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Crimson Ash
You may live as a soldier or face death. Choose wisely.
Solanine Lucille wants her little sister back. Eight years ago, the government kidnapped her sister Ember, stole her memories, and transformed her into a soldier. But Solanine refuses to give up. Now that she and her fiancé have located the leader of a rebel group, she believes she can finally bring Ember home. But then the soldiers raid the rebels, killing her fiancé and leaving Solanine alone with her demons and all the weapons needed for revenge.
After raiding a rebel camp, sixteen-year-old Ember doesn’t understand why killing some boy bothers her. She’s a soldier—she has killed hundreds of people without remorse. But after she fails a mission, the rebels hold her hostage and restore her memories. Ember recognizes her sister among the rebels and realizes the boy she killed was Solanine’s fiancé.
Ember knows she can’t hide the truth forever, but Solanine has secrets too.
As their worlds clash, the two sisters must decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. And one wrong move could destroy everything—and everyone—in their path.
Solanine Lucille wants her little sister back. Eight years ago, the government kidnapped her sister Ember, stole her memories, and transformed her into a soldier. But Solanine refuses to give up. Now that she and her fiancé have located the leader of a rebel group, she believes she can finally bring Ember home. But then the soldiers raid the rebels, killing her fiancé and leaving Solanine alone with her demons and all the weapons needed for revenge.
After raiding a rebel camp, sixteen-year-old Ember doesn’t understand why killing some boy bothers her. She’s a soldier—she has killed hundreds of people without remorse. But after she fails a mission, the rebels hold her hostage and restore her memories. Ember recognizes her sister among the rebels and realizes the boy she killed was Solanine’s fiancé.
Ember knows she can’t hide the truth forever, but Solanine has secrets too.
As their worlds clash, the two sisters must decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. And one wrong move could destroy everything—and everyone—in their path.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2018
3 people are currently reading
916 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 17, 2018
Arc Book Review
Release Date-10/5/18
Unfortunately for me, this was really just an Ok read; I originally requested a copy of this because I was oh so intrigued by the actual blurb.
It really captured my attention and sounded ever so intriguing in its overall description.
But this one; for me was one that worked much better on paper than in its actuality.
Initially, I found myself rather bored and uninvested I also had real issues getting into and immersing myself in the story plot.
I'm not really sure why that was, as it had all the necessary ingredients that usually work for me.
Just something seemed to be missing from the recipe which was a shame as It was one that I was really looking forward to reading.
So after several stops and false starts, I finally bit the bullet and managed to get through the first few chapters and once accomplishing this feat I then found myself much more interested in what was to come next.
Basically "Crimson Ash" is a YA future dystopian tale set against a surreal post apocalyptic landscape.
Our story though encompassing many characters is really the saga of two sisters Ember and Solanine; told by focusing individually on each sister and then alternating POV "Crimson Ash" bounces back and forth weaving a fantastical web.
A war is raging between two opposing factions drawing all into the crossfire whether wanted or not.
So this has all sorts to offer its readers; deep tragedy action and romance all combined together to bring forth a fresh new voice in Dystopian YA fiction and once I connected here I did then enjoy myself; there were still things that for me spoilt things, but for the most part, I was satisfied with the eventual conclusion we were given.
The main grumbles I had that caused me to drop my rating a smidge was the constant back and forth between the rebels and the government; I did find this slightly tedious and I also thought some of the secondary characters could have been a tad better developed than they were.
ultimately though this wasn't a bad read just one that wasn't really my flavour at times.
Maybe it will be a better fit for you; as at its heart, this was a good solid YA read that was at times just so bittersweet and poignant in nature.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a Review copy of "Crimson Ash" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm.
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
February 19, 2018
Full Review on my blog!
*a copy was provided by NetGalley*
I'm sooo excited to review this! Crimson Ash by Haley Sulich is such an amazing, unique book! It is a fun but dark read. So prepare for angst and a lot of emotion. The book moves fast. From the first chapter on, there are surprises that you don't see coming mixed with themes of dealing with depression, loss and self blame while learning on how to deal with all of those.
I literally devoured this book in one day. My only regret is that it's over!!
This book grips you from the moment you read that first page. The world building is crazy; it's dark and twisted and dangerous and incredibly imaginative with the technological advances the author has thought up.
It's the year 2065 and a virus called the Devil's Dream has wiped out almost the whole human race. No one particularity knows the source of the virus, because it spread so incredibly fast. Those who are affected by the virus are soldiers. And these soldiers search the Earth for human survivors and give them the Choice to take part in the new society and live or die.
Ember, one of the main characters, is one of these soldiers, while her sister Solanine still roams the Earth freely. Solanine's ultimate goal is save and free her sister from the soldiers, in order to do this Solanine joins Nightshade and her rebels in their war against evil.
The sisters, Ember & Solanine, are both still teens, they have real issues and real struggles that actually fit within the storyline. Their story is filled with death and destruction and their mental health, naturally, shows it. These characters are some of the most complex I've read. They often make difficult choices and the author does a great job of making you understand why they make those choices and what they must learn as a result. They are all on a path to healing in some way and the author creates their arcs in a way that feels real and satisfying by the end of the story.
I wish some of the side characters were expanded more upon and some of the battles were more elaborate. There's advanced technology being used, which is great, but no explanation as to how it is possible that this technology is available less than 50 years from now after the world has succumbed to a very deathly virus. There's also an element of mind control but it's not clear if this is all advanced technology or something else.
But overall, this book is a unique, roller-coaster dystopian. A must read! I highly recommend it!
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*a copy was provided by NetGalley*
I'm sooo excited to review this! Crimson Ash by Haley Sulich is such an amazing, unique book! It is a fun but dark read. So prepare for angst and a lot of emotion. The book moves fast. From the first chapter on, there are surprises that you don't see coming mixed with themes of dealing with depression, loss and self blame while learning on how to deal with all of those.
I literally devoured this book in one day. My only regret is that it's over!!
This book grips you from the moment you read that first page. The world building is crazy; it's dark and twisted and dangerous and incredibly imaginative with the technological advances the author has thought up.
It's the year 2065 and a virus called the Devil's Dream has wiped out almost the whole human race. No one particularity knows the source of the virus, because it spread so incredibly fast. Those who are affected by the virus are soldiers. And these soldiers search the Earth for human survivors and give them the Choice to take part in the new society and live or die.
Ember, one of the main characters, is one of these soldiers, while her sister Solanine still roams the Earth freely. Solanine's ultimate goal is save and free her sister from the soldiers, in order to do this Solanine joins Nightshade and her rebels in their war against evil.
The sisters, Ember & Solanine, are both still teens, they have real issues and real struggles that actually fit within the storyline. Their story is filled with death and destruction and their mental health, naturally, shows it. These characters are some of the most complex I've read. They often make difficult choices and the author does a great job of making you understand why they make those choices and what they must learn as a result. They are all on a path to healing in some way and the author creates their arcs in a way that feels real and satisfying by the end of the story.
I wish some of the side characters were expanded more upon and some of the battles were more elaborate. There's advanced technology being used, which is great, but no explanation as to how it is possible that this technology is available less than 50 years from now after the world has succumbed to a very deathly virus. There's also an element of mind control but it's not clear if this is all advanced technology or something else.
But overall, this book is a unique, roller-coaster dystopian. A must read! I highly recommend it!
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April 27, 2018
The world was decimated by the virus, the Devil’s Dream. In a nightmarish tale that pits sister against sister, steals memories and free will, all that remains are the demons of the past and the monster that has warped the future.
CRIMSON ASH by Haley Sulich is a powerful tale of loss, emotional torment and choices when one sister flees to remain free and another is taken captive to become a robotic soldier without her memories, emotions or the freewill to fight against the false world she has become part of.
Solanine lives with the memories of the night she let go of her sister’s hand and lost her to a cruel and twisted government who stole her memories and created a killing machine. Years later, their paths will cross again, standing on opposite sides of the war. Ember has no memory of Solanine, or the man she just killed, but this time, it felt different. After being captured by the rebels, Ember is “cured” of the virus, her memories returned, but those memories could be the very thing that will drive a permanent wedge between the sisters.
Haley Sulich’s dystopian tale is filled with angst, self-doubt, self-destruction and heartbreak as a group of rebels fight back against the government that has destroyed their world. Gritty, dark and filled with a constant sense of turmoil, this edge-of-your-seat read has a shaky opening that gains ground and runs full-throttle throughout. Twists, turns and the seemingly impossible odds add a sense of action and adventure as David stands against Goliath, with an unknown outcome.
If you like your reading able to stay one step ahead of where you THOUGHT it was going with emotions running hot throughout, you’ll be lost in this “reality” as the hours fly by.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Write Plan! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Write Plan (May 10, 2018)
Publication Date: May 10, 2018
Genre: Sci-fi | Dystopian
Print Length: 382 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
CRIMSON ASH by Haley Sulich is a powerful tale of loss, emotional torment and choices when one sister flees to remain free and another is taken captive to become a robotic soldier without her memories, emotions or the freewill to fight against the false world she has become part of.
Solanine lives with the memories of the night she let go of her sister’s hand and lost her to a cruel and twisted government who stole her memories and created a killing machine. Years later, their paths will cross again, standing on opposite sides of the war. Ember has no memory of Solanine, or the man she just killed, but this time, it felt different. After being captured by the rebels, Ember is “cured” of the virus, her memories returned, but those memories could be the very thing that will drive a permanent wedge between the sisters.
Haley Sulich’s dystopian tale is filled with angst, self-doubt, self-destruction and heartbreak as a group of rebels fight back against the government that has destroyed their world. Gritty, dark and filled with a constant sense of turmoil, this edge-of-your-seat read has a shaky opening that gains ground and runs full-throttle throughout. Twists, turns and the seemingly impossible odds add a sense of action and adventure as David stands against Goliath, with an unknown outcome.
If you like your reading able to stay one step ahead of where you THOUGHT it was going with emotions running hot throughout, you’ll be lost in this “reality” as the hours fly by.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Write Plan! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Write Plan (May 10, 2018)
Publication Date: May 10, 2018
Genre: Sci-fi | Dystopian
Print Length: 382 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News: http://tometender.blogspot.com
March 7, 2018
*Thank you to NetGalley and Write Plan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
By judging synopsis, it looks like it is a story of sister bonding, Solanine and Ember, which it isn’t as it looks by title and synopsis.
Solanine story is from 3rd person POV While Ember is from her, it is the quite distracting thing, I am not the person who minds any POV, but the combination of two? No, it didn’t work. This is the dark dystopian tale, which is sorry to say flatly written and how can I forget to mention That
Breaths in
Breaths out
It was used I guess more than 5 times, and I was super annoyed, Okie, I got it, why again and again, why not named the book Breaths in, and Breath out.
But maybe that's the weakness in love.It makes us believe we have forever when we don't.
It is future, the year 2065, and people are using daggers? I don’t have anything against daggers, but when everywhere it is technology around, these curative creams, neutralizer pills, this panel and hacking city, and on the other hand for fighting they are using daggers, it didn’t sit well for me.
These sisters, they love each other care for each other, but no they don’t talk they don’t spend time, and the story was like taking place in a loop, Ember lost her memory, Solanine lost, Ember lost, Solanine lost.
On the other hand, Mordecai built a whole graven city with soldiers, but cleansing didn’t work on Cahira and Kella, and no one came to know? And in the end, Kane, or all of them were such amazing actors?
And what was the aim of this Graven city? Only hunger for power? Nothing else? Not even a background story?
Only thing I enjoyed about this book was Solanine and Kane, they were cute together.
I wanted to DNF this book so badly, then I decided to skim it, so I skimmed half of the book, and I don’t have any regret.
By judging synopsis, it looks like it is a story of sister bonding, Solanine and Ember, which it isn’t as it looks by title and synopsis.
Solanine story is from 3rd person POV While Ember is from her, it is the quite distracting thing, I am not the person who minds any POV, but the combination of two? No, it didn’t work. This is the dark dystopian tale, which is sorry to say flatly written and how can I forget to mention That
Breaths in
Breaths out
It was used I guess more than 5 times, and I was super annoyed, Okie, I got it, why again and again, why not named the book Breaths in, and Breath out.
But maybe that's the weakness in love.It makes us believe we have forever when we don't.
It is future, the year 2065, and people are using daggers? I don’t have anything against daggers, but when everywhere it is technology around, these curative creams, neutralizer pills, this panel and hacking city, and on the other hand for fighting they are using daggers, it didn’t sit well for me.
These sisters, they love each other care for each other, but no they don’t talk they don’t spend time, and the story was like taking place in a loop, Ember lost her memory, Solanine lost, Ember lost, Solanine lost.
On the other hand, Mordecai built a whole graven city with soldiers, but cleansing didn’t work on Cahira and Kella, and no one came to know? And in the end, Kane, or all of them were such amazing actors?
And what was the aim of this Graven city? Only hunger for power? Nothing else? Not even a background story?
Only thing I enjoyed about this book was Solanine and Kane, they were cute together.
I wanted to DNF this book so badly, then I decided to skim it, so I skimmed half of the book, and I don’t have any regret.
March 21, 2024
i was sent crimson ash by the author so i could provide an honest review of it.
and, unfortunately, i could not get very far into it.
it's not that it's bad, it's just... it's been, like, 4 days maybe? and i could not to even 100 pages. every page i did read just did not grab my interest and it's been a struggle to even get myself to find the will to pick it up again.
since i didn't get that far, i'm not rating this. i think other people might like it? but it just wasn't for me and i really, really do not have it in me to continue, or even try to continue.
and, unfortunately, i could not get very far into it.
it's not that it's bad, it's just... it's been, like, 4 days maybe? and i could not to even 100 pages. every page i did read just did not grab my interest and it's been a struggle to even get myself to find the will to pick it up again.
since i didn't get that far, i'm not rating this. i think other people might like it? but it just wasn't for me and i really, really do not have it in me to continue, or even try to continue.
October 1, 2020
Quick thoughts:
- cw for self-harm, suicide, PTSD, alcoholism
- eerily dark atmosphere
- focus: sibling relationship
- themes: depression, healing
- shaky/unclear motives from antagonist
- a bit more polishing needed tbh
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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- cw for self-harm, suicide, PTSD, alcoholism
- eerily dark atmosphere
- focus: sibling relationship
- themes: depression, healing
- shaky/unclear motives from antagonist
- a bit more polishing needed tbh
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter
July 10, 2018
*Thank you to NetGalley and Write Plan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
There are stories that stay with you long after you've finished reading them. This might be such a story. It certainly is one I enjoy thinking about, discussing way more than actually reading it. Which sounds slightly negative, but it's not necessarily.
If you just want a relaxing read, this one isn't for you. But if you like your books dark, thought-provoking and tackling important and difficult topics such as guilt, grief, coping mechanisms and death, then keep reading. (Just know that this book doesn't shy away from showing exactly what happens when people break and suffer, so be sure you can handle that)
I've seen differing opinions, but I think this book is heavily character focused. The main focus of this story is the two sisters, Ember and Solanine and their effort to slowly get to know each other again after being apart for eight long years.
But they have let vastly different lives and struggle to understand each other. On top of that, they each have their own secrets and feelings of guilt.
Embers memories were 'cleansed' when she was captured eight years ago and she was turned into a soldier. She fought, killed and felt nothing for years. Including the moment she killed her sisters fiancé. She is not the same innocent smiling young girl her sister remembers. Nor can she be that ever again.
Solanine on the other hand always searched for her little sister and lost many people along the way. She fought her own demons while hiding and trying to locate and free Ember.
The world they're living in is unforgiving. A virus has wiped out most of the humans and now soldiers roam the earth to give people the choice: Life or Death. Live in the City of Graven, where dreams die or be killed immediately.
The setting was very vivid and I could picture everything, the atmosphere was very dark.
Solanine chapters were written in third person while Embers were first person which was a bit irritating at first, but I got used to it.
I think I liked Solanine and her story a tad bit more, probably because Ember was really emotionless for a large part of her story and that made it a bit harder for me to connect with her. Even though I really liked that part in hindsight. I don't want to spoil anything so I'm not going more in depth with this.
But the middle part is also the reason why I docked off a star. Ember was torn on what to believe, but she was a bit quick to change her thinking for me. I didn't find it that plausible. Though there were some truly chilling lines here, and the feeling of the City and the people living there was definitely conveyed well.
(But, next time ... dead eyes. I get it. not necessary to repeat it quite that often! And some thoughts were worded really weird, I don't think anyone thinks like that, but oh well.)
I really appreciated that Haley Sulich went all out and wasn't afraid to really explore the dark topics she chose to write about. There were consequences for everything and a not really a fairytale ending. And I was pleasantly surprised with certain twists. I love it when I can't see something coming.
Tucker was a good addition to the story even though he did something which I really despise (being brave but stupid .. a pet peeve of mine) but I adored his loving and fun side.
Cahira was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about her. She was smart and caring, sensitive and broken. And clever when her brother wasn't. Which I greatly appreciated. Her story is quite dark, too.
Nightshade, well. Hers is a tragic story but we didn't see enough of her for me to really care about her tbh.
Same with Kane actually, Even though I did like him and what happened with him.
The plot wasn't the strongest point of this book imo. It was too convenient from time to time. The ending, for example, felt too easy compared to the struggle before.
But overall I quite liked this book and am still thinking about it. Which is something I love.
There are stories that stay with you long after you've finished reading them. This might be such a story. It certainly is one I enjoy thinking about, discussing way more than actually reading it. Which sounds slightly negative, but it's not necessarily.
If you just want a relaxing read, this one isn't for you. But if you like your books dark, thought-provoking and tackling important and difficult topics such as guilt, grief, coping mechanisms and death, then keep reading. (Just know that this book doesn't shy away from showing exactly what happens when people break and suffer, so be sure you can handle that)
I've seen differing opinions, but I think this book is heavily character focused. The main focus of this story is the two sisters, Ember and Solanine and their effort to slowly get to know each other again after being apart for eight long years.
But they have let vastly different lives and struggle to understand each other. On top of that, they each have their own secrets and feelings of guilt.
Embers memories were 'cleansed' when she was captured eight years ago and she was turned into a soldier. She fought, killed and felt nothing for years. Including the moment she killed her sisters fiancé. She is not the same innocent smiling young girl her sister remembers. Nor can she be that ever again.
Solanine on the other hand always searched for her little sister and lost many people along the way. She fought her own demons while hiding and trying to locate and free Ember.
The world they're living in is unforgiving. A virus has wiped out most of the humans and now soldiers roam the earth to give people the choice: Life or Death. Live in the City of Graven, where dreams die or be killed immediately.
The setting was very vivid and I could picture everything, the atmosphere was very dark.
Solanine chapters were written in third person while Embers were first person which was a bit irritating at first, but I got used to it.
I think I liked Solanine and her story a tad bit more, probably because Ember was really emotionless for a large part of her story and that made it a bit harder for me to connect with her. Even though I really liked that part in hindsight. I don't want to spoil anything so I'm not going more in depth with this.
But the middle part is also the reason why I docked off a star. Ember was torn on what to believe, but she was a bit quick to change her thinking for me. I didn't find it that plausible. Though there were some truly chilling lines here, and the feeling of the City and the people living there was definitely conveyed well.
I really appreciated that Haley Sulich went all out and wasn't afraid to really explore the dark topics she chose to write about. There were consequences for everything and a not really a fairytale ending. And I was pleasantly surprised with certain twists. I love it when I can't see something coming.
Tucker was a good addition to the story even though he did something which I really despise (being brave but stupid .. a pet peeve of mine) but I adored his loving and fun side.
Cahira was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about her. She was smart and caring, sensitive and broken. And clever when her brother wasn't. Which I greatly appreciated. Her story is quite dark, too.
Nightshade, well. Hers is a tragic story but we didn't see enough of her for me to really care about her tbh.
Same with Kane actually, Even though I did like him and what happened with him.
The plot wasn't the strongest point of this book imo. It was too convenient from time to time. The ending, for example, felt too easy compared to the struggle before.
But overall I quite liked this book and am still thinking about it. Which is something I love.
April 28, 2018
"Even though many of our loved ones may not be with us anymore, we must fight. Even when it hurts to know they're gone, we must fight. Even if you want to give up hope, we must fight against the enemy whose goal is to strip away all that makes us human. If we do not continue our fight, we will face a fate worse than death. Tonight, may the dead rest in peace knowing they haven't died in vain."
Summary
It's year 2065. Deadly virus, the Devil's Dream, decimated the population. The ones who are left are being hunted by soulless soldiers. People who are caught by them get to decide. They can recieve a swift death or live in a City of Graven - a place where all dreams die.
Writing
In my opinion the writing was the worst part this book (and it's not a good novel). The author keeps alternating between first person and third person perspective, and that was incredibly tiring and annoying. I also don't think that there is a good reason for those alternations.
Besides, the author made a lot of weird choices while writing. For example, there was no mention about any religion for the whole book. Except for the one moment, when the main character exclaimed "Jesus!" (it was around 70% into the book.) I found it so weird that it threw me out of the story for a moment.
I liked that the chapters were really short. It made me feel like I was reading this book much faster.
Characters
All characters are underdeveloped and their relationships are rushed and unrealistic.
The only character I liked a bit was the villain, especially at the beginning. He was very cunning, charismatic and inteligent.
To be completely hones I kind of hoped he would kill everyone else, because I just didn't care about anyone in this story.
Plot
The plot is all over the place and it's very repetitive. Someone is losing memory/control. Then they get it back. Then someone else loses memory/control. Guess what? They get it back! I am sure you won't be able to figure out what happens next!
I was also really annoyed by the main threat - the City of Graven. Yes, sure. All dreams die there… but why? There is no good reason for this city to exist in the first place. And for sure there is no reason for it to be the way it is. Yeah, this idea of people following the same routine over and over again is pretty scary and I guess it was supposed to be deep, but it makes no sense. No sense at all.
Overall
If you are looking for a good dystopian novel, go look somewhere else.
November 26, 2017
Wow. Just wow.
Devoured this book in one day. My only regret is that it's over!
This book grips you from the moment you read that first page, and the author doesn't let the pace slip for even a minute. The world building is crazy; it's dark and twisted and dangerous and incredibly imaginative with the technological advances the author has thought up (some of which I want in my life). Set in a world reeling from a virus, Earth feels broken, and so do the characters.
The characters are some of the most complex I've read. They often make difficult choices and the author does a great job of making you understand why they make those choices and what they must learn as a result. They are all on a path to healing in some way and the author creates their arcs in a way that feels real and satisfying by the end of the story. And definitely made it difficult for me to stop reading at 1am!
There's nothing I love more than seeing sisters fighting for each other, and from the start, you know there are going to be some tough times on their long road getting back to one another. Solanine is the older sister I want protecting my back, and I loved how determined she was. Ember is the best friend I need!!
There are also friendships that are put to the test, and diverse romances that feel very developed and meaningful to the story.
This book is a unique, rollercoaster dystopian that doesn't let the world overshadow the characters.
A must read!
Devoured this book in one day. My only regret is that it's over!
This book grips you from the moment you read that first page, and the author doesn't let the pace slip for even a minute. The world building is crazy; it's dark and twisted and dangerous and incredibly imaginative with the technological advances the author has thought up (some of which I want in my life). Set in a world reeling from a virus, Earth feels broken, and so do the characters.
The characters are some of the most complex I've read. They often make difficult choices and the author does a great job of making you understand why they make those choices and what they must learn as a result. They are all on a path to healing in some way and the author creates their arcs in a way that feels real and satisfying by the end of the story. And definitely made it difficult for me to stop reading at 1am!
There's nothing I love more than seeing sisters fighting for each other, and from the start, you know there are going to be some tough times on their long road getting back to one another. Solanine is the older sister I want protecting my back, and I loved how determined she was. Ember is the best friend I need!!
There are also friendships that are put to the test, and diverse romances that feel very developed and meaningful to the story.
This book is a unique, rollercoaster dystopian that doesn't let the world overshadow the characters.
A must read!
March 7, 2018
This was interesting with one of my favourite tropes of technology swiping away humanity, and it’s a dystopian so that’s like a cherry on top!
The story revolves around two sisters, Solanine and Ember, who were separated by the technology-devoted government years ago. Though there are quite a few conflicts that are raging through the story, the main idea seems to be consistent—the technology-abusing government to be thrown over and for humanity to be restored. For those who might not know, I’m a huge fan of humanizing oriented facets especially when they are spotlighted in a worsened dystopian future. This one worked really well in that aspect, I would say.
The characters were quite well developed. Solanine and Ember were evidently focused on more and I wouldn’t call it bad since their sibling relationship was the main focus throughout. While Solanine was an on-the-run-to-find-her-sister refugee, Ember was a soldier in The City Of Graven. Speaking of this city, it was a locked down place where everyone were either brainwashed or mind-controlled by someone whose name would give away spoilers and you guys know how huge of an advocate I am of sealing my mouth when it comes to spoilers.
Both the main characters touched my heart at different points throughout the story. Solanine was the more ‘human’ one who couldn’t believe how easily people were killed. On the other hand, Ember had been succumbed to her instiled ideologies which made her make unforgivable mistakes. Her genetically altered dark eyes, expressionless face, and a night vision that didn’t allow her to see the stars, made her look as deadly as she could be. And of course, it hurt Solanine to see her sister this way.
The supporting characters were built up pretty good and I found myself cheering for all of them at one point. While I’m at it, let me state a warning: there are quick, unexpected deaths in this story and some might rip your heart off so good luck sewing it again. Which brings me to the descriptions and world building. I liked it. There’s enough information to create the scene perfectly and the illustrative writing can easily make an overwhelming sequence vivid enough. Another trigger warning: graphic scenes especially centered around possible suicide.
One thing I would mention (because it requires a round of applause) is how the I-love-a-person-but-they-are-gay scene relayed in this story and the gay was a girl so it’s like a love triangle—though it isn’t established—where there are two girls and a guy (like it always happens, haha) but the girl is a lesbian, though she might even be bi since it isn’t clearly stated. Anyway, what I mean is I appreciate usual tropes being used on queer characters since that shows them to be more real than people wish to believe.
The writing was fine for me. It was good enough with the visual elucidations but overall it fell a little flat; I wasn’t particularly drawn into it but it wasn’t frustrating either. Also, while the overall story was played out well enough, it wasn’t anything out of the box. A fairly good science fiction, dystopian is what I would regard it. There were disclosures and revelations during the first half that rose my intrigue but once every thing was laid out, the story unfolded quite predictably. Did I not like it? No, I did like it but I would say my preferences made this a more entertaining read for me.
The story revolves around two sisters, Solanine and Ember, who were separated by the technology-devoted government years ago. Though there are quite a few conflicts that are raging through the story, the main idea seems to be consistent—the technology-abusing government to be thrown over and for humanity to be restored. For those who might not know, I’m a huge fan of humanizing oriented facets especially when they are spotlighted in a worsened dystopian future. This one worked really well in that aspect, I would say.
The characters were quite well developed. Solanine and Ember were evidently focused on more and I wouldn’t call it bad since their sibling relationship was the main focus throughout. While Solanine was an on-the-run-to-find-her-sister refugee, Ember was a soldier in The City Of Graven. Speaking of this city, it was a locked down place where everyone were either brainwashed or mind-controlled by someone whose name would give away spoilers and you guys know how huge of an advocate I am of sealing my mouth when it comes to spoilers.
Both the main characters touched my heart at different points throughout the story. Solanine was the more ‘human’ one who couldn’t believe how easily people were killed. On the other hand, Ember had been succumbed to her instiled ideologies which made her make unforgivable mistakes. Her genetically altered dark eyes, expressionless face, and a night vision that didn’t allow her to see the stars, made her look as deadly as she could be. And of course, it hurt Solanine to see her sister this way.
The supporting characters were built up pretty good and I found myself cheering for all of them at one point. While I’m at it, let me state a warning: there are quick, unexpected deaths in this story and some might rip your heart off so good luck sewing it again. Which brings me to the descriptions and world building. I liked it. There’s enough information to create the scene perfectly and the illustrative writing can easily make an overwhelming sequence vivid enough. Another trigger warning: graphic scenes especially centered around possible suicide.
One thing I would mention (because it requires a round of applause) is how the I-love-a-person-but-they-are-gay scene relayed in this story and the gay was a girl so it’s like a love triangle—though it isn’t established—where there are two girls and a guy (like it always happens, haha) but the girl is a lesbian, though she might even be bi since it isn’t clearly stated. Anyway, what I mean is I appreciate usual tropes being used on queer characters since that shows them to be more real than people wish to believe.
The writing was fine for me. It was good enough with the visual elucidations but overall it fell a little flat; I wasn’t particularly drawn into it but it wasn’t frustrating either. Also, while the overall story was played out well enough, it wasn’t anything out of the box. A fairly good science fiction, dystopian is what I would regard it. There were disclosures and revelations during the first half that rose my intrigue but once every thing was laid out, the story unfolded quite predictably. Did I not like it? No, I did like it but I would say my preferences made this a more entertaining read for me.
I would recommend this to all those who love a dystopian ridden with some tropes but parallelly developing a sibling relationship while fixing it all with some science and a rebel attitude.
Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this via my participation in a promotional blog tour but that in no way influences my rating and/or opinion about it. Thank you ThatBookshelfBitch, Haley Sulich, and Write Plan!
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March 13, 2018
I think the premise for this book was great. However, I think it failed in execution.
As soon as I started reading this book, I felt out of sorts. This novel throws you right into the action ... but with very little background. It almost felt like I was reading the second book in a series, and not the first. I kept waiting for there to be an explanation or some kind of recounting of events to explain how things got to be to the present time in the book, but it didn't really happen. The few things that were explained were glossed over, which was disappointing. I love reading about the world authors create, but this novel really didn't do that. No context = tons of confusion!
The novel looks like it is going to be full of action ... and while there is some of that, it is mostly about the bond between Ember and Solanine. I actually liked the way the author told this. As an older sister, I could really connect with the sisters in this story and how they struggled to trust each other. The emotional interactions between the siblings was done quite well. However, apart from their bond, I didn't really feel like the sisters had any well-developed interactions with any of the other characters in the book. Told in alternating perspectives, we read about how each sister learns to forgive themselves and move on from their guilt through the help of various other characters. But it was all so one-dimensional; I never got a feel for the other characters and the interactions were just too rushed for them to have any significance or value.
One of the characters that completely baffled me was Nightshade, who is part of the resistance (and no, this resistance is also not really explained). For someone who is supposed to be a leader, she didn't do much of it. Nor did she have any plans. She did nothing and was swayed by her own emotions. I think this issue could have been resolved if the author had built the character better and had a more concrete backstory that was explained.
There are a lot of instances of self-harm and abuse in this novel, which may bother some readers. At first, I appreciated the author mentioning these things in the story, as it highlights how easy it is to get into destructive behaviour patterns. However, it became too frequent of an occurrence, and began to feel like the author was including these instances just for the sake of having something to write about.
Before the halfway point of the book, not much was happening. It was very focused on the sisters trying to communicate. After the halfway point, the plot started to move fairly quickly. But the lack of explanation about the way this dystopian world was set up meant I had a lot of questions and very few answers. There was a lot of redundancy in the action events themselves, with characters getting caught, then escaping, then getting caught again. It just got boring very quickly.
Overall, I think that the concept behind this novel was good but the execution was lacking. There needed to be a lot more world-building and explanations for how things work. Characters also needed to be more developed. There needs to be the right balance between theme/plot and setting/world-building, and this novel did not have that. However, since I liked the sisterly bond aspect, I'm bumping my rating up to a 2/5 stars.
I received this novel as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
As soon as I started reading this book, I felt out of sorts. This novel throws you right into the action ... but with very little background. It almost felt like I was reading the second book in a series, and not the first. I kept waiting for there to be an explanation or some kind of recounting of events to explain how things got to be to the present time in the book, but it didn't really happen. The few things that were explained were glossed over, which was disappointing. I love reading about the world authors create, but this novel really didn't do that. No context = tons of confusion!
The novel looks like it is going to be full of action ... and while there is some of that, it is mostly about the bond between Ember and Solanine. I actually liked the way the author told this. As an older sister, I could really connect with the sisters in this story and how they struggled to trust each other. The emotional interactions between the siblings was done quite well. However, apart from their bond, I didn't really feel like the sisters had any well-developed interactions with any of the other characters in the book. Told in alternating perspectives, we read about how each sister learns to forgive themselves and move on from their guilt through the help of various other characters. But it was all so one-dimensional; I never got a feel for the other characters and the interactions were just too rushed for them to have any significance or value.
One of the characters that completely baffled me was Nightshade, who is part of the resistance (and no, this resistance is also not really explained). For someone who is supposed to be a leader, she didn't do much of it. Nor did she have any plans. She did nothing and was swayed by her own emotions. I think this issue could have been resolved if the author had built the character better and had a more concrete backstory that was explained.
There are a lot of instances of self-harm and abuse in this novel, which may bother some readers. At first, I appreciated the author mentioning these things in the story, as it highlights how easy it is to get into destructive behaviour patterns. However, it became too frequent of an occurrence, and began to feel like the author was including these instances just for the sake of having something to write about.
Before the halfway point of the book, not much was happening. It was very focused on the sisters trying to communicate. After the halfway point, the plot started to move fairly quickly. But the lack of explanation about the way this dystopian world was set up meant I had a lot of questions and very few answers. There was a lot of redundancy in the action events themselves, with characters getting caught, then escaping, then getting caught again. It just got boring very quickly.
Overall, I think that the concept behind this novel was good but the execution was lacking. There needed to be a lot more world-building and explanations for how things work. Characters also needed to be more developed. There needs to be the right balance between theme/plot and setting/world-building, and this novel did not have that. However, since I liked the sisterly bond aspect, I'm bumping my rating up to a 2/5 stars.
I received this novel as an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews, visit: www.veereading.wordpress.com
July 15, 2018
Books set in the dystopian genre are rather hit or miss with me. I have read some truly spectacular ones and have found others that bore me to tears. I have found that it all boils down to whether I can relate to the characters.
CRIMSON ASH started off rather slowly for me and I was starting to think that this was going to be one of those misses. However I found that Solanine had snuck up and became a character that I cared about. I started to cheer her on as she would get back up after a defeat. And I really liked one of the secondary characters, Kane, who tended to stay in background but was always there.
This really is a coming of age story. Both Solanine and Ember have some growing up before they even have a chance to rebuild their relationship and possibly the world.
I wouldn't say that CRIMSON ASH was one of those spectacular reads but I found that I enjoyed the story. The characters grow on you and the some of the plot twists surprised me. The pacing however was slower than I really prefer. Also it felt as though the finale was rushed once you finally reach it almost as though the author had reached a word limit.
I really don't know if I would recommend this book. Some of my readers might really enjoy it. Others might find the slow pace irritating. This book does contain a lot of violence but no explicit sex.
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.
CRIMSON ASH started off rather slowly for me and I was starting to think that this was going to be one of those misses. However I found that Solanine had snuck up and became a character that I cared about. I started to cheer her on as she would get back up after a defeat. And I really liked one of the secondary characters, Kane, who tended to stay in background but was always there.
This really is a coming of age story. Both Solanine and Ember have some growing up before they even have a chance to rebuild their relationship and possibly the world.
I wouldn't say that CRIMSON ASH was one of those spectacular reads but I found that I enjoyed the story. The characters grow on you and the some of the plot twists surprised me. The pacing however was slower than I really prefer. Also it felt as though the finale was rushed once you finally reach it almost as though the author had reached a word limit.
I really don't know if I would recommend this book. Some of my readers might really enjoy it. Others might find the slow pace irritating. This book does contain a lot of violence but no explicit sex.
***I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher or author.
March 13, 2018
**Thank you Write Plan and NetGalley for allowing me to read Crimson Ash in exchange for an honest review! Don’t punch me too hard, kay?**
Okay, seriously. I can’t tell if it’s my fault or the author’s fault that the writing is not grasping my attention lately.
In the case of Crimson Ash, I do have to give Haley Sulich a thumbs up for effort. She’s clearly trying to add more variety in her sentence structure by using multiple short bursts of phrases.
However, perhaps it’s a bit too clearly. I can’t seem to get into the novel.
Also, while I’m at it, what is with the dialogue? It’s too bland, too predictable, and especially not doing anything to move this story forward. Every word, or close to it needs to propel me deeper into why I should care for this story and its characters. And the language. I mean, are we trying to assault me right from the beginning? Easing into it is one thing; bombarding is another.
But hey, I made it through chapter one. That’s a good sign...
Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to do it for me.
Until next time!
Okay, seriously. I can’t tell if it’s my fault or the author’s fault that the writing is not grasping my attention lately.
In the case of Crimson Ash, I do have to give Haley Sulich a thumbs up for effort. She’s clearly trying to add more variety in her sentence structure by using multiple short bursts of phrases.
However, perhaps it’s a bit too clearly. I can’t seem to get into the novel.
Also, while I’m at it, what is with the dialogue? It’s too bland, too predictable, and especially not doing anything to move this story forward. Every word, or close to it needs to propel me deeper into why I should care for this story and its characters. And the language. I mean, are we trying to assault me right from the beginning? Easing into it is one thing; bombarding is another.
But hey, I made it through chapter one. That’s a good sign...
Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to do it for me.
Until next time!
February 2, 2018
I feel like I read a different book from everyone else?
When I first saw this book, I thought it sounded really promising. I've been on a - let's call it "dystopian revival kick" lately and when I read the synopsis of this one, I wanted to give it a chance.
Some of the reviewers said that this was an action-packed story that never lets up and I think I just went into it with way too high expectations. I know I'm a girl who deeply depends on connecting to characters to like a story. This obviously is not a character-driven story and that's fine but I just feel like there was nothing exceptionally distinguishable about our protagonists. They were going through some pretty dramatic events (I mean, there's murder in here) but I just didn't feel anything? Even the relationship between the sisters was - well, it didn't keep my interest, much like the other relationships.
Still, I believe if the actual plot would have been intriguing I could have ignored the not-connecting to anyone part. But the plot felt underdeveloped, at times rushed and then too sped up to follow with the eh conclusion.
I guess this one just wasn't for me.
*I received an eARC through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, so thank you!*
When I first saw this book, I thought it sounded really promising. I've been on a - let's call it "dystopian revival kick" lately and when I read the synopsis of this one, I wanted to give it a chance.
Some of the reviewers said that this was an action-packed story that never lets up and I think I just went into it with way too high expectations. I know I'm a girl who deeply depends on connecting to characters to like a story. This obviously is not a character-driven story and that's fine but I just feel like there was nothing exceptionally distinguishable about our protagonists. They were going through some pretty dramatic events (I mean, there's murder in here) but I just didn't feel anything? Even the relationship between the sisters was - well, it didn't keep my interest, much like the other relationships.
Still, I believe if the actual plot would have been intriguing I could have ignored the not-connecting to anyone part. But the plot felt underdeveloped, at times rushed and then too sped up to follow with the eh conclusion.
I guess this one just wasn't for me.
*I received an eARC through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, so thank you!*
March 28, 2019
I read this book quite some time back after my request for a review copy got approved on NetGalley. The blurb and the cover, both intrigued me enough for me to request a copy in the first place. But I had mixed feelings about the book once I finished reading it.
Crimson Ash is the story of two sisters set in a dystopian world. Solanine and Ember are sisters whose lives were changed completely the night their government kidnapped Ember. Erasing the memories of people to turn them into effective soldiers is just one of the tactics that the government uses to keep the general mass under control. But Solanine is not ready to give up. She is determined to rescue her sister and for that she ventures on to find the rebel camps along with her fiancé. But not everything goes according to her plan and the loss of her love hits her hard. With secrets between them, when the sisters finally find their way to each other… will everything they have done and faced be worth it to keep them together?
What I loved about the book was the theme of choices and their repercussions throughout. It is something that always makes me stop and think… what choice would I make? Would I be able to live with the results of that choice? Whether it is Solanine or Ember, their choices have impacted each other and others around them and the crux of the plot came down to the question whether they could live with it. This in turn helped the plot to touch upon the theme of self-destruction, something we could all learn from. The thing that I love about dystopian novels is the fact that when well developed, the dystopian world can actually help us realize a lot of things about our realities; One reason why I loved Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and one reason why I loved this book.
On the other hand, the first half of the book was really slow. Given the fact that I still have questions about the world setting, not enough world building was done in the first half to make concessions for the slow start. The pace picks up after about 60% of the story is done and as such it was difficult to really get into the story at the beginning. I also felt that the dialogues (especially the ones that were meant to be hard hitting) were just bland.
Would I recommend this book to someone? I probably would, but with ample warnings about the pace and trigger content.
Crimson Ash is the story of two sisters set in a dystopian world. Solanine and Ember are sisters whose lives were changed completely the night their government kidnapped Ember. Erasing the memories of people to turn them into effective soldiers is just one of the tactics that the government uses to keep the general mass under control. But Solanine is not ready to give up. She is determined to rescue her sister and for that she ventures on to find the rebel camps along with her fiancé. But not everything goes according to her plan and the loss of her love hits her hard. With secrets between them, when the sisters finally find their way to each other… will everything they have done and faced be worth it to keep them together?
What I loved about the book was the theme of choices and their repercussions throughout. It is something that always makes me stop and think… what choice would I make? Would I be able to live with the results of that choice? Whether it is Solanine or Ember, their choices have impacted each other and others around them and the crux of the plot came down to the question whether they could live with it. This in turn helped the plot to touch upon the theme of self-destruction, something we could all learn from. The thing that I love about dystopian novels is the fact that when well developed, the dystopian world can actually help us realize a lot of things about our realities; One reason why I loved Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and one reason why I loved this book.
On the other hand, the first half of the book was really slow. Given the fact that I still have questions about the world setting, not enough world building was done in the first half to make concessions for the slow start. The pace picks up after about 60% of the story is done and as such it was difficult to really get into the story at the beginning. I also felt that the dialogues (especially the ones that were meant to be hard hitting) were just bland.
Would I recommend this book to someone? I probably would, but with ample warnings about the pace and trigger content.
December 20, 2018
(4.75)
Blog post that goes deeper can be found here: https://baileymarissa08.blogspot.com/...
This is honestly a refreshing dystopian, as this encompasses the feeling of what dystopians should be: a dark story where hope is always just slightly out of reach but still possible.
Now I'm not saying that there are typical or trope-like dystopian situations in this book, as there are a few, but it seems to fit better than most dystopians these days.
The chapters are short so it keeps the plot going. The characters are heartbreaking and have a real feel to them. Hard situations are not glossed over, but they are not in great detail either.
To my Christian readers: Yes, there is a gay couple but 1) romance isn't the focus so it's not taking over the plot, and 2) there's only two kisses and one scene on pages 298-299 that you can skip.
All in all, a great story.
Recommended 16+ for: Language, violence, alcoholism (character is 18/19 in a dystopian so person being underage is debatable), PTSD, two people swiming in their underwear (but not for sexual thrills), sensual moment on page 280, and self-harm (blunt but not too graphic).
Trigger warnings are put on the copyrights page.
Blog post that goes deeper can be found here: https://baileymarissa08.blogspot.com/...
This is honestly a refreshing dystopian, as this encompasses the feeling of what dystopians should be: a dark story where hope is always just slightly out of reach but still possible.
Now I'm not saying that there are typical or trope-like dystopian situations in this book, as there are a few, but it seems to fit better than most dystopians these days.
The chapters are short so it keeps the plot going. The characters are heartbreaking and have a real feel to them. Hard situations are not glossed over, but they are not in great detail either.
To my Christian readers: Yes, there is a gay couple but 1) romance isn't the focus so it's not taking over the plot, and 2) there's only two kisses and one scene on pages 298-299 that you can skip.
All in all, a great story.
Recommended 16+ for: Language, violence, alcoholism (character is 18/19 in a dystopian so person being underage is debatable), PTSD, two people swiming in their underwear (but not for sexual thrills), sensual moment on page 280, and self-harm (blunt but not too graphic).
Trigger warnings are put on the copyrights page.
May 16, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
You may live as a soldier or face death. Choose wisely.
Solanine Lucille wants her little sister back. Eight years ago, the government kidnapped her sister Ember, stole her memories, and transformed her into a soldier. But Solanine refuses to give up. Now that she and her fiancé have located the leader of a rebel group, she believes she can finally bring Ember home. But then the soldiers raid the rebels, killing her fiancé and leaving Solanine alone with her demons and all the weapons needed for revenge.
After raiding a rebel camp, sixteen-year-old Ember doesn’t understand why killing some boy bothers her. She’s a soldier—she has killed hundreds of people without remorse. But after she fails a mission, the rebels hold her hostage and restore her memories. Ember recognizes her sister among the rebels and realizes the boy she killed was Solanine’s fiancé.
Ember knows she can’t hide the truth forever, but Solanine has secrets too.
As their worlds clash, the two sisters must decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. And one wrong move could destroy everything—and everyone—in their path.
My Review:
I chose this book because the cover looked mysterious, and the description sounded like something I would love. In reality, although I liked this book, I didn't love it. The viewpoints switch between two sisters, Solanine and Ember, and it begins with Solanine running through a forest, jumping right into the action. They're looking for someone named Nightshade, because if anyone will know where her kidnapped sister is, its her Nightshade has a massive army of captured and restored soldiers that used to be brainwashed by the government. They're able to restore their memory wipes because of neutralizing pills, giving back their memories but keeping their soldier bodies. The last time they heard anything about her, was about two years ago in the city of soldiers.
I really wanted to love this book, so full of action and such an interesting story, but I really felt like I was missing something. I checked a few times while I was reading this book to see if I had accidentally started in the middle of a series or something, but nope, just confusing. The government takes children at the ripe age of nine, and takes their memories and brainwashes them with horrible physical pain turning them into soldiers. Although the story is exciting, I felt like they were just doing the same thing over and over again. The ending was just as confusing as the beginning.
Although it's an easy read, it's not my new favourite. I'm glad I read it, although there's a lot of self harm and suicide attempts in this story. How did things end the way they did? This book left me confused more than anything. I liked the characters, they were almost realistic, reacting to things the way they did, but it wasn't enough to make me love this book. Check it out and see what you think.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the author's Twitter!
https://www.amazon.ca/Crimson-Ash-Hal...
https://twitter.com/HaleySulich?lang=en
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
You may live as a soldier or face death. Choose wisely.
Solanine Lucille wants her little sister back. Eight years ago, the government kidnapped her sister Ember, stole her memories, and transformed her into a soldier. But Solanine refuses to give up. Now that she and her fiancé have located the leader of a rebel group, she believes she can finally bring Ember home. But then the soldiers raid the rebels, killing her fiancé and leaving Solanine alone with her demons and all the weapons needed for revenge.
After raiding a rebel camp, sixteen-year-old Ember doesn’t understand why killing some boy bothers her. She’s a soldier—she has killed hundreds of people without remorse. But after she fails a mission, the rebels hold her hostage and restore her memories. Ember recognizes her sister among the rebels and realizes the boy she killed was Solanine’s fiancé.
Ember knows she can’t hide the truth forever, but Solanine has secrets too.
As their worlds clash, the two sisters must decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. And one wrong move could destroy everything—and everyone—in their path.
My Review:
I chose this book because the cover looked mysterious, and the description sounded like something I would love. In reality, although I liked this book, I didn't love it. The viewpoints switch between two sisters, Solanine and Ember, and it begins with Solanine running through a forest, jumping right into the action. They're looking for someone named Nightshade, because if anyone will know where her kidnapped sister is, its her Nightshade has a massive army of captured and restored soldiers that used to be brainwashed by the government. They're able to restore their memory wipes because of neutralizing pills, giving back their memories but keeping their soldier bodies. The last time they heard anything about her, was about two years ago in the city of soldiers.
I really wanted to love this book, so full of action and such an interesting story, but I really felt like I was missing something. I checked a few times while I was reading this book to see if I had accidentally started in the middle of a series or something, but nope, just confusing. The government takes children at the ripe age of nine, and takes their memories and brainwashes them with horrible physical pain turning them into soldiers. Although the story is exciting, I felt like they were just doing the same thing over and over again. The ending was just as confusing as the beginning.
Although it's an easy read, it's not my new favourite. I'm glad I read it, although there's a lot of self harm and suicide attempts in this story. How did things end the way they did? This book left me confused more than anything. I liked the characters, they were almost realistic, reacting to things the way they did, but it wasn't enough to make me love this book. Check it out and see what you think.
Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another link to the author's Twitter!
https://www.amazon.ca/Crimson-Ash-Hal...
https://twitter.com/HaleySulich?lang=en
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
May 6, 2018
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All notes and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date.
Plot / Predictability
• The plot for this novel was something I don’t think I’ve ever read before, either in dystopian fiction or just in general fiction. That, and I was never able to predict where the story would take me next. One page would imply that things were finally looking up and the next would bring total devastation that I had not seen coming at all. There were a few elements of back story for this book that were never explained, but despite that I think the plot of Crimson Ash is what really MADE the book.
Characters
• The characters, too, were really well-rounded and I could feel for each one of them. I got so well acquainted with them that as things started to get worse towards the very end I actually felt a sadness weighing on me to see Solanine, in particular, dragged so far down with seemingly no way out. I enjoyed both hers and Ember’s character growths, as well as the portrayal of Cahira and her struggle with depression. The author really, did a great job accurately portraying depression with the character of Cahira. I feel like that’s kind of a difficult thing to do in any novel, so props to her for that.
Writing Style
• The writing style for Crimson Ash was…interesting. The novel is told from the perspective of the two main characters – sisters, named Solanine and Ember. Ember’s chapters were always written from first person POV, but Solanine’s for some reason were written from limited third person POV. I’m not entirely sure why the author chose to do it that way…although I will admit if I ever got confused about which sister’s chapter I was reading I was easily able to tell because of the differences in POV. Ultimately the writing itself I feel could have used a little more editing, and honestly that’s the only reason this didn’t get 4/5 stars from me. With a little better writing and help from a professional editor, this novel would have been especially amazing.
Overall
• I didn’t know going in that this was a dystopian novel, necessarily, but I decided to push through it anyway and I’m really glad I did. It’s unique, it’s raw and real, and it highlights the importance of holding on to family and staying positive even when it seems hope cannot be found anywhere. The plot twists surprised me at every turn, and I liked nearly every single character – both of which are rare for me. With a little more time and editing this could have been fantastic, but even as is it’s a great story. Well done, Haley Sulich.
This review was given to the publisher via NetGalley.
Plot / Predictability
• The plot for this novel was something I don’t think I’ve ever read before, either in dystopian fiction or just in general fiction. That, and I was never able to predict where the story would take me next. One page would imply that things were finally looking up and the next would bring total devastation that I had not seen coming at all. There were a few elements of back story for this book that were never explained, but despite that I think the plot of Crimson Ash is what really MADE the book.
Characters
• The characters, too, were really well-rounded and I could feel for each one of them. I got so well acquainted with them that as things started to get worse towards the very end I actually felt a sadness weighing on me to see Solanine, in particular, dragged so far down with seemingly no way out. I enjoyed both hers and Ember’s character growths, as well as the portrayal of Cahira and her struggle with depression. The author really, did a great job accurately portraying depression with the character of Cahira. I feel like that’s kind of a difficult thing to do in any novel, so props to her for that.
Writing Style
• The writing style for Crimson Ash was…interesting. The novel is told from the perspective of the two main characters – sisters, named Solanine and Ember. Ember’s chapters were always written from first person POV, but Solanine’s for some reason were written from limited third person POV. I’m not entirely sure why the author chose to do it that way…although I will admit if I ever got confused about which sister’s chapter I was reading I was easily able to tell because of the differences in POV. Ultimately the writing itself I feel could have used a little more editing, and honestly that’s the only reason this didn’t get 4/5 stars from me. With a little better writing and help from a professional editor, this novel would have been especially amazing.
Overall
• I didn’t know going in that this was a dystopian novel, necessarily, but I decided to push through it anyway and I’m really glad I did. It’s unique, it’s raw and real, and it highlights the importance of holding on to family and staying positive even when it seems hope cannot be found anywhere. The plot twists surprised me at every turn, and I liked nearly every single character – both of which are rare for me. With a little more time and editing this could have been fantastic, but even as is it’s a great story. Well done, Haley Sulich.
This review was given to the publisher via NetGalley.
June 16, 2018
**I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Solanine Lucille and Ember Lucille are living in the same world but under different roofs. Escaping the government's grasp, Solanine lives as a rebel, together with her fiance, Quill, outside the walls of the infamous City of Graven. On the other hand, Ember is a government's soldier, robbed of her memories, tasked to give the "Choice" and trained to be emotionless.
Now there's a rebel group of ex-soldiers and Solanine just needs to figure out if her sister is among them. But when an unexpected ambush resulted to the death of Solanine's fiance, Solanine vows to avenge Quill and bring back her sister from the government's hand. Little did she know that her fiance died at the hands of Ember.
The moment I saw Crimson Ash on Netgalley, I thought: "Wow I think I should read this book. It sounds interesting to me, so why not?" Well, to be honest, I did enjoy the first chapter. It was a great starting point but after reading the following chapters, everything went downhill for me. It wasn't catching my attention anymore, and I've told myself several times already to DNF this book but I couldn't. And there's a good reason for that.
The characters were very diverse. A kaleidoscope of people were represented and I think that makes the story three-dimensional. Every individual was well-described and readers will appreciate that. The characters were strong-willed, though at times, vulnerable. Additionally, their names were unique! Say for example, Cahira, Quill, Nightshade, etc. Two point of views were used: Solanine's chapters were written in third person while Ember's is on first person.
The story is fast-paced and I think it fits well with the story, considering that it's packed with action in almost every chapter. The concept piques my interest and keeps me reading, and I can say that this is the book's charm. There is a certain uniqueness to it that I just had to keep reading. Some parts of the story is written poetically and it could be an additional fascination for readers. Some of its themes include friendship, and survival.
However, when it came to world-building, my thumbs are somehow pointing downward. It was difficult to imagine the world that I was currently in, especially when it's not the planet Earth, when insufficient details are given.
The story was definitely fascinating and I think it has great potential. Unfortunately, it wasn't good enough for me, but hey. Maybe you'll enjoy it better than I did! If you're up for a SciFi read, then you might want to try Crimson Ash!
The inescapable darkness invades her mind again, doing all it can to drag her down until it controls her.
Visit my blog for more reviews and some magical discussion posts!
May 17, 2018
There are some heavy-duty events along with the resultant emotional cost going on in this story. I had thought the sibling relationship would the at the heart of the story. In the event, because this is an action-led adventure rather than all about the characters, while it is an important part of the plot, it doesn’t particularly drive it forward. Apart from anything else, the sisters spend a significant part of the book at cross-purposes with each other.
To be honest, I’m still not completely sure of my response about this one – there is a great deal of action and the world is bleakly awful, with a psychotic monster running the City of Graven. The consequences of existing within such a dark landscape, pervaded by loss are clearly spelt out – alcoholism and suicide are depicted within the story by some major characters and kudos to Sulich for having the courage to depict protagonists who are not invincibly cheerful in the face of hopeless odds against them.
But I did find the plot looped along a pattern, where something bad happens, one of our protagonists is cast down, painfully rallies to the point of fighting back, only for something else bad to happen so that they are cast down, before rallying… And this happened to most of the main protagonists. Fortunately, the final climax broke free from that.
I found the City of Graven really fascinating and would have liked a bit more insight into exactly how it was set up and why. Overall, it was an action-packed, intense read and is ideal for fans of YA dystopian worlds where it’s all about what happens next.
7/10
To be honest, I’m still not completely sure of my response about this one – there is a great deal of action and the world is bleakly awful, with a psychotic monster running the City of Graven. The consequences of existing within such a dark landscape, pervaded by loss are clearly spelt out – alcoholism and suicide are depicted within the story by some major characters and kudos to Sulich for having the courage to depict protagonists who are not invincibly cheerful in the face of hopeless odds against them.
But I did find the plot looped along a pattern, where something bad happens, one of our protagonists is cast down, painfully rallies to the point of fighting back, only for something else bad to happen so that they are cast down, before rallying… And this happened to most of the main protagonists. Fortunately, the final climax broke free from that.
I found the City of Graven really fascinating and would have liked a bit more insight into exactly how it was set up and why. Overall, it was an action-packed, intense read and is ideal for fans of YA dystopian worlds where it’s all about what happens next.
7/10
January 13, 2018
Deeply mediocre.
There weren't really any gripping relationships, despite being full of romance. Even the sibling bond the book is centered around falls flat, which is a tragedy because sibling relationships usually hold my interest above all other things. The plot alternates between periods of too-chillness where nothing is happening except people being angry at each other, and periods of frenzied yo-yoing action where desperate plans are launched and fail so quickly it's hard to keep track of or care about them.
The only really interesting thing was the co-main character's alcoholism and a side character's problem with self harm -- you don't often see that kind of thing included in YA dystopias, despite how realistic it would be in a population of young people actually living in those circumstances. Mad props for this, but also this book forced me to read the phrase "their lips crashed together" in an actual published novel rather than a Wattpad fanfiction, so not too many mad props.
There weren't really any gripping relationships, despite being full of romance. Even the sibling bond the book is centered around falls flat, which is a tragedy because sibling relationships usually hold my interest above all other things. The plot alternates between periods of too-chillness where nothing is happening except people being angry at each other, and periods of frenzied yo-yoing action where desperate plans are launched and fail so quickly it's hard to keep track of or care about them.
The only really interesting thing was the co-main character's alcoholism and a side character's problem with self harm -- you don't often see that kind of thing included in YA dystopias, despite how realistic it would be in a population of young people actually living in those circumstances. Mad props for this, but also this book forced me to read the phrase "their lips crashed together" in an actual published novel rather than a Wattpad fanfiction, so not too many mad props.
April 5, 2018
Solanine and Ember are sisters living in a dystopian world after a virus wipes out most of humanity. The two fight on opposite sides of this world, one fighting to get her sister back and one who has no memory of her life before becoming a soldier for The City of Graven. The relationships between all the characters in this book are underlined by grief and loss and there is a darkness in each of the characters that adds depth to them. I loved seeing that darkness come out and seeing the ways that a good support system can help to battle those darknesses. Not a lot of authors are comfortable bringing into their stories some of the real world ways that people use to escape the pain such as alcoholism and self-harm. I really liked that this author was unafraid to do so and it really added so much to the story line and to those individual characters but also added a layer to the relationships of the people who are trying to help those battling these things. From the moment I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. It brought back memories of reading other dystopian novels such as The Hunger Games, The Host, Divergent and Across the Universe, but it was so different from all of those. I also realized that this book could have most likely been split into two books but I really enjoyed that the author kept it going instead of turning it into a series like so many authors are doing currently. All in all, there was nothing I disliked about this book. I truly loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who likes action, young adult, and/or dystopian books.
February 24, 2018
*thank you to Netgalley and Write Plan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
DNF @ 43%
1.5 stars
I donno what happened. The beginning of this book was really quite good. It was engaging and interesting. The description sounded so good and I really like the cover. But unfortunately at about 25% it started to descend. The story was not as strong and I got bored. I can see others clearly enjoyed this which is great but it just shows that its probably not the authors fault but more so accurate that it just wasnt for me.
DNF @ 43%
1.5 stars
I donno what happened. The beginning of this book was really quite good. It was engaging and interesting. The description sounded so good and I really like the cover. But unfortunately at about 25% it started to descend. The story was not as strong and I got bored. I can see others clearly enjoyed this which is great but it just shows that its probably not the authors fault but more so accurate that it just wasnt for me.
March 11, 2018
This is one of those rare books where the story is really good so you want to be sucked in, but the writing is just okay so you can't.
The story is unique and interesting. The characters are believable and well imagined. I just had a really hard time getting into this book for some reason.
Trigger Warning: Violence, Murder, Suicidal Tendency
The story is unique and interesting. The characters are believable and well imagined. I just had a really hard time getting into this book for some reason.
Trigger Warning: Violence, Murder, Suicidal Tendency
March 6, 2018
Something about the City of Graven pulls me in. Maybe it's the sense of security only a set routine can bring. Maybe it's the comfortable live I'm living without having to hunt for my next meal. Maybe it's the lack of pain I feel.
Maybe it's because I finally belong as one of the Blinded.
The people may pretend with their forced laughter. False smiles. Dead eyes. But all of this is the result of conforming. To belong means to give up your dreams. Your identity.
Giving mine up is easy because the past has always been full of suffering. I've spilled too much blood. I don't have to be a house burned in the flames anymore, where returning to the place of destruction brings painful memories. No objects remain to serve as a reminder of where I came from or who I was.
In the City of Graven, I don't have to look back at the crimson stains on the ash.
I was initially drawn to this book because of the focus on the relationship between the sisters. I really like strong sibling relationships in books, particularly as there is so often a tension between the love for your family and the competitiveness or sibling rivalry.
I was surprised by how dark some of the themes in this book were and I think this is a worthy addition to dystopian visions of the future. I really liked how Solanine and Ember were built up as characters and their development throughout the story. In such a bleak world, where almost everything they try goes wrong, their relationship provides a flash of brightness and hope.
At times, I found the change in perspectives difficult to follow and I was confused by the antagonist's motivation - what was he trying to achieve? This added to the sense of menace, but I do enjoy it when a villain is flesh-out too.
Overall, this would be enjoyed by people who are already fans of the dystopian genre, particularly those who would appreciate a bit more grittiness and realism in their future visions.
Ember takes a few steps forward, then hesitates before sitting next to Solanine. Silences descends upon the sisters for eternity as if no words can mend what lies between them. They have been through hell and back over the years, but they experienced different Hells. Even though they rest only inches apart, worlds of distance separate them.
What I liked: Acknowledgement of mental health struggles and various coping mechanisms such as self-harm and alcoholism - I think this is very realistic. In a post-apocalyptic world most of us would fall apart rather than find reserves of inner strength so we would be likely to choose the ease of giving up on our dreams and living as drones in the city - those left outside this system would have a lot to deal with and it is inevitable that mental health problems would become more prevalent and people would develop their own ways of numbing the pain as the healthcare system and other support networks are not there to help. I liked the description of the grieving process and the acceptance of love in any form it takes. I also really liked the description of how conformity and social cohesion comes at the cost of persona dreams and aspirations.
Even better if: I would have liked to know more about the villain's motivation - we never really find out what his overall vision is or what he is hoping to achieve with his dictatorial control. Is he insane or is there a hidden meaning to his actions? I found it a bit jarring that Ember's chapters were told in first person, while Solanine's were told in 3rd person. I am assuming that this was a choice made by the author to keep the two voices distinct, but I did find that it distanced me slightly from Solanine and her feelings.
How you could use it in your classroom: I would not recommend using this in a primary or secondary classroom as there is a lot of adult content - violence, mental health, drinking and sex. However, I could see this being used at a tertiary level or in adult reading groups to prompt discussion about the pros and cons of state control over the individual and how various mental health problems can be addressed.
See a giveaway for this book on my blog: https://chrikarublog.wordpress.com/20...
See an interview with the author here: https://chrikarublog.wordpress.com/20...
Maybe it's because I finally belong as one of the Blinded.
The people may pretend with their forced laughter. False smiles. Dead eyes. But all of this is the result of conforming. To belong means to give up your dreams. Your identity.
Giving mine up is easy because the past has always been full of suffering. I've spilled too much blood. I don't have to be a house burned in the flames anymore, where returning to the place of destruction brings painful memories. No objects remain to serve as a reminder of where I came from or who I was.
In the City of Graven, I don't have to look back at the crimson stains on the ash.
I was initially drawn to this book because of the focus on the relationship between the sisters. I really like strong sibling relationships in books, particularly as there is so often a tension between the love for your family and the competitiveness or sibling rivalry.
I was surprised by how dark some of the themes in this book were and I think this is a worthy addition to dystopian visions of the future. I really liked how Solanine and Ember were built up as characters and their development throughout the story. In such a bleak world, where almost everything they try goes wrong, their relationship provides a flash of brightness and hope.
At times, I found the change in perspectives difficult to follow and I was confused by the antagonist's motivation - what was he trying to achieve? This added to the sense of menace, but I do enjoy it when a villain is flesh-out too.
Overall, this would be enjoyed by people who are already fans of the dystopian genre, particularly those who would appreciate a bit more grittiness and realism in their future visions.
Ember takes a few steps forward, then hesitates before sitting next to Solanine. Silences descends upon the sisters for eternity as if no words can mend what lies between them. They have been through hell and back over the years, but they experienced different Hells. Even though they rest only inches apart, worlds of distance separate them.
What I liked: Acknowledgement of mental health struggles and various coping mechanisms such as self-harm and alcoholism - I think this is very realistic. In a post-apocalyptic world most of us would fall apart rather than find reserves of inner strength so we would be likely to choose the ease of giving up on our dreams and living as drones in the city - those left outside this system would have a lot to deal with and it is inevitable that mental health problems would become more prevalent and people would develop their own ways of numbing the pain as the healthcare system and other support networks are not there to help. I liked the description of the grieving process and the acceptance of love in any form it takes. I also really liked the description of how conformity and social cohesion comes at the cost of persona dreams and aspirations.
Even better if: I would have liked to know more about the villain's motivation - we never really find out what his overall vision is or what he is hoping to achieve with his dictatorial control. Is he insane or is there a hidden meaning to his actions? I found it a bit jarring that Ember's chapters were told in first person, while Solanine's were told in 3rd person. I am assuming that this was a choice made by the author to keep the two voices distinct, but I did find that it distanced me slightly from Solanine and her feelings.
How you could use it in your classroom: I would not recommend using this in a primary or secondary classroom as there is a lot of adult content - violence, mental health, drinking and sex. However, I could see this being used at a tertiary level or in adult reading groups to prompt discussion about the pros and cons of state control over the individual and how various mental health problems can be addressed.
See a giveaway for this book on my blog: https://chrikarublog.wordpress.com/20...
See an interview with the author here: https://chrikarublog.wordpress.com/20...
April 12, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchanged for an honest review.
It took me almost a month to read this, because it was such a struggle to get through that I had to stop, read a few other books, and come back to it. In the end, I skimmed the last 30% or so, because I just wasn't feeling it, but when I get something from NetGalley I feel obligated to finish it.
This book is just...not good. It read very much like the second book in a series, where the author didn't feel the need to explain everything (or anything, really) because all the background information was covered in the first book. Except in this case, this is the first book, so you just never learn. I mean, there's a character who can control people's minds (like Professor X) and we never discover how he gained this ability, why he's using it, or what his plan is. So I hope you're not the type of person who cares for answers, because you won't get any in this book. The world-building is subpar at best.
For the first maybe 60% of the book, there isn't much going on, which you think would be ample time to introduce and develop the characters, right? Well, you would be wrong. I didn't connect with any of the characters. None of their relationships felt real. The cover and the description makes it sound as though the story will focus solely on the bond between sisters Solanine and Ember. Okay, great. I have sisters; I love books about sisters. However, the actual story was not really about their relationship; they were simply the main characters. The decision for Solanine's chapters to be in third person and Ember's to be in first person felt less like a stylistic choice than a conscious effort to separate their POVs, because otherwise you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. The romances (of which there were several) were rushed and poorly developed. I felt no emotion in any of them. When one of the characters died, I just didn't care.
The last 40% of the book tries to make up for the lack of plot in the first part by having a ridiculous amount of stuff happen yet not go into detail on any of it. There are time jumps at the beginning of almost every chapter in the second part of the book. The first part happens over the course of maybe a week or so, the second part happens over a period of at least a year. Not to mention, the characters bounce back and forth so often that I couldn't help roll my eyes. In one chapter, Ember feels one way, in the next chapter another, and in the next chapter she's back to the first way. And these are not long chapters, so she probably waffles back and forth between extremes within 10 or so pages.
When the end finally comes, it's so anticlimactic that I actually felt angry. How dare this book waste so much of my time and then not even give a satisfying conclusion? Because the story is about the badly-developed characters and not the highly-more-interesting-yet-equally-badly-devleoped plot, I guess the author didn't feel the need to explain anything. I swear it's like someone flipped a switch and problem solved. MIND CONTROL. HOW DO YOU NOT EXPLAIN MIND CONTROL.
The writing is also horribly repetitive. If you're of legal age to drink, and you want to get hammered, do a shot every time someone
Breathes in.
Breathes out.
Or do a shot every time someone
Blinks once.
Blinks twice.
You will be drunk halfway through.
And yes, I realize that proposing a drinking game for a book where one of the main characters is alcoholic is in rather poor taste. I don't particularly care. I read on the subway on my way to and from work, so I can't really have booze with me, but it certainly would have helped with this book.
It took me almost a month to read this, because it was such a struggle to get through that I had to stop, read a few other books, and come back to it. In the end, I skimmed the last 30% or so, because I just wasn't feeling it, but when I get something from NetGalley I feel obligated to finish it.
This book is just...not good. It read very much like the second book in a series, where the author didn't feel the need to explain everything (or anything, really) because all the background information was covered in the first book. Except in this case, this is the first book, so you just never learn. I mean, there's a character who can control people's minds (like Professor X) and we never discover how he gained this ability, why he's using it, or what his plan is. So I hope you're not the type of person who cares for answers, because you won't get any in this book. The world-building is subpar at best.
For the first maybe 60% of the book, there isn't much going on, which you think would be ample time to introduce and develop the characters, right? Well, you would be wrong. I didn't connect with any of the characters. None of their relationships felt real. The cover and the description makes it sound as though the story will focus solely on the bond between sisters Solanine and Ember. Okay, great. I have sisters; I love books about sisters. However, the actual story was not really about their relationship; they were simply the main characters. The decision for Solanine's chapters to be in third person and Ember's to be in first person felt less like a stylistic choice than a conscious effort to separate their POVs, because otherwise you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. The romances (of which there were several) were rushed and poorly developed. I felt no emotion in any of them. When one of the characters died, I just didn't care.
The last 40% of the book tries to make up for the lack of plot in the first part by having a ridiculous amount of stuff happen yet not go into detail on any of it. There are time jumps at the beginning of almost every chapter in the second part of the book. The first part happens over the course of maybe a week or so, the second part happens over a period of at least a year. Not to mention, the characters bounce back and forth so often that I couldn't help roll my eyes. In one chapter, Ember feels one way, in the next chapter another, and in the next chapter she's back to the first way. And these are not long chapters, so she probably waffles back and forth between extremes within 10 or so pages.
When the end finally comes, it's so anticlimactic that I actually felt angry. How dare this book waste so much of my time and then not even give a satisfying conclusion? Because the story is about the badly-developed characters and not the highly-more-interesting-yet-equally-badly-devleoped plot, I guess the author didn't feel the need to explain anything. I swear it's like someone flipped a switch and problem solved. MIND CONTROL. HOW DO YOU NOT EXPLAIN MIND CONTROL.
The writing is also horribly repetitive. If you're of legal age to drink, and you want to get hammered, do a shot every time someone
Breathes in.
Breathes out.
Or do a shot every time someone
Blinks once.
Blinks twice.
You will be drunk halfway through.
And yes, I realize that proposing a drinking game for a book where one of the main characters is alcoholic is in rather poor taste. I don't particularly care. I read on the subway on my way to and from work, so I can't really have booze with me, but it certainly would have helped with this book.
May 4, 2018
I received a copy of Crimson Ash in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Crimson Ash is a set in a post-apocalyptic world, where a mad man rules most of the humans, leaving those captured with a choice; join the city, or die. Some aren’t sent to the city, where instead they’re turned into soldiers. Based on the stories, I’m not sure which is worse. Solanine lives in this world; having lost almost everyone she loves already, including her sister.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Crimson Ash is a set in a post-apocalyptic world, where a mad man rules most of the humans, leaving those captured with a choice; join the city, or die. Some aren’t sent to the city, where instead they’re turned into soldiers. Based on the stories, I’m not sure which is worse. Solanine lives in this world; having lost almost everyone she loves already, including her sister.
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
July 14, 2019
I really wanted to like this book but it was a bit too chaotic for me. I ended up reading this book thanks to a book blog tour I participated in. And really I signed up because the summary sounded like something I would be interested in, even though the genre was a bit iffy for me (I don't usually read sci-fi)
Now who knows, maybe the genre might have something to do with why I couldn't get behind this book but I think it has more to do with the characters and formatting
In this book we follow the lives of a couple people in dystopian Earth (they mentioned Japan so it's got to be, right?), specifically sisters Ember and Solanine. Ember who was taken when she was young, forced to forget her identity, and made into an unfeeling soldier tasked with giving people "a Choice." And Solanine who joins a rebel group intent on destroying the system in place but also to find her sister. Of course, things get complicated when Ember kills Solanine's fiance, is later captured by the rebels, and is forced to remember her past.
Aside from it being a cool story about advanced technologies and a society suffering from a tyrannical ruler, Crimson Ash is a story about love. Love between sisters and love between lovers, which I feel I could have enjoyed a bit better if the author could decide which to focus on. While the first half is very sisters and love centered, around the middle and definitely the end, the focus of the story changes. It's also not a very smooth transition, I felt like the pacing was too rushed. Like the author really wanted to focus on a lot of things and the end especially felt like it was being dragged out. There were also quite a few time skips at the end, which made me a bit confused about the timeline.
Another thing I wasn't really convinced with was the characters. I just really felt like Solanine was too confrontational? petty? judgemental? I'm not sure about the exact word but basically she wanted to get her bond back with her sister but couldn't seem to understand that Ember had been in a situation she couldn't control. She would blow up often and it got to the point where I really disliked her. Also, her later romance made the beginning (fiance business) feel like it didn't matter anymore. I think it's because we didn't really get to know her fiance enough to care that he died.
Not to mention that a lot of situations were very pro-rebel. I mean, yes they had some terrible experiences while trying to fight back but also there was never a time when I seriously worried they wouldn't win at the end. Also, with how the book ends, I felt like a couple things were too convenient.
As for the formatting, I wasn't a huge fan of the changing perspectives, especially considering each one was only a few pages long (like 2-3?). But it wasn't just one chapter is Ember and the other Solanine, the author also changes the tenses and between first person (Ember) and 3rd person (Solanine). It was very confusing and I had to consult the top of the chapter throughout the book to remember what POV I was reading from.
Now who knows, maybe the genre might have something to do with why I couldn't get behind this book but I think it has more to do with the characters and formatting
In this book we follow the lives of a couple people in dystopian Earth (they mentioned Japan so it's got to be, right?), specifically sisters Ember and Solanine. Ember who was taken when she was young, forced to forget her identity, and made into an unfeeling soldier tasked with giving people "a Choice." And Solanine who joins a rebel group intent on destroying the system in place but also to find her sister. Of course, things get complicated when Ember kills Solanine's fiance, is later captured by the rebels, and is forced to remember her past.
Aside from it being a cool story about advanced technologies and a society suffering from a tyrannical ruler, Crimson Ash is a story about love. Love between sisters and love between lovers, which I feel I could have enjoyed a bit better if the author could decide which to focus on. While the first half is very sisters and love centered, around the middle and definitely the end, the focus of the story changes. It's also not a very smooth transition, I felt like the pacing was too rushed. Like the author really wanted to focus on a lot of things and the end especially felt like it was being dragged out. There were also quite a few time skips at the end, which made me a bit confused about the timeline.
Another thing I wasn't really convinced with was the characters. I just really felt like Solanine was too confrontational? petty? judgemental? I'm not sure about the exact word but basically she wanted to get her bond back with her sister but couldn't seem to understand that Ember had been in a situation she couldn't control. She would blow up often and it got to the point where I really disliked her. Also, her later romance made the beginning (fiance business) feel like it didn't matter anymore. I think it's because we didn't really get to know her fiance enough to care that he died.
Not to mention that a lot of situations were very pro-rebel. I mean, yes they had some terrible experiences while trying to fight back but also there was never a time when I seriously worried they wouldn't win at the end. Also, with how the book ends, I felt like a couple things were too convenient.
As for the formatting, I wasn't a huge fan of the changing perspectives, especially considering each one was only a few pages long (like 2-3?). But it wasn't just one chapter is Ember and the other Solanine, the author also changes the tenses and between first person (Ember) and 3rd person (Solanine). It was very confusing and I had to consult the top of the chapter throughout the book to remember what POV I was reading from.
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