While I applaud the author for such a unique and interesting premise, its delivery fell slightly short for me. The main character, Natalie, personally was hard to relate too just because she is so young. However, that is just me. Something that did not seem right was how oddly independent and mature all the characters acted for 14 year olds. For example, Evan and Natalie were supposedly in a blossoming relationship that perhaps is love, but they are so young! Not just that, but their parents are almost never home and seem to not exist. It is explained that they work and travel a lot, but this felt very unrealistic to me.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book and so do not feel like I can write a full and proper review.

Ebbing Neptune Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Ashes to Ashes. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Natalie and her brother Ben are moved to a gated community by their parents. It is hard to be the new kid in school and the mixed reception by the students is a source of anxiety for Natalie. When she starts receiving cryptic messages surrounding the date of November 1st, what will the young woman do?

Ashes to Ashes suffers from an identity crisis, as it shifts from feeling like a romance to a mystery. The teenagers do not seem genuine, as they are supposed to be just starting high school yet the characters are oddly mature for their ages. This lack of realism takes away from any connection to the characters that I might have felt, which was a disappointment. The mystery aspects of Ashes to Ashes are good, but a little predictable. The book falls off a cliff at the ending, as there is obviously going to be a second book. The lack of ending and the less than realistic nature of the characters would make me hesitate before recommending Ashes to Ashes to other readers.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this book, as I couldn't get into it - nothing against the author or book, just not to my personal taste. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Interesting premise with some predictable parts, generally enjoyable

I want to thank Netgalley and Ebbing Neptune Publishing for providing me with this copy in exchange for honest review

3.5 / 5 Stars

I'm pretty surprised right now, I think the end of this book is great and if you are looking for surprise I would recommend it.

Ashes to Ashes is a mystery and suspense book, which aims to keep the reader on the edge of his seat and has succeeded, certainly the best aspect of the book is its great content of mystery that causes you to ask questions constantly and try to find out what is happening all the time, and although you may feel something lost in some moments, I think that has a great conclusion in the end

I go for this book because of its great synopsis , sounds of the most interesting, the idea of the book in general is to keep you trapped in the plot to then give you a big surprise and that has left me very satisfied. I've seen that for some people the revelation of the plot has been somewhat hasty, not for me, but I can understand why, so I wouldn't say that this is the book problem but of appreciations and in what each one are looking for in a mystery book

It has been a very easy to read book, I've enjoyed it, but at the same time I haven't been able to connect 100% with the characters, which is always an important point for me, I think it was due to the lack of development of them, I think that the writer has turned entirely to create a great plot that catches the reader, and has neglected the characters a little, that's my respectful opinion about. The dialogues seem forced at times which makes it difficult to think of the character as a real person, I don't know if that makes sense, but it's what I felt

I think the writer also included important points to analyze in the plot but at the same time I don't think they have been touched deeply as I would have liked

And this doesn't have to do with the book itself, but with its cover, I don't like it at all, I think it could be much more catchy and be more connected with the plot, I think I would have more attention , but it's only a personal opinion, I have seen that many people like it so it's depends the person I suppose

In the end it has been a enjoyable reading, I would recommend it if you want to surprise yourself and read a fast paced mistery book, even though I have had some problems with it, maybe aren't problems for you

A mysterious and mind boggling tale that will leave readers guessing. Natalie is your average teen girl until she starts receiving notes urging her to not attend school on November 1st. What is the motive behind the notes? What is going to happen on November 1st? Readers will be eager to find out. Definitely recommend.

--I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are purely my own and not influenced in any way.--

I was drawn to Ashes to Ashes from the synopsis alone, and I was pretty sure I already knew the twist about 30% in, which I was actually kind of right about. There were some really good ideas in here, unfortunately those ideas were bogged down with little to no character development and some terrible pacing (plus gratuitous magic for some reason tacked on in the end even though nothing even vaguely hinted at this being that sort of world). There was no real character-development - which is odd since you would think that given the big reveal that characters would be kind of a big deal to drive this story-but all of the characters stay exactly the same throughout and you learn very little about them until the infodump Natalie is given in the end (and the main focus of that infodump was about her brother, who had virtually no character and I totally forgot his <i>name</i> until that point). I kind of liked Love and even Natalie to a point, but they were used as devices to move the plot along instead of someone to relate to.
I really have to talk about the pacing here because it was all over the goddamn place. In one chapter it was the beginning of the school year, in another it's already October 30, then it's randomly spring. There is no rhyme or reason to this and it's incredibly jarring, as the action also goes anywhere from quick-paced to trudging. I actually skimmed a good chunk of the middle portion because it was so bogged down in minute details and nothing new happening. It picks up in the end, and the twist is...okay, but there are a lot of dropped plots and plotholes you could drive a truck through. The book also just ends with a possible sequel hook which could be interesting, but only if the flaws with this book are ironed out. Would I recommend this as is? Nope, not at all. But I think with a little editing and better cohesiveness then it could work and should a sequel happen, I would still read it because I like the ideas this book has and I want to see the book improve.

Book Title: Ashes to Ashes
Author: Valerie Thomas
Series: I guess…it’s a series???
Genre: YA, Mystery, Splash of Paranormal
Publisher: Ebbing Neptune Publishing
Source: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review




⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜

Plot: 1/5
Main Characters: 1.5/5
Secondary Characters: 1/5
The Feels: 0/5
Addictiveness: 0/5
Theme or Tone: 1/5
Flow (Writing Style): 2/5
Backdrop (World Building): 1/5
Originality: 1/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Ending: 1.5/5 Cliffhanger: Yes, and goodreads doesn't even say this is a series yet.

Will I continue this series? NONONONO!!! JUST NO…

Overall Rating: 1/5 Stars

⇝My Thoughts⇜

I've tried to write how I feel about this book and nothing comes out right…I just can't. I can't recommend this, I can't even explain why…It's just not plausible or conceivable. I tried to like it, even just a little...It became so tedious, that I skimmed quite a bit, once I was about a 1/3 of the way in.

Fair warning this is only the first book so be prepared to come to the end wanting more but knowing patience must become your greatest virtue. This is a suspenseful mystery that wants to grab its readers and pull them along on an exciting ride.

Right from the beginning we get to meet the characters that will shape this story which promises to be intriguing thanks to some extreme emotional outpouring in the first scene. The pace continues fairly slowly so we are given the opportunity to meet and understand whose story it is we will be witnessing.

There are moments the story’s pace becomes agonizingly slow and your frustration will increase but only because Thomas has provided so many intriguing questions you become desperate for those answers. She has created a suspenseful plot with a curious storyline and some interesting characters.

Unfortunately there wasn’t a lot of development in the characters and some seemingly important ones, like the protagonists parents, seem to be missing. Since it’s only the first book I’m withholding too harsh of judgment on any flaws because it wouldn’t be the first time where I’ve read the first book in a series that was barely more than skeleton material only for the juicy stuff to come into play in future books.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next one because I’m vastly curious to see what she’s going to do.

So, Ashes to Ashes seemed to have a really interesting premise. The synopsis drew me in, and even when I started reading, I kept wanting more as the mystery got weirder and weirder. But about 25% in, the story really started going downhill for me. None of it really made much logical sense, and it was a story of coincidence and convenience which never impresses me. Also, Natalie was a dull and annoying narrator who went from being completely clueless to acting like she knew everything. I found most, if not all of the characters irritating, and kinda just wanted to finish the book to see the twist. The twist was unfortunately not a very good one. It didn't wow me, and that disappointed me because I really wanted to love this book. However, Ashes to Ashes just wasn't for me.

Well written but the ending was too rushed for the seriousness of the topic. I think I would have preferred this to be a fully completed story rather than a series. The main character is quite hard to like, which is not necessarily a negative but some of her decisions were very questionable.

I am so very sorry, but the only thing this book has going for it is the germ of a good idea.

The characters are about 14 years old. At 14, they have driver's licenses, driver's permits, zero adult supervision, some hot and heavy 'relationships', and the vocabulary of adults.

The truth behind everything is so convoluted and ridiculous. When one of the characters explains their motivations and past, my mind just broke. Argh, I don't do spoilers, but if you let me, I could go on for the next half hour about everything that just didn't make sense about that explanation. And hey...when science fails...just throw random magic into the story out of absolutely nowhere!

And the book doesn't end. It's not a cliffhanger. It's not hints at an amazing second book. It's more like, we're done now.............really?

A generous two stars due to that germ of an idea. I'm just sorry it went nowhere logical

What an awesome ride; start to finish. Can't wait for the next book! Loved every minute of it :-)