While you are waiting for more news on my book #Futurity, here is a review for a book I came across because the author found me on Goodreads and requested me to write a honest review about "As The Ash Fell".
Positive Content: Strong heroism, strong sense of right and
wrong, strong characters, male and female, unique premise, intense, exciting,
and fun. It has interesting thoughts on spirituality, morals, prayer, God, and
hope.
Negative Content: Violence/blood, a couple kisses multiple
times (though not in a suggestive context), mature elements of sexuality (men
using women etc.) but nothing is shown or described. Cannibals are depicted
though not in detail.
Movie Rating: PG-13 – for strong intense violence, thematic
elements, and suggestive material.
*Note* Some of the violence could be considered a mild “R”
to some readers. It just depends on preference and taste. The description is
minimal.
The Synopsis: Seven
years after super volcanoes filled the skies with ash and destroyed
most of civilization, Clay Whitaker is stretched to his limit. He takes
cares of orphans with his older sister in a world where kindness has
lost its meaning.
The Screamers roam at night ready to kill any
who cross their path and starving people kill each other for a can of
food. But all is not lost. Clay is fighting for good in a morally grey
planet.
Will he succeed? Will he survive long enough to fall in love?
Only time will tell.
My Opinion: When AJ Powers asked me to review this book, I
wasn’t sure what to expect. I read the synopsis and listened to what he had to
say about it, but to be honest I was still leery, especially after the
ridiculous books I’ve read lately.
But after researching as much as I could, I decided to take
the dive, and read it.
The beginning showed a lot of promise, we are introduced to
a strong main character, foreboding hints of a savage tribe called “The
Screamers”, realistic descriptions of hunting/dressing animals, and survivals
skills.
But during all this, I noticed that Mr. Powers smoothly
switched from different points of view in a scene. Ordinarily, this is a big
no-no for authors to do. You always stay with one point of view in a given
scene to keep things from getting sporadic and confusing. But Mr. Powers is one
of the rare authors to actually do it well. It wasn’t confusing but instead
seemed to enhance the story.
Some readers may find the descriptions of survival
techniques tiresome. Also, it did seem to slow down the story but I personally thought
it helped the mood of gritty reality this story wields.
Over all, I really liked this book. The characters felt
real, the premise plausible, the story powerful. I thought the mature elements
of this book were tastefully done, especially in the sexuality department. The
author didn’t shy away from reality but is tasteful with it.
I became really attached to certain characters. And one of
them died, I might add.
The ending is very surprising, satisfying, complete, and
moving. I’m not saying that this book doesn’t have its share of edgy story
twists, action, realism, and tragedy but it has something more. I have a hard
time putting it to words.
It’s the end of the
road after a long journey, the freshness of a new adventure, and the hope that
a sun rise brings.
And that is how this
story made me feel.
