Ashes, Ashes

By: Jo Treggiari

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

The world has ended... What comes next? Smallpox epidemics, floods, droughts—for 16-year old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, stealing with it everyone she ever loved. Even the landscape of her beloved New York City is ever-shifting and full of hidden dangers. As the weather rages out of control, she survives alone in the wilds of Central Park, hunting and foraging for food and making do with the little she has, while avoiding roving scavengers and thieves. But when an unrelenting pack of vicious hounds begins to hunt her, Lucy is not sure she can continue on her own. Then, suddenly, she is swept to safety by a mysterious boy named Aidan, who helps her escape the hounds and urgers her to join a band of survivors. Reluctantly, she finds him after her home is destroyed; however, new dangers await her.An army of Sweepers terrorizes the camp, carting off innocent people and infecting them with the plague. Lucy and Aidan realize that it's up to them to save their friends, but Lucy doesn't know that the Sweepers have laid a trap—for her. There is something special about Lucy, and the Sweepers will stop at nothing to have her in their clutches. Jo Treggiari spins a thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.

©2011 Jo Treggiari (P)2011 Oasis

good story, emotionless narrator.

The story is good, probably great, but I can NOT get past the narrator. She speaks emotionless. She speaks the same way when she is describing what a building looks like as when she is talking about a really scary happening that is meant to put you on the edge of your seat. I have listened to well over 100 books but this is the first that I've felt compelled to write a review about. If you can get past the boring narrator, I'm sure this is really good. But I can't.

Eh

What could Jo Treggiari have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Write characters with more depth and smarts. These are not exactly cream of the crop..

What didn’t you like about Cassandra Campbell’s performance?

Her general lack of emotion was kind of annoying.

Any additional comments?

I originally wanted to listen to this book because I love post apocalyptic dystopian books. Most of the ones I read don't let me down, but I found this book completely predictable. So predictable in fact, that it made the characters seem kind of stupid in the most obvious ways. The only time I enjoyed Lucy as a main character was in the beginning of the book when she was alone. Her surviving on her own made her seem at least smart enough not to die in the wilds, but when she joins the camp, you kind of see that shes really not that bright. I also found the beginning of the book the only time I really felt bad for Lucy losing her entire family. The rest of the book mentions them, but not in the same way. It kind of fades them out. As weird as it sounds, the emotion and drive to survive that resonates in most apocalyptic books is only found in the first half of this one. The rest of the book is set up in a way that actually made me somewhat angry because the main character becomes stupid, attracted to a person who seems like hes a player, and pretty much becomes a follower. Based on this book, i don't think I would read another from this author.

Good survivor story

Young girl on her own in a post apocolyptic world, joins a village, finds out evil scientists are afoot, fights with them, rescues buds...sounds like a sequel is possible. Good stroy tho.

Fairly predictable

Good story but fairly predictable. I’ll still listen to the rest of the series though because it’s well written.

Typical YA romance

I was really hoping for more of a survival story, it wasn't bad at first, but the end was just ridiculous.

A real page-turner..

What made the experience of listening to Ashes, Ashes the most enjoyable?

Plot developments are unexpected.

Which character – as performed by Cassandra Campbell – was your favorite?

I really like Lucy - I can relate to her and am rooting for her as she learns to trust her instincts, and gains self-confidence.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listen during my workouts, and listening made me anxious for my next session at the gym!

Expected something better

What did you like best about Ashes, Ashes? What did you like least?

i liked the world building it was unique and I really could imagine it vividly .. Lucy was a good main character and Loe :'( I loved him so much

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I have mixed feelings because I think there is a second book for this series yet it is not a continuation .. so I don't know what to think

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

she have a voice of a narrator and I liked her performance very much specially for Henry and Leo and grammile rose :)

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

I think so .. but with better adjustments to the characters .. Maybe Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer

Any additional comments?

I was so excited to read this book but it disappointed me in some ways .. I didn't enjoy it that much but the world building is very good

It grabbed on to me tight and held hard!

If you could sum up Ashes, Ashes in three words, what would they be?

fast, fun, touching

What other book might you compare Ashes, Ashes to and why?

The Stand, both are about the survival of the common people after the end of the world and they both do it right.

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

She really made me feel like I was there for the ride.

Any additional comments?

I love a good post apocalyptic read and I love a good young adult novel. This book delivered both of those things and more. I always try and go into a book from an author I have never read with an open mind but this book had already been so built up to me ahead of time that that was virtually impossible. I had some trepidation because of this, fearing that the book would not live up to my expectations.

I never should have feared.

Jo Treggiari crafts a world that is rich and full in it's dark intensity. The deep back story of the world in general and the main character in particular are handled masterfully and integrated seamlessly into the overall narrative. But more importantly than how well the tale was crafted the story was engrossing. I loved the characters, especially Sammy, and the conflicts held my interest until the very end.

The love story was tender and resonated with me. It was a perfect tale of first love set in a world that has collapsed. There was a genuine reality to it ... and the first kiss touched me deeply.

If there is any complaint that I have it is that I would have liked a little more information on the world outside the submerged ruins of New York City. Not a change in the narrative just a little more on the tragedies the befell the remainder of humanity.

I will read this again.

Can't wait for this authors next book!

This was a great listen. I love dystopian novels and this one didn't disappoint. I bought it as a gamble since it was a first book for the author but the story was exciting and I really enjoyed this recording. A great listen for adults too!

Feisty female character for a change!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to any friend with a teen or pre-teen daughter. Here is a book that is inspiring and empowering for young girls.

If you ever read or watched the movie twilight and felt disgusted by the insipid character of the pathetic girl that 'needs' a boy to feel worthwhile, then here is a book that achieves the opposite. The main character 'Lucy' is feisty and independent and brave. Thank goodness there is an author out there that realizes the power of female role models in prose.

The book has action and romance and intrigue and all the things that will rope any young girl into voraciously consuming this story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ashes, Ashes?

There are many incredible moments in Ashes Ashes, but it is really amazing how the author transforms some familiar landscapes into the catastrophic remains of what it used to be.