What do you think?
Rate this book
Ash and Ruin #2
Time of Ruin
The world has ended, and hope is the most dangerous thing left.
Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.
But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.
And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.
The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.
Battered and bruised after barely escaping San Francisco with their lives, Kat, Dylan, and Blue press north – desperate to reach the possibility of a new home.
But strange, monstrous ravens are tracking the remaining survivors, food is becoming scarce, gasoline is running short, and people are becoming suicidal, making survival almost impossible.
And the Pestas are growing bolder. Somehow, their numbers are growing.
The further north they go, the harder it becomes to ignore the signs that they’ve made a fatal mistake. Kat must face the impossible truth that there is no escape, there is no safe haven, and their worst nightmares don’t come close to their new reality.
378 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2014
1 person is currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Shauna Granger
22 books375 followersLike so many other writers, Shauna grew up as an avid reader, but it was in high school that she realized she wanted to be a writer. She released the first installment of her Paranormal YA Series, The Elemental Series, Earth, on May 1, 2011 and has since released four sequels, with the series coming to an end with Spirit. In December of 2013 she release the first in her Paranormal Post-Apocalyptic trilogy, World of Ash. She is currently hard at work on one too many projects, trying to organize the many voices in her head. It's a writer thing.
You can find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorShaunaG...
You can find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorShaunaG...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 6, 2015
4.5/5 Stars
The full review (and many more) can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I reviewed this series as a whole on my blog. I loved this book! Here's the part of the review that applied most specifically to book #2:
Moral quandaries. Throughout the series, Kat has to ask herself who she wants to be now that the world has been turned upside down. She sees that so many people have turned completely ruthless, bordering on evil, and she struggles to keep herself from becoming just like them (this is especially an important theme in the second book as Kat is just starting to grow and change). How do you hold onto your humanity when it’s survival of the fittest? How far would you be willing to go to protect the people you love? What are you willing to do to stay alive? And at what point do death and dying just become a fact of life – something you barely notice anymore. These are all questions that Kat is faced with, and she doesn’t always like her answers.
Another fantastic book in the series!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
The full review (and many more) can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I reviewed this series as a whole on my blog. I loved this book! Here's the part of the review that applied most specifically to book #2:
Moral quandaries. Throughout the series, Kat has to ask herself who she wants to be now that the world has been turned upside down. She sees that so many people have turned completely ruthless, bordering on evil, and she struggles to keep herself from becoming just like them (this is especially an important theme in the second book as Kat is just starting to grow and change). How do you hold onto your humanity when it’s survival of the fittest? How far would you be willing to go to protect the people you love? What are you willing to do to stay alive? And at what point do death and dying just become a fact of life – something you barely notice anymore. These are all questions that Kat is faced with, and she doesn’t always like her answers.
Another fantastic book in the series!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
May 19, 2018
This book jumps right back into the thick of things so the beginning can seem a bit overwhelming if you don't clearly remember the last third of the first book. It was interesting to see Kat question her choices for survival vs morality. Especially as she re-learns not everyone is as merciless or cruel as others. I had a lot of concerns for Dylan in this book. I do like how we get more action with the Pesta's in this one! And more knowledge about what might be going on which is interesting. I am curious to see how this will be resolved in the next book.
July 21, 2020
Kat and Dylan are determined to get to Washington, where Kat hopes to find a safe haven with her uncle, a man who lives off the grid. But the further north they travel, the more trouble they find, from mysterious ravens to dangerous survivors to the chilling and deadly Pestas. With Blue as their protector and companion, the obstacles they face become more and more dangerous as they creep toward their destination, and with the sickness mutating, it's only a matter of time before their luck runs out.
The Verdict: Simply incredible. Shauna Granger has created a world so realistically desolate and horrifying, so vividly the world I know mixed with the world I fear, that even after finishing it, I find myself on edge.
After leaving the encampment we saw in World of Ash, Kat and Dylan are slowly and dangerously venturing north toward Washington, surviving on a combination of caution, determination, and dumb luck. Having been stripped of their supplies by the pox-ridden kids in a destroyed city from which they barely escaped, their situation is more dire than ever, and things are only getting worse. From page one until the very end, the tension rolls off the pages in gripping scenes of abject desperation and narrow escapes, and each time Kat worried, every time she hid or pressed on, each moment she spent in fear of losing Dylan, every muscle in my body tensed.
As you can no doubt tell, dystopian is not my usual genre, and anything supernatural is usually so far off my radar that I don't discover it until well after the avalanche of reviews have been posted. I normally read contemporary romances with anticipation and angst and chemistry and happily ever afters. But after reading World of Ash, there was no way I was going to go without reading Time of Ruin.
Kat's relationship with Dylan is both heartbreaking and beautiful, the kind of love borne of desperation, dependence, and that need to cling to one small ray of hope in an ever darkening world. But the story isn't about romance so much as it's about a relationship and a determination to survive. That Kat and Dylan have managed to stay alive is no small miracle, but it's eclipsed by their having found each other. Their devotion to each other bleeds thick in every gesture, and the sacrifices they make to protect each other are both terrifying and inspiring.
I don't want to give away the details or spoil the ending — it's far too great a story to whittle down in a short review. But there was not a word I didn't want to devour and not a single second that I was willing to skip ahead, even as I was dying to confirm that they – at the very least –might find some safety in what little world remained. It's sad and scary and sweet, written with just the right amount of detail to practically illustrate each apocalyptic scene in the reader's mind. Kat and Dylan are so clearly lost in this terrifying new world, though together they are adapting as best they can, and no matter how many guesses I made, each new turn was a surprise. There's romance and danger and white-knuckle suspense, and now that I've finally stopped holding my breath, I'm dying to get my hands on book #3.
***FicCentral received this book from *the author* for free in exchange for an honest review. Even so, we're far too opinionated to let a freebie influence our thoughts or the contents of the reviews we post here.
July 22, 2014
Full review to come on the blog http://bookcrush.in/ on release day:7/22/14! A little snippet...I loves it!
full review:
*This may contain slight spoilers from book 1, World of Ash ~ You can read my spoiler-free review of book 1 HERE.**
I am a sucker for a good post-apocalyptic or dystopian book. I could read them all! When I read World of Ash back in December of 2013, I devoured it! Absolutely loved it! I was under the impression it was a stand alone novel and when I put the first book down all I could think of is that there had to be MORE! Not because of a cliffhanger but because I just felt there was so much more to learn in this world and these characters were really speaking to me. This time while reading Time of Ruin I knew I get at least 1 more chance to revisit this world and that put me at ease while reading, however this time the ending is a little more cliffhanger-y than the last. Just a little…nothing that made me throw my book or anything! (Come on, you know those types of cliffhangers, this isn’t one of them). I am dying (not from the plague) to read the finale!
Shauna Granger has that gift that allows you to just turn the pages and the words just flow into your brain. I barely feel like I am reading, more like watching the scenes play out in my mind. The imagery is fierce and real and still damn scary. Yes, it is scary. Not too gory but the ‘give you the shivers, turn on all the lights and lock your doors’ scary. It is dark, bleak and somehow the characters still find themselves something to hold on to throughout this collapse of humanity.
As a sequel, the novel continues seamlessly and it also does a great job of expanding the story line. Time of Ruin is a growth novel. The characters grow into more of who they are, the plot grows as well as the threats. It gave you enough to keep you guessing but also to keep you intrigued. We learn a lot more about the people left in the world, the disease, the freaky Pestas and their abilities. And…well I can’t give that away, even though I want to tell you all about it! You will just have to read the series for yourselves!
Kat and Dylan are much more connected in book 2. They have latched on to each other to help them survive this fretful world and they are in it together. The two of them charm the pants off of me! I adore them together, they tug & pull each other just at the right times. Blue is less of the humor in this book as he was in book 1 and more of their fearless guardian. I have to say I do love animals in the PA genre, they really help you connect with the past as well as bring new light into a book that allows you to see that everything can and must adjust to survive. We do met a few other characters and my favorite was Tess. She was scared & brave all at the same time and what else can you ask for in this shattered world.
There are slightly adult themes and I would recommend this to any upper YA, new adult or adult reader. If you love a good post-apocalyptic novel, you should read this series immediately. It is a fast-paced, intriguing and suspenseful read! Well worth all 4 hearts! Bring on book 3 now please!
This eArc was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
full review:
*This may contain slight spoilers from book 1, World of Ash ~ You can read my spoiler-free review of book 1 HERE.**
I am a sucker for a good post-apocalyptic or dystopian book. I could read them all! When I read World of Ash back in December of 2013, I devoured it! Absolutely loved it! I was under the impression it was a stand alone novel and when I put the first book down all I could think of is that there had to be MORE! Not because of a cliffhanger but because I just felt there was so much more to learn in this world and these characters were really speaking to me. This time while reading Time of Ruin I knew I get at least 1 more chance to revisit this world and that put me at ease while reading, however this time the ending is a little more cliffhanger-y than the last. Just a little…nothing that made me throw my book or anything! (Come on, you know those types of cliffhangers, this isn’t one of them). I am dying (not from the plague) to read the finale!
Shauna Granger has that gift that allows you to just turn the pages and the words just flow into your brain. I barely feel like I am reading, more like watching the scenes play out in my mind. The imagery is fierce and real and still damn scary. Yes, it is scary. Not too gory but the ‘give you the shivers, turn on all the lights and lock your doors’ scary. It is dark, bleak and somehow the characters still find themselves something to hold on to throughout this collapse of humanity.
As a sequel, the novel continues seamlessly and it also does a great job of expanding the story line. Time of Ruin is a growth novel. The characters grow into more of who they are, the plot grows as well as the threats. It gave you enough to keep you guessing but also to keep you intrigued. We learn a lot more about the people left in the world, the disease, the freaky Pestas and their abilities. And…well I can’t give that away, even though I want to tell you all about it! You will just have to read the series for yourselves!
Kat and Dylan are much more connected in book 2. They have latched on to each other to help them survive this fretful world and they are in it together. The two of them charm the pants off of me! I adore them together, they tug & pull each other just at the right times. Blue is less of the humor in this book as he was in book 1 and more of their fearless guardian. I have to say I do love animals in the PA genre, they really help you connect with the past as well as bring new light into a book that allows you to see that everything can and must adjust to survive. We do met a few other characters and my favorite was Tess. She was scared & brave all at the same time and what else can you ask for in this shattered world.
There are slightly adult themes and I would recommend this to any upper YA, new adult or adult reader. If you love a good post-apocalyptic novel, you should read this series immediately. It is a fast-paced, intriguing and suspenseful read! Well worth all 4 hearts! Bring on book 3 now please!
This eArc was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2014
Love it! Review coming ASAP.
UPDATE---
Shauna Granger was so kind to send me a copy of Time of Ruin after I lamented on her blog that I had missed her offer to reviewers. How have I repaid her? By taking endless weeks to write this review, even though I read the book within just a few days of getting it. And why is that, you ask? Well, truth be told, I’m not at all sure I can do it justice. Sigh :-(
The first book in this trilogy completely captivated me for a number of reasons and I couldn’t wait to read the second one while I also feared (slightly) that I’d be disappointed. You know how it is—even if the author doesn’t suffer from “sophomore slump”, there’s still the chance that the magic discovered in the first book just won’t be there in the second, for whatever reason. I’m delighted to say that didn’t happen with Time of Ruin; if anything, it’s better than the wonderful World of Ash and that’s as it should be.
Kat, Dylan and Blue are on a quest of sorts, one that’s common—and entirely credible—in many post-apocalyptic novels. It’s in our nature as humans to find other humans in a time of great crisis and, in this case, the trio’s quest is to get to Kat’s uncle, her only remaining family. The journey they take is fraught with peril of all sorts from those who are desperate or who seek to take advantage of others and they also must cope with personal stress such as hunger and injuries and loneliness. Looming in the dark is the presence of the terrible Pestas, creatures of death. They’re not zombies but share some of their characteristics and take it a step further by seeming to be able to think. These Pestas are enough to give one nightmares because, unlike zombies and other evil creatures, they are nebulous and little understood, not easy to visualize. They are the embodiment of pestilence just as the name suggests and yet we still don’t know what they really are. Not knowing is the worst.
Amidst all the despair, Kat and Dylan find themselves growing ever closer and mindful of each other’s needs. The care and love they show towards one another is uplifting as is the mutual adoration between them and Blue, probably one of the most wonderful fictional dogs ever. The three need to be thankful they have each other, especially when a most disheartening truth begins to come to light.
Time of Ruin is not all doom and gloom. Yes, it’s a dire situation and humanity is at risk of being annihilated, but there are times when we see that many people are still kind and generous and compassionate in spite of their circumstances. Ms. Granger also treats us to flashes of humor:
“I gather up some more gauze and all the tape and wipes I can find. I shove them into the pack and see that he managed to get a few cans of creamed corn and pudding cups—one item with no nutritional value and the other full of sugar. We’re doing this apocalypse right.”
Moments such as this lighten the mood but, when you get right down to it, Time of Ruin is a tale of humanity’s resilience in the face of horror and sadness and fear. Now we have to wait for the third and concluding book to find out whether Kat, Dylan, Blue and so many others will triumph over the darkness and what it will take to get there. And then there are those mysterious and ominous ravens…
Well done, Shauna Granger!
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2014.
UPDATE---
Shauna Granger was so kind to send me a copy of Time of Ruin after I lamented on her blog that I had missed her offer to reviewers. How have I repaid her? By taking endless weeks to write this review, even though I read the book within just a few days of getting it. And why is that, you ask? Well, truth be told, I’m not at all sure I can do it justice. Sigh :-(
The first book in this trilogy completely captivated me for a number of reasons and I couldn’t wait to read the second one while I also feared (slightly) that I’d be disappointed. You know how it is—even if the author doesn’t suffer from “sophomore slump”, there’s still the chance that the magic discovered in the first book just won’t be there in the second, for whatever reason. I’m delighted to say that didn’t happen with Time of Ruin; if anything, it’s better than the wonderful World of Ash and that’s as it should be.
Kat, Dylan and Blue are on a quest of sorts, one that’s common—and entirely credible—in many post-apocalyptic novels. It’s in our nature as humans to find other humans in a time of great crisis and, in this case, the trio’s quest is to get to Kat’s uncle, her only remaining family. The journey they take is fraught with peril of all sorts from those who are desperate or who seek to take advantage of others and they also must cope with personal stress such as hunger and injuries and loneliness. Looming in the dark is the presence of the terrible Pestas, creatures of death. They’re not zombies but share some of their characteristics and take it a step further by seeming to be able to think. These Pestas are enough to give one nightmares because, unlike zombies and other evil creatures, they are nebulous and little understood, not easy to visualize. They are the embodiment of pestilence just as the name suggests and yet we still don’t know what they really are. Not knowing is the worst.
Amidst all the despair, Kat and Dylan find themselves growing ever closer and mindful of each other’s needs. The care and love they show towards one another is uplifting as is the mutual adoration between them and Blue, probably one of the most wonderful fictional dogs ever. The three need to be thankful they have each other, especially when a most disheartening truth begins to come to light.
Time of Ruin is not all doom and gloom. Yes, it’s a dire situation and humanity is at risk of being annihilated, but there are times when we see that many people are still kind and generous and compassionate in spite of their circumstances. Ms. Granger also treats us to flashes of humor:
“I gather up some more gauze and all the tape and wipes I can find. I shove them into the pack and see that he managed to get a few cans of creamed corn and pudding cups—one item with no nutritional value and the other full of sugar. We’re doing this apocalypse right.”
Moments such as this lighten the mood but, when you get right down to it, Time of Ruin is a tale of humanity’s resilience in the face of horror and sadness and fear. Now we have to wait for the third and concluding book to find out whether Kat, Dylan, Blue and so many others will triumph over the darkness and what it will take to get there. And then there are those mysterious and ominous ravens…
Well done, Shauna Granger!
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2014.
September 3, 2014
I fell in love with the first book in this trilogy, so I got my trotters on Time of Ruin as soon as I could. I can tell you the waiting until it was available on bookdepository was torture, I almost caved and bought the ebook instead. But knowing I would want the book in print if I loved it even half as much as World of Ash, made me hold back and wait for the print version.
And Time of Ruin was worth the wait.
Kat and Dylan did have a few moments where I wanted to kick some sense into them, but overall they are likable and acting with common sense. They seem to be immune to the plague that decimated the population, but that doesn't mean there are no dangers that could kill them. There are other (desperate) survivors, a lack of food, and the Pestas to deal with.
Time of Ruin takes off shortly after where book one ended, and soon I was engrossed in the story again. Kat and Dylan decide to go north to find Kat's uncle, but it seems the north isn't the safest place to be. They have to decide whether to push on or come up with another plan, and who to trust.
I love the world building and the Pestas. Granger manages to give a Post Apocalyptic setting something unique with these creepy creatures, while at the same time giving me all the elements I love in Post Apocalyptic stories as well. In World of Ash the Pestas remained mysterious, but in this book there are some discoveries about the Pestas that have me eager to find out even more.
The ending of this book isn't a cliffhanger, but enough things are still left open that I need the next book to see how everything will end.
All in all this is a really cool Post Apocalyptic Young Adult read, and I will wait impatiently for the conclusion of this trilogy. I might try one of Granger's other books in the meantime.
And Time of Ruin was worth the wait.
Kat and Dylan did have a few moments where I wanted to kick some sense into them, but overall they are likable and acting with common sense. They seem to be immune to the plague that decimated the population, but that doesn't mean there are no dangers that could kill them. There are other (desperate) survivors, a lack of food, and the Pestas to deal with.
Time of Ruin takes off shortly after where book one ended, and soon I was engrossed in the story again. Kat and Dylan decide to go north to find Kat's uncle, but it seems the north isn't the safest place to be. They have to decide whether to push on or come up with another plan, and who to trust.
I love the world building and the Pestas. Granger manages to give a Post Apocalyptic setting something unique with these creepy creatures, while at the same time giving me all the elements I love in Post Apocalyptic stories as well. In World of Ash the Pestas remained mysterious, but in this book there are some discoveries about the Pestas that have me eager to find out even more.
The ending of this book isn't a cliffhanger, but enough things are still left open that I need the next book to see how everything will end.
All in all this is a really cool Post Apocalyptic Young Adult read, and I will wait impatiently for the conclusion of this trilogy. I might try one of Granger's other books in the meantime.
September 5, 2017
A solid 4.5 stars to the epic second installment in Shauna Granger's amazing post-apocalyptic Ash and Ruin series!
I read World of Ash shortly after it was released, and really enjoyed it. But while Granger's take on the post-apocalyptic genre was unique, the basic story still felt familiar, and I wasn't really sure where she would be able to take the sequel.
Let me tell you--my worries were completely unfounded! Time of Ruin took my expectations from World of Ash, covered them in disgusting boils, and then left them to die a fevered death. I burned through this book over the course of a single trans-Atlantic flight, sacrificing sleep and probably my seat neighbor's good-will to this addictive page turner.
Everything I loved about the first book is here, but bigger and better. Kat's will to survive and general bad-assery takes more of a front row seat, with good reason--there are murderous cults, hordes of Pestas, and carnivorous ravens circling ever closer. Kat's romance with Dylan is still a central aspect to this book, but also shifts in character as we find out how far Kat will go to keep her lover safe and alive as the world crumbles around them. And Blue--dearest, darlingest Blue!--is as wonderful and loyal and sweet as ever, remaining the one bright joy in (let's face it) a pretty shitty post-apocalyptic landscape.
Coming to the last page of this book without a sequel on the horizon was pure torture. Write, Shauna, write! Your fans await with bated breath.
I read World of Ash shortly after it was released, and really enjoyed it. But while Granger's take on the post-apocalyptic genre was unique, the basic story still felt familiar, and I wasn't really sure where she would be able to take the sequel.
Let me tell you--my worries were completely unfounded! Time of Ruin took my expectations from World of Ash, covered them in disgusting boils, and then left them to die a fevered death. I burned through this book over the course of a single trans-Atlantic flight, sacrificing sleep and probably my seat neighbor's good-will to this addictive page turner.
Everything I loved about the first book is here, but bigger and better. Kat's will to survive and general bad-assery takes more of a front row seat, with good reason--there are murderous cults, hordes of Pestas, and carnivorous ravens circling ever closer. Kat's romance with Dylan is still a central aspect to this book, but also shifts in character as we find out how far Kat will go to keep her lover safe and alive as the world crumbles around them. And Blue--dearest, darlingest Blue!--is as wonderful and loyal and sweet as ever, remaining the one bright joy in (let's face it) a pretty shitty post-apocalyptic landscape.
Coming to the last page of this book without a sequel on the horizon was pure torture. Write, Shauna, write! Your fans await with bated breath.
May 6, 2015
Books & Sweet Epiphany
Blogger Review
The second book takes on a darker and terrifying turn.
It starts out really good and as it progresses, there are more horrifying elements to think about as you follow the characters in the book. I like that it is similar to zombies but it really isn’t, which gives this book a new twist to the usual clichés.
Kat’s journey really pulls you in and with the new introduction of characters, it made it all so much more interesting. The whole ride is just exhilarating and when you read, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop and the surprises just keep coming.
Blogger Review
The second book takes on a darker and terrifying turn.
It starts out really good and as it progresses, there are more horrifying elements to think about as you follow the characters in the book. I like that it is similar to zombies but it really isn’t, which gives this book a new twist to the usual clichés.
Kat’s journey really pulls you in and with the new introduction of characters, it made it all so much more interesting. The whole ride is just exhilarating and when you read, you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop and the surprises just keep coming.
May 25, 2014
Review pending!
August 20, 2014
I am in love with this series. Hands down one of my top 10!
May 7, 2014
4.5 stars. Review to come.
September 26, 2014
Pestas, Pestas, Pestas, PESTAS….. these things scare me and they are back with a vengeance in this book.
At first look Kat is not usually a character that I would love, however, the end of the world has changed her into a relatable and great character. I also have a soft spot for dogs, so I find myself more worried about Blue than the humans in the book. Dylan is easy to be smitten over because he is a lovable character. The first book left off with Kat, Blue, and Dylan venturing north. However, the north brings a lot more scary news than they were planning. This book follows their journey up north and their shocking discoveries. The pestas are still scary and their numbers are growing. Book two also provides some information about why the Pestas are around and what happened to the world. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book but was very satisfied with the ending, I mean if you are alright with impending doom.
I would recommend this series to all paranormal and dystopain lovers. It is the best combination of elements with one of the scariest creatures in a dystopian world. Pestas are even scarier than zombies. :)
At first look Kat is not usually a character that I would love, however, the end of the world has changed her into a relatable and great character. I also have a soft spot for dogs, so I find myself more worried about Blue than the humans in the book. Dylan is easy to be smitten over because he is a lovable character. The first book left off with Kat, Blue, and Dylan venturing north. However, the north brings a lot more scary news than they were planning. This book follows their journey up north and their shocking discoveries. The pestas are still scary and their numbers are growing. Book two also provides some information about why the Pestas are around and what happened to the world. I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book but was very satisfied with the ending, I mean if you are alright with impending doom.
I would recommend this series to all paranormal and dystopain lovers. It is the best combination of elements with one of the scariest creatures in a dystopian world. Pestas are even scarier than zombies. :)
December 13, 2015
I am so hooked on Apocalyptic books lately, these so far a very good. It really keeps me reading, to see what happens next. I Love a book that does that, the 3rd one so far is just as good.
August 15, 2014
Review Coming Soon!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews