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Taine McKenna Adventures #3
Into the Ashes
In New Zealand's Tongariro National Park, ancestral Māori mountain warriors, the legendary Kāhui Tupua, awaken, unleashing their unfathomable rage on army sergeant Taine McKenna.
As the ground splits and chaos erupts, McKenna undertakes a desperate evacuation mission, that is until he encounters a busload of equally desperate prison escapees. It’s going to take everything McKenna has to get the civilians out alive. Yet the true horror lies deeper still in this heart-stopping tale where the land itself is the enemy and every step could be his last.
“A gripping take on the disaster fiction genre.” —Aurealis
“A kick-ass thriller with twists you will never see coming!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Deep Silence and V-WARS
As the ground splits and chaos erupts, McKenna undertakes a desperate evacuation mission, that is until he encounters a busload of equally desperate prison escapees. It’s going to take everything McKenna has to get the civilians out alive. Yet the true horror lies deeper still in this heart-stopping tale where the land itself is the enemy and every step could be his last.
“A gripping take on the disaster fiction genre.” —Aurealis
“A kick-ass thriller with twists you will never see coming!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of Deep Silence and V-WARS
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
22 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 20, 2019
Another fine Taine McKenna military adventure-horror!
May 7, 2019
This is the third book in the series and it took off and steam rolled all the way to the end. I really enjoyed the first two books and was pretty sure Lee Murray would make me happy again. She did that, for sure.
There is so much I loved that I wish I could tell you. There’s the time when…, and those guys were…., and Taine drew a bead on….. The whole book was jammed with action and suspense, along with some scenes where I was really worried about some of my friends. The bad kept on coming and I didn’t see a way out for these people. There might not be any dinosaurs or sea monsters in this newest adventure, but there’s something just as deadly.
I’m happy to say the series keeps getting better for me and this is my favorite one yet.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
There is so much I loved that I wish I could tell you. There’s the time when…, and those guys were…., and Taine drew a bead on….. The whole book was jammed with action and suspense, along with some scenes where I was really worried about some of my friends. The bad kept on coming and I didn’t see a way out for these people. There might not be any dinosaurs or sea monsters in this newest adventure, but there’s something just as deadly.
I’m happy to say the series keeps getting better for me and this is my favorite one yet.
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
February 12, 2019
Lee Murray is back at it with her next installment of famed New Zealand warrior soldier, Taine McKenna. A one way ticket to hell is the best way to describe this action packed, roller coasting, runaway train! With danger lurking in every moment, in every fiber of existence, the reader is catapaulted into a nightmare chain of events, each with its own possibility of death at the forefront. It’s no surprise Murray subjects her characters (victims) to the refinery of raw nature (that is New Zealand) once again in this high octane thriller of survival and destruction! Having no chance to breathe, figuratively and literally, readers will find themselves gasping for air as the choking smoke clouds of erupting volcanoes fling their fireballs of death. Throw a band of escaped convicts into the mix and you have yourself a serious situation turning even more deadlier than a giant lizard or squid. Murray has a unique way of implementing the lore of New Zealand gods into the mix which creates a rich texture of background that leaves you caring about the land and it’s people.
Like the previous stories in this series, Taine McKenna has one purpose: save as many lives as possible. And so stays ever true to his nature, throwing himself in harms way the first chance he gets. (He has to do this, wants to do this). There seems to be an ever present theme with Murray’s novels, that being a connection between the land and its gods, and the primordial elements involved (so far, beast - Into the Mist water - Into the Sounds, and now this novel, fire - Into the Ashes). It’s a good way to understand where she’s coming from and what might be expected in future novels. Some exciting moments (more than others) is her ability to mash it up on a spare of the moment situation, even right from the beginning. She has the ability to draw you right in, using action and dialogue resourcefully. There is good solid writing to be had by Lee Murray and I look forward to more works by her in the future. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.
4 out of 5 stars.
Author F. D. Gross
Grelldragon@hotmail.com
Like the previous stories in this series, Taine McKenna has one purpose: save as many lives as possible. And so stays ever true to his nature, throwing himself in harms way the first chance he gets. (He has to do this, wants to do this). There seems to be an ever present theme with Murray’s novels, that being a connection between the land and its gods, and the primordial elements involved (so far, beast - Into the Mist water - Into the Sounds, and now this novel, fire - Into the Ashes). It’s a good way to understand where she’s coming from and what might be expected in future novels. Some exciting moments (more than others) is her ability to mash it up on a spare of the moment situation, even right from the beginning. She has the ability to draw you right in, using action and dialogue resourcefully. There is good solid writing to be had by Lee Murray and I look forward to more works by her in the future. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.
4 out of 5 stars.
Author F. D. Gross
Grelldragon@hotmail.com
January 13, 2019
I got this from tbc reviews that I am a member on facebook as a e book. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I read the other two books in this series and liked them too. I hope to read more books by this author.
February 12, 2019
In the decade or so I've been following her work, Lee Murray has demonstrated an admirable talent for harnessing her vivid imagination to the demands of good story telling. I was recently gifted a copy of her latest work, INTO THE ASHES. It is perhaps her most compelling tale.
Kudos to her for fashioning an entertaining story.
Kudos to her for molding it from the people, land, and legends of her New Zealand homeland.
Kudos to her for setting the story in modern times with believable characters, be they fabled or real, heroic or cowardly, likable or despicable.
Kudos to her for weaving the tale in ways that compel her readers to turn the page.
Do yourself a favor. Buy yourself a copy of INTO THE ASHES, and settle in for a riveting read.
Kudos to her for fashioning an entertaining story.
Kudos to her for molding it from the people, land, and legends of her New Zealand homeland.
Kudos to her for setting the story in modern times with believable characters, be they fabled or real, heroic or cowardly, likable or despicable.
Kudos to her for weaving the tale in ways that compel her readers to turn the page.
Do yourself a favor. Buy yourself a copy of INTO THE ASHES, and settle in for a riveting read.
December 17, 2019
This is the third in the series and it’s another great Taine McKenna adventure - this time there’s earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, escaped prisoners and fire demons - and of course more of New Zealand’s fantastic landscapes and legends.
Yet again the plot is fast-paced, full of action, and tensely atmospheric.
We are meeting some old friends, and have to say goodbye to others - I’m desperately hoping for more adventures in this series, but this one feels like a nice round ending if it were the last. Excellent read!
Yet again the plot is fast-paced, full of action, and tensely atmospheric.
We are meeting some old friends, and have to say goodbye to others - I’m desperately hoping for more adventures in this series, but this one feels like a nice round ending if it were the last. Excellent read!
April 2, 2019
As adventurous and fast paced as the previous two, this adventure of Taine didn't disappoint.
I don't like horror but I do like thrillers and while this is action oriented it is something I can understand.
So I found it an interesting read and quite liked it.
I don't like horror but I do like thrillers and while this is action oriented it is something I can understand.
So I found it an interesting read and quite liked it.
February 26, 2019
Into the ashes by Lee Murray.
No longer content to rumble in anger, the great mountain warriors of New Zealand’s central plateau, the Kāhui Tupua, are preparing again for battle. At least, that’s how the Māori elders tell it. The nation’s leaders scoff at the danger. That is; until the ground opens and all hell breaks loose. The armed forces are hastily deployed; NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his section tasked with evacuating civilians and tourists from Tongariro National Park. It is too little, too late. With earthquakes coming thick and fast and the mountains spewing rock and ash, McKenna and his men are cut off. Their only hope of rescuing the stranded civilians is to find another route out, but a busload of prison evacuees has other ideas. And, deep beneath the earth’s crust, other forces are stirring.
This was an absolutely fantastic read with great characters. Although I didn't like the criminals that escaped. I loved taine and lefty and Eriksen and Harris and Jules. Plus tamera Wayne and parnia . Lots of action and emotion. A loss at the end. Looking forward to the next book. I hope that there will be more to come. 5*.
No longer content to rumble in anger, the great mountain warriors of New Zealand’s central plateau, the Kāhui Tupua, are preparing again for battle. At least, that’s how the Māori elders tell it. The nation’s leaders scoff at the danger. That is; until the ground opens and all hell breaks loose. The armed forces are hastily deployed; NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his section tasked with evacuating civilians and tourists from Tongariro National Park. It is too little, too late. With earthquakes coming thick and fast and the mountains spewing rock and ash, McKenna and his men are cut off. Their only hope of rescuing the stranded civilians is to find another route out, but a busload of prison evacuees has other ideas. And, deep beneath the earth’s crust, other forces are stirring.
This was an absolutely fantastic read with great characters. Although I didn't like the criminals that escaped. I loved taine and lefty and Eriksen and Harris and Jules. Plus tamera Wayne and parnia . Lots of action and emotion. A loss at the end. Looking forward to the next book. I hope that there will be more to come. 5*.
February 8, 2019
Into the Ashes is the third book in the series by New Zealand author, Lee Murray. This reads well as a standalone, but I read the first two and I would absolutely recommend doing that (because, let’s face it, those two books are also terrific reads and I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out but also because it gently rounds out the backstory of the characters).
This time around, there is significant volcanic activity which necessitates Taine McKenna and his mates helping to evacuate civilians from the area most in danger of loss of life from eruptions. What they don’t know is that some prisoners are on the run in the same locality and their desperation makes the NZDF’s job much harder than it would otherwise be. Jules is back in this story as well, she is trying to find an endangered skink before its habitat gets wiped out by the volcano.
New Zealand mythology and legends also make a return, as does Temera, and the combination of all of these factors makes this story an irresistible read for me. It is heart-pounding stuff and definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you want an exciting and thrilling story to read, this is the one.
Loved it!
5 stars from me.
This time around, there is significant volcanic activity which necessitates Taine McKenna and his mates helping to evacuate civilians from the area most in danger of loss of life from eruptions. What they don’t know is that some prisoners are on the run in the same locality and their desperation makes the NZDF’s job much harder than it would otherwise be. Jules is back in this story as well, she is trying to find an endangered skink before its habitat gets wiped out by the volcano.
New Zealand mythology and legends also make a return, as does Temera, and the combination of all of these factors makes this story an irresistible read for me. It is heart-pounding stuff and definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you want an exciting and thrilling story to read, this is the one.
Loved it!
5 stars from me.
February 14, 2019
Another great Taine McKenna novel, reintroducing some cool characters and continuing with the same gruesome, fast pace of the other novels.
I love learning more about the Maori folklore and traditions, this book is full of them along with a interesting story revolving around the rage of the volcanoes and some nasty abandoned inmates from the local prison.
Can’t wait for the next story.
I love learning more about the Maori folklore and traditions, this book is full of them along with a interesting story revolving around the rage of the volcanoes and some nasty abandoned inmates from the local prison.
Can’t wait for the next story.
June 12, 2023
Not quite as good as the previous books in the series. I felt like there was too much going on, too many new characters, and a very unrealistic distance being travelled.
I wish the supernatural/mythological element had been more present throughout the story to give it a bit more focus and direction.
I wish the supernatural/mythological element had been more present throughout the story to give it a bit more focus and direction.
Read
March 5, 2019Into the Ashes is the third book in the Taine McKenna series, based in New Zealand and serves up another generous helping of thrilling action adventure. This time Sergeant Taine Mckenna is helping evacuate the small towns in the central plateau as a volcano threatens to blow. Thrown into the mix are a desperate band of escaped convicts and a cast of other characters, trying to esape the mountain’s fury, including his ex.
The story is a fabulous blend of disaster movie action and Maori mythology. Once more the New Zealand landscape is a strong part of Murray’s novel and her prose is so crisp and evocative I could almost feel the rumble of earthquakes and see ash falling from the sky.
I particularly loved the beautiful, terrible fire demons, Te Hoata and Te Pūpū. They are not ladies anyone would like to cