Shadows by Ilsa Bick
1 October 2012 
Read Shadows recently whilst on holiday. Shadows takes over where Ashes left off (and believe me that really was a cliffhanger ending with what felt like a very long year’s wait!). Anyway, my review for Ashes is here. If you’re interested in reading this post apocalyptic zombie style book then read no further as this will certainly contain spoilers for book No.1
With this being the second in the series it’s difficult to give too much away about the plot without spoiling it even for people who haven’t picked No.2 up yet – basically we left the first book on such a note that pretty much anything could be considered a spoiler at this point. So, I’m going to steer away from the plot. Other than to say Alex is desperately trying to stay alive in a world where the boundaries are constantly changing, there are no rules and she seems to be fighting against inner demons of her own.
Well, I was looking for a gory zombie book a few weeks ago and here it is. This book and the last are action packed for sure and with plenty of twists and turns. Literally there is no let up. We seem to roll from one ‘oh my giddy aunt I cannot believe it’ moment directly to the next. Neither of these books are for the feint hearted and I will say that if you’re squeamish then just forget about picking these up. Really, just step away. I thought the same thing anyway after reading the first book but the second instalment is even more grisly. The thing with this author is she has no fear about killing people off, in quite vicious ways, which makes you feel afraid for everyone in the story – and really with good reason because it seems like anything can, and will, happen. Once again I think the level of detail manages to convey the world really well without being overly descriptive and I also like that way that events are constantly moving forward with numerous threads overlapping and eventually coming together and new characters being added along the way.
In terms of criticisms. Well, firstly, we have another cliffhanger – give me a break with the cliffhangers please!!! Secondly, it’s been a year since the first book. Frankly, I think I would have greatly benefited by having a reread of Ashes before I delved into this one – but no, I couldn’t wait. Consequently it did take me a bit to remember who everyone was and how they all relate to the story. The author isn’t treating us with kid gloves in this follow up – there is no recapping. If you’re a bit sketchy on any of the detail you really will probably need to have a bit of a refresh otherwise you might be floundering about a bit at first. Particularly as there is a lot going on and more than one POV.
That being said I have a lot of respect for the fact that we don’t have a book with loads of backstory constantly being dredged over. It didn’t take me long to get back into the flow of things and once I did I could barely put the book down. It’s fast, it’s scary it’s gory, it has story lines cleverly interwoven and it takes us to a place that is really terrifying to contemplate living in. Bleak and a bit desolate – in the way of The Road but instead of humans driven to the brink of madness and despair we have a new monster – one that is developing and learning a sort of sneaky intelligence – not to mention these zombies are not the slow shambling along zombies we’ve seen before – they’re fast. They work together and they have a sort of pack system that they obey. Pretty freaky really.
I enjoyed this dark and grisly book and even though I can’t abide waiting – I suppose I’ll have to – for book No.3
I will be including this in my R.I.P. event – I think it qualifies being full of blood and gore!!!
Ashes by Ilsa J Bick
Just finished reading Ashes by Ilsa J Bick and must say this was a totally gripping, fast paced, edge of the seat type of story. I loved it and couldn’t put it down.
This is a post apocalyptic style of book with a bit of flesh eating canibalism thrown in. The world is devastated by a series of events that change the nature of everything we know, killing most people – and leaving only the young or old alive. There are a few other survivors who, for differing reasons don’t die and become known as the ‘spared’. The young people become known as the ‘changed’. They’ve turned into flesh hunting creatures – I don’t know whether you would call them zombies or not but they are like wild animals, craving human flesh but they are not without intelligence and the ability to adapt and that together with their savagery and speed makes them absolutely terrifying.
At the start of the story, and pre the events that change the world, Alex is on a lone hiking expedition, she is carrying her parents ashes and is looking for closure and answers. Alex has an inoperable brain tumor and has reached the decision to stop with her medication. She doesn’t expect to come back from her trip into the wild but things are set to change dramatically. Whilst in the forest Alex meets an old man and his grand daughter, Ellie, but before they’ve even had a chance to get through their introductions chaos descends. A massive EMP sweeps over the country killing the old man and leaving Alex and Ellie alone.
The pace of the book is brilliant. The story races along and we watch Alex and Ellie stumbling through the forest and quickly coming to the realisation that things have gone drastically wrong. There is so much tension in this first part of the book (don’t know how many times I was reading with my mouth shaped in a perfect ‘O’). The two girls seem to stumble from one horrifying situation to the next until Tom enters the scene at a very opportune moment. Tom was camping with friends when disaster struck and is now the only survivor of that little party. The three then continue through the forest until they come across an abandoned ranger station (I so wanted them to stay there – head in the sand style – although I don’t suppose the book would have been very interesting if they had).
I don’t really want to say too much more about the story because it will spoil the suspense.
This is a dark and gritty tale, quite harrowing in parts and certainly not one for the squeamish. Ilsa Bick is not afraid to call a spade a spade and she doesn’t flinch from telling the gory scenes as they are. We go from one nerve racking event to the next as the three try to survive and come up with a plan.
I really liked the characters. I thought Alex had a great voice, she’s mature for her age but that’s to be expected with the events of her young life. Ellie is quite possibly the most annoying character in the world – but then she’s only eight and you have to cut her some slack as she has just witnessed the death of her only family member. She is totally grating and goes bumbling into things, flouncing through the forest making enough noise to awaken hibernating bears (the least of their worries) and telling everyone she hates them. But in spite of that I couldn’t help but become attached to her and want to look after her. Even after everything she has suffered she still manages to retain some childlike qualities and simple pleasures. Tom is a very likable bloke, firstly he saves their lives, he is mysterious and has his own problems but he is dependable and he knows how to survive. He just feels safe and strong.
Of course there are more twists and turns and a bit of heart wrenching which all ends in suspense but I won’t elaborate further.
The last third of the book has a decidedly different feel and introduces a new bunch of characters – this part doesn’t feel as ‘on the edge of the seat’ as the first two thirds but it’s nonetheless intriguing and, yet again, jaw dropping as the creepy and sinister happenings in the town of Rule start to become clear.
This book just reminds me of so many things and yet it also manages to be original and exciting.
In terms of criticisms the only thing I can really say is that this does end on a cliffhanger – a BIG cliffhanger – and let’s face it there is now a year’s wait before we get book No.2! If you really don’t have the patience you were born with then maybe you should wait a few months before reading and then that way the wait won’t be quite as devastating!
I would definitely recommend this book and can’t wait for the next installment.
Rating A+
Ashes
Books and travelling with Lynn 