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A Courtroom of Ashes
Santana Jones never thought she’d fall in love with a dead guy, but that was before she met John Braver, the incredibly charming and incredibly dead politician on the other side of her mirror.
When an evil spirit drags Santana’s soul across the mirror and into Purgatory, she’ll need all the help she can get to return to her body. With John by her side, nothing can go wrong. But Purgatory is a dangerous place for a lawyer with a pitch-black past. Santana has always wondered if she’d go to Hell for defending rapists and murderers.
Now she’ll know.
When an evil spirit drags Santana’s soul across the mirror and into Purgatory, she’ll need all the help she can get to return to her body. With John by her side, nothing can go wrong. But Purgatory is a dangerous place for a lawyer with a pitch-black past. Santana has always wondered if she’d go to Hell for defending rapists and murderers.
Now she’ll know.
- GenresFantasyRomanceParanormal
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
3 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Wilde
18 books109 followersC.S. Wilde wrote her first Fantasy novel when she was eight. That book was absolutely terrible, but her mother told her it was awesome, so she kept writing.
Now a grown-up (though many will beg to differ), C. S. Wilde writes about fantastic worlds, love stories larger than life and epic battles.
She also, quite obviously, sucks at writing an author bio. She finds it awkward that she must write this in the third person, and hopes you won't notice.
You can find her at: www.cswilde.com
On Twitter: @thatcswilde
Or on Facebook: thatcswilde
Now a grown-up (though many will beg to differ), C. S. Wilde writes about fantastic worlds, love stories larger than life and epic battles.
She also, quite obviously, sucks at writing an author bio. She finds it awkward that she must write this in the third person, and hopes you won't notice.
You can find her at: www.cswilde.com
On Twitter: @thatcswilde
Or on Facebook: thatcswilde
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2016
A Courtroom of Ashes is a fantastic read. The tale of a defense attorney who experiences the supernatural in a special way. Wilde has a prose that is engaging and thoughtful. The emotional arc that Santana goes through is pure and genuine. This is a great read! C.S. Wilde you're two for two and you are the queen of kick-assery. Bravo.
March 12, 2022
Wow! This story was a huge surprise from beginning to the end. I found this take on the afterlife to be outstanding with action, love, and many unexpected trials. The twists that you never see coming kept me invested through everything! I was blown away! Loved It!
July 14, 2019
Even though it’s been three days since I finished this, part of me is still conflicted. Is it meh, do I like it, or is it good?
The book starts off really well. We get a sense of who Santana Jones is in just the first few pages, what she does for a living, and how she lives her life. We learn she’s a very good criminal lawyer, believes she looks fabulous, that she’s wronged society at least twice, and that she’s possibly trying to right her wrongs by doing free work (nothing is ever free).
As a character, I really enjoyed reading from Santana’s POV. Even though she was a lawyer and older than me, there was something really relatable about her. Knowing she broke off her friendship with Barbie over a guy made me facepalm but I also understand because that’s what teenagers do. Her pride over the things she’d earned, the guilt over the things she’d done, and as the story progresses, her relationship with all of the characters. Everything just felt real and like I could be Santana Jones.
I believe this is also the first book that I’ve read where ghosts and the afterworld are involved and I loved it! Everything seemed like it was planned out in detail. How there was a Home and the Wastelands, the Shades, normal ghosts, the opening of Heaven and Hell, and other elements of Death. The only thing I had trouble understanding was the Wrath. I wasn’t entirely sure how someone became one…was it just extreme anger, like the next level of a Shade? I’m not sure.
Alongside Santana we have Honest John as our male protagonist, a real soldier who has pretty much encountered the good and bad of Death. I wasn’t really impressed with his character and while there were moments where I could understand why Santana would swoon…he just didn’t come off as approachable or real.
But the real star of this book was Irving. Irving, the cute and funny megane who had an answer for everything and who was more of the third wheel of this story. I completely agree with Barbie that his accent was adorbs! AH~ I wish there’d been more of him! Unfortunately, his role only consisted of making sure Santana and John didn’t get down and dirty in random places and to give the readers explanations (possible theories) to how Death worked.
NOW, EVERYTHING I’VE SAID SOUNDS PRETTY POSITIVE AND WHY WOULD I BE CONFLICTED OVER HOW I SHOULD FEEL ABOUT THIS BOOK?
Well, most of it happens in the second half of the book. At the start, I was really enjoying the pacing, how the characters were interacting, and just a lot of the elements. Then the latter half started and things started to pick up. Santana somehow found a sword in the middle of the road (not exactly but basically), she turned from self-sufficient badass lawyer to teenager in seconds, she met all of her ghosts in Death and easily conquered them, she was SO guilt ridden to the point of annoyance, and everything just came easily to her.
Even that ending where Heaven and Hell open up during the epic battle between Wraths felt too convenient. Maybe if the book had been some 100+ pages longer, things could have been smoothed out.
Basically, it wasn’t a bad story but I was expecting more because it started off really well.
Final Thoughts: For being my first read on ghosts and the afterlife, this book did a really good job at introducing me to one way we can look at Death. The characters were memorable, the relationships felt real, and we get a complete story in one book, however, there were a few things I just couldn’t ignore. Two of them being the pace and convenience of events in the second half of the book. I would SO read a book centered around Irving, haha
Would I purchase this book for a friend/me? I would purchase this for a friend
The book starts off really well. We get a sense of who Santana Jones is in just the first few pages, what she does for a living, and how she lives her life. We learn she’s a very good criminal lawyer, believes she looks fabulous, that she’s wronged society at least twice, and that she’s possibly trying to right her wrongs by doing free work (nothing is ever free).
As a character, I really enjoyed reading from Santana’s POV. Even though she was a lawyer and older than me, there was something really relatable about her. Knowing she broke off her friendship with Barbie over a guy made me facepalm but I also understand because that’s what teenagers do. Her pride over the things she’d earned, the guilt over the things she’d done, and as the story progresses, her relationship with all of the characters. Everything just felt real and like I could be Santana Jones.
I believe this is also the first book that I’ve read where ghosts and the afterworld are involved and I loved it! Everything seemed like it was planned out in detail. How there was a Home and the Wastelands, the Shades, normal ghosts, the opening of Heaven and Hell, and other elements of Death. The only thing I had trouble understanding was the Wrath. I wasn’t entirely sure how someone became one…was it just extreme anger, like the next level of a Shade? I’m not sure.
Alongside Santana we have Honest John as our male protagonist, a real soldier who has pretty much encountered the good and bad of Death. I wasn’t really impressed with his character and while there were moments where I could understand why Santana would swoon…he just didn’t come off as approachable or real.
But the real star of this book was Irving. Irving, the cute and funny megane who had an answer for everything and who was more of the third wheel of this story. I completely agree with Barbie that his accent was adorbs! AH~ I wish there’d been more of him! Unfortunately, his role only consisted of making sure Santana and John didn’t get down and dirty in random places and to give the readers explanations (possible theories) to how Death worked.
NOW, EVERYTHING I’VE SAID SOUNDS PRETTY POSITIVE AND WHY WOULD I BE CONFLICTED OVER HOW I SHOULD FEEL ABOUT THIS BOOK?
Well, most of it happens in the second half of the book. At the start, I was really enjoying the pacing, how the characters were interacting, and just a lot of the elements. Then the latter half started and things started to pick up. Santana somehow found a sword in the middle of the road (not exactly but basically), she turned from self-sufficient badass lawyer to teenager in seconds, she met all of her ghosts in Death and easily conquered them, she was SO guilt ridden to the point of annoyance, and everything just came easily to her.
Even that ending where Heaven and Hell open up during the epic battle between Wraths felt too convenient. Maybe if the book had been some 100+ pages longer, things could have been smoothed out.
Basically, it wasn’t a bad story but I was expecting more because it started off really well.
Final Thoughts: For being my first read on ghosts and the afterlife, this book did a really good job at introducing me to one way we can look at Death. The characters were memorable, the relationships felt real, and we get a complete story in one book, however, there were a few things I just couldn’t ignore. Two of them being the pace and convenience of events in the second half of the book. I would SO read a book centered around Irving, haha
Would I purchase this book for a friend/me? I would purchase this for a friend
May 21, 2016
Santana Jones is not your average 25-year-old. She's a kick ass lawyer flying up the career ladder at the New York City firm where she works--and she talks to dead people.
C.S. Wilde starts off the story with Santana Jones admiring her latest purchase, a full-wall mirror for her bedroom. That's where the protagonist meets John Braver, the hot politician who is as good-looking as he is dead, and appears to reside on the other side.
Santana realizes that the decisions she made on the side of the living also have real and resounding consequences on the dead. She not only has to slay some bad ass ghosts and demons, but she also has to face some of the choices she made. This makes A Courtroom of Ashes a compelling read.
As a reader who enjoys a bit of a love story, I found Santana's love interest, John Braver, to be a bit disappointing. It was hard for me to believe a spunky and smart lawyer like Santana would have fallen for him. He lacked some dimension. As such, I secretly hoped the scenes including him wouldn't last long--which they didn't most of the time.
As one would expect in a fantasy, there's a quest, some trials, and a whole world of characters--on both sides of the mirror! An extra round of applause for Irving, Mama Na Se and Red Seth! Those characters were interesting, entertaining and added life to the page. Together with Santana, they definitely helped advance the story and keep the pages turning.
A Courtroom of Ashes delivers all of these in spades. Without including any spoilers, I thought it worth noting that Wilde wrote a very satisfying ending to the novel. The book has an epilogue that really rounds out the end in a plausible manner. All the loose ends are tied up.
I would recommend this book to lovers of dark fantasy, and I would definitely consider reading another book by this author.
(I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
C.S. Wilde starts off the story with Santana Jones admiring her latest purchase, a full-wall mirror for her bedroom. That's where the protagonist meets John Braver, the hot politician who is as good-looking as he is dead, and appears to reside on the other side.
Santana realizes that the decisions she made on the side of the living also have real and resounding consequences on the dead. She not only has to slay some bad ass ghosts and demons, but she also has to face some of the choices she made. This makes A Courtroom of Ashes a compelling read.
As a reader who enjoys a bit of a love story, I found Santana's love interest, John Braver, to be a bit disappointing. It was hard for me to believe a spunky and smart lawyer like Santana would have fallen for him. He lacked some dimension. As such, I secretly hoped the scenes including him wouldn't last long--which they didn't most of the time.
As one would expect in a fantasy, there's a quest, some trials, and a whole world of characters--on both sides of the mirror! An extra round of applause for Irving, Mama Na Se and Red Seth! Those characters were interesting, entertaining and added life to the page. Together with Santana, they definitely helped advance the story and keep the pages turning.
A Courtroom of Ashes delivers all of these in spades. Without including any spoilers, I thought it worth noting that Wilde wrote a very satisfying ending to the novel. The book has an epilogue that really rounds out the end in a plausible manner. All the loose ends are tied up.
I would recommend this book to lovers of dark fantasy, and I would definitely consider reading another book by this author.
(I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
June 27, 2016
At first I wasn't too keen on our main character, Santana. She seemed too... almost perfect and bad-ass. I mean the word perfect rather loosely because if you have read this book you will know that she isn't perfect, but that's okay. Many past faces from Santana's life pop up while she's in Death, enabling her to realise the consequences to her past actions, but she is only human and the more I heard about her past and present, the more I started to like her. I also really liked reading the sections with court cases.
A digital copy of A Courtroom of Ashes was kindly sent to me by the author herself in exchange for my honest review.
A Courtroom of Ashes follows Santana Jones, a lawyer, who owns a very curious mirror. Satana's soul is dragged through the mirror into the world of Death by an evil spirit who belongs on the other side and now she has to find a way to get back to her body before the evil spirit creates any more damage and wreaks havoc on the living world.
I really enjoyed the characters of Irving, Mama Na Se and Barry in particular and of course the story has a great villain, Red Seth. I did like John too, but I definitely enjoyed the fantasy and supernatural aspect of this book more compared to the romance part, though that is just my personal preference as stories go.
Throughout the book I definitely grew more and more attached to these characters and I absolutely loved the ending Wilde wrote, it couldn't have been more brilliant. I feel she rounded everything off perfectly, leaving me very satisfied as a reader.
Overall, I definitely recommend this novel to lovers of the supernatural and romance. Wilde has created this wonderful and unique world and it's one you won't forget any time soon. I rate this 4/5.
A digital copy of A Courtroom of Ashes was kindly sent to me by the author herself in exchange for my honest review.
A Courtroom of Ashes follows Santana Jones, a lawyer, who owns a very curious mirror. Satana's soul is dragged through the mirror into the world of Death by an evil spirit who belongs on the other side and now she has to find a way to get back to her body before the evil spirit creates any more damage and wreaks havoc on the living world.
I really enjoyed the characters of Irving, Mama Na Se and Barry in particular and of course the story has a great villain, Red Seth. I did like John too, but I definitely enjoyed the fantasy and supernatural aspect of this book more compared to the romance part, though that is just my personal preference as stories go.
Throughout the book I definitely grew more and more attached to these characters and I absolutely loved the ending Wilde wrote, it couldn't have been more brilliant. I feel she rounded everything off perfectly, leaving me very satisfied as a reader.
Overall, I definitely recommend this novel to lovers of the supernatural and romance. Wilde has created this wonderful and unique world and it's one you won't forget any time soon. I rate this 4/5.
Read
May 30, 2016This fantastic, roller-coaster, mind-bending adventure tests the limits of belief. But keep the faith because there are hidden depths.
A young lawyer at a New York law firm rewards herself. Monetary if not moral successes earn her a mirror wall in her bedroom. Recycled mirrors have history, and so does she.
The mirror is a portal to the world of Death – and there’s someone on the other side Santana Jones really needs to talk to.
In this tale of otherworldly experience and emotional intelligence, Wilde blends realism and fantasy to an extraordinary degree. The main character is plausible and layered, the worlds she inhabits feel familiar and the descriptions of locations are practically poetic. Witty allusions abound and despite the tension, you will snort with laughter, I guarantee.
Wild, fanciful and occasionally absurd, the undeniable pace and personality drive this story with a furious energy. Shove JRR Tolkein, Philip K Dick and Ally McBeal into a blender and add some chilli pepper and you’re almost there. But this book has a rough, raw flavour all its own.
I look forward to reading more from this exceptional voice.
A young lawyer at a New York law firm rewards herself. Monetary if not moral successes earn her a mirror wall in her bedroom. Recycled mirrors have history, and so does she.
The mirror is a portal to the world of Death – and there’s someone on the other side Santana Jones really needs to talk to.
In this tale of otherworldly experience and emotional intelligence, Wilde blends realism and fantasy to an extraordinary degree. The main character is plausible and layered, the worlds she inhabits feel familiar and the descriptions of locations are practically poetic. Witty allusions abound and despite the tension, you will snort with laughter, I guarantee.
Wild, fanciful and occasionally absurd, the undeniable pace and personality drive this story with a furious energy. Shove JRR Tolkein, Philip K Dick and Ally McBeal into a blender and add some chilli pepper and you’re almost there. But this book has a rough, raw flavour all its own.
I look forward to reading more from this exceptional voice.
September 15, 2016
Courtroom of Ashes by C. S. Wilde
Is a great read about Santana Jones, a young attorney with an interesting mirror in her bedroom. Through the mirror she sees an old friend killed and meets a handsome, though dead politician. She learns about death and how her actions will affect her future. A great read.
Is a great read about Santana Jones, a young attorney with an interesting mirror in her bedroom. Through the mirror she sees an old friend killed and meets a handsome, though dead politician. She learns about death and how her actions will affect her future. A great read.
May 27, 2016
A must read for anyone. C.S. takes us on a wild ride where anything can happen.
August 31, 2017
Life and Death
Loved this story reminded me of Eric Arvin's Woke up in a strange place. Wow what a wonderful view of death as a place and gives new meaning to long distance romance. A love in life and a love in death.
Loved this story reminded me of Eric Arvin's Woke up in a strange place. Wow what a wonderful view of death as a place and gives new meaning to long distance romance. A love in life and a love in death.
September 4, 2019
Enjoyable
Enjoyable but not quite captivating for me. The story is quite creative but I found some key points a little too convenient. Stick with it though, the epilogue was a particularly welcome wind up that is often overlooked.
Enjoyable but not quite captivating for me. The story is quite creative but I found some key points a little too convenient. Stick with it though, the epilogue was a particularly welcome wind up that is often overlooked.
March 6, 2017
A great read. Made me think about life after death. Lost my mother a few months ago and I hope she is with her father.
September 30, 2016
Reviewed by: Magda
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: You’re staring at your own reflection and you realize that your image is smiling…but you’re not. A mirror with a mind of its own? Or perhaps a trickery of an over-worked mind? Or a warning from beyond the grave?
For sensible and intelligent Santana, this could only be a dream or a lucid imagination. Until she realizes that the haunted mirror is a portal that connects to Death, a purgatory that is neither bad nor good. Just Death. Freaky!
But it seems that a dear friend of hers is trapped somewhere in Death, and Santana will stop at nothing to find her. Santana soon finds herself caught in a cryptic maze of darkness and horror. She finds herself trapped in Death.
Could this dark prison be her penance for her ruthless ways as a conniving and deceitful lawyer, freeing criminals into an unsuspecting society?
Yet, as her soul traverses the land of Death, she comes to realize that the spirits lead perfectly normal lives, more or less. “The Home is a sanctuary where people can go through the afterlife together.” (102) Of course, some of the details might sound trivial and they can be quite perplexing, especially when the story is taking place in the worlds of both the living and the dead and Santana simultaneously exists in both worlds. That can be a little confusing. However, they don’t steal from the core plot of the story: locating a spirit and returning Santana’s soul to her body before it’s too late. Before the devil takes over her body and begins the apocalypse. Chilling! But the more pressing question was: What happens when you die in Death?
Story is a wonderful and well-written tale of mystery and psychedelic intrigue.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review: You’re staring at your own reflection and you realize that your image is smiling…but you’re not. A mirror with a mind of its own? Or perhaps a trickery of an over-worked mind? Or a warning from beyond the grave?
For sensible and intelligent Santana, this could only be a dream or a lucid imagination. Until she realizes that the haunted mirror is a portal that connects to Death, a purgatory that is neither bad nor good. Just Death. Freaky!
But it seems that a dear friend of hers is trapped somewhere in Death, and Santana will stop at nothing to find her. Santana soon finds herself caught in a cryptic maze of darkness and horror. She finds herself trapped in Death.
Could this dark prison be her penance for her ruthless ways as a conniving and deceitful lawyer, freeing criminals into an unsuspecting society?
Yet, as her soul traverses the land of Death, she comes to realize that the spirits lead perfectly normal lives, more or less. “The Home is a sanctuary where people can go through the afterlife together.” (102) Of course, some of the details might sound trivial and they can be quite perplexing, especially when the story is taking place in the worlds of both the living and the dead and Santana simultaneously exists in both worlds. That can be a little confusing. However, they don’t steal from the core plot of the story: locating a spirit and returning Santana’s soul to her body before it’s too late. Before the devil takes over her body and begins the apocalypse. Chilling! But the more pressing question was: What happens when you die in Death?
Story is a wonderful and well-written tale of mystery and psychedelic intrigue.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews