Ashes

Ashes Trilogy, Book 1

By: Ilsa J. Bick

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

It could happen tomorrow....

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions. Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom, a young soldier, and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP. For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it's now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

©2011 Ilsa J. Bick (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"For fans of postapocalyptic and horror fiction, Bick has created a story of equal parts intrigue and gore…Katherine Kellgren narrates the tension-filled action at a lightning pace…The author’s frenetic characterization of Alex is tempered by Kellgren’s ability to draw the listener into each scene." ( Audiofile)

2012 Audie Award Nominee, Female Solo Narration

Excellent post-apocalyptic thriller

Tough to put down once you start. Though it follows the same ground as Walking Dead, through the eyes of a terminally ill 17 year-old, the execution is far superior.

It Was Alright....

Overall it was a good read. I was slightly annoyed with how it ended, wanted there to be more closure. Not sure if i will purchase any more in this series.

A Good Survival Book

What did you love best about Ashes?

I've often wondered what it would be like to be a survivor if everything went to hell. Now maybe I might not want to be a survivor. The story had you at the edge of your seat.

What did you like best about this story?

The dichotomy of the young and the old survivors and the twist of the adults being the turned.

Have you listened to any of Katherine Kellgren’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't listened to her before.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was worried for the survivors, even the dogs. I felt sad when someone was killed. There were not very many laughs in the book.

A Chilling Tale from Start to End

This is an amazing edge-of-your-seat thriller that leaves you guessing right up to the end, and beyond. The author starts the story pretty slowly but, before you realize it, you have already identified with the main character, and just when you get there, the world falls apart. At it's core it is a moderately creative riff on the classic zombie story, but it is the willingness of the author to delve into the parts of an end of the world tale that most stories shy away from that make is amazing. The author pulls no punches in describing the sheer horror of her universe and there are moments I found myself queasy at the clarity with which I could see the scenes. There is a solid, if sometimes slavish balance between teenage sentimentality and cold-hard fact and my only true critique is that, while most of the characters are well-nuanced, several of them are dangerously cliche (the unrealistically pouty pre-teen, the haunted and scarred veteran, etc)

The narration was spot on and captured the characters well, though I found myself annoyed by the whiny voice of one of the characters. This fit the story and the writing well, but almost pushed me over the edge.

In all, this is a great listen and well worth a credit. Doubly so because, while it says it is a trilogy, I didn't notice that when buying it and would have sworn that the author deliberately finished the story. Even if you don't love it, you will leave with some closure.

What a performance!

Would you try another book from Ilsa J. Bick and/or Katherine Kellgren?

Katherine Kellgren deserves an academy award for her performance in this series of mediocre books. I have listened to all three and they are fast moving and full of gore filled action, but MY WORD! Katherine Kellgren is AMAZING!!

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Well the story was a bit far-fetched as sci-fi goes. I've never been a zombie fan, but the pace and the underlying humour kept me interested.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

Katherine Kellgren can do anything!

Could you see Ashes being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I was thinking about this while finishing Monsters. The movie would have to compress the story of Alex and Tom from all three novels and even then, how would you make the Chuckys look different from regular young folk, since there is a cast of thousands of spared?

Any additional comments?

More Katherine Kellgren!

Fantastic story. Very enjoyable!!

Fantastic story, we'll worth the read. Good characters & plot, setting. Love the series. This is the kind of story you can read over & over.

dont waste a credit - you have been warned

Here is the honest truth on this book.
1) the first 2 or 3 hours are kind of painfull as the performance by the reader is too much. She squeeks & screams the lines. This improves greatly after that & she does a good job. But you have to get through the first section.

2) the story really isn't that well written - I mean - its not a good story - The last 30 minutes were good - but when she was captured by the cult of "we are not mormons" who make her attend school.... come on - that just sucks. The title has nothing to do with the story & it seems that ashes are a side note & not related to anything that is happening.

3) This might be a good book for a younger person looking for something a little scary - maybe an early teenager. Us older folks expect more.

Pretty Bad

I will warn you that I stopped after the first 2 hours and SPOLIERS--- The narration seems to fit, whinny irritating little girls. The story is a joke. In the first two hours they seemingly lose all their supplies, food, weapons--- in what can only be described as a head scratcher. She lost he back pack because she swung around too quick and it flew off a cliff? The kid goes fishing while balancing ALL their fishing gear and and gun on a tree over the river, and you guessed it--- the idiot knocks it all in the river. Pass on this one, it is pretty stupid. It might get better as it goes along, but the first few hours ruined it for me.

Can I get my money back

So there is a minimum of 15 words. Narrator had an annoying voice, and the story & characters %$#!@%.

long and boring

I really tried to like this story, but the reader's voice ruined the story.