World of Ash

4 and 1/2 Stars! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up to host the book tour. I made no guarantee of a favorable review. This is definitely not your typical post-aposralistic book as this event occurs via magical means. I'll admit that at first, I was a bit put off by the fact that the pox decimated man kind via magic but once I immersed myself in the story and its two main characters Kay and Dylan I was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed it. The well developed characters and strong story line will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next. Shauna Granger's writing abilities will keep you wanting more. I look forward to continuing with this series and reading more from this author.

As far as dystopian fiction goes, I haven’t read widely. Of course, I’ve read “The Hunger Games.” I also read the first in Veronica Roth’s series, “Divergent.” In those, though, there is still an order to society. There are rules, systems and leadership.  None of these exist in Shauna Granger’s new book, “World of Ash.” The only rule is survival. Before I get ahead of myself, let me offer a short synopsis.  The normal, teenage life Kat knew is no longer a reality. It is the stuff of memory and dreams. Everyone she loved is dead, taken by a fast moving plague and the bombs dropped by her own government in an attempt to contain it. She took to the road north just before Los Angeles was decimated. Now, she’s on the road alone trying to get to the only family she has left, or so she hopes, in Washington. “World of Ash” follows Kat’s harrowing journey through run-ins with gangs of other survivors, lack of food and water, and avoiding the Pesta who brought the plague in the first place. Along the way Kat finds Blue, a dog who becomes her protector, and Dylan, who finds a way into Kat’s heart. As I read “World of Ash”, there were moments when I thought of classical odyssey stories. Recently, I read a children’s version of Homer’s “The Odyssey” with my son and I couldn’t help but see the parallels with the journey Kat was forced to take. With each mile Kat traveled, I kept wondering whether this would be a moment of idyll like Calypso’s island or if it would be more like the run-in with the Cyclops.  Granger has created a fast-paced book, which keeps you on the edge of your seat, or bed if you read it at night like I did. Tension fills the pages and before you know it, the clock strikes midnight and you really should go to bed so you aren’t a zombie at work the next day.  The book explores how humans might behave when they are faced with simply surviving day-to-day. The world Granger imagines is really one where tragedy enhances people’s personalities. Those who are kind become even more kind. The scared become terrified. The bullies become terrifying. I couldn’t help but imagine how I might behave in such a world. Yet, Kat has no time for philosophical thoughts, let alone arguments. I can sense there are coming storms for Kat and Dylan, which will force them to face them. It is easy to keep reading, not only because of the action, but also because Granger has written this book with straightforward prose. The style only helps to enhance the stark reality of a world with no rules, no law and no safety.    It was clear “World of Ash” is the start to a new series. There are a few threads left hanging at the end of the book. Kat’s journey is far from over. There is increasing mystery around the Pestas and the government’s response. This reader is eager to dig into the next phase of Kat’s journey.

4.5 stars I haven’t often come across post-apocalyptic or post-disaster fiction that centers on a teen alone or with just one ally; usually, it’s an older protagonist or a small group. One such series that comes to mind is Ashfall by Mike Mullin and another is the Ashes Trilogy by Ilsa J. Bick. Now, we have World of Ash from Shauna Granger and I must say I’m very glad. We get a brief but telling taste of how life has changed for Kat in the very first pages when she agonizes over her first look in a mirror, seeing what has become of her once-beautiful hair. On the surface, this would seem to be extremely shallow considering the horrific reality she now lives in but it’s a small insight into how Kat herself is changing and how she’s walking a fine line between defeat and survival in a world gone mad. One of the most refreshing things in the story is that Dylan is so less capable than Kat when they first meet. She’s not exactly the stalwart heroine who cannot be defeated but it’s nice that a female protagonist is a few steps ahead of the guy we’d normally see as her rescuer, her protector, her shoulder to lean on. In this case, HE needs HER even with all her weaknesses. We get to understand his vulnerability without thinking of him as weak. Still, his naivete is a bit unrealistic at times. Then again, at the tender age of 19, he wouldn’t have read as many end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it novels as I have so maybe I shouldn’t expect him to be better prepared ;-) Blue, as you’ll see, is the most endearing character of all bringing lightness and joy and pure love to what could have been a dreary existence. We should all have a Blue in time of great need. There are a few construction flaws here and there, incorrect words and typos, and occasional plot inconsistencies; for instance, Kat and Dylan know the vicious preppers will certainly investigate the fire the two set to burn a body and, yet, they walk right past it as they head north rather than head through the woods and fields to avoid that area. Despite these infrequent failings, Ms. Granger’s story is strong, her plot is believable and her characters are engaging, whether likeable or not. World of Ash, when all is said and done, is a fine addition to the post-apocalyptic subgenre of science fiction. The ending of World of Ash is not a cliffhanger but I do hope there will be a second book.

