living or dead.

Trapped between two very different worlds, newly made vampire Moth is struggling to find her place in either. Not only does she have to answer to her strict Irish-Catholic Dad, but her over-protective maker, Theo, is intent on making her the star attraction in his powerful Boston vampire clan. Moth will have to pull off the double-act of the century to please both of them...

Adding to her problems is the dangerously attractive Jason Murdoch, a trainee vampire hunter who loves to play cat and mouse in his spare time. But when the teenagers of Boston’s wealthiest families start to disappear, it forces Moth and Jace into an uneasy truce. Will they be able to solve the mystery behind the disappearances—before someone winds up undead?

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Zombies

342 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2012

About the author

British writer of fantastical things.

THE IRON WITCH, THE WOOD QUEEN & THE STONE DEMON make up my YA contemporary fantasy trilogy for Flux in the US and Random House in the UK. It's about alchemy, dark elves, and a girl with magical iron tattoos. FALLING TO ASH (September 2012), began a new series for Random House UK about an ass-kicking teen vampire called Moth. You can read more of Moth's adventures in her very own webcomic: www.mothtales.com

In my varied career I've been a professional Tarot reader, a college counsellor, a dating agency consultant and a bookseller. Ever since I was six years old what I really wanted to be was Wonder Woman, but have instead settled for being a writer which is the best job of all!

Reviews

[Jasprit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling to Ash restored that little bit faith that I had lost in my paranormal reads. I used to be a paranormal junkie, but in the last year I found them repetitive and tiresome. That explains why in the last year there’s only been one paranormal read which has completely moved me, but I’m happy to say Falling to Ash was another book which took me by surprise.

The typical stories that we seem to be finding in paranormal books; “who is the mysterious character; I know he’s hiding something but I can’t put my finger on it”, irksome love triangles and a heroine who puts her life on the line for the mysterious stranger who surely isn’t human is thankfully not in sight in Falling to Ash hooray! Instead we’re following the life on young snarky vampire Moth. She’d spent the night with Theo finally filling the big gaping hole left by her dead mother and non-existent father. But she didn’t expect after one of the best nights of her life; Theo would bite her and she would have to live through torturous weeks of getting turned into a vampire. She would rather have died for real instead of becoming an undead vampire. But there was nothing that could be done now; she had to live by her maker Theo’s rules.

In Falling to Ash the world isn’t aware of vampires, there’s a select few who do know and they’re vampire hunters; Thomas and his son Jason Murdoch. Thomas has been on a rampage forever in trying to bring Theo and his vampires down. But then unusual circumstances where teenagers that Moth knew from her human life ending up dead as if they were attacked by an animal, force Jason and Moth to work together as a team.

Jason and Moth’s situation was a hilarious one. There’s nothing more I enjoy more when two characters who hate each other’s guts are forced to work together. Despite their brief tense history, Jason and Moth become to realise they made a formidable team, not only were they able to bring more to the table by coming from two different backgrounds, they were able to delve deeper and become closer to discovering the killer than the police ever were. Jason and Moth were a great pair to be around, it was fun watching them to learn to trust one another, and their adventure was fun and full with much appreciated tension along the way.

Falling to Ash made me realise that I need more books with pov’s from female vampires, this is the second book I have read with this situation and I’ve discovered I’m much able to connect with the characters, thus resulting in a much more enjoyable reading experience.

I hugely recommend reading Falling to Ash if you’re in a paranormal funk and are looking for something fresh and funny. Mahoney does a great job in weaving great aspects of humour in to the book that you will find yourself sniggering to yourself when you least expect it.

This review can be found on The Readers Den

[Rebecca L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok so first off this is my first vampire book ever. I know; I need to get out more.
Second I got this book Zip from the Library as I wanted to read some Gothic/Vampire books and this one looked really interesting out of the list I found on Goodreads. (Not that that has anything to do with anything)
So when I picked this book up I had a open mind and wasn't biased about I wasn't going to like it or anything even though I've never really been all that into vampires (Until I watched Hotel Transylvania:)) so my rating was not at all because of that. But then after reading aways into it I found out, whoa, we have zombies. Now if you've read my reviews you know that I absolutely HATE zombies. HATE, HATE, HATE!!!!! Get the point? Never have never will like them and nothing on God's green earth will change that. So; it would have been NICE to know that it had zombies in it from the summary or something because than I wouldn't have even bothered picking it up! But ah well.
So besides the zombies which obviously took down the rating a star or two Falling To Ash was just poorly done. I mean the writing was ok for first person present tense (A writing style I am not at all fond of as it is hardly ever done right) but the story was lacking and I'm still wondering what the point of it was? What the plot was? and what I was supposed to take away from it other than I HATE zombies.
Also if you've read my reviews you know that I HATE love triangles! I probably hate these as much if not more than zombies but I won't even get started on that. And as usual I felt that the heroine picked the wrong guy in the 'love triangle' and while we are talking about the heroine she kind of sucked. Not a lot of personality or character or voice; she reminded me of Snow White on Snow White and the Huntsman, just dull and DIE ALREADY material.
The other thing that I thought was over done was the blood and vampires eating/ripping people's throats out. I mean I don't mind you saying once or maybe twice "So and so ripped her/his throat out" but when every other freakin paragraph someone has their throat ripped out and we have to hear about it in vivid detail it gets kind of old and gruesome. You know?
So basically this book sucked and the only good thing about it was Theo the Maker of Moth and all I have to say about him is "Loki as a vampire" OMG i'm in love.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling to Ash was a book that I hadn't even heard of until I was offered a chance to request it. Of course, my love of vampires just wouldn't let me refuse and I just couldn't wait get started on it.

Marie, or Moth, as she now calls her vampire self was turned about a year ago when she was 18, but her maker, Theo, kept her hidden from the Family, for fear of repercussions to himself and Moth if they knew he had turned her without permission from them. The Family, are a vampire council who rule and police the vampires.

Theo, is the head vampire of Boston, a hot young looking vampire, who wooed and dated Marie before losing control one night and then turning her, rather than letting her die. He claims it was a lapse in judgement, but now, must face the consequences from the Family. Marie will be allowed to live if Theo can kill Thomas Murdoch, a notorious vampire hunter, and produce his head for the Family. Otherwise, Moth will be ended, taking a little bit of Theo's soul with her. He has one week.

Someone is killing teenagers who are connected to Moth in some way. The first guy, Rick, is a guy she went to college with. When Moth gets a visit from the police because the dead guy has her name and address on him, she senses something fishy and knows she needs to look into this herself. It appears to be a vampire attack so if she can get to the body, she may be able to pick up the scent of the vampire. If Theo gets wind of this she'll be in trouble.

She heads to the hospital, only to run into Jason Murdoch, son of Thomas, the vampire hunter. After a brief tussle, he decides to check things out with her. He can't let a vampire stroll freely around a hospital. They arrive at the morgue just in time to see Rick, sitting on a slab, chewing on an arm, the nurse dead at this feet. All of a sudden, Moth and Jace are on the same side.

I truly loved this book. Moth is a spectacular heroine, brave with a smart mouth but extremely caring when it comes to people she cares about. She's not happy about what she is but accepts that she has to get on with it. Despite Jace being a hunter, she can't help but find him attractive. He is definitely swoonworthy. While a romance doesn't actually take off between the two, the tension is there and when the two of them are together were probably my favourite times in the book.

Theo is Moth's maker, and therefore, she has to do what he says. While she complains about him a lot, I could feel a caring, compassionate relationship between them.

This is my first book to read by Karen Mahoney but I will definitely be looking into others. Falling to Ash is fast paced with sufficient action to keep you on the edge of your seat. I didn't want to put this book down. As yet there is no information on the second book but I really hope we're not going to be kept too long waiting.

[Ferdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars — spoilers

-The plot was unimaginative and very average — newly turned vampire, Moth, investigates a bunch of deaths at her old college and yea, stuff happens.

-Moth was a decent heroine although she was quite dull for the most part — the only times I found her entertaining was when she was with Jace/Theo and when she was angsting over her family. She needed to get some life in her, she was just so blah - I'd rather read about an annoying, alpha bitch/Mary Sue heroine than a heroine who bores me.

-Jace was a decent enough love interest. The flirting and banter between him and Moth was pretty good, though I was put off by how quickly they went from enemies to friends. They would have been more interesting had they slowly started to open up and trust each other. A slow build up in a relationship is always more fun to read about.

-I did like Moth's relationship with her younger sister and I'm glad that they were other female characters besides the heroine that was decent. I would like there to be more insight into Moth's relationship with her older sister/dad and why they're such dicks to her.

-Moth and Theo's dynamic was quite interesting — there was a weird daddy/master/lover vibe going on. It's obvious they won't be endgame but if there's going to be a love triangle then Theo needs to be made a real contender.

-Half a star for Jace, half a star for Theo, half a star for Moth's interactions with them and one big juicy star for Moth not being a virgin..although I wish she'd had sex more than once and that the one time she did have sex, it didn't end up with her being attacked, killed and turned into a vampire..watch out girls..bad things happen when you have sex with someone! Oh well, at least she wasn't a wide eyed, blushing virginal twit.

-I'll be reading the next one because I'm attached to some of the characters — hopefully the plot will be more exciting and Moth will be a little more fun.

[Jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of me feels like giving this 2 stars is too low.... but there's another part of me which just felt this story was a big... meh.

I liked Moth, I really did. She was funny and confident and clumsy and bad-ass all at the same time. But gah, I just couldn't get on with the story. It feels a bit incomplete, like you're getting some details, but not enough to become fully immersed in the world. You get tidbits of her relationships, but not enough to actually feel anything for anyone in particular. Her relationship with Theo wasn't really clear either- love to hate, lover to... father figure? But I'm fairly certain he does love her? Bah, it just felt a bit glossed over. All of it.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I'm a bit fed up with vampire stories. But Falling to Ash didn't bore me at all. For starters, Moth is a little rough around the edges as a vampire. She wears a leather jacket, steel toe capped biker boots and is extraordinarily witty. It kind of made me feel good though that even as a vampire, Moth wasn't unnaturally perfect all the time. The fact that Moth could still feel pain and had to overcome that to get things done made her character tougher and somehow more humane. Having been turned against her will, Moth is undergoing the emotional turmoil of trying to reconcile her new vampire life with with old life and family. Her protectiveness of her younger sister was really sweet. Moth may be a kickass heroine, but she will capture your heart.

Although the murder mystery was easy to predict, there was plenty of action and twists to the story. Surprising things happened after the murders, which I won't tell you about but were a little gruesome and made some interesting links.

I loved the relationship between Moth and Jace and the fact that they already had a backstory that affected how they interacted at the start of the book. Jace, following in the footsteps of his fathers, was a monster-hunter. And Moth was considered the monster. Despite the fact that Jace had been brought up to kill vampires, Moth and Jace were perfectly balanced. Both in strength and charisma. When they both start investigating the murders of local teenagers they form a tentative alliance. And as Moth is so down to earth, Jace slowly started coming around to seeing her as a person and not just a human blood-sucking killing machine. The fact that he could overcome all the believes his father had instilled in him was impressive and endearing.

This may sound patronising, but it isn't meant to be in the slightest. As Karen is a British author, I was really impressed by how authentic the writing was to the American setting. OK so I haven't ever been to Boston, where the book is set, but the locations described felt so real. And the language and style really did make me believe Moth was a born and bred American. With Irish roots ;)

Dark, witty and with a dash of romance, Falling to Ash is a refreshing addition to the vampire genre.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the cover and title, nothing about the first impression screams ‘Vampire Story’, and yet, ‘Falling to Ash’ is, in fact, a fun vampire story. Not so different from others I’ve read in the past – aversions to light, silver and wooden stakes, with turnings being a tricky experience; but I’ve always been a fan of vampires books and I really enjoyed this one.

I really liked our leading lady, Moth. I liked her life – a fledgling vampire living in Boston trying to find her place in her new Vampire family while avoiding the local vampire hunters and keeping her distance from her human family. Moth was an interesting character; curious and strong, and is aware that she probably isn’t the most knowledgeable vampire in the city, but she pushes through her problems when she has to.

Vampires and hunters form a big part of the story, but not the only focus. When dead bodies start turning up in random spots around Boston, all having strange connections to Moth, a mystery needing to solved becomes the big plot in the book. To make matters worse, these bodies seem to be coming back from the dead; and not as vampires. What I loved most about this was not the extra supernatural aspect of the story, but the action that came with fighting them. Lots of punches thrown and weapons used.

