Ember Burning

Trinity Forest, Book 1

By: Jennifer Alsever

Narrated by: Moira Todd

Author Jennifer Alsever delivers an addictive story ideal for fans of The Uglies, We Were Liars, and Before I Fall about a teen grieving over her parent's tragic death who becomes entangled with a mysterious forest teeming with urban legends of strange disappearances and witchcraft.

Ember Trouve used to be alive, driven to become a musician and on a path to college. That was before her parents died. One day, after venturing into the fabled Trinity Forest, she goes missing. Now, Ember must confront the truth behind her parents' death - or lose herself to the forest forever.

In this fresh and compelling novel, Jennifer Alsever creates a paranormal world of loss, mystery, love, and survival as Ember searches for escape - and a path back to herself. Ember Burning is the first installment of the three-book Trinity Forest series.

©2017 Jennifer Alsever (P)2017 Jennifer Alsever

Ember Burning

Where does Ember Burning rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ember Burning is a good audiobook.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tre was my favorite character. He has a great back story, and is well-written.

What does Moira Todd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She sings, which gives a depth to the main character that wouldn't be there, otherwise.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I very much enjoyed the ending; it made a lot of sense to me, considering what Ember had been through.

Keeps You On Your Toes

A mystical journey that keeps you listening, wondering, questioning, and hopeful for Ember. The voice over keeps you engaged and wanting more!

Enchanting paranormal tale

I received these audiobooks as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Jennifer Alsever. The gifting of these audiobooks did not affect my opinion of them.

What an enchanting book that drew me in and kept me curious.

The story begins with a melancholy teenager, who we learn is depressed because she just lost both her parents in a car accident. Throughout the book, she blames herself for their death, but we still don't really know the exact circumstances. She just wants the pain to end and wants to disappear, and that we understand.

So she starts falling into dangerous behavior - drugs, hanging out with the bad boys, and continues to spiral into her depression. Until the one day, she decides to go camping in this forbidden forest. Where suddenly, the pain inside her goes away, and she finally feels light again.

Only to realize the forest is a vortex where some unknown sorcery keeps them there, suspended in time, while the world goes on spinning around them. Try to leave? Bad things happen to your family. Finally give in? Well, then you'll be reborn. But what does that even mean?

I loved the narration. Moira Todd has a lovely speaking and singing voice too, and I enjoyed that there were actual songs included in the audio. I thoroughly enjoyed her audio interpretation of this story and will be looking for other books she narrates.

The storytelling is lyrical and lovely and the effect this witchcraft has on our character is so well-described. I am enjoying Jennifer Alsever's writing and story weaving.

The story ends in a slightly open did it or did it not happen, which knowing the title of the second book gives us our answer. I can't wait to dive into it.

Do not lose sight of the forest for the trees

YA and Urban fantasy are my jam, so you should know this going into my review. That said, the cover tagline "Would you sacrifice your future to forget your past?", makes a big promise that it cant necessarily deliver in the first installment of the Trinity Forest series but I truly believe Jennifer Alsever has the ability to make it happen given more time (ie 2nd and 3rd books). I wrangle with world building in the most cleverly crafted stories many times and this series is no different. Ember Trouve begins as a mopey, angsty teen and her constant description of her synesthesia is simultaneously intriguing and distracting. The book's plot meanders a bit, not quite divining the forest from the trees and then, just as suddenly as the meadow delivers the cast of Trinity's characters, the plot tightens and the arc develops into something that is suspenseful and dramatic. The writing, however, is well done overall.

There are a host of themes in the book that can either attract or repel young audiences, from grief and depression to date rape and drug addiction. Certainly they are all handled with care and the story weaves around them without making anything an overarching theme (aside from the grief, as that is the critical motivation for Ember's actions and reactions most of the time both in and out of Trinity Forest). The secondary characters are quite interesting and as the sinister side of Trinity unfolds, the drama highlights the good and bad in everyone. Time takes on new meaning and the insane ramblings of her now gone mother may hold the key to her survival. How can you not get wrapped up in that? Despite it's slow start, Trinity Forest picked up speed and became an out of control freight train that I couldn't stay away from and definitely need the next installment to. For readers who enjoy action, mythology, like a little romance with their fight to survive, and fans of stories that keep you listening past your bedtime, Trinity Forest is right up your alley.

As for the audio narration, Moira Todd does an outstanding job narrating. I agree with the author when she says, "you are Ember". She manages a decent vocal range of character voices and sings beautifully which is fairly important since Ember is a musician/singer. I think the overall narration and the last 3rd of the storyline are my favorite parts.

I give Trinity Forrest four chocolate dipped strawberries and I'll be back for more adventures with installment #2, Oshun Rising!

A haunting read!

Ember must confront the truth behind her parents' death - or lose herself to the forest forever...

A marvelous, marvelous read that was well executed and written beautifully.

So real. So emotional. So intriguing and mysterious.

Lovely read.

The narration was good. Great listen.