Anyone who has been following my blog, or even just my reviews, knows that I love a good post-apocalyptic read. Give me dystopian any day. So there is no doubt that when I saw the opportunity to read World of Ash, that I jumped at the chance. Thankfully, I was not disappointed. Taking place after a disease, brought on and still being spread by paranormal creatures, has wiped the majority of mankind off the map, this story follows Katarina aka Kat and a stranger who happens upon her, Dylan and their travels from lower California up through northern California. The entire time they must do what they can to not be captured by other survivors who are bent on destruction, not be infected with the fatal pox, find food, water and shelter on a daily basis and learn to trust one another while building a friendship in a world where things just don’t seem to exist anymore. The author’s way with imagery set the tone straight on with the book. She put you in the thick of the story, made you fully aware of the dangers and what was at risk if the slightest error in judgment was committed. You saw through Kat’s eyes, felt her fears, her pain, her desperation and you traveled with her in this new world created from complete and utter destruction on multiple levels. It’s not an easy accomplishment what the author did, but she did nearly flawlessly. I would have liked to know more about the Pestas. With everything going on, there had to be more known about these things that created and spread the disease that would have been provided to the public, in a way to protect themselves, before everything went to complete chaos. They are touched on a bit through the book, but just not enough to satisfy my interest. The introduction of a four legged friend made the story even that more enjoyable. Imagine being alone for months and suddenly finding companionship in an animal that needs you just as much as you need them. There’s nothing hokey about this storyline and it showed Kat as she really is, a caring person whose future is that of a voyager, taking one day at a time and hoping that in the end she finds what she is looking for. The chemistry between Kat and Dylan was very believable. She meets up with him when he is at his most vulnerable and gets to know him from there. In turn, he gets to see her at her weakest and the two become wayward travel companions. Together they deal with danger, loneliness, learn of each other’s losses, boost up one another and bounce things off each other without resentment. This book works for any age level that loves this genre. A solid scifi dystopian without the blood and gore that many think they need, but don’t and without graphic details that turn some readers off. When details are needed, they are there, but the graphic nature is left primarily up to the reader’s imagination. I look forward to reading about Kat and Dylan’s further travels and situations they will find themselves in.

My first reaction is wow! World of Ash is my first book by Shauna Granger, and it definitely won't be my last. Her writing is fantastic, and the world she built is so realistic it's scary. The idea of the Pestas - some sort of monsters who infected and caused the plague that's wiped out most of the population - really freaked me out. The plague is terrifying as it is without monsters spreading it around. It was a nice break from zombies, which if you hear me saying that, then you know this book has to be good.  I thought it was different how Kat was living a happy and privileged life before the apocalypse - many times the main character in a post-apocalyptic world possessed skills that would enable her/him to face the hell that has become the world. But in Kat's case, she was living a cushy life before and has no delusions that she didn't have any idea how to survive in the beginning. That's what makes her character so impressive; she's struggled and fought to survive, learning along the way. If I imagined what the world would be like after an apocalypse, this is the kind of world I think it would be. In World of Ash, the government takes action in ways that are so awful, I could feel Kat's emotions coming through the pages. Kat feared other human beings who were healthy as much as she did the plague and the Pestas.  Her mother was wise in warning her before she left that she wouldn't be able to trust other people. She finds an exception in Dylan, and I was happy she had companionship and help. I loved Dylan and Kat's relationship - they were partners in this new world, and each carried his/her own weight. They saved each other in so many ways. He's just the kind of guy you'd be lucky to have around in an apocalypse. He was naive at first, thinking the government would help healthy people, but Kat helped him see it's everyone for him or herself.  I loved World of Ash from it's front cover all the way through to the back cover. Kat and Dylan are two of my new favorite characters. Please tell me there's going to be a second book - I can't help wanting to find out what happens next! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I don’t normally read books like this because I worry that authors aren’t just using their imaginations, but the muses and fates have got together and chosen to give them a seer’s ability to predict the future (or the lack of a future in the case of an apocalypse), but having read Shauna Grangers Elemental Series and enjoying it immensely, I was really looking forward to World of Ash and I wasn’t disappointed! Our leading lady is Kat, a teenage girl who enjoys morning latte’s and super expensive hair treatments. That is until the Pestas make an appearance. Life drastically changes for everyone as people start to get sick. The government tries to help, but in the end it boils down to survival of the fittest and quickest. We follow Kats journey to find a long lost relative, but in the days to come will she know who to trust and how to protect herself?! I really enjoyed this book, even though the subject matter makes me uncomfortable. The story flows beautifully between the past and present and I really felt involved with the characters. Granger’s Elemental series is magical and about never ending friendships, where as WOA is more human and focusing at the nitty gritty of human behaviour. I will definitely reread this, but for now I need to watch some Bear Grylls and dust off my camping gear!

This book was good likeable characters and I love the overprotective dog in this book

I really enjoyed this book. It reads like how the world would be if this ever happened in real life. It's dirty and dangerous. It's tiring and depressing. It's also hopeful and emotional. This book shows that no matter how bad it gets, you can always find someone that will fit into your life and that you can always hold hope for a future. My favorite character has to be Blue. He is so lovable and energetic. He brightens up the whole story. I also really got into the characters of Kat and Dylan. They were so believable and I found myself hoping that they would team up and stay together until the end. I enjoyed their chemistry and was wondering if they would ever acknowledge their growing feelings for each other. The only thing I did not like about this book was the ending. It kind of left me hanging. I want to know what happens next so badly! I hope that maybe the author will write a follow up to this one. That would be wonderful! There is so much more that could be written about this plague ridden world and the people that are trying to survive in it. I recommend this to anyone that loves a great story that is well written with likeable characters. There is some rough language, violence, and a tastefully written love scene. I would recommend it for teens and adults that like surviving the end of the world type books.   Disclaimer: I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a positive review.