I loved the pop culture reference in the novel. Sometimes I fear that pop culture can really date a book – it sits in that time frame for life – but it’s fun to see lines thrown in that make you giggle because Indiana Jones or Veronica Mars was just mentioned. Karen Mahoney did a really good job in ‘Falling to Ash’ – the pop culture doesn’t seem out of place or awkward. It worked really well.

Unsurprisingly, there is slight romance plot to the story, but I found it a bit confusing. It was almost a love triangle between Moth, her vampire Maker, Theo, and the vampire hunter’s son – Jace. But Moth never really admits to having strong feelings for either guy. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. Because Moth doesn’t commit to either option straight away, you’re sort of detached from the romance. It exists, but not strong enough to react passionately to one, or both, guys.

I really enjoyed this book, looking forward to seeing what might happen next.

4/5 stars

[Nobonita - The Bengali Nomad · Rating 3 out of 5]

*10/10/12*
This one came with these two other books in the mail.Thanks so much Random House U.K!!! XD


*18.10.12*
My Review:

Also posted at my blog: http://perrytheplatypus1102-3daydream...

Thank you Random House U.K for the review copy.

While Falling To Ash did not have that one-of-the-best-books-I-have-ever-read effect on me,it wasn't half bad.The story had a relatively good character buildup,and the narration was pretty good as well.The book also has a drop-dead-gorgeous cover which everyone can already see but it's just that the book did not actually reach my expectations.Don't get me wrong.The book is quite well written.It's just that it had so much more potential.If only the book had a better plot,I would have given it a five-star rating on the spot.

What I liked most about the book was probably the character building.I loved the voice of the main character,Moth.She was the one character who made my day with her good sense of humor.And there is this other character who reminded me of some good old times.That would be Jace.Even though he's really different from Cassandra Clare's Jace in The Mortal Instruments series,he still reminded me of him.Reading about the new Jace A.K.A wannabe vampire hunter according to Moth was an absolute delight.

So here's the thing.While I may not have liked this much I'd still ask people to give it a shot,specially fans of vampire books and paranormal romance since I have a feeling that they might like it better than I did.Trust me,while it might not be one of the best books you've ever read,it's still worth a shot.Borrow from a friend or a library if you're still unsure.

[Mariam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Falling to Ash is your bog standard paranormal adventure about a poor poor girl who loses her humanity.....throw in a bit about zombies and a tiny bit of well known FORBIDDEN LOVE and your all set...I'm not going to write a lot about this but it wasn't bad and it wasn't outstanding either..........I think its probably difficult to read something absolutely mindboggling in the paranormal genre anymore unless its something unique and individual

[Surangi]

Absolutely adored the Moth stories in anthologies The Eternal Kiss and Kiss Me Deadly. Loved reading the manuscript "Beautiful Ghosts", can't wait for this to be published so I can at last read the final version.

[Soso K]

I have to wait till SEPTEMBER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! UGH!!!!!!!

[Shubba The Emo Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read My 5 Star review On Totally Bookalicious: http://totallybookalicious.blogspot.c...

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Stirs
There has been an influx in vampire stories lately, audiences craving to read about more of them and it is due to this that there is a danger that most vampire stories become stereotypical, following the pattern of so many before them. It is also the reason that I now tread lightly when it comes to vampire stories. I love them, but I’ve been fixated on them for a long time and I am now starting to branch out and find other stories, creatures, to enjoy. But then every now and again a new vampire book may capture my attention, just as Falling to Ash did. I have not read Karen’s other series, The Iron Witch, and so I had no idea what to expect of her writing but I am pleased to admit that I truly enjoyed reading this book and was glad that I took a chance on it. This book is one that I would highly recommend as it was a read that I found extremely entertaining and quickly became a book I’d happily read over and over again.

It’s Different
One of the things that makes Falling to Ash a book that I favour, is the way that Karen hasn’t made being a vampire a sexually alluring concept. There are moments in the book where we see Moth’s maker as someone who enticed her and uses his powers and charms to get people to allow him to willingly take their blood, along with some other moments of humans handing themselves over to vampires, but through the protagonist, Karen makes it known that being a vampire isn’t all it seems. The depiction of vampires in this novel is gruesome and vivid, it leaves nothing out about how dangerous it is to create a vampire, or how terrifying the concept of forever can become. It truly encapsulates the real, rawness of being a vampire, and in the case of Moth, of being a new vampire.

It is as she is dealing with being such a new vampire, of not just adjusting to being a new adult but also now a vampire, that Moth becomes entangled in the middle of something bigger than she could have ever realised. Trying to uncover the truth behind the death of an old classmate, Moth runs into the hunter Jace, and it soon becomes apparent that being a vampire is the least of Moth’s worries. I was truly entranced by the plot of this book. I wanted to know what was going to happen next, I needed to know how things were eventually going to end, and while some bits were predictable, they never made the book any less enjoyable. It had a fast pace, was full of action, and continuously had me turning the page.

Changes People
It probably goes without saying that the characters in this book were all really well written. No one was weak, stereotypical, or just annoying. Karen has managed to grasp her characters and truly allow the reader to feel and understand everything that they deal with and go through. Moth was probably my favourite character in the story. She had so much to deal with, and yet she was still rebellious and defiant. She was strong but she knew her limitations but she was also fierce and loyal and had an extremely large heart. I loved feeling how torn she was between her two families, she needed to be loyal to both but she didn’t know how to do it because one way or another, she would ended up betraying someone. I loved reading her story and witnessing how she dealt with everything.

I also adored Jace. He was fun to read about but he also had a lot going on in that little head of his. A father that trusted him but just left when he felt necessary, a strong forbidden attraction to Moth and an even stronger desire to do what was right. He was the perfect guy to have in this story, the kind of hunter that I always imagine when writing my own stories or read other ones like it. He was just as conflicted at Moth, and that helped to make him a more lovable character. It would be hard if Moth had been conflicted but Jace just strolled through the story without a care. I also adored the two of them together. I’m always very picky when it comes to romance but these two felt so right together, it wasn’t ever going to be an easy journey and I am really interested in finding out what will happen with them.

Until It Goes
Despite all of the dark, dreary feel this review is painting Falling to Ash to be, it is also a book full of humour and comedy and one that will have you laughing quite often. With Moth’s narrative at the forefront, Karen has brought comedy into this dark world and this really brought the story alive for me. Already on the first page I was giggling softly to myself, enjoying the world view that Moth was presenting to me. If anything, I feel that it is this that sets this book apart from the rest. This isn’t a sexy vampire novel, but it isn’t a truly dark vampire novel either, nor a fully comedic vampire novel, it’s a combination of the three altogether; a unique and compelling style that made this book truly captivating and fascinating.

Ending It All
All in all, this novel was one that I found myself really enjoying. It had all the elements of a decent novel that keeps you entertained, from dark and gruesome creatures, a forbidden romance, a complicated twisty plot, and a bit of light humour to bring it all back down again. It was interesting and held a depth that a lot of books struggle to reach. This book is a YA story that would probably be enjoyed by a lot of adults and is probably better for those on the older end of the YA as I feel that younger audiences wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy the full extent of this story as a lot of the issues and themes that creep up would not be applicable to them. I would easily recommend this book to anyone who likes vampire stories, or anyone who just wants something different, but really, I would just urge everyone I knew to go out and try this book because it’s a really great one that deserves to be read.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Very interesting and a fun read.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

Marie lost her humanity a year ago, and now she's Moth, a fledgling vampire trying to get used to not having a pulse but still continue on living. She was supposed to be starting life as a college student but she was hurting after her mother's death and it led her to the arms of Theo, a man she loved, who also happens to be the Vampire Master of Boston, and now he's her maker. Moth just wants to figure out how she was to live her immortal life and that turning her into a vampire wasn't the biggest mistake Theo had made, when people connected to her starts dying one by one. Knowing the reason why she was connected in all of it lands her into the hands of a gorgeous vampire hunter and suddenly she's fighting zombies who love to chomp off arms of unsuspecting victims. Why is it happening and how is it connected to Moth and her Maker?

I have to say this first, the way Karen Mahoney wrote this book cracks me up. Moth had a very entertaining, sarcastically funny voice that made me like her instantly. Getting the hang of being a vampire is not easy, and she constantly has to resist the longing and complications of her human life while trying to come into terms that her heart doesn't beat anymore. Moth was facing an identity crisis. Where does she belong? Can she give up the sun? The feel of being human? Being an O'Neal and seeing her sisters? Moth isn't overly dramatic and I like how she thinks. For a vampire she wasn't pretending to be all fearless and might, but she's not clueless. She knew she still had a lot to learn if she was to accept life as part of a vampire family. I like that she fights to retain her humanity, the feelings and the memories that saves her from being a monster. Moth's a good example of how it is to live as a vampire. It's not all glamorous and sparkly, not at all.

Moth had two very interesting and different potential love interest. When it comes to being mysterious and dark, Theo fits the bill. He's a powerful vampire, the master of Boston, and yet he hides a sad past that Moth reminds him of. It was still unclear what his real reason and motivations are for turning Moth, and why he wants to keep her beside him. If there was one that will make being a vampire such an alluring possibility, it was the mere fact that someone like Theo exist. He's that dark enigmatic, sexy stranger you wouldn't be able to resist. Jace, on the other hand, had monsters of his own to battle with. Growing up with a vampire hunter as a father wasn't easy and the vampires had taken away a lot from his life. He's sarcastic, funny and a little childish sometimes and I love how he can push Moth's buttons all the time. He's also a great fighter, and even though it seemed so cliche to know that the hunter falls in love with his prey, I'd love to see how his story intertwines with Moth, especially when Theo looms in a corner.

If you want a story offering a great amount of mystery and action, then Falling to Ash is for you. It's a guessing game, and you'll find your hunches and guesses oftentimes wrong, but it's what makes it so entertaining. You'll find that the fun in the novel lies in figuring out how the clues and pieces fall into place through Moth's persistence and her encounters with zombies and fellow vampires, even those with a pulse. The characters are lively, and you'll find yourself laughing more than you can count. The funny factor in this book doesn't distract the readers from the dangerous situations Moth finds herself into, and more often than not, you'll wonder if she'll live through the next day with her brazen and impulsive attitude. Kaz Mahoney wrote about Moth and the contrast between the life she lives and the one she had before, plunging the readers head on in her own dilemma: how does she live her life as a vampire when her human life is still tied so closely to her?

It's a pleasant surprise to know that this book is a little on the amusing, mirthful side with a title like Falling to Ash, but I like how the dark, sad parts blend well with the light, comic moments. I for one can't want for the next book! I'm sure the readers won't be able to resist Theo's allure and Jace's boyish charm.

[D.F. Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it!

Eventhough the writer creats its own twist in the original 'vampire lore' it keeps the important points, e.g they're dead, they are violent and they do drink human blood. Yes, no vegetarians or sparkling here people. Move along.

Anyway, the story tells us of Marie who in the start of the novel has already been turned into a vampire by way of her Maker, Theo who is also a Master of his own House. The prologue of the book tells us how he changed her and it is violent and dark and painful. As it should be. Take that Twilight!

As is custom when turned you pick a new name, your vampire name, a new name that has no trace of your old life. Marie chose Moth.

Due to her transformation and how it had occurred strained the relationship between Moth and Theo though it is clear that there is a bond there outside of Maker and Childe. The angst and tension between them is delightful.

But the creation of Moth is somewhat of a problem for Theo because he has not been given permission to turn her by the Head of all Vampire houses. Theo did in fact turned her because he lost control 'in the head of the moment' if you know what I mean and nearly drank her to death. Rather than killing her, he turned her.

She was nineteen at the time. And now,she will always look nineteen.

Theo's lost of control is not a good quality to have as a Head of a House, it shows weakness. So Solomon, the great poobah of all Vamps said "give me the head of Murdoch, the vampire hunter who has vexed me so cruelly and I will not kill you and your childe. You have one week."

I like Moth. She's practical, she's funny, she's kick ass and she actually thinks before she speaks. But you know, she grew up with a drunk father and when you do, you kind of learn how to judge the mood and your surroundings. She's not brooding although she does have her dark moments and she makes the best of who and what she is.

One of the things that I like about this book is her relationship with her sister, Caitlin. Her fierceness when her sister was in danger.

And I find it hilarious and kind of sad that Caitlin struggles to keep her family together including to have a family dinner with her drunk father and vampire sister. Oh, and the other human sister.

Then there is Jace, Murdoch's son who is also a vampire hunter. I was intrigued that one of Theo's test for Moth was to fight Jace (he wrapped her up in silver chains and she broke his leg). Despite the fighting and the fact that they were supposed to kill each other there's a connection there. And when revenants kept popping out all over the place (and those people are actually known to Mother) both Jace and Moth actually worked together to find out what was going on.

As if having Theo in her life wasn't enough of a headache, Moth is also attracted to Jace and vice versa.

Theo is the typical politicking, Master of the house vampire, he is imperious, he is powerful, seriously hot, intelligent, stubborn and brooding. I kind of hope to see more of Theo as a Master vampire but since Moth is only just entering the vampire world, we don't get to see him in action. Although Solomon himself did say that Theo would be the heir to his throne once he ascends to a higher seat which says something about Theo's status (and Moth's as association). When it came to Moth he is protective and there are some undercurrents in their relationship that intrigues me. It is clear that Moth isn't just food to him, and also isn't a one night stand. He calls her anamchara which is Gaelic for soul friend or in this case soulmate.

And I love that he means that literally. Because in this world the mythology of being able to turn a human into vampire is to give them a piece of your soul. So not all vampires can turn a human, and they don't do it willy nilly.

There isn't much world-building but the book does stay true to the mythology. The vampires drink human blood (from bags and from vein), they are dead, they have no reflection and they exist in secret.

The story is good, the plot is good, the pacing is a bit off and there are bits and pieces that seems to be dump in randomly, but the characters keep me going.

[Lothfleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marie, ou Moth de son nom de vampire, est un personnage engageant, j’ai commencé le roman avec un grand sourire car on nous prend plutôt au dépourvu avec la jeune vampire qui se retrouve à enquêter sur un mort et à devoir se battre contre un zombie à l’aide d’un (aussi jeune) chasseur de vampires. Moth, au style qui tend vers le gothique, est vraiment attachante, on a mal au cœur pour elle. Je l’aurais bien enlacée pour lui dire « ça va aller », sans rire. Elle doit faire face à beaucoup de choses dans ce roman, la famille avec laquelle elle a grandi et sa famille de sang, pour ne citer que cela. Mais il faudrait qu’elle apprenne sérieusement à se demander pourquoi certaines personnes agissent d’une telle ou telle façon envers elle… Ses références aux comics sont mignonnes, on retrouve l’auteure derrière et c’est aussi un clin d’oeil au webcomic Moth Tales.
Le chasseur de vampires, Jace, n’est pas le personnage le plus complexe du roman (pour ça il faut voir Theo…), mais son histoire n’est pas simple pour autant. J’aurais aimé en savoir plus sur lui – il faut dire que Moth le connaît déjà et cette rencontre, nous l’avons dans une nouvelle préquelle. Cette dernière n’est pas indispensable mais j’ai été frustrée de ne pas savoir. J’ai aussi été un peu déçue que Moth ne s’interroge pas plus à son sujet. Elle se pose des questions sur son passé, mais aucune sur son présent, alors on se retrouve avec des scènes parfois peu crédibles et toujours aucun questionnement de la part de Moth… (bon, à sa décharge, après ça s’enchaîne).
Donc, le personnage le plus complexe, ce sera le maker de Moth, Theo. C’est un vampire ancien qui n’aurait jamais dû la transformer, ils ont une relation compliquée, on ne sait pas trop quels sentiments ils ont l’un pour l’autre, même si on peut dire qu’ils sont très liés à cause de leur histoire commune. On peut à peine essayer de les deviner au comportement de Theo, on ne sait pas ce qu’il veut faire, on ne sait pas ce qu’il pense et son statut parmi les vampires de Boston en fait vraiment quelqu’un de particulier…
La famille est aussi importante dans le roman (et pas que pour Moth, voir la relation de Jace avec son père…), il faut dire que notre héroïne sait qu’elle va devoir s’éloigner des siens, et que sa transformation est arrivée peu de temps après la mort de sa mère, ce qui la place dans une position particulière par rapport à deux sœurs, l’une désapprouve, l’autre voudrait simplement retrouver sa sœur. J’ai été touchée par cette dernière, Caitlín (nom de famille O’Neal, leur sœur aînée est une Sinéad), c’est la plus jeune, celle qui est coincée avec leur père qui a tendance à noyer son chagrin dans l’alcool. Elle souffre et Marie souffre de ne pas pouvoir prendre soin d’elle comme elle le voudrait.
Le truc qui m’a vraiment déçue dans le roman, c’est en fait le recyclage. J’ai traduit The Lost Boy alors je connais le texte un peu par cœur, je ne pouvais pas louper les deux phrases qui sont identiques dans la nouvelle et le roman. Au début, quand j’ai vu qu’il y avait une scène similaire, j’ai trouvé ça génial. Imaginez, à la fois dans The Iron Witch et l’histoire de Moth, il existe une boîte de nuit où se rassemblent les personnages surnaturels des séries. Selon la variante du Boston choisie, ce sont des fées ou des vampires… des mondes parallèles…. sauf que ces deux phrases, ce sont les mêmes mot pour mot, alors j’ai trouvé que ça faisait tache, ça ne faisait plus parallèle génial mais simple recyclage.
Mais le roman est du genre qu’on dévore, les scènes d’action et les scènes plus lentes s’enchaînent bien, les personnages sont attachants, intéressants et assez complexes, je suis curieuse de connaître la suite… euh et la préquelle aussi !

