The Beautiful Ashes

Starred review from September 29, 2014
Frost's fast-paced paranormal romantic thriller is a pure stunner. Ivy is already overwhelmed by dealing with her parents' death and the disappearance of her sister, Jasmine. The last thing she needs is Adrian, an undeniably handsome stranger, telling her that the visions that she's had since childhood are completely real and Jasmine has been kidnapped by demons. Soon, Ivy is on an epic adventure of Biblical proportions. She comes from the line of King David and can see into demon realms as well as destroy demons. Adrian isn't a demon, but he's the sworn enemy of the Davidians. Nonetheless, the attraction between them is too intense to ignore. As Ivy searches for the one weapon that might let her save her sister, she slowly comes to grips with her place in this archaic and never-ending war. Frost (Once Burned) skillfully balances passion and peril in an attention-grabbing story that's exciting from the first page. The mythos is intriguing and inventive. Readers will hungrily anticipate the next installment.

Narrator Tavia Gilbert's dramatic talent ensures that each scene of this fast-paced, unpredictable series debut is captivating. She perfectly embodies Ivy, a woman blessed--or cursed--with otherworldly visions. When her sister vanishes, Ivy learns not only that her visions are real but also that she's in mortal peril, and the only person she can trust is the enigmatic, dangerously handsome Adrian, a man who has sworn to betray her. Gilbert switches characters with almost startling swiftness--from Ivy's weary determination and growing dread to Adrian's charming cunning--and deals with the mounting tension between them expertly. She paces her narration perfectly, keeping the action scenes exciting and Ivy's dawning understanding of her powers a source of suspense and surprise. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine