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Ashes on the Waves
Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.
With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make awager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.
Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem, "Annabel Lee," Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.
With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make awager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.
Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem, "Annabel Lee," Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2013
25 people are currently reading
7860 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lindsey
9 books946 followersMary Lindsey is a multi-award-winning, RITA nominated author of romance for adults and teens. She lives on the Texas Gulf Coast with her ever-patient husband, two cantankerous Cairn Terriers, and twenty-six bossy chickens.
Mary also writes under the pseudonym Marissa Clarke
Mary also writes under the pseudonym Marissa Clarke
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September 10, 2012Writing this book was an honor and delight. I am so grateful for the opportunity. Thank you to everyone who has given me support along the way.
August 10, 2015
“Love is the only thing that lasts forever.”
This was one of those books which when I tried to read it, it really irritated me, but when I tried listening to it instead, I actually quite liked it.
Anna was a bit of a b*tch at the start of this book, but it was nice to see how she grew over the course of the story. I found it quite difficult to really connect with Liam, and I can’t say I really felt all that much for him, I preferred Anna.
The storyline in this was a little strange, and it was also quite slow. This bugged me whilst reading, but didn’t bother me quite so much when I was listening to it and could do something else at the same time! Mainly the story was about Liam believeing he was a demon, something that he had been told all his life, and about the romance between Liam and Anna.
The ending to this was really quite sad, and then a bit confusing. I really wish that what happened hadn’t happened though.
7 out of 10
July 19, 2013
"I wept for my own condition. My loneliness. My misery. Myself."
Ye gods, so much emo here.
This book starts off with a text of Edgar Allan Poe's beloved poem, Annabel Lee. I am a proud, card-bearing member of the Edgar Allan Poe bandwagon. I absolutely love his writing, particularly his poetry, and Annabel Lee is among my favorite poem among his wide repertoire. The premise of the story being based on the poem suckered me in. And I mean, suckered, since this book is a hot mess with a microscopic connection to Edgar Allan Poe's works. It pisses me off, because it feels like the author uses the famed author's name and quotes his works as more of a selling point than any actual relation or tribute to the author himself. And mark my words, every single fucking chapter starts off with a quotation from a piece of Edgar Allan Poe's writing. I hate thin premises that promise more than they ever intend to deliver. There is an overwhelmingly Celtic feel to this book than there is anything remotely Poe-related.
In the book, the main character Liam constantly refers to his love, Annabel Leighton as his "beautiful creature," though there may be no relation between this work and Edgar Allan Poe's, I can see very clearly a definite parallel between this book and the Beautiful Creatures franchise. And make no mistake, I am no big fan of the Beautiful Creatures series.
The setting certainly does live up to its "gothic" advertisement. The problem is that it can't make up its mind when the hell it wants to be. We have a present day setting. 2013. It doesn't feel like 2013, not on the island of Dòchas. The people there are ass-backwards. In Dòchas, the calendar is firmly entrenched in the 19th century. The people living there firmly believe in mythical creatures. They believe Liam is a demon; they believe that he killed his mother at his birth. They believe in the bean sidhe, Na Fir Ghorm, Cailleach (washer-woman), selkies, Otherworlders. They barely have technology. They force their daughters to marry at age 14. They have no justice system; a man can kill or beat his wife and get away with it. Servants know their place. The villagers (literally) form lynch mobs to burn/kill off whom they believe to be demons and witches. 2013 is but a distant dream to the people living on Dòchas.
Enter Annabel Leighton, the book's version of Paris Hilton. She is a notorious heiress and socialite in New York City, despite her young age of 18. Her parents have gotten so sick of her embarrassing antics that they've shipped her off to Dòchas in the impending event of her brother's wedding to a politician's daughter so she won't be able to embarrass her family any further. She is the definition of entitled, spoiled little wild-child rich girl. At 16, she completely exposed herself in front of strangers, and has been tabloid fodder with her drunken, naked, attention-seeking antics ever since. Spare me the excuses. It takes a whole lot of eggnog to get that drunk, my dear.
Even so, Liam has been madly in love with her and keeping up with her life through what he reads of her through the shipped-in newspapers ever since. His only contact with her has been the few times they have played together as children (Princess Annabel and Prince Leem) when she was summering on the island 13 years ago. Liam constantly makes excuses for her self-indulgent behavior; naturally, there is spectacular and head-bashingly unbelievable insta-love on both ends.
“You undress, pull pranks, indulge in all manner of chemical substances, and say outrageous things. And you don’t act like you reportedly do in the tabloids. You are deep, sincere, and caring—caring enough to not want to harm another living creature. There’s an element missing on this island that causes you to behave differently. Do you know what I think it is?...Your parents. You and I are very much alike. You want more than anything in the world to be noticed by your parents---to garner their love. Just like me.”
So according to Liam, Anna just acts like Paris Hilton because she wants to be loved by her parents. Spare me. Plenty of parents are ignorant of their children. We don't all show our cootch to the public before even reaching legal age.
Liam is the reason why I draw the comparison to Beautiful Creatures. In that series, many people have complained that Ethan is too feminine. I've read that book. I agree. I've read a lot of books with male narrators, and I have to say, short of outrightly gay characters, Liam is the most feminine guy I've ever encountered. If I had not known that the narrator was male, I never would have guessed from reading this book. He observes the slightest details when it comes to his obsession of Anna.
The way the light reflect on her hair: "Sun flitted across the leaves and boughs as the wind caught the branches, giving the woods life and the magical quality I’d always loved. Flecks of light bounced off of Anna’s long, silky hair, making her appear as ethereal as Titania."
The clarity of her skin: "The light from the window reflected off her sleek ebony hair and flitted across her alabaster skin.
The clothes she wears: "Ebony waves cascaded over her shoulders, and her clothes, unlike any worn here on Dòchas, clung to her slender form like those from the etching of Venus in my book of nineteenth-century French poetry. I covered my mouth to stifle a gasp."
And dreaming of marriage to someone he's barely known, surely that's something teen boys do, right? "The thought of being married to this magnificent creature seemed too fine a fantasy to cast off quickly, so I paced the porch for a moment, letting the images of us together fill my head."
Um. No. I'd like to say he is old-fashioned, which he is, but it's not. Liam's observations are nowhere that of the average male. Some romantic readers may say, oh, he's more than that, he's a very sensitive, highly observant male. I don't. I don't buy it at all.
Liam is a complete innocent, having never been exposed to popular culture of any kind. His pattern of speech is extremely formal and firmly entrenched in the 19th century, and it is a stark and shocking contrast compared to Anna's casual and very modern speech and pattern of thought. Anna is a typical modern teenage girl, as annoying as she can sometimes be, as entitled as she is. Liam is a character straight out of a Regency HR. The book feels so strange with these two contrasting cultures and thought and speech patterns, from the foreign and very modern Anna, to the ass-backwards waters of Liam and Dòchas. Liam's Ethan-Wate-ish feminity is combined with Lena's sense of martyrdom, self-pity, and emotional flagellation. Liam is such a martyr. He blames himself for everything; he truly believes he's a horrible creature, a demon who will bring about death and destruction among those he touches.
Oh, and Francine? She is totally Amma. She cares for him and has been caring for him since his mother died. She gives him advice, defends him against the others who would speak ill of him, she protects him. Francine all but gives him a condom as she pushes Liam and Anna together. It's so weird and creepy.
In summary: feminine, unbelievable male narrator, annoying, insta-love between the two very young teens, with a very rapidly escalating and unrealistic relationship. Strange setting that doesn't know what or when it wants to be. People who act out of place, out of time. Flimsy connection to Edgar Allan Poe. Good writing, beautifully atmospheric, but overly dramatic characters and setting. Still does not make up for everything else that's wrong. Skip this book.
Ye gods, so much emo here.
This book starts off with a text of Edgar Allan Poe's beloved poem, Annabel Lee. I am a proud, card-bearing member of the Edgar Allan Poe bandwagon. I absolutely love his writing, particularly his poetry, and Annabel Lee is among my favorite poem among his wide repertoire. The premise of the story being based on the poem suckered me in. And I mean, suckered, since this book is a hot mess with a microscopic connection to Edgar Allan Poe's works. It pisses me off, because it feels like the author uses the famed author's name and quotes his works as more of a selling point than any actual relation or tribute to the author himself. And mark my words, every single fucking chapter starts off with a quotation from a piece of Edgar Allan Poe's writing. I hate thin premises that promise more than they ever intend to deliver. There is an overwhelmingly Celtic feel to this book than there is anything remotely Poe-related.
In the book, the main character Liam constantly refers to his love, Annabel Leighton as his "beautiful creature," though there may be no relation between this work and Edgar Allan Poe's, I can see very clearly a definite parallel between this book and the Beautiful Creatures franchise. And make no mistake, I am no big fan of the Beautiful Creatures series.
The setting certainly does live up to its "gothic" advertisement. The problem is that it can't make up its mind when the hell it wants to be. We have a present day setting. 2013. It doesn't feel like 2013, not on the island of Dòchas. The people there are ass-backwards. In Dòchas, the calendar is firmly entrenched in the 19th century. The people living there firmly believe in mythical creatures. They believe Liam is a demon; they believe that he killed his mother at his birth. They believe in the bean sidhe, Na Fir Ghorm, Cailleach (washer-woman), selkies, Otherworlders. They barely have technology. They force their daughters to marry at age 14. They have no justice system; a man can kill or beat his wife and get away with it. Servants know their place. The villagers (literally) form lynch mobs to burn/kill off whom they believe to be demons and witches. 2013 is but a distant dream to the people living on Dòchas.
Enter Annabel Leighton, the book's version of Paris Hilton. She is a notorious heiress and socialite in New York City, despite her young age of 18. Her parents have gotten so sick of her embarrassing antics that they've shipped her off to Dòchas in the impending event of her brother's wedding to a politician's daughter so she won't be able to embarrass her family any further. She is the definition of entitled, spoiled little wild-child rich girl. At 16, she completely exposed herself in front of strangers, and has been tabloid fodder with her drunken, naked, attention-seeking antics ever since. Spare me the excuses. It takes a whole lot of eggnog to get that drunk, my dear.
Even so, Liam has been madly in love with her and keeping up with her life through what he reads of her through the shipped-in newspapers ever since. His only contact with her has been the few times they have played together as children (Princess Annabel and Prince Leem) when she was summering on the island 13 years ago. Liam constantly makes excuses for her self-indulgent behavior; naturally, there is spectacular and head-bashingly unbelievable insta-love on both ends.
“You undress, pull pranks, indulge in all manner of chemical substances, and say outrageous things. And you don’t act like you reportedly do in the tabloids. You are deep, sincere, and caring—caring enough to not want to harm another living creature. There’s an element missing on this island that causes you to behave differently. Do you know what I think it is?...Your parents. You and I are very much alike. You want more than anything in the world to be noticed by your parents---to garner their love. Just like me.”
So according to Liam, Anna just acts like Paris Hilton because she wants to be loved by her parents. Spare me. Plenty of parents are ignorant of their children. We don't all show our cootch to the public before even reaching legal age.
Liam is the reason why I draw the comparison to Beautiful Creatures. In that series, many people have complained that Ethan is too feminine. I've read that book. I agree. I've read a lot of books with male narrators, and I have to say, short of outrightly gay characters, Liam is the most feminine guy I've ever encountered. If I had not known that the narrator was male, I never would have guessed from reading this book. He observes the slightest details when it comes to his obsession of Anna.
The way the light reflect on her hair: "Sun flitted across the leaves and boughs as the wind caught the branches, giving the woods life and the magical quality I’d always loved. Flecks of light bounced off of Anna’s long, silky hair, making her appear as ethereal as Titania."
The clarity of her skin: "The light from the window reflected off her sleek ebony hair and flitted across her alabaster skin.
The clothes she wears: "Ebony waves cascaded over her shoulders, and her clothes, unlike any worn here on Dòchas, clung to her slender form like those from the etching of Venus in my book of nineteenth-century French poetry. I covered my mouth to stifle a gasp."
And dreaming of marriage to someone he's barely known, surely that's something teen boys do, right? "The thought of being married to this magnificent creature seemed too fine a fantasy to cast off quickly, so I paced the porch for a moment, letting the images of us together fill my head."
Um. No. I'd like to say he is old-fashioned, which he is, but it's not. Liam's observations are nowhere that of the average male. Some romantic readers may say, oh, he's more than that, he's a very sensitive, highly observant male. I don't. I don't buy it at all.
Liam is a complete innocent, having never been exposed to popular culture of any kind. His pattern of speech is extremely formal and firmly entrenched in the 19th century, and it is a stark and shocking contrast compared to Anna's casual and very modern speech and pattern of thought. Anna is a typical modern teenage girl, as annoying as she can sometimes be, as entitled as she is. Liam is a character straight out of a Regency HR. The book feels so strange with these two contrasting cultures and thought and speech patterns, from the foreign and very modern Anna, to the ass-backwards waters of Liam and Dòchas. Liam's Ethan-Wate-ish feminity is combined with Lena's sense of martyrdom, self-pity, and emotional flagellation. Liam is such a martyr. He blames himself for everything; he truly believes he's a horrible creature, a demon who will bring about death and destruction among those he touches.
Oh, and Francine? She is totally Amma. She cares for him and has been caring for him since his mother died. She gives him advice, defends him against the others who would speak ill of him, she protects him. Francine all but gives him a condom as she pushes Liam and Anna together. It's so weird and creepy.
In summary: feminine, unbelievable male narrator, annoying, insta-love between the two very young teens, with a very rapidly escalating and unrealistic relationship. Strange setting that doesn't know what or when it wants to be. People who act out of place, out of time. Flimsy connection to Edgar Allan Poe. Good writing, beautifully atmospheric, but overly dramatic characters and setting. Still does not make up for everything else that's wrong. Skip this book.
June 11, 2013
"He's cursed. He's human flesh worn by a demon."
A fantastically atmospheric Gothic novel, Ashes on the Waves is based on an eerie Edgar Allan Poe poem - which is really all you need to know, right?
In a way, this novel reminded me a little of Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz. It's set on a secluded island where people live in the old ways without much as far as laws and structure goes. There is also paranormal presence that makes the island unique, and a little chilling. Like in Teeth, you will need to go into this with an open mind as the novel is not considered a paranormal, but a Gothic story. Meaning the paranormal aspects are not examined in detail as far as their history or any kind of explanation behind them. They're merely a part of the story, and you just have to accept it.
Unexpected because of the cover, we get a male protagonist for this story. Crippled with the use of only one arm and said to have a demon possessing him, Liam is, for good reason, a lost, lonely soul on this island. Having not had much as far as friends or any social contact, he's inexperienced and a little naive. When Anna, his childhood crush, comes back to the island he's feeling overwhelmed with emotion. Ashes on the Waves is a love story through and through. It's romantic and powerful, unmistakably classic true love. Though can their love survive the meddling of the paranormal? I thought this premise was fantastically imagined and does a number on our hearts, but I did find the meddling - creatures trying to sever their love - could have been executed better. I was hoping for more elaborate schemes that would make my heart pound with hopeless fear that they wouldn't get through it, instead the plans were mostly done without us really knowing what they were until after the fact. As they progressed I started feeling irritated that they were grasping at straws and going through such lengths without (known to me) reason. I think if I had understood the creatures better it would have helped; the poem talks of envy, but I still feel I didn't have a strong grasp on them and their motives. As for Anna and Liam, I'm not sure why they didn't scrutinize (and suspect) Ronan much more as well, but I excuse some of it because of Liam's pure innocence. Regardless, I did find the love story hauntingly beautiful.
The atmosphere is what I loved the most about Ashes on the Waves. The secluded antiquated island is extremely vivid and especially creepy. I could feel the isolation and mystical aura the island was exerting. I could picture everything so very clearly as if I was the one walking the woods, hearing the cries of the Bean Sidhe shrieking in my ears. This is a place where residents get away with murder, burn their dead on pyres, and seek revenge in the most inhumane of ways. I got chills only thinking of what could be in store for Liam who's hated, even feared, by most of them. Unsurprisingly, there are some great mysteries to go along with the already creepy setting. First there's the creepiest of all - Mrs Ronan. This woman makes me want to cower in a corner and cry. She's terrifying! And she obviously has something up her sleeve with her strange going abouts. The second is the mystery of Liam himself. After his birth, his mother was found not only dead but torn apart as if Liam clawed himself out of her. Yikes!
Ashes in the Waves is for fans of tragic love stories. It's heart-wrenchingly unjust, but also beautiful in its cruel perfection.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
A fantastically atmospheric Gothic novel, Ashes on the Waves is based on an eerie Edgar Allan Poe poem - which is really all you need to know, right?
In a way, this novel reminded me a little of Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz. It's set on a secluded island where people live in the old ways without much as far as laws and structure goes. There is also paranormal presence that makes the island unique, and a little chilling. Like in Teeth, you will need to go into this with an open mind as the novel is not considered a paranormal, but a Gothic story. Meaning the paranormal aspects are not examined in detail as far as their history or any kind of explanation behind them. They're merely a part of the story, and you just have to accept it.
Unexpected because of the cover, we get a male protagonist for this story. Crippled with the use of only one arm and said to have a demon possessing him, Liam is, for good reason, a lost, lonely soul on this island. Having not had much as far as friends or any social contact, he's inexperienced and a little naive. When Anna, his childhood crush, comes back to the island he's feeling overwhelmed with emotion. Ashes on the Waves is a love story through and through. It's romantic and powerful, unmistakably classic true love. Though can their love survive the meddling of the paranormal? I thought this premise was fantastically imagined and does a number on our hearts, but I did find the meddling - creatures trying to sever their love - could have been executed better. I was hoping for more elaborate schemes that would make my heart pound with hopeless fear that they wouldn't get through it, instead the plans were mostly done without us really knowing what they were until after the fact. As they progressed I started feeling irritated that they were grasping at straws and going through such lengths without (known to me) reason. I think if I had understood the creatures better it would have helped; the poem talks of envy, but I still feel I didn't have a strong grasp on them and their motives. As for Anna and Liam, I'm not sure why they didn't scrutinize (and suspect) Ronan much more as well, but I excuse some of it because of Liam's pure innocence. Regardless, I did find the love story hauntingly beautiful.
The atmosphere is what I loved the most about Ashes on the Waves. The secluded antiquated island is extremely vivid and especially creepy. I could feel the isolation and mystical aura the island was exerting. I could picture everything so very clearly as if I was the one walking the woods, hearing the cries of the Bean Sidhe shrieking in my ears. This is a place where residents get away with murder, burn their dead on pyres, and seek revenge in the most inhumane of ways. I got chills only thinking of what could be in store for Liam who's hated, even feared, by most of them. Unsurprisingly, there are some great mysteries to go along with the already creepy setting. First there's the creepiest of all - Mrs Ronan. This woman makes me want to cower in a corner and cry. She's terrifying! And she obviously has something up her sleeve with her strange going abouts. The second is the mystery of Liam himself. After his birth, his mother was found not only dead but torn apart as if Liam clawed himself out of her. Yikes!
Ashes in the Waves is for fans of tragic love stories. It's heart-wrenchingly unjust, but also beautiful in its cruel perfection.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Want to read
October 19, 2012Edit: 10/19/12
That. Cover.
1/06/12
Y U NO HAVE COVER YET?!?!
That. Cover.
1/06/12
Y U NO HAVE COVER YET?!?!
June 28, 2013
Review TK if I can sum up my thoughts in any coherent way. Reading it a second time was better in some ways and more heartbreaking in others. But I loved this story, was totally transported. Liam was just as amazing as I remembered him and Anna was even more amazing than I remembered her to be.
I love this type of love story. One that's both ill-fated and hopeful. The author did an amazing job at bringing Poe's poem to life in a way that was much more relatable and "real."
So glad I re-read and that now I can rate it.
Originally beta read from Sept. 19-21 2012.
Gorgeous, haunting, dark and unexpected. I was immediately intrigued and was completely ensnared by this beautifully written and different and captivating tale.
I definitely plan on reading this again and again.
Review to come closer to release date and after at least another read!
I love this type of love story. One that's both ill-fated and hopeful. The author did an amazing job at bringing Poe's poem to life in a way that was much more relatable and "real."
So glad I re-read and that now I can rate it.
Originally beta read from Sept. 19-21 2012.
Gorgeous, haunting, dark and unexpected. I was immediately intrigued and was completely ensnared by this beautifully written and different and captivating tale.
I definitely plan on reading this again and again.
Review to come closer to release date and after at least another read!
October 19, 2012
Eerie and beautiful, Mary Lindsey takes you on a journey into a small town with haunting secrets. Liam is a character readers will immediately care for, and the intrigue surrounding him will keep them vested. I loved this book! Another HUGE success for Mary Lindsey!
August 22, 2013
Also posted at PaperbackWonderland
Caution:
The following text is an assortment of ramblings and spoilers...
By this, i don't mean to offend the author in any way, i'm just expressing what i felt while reading it...
Jeez!! I'm depressed!! What a mess of non-stop dramas!
Drama number one: Liam, age twenty, lives in a godforsaken island where "people"(i'm inclined to just call them animals, but then i would be offending mother nature) live as if they're stuck on the fourteen century...i'm probably being too kind in this....
Drama number Two: The guy was borne with a problem in his arm, so THAT alongside with the fact that's his mother died at childbirth (supposedly...guess she was killed....i kind of skimmed that part, because by then, i was ready to cut off my air supply...there were tombs and people drowning!!) makes him a demon at his neighbors eyes.
Drama number Three: The poor guy is so innocent and naive _even living there _ that he really thinks of himself as a demon! How sick is that??? He doesn't even know what jealousy feels like....
Drama number four: Falling in love at ten years of age and obsessing about that person for ten years more...
Drama number five: Everyone _minus two _ wants to kill him..
Drama number six: If someone dies, Liam's to blame..
Drama number seven:In this lovely island in which the story takes place husbands can throw their wifes down the cliffs, children can be sold to perverts and married of at fourteen years old...
Drama number eight: The bad guys with blue skin that live underwater...
Drama number nine: Talking selkies....
Drama number ten: Selkies in love...
Drama number eleven: NO CONSISTENT PLOT!! Just a whole lot of bunch of angst, evil characters, and DRAMA...AND EVERLASTING TEEN LOVE!!
You know what's the worst part?
While i was reading the first pages, i actually thought i was going to enjoy this!
(This was WAY before the talking selkies and cliched ignorant folks..)
I was liking Liam, and the way he was portrayed. And then, how could i not sympathize with such an abused character?
BUT, i wanted more...i wanted to see his development as a character!! I can't help feeling, that this could have been done in another way than the; "WOE IS ON ME!! ALL IS LOST!! WE're going to DIE!!" could have been avoided!
Honestly, what was the use of introducing some contemporary character in a setting such as this?? (The remaining characters are all chichés of ancient times!!)
Just, to appreciate the differences at the patterns of speech between Liam and Anna?
To give her the opportunity of growing as a person?
For what? For having her
Heck no!!
I'm aware that this was inspired in Poe's poem....INSPIRED being the important word here. Because for such a short poem "Anabele Lee" did allow a vast number of extravaganzas in the plot. So why, not having the characters grow?
Why not having them get of the island?
Why not having Liam overcoming his past and realizing that there is more to life than Anna?
Why not crossing paths on a street, one or two decades later, and him thinking: I used to love this beautiful creature nay, this woman.
Because honestly, i would have been less tired and mentally exhausted had i been banging my head against the walls, instead of having read this!!
Maybe if i lived in a dark, moisty crypt(?) this would have some sort of appeal to me...but i'm a proud thirty four year old cynic (YAY!), so reading about love through death (let the violins play)...thanks, but no thanks!!
Thank God for friends that point me in the direction of good books! Because lately, my aiming sucks!!
Caution:
The following text is an assortment of ramblings and spoilers...
By this, i don't mean to offend the author in any way, i'm just expressing what i felt while reading it...
Jeez!! I'm depressed!! What a mess of non-stop dramas!
Drama number one: Liam, age twenty, lives in a godforsaken island where "people"(i'm inclined to just call them animals, but then i would be offending mother nature) live as if they're stuck on the fourteen century...i'm probably being too kind in this....
Drama number Two: The guy was borne with a problem in his arm, so THAT alongside with the fact that's his mother died at childbirth (supposedly...guess she was killed....i kind of skimmed that part, because by then, i was ready to cut off my air supply...there were tombs and people drowning!!) makes him a demon at his neighbors eyes.
Drama number Three: The poor guy is so innocent and naive _even living there _ that he really thinks of himself as a demon! How sick is that??? He doesn't even know what jealousy feels like....
Drama number four: Falling in love at ten years of age and obsessing about that person for ten years more...
Drama number five: Everyone _minus two _ wants to kill him..
Drama number six: If someone dies, Liam's to blame..
Drama number seven:In this lovely island in which the story takes place husbands can throw their wifes down the cliffs, children can be sold to perverts and married of at fourteen years old...
Drama number eight: The bad guys with blue skin that live underwater...
Drama number nine: Talking selkies....
Drama number ten: Selkies in love...
Drama number eleven: NO CONSISTENT PLOT!! Just a whole lot of bunch of angst, evil characters, and DRAMA...AND EVERLASTING TEEN LOVE!!
You know what's the worst part?
While i was reading the first pages, i actually thought i was going to enjoy this!
(This was WAY before the talking selkies and cliched ignorant folks..)
I was liking Liam, and the way he was portrayed. And then, how could i not sympathize with such an abused character?
BUT, i wanted more...i wanted to see his development as a character!! I can't help feeling, that this could have been done in another way than the; "WOE IS ON ME!! ALL IS LOST!! WE're going to DIE!!" could have been avoided!
Honestly, what was the use of introducing some contemporary character in a setting such as this?? (The remaining characters are all chichés of ancient times!!)
Just, to appreciate the differences at the patterns of speech between Liam and Anna?
To give her the opportunity of growing as a person?
For what? For having her
Heck no!!
I'm aware that this was inspired in Poe's poem....INSPIRED being the important word here. Because for such a short poem "Anabele Lee" did allow a vast number of extravaganzas in the plot. So why, not having the characters grow?
Why not having them get of the island?
Why not having Liam overcoming his past and realizing that there is more to life than Anna?
Why not crossing paths on a street, one or two decades later, and him thinking: I used to love this beautiful creature nay, this woman.
Because honestly, i would have been less tired and mentally exhausted had i been banging my head against the walls, instead of having read this!!
Maybe if i lived in a dark, moisty crypt(?) this would have some sort of appeal to me...but i'm a proud thirty four year old cynic (YAY!), so reading about love through death (let the violins play)...thanks, but no thanks!!
Thank God for friends that point me in the direction of good books! Because lately, my aiming sucks!!
June 9, 2013
Hmm, I am seeing many glowing reviews for this book, so I am wondering if I should have given it up earlier if I cared for it so little. I am trying to abandon books, particularly those I am screening for the Peach Award, if I can tell after 50 pages or an hour or so of reading that it doesn't seem to have a substantial teen audience or at least a middle-aged audience of one.. This novel, even though I wasn't loving it, seemed as if it might appeal to the angst-loving, blood and roses histrionic romance types. They have a right to their kind of books, too, right? So I kept going and hoping.
My favorite parts of the book were actually the Poe quotations from both prose and poetry, nicely chosen to set off each chapter. My favorite character was a nice lady named Francine who intervened many years before to keep the local yokels from killing a newborn baby with a paralyzed left arm, one whose mother appeared to have been ravaged and clawed to death during or just after giving birth to Liam. A woman who was there told all that he was a demon in a human skin, responsible for his mother's death and likely to bring terror to all the islanders on Dochas, an island far off the coast of Maine--it must be really far off, in fact, not a part of the United States of America or the State of Maine for there for be no school, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing for those people. In fact, this island has no governance or rule beyond the elders and the population's strong belief in the old Celtic lore and otherworlders brought by their Irish and Scottish ancestors. Huh? The island that time forgot?
I never could manage to get past the details that struck me as so illogical about the existence of such a place in modern times. However, those younger than I or better able to suspend disbelief might have an easier time of it. Oh, some plot might be nice. When Anna, now a sometimes scandalous NYC rich teen queen, visited the island and stayed at her family's mansion ten years before, she was allowed to play with Liam on the beach. He fell in love with her as a child and continued to fan that flame all those long years, hoping that she would return some day. She does, and the two are drawn together after Liam saves her from the malicious blue skinned creatures who try to lure humans to their watery deaths. Both also hear the screams of banshee-like creatures who are supposed to be only audible to those with a connection to the wrongfully dead.
The strong beliefs of the villagers make these creatures of superstition powerful there. Even the seals are selkies, able to shed their animal pelts to become human should they wish. Anna and Liam face many obstacles to their love, human ones in the form of nasty housekeeper Ms. Ronin, the villagers who want to blame Liam for every death on the island, and even some of Anna's visiting friends or her parents from afar. They also become the object of a bet between supernatural forces around the island, one side that believes in the transcendent power of the young people's love and one that believes it will crumble in the face of adversity. And so they are thrown some adversity while these warring factions bicker about what's fair, and a kind-hearted selkie who cares for Liam even comes to land to play her part.
There didn't really seem to be enough plot to sink my teeth into until perhaps the bet is made and the couple's love is truly tested. Romance with the twist of Liam's disability went on for around 100 pages. Give me some conflict! The writing was serviceable, but I never lost myself in the tale or stopped noticing the plot elements that just didn't make sense. I may try the teenaged daughter test to see if it's just me who didn't buy in.
My favorite parts of the book were actually the Poe quotations from both prose and poetry, nicely chosen to set off each chapter. My favorite character was a nice lady named Francine who intervened many years before to keep the local yokels from killing a newborn baby with a paralyzed left arm, one whose mother appeared to have been ravaged and clawed to death during or just after giving birth to Liam. A woman who was there told all that he was a demon in a human skin, responsible for his mother's death and likely to bring terror to all the islanders on Dochas, an island far off the coast of Maine--it must be really far off, in fact, not a part of the United States of America or the State of Maine for there for be no school, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing for those people. In fact, this island has no governance or rule beyond the elders and the population's strong belief in the old Celtic lore and otherworlders brought by their Irish and Scottish ancestors. Huh? The island that time forgot?
I never could manage to get past the details that struck me as so illogical about the existence of such a place in modern times. However, those younger than I or better able to suspend disbelief might have an easier time of it. Oh, some plot might be nice. When Anna, now a sometimes scandalous NYC rich teen queen, visited the island and stayed at her family's mansion ten years before, she was allowed to play with Liam on the beach. He fell in love with her as a child and continued to fan that flame all those long years, hoping that she would return some day. She does, and the two are drawn together after Liam saves her from the malicious blue skinned creatures who try to lure humans to their watery deaths. Both also hear the screams of banshee-like creatures who are supposed to be only audible to those with a connection to the wrongfully dead.
The strong beliefs of the villagers make these creatures of superstition powerful there. Even the seals are selkies, able to shed their animal pelts to become human should they wish. Anna and Liam face many obstacles to their love, human ones in the form of nasty housekeeper Ms. Ronin, the villagers who want to blame Liam for every death on the island, and even some of Anna's visiting friends or her parents from afar. They also become the object of a bet between supernatural forces around the island, one side that believes in the transcendent power of the young people's love and one that believes it will crumble in the face of adversity. And so they are thrown some adversity while these warring factions bicker about what's fair, and a kind-hearted selkie who cares for Liam even comes to land to play her part.
There didn't really seem to be enough plot to sink my teeth into until perhaps the bet is made and the couple's love is truly tested. Romance with the twist of Liam's disability went on for around 100 pages. Give me some conflict! The writing was serviceable, but I never lost myself in the tale or stopped noticing the plot elements that just didn't make sense. I may try the teenaged daughter test to see if it's just me who didn't buy in.
June 26, 2013
First of all, super huge thanks to Mary Lindsey and Rockstar Book Tours for providing me with an ARC for review. It's one that I've been DYING for, and when I got this chance, you better believe I jumped on it!
I can sum up my experience with this book in a few words: Gorgeous. Haunting. Breathtaking. Cruel. Hopeless. Shattering. Hopeful.
Wait, it's both hopeless AND hopeful?! How does that even work?
I'll attempt to tell you. Be warned, there might be spoilers afoot if you aren't familiar with Poe's poem, Annabel Lee.
For those of you in the know, you're well aware that Poe's poem does not have a happy ending. Annabel Lee meets her end in tomb down by the sea. It's very chilling and heartbreaking and beautiful.
Lindsey's work follows many of the same lines, but with so much more. Yes, the book stays fairly true to the poem. Yes, it's devastating. Yes, it left me feeling completely bereft and unable to process anything more than a fluffy romance novel. (All this right on the heels of Siege and Storm...probably not the best idea!)
The thing is, there is SO MUCH HOPE in this novel. It's a beautiful tribute to true love and love conquering all and being together forever. It's about overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and coming out the other side stronger and happier, even through the worst sort of hell imaginable. It's about being yourself, even when no one likes you and has old and unfair prejudices against you.
This book took pieces of me and destroyed them. I felt like I couldn't quite be the same afterwards, except that it then took those destroyed pieces and put them back together, stronger than before. With each new challenge that Liam and Anna faced, I gained a bit more hope in the outcome, even when I knew exactly what was going to happen.
See, the thing is, I DIDN'T know what was going to happen. I know Annabel Lee very well and I know how it all ends. I knew how this book was going to end. I was prepared. Except that I wasn't. I expected to be utterly devastated by the end and lose all faith and hope in true love and think that evil was always going to win. Because that's how Poe kind of makes you feel in the whole sepulcher by the sea bit.
Mary Lindsey takes that and but then she ends the book with so much brightness and hope and wonder and faith. Holy cow. I was left feeling like the happiest girl alive.
How is that even possible with a Poe retelling?!
I have no idea, but Mary Lindsey did it. Brilliantly. Beautifully.
I can recommend this book without reservation to anyone who is a fan of paranormal romance, gothic horror, retellings, or pretty much books in general. NO RESERVATIONS, people! It's a beautiful book that NEEDS to be read.
I have a gorgeous signed ARC, which I am keeping because, SIGNED, but I'm also buying a hard copy. It's worth having in duplicate.
4.5 Eiffel Towers
I can sum up my experience with this book in a few words: Gorgeous. Haunting. Breathtaking. Cruel. Hopeless. Shattering. Hopeful.
Wait, it's both hopeless AND hopeful?! How does that even work?
I'll attempt to tell you. Be warned, there might be spoilers afoot if you aren't familiar with Poe's poem, Annabel Lee.
For those of you in the know, you're well aware that Poe's poem does not have a happy ending. Annabel Lee meets her end in tomb down by the sea. It's very chilling and heartbreaking and beautiful.
Lindsey's work follows many of the same lines, but with so much more. Yes, the book stays fairly true to the poem. Yes, it's devastating. Yes, it left me feeling completely bereft and unable to process anything more than a fluffy romance novel. (All this right on the heels of Siege and Storm...probably not the best idea!)
The thing is, there is SO MUCH HOPE in this novel. It's a beautiful tribute to true love and love conquering all and being together forever. It's about overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and coming out the other side stronger and happier, even through the worst sort of hell imaginable. It's about being yourself, even when no one likes you and has old and unfair prejudices against you.
This book took pieces of me and destroyed them. I felt like I couldn't quite be the same afterwards, except that it then took those destroyed pieces and put them back together, stronger than before. With each new challenge that Liam and Anna faced, I gained a bit more hope in the outcome, even when I knew exactly what was going to happen.
See, the thing is, I DIDN'T know what was going to happen. I know Annabel Lee very well and I know how it all ends. I knew how this book was going to end. I was prepared. Except that I wasn't. I expected to be utterly devastated by the end and lose all faith and hope in true love and think that evil was always going to win. Because that's how Poe kind of makes you feel in the whole sepulcher by the sea bit.
Mary Lindsey takes that and but then she ends the book with so much brightness and hope and wonder and faith. Holy cow. I was left feeling like the happiest girl alive.
How is that even possible with a Poe retelling?!
I have no idea, but Mary Lindsey did it. Brilliantly. Beautifully.
I can recommend this book without reservation to anyone who is a fan of paranormal romance, gothic horror, retellings, or pretty much books in general. NO RESERVATIONS, people! It's a beautiful book that NEEDS to be read.
I have a gorgeous signed ARC, which I am keeping because, SIGNED, but I'm also buying a hard copy. It's worth having in duplicate.
4.5 Eiffel Towers
August 30, 2011
This book was nothing like I'd expected, especially the ending. I was really surprised it was told from a male point of view, but it works because that's like the poem. The cover made it seem like it would be a girl point of view. The setting was perfect and created an eerie gothic setting. Ronan was my favorite character. Loved it.
April 30, 2013
4.5/5 stars!
How much do I love this book? It was everything I was hoping for and more. Poe's "Annabel Lee" is one of my favorite of his works, and you can imagine I was super excited to see a YA book based on that extremely sad, grim poem. And Mary Lindsey did him proud with "Ashes on the Waves", a book full of ghosts, monsters, mobs, and the question: what makes us human? I absolutely adored "Ashes on the Waves", and I hope you do too.
The first thing that really struck me about "Ashes on the Waves" was the immediate sense of the world. From the jump, we have this immediate sense of what the island of Dochas feels like - a place thrown back in time compared to our current society, complete with the creepy mob-like villagers that think that because our MC has partial paralysis, that he's a "demon" waiting to happen. Everyone but his employer, Francine, is cruel to him, and because of it, Liam is the ultimate sympathetic protagonist. I really liked that he was made that much "the other" for others to target, as the island itself is pretty "other" with all of its strange happenings, as we see later on in the book. I found it interesting that Lindsey decided to make Liam the Other, and not Anna, the rich New Yorker, whose family has owned property on Dochas for the last 150+ years. It was a good choice, and it set up everything that happened next really well.
Then there are the characters (aside from Liam and Anna) - they also really contribute to this very thrown-back world where the Otherworlders are revered with the utmost respect to the point of absurdity, as Anna sees it. And then there are the Otherworlders themselves - the Bean Sidhes, the Selkies (I LOVE THAT THESE GUYS WERE INCLUDED YES!), and the Na Fir Ghorm - which make this tale totally larger than life. Though they don't get heavily involved until the second third of the book onward, just the impression of their existence constantly pressing in on the island and its inhabitants creates a delicious tension between this human world, forever stopped in time, and the next world, where monsters and gods all try to coexist yet try to tempt the humans (or save them), reminding them of humanity's up-until-recent eternal coexistence with them. Reminding of what's been lost with technology and advancement, and also reminding them of what could happen to them if they don't listen to the Otherworlders.
I do feel like Anna's character could have been a bit better built and voiced, but since this is mostly Liam's story, what we did get was more than sufficient to go on. I also love how the myth of the Selkie was woven so completely into Liam and Anna's story. It's honestly one of my favorite myths, period, and I love how all around the world, there are varying bits of the myth but its heart (if the creature's pelt/cloak/feathers/etc gets taken, she becomes earthbound) is the same. I feel like Lindsey really used the Selkie myth to its utmost to contribute to the trials that the Otherworlders force Anna and Liam to go through. Out of all of the Otherworlders mentioned, the Selkies get explored the most, and I just loved that.
Now, for something really important considering that this is narrated by a guy - cross-gender narration. Lindsey absolutely does a convincing job with Liam as a real boy - he sounds like a real boy, even though he's a bit antiquified with how he's had to grow up, where he's grown up, and the education (or lack there of, compared to our current system). Nonetheless, it feels like a boy talking - even if he sounds like an early 20th century boy. Liam feels 100% authentic to his gender, and I've talked before on how hard it is to get cross-gender narration correct, but Lindsey knocked it out of the park here. I can't tell you how happy that, as a reader, makes me.
Finally, the ending - and what an ending. True to Poe's poem, this is not a HEA, but Lindsey puts her own spin on it. I can honestly say that some of the Big Reveals that led up to the end, I really didn't see those coming at all. I love it when an author can do that, and Lindsey does that here so very well. So while this definitely isn't a HEA in the traditional sense, there is a sense of closure by the end that won't leave you feeling too down.
The rest? Flawless, more or less, in the technical departments, and absolutely gorgeous.
Final verdict? If you're a fan of the Gothic genre and you love retellings, you simply MUST read this book. And even if you're not, I urge you to give it a try anyway. "Ashes on the Waves" is out June 27, 2013 from Penguin in North America, so be sure to check it out then! Definitely one of my favorites of 2013 so far.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
How much do I love this book? It was everything I was hoping for and more. Poe's "Annabel Lee" is one of my favorite of his works, and you can imagine I was super excited to see a YA book based on that extremely sad, grim poem. And Mary Lindsey did him proud with "Ashes on the Waves", a book full of ghosts, monsters, mobs, and the question: what makes us human? I absolutely adored "Ashes on the Waves", and I hope you do too.
The first thing that really struck me about "Ashes on the Waves" was the immediate sense of the world. From the jump, we have this immediate sense of what the island of Dochas feels like - a place thrown back in time compared to our current society, complete with the creepy mob-like villagers that think that because our MC has partial paralysis, that he's a "demon" waiting to happen. Everyone but his employer, Francine, is cruel to him, and because of it, Liam is the ultimate sympathetic protagonist. I really liked that he was made that much "the other" for others to target, as the island itself is pretty "other" with all of its strange happenings, as we see later on in the book. I found it interesting that Lindsey decided to make Liam the Other, and not Anna, the rich New Yorker, whose family has owned property on Dochas for the last 150+ years. It was a good choice, and it set up everything that happened next really well.
Then there are the characters (aside from Liam and Anna) - they also really contribute to this very thrown-back world where the Otherworlders are revered with the utmost respect to the point of absurdity, as Anna sees it. And then there are the Otherworlders themselves - the Bean Sidhes, the Selkies (I LOVE THAT THESE GUYS WERE INCLUDED YES!), and the Na Fir Ghorm - which make this tale totally larger than life. Though they don't get heavily involved until the second third of the book onward, just the impression of their existence constantly pressing in on the island and its inhabitants creates a delicious tension between this human world, forever stopped in time, and the next world, where monsters and gods all try to coexist yet try to tempt the humans (or save them), reminding them of humanity's up-until-recent eternal coexistence with them. Reminding of what's been lost with technology and advancement, and also reminding them of what could happen to them if they don't listen to the Otherworlders.
I do feel like Anna's character could have been a bit better built and voiced, but since this is mostly Liam's story, what we did get was more than sufficient to go on. I also love how the myth of the Selkie was woven so completely into Liam and Anna's story. It's honestly one of my favorite myths, period, and I love how all around the world, there are varying bits of the myth but its heart (if the creature's pelt/cloak/feathers/etc gets taken, she becomes earthbound) is the same. I feel like Lindsey really used the Selkie myth to its utmost to contribute to the trials that the Otherworlders force Anna and Liam to go through. Out of all of the Otherworlders mentioned, the Selkies get explored the most, and I just loved that.
Now, for something really important considering that this is narrated by a guy - cross-gender narration. Lindsey absolutely does a convincing job with Liam as a real boy - he sounds like a real boy, even though he's a bit antiquified with how he's had to grow up, where he's grown up, and the education (or lack there of, compared to our current system). Nonetheless, it feels like a boy talking - even if he sounds like an early 20th century boy. Liam feels 100% authentic to his gender, and I've talked before on how hard it is to get cross-gender narration correct, but Lindsey knocked it out of the park here. I can't tell you how happy that, as a reader, makes me.
Finally, the ending - and what an ending. True to Poe's poem, this is not a HEA, but Lindsey puts her own spin on it. I can honestly say that some of the Big Reveals that led up to the end, I really didn't see those coming at all. I love it when an author can do that, and Lindsey does that here so very well. So while this definitely isn't a HEA in the traditional sense, there is a sense of closure by the end that won't leave you feeling too down.
The rest? Flawless, more or less, in the technical departments, and absolutely gorgeous.
Final verdict? If you're a fan of the Gothic genre and you love retellings, you simply MUST read this book. And even if you're not, I urge you to give it a try anyway. "Ashes on the Waves" is out June 27, 2013 from Penguin in North America, so be sure to check it out then! Definitely one of my favorites of 2013 so far.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, librarything, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
July 22, 2013
I, like many young readers, had a Poe phase. I was obsessed, and of course as a relatively romantic minded young woman, Annabel Lee was particularly appealing.
This book was an excellent idea in theory. Writing a flushed out story around one of the most romantic poems ever written? Where could this possibly go wrong? Well, I 'll tell you. For me, it was the modern day context or at least the way she did the modern day context. See, Liam is a crippled young man who is living on an island completely isolated on the coast of northern Maine. On this island, people are incredibly superstitious, so much so that they hate Liam with a passion because of his possibly evil ways.
This type of story I can handle. The isolation, the backwards reality of rural America. The way people can live in such an old way despite the revolutionary and rather commonplace development of television, cell phones, the internet..etc. Yes, I get that mythical something or other means no cellphone service, maybe even no internet. In fact, I kind of like those kinds of stories. An island so mythical that technology and modern science can't quite break its way in. The way Lindsey presented the story it made me hard to refuse to believe that there are many places in which cars are not frequently used, and if not, then what about leaving the island for everyday healthcare, or modern very plastic items? Liam or somebody close to him presumably did frequently in order to get tabloids for him to obsessively pour over in an attempt to keep track of Anna, so why was Liam so completely old school? Lindsey was insisting that this island was isolated, but by bringing in the oh so painfully normal teen Anna (something we are perfunctorily reminded of with rather ridiculously forced slang), I couldn't let myself get lost in the mythical atmosphere that would allow me to accept a place where the internet, tvs, cellphones and modern day laws do not exist.
Also as a side note, NO teen boy, much less one who strangely has no contact with young women, would be so clean with his first encounter with a teen girl his age, much less one he's been obsessing over for years. I don't expect a vision of him beating the meat, but really if you are going to use his perspective I expect more than just "she's so beautiful." I am all for the moral male, but really something about this just didn't quite mesh. It made Liam a little too perfect, so much so, that he lost his potential appeal as a believable, thus attractive, teen boy. Don't get me wrong, virtue can be workable, but this.. just no.
Anna was also very obnoxious. Serena Vanderwwhatever (I can't even remember) a la Gossip Girl. Perfectly messed up for perfectly good whiny reasons. Her overindulged crybaby ways were only made more offensive by Liam's clearly horrific and truly disturbing life.
Which really brings me to my overarching point, here. There are so many conflicting things, that I couldn't get into it. Isolation, but Anna reminds us so often (and somewhat poorly) of the normal world, so the mysticism is totally ruined. Liam's life is so awful, which only makes Anna's pain seem even more ridiculous, which might be the point: Anna's personal growth, a smack in the face to get her to stop whining, but I just didn't like her enough to care. I was so annoyed that I barely made it half way. Which, let me tell you, I tried. I love Celtic myths, Scorpio Races is one of my favorite books, plus you throw in Poe and romance, I should be sold. I was unsold. So completely unsold. In fact, it was the thinly veiled presence of that poorly flushed out good stuff that made it so gosh darn awful.
This book was an excellent idea in theory. Writing a flushed out story around one of the most romantic poems ever written? Where could this possibly go wrong? Well, I 'll tell you. For me, it was the modern day context or at least the way she did the modern day context. See, Liam is a crippled young man who is living on an island completely isolated on the coast of northern Maine. On this island, people are incredibly superstitious, so much so that they hate Liam with a passion because of his possibly evil ways.
This type of story I can handle. The isolation, the backwards reality of rural America. The way people can live in such an old way despite the revolutionary and rather commonplace development of television, cell phones, the internet..etc. Yes, I get that mythical something or other means no cellphone service, maybe even no internet. In fact, I kind of like those kinds of stories. An island so mythical that technology and modern science can't quite break its way in. The way Lindsey presented the story it made me hard to refuse to believe that there are many places in which cars are not frequently used, and if not, then what about leaving the island for everyday healthcare, or modern very plastic items? Liam or somebody close to him presumably did frequently in order to get tabloids for him to obsessively pour over in an attempt to keep track of Anna, so why was Liam so completely old school? Lindsey was insisting that this island was isolated, but by bringing in the oh so painfully normal teen Anna (something we are perfunctorily reminded of with rather ridiculously forced slang), I couldn't let myself get lost in the mythical atmosphere that would allow me to accept a place where the internet, tvs, cellphones and modern day laws do not exist.
Also as a side note, NO teen boy, much less one who strangely has no contact with young women, would be so clean with his first encounter with a teen girl his age, much less one he's been obsessing over for years. I don't expect a vision of him beating the meat, but really if you are going to use his perspective I expect more than just "she's so beautiful." I am all for the moral male, but really something about this just didn't quite mesh. It made Liam a little too perfect, so much so, that he lost his potential appeal as a believable, thus attractive, teen boy. Don't get me wrong, virtue can be workable, but this.. just no.
Anna was also very obnoxious. Serena Vanderwwhatever (I can't even remember) a la Gossip Girl. Perfectly messed up for perfectly good whiny reasons. Her overindulged crybaby ways were only made more offensive by Liam's clearly horrific and truly disturbing life.
Which really brings me to my overarching point, here. There are so many conflicting things, that I couldn't get into it. Isolation, but Anna reminds us so often (and somewhat poorly) of the normal world, so the mysticism is totally ruined. Liam's life is so awful, which only makes Anna's pain seem even more ridiculous, which might be the point: Anna's personal growth, a smack in the face to get her to stop whining, but I just didn't like her enough to care. I was so annoyed that I barely made it half way. Which, let me tell you, I tried. I love Celtic myths, Scorpio Races is one of my favorite books, plus you throw in Poe and romance, I should be sold. I was unsold. So completely unsold. In fact, it was the thinly veiled presence of that poorly flushed out good stuff that made it so gosh darn awful.
August 21, 2013
First read from February 20 to 21, 2013
Ashes on the Waves is a powerful and chilling read that haunted me late into the night and had me on the edge of my seat. This is easily one of the best books I have ever read.
Talk about a creepy atmosphere. Right from page one, Ashes on the Waves delivers a strong and creepy atmosphere that consumes this world with darkness and curses. The town of Dochas was so original, luminous and a bit terrifying. I knew that something was up with this world - this novel blew me away. I can't even begin to express how much I love this book. It's unreal how fantastic and genius it is.
The character were the best part of the book for me. Liam and Anna together are brilliant - I can see them being the next big love couple. They're misfits living in a cruel and broken world, but when they find each other, everything changes. I loved Anna right from the moment she enters the novel. She's incredible! I felt so many emotions with her character, and Lindsey did a stunning job at building her character development up so well. I felt so bad for Liam! He's basically been named a monster by everyone; seeing him so alone and shattered really made me connect to his character. I was rooting for him the entire book!
And oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh that ending. If you've been reading my reviews for awhile now, you'll probably know that I am huge sucker for climatic and thrilling endings - and Ashes on the Waves packs in just that and more. I zipped through those final 50 pages; the book was too fast-paced and energetic to put down! And this is one of those books where I didn't even consider putting it down. I had to know what would happen! Needless to say, Ashes on the Waves is a phenomenal and riveting novel.
Overall, Ashes on the Waves is truly a masterpiece and a definite must-read. Riveting, haunting and fantastic in every way possible, Mary Lindsey's sophomore novel is a climatic and mind-bending novel. Absolutely wonderful.
Second time read from August 18 to 19, 2013
My gosh, I just love this book so much. Beautiful, haunting, and riveting, I adore this book to pieces.
Ashes on the Waves is a powerful and chilling read that haunted me late into the night and had me on the edge of my seat. This is easily one of the best books I have ever read.
Talk about a creepy atmosphere. Right from page one, Ashes on the Waves delivers a strong and creepy atmosphere that consumes this world with darkness and curses. The town of Dochas was so original, luminous and a bit terrifying. I knew that something was up with this world - this novel blew me away. I can't even begin to express how much I love this book. It's unreal how fantastic and genius it is.
The character were the best part of the book for me. Liam and Anna together are brilliant - I can see them being the next big love couple. They're misfits living in a cruel and broken world, but when they find each other, everything changes. I loved Anna right from the moment she enters the novel. She's incredible! I felt so many emotions with her character, and Lindsey did a stunning job at building her character development up so well. I felt so bad for Liam! He's basically been named a monster by everyone; seeing him so alone and shattered really made me connect to his character. I was rooting for him the entire book!
And oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh that ending. If you've been reading my reviews for awhile now, you'll probably know that I am huge sucker for climatic and thrilling endings - and Ashes on the Waves packs in just that and more. I zipped through those final 50 pages; the book was too fast-paced and energetic to put down! And this is one of those books where I didn't even consider putting it down. I had to know what would happen! Needless to say, Ashes on the Waves is a phenomenal and riveting novel.
Overall, Ashes on the Waves is truly a masterpiece and a definite must-read. Riveting, haunting and fantastic in every way possible, Mary Lindsey's sophomore novel is a climatic and mind-bending novel. Absolutely wonderful.
Second time read from August 18 to 19, 2013
My gosh, I just love this book so much. Beautiful, haunting, and riveting, I adore this book to pieces.
October 19, 2012
This book blew me away. Honestly, this is one of those books that I can't properly put into words all the reasons I loved it so much. The writing, foremost, is absolutely stunning, bring to life not only the setting, but the atmosphere, the emotions, and all the little things... not to mention, Lindsey has done an amazing job of giving a Poe-esque voice to a teenage boy, without going too far one way or the other in terms of Poe or modern. Then there's Liam, who is not at all your typical hero, yet a meltworthy one all the same, and Anna, who brings her own quirks to the table, has a bit of roughness in her, yet is also an easy character to root for. Add in the story itself, which is woven together so seamlessly, with some painful twists and plenty of funny moments as well, and this one will take your breath away and leave you so satisfied.
December 14, 2011
It's been a while since I liked a retelling. I loved this one.
I loved Liam. Anna rubbed me a bit the wrong way, but ended up being okay. I think the juxtaposition of old and new worked.
I was not a fan of the sea creatures, though. Not sure how Celtic tied to Poe, but I guess the winged seraphs of heaven and demons of the sea from the poem had to come from somewhere.
This is one I'll read again. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how the book tied to them. The book had a definite Poe feel to it not only in the subject matter, but voice of the main character. I could really imagine him reciting the poem.
I loved Liam. Anna rubbed me a bit the wrong way, but ended up being okay. I think the juxtaposition of old and new worked.
I was not a fan of the sea creatures, though. Not sure how Celtic tied to Poe, but I guess the winged seraphs of heaven and demons of the sea from the poem had to come from somewhere.
This is one I'll read again. I enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and how the book tied to them. The book had a definite Poe feel to it not only in the subject matter, but voice of the main character. I could really imagine him reciting the poem.
August 5, 2015
Source: I own an ebook copy of this book.
Cost: Free
Title: Ashes on the Waves
Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Overall Rating: 2.5 stars
This book had such promise.
The synopsis was so promising, but it quickly went downhill after the first chapter. There was no coherency in this book, I didn't understand what the story was until over halfway through, there was too much build up and when the action finally came...it fell short.
I love me some Edgar Allen Poe. My favourite Poe poem is Annabel Lee. But this book may have just ruined that for me.
Sad times my friends. Sad times.
Cost: Free
Title: Ashes on the Waves
Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Overall Rating: 2.5 stars
This book had such promise.
The synopsis was so promising, but it quickly went downhill after the first chapter. There was no coherency in this book, I didn't understand what the story was until over halfway through, there was too much build up and when the action finally came...it fell short.
I love me some Edgar Allen Poe. My favourite Poe poem is Annabel Lee. But this book may have just ruined that for me.
Sad times my friends. Sad times.
June 27, 2013
I'm kind of at a loss as to how to review this.
At first I thought I was not going to like it. I couldn't get into Liam or Anna at all. Then, I couldn't put it down.
It is different and mysterious and the characters ended up really working for me.
I didn't like the way it ended until I read the poem again and really thought about it. Now, I'm okay with it.
After giving the book a couple of days to sink in, I think it is amazing and I will certainly read it again. Even if you don't like Edgar A. Poe (like me), give it a try. It surprised me.
At first I thought I was not going to like it. I couldn't get into Liam or Anna at all. Then, I couldn't put it down.
It is different and mysterious and the characters ended up really working for me.
I didn't like the way it ended until I read the poem again and really thought about it. Now, I'm okay with it.
After giving the book a couple of days to sink in, I think it is amazing and I will certainly read it again. Even if you don't like Edgar A. Poe (like me), give it a try. It surprised me.
December 16, 2012
A school librarian friend got a review copy of this and let me read it.
Wow. I was blown away. It was beautiful. It was also creepy, dark, and the ending nearly killed me. Poe is one of my favorite authors ever and this book is based on his poem Annabel Lee. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow. I was blown away. It was beautiful. It was also creepy, dark, and the ending nearly killed me. Poe is one of my favorite authors ever and this book is based on his poem Annabel Lee. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
wishlist
November 14, 2012Well, I do love Annabel Lee. And the name Annabelle, no matter how it's spelled. :)
July 16, 2013
After 4 failed/mediocre attempts at pulling off Poe retellings, I feel like I need to tell YA authors to just back the hell off.
I wanted to like this one so, so much because I keep hoping for a truly decent re-imagining of the works of my very favorite author, but I just face disappointment after disappointment. I suppose this one is my fault. I had already tried a Lindsey book and, though I know she has it in her to create chilling atmospheres and truly stunning lines, I was also aware of her tendency towards the overly-dramatic, her often flat romances and undeveloped characters and the creation of shallow third wheels to the romance in order to serve as plot device, all of which were in abundance in Ashes in the Waves.
I was continually exasperated with this novel. The narration was forced, boring and never once felt like an actual teenage boy, never mind one as singular as Liam's backstory would have him be. His way of speaking was so ridiculously overdone and he was completely shallow as a character, being nothing more than a constant reminder of how gorgeous Anna was and how much he loved her. He is, by all means, the male Mary Sue of YA. Anna for her part was as shallow. There are several instances within the novel where the author actually tries to give depth to her characters but they are so heavy-handed and so reliant on telling rather than showing that I had a very hard time keeping my eyes from rolling right out of my head.
Most of the novel is made of villagers being an asshole to Liam and then Liam and Anna making out absolutely everywhere and at any moment, including a seriously absurd part where they decide to engage on a make-out session while in the middle of exploring creepy tunnels within the house and looking for the person responsible for some murders. I could've handled the raging hormones if they had at least some chemistry between them, but they didn't, and any potential for the atmosphere in the novel was ruined by this every step of the way.
The narration changed from 1st person POV to 3rd person without previous notice and focuses on yet another underdeveloped character that's there simply to be a plot device. This particular character was an absolute waste of potential, as well as the overall paranormal aspect of the novel. I won't say the whole Celtic paranormal aspect didn't fill me with skepticism from the get-go, but I was willing to let it go if it was handled nicely. I think this aspect was really mediocre and was included rather clumsily to the plot.
The novel dragged on so much simply because our characters refused to use their brains. They had a fight, and it is obviously a plan of a third party, and yet they decide not to speak about it because, to quote Liam, what would be the point. Uh, I don't know? To clear things up, perhaps and then discover that there was foul play? But no, let's needlessly prolong the drama. After all, no one loved dramatics quite like Liam. The chick that's been helping you all along is trying to warn you of something and it is then that you decide that she must be lying because she's Otherworldly? Yeah, that happened too. Convenient plot devices and out of character decisions were constantly in the story and they were very hard to ignore. Things also happened out of nowhere, often making it lose impact, which is also what happened with the ending.
I am very, very disappointed with this novel. I liked the little Poe citations at the beginning of every chapter, but the truth is that Poe is not exactly an intricate part of this novel. There are very little nods to the original, and I am well aware of the part of the poem where this novel comes from, but this one could've easily been another paranormal romance without any link to Poe whatsoever. Quite truthfully, if there had been no link to Poe, I probably would've been a lot more nicer with it.
I wanted to like this one so, so much because I keep hoping for a truly decent re-imagining of the works of my very favorite author, but I just face disappointment after disappointment. I suppose this one is my fault. I had already tried a Lindsey book and, though I know she has it in her to create chilling atmospheres and truly stunning lines, I was also aware of her tendency towards the overly-dramatic, her often flat romances and undeveloped characters and the creation of shallow third wheels to the romance in order to serve as plot device, all of which were in abundance in Ashes in the Waves.
I was continually exasperated with this novel. The narration was forced, boring and never once felt like an actual teenage boy, never mind one as singular as Liam's backstory would have him be. His way of speaking was so ridiculously overdone and he was completely shallow as a character, being nothing more than a constant reminder of how gorgeous Anna was and how much he loved her. He is, by all means, the male Mary Sue of YA. Anna for her part was as shallow. There are several instances within the novel where the author actually tries to give depth to her characters but they are so heavy-handed and so reliant on telling rather than showing that I had a very hard time keeping my eyes from rolling right out of my head.
Most of the novel is made of villagers being an asshole to Liam and then Liam and Anna making out absolutely everywhere and at any moment, including a seriously absurd part where they decide to engage on a make-out session while in the middle of exploring creepy tunnels within the house and looking for the person responsible for some murders. I could've handled the raging hormones if they had at least some chemistry between them, but they didn't, and any potential for the atmosphere in the novel was ruined by this every step of the way.
The narration changed from 1st person POV to 3rd person without previous notice and focuses on yet another underdeveloped character that's there simply to be a plot device. This particular character was an absolute waste of potential, as well as the overall paranormal aspect of the novel. I won't say the whole Celtic paranormal aspect didn't fill me with skepticism from the get-go, but I was willing to let it go if it was handled nicely. I think this aspect was really mediocre and was included rather clumsily to the plot.
The novel dragged on so much simply because our characters refused to use their brains. They had a fight, and it is obviously a plan of a third party, and yet they decide not to speak about it because, to quote Liam, what would be the point. Uh, I don't know? To clear things up, perhaps and then discover that there was foul play? But no, let's needlessly prolong the drama. After all, no one loved dramatics quite like Liam. The chick that's been helping you all along is trying to warn you of something and it is then that you decide that she must be lying because she's Otherworldly? Yeah, that happened too. Convenient plot devices and out of character decisions were constantly in the story and they were very hard to ignore. Things also happened out of nowhere, often making it lose impact, which is also what happened with the ending.
I am very, very disappointed with this novel. I liked the little Poe citations at the beginning of every chapter, but the truth is that Poe is not exactly an intricate part of this novel. There are very little nods to the original, and I am well aware of the part of the poem where this novel comes from, but this one could've easily been another paranormal romance without any link to Poe whatsoever. Quite truthfully, if there had been no link to Poe, I probably would've been a lot more nicer with it.
July 7, 2013
'Ashes on the Waves' is a young adult fantasy/paranormal romance novel that is based off of the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe. It focuses on main character Liam MacGregor and his terrible life on the island of Dochas. Since his birth, Liam has been treated as an outcast or worse - a demon wearing a human's skin. Liam has minded his own business and kept himself linked to the only person he ever felt a true connection with: Annabel Leighton - a wealthy heiress whose family own a mansion on the island. Liam's life is forever changed when Anna is sent to the island by her family. Now that Liam and Anna have found one another, they refuse to be apart. However, the Celtic Otherworlders who have a strong hold on the island place a wager on their love, one that might just be the end of them both.
I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, as one can easily guess by simply looking at the name I chose for my blog, so I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the book and how it was based on his poem, "Annabel Lee." Let me just say that I was not disappointed. The novel is a complete Gothic romance with a modern setting - completely beautiful, enchanting, and tragic at the same time. There were times throughout the novel that I would smile so much my cheeks hurt and then a few pages later, I would be on the verge of tears. The story of Liam and Anna is one of hope, redemption, true love, and eternity. Liam was a wonderful main character. He's a sweet, smart, truly kind person who has been treated horribly since his birth. He is referred to in the book as the "broken one" because his arm has been paralyzed since birth, during which his mother died. Due to ignorance, rumors, and lore, the people of the island fear and loathe him, regardless of his pure and innocent heart. Anna is a great leading lady for the novel - she's an awesome complement to Liam's character. They are true halves of the same whole and they bring out the best in one another. It sounds really cheesy saying it here, but their relationship in the novel was nothing but romantic and sweet. Being a modern Gothic story, there had to be some trials, heartache, and tragedy mixed in with the romance. I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but I will say that the ending was appropriate for the Gothic genre, even if I hated that it had to be that way. The writing was impeccably well done with incredible detail and vivid descriptions that had me easily imagining myself on Dochas alongside the characters. The Celtic lore was really intriguing for me and I loved that the author put it in with the main plot. I enjoyed learning new things about Celtic mythology and folklore - it added a unique depth to the book that made sure it was one of a kind. There isn't enough time or words for me to really communicate my feelings for this novel and I'm sure it's not completely coherent since I'm still reeling from just finishing the book. This is definitely a novel that fans of fantasy and paranormal will not want to miss out on - and I wholeheartedly think that readers of all preferences should experience the beauty and tragedy that is created within its pages.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, as one can easily guess by simply looking at the name I chose for my blog, so I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the book and how it was based on his poem, "Annabel Lee." Let me just say that I was not disappointed. The novel is a complete Gothic romance with a modern setting - completely beautiful, enchanting, and tragic at the same time. There were times throughout the novel that I would smile so much my cheeks hurt and then a few pages later, I would be on the verge of tears. The story of Liam and Anna is one of hope, redemption, true love, and eternity. Liam was a wonderful main character. He's a sweet, smart, truly kind person who has been treated horribly since his birth. He is referred to in the book as the "broken one" because his arm has been paralyzed since birth, during which his mother died. Due to ignorance, rumors, and lore, the people of the island fear and loathe him, regardless of his pure and innocent heart. Anna is a great leading lady for the novel - she's an awesome complement to Liam's character. They are true halves of the same whole and they bring out the best in one another. It sounds really cheesy saying it here, but their relationship in the novel was nothing but romantic and sweet. Being a modern Gothic story, there had to be some trials, heartache, and tragedy mixed in with the romance. I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but I will say that the ending was appropriate for the Gothic genre, even if I hated that it had to be that way. The writing was impeccably well done with incredible detail and vivid descriptions that had me easily imagining myself on Dochas alongside the characters. The Celtic lore was really intriguing for me and I loved that the author put it in with the main plot. I enjoyed learning new things about Celtic mythology and folklore - it added a unique depth to the book that made sure it was one of a kind. There isn't enough time or words for me to really communicate my feelings for this novel and I'm sure it's not completely coherent since I'm still reeling from just finishing the book. This is definitely a novel that fans of fantasy and paranormal will not want to miss out on - and I wholeheartedly think that readers of all preferences should experience the beauty and tragedy that is created within its pages.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2012
Oh Mary I loved it!!!!!!!!
June 24, 2013
One of my absolute favorites. I adore Mary's writing style and her unique spin on Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee. Full review to come. :)
January 15, 2013
Absolutely phenomenal. Such a beautiful world, such an amazing love.
I don't even have words.
I don't even have words.
September 2, 2012
So honored to read this book early!
March 23, 2022
At first it was a little jarring how Liam's internal monologue and lines differ so much from everyone else's modern lines, but I got used to it in the end.
I think this is a good YA romance story, with kind of a dark setting. Not quite sure what I thought about the (celtic) paranormal aspects, but I felt that overtook the main story.
It's inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee, but there isn't much to take from, so the end result is very different. The poem is printed in the beginning of the book, and at the start of each chapter there is an excerpt of a Poem (see what I did there? lol). I just feel that the book relied too much on that, when it stands on its own, the title isn't even a Poe reference.
I guess the book like its target audience is having a bit of an identity crisis. I'd still recommend it for teens probably similar to myself at that age; alternative lonely nerds.
I think this is a good YA romance story, with kind of a dark setting. Not quite sure what I thought about the (celtic) paranormal aspects, but I felt that overtook the main story.
It's inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's Annabel Lee, but there isn't much to take from, so the end result is very different. The poem is printed in the beginning of the book, and at the start of each chapter there is an excerpt of a Poem (see what I did there? lol). I just feel that the book relied too much on that, when it stands on its own, the title isn't even a Poe reference.
I guess the book like its target audience is having a bit of an identity crisis. I'd still recommend it for teens probably similar to myself at that age; alternative lonely nerds.
December 24, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful gothic novel full of heartache, love, and destiny.
Opening Sentence: She looked like something out of a dream…or a nightmare.
The Review:
Liam MacGregor has been called a demon his whole life. The small island of Dòchas is very remote and way behind on modern day technology. The people there are superstitious and there are many legends about otherworld creatures drawing helpless humans to their deaths. Liam was not born under normal circumstances and he has been ostracized because of it. Liam has been shown very few acts of kindness in his life and he had accepted that he would never find happiness. But all that changes when the beautiful Annabel Leighton is exiled to the island by her very wealthy parents.
Anna’s parents own a mansion on the island and one summer when she was a child she played with Liam. She hasn’t been back until now, but Liam never forgot her. She is so full of life and she looks at Liam different than everyone else. It is easy for him to fall for Anna and their love seems like the forever kind. But the otherworld creatures on the island decide to play a cruel game with the sweet young couple, and as things escalate their love isn’t the only thing in danger of being destroyed.
Majority of the story is told from Liam’s POV, which I absolutely loved. Liam is a genuinely good person that has been treated awful his whole life. Instead of letting that get him down and becoming the demon everyone fears, he has turned into an amazing person with a very sweet demeanor. Loving Anna brings down some of the walls he has built around himself and he is finally able to open himself up to someone. He goes from being a shy guarded boy to a confident strong man. It was easy to feel sympathy for him and his situation, but I also respected and admired how he dealt with it.
Anna is your typical rich party girl. She grew up in New York among the high society and lives to rebel against her parents in any way possible. She went a little overboard recently and was sent to live on the island to prevent anymore scandals from surfacing until her brother gets married. She expected to despise the island but then she meets Liam. For the first time in her life she feels like she can be herself and there are no expectations of her. Anna is a beautiful girl that has been lost for a long time and it was heartwarming to watch her find herself in Liam. She is spontaneous and a little on the wild side, but she also had a heart full of gold. She was a wonderful heroine and easy to love.
Ashes on the Waves was a beautiful heartwarming story of true love and all the trials that come with it. The romance developed very quickly and normally I’m not a fan of that, but Lindsey did a wonderful job of making Anna and Liam’s relationship feel realistic. With a hauntingly gorgeous setting and a suspenseful mystery, this was an intense read that was hard to put down. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and the plot was slightly predictable. But overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to YA paranormal fans.
Notable Scene:
“Why are you here, Anna?” I don’t know what answer I was anticipating, but it certainly wasn’t the answer she gave.
“To kiss you, of course.”
I’d never fainted in my life, but I was certain I was on the brink at that moment. “I’m sorry about that. It was wrong of me.”
She smiled. “I thought it was adorable.”
Adorable. I stood stunned in the middle of my tiny shack staring at the most beautiful girl in the world, unable to move—hardly adorable at the moment.
FTC Advisory: Philomel/Penguin provided me with a copy of Ashes on the Waves. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Beautiful gothic novel full of heartache, love, and destiny.
Opening Sentence: She looked like something out of a dream…or a nightmare.
The Review:
Liam MacGregor has been called a demon his whole life. The small island of Dòchas is very remote and way behind on modern day technology. The people there are superstitious and there are many legends about otherworld creatures drawing helpless humans to their deaths. Liam was not born under normal circumstances and he has been ostracized because of it. Liam has been shown very few acts of kindness in his life and he had accepted that he would never find happiness. But all that changes when the beautiful Annabel Leighton is exiled to the island by her very wealthy parents.
Anna’s parents own a mansion on the island and one summer when she was a child she played with Liam. She hasn’t been back until now, but Liam never forgot her. She is so full of life and she looks at Liam different than everyone else. It is easy for him to fall for Anna and their love seems like the forever kind. But the otherworld creatures on the island decide to play a cruel game with the sweet young couple, and as things escalate their love isn’t the only thing in danger of being destroyed.
Majority of the story is told from Liam’s POV, which I absolutely loved. Liam is a genuinely good person that has been treated awful his whole life. Instead of letting that get him down and becoming the demon everyone fears, he has turned into an amazing person with a very sweet demeanor. Loving Anna brings down some of the walls he has built around himself and he is finally able to open himself up to someone. He goes from being a shy guarded boy to a confident strong man. It was easy to feel sympathy for him and his situation, but I also respected and admired how he dealt with it.
Anna is your typical rich party girl. She grew up in New York among the high society and lives to rebel against her parents in any way possible. She went a little overboard recently and was sent to live on the island to prevent anymore scandals from surfacing until her brother gets married. She expected to despise the island but then she meets Liam. For the first time in her life she feels like she can be herself and there are no expectations of her. Anna is a beautiful girl that has been lost for a long time and it was heartwarming to watch her find herself in Liam. She is spontaneous and a little on the wild side, but she also had a heart full of gold. She was a wonderful heroine and easy to love.
Ashes on the Waves was a beautiful heartwarming story of true love and all the trials that come with it. The romance developed very quickly and normally I’m not a fan of that, but Lindsey did a wonderful job of making Anna and Liam’s relationship feel realistic. With a hauntingly gorgeous setting and a suspenseful mystery, this was an intense read that was hard to put down. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and the plot was slightly predictable. But overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to YA paranormal fans.
Notable Scene:
“Why are you here, Anna?” I don’t know what answer I was anticipating, but it certainly wasn’t the answer she gave.
“To kiss you, of course.”
I’d never fainted in my life, but I was certain I was on the brink at that moment. “I’m sorry about that. It was wrong of me.”
She smiled. “I thought it was adorable.”
Adorable. I stood stunned in the middle of my tiny shack staring at the most beautiful girl in the world, unable to move—hardly adorable at the moment.
FTC Advisory: Philomel/Penguin provided me with a copy of Ashes on the Waves. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
August 14, 2013
I finished this one several days ago, but wanted to sit on my thoughts for a few days, see if my opinion changed.
It didn't.
This has too much atmosphere and too little coherent plot, with lots of stuff tossed in here and there.
And really stupid hero and heroine, which doesn't EVER work.
What really bothers me is when there is a big over-arching mystery which must be solved and our young lovers are desperately, when not being googly-eyed or smooching one another, trying to solve it. And it is all right there in front of them, any idiot could connect the dots, but these two can't do it. And again, perhaps a bit less googly-eyes and smooching might have allowed their brains to focus on other things.
As to the smooching, etc, how about letting us in on exactly what is happening. We've had the info about how the smooching makes Liam feel and what he hopes will happen with Annabelle, but the author, after chapters of tease, behaves like a Victorian spinster with a case of the vapors when she even thinks about the things men and woman do together.
Look, I'm not asking for a play by play of what goes where and when, but if a couple are on their wedding night, I expect to know what did or did not occur. You understand what I'm saying? All this build-up, even having a sort-of eternal marriage ceremony and yet, no, we mustn't go there. Really?
I had great trouble with life on Liam's island. These people believe in all manner of supernatural stuff: that Liam's birth injury is due to a demon wearing his skin, that he killed his mother, they believe in Selkies, Bean Sidhes(banshees), the Cailleach(washerwoman, harbinger of death), the Na Fir Ghorm(blue meanies), etc. These people live as if it is a century or two in the past. I couldn't buy into it. Why would anyone choose to stay there? It isn't a friendly, welcoming place, after all. There is barely enough to eat and the islanders are distrustful, willing to kill without regard to the truth and because they believe in all this nonsense stuff.
So, to the plot.
Again, we have the insta-love, or to be more precise, the love started between children. This might possibly have worked if we'd have been given the story of these children. As it is, nope.
There is why Anna is on the island, because she is a spoiled rich girl acting out to get her family's love. But she is almost instantaneously changed by her love for Liam. And she does do some good things.
Her friends were nothing to the story, added nothing, didn't move the story along, were just filler. Yes, there is a jealousy misunderstanding, but that could have played out just as well without any of those characters having to actually appear on stage.
And all the supernatural stuff, for me personally, weakened the story. Or maybe that was the story and Liam and Anna were intruding, not quite sure which,
These are all these questions that our lovely couple is trying to answer, but as I've said, they don't seem to have the smarts to see what is right in front of them. In fact, this is one of those books (much like the entire Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare which I am still in a snit over) that the villain must finally show up and explain everything to the dimwits who are perhaps too charged up on the sexual tease to apply their minds in a useful way.
And as for the smooching, it is very lukewarm. I kissed her. She kissed me. We kissed each other. *yawns*
One last thing, the story of the little selkie, Muireann, I liked. Too bad that wasn't the main story because she was interesting. Interesting enough that if this author tells more of her story, that I'd read it? Sadly, no.
So, I could go on, but you get the general idea.
Won't likely read this author again.
It didn't.
This has too much atmosphere and too little coherent plot, with lots of stuff tossed in here and there.
And really stupid hero and heroine, which doesn't EVER work.
What really bothers me is when there is a big over-arching mystery which must be solved and our young lovers are desperately, when not being googly-eyed or smooching one another, trying to solve it. And it is all right there in front of them, any idiot could connect the dots, but these two can't do it. And again, perhaps a bit less googly-eyes and smooching might have allowed their brains to focus on other things.
As to the smooching, etc, how about letting us in on exactly what is happening. We've had the info about how the smooching makes Liam feel and what he hopes will happen with Annabelle, but the author, after chapters of tease, behaves like a Victorian spinster with a case of the vapors when she even thinks about the things men and woman do together.
Look, I'm not asking for a play by play of what goes where and when, but if a couple are on their wedding night, I expect to know what did or did not occur. You understand what I'm saying? All this build-up, even having a sort-of eternal marriage ceremony and yet, no, we mustn't go there. Really?
I had great trouble with life on Liam's island. These people believe in all manner of supernatural stuff: that Liam's birth injury is due to a demon wearing his skin, that he killed his mother, they believe in Selkies, Bean Sidhes(banshees), the Cailleach(washerwoman, harbinger of death), the Na Fir Ghorm(blue meanies), etc. These people live as if it is a century or two in the past. I couldn't buy into it. Why would anyone choose to stay there? It isn't a friendly, welcoming place, after all. There is barely enough to eat and the islanders are distrustful, willing to kill without regard to the truth and because they believe in all this nonsense stuff.
So, to the plot.
Again, we have the insta-love, or to be more precise, the love started between children. This might possibly have worked if we'd have been given the story of these children. As it is, nope.
There is why Anna is on the island, because she is a spoiled rich girl acting out to get her family's love. But she is almost instantaneously changed by her love for Liam. And she does do some good things.
Her friends were nothing to the story, added nothing, didn't move the story along, were just filler. Yes, there is a jealousy misunderstanding, but that could have played out just as well without any of those characters having to actually appear on stage.
And all the supernatural stuff, for me personally, weakened the story. Or maybe that was the story and Liam and Anna were intruding, not quite sure which,
These are all these questions that our lovely couple is trying to answer, but as I've said, they don't seem to have the smarts to see what is right in front of them. In fact, this is one of those books (much like the entire Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare which I am still in a snit over) that the villain must finally show up and explain everything to the dimwits who are perhaps too charged up on the sexual tease to apply their minds in a useful way.
And as for the smooching, it is very lukewarm. I kissed her. She kissed me. We kissed each other. *yawns*
One last thing, the story of the little selkie, Muireann, I liked. Too bad that wasn't the main story because she was interesting. Interesting enough that if this author tells more of her story, that I'd read it? Sadly, no.
So, I could go on, but you get the general idea.
Won't likely read this author again.
August 5, 2013
Mary Linsey's latest blends Celtic folklore with Edgar Allen Poe's beautiful poem. The result is a delightful mash up of romance, mystery and fantasy.
In the very best Gothic tradition, the plot centers around young Liam, a talented, marred outcast, growing up on an isolated island off the coast of Maine. The island features a collection of ignorant, poverty stricken villagers, all completely devoid of critical thinking skills, and a mysterious mansion, empty for years, but owned by a fabulously wealthy family. Enter the family's beautiful and troubled scion, Anna Leighton, and we are off and running with all the delicious elements -- a curse, a mystery, a wager between Otherworldly beings, and star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of it all.
Lindsey's book is very well-constructed, weaving all the different plots and characters seamlessly, with many unexpected twists and turns. The mystery to be solved is satisfyingly complex, and each clue and new element is revealed at a good pace. At the heart of the book is a perfectly delightful love story, which she makes sweetly effective, gently allowing her characters to gradually and believably grow towards intimacy, without relying on a lot of tricked up plot and character machinations. Lindsey instead gives the tired, old complications of former boyfriends, class differences, snooty cliques and overblown misunderstandings a refreshing and most welcome raspberry, just letting her characters love one another, discovering their passion gradually and overcoming obstacles with admirable courage. She also deftly turns the Gothic formula on its head--making our hero the haunted, wide-eyed innocent, and our heroine, the tough, stalwart fighter.
The fantasy elements are well researched and well-drawn--from selkies, to murderous mermen, banshees to Manannan mac Lir himself. In fact, the only thing I had trouble buying into was the setting. Can it really be possible for a whole village in Maine to remain stuck in 17th century thinking, devoid of any modern knowledge or conveniences, when information is accessible to most parts of the world these days? With every other Maine island being exploited for tourism, this one was somehow overlooked? A satellite phone is on the island, but not a satellite dish for television and movies? These questions kept popping up while I read, interfering periodically with my enjoyment of a terrific story, very well told.
(On the other hand, I did get curious enough to look up information about Maine's islands, and some of them are indeed very isolated. Perhaps Isle au Haut, population 100, and only accessible my mail boat, for instance, is stuffed with murderous child molesters, drunken lobstermen and starving families, who have no indoor plumbing, just like the island in the book. I hope not, but you never know).
Edgar Allen Poe's trademark, creepy horror isn't present in this book much, so readers looking for murdered girls stuffed up chimneys, ghostly black cats, or body parts stored in the floorboards are likely to be disappointed. But if you are looking for a yummy Gothic romance to sink your teeth into, this is a very good one indeed.
In the very best Gothic tradition, the plot centers around young Liam, a talented, marred outcast, growing up on an isolated island off the coast of Maine. The island features a collection of ignorant, poverty stricken villagers, all completely devoid of critical thinking skills, and a mysterious mansion, empty for years, but owned by a fabulously wealthy family. Enter the family's beautiful and troubled scion, Anna Leighton, and we are off and running with all the delicious elements -- a curse, a mystery, a wager between Otherworldly beings, and star-crossed lovers caught in the middle of it all.
Lindsey's book is very well-constructed, weaving all the different plots and characters seamlessly, with many unexpected twists and turns. The mystery to be solved is satisfyingly complex, and each clue and new element is revealed at a good pace. At the heart of the book is a perfectly delightful love story, which she makes sweetly effective, gently allowing her characters to gradually and believably grow towards intimacy, without relying on a lot of tricked up plot and character machinations. Lindsey instead gives the tired, old complications of former boyfriends, class differences, snooty cliques and overblown misunderstandings a refreshing and most welcome raspberry, just letting her characters love one another, discovering their passion gradually and overcoming obstacles with admirable courage. She also deftly turns the Gothic formula on its head--making our hero the haunted, wide-eyed innocent, and our heroine, the tough, stalwart fighter.
The fantasy elements are well researched and well-drawn--from selkies, to murderous mermen, banshees to Manannan mac Lir himself. In fact, the only thing I had trouble buying into was the setting. Can it really be possible for a whole village in Maine to remain stuck in 17th century thinking, devoid of any modern knowledge or conveniences, when information is accessible to most parts of the world these days? With every other Maine island being exploited for tourism, this one was somehow overlooked? A satellite phone is on the island, but not a satellite dish for television and movies? These questions kept popping up while I read, interfering periodically with my enjoyment of a terrific story, very well told.
(On the other hand, I did get curious enough to look up information about Maine's islands, and some of them are indeed very isolated. Perhaps Isle au Haut, population 100, and only accessible my mail boat, for instance, is stuffed with murderous child molesters, drunken lobstermen and starving families, who have no indoor plumbing, just like the island in the book. I hope not, but you never know).
Edgar Allen Poe's trademark, creepy horror isn't present in this book much, so readers looking for murdered girls stuffed up chimneys, ghostly black cats, or body parts stored in the floorboards are likely to be disappointed. But if you are looking for a yummy Gothic romance to sink your teeth into, this is a very good one indeed.
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