The Beautiful Ashes

Broken Destiny, Book 1

By: Jeaniene Frost

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world of shadows, anything is possible - except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse - her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate, no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: That every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other - and nothing but ashes in between.

©2014 Jeaniene Frost (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

Great Listen, but was it YA or not?

I loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the series to come out. I love Jeaniene Frost’s writing and haven’t read (or listened) to a book I didn’t like. However, I can see why many people (even her diehard fans) were turned off by this particular one. There isn’t much “steam” to this one and it’s relatively PG compared to her other books. It’s definitely more of a YA listen than an adult PNR book. However, I do love YA and by its own merits this was a great story. I am hopeful this series will “mature” along with the main character, Ivy. Overall I would recommend this one if you like Ms. Frost's books and try not to compare it to Cat and Bones.

It Was A Good Read!!

This is different to what am used to by Jeaniene Frost, its not the usual vampire stories with the lovely characters we all love... Its a completely different theme and story, no vamps, but its all about angels and demons, and all i can say that it was interesting...

The main character "Ivy" has some powers were made her life hard, she kept on seeing other things around her, not only what regular humans could but supernatural things... that part was interesting a bit... but i don't know how to say this, the story was going a bit too fast. I do think that it could have been a bit longer so there could be more details, it did go really fast and for some reason it didn't feel right.

but the plot itself is very interesting, it is different than the usual books you read and there is plenty of conflicts between the characters, which i have liked.

I'm interested in how it will continue, so for sure will get the next one.

A big disappointment

Why is it that authors think it will be easy to write for young/new adults? Evidently the formula is to create a simpering, melodramatic, stupid heroine. The narration didn't help since Ivy sounded like a 15 year old and Adrian a 40 year old. This book was especially disappointing coming from the author of the Cat & Bones series which I enjoyed.

I'm thinking this is more of a YA read

I guess I have become spoiled in what my expectations are from JF. I've LOVED the Cat & Bones series since the start and the spin off series from those books. Needless to say I have all of those and was anxiously awaiting this new series. Maybe this was just a soft beginning to what may get to the level of what I have found to be her usual level of stories. I hope so. I'll probably download the next in this series with that hope in mind. I won't be as eager to do so, though. I found the lead character to be a bit whiny, immature for her supposed age of 20 and not interesting in her overall role in the story. The lead male has lots of potential and I'm hoping to see him fill out, too.Tavia Gilbert as narrator helped since her familiar style kept me listening just in case things improved. There is a lot of potential in the story line, so I'm hoping JF will rise to her level which I have grown to know and love.

Yeah Ok..

I'm not going to compare it with Cat and Bones.

Not a bad concept for the story line and fairly predictable. I personally found there to be a lot of waffling. Repetition of facts that, lets face it, we readers are not stupid nor are our memories bad enough to warrant continuous repetition of facts. Hopefully it's just because it's the beginning of the series and Jeaniene was just trying to set the scene and maybe some people need to be reminded, over and over again.

Tavia did a good job as usual but I kinda think that another narrator would have been better as we (fans) associate her too much with Cat and Bones.

It wasn't the kind of book I just couldn't put down and had to read all at once but it was a pleasant (if slightly monotonous) read (listen). I will be buying the next one to see how it goes.. GO IVY!!!

This is NOT a Cat & Bones Novel!!!

This was a seriously different departure for JF here. I loved the story line here and was excited that Ms. Frost had the insight to make sure this was a truly different. I really liked the story. Falling in love at age 20 seems more like YA to me though. There was a romantic scene for the two heroes which was well done and appropriate for the series. I, however, want to read about older and more mature people. I plan to buy the next book in the series, but of course I hope that the way this was left is that the heroine will spend time maturing.

JF poses a crisis of faith for the heroine. This development of faith was based on one's true inner spiritual identity was dealt with in an amazing and tolerant way. Her humor was well done. As we all know from her recent books--demons can be killed with demon bone. In this book, there is a world at stake and the rules are different. Although I miss them, I really appreciated the departure from Bones and Cat. Ms. Frost truly shows the depth of here writing. My only complaint about the book is that Ms. Frost writes about a PTSD attack which is really an anxiety attack. PTSD is a disorder and one can have symptoms but not an attack.

Left quite a bit to be desired

I really wanted to like this book and at certain parts I did like it, but overall, I was just ready for it to end. Usually, I love jeaniene frost, which makes me wonder if it was not so much the story I didn't care for as much as it was the narrator?

*sighs*

I adore the Bound by Flames series by Jeaniene Frost, thus I looked forward to trying this series. I HATE stupid whiny heroines. HATE. The fact that this Heroine actually says she is not one of those stupid heroines that gets herself in trouble... she is. AND she whines NONstop. If she isn't constantly freaking out and whining she is being stupid. The concept is AWESOME. I love the concept I love where its going but I am constantly wanting to reach through my headset and strangle Ivy. At the point of writing this I have an hour and half left of the book, which I will absolutely finish because I want to see where the story is going as I said the story line is excellent. I just wish I didn't have to listen to Ivy being an idiot for that whole time. The other characters are strong, well written and easy to deal with, the one you are suppose to feel compassion for and cheer for... her I want a demon to kill even if it will ruin the story.

Not a very impressive book

I've read and enjoyed the Cat and Bones books, and looked forward to something new from Jeaniene Frost. I was quite disappointed. First, I did not realize that is was a YA book — I would have expected that to be spelled out somewhere, but I see no mention of it in the book description either here or on Amazon.

Regardless, there was little character development. It was virtual nonstop action scenes, but one is left knowing very little about the main characters. Their attraction is fated, so there is apparently no need to develop it during the story line. And, of course, since this is the start of a series, one is left hanging at the end.

Finally, although I enjoyed Tavia Gilbert's reading of the Cat and Bones books, I thought it was over the top here. Way too much breathlessness and emotion — it was more like the book were being acted out rather than being read.

Beautiful Ashes

I was intrigued by this cover for a long time and I wanted to read it for a while but for whatever reason I just never did.

I am glad I gave it a try I really enjoyed Ivy’s story and her determination, her unwavering strength.
Adrian and his well meanings, oh men.. lol

Overall I enjoyed the back and forth and the world building wasn’t tedious it was just enough for us to get the jist and add our own details. I liked that a lot.

I like that the story wasn’t over after book one and that we are going to get more from these characters.

I am a Tavia Gilbert fan, so I enjoyed her narration greatly.

Amazing, definitely worth the money

What made the experience of listening to The Beautiful Ashes the most enjoyable?

If your looking for cat and bones reincarnate, don't bother. If you are looking for a truly well crafted story, with twisting plot lines and a narrator that greatly cares for the story and the characters (props tavia Gilbert) this Is for you. I would like to thank jeaniene frost for taking the leap from the highly successful night huntress universe and for keeping your readers so engaged. So many other authors rehash the same story with the same characters for the money. Jeaniene took the risk and I have to say that I for one am a devoted fan for life.

free reads?

I know they are free to read and believe me I have read a lot of them but why oh why do amazon keep filling my list with "coming of age" books??? I'm way too old for them and rind the predictable, slow, and boring.
Sorry but getting a bit fed up with them now.

one long whinge

the protaginist is deeply dislikeable one long whinge and a bad case of poor me. was this written for distressed 9 year olds shoot me now.

Sadly Disappointing

I am a big fan of Jeanine Frost and her supernatural worlds and have enjoyed every book until this one.
The character development was poor, I didn't care much about the characters even at the end of the book. The main character is whiny and annoying and her relationships with other characters don't develop anywhere. Her 'Love' for the Hero is unconvincing and shallow.
The concept of the supernatural world is a good one with huge potential, but this book unfortunately doesn't do it justice.
I really wanted to like this book and I finished it out of respect to the previous books. Sadly Disappointed.

3.4 stars

I didn't love this book. I wanted to love it, it has all the things I love...but I just found it annoying at points and felt like I had to hang in there.
I think the problem for me wasn't the story...it's the characters. I don't feel anything for them or understand them. So I don't feel when they don't die or they win something...or feel sad...basically the characters are not strong enough for me to wonder if they love each other or get it on.
Maybe the next book will be better, just can't help but think this book could of been shorter and still and the same result.
3.4 stars

Great listen

Great and varied storyline, interestingly written and characters you can get behind. Looking forward to the next!

No story

There must be a story in there, but it’s hard to find. The book is essentially a series of lust-filled thoughts and descriptions of the muscled lead.

I stopped listening about halfway through when it became clear the story was faint window dressing for a book about fanny flutters and avoidance.

Good start to a series

Good storyline with pleasant characters whose likeability grows throughout the book.
Narration good and a good hook for the next book at the end 😉

narrator's voice did not suit storytelling

I found it very hard to continue with this book because of the simpering tone of the narrator.; frankly her chikdhish voice and subject matter did not fit with imaginative listening was near impossible

Can't wait for more

I like all books from this author and love the notator too she is such a good performer. I am looking forward to the next instalment.