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Holly - Year 9

This book is based on Marie O’Neal, a teenage vampire. Marie is shocked when an old ‘acquaintance’ Jace, finds his way into her life as they encounter a series of vampires-gone-wrong who suspiciously resemble zombies and, take the form of her college peers. This book tells of Marie’s struggles to find out who truly is the bad guy in this twisted tale of paranormal adventure.
Personally, I found the ‘zombie’ element of this book most intriguing as they aren’t something I would normally read about. I enjoyed finding out more about the creatures that sparked an unexpected friendship between a hunter’s son, Jace, and Marie herself. This takes us to the relationship between the two main characters. I truly fell in love with this love story and ended the book wanting more.
I must admit, I felt as if I knew the characters of this book as well as I know my friends now. I honestly could not say of any preference toward any characters in this book. Karen Mahoney does an excellent job of creating relatable and realistic characters; you feel their emotions and see what they see. Also, there is nothing I would change about this book. The storyline, characters and style of writing piece together to make a really fantastic book.
The only thing I would ask is to see more of the relationship between the main characters. In a way this book could be seen as ending on a cliff-hanger when it comes to this relationship. I crave additional information on their future and what lies ahead. This leaves their future in your hands to simmer in the depths of your imagination, and a small part of me hopes that one day I really will find out what happens.
I definitely would read books by this author again. I feel this way because Karen Mahoney is a very ‘convincing’ author. I love the techniques used to make you feel as if you are actually in this book and I doubtlessly would like to escape reality with one of her books again.
I would highly recommend this book to any paranormal fiction loving teen. This book suits the age category of about fourteen onwards. I don’t feel as if the story would appeal to older readers as it is based on a teenager and adults may not be able to relate to the characters as well. I would not recommend this to younger readers as it is quite spooky and may scare those of a younger age. Also, this book does contain bad language to some extent, but not so severe as to stop a younger teen to read it. This book has one or two examples of mature themes and would put a warning on that for very much younger readers.
I would give this book a 4.5 of 5 points, 5 being best. I feel this way because it honestly captured me. The only things that could be down sides are the inconclusive ending (mentioned earlier, on the subject of the relationship between the main characters) and the bad language as I often find this a little distracting. On the other hand, the bad language does improve your image of the characters and your opinion on how real they seem.
This is an emotion and action packed journey that takes you in and swallows you up. I genuinely enjoyed this book and it left me hungry for more.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you were to sum up this book it’d be average. This book was not amazing; it was typical of the genre - vampires, zombies and death...*unenthusiastic cheer*. Although, it wasn't all bad. Actually, I can’t think of anything that really stood out or was good about this book *lowers rating to 2/5 stars*.

Now, to sum up the plot in a non-spoilery way: The book is narrated by female protagonist named Marie a.k.a ‘Moth’. She was turned into a vampire by Theo, a guy she was supposably dating (it tells you this at the start so don’t go physio ass on me for ‘spoiling’ the plot. Also, it wasn’t very clear on what their relationship status was. Were they boyfriend/girlfriend? Dating?) Mortals are dying and they have to save the day *I should probably insert a gif of rainbows and happy unicorns flying around but I’m too lazy*. Yep, that description was right on the spot.

Okay, so first off, I was not enjoying reading this book. It was like doing homework (which I dread). I didn’t like the characters either, not even Jace who was supposed to be hot. At the end some character named ‘Kyle’ came in and I was just like ‘Who the eff is Kyle?’ The characters were very underdeveloped and forgettable (I still don’t know who Kyle is, even though he played a major part in the plot). Moth and Jace’s demeanor both came off to me as weak, unable to stand up for themselves and just stupid really. The romance between Jace and Moth was downright cheesy and laughable at. I was just sitting there in my room laughing my head off because it was so bad (my mum came in and asked me what I was doing. Let’s not go there).

Speaking of Jace, it reminds me of Jace from ‘The Mortal Instruments’ series. Wait-let’s just talk about the similarities between this book and The City of Bones. So first of all there’s Jace. It’s not just the name too. Their personalities are similar – arrogant, rude, snarky. Secondly, there was a scene at a club, where there was a blue haired boy. Moth, the main character thought this was important and pointed it out. There is also a blue haired boy at a club in The City of Bones (which was way better because he actually had some purpose). Then there’s Jace’s father who is also evil, like in the Mortal Instruments. Hmmm...I wonder, where did you get your inspiration from Mahoney?

I heard it’s bad to be negative about everything, so let’s think of some positive things to say. Oh, wait there is none! Think Judy, think. Okay, I guess I liked the way there were flashbacks and...I don’t even know. Can I just say that the amount of words on each page is fairly small compared to other books? If this book were set out and printed like them it would be about 150 pages long instead of 341. Sheesh, wasting paper much.

Is this book a series? It sure doesn’t seem like one. I think it’d be spoiled if it were. It ended on a nice note, let’s keep it that way, please. Spare the world of poor literature. The trees! Think of all the trees that would have to die!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading Falling to Ash I had only ever read Karen's  other books, The Iron Witch and The Wood Queen.  When I first began reading Falling To Ash and Jace made an appearance  I had to know the back story behind them, so  purchased The Eternal Kiss and quickly skipped to Moth's story.  Back history learnt I continued on with Falling To Ash.
My first thoughts when reading were Moth freakin rocks!!!!! I love her spunkiness and her attitude and I love her interaction with Jace and how they banter with one another, when they are not trying to injure/maim/kill one another

Jace nudged me. 'So, is the silver on this knife going to be any good against that thing?'
'What are you asking me for?  We're not related, you know.'

Of course, with Jace being a hunter, and the son of a very well know hunter, it makes things hard for this duo to actually work together and try to figure out what is happening.  Initially Moth and Jace are just trying to find out what is going on, but when it becomes a more personal matter for both parties, it means business and both step up the pace to try and find who it is once and for all.
I really enjoyed the twist with Revenants and how they were made.  I was right there with Moth trying to figure out who it was and it wasn't until the last pieces fell into place, right when Moth realised the truth, that I actually realised who was responsible.

From the minute I began reading Falling To Ash I was instantly drawn into the world Karen has created, and although Falling To Ash has no planned sequel at the moment I would love to see more from Moth at some point in the future. For now I will have to satisfy my craving with Moth's own website, where Karen and the very talented C. Ellis are posting a webcomic focusing on the adventures of Moth herself. They post every Monday and Friday, just click on the picture below to find the page.

[Keiley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very long time ago, someone gave me one of those anthology books for Christmas. You know the ones, The Eternal Kiss and stuff like that? Well I read it, of course, and while yeah, some of the stories were good, for the most part I found them to be pretty dull. But of course there was one story in it that I positively fell in love with. Everything about it was amazing. It was also called "Falling To Ash". But alas, it was a short story and I found myself incredibly annoyed that I couldn't simply pick up the next novel. But a few months later I found myself at the shops, browsing through books and seeing something that looked...familiar. So I read the blurb and was entirely convinced--there was no way this was a coincidence, there was a real book!

Alas, the novel "Falling To Ash" did not bring me the joy that the short story prequel did. While yes, I did still enjoy the book, it just didn't have that amazing power over me that the short story did. Because I was in love with that story, I craved knowledge about Moth and Theo and Jace and their lives, everything, I just wanted to know. And it really wasn't that the story itself was bad, but the way it was written drove me bonkers. I want to tell you how stunning this book is, that it's every bit as good as the short story about Moth was, but the fact of the matter is that this book just...isn't.

The story follows a newly made (I use the term loosely. About a year of being undead) vampire who goes by the name Moth, who gets caught up with the son of the most vicious vampire hunter in the city, Jace, because of a mission given to her by her creator/sire Theo. Scandals and zombies ensue.

Look, honestly? I wouldn't say this is a bad book. Because it isn't. Not really, at least in my opinion. But the fact of the matter is that it isn't a wonderful book either. It won't leave you breathless or eager for more, but it isn't a terrible book. If you have the time, read it. But don't expect anything life changing, or for it to live up to the short story, because it simply doesn't.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first came across the character of Moth in a short story titled ‘Falling to Ash’ in a short story collection/anthology called The Eternal Kiss and I absolutely fell in love with the world and character Karen Mahoney created. So, of course, when I heard that Mahoney was going to write a novel based on that short story I had to get my hands on a copy.

The novel Falling to Ash is narrated by Moth – Marie O’Neal – a recently turned vampire. In the story Moth is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is a vampire. I really liked this aspect of Mahoney’s main character. That she is not all “isn’t being a vampire soooooo cool”, but at the same time despite how uncomfortable she finds it she can still acknowledge the good parts about being a vampire. I really liked Moth’s narrative voice, seeing the events of Falling to Ash through her eyes really worked for me. It made me really empathise with her as a character, and I enjoyed hanging out in her head.

Mahoney splits the plot of Falling to Ash into two distinct parts that overlap throughout the narrative. I really enjoyed reading about Moth learning to fit into her new world in one main plot, and I also liked the mystery and suspense of the second main plot. Mahoney does a brilliant job with the conclusion of the book. She ties up enough loose ends so that the book feels complete, but she also leaves enough threads that I am looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the series – which according to Goodreads isn’t out until 2014 unfortunately.

The secondary characters in the book were really interesting, most of them will be familiar to those who have read the short story and I really liked that. I liked getting to see Theo and Jace again, and watching Moth interact with both of them. I think her relationships with these two characters are really interesting. I also enjoyed getting to see Moth’s human family – I’m hoping that there will be more of them in later books.

If you are a fan of vampires and urban fantasy novels then you should definitely check out Falling to Ash. Mahoney creates an interesting world with a brilliant protagonist who seems very real.

Originally posted on TheFlutterbyRoom.com

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Karen Mahoney's two previous books (The Iron Witch and The Wood Queen) so I jumped at the chance to read and review her newest offering, the first title in a brand new series about vampires. The cover is gorgeous and the story sounded brilliant, just the kind of thing that appeals to my reading tastes, but unfortunately it didn't turn out to be quite as good as I was expecting. I normally love vampire stories but 'Falling to Ash' didn't tick all the boxes for me.

The story is about Moth, or Marie as she was previously known. A teenage girl turned vampire who is still coming to terms with her new existence and struggling to adapt to her relationship with her Maker, Theo. I didn't particularly like Moth and felt little connection to her as a character. I immediately wanted to know more about her back story so that I could understand why she is how she is. This was gradually revealed through flashbacks to how she was turned into a vampire but I would have liked to have seen this dealt with much earlier on in the book. There is a prequel to this title called 'Moth', so maybe it would have helped me if I'd read that first.

I felt uneasy in the scenes between her and Theo and I wasn't feeling the growing romance between her and Jace a.k.a vampire hunter in training, either. For me to really love a book, I have to feel that I care about the characters and what happens to them but sadly this wasn't the case with any of the main protagonists in the story.

One aspect of the book I did like was the family bond between Moth and her sisters which I would have liked to have seen developed even more than it was. Although she's now a vampire, she still feels enormous love for her family members, particularly her little sister and she's willing to protect her whatever the cost.

I know there are a lot of Karen Mahoney fans out there and I've already read a number of positive reviews of this book, so although it didn't necessarily appeal to me, I'm sure many others will enjoy it. All that aside, it is refreshing to read something by a British author for a change who has definitely brought something different to the vampire genre.

[Myra (Pieces of Whimsy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review first published on my blog: Pieces of Whimsy

I read a couple of the Moth novellas quite a while ago and always wanted to read more of Moth's story. I hoped the author would decide to write a novel based on Moth and imagine my surprise when I won this book, having had no idea what it was about!

I was excited to read this book and was even more excited to learn that Jason was going to be in it. Moth and Jason's first encounter in this book was very action-filled and exciting but after that my enthusiasm at having Jason dwindled. I found myself feeling quite frustrated with him, not all the time but a large majority of it. He could be cute and sweet or cool and charming but he could also be whiny and annoying. Not being able to stand up to his dad, or be confident in himself/his feelings got to me a little and diminished Jason's awesomeness.

I liked Moth and the relationship with her sister and family/families. Moth was smart and resilient and I thought she was a good main character. She had a great ability to think on her feet and she had a good sense of family loyalty and love. Moth's relationship with her maker was a little strange and I couldn't figure out if I liked the guy or hated him, though for a vampire I think he was a pretty good guy and I think the strange relationship is a universal one for a vampire and their maker.

I really liked the revenants and the idea behind how they were created. I thought the idea was very cool and creative and it was one of the things I really liked about this story.

I liked this story and would read the next book but I'm not going to rush to the store the second the next book comes out. For me, there was something missing from the story and it didn't quite grab me and pull me in the way I'd hoped it would. I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone especially if you have a taste for vampire/paranormal books.

[Serendipity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have ever read by Karen Mahoney and I now want to kick myself that I haven't read any of her books sooner. I warmed straight away to her writing style and fell in love with her humour. I was a bit wary about it being another vampire story, but I really think the author makes it her own and offers a whole new twist to the genre.
Moth is a brilliant lead character - as she struggles to come to terms with being a vampire, you discover she hasn't lost any of her humanity. She is adorable on one hand and kick ass on the other. The author naturally blends her vulnerability with her toughness to create a really wonderful character.
I adored the growing friendship between Moth and Jace; it was like a vampire version of Romeo and Juliet. There is no way in hell that these two characters should ever be together, but the author weaves such magic within the story that you can't imagine them ever being apart. The added hints of sarcasm made the banter between them hilarious as they tried to understand how the other thinks.
I instantly became a huge fan of Theo and I am not sure if I was supposed to. I mean, he is really BAD, but he is giving off some seriously sexy vibes with all that dark, gypsy style image - I can't wait to get to know him better!
There is a strong family connection in this book for Moth, as she tries to distance herself from her family without any luck. Some families rarely let the ties disintegrate and Moth's sisters are not about to let her disappear into the night. As she moves further into the realms of the vampire world, it will be interesting to see how she juggles the needs of her family alongside it.
The plot was excellent and well paced, really drawing me into the story. The writing humorous and tense when required. A very promising start to a new vampire series from an author quickly establishing herself among the UK YA greats.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally published at Vampire Book Club.

Funny and engaging with a dusting of darkness, Falling to Ash is a fresh vampire tale—and that pleases me so very much. It’s my favorite Karen Mahoney book thus far. (Read reviews of The Iron Witch and The Wood Queen.)

Moth (neé Marie O’Neal) has spent the last several months in a kind of vampire lock-down situation. She’s not your typical newly turned vamp. Her maker broke the rules in creating Moth (not in an Ethan/Merit way, but in a lost control way), and so she’s had to keep under the radar until they’re ready to introduce her to the vampire Family at large. She finally has better control over herself and her need to feed. She won’t tap a vein if she doesn’t have to and tries to ration out the bagged blood as best she can. But waiting around for her maker to give the all clear is, well, not enough.

When Moth’s friends from her human days start dying, the police to come to her. She doesn’t know why they think she’d be involved, she dropped out of college and now avoids humans except her sister. Still, she has to know who did this. That means investigating. What she finds exposes a much bigger problem that could turn her life upside down and maybe change the vampire hierarchy, too.

Complicating her issues is the son of a famed vampire hunter. He’s on the trail, too, and the two must work together to try and stop more kids from being murdered. Expect serious sizzle between these two, even though neither wants to admit it. Also: Jace is hot. So, you know, selling point.

The plot throws some nice curve balls at the reader and Moth’s geek-girl nature makes me want to hang out with her. Sexual tension, humor and big fight scenes make me give Falling to Ash a big thumbs up.

Sexual content: Kissing, references to sex

[Khalia Hades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and engaging with a dusting of darkness, Falling to Ash is a fresh vampire tale--and that pleases me so very much. It's my favorite Karen Mahoney book thus far.

Moth (neé Marie O'Neal) has spent the last several months in a kind of vampire lock-down situation. She's not your typical newly turned vamp. Her maker broke the rules in creating Moth (not in an Ethan/Merit way, but in a lost control way), and so she's had to keep under the radar until they're ready to introduce her to the vampire Family at large. She finally has better control over herself and her need to feed. She won't tap a vein if she doesn't have to and tries to ration out the bagged blood as best she can. But waiting around for her maker to give the all clear is, well, not enough.

When Moth's friends from her human days start dying, the police to come to her. She doesn't know why they think she'd be involved, she dropped out of college and now avoids humans except her sister. Still, she has to know who did this. That means investigating. What she finds exposes a much bigger problem that could turn her life upside down and maybe change the vampire hierarchy, too.

Complicating her issues is the son of a famed vampire hunter. He's on the trail, too, and the two must work together to try and stop more kids from being murdered. Expect serious sizzle between these two, even though neither wants to admit it. Also: Jace is hot. So, you know, selling point.

The plot throws some nice curve balls at the reader and Moth's geek-girl nature makes me want to hang out with her. Sexual tension, humor and big fight scenes make me give Falling to Ash a big thumbs up.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 Out Of 5

Looking at the cover of this novel, you would not think that the theme of this novel centred around vampires that’s for sure. Moth is a recently turned vampire who is trying to live a somewhat normal life. Though that becomes hard when she must cut contract with her family and drop out of high school due to her recent transition and the problems that arise from it – being around lots of people who are pumping yummy blood.

Jace is the son of a notorious vampire hunter and basically already, you can see where this story is going. (Vampire + Vampire hunter = classic troubled love story). Jace's father is trying to kill a high ranking vampire in the underground society of vampires - who coincidentally is Moth's maker. Dum dum dum! No shocker there.

Meanwhile despite all this, zombie like creatures are suddenly popping up and the unlikely duo from opposite sides; Moth and Jace team up to discover who is behind it.

Not a bad story, despite the cliché and unsurprising events that unfolded throughout the novel. Nothing was really a surprise and the story was quite simplistic, in that it has been done a million times before – honestly it’s not a very original story. But despite all this I still quite enjoyed it and wouldn’t mind reading book 2 and reading more about Moth and her maker.

[Silverfang · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest I put this book down about halfway through when I realised that I didn't care about any of the characters. Moth, our protagonist wasn't a good idea, i learnt almost nothing about her that helped her develop as a character without being made into some major part of the plot. It also would have been nice to learn some more about the other vampires living with Theo (and i apologise if that was brought up later on but it should have been done earlier)

The romance in this story was done lazily and didn't have any kind of interesting build up where we get to connect to Jace ( the love interest) in any kind of way, there is nothing unique or relatable about him. ("Oh but he is attractive and protective!" Boo, in this genre thats a cliché) Then the whole love triangle thing between the human vampire hunter and the master vampire of the house was so predictable It made me cringe.

The third and final strike was that the world felt very familiar. I know that in this genre there are always going to be similarities but Moth's universe felt unoriginal with nothing that made me think "Wow, I want to know more". Many books like this will have something about it that will be totally unique and interesting not "Falling to Ash" I'm going to stop, but overall this book was very "been there done that" There are better more interesting novels to spend your time on.

[Denisa C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going for a two star book, but then I tought why? I enjoyed this book, not as much as I wanted, but I did enjoy it.
We follow Marie or Moth, as vampires seem to know her, a newly born vampire. And it was interesting, she as a character is not boring, but I did not care so much for her. I was interested in other things. Like her Maker, Theo. He is an interesting dude and I, for some weird reason, wanted to know more about him.
The love interest Jace was somewhere there, but not quite. I mean I like him, but I did not bite this love thing, I was not into this growing thing, that make both of them see the other with other eyes.
I was pissed because of one certaine fighting scene, that was longer than it needed to be, but I was ok with the ending as it was. But still God how was that fighting scene even possible.
I loved the bond with her human family, it is amazing to see the strugle and the need to be with them.
I like the concept of the vampires in this book. I like how authors always find something interesting to write about them.
I recommend this book for the vampire concept and some amazing family connection. I will read the second, because I am interesting to see how Moth develops.