Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Hardcover, 480 Pages
2011, EgmontUSA
ISBN: 1606841750
Series: Book 1 of Ashes
Synopsis
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.
Review
I absolutely loved Ashes. It's got all the makings of a fantastic zombie novel, yet it's not quite about zombies as we know them. Ashes is a wonderful example of how to build upon a well-known and currently popular supernatural theme, making it completely your own.
Dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels are the "it" thing right now in YA literature and Ashes will delight fans of those genres without rehashing the same old story. Ashes is delightful in that it gives the reader the post-apocalyptic experience without skimping on the actual apocalypse. Reader get to see things from day one through Alex's eyes. I loved this, as I'm often one of those readers who wants to know more about exactly what happened that led up to whatever dystopian civilization I'm reading about.
The EMP killed lots of people. Many of those who survived were changed into violent, cannibalistic predators. Ashes is the story of the few remaining unchanged people. The humans left to figure out how to survive. The main character, Alex, a teenager on her own in the woods far away from her remaining family when the EMP hits, is perfectly written. She's strong, independent and can accept she doesn't have a clue what the right thing to do is in this particular situation.
Full of zombie-esque creatures, post-apocalyptic human evils and truly crazy twists, Ashes is flat out amazing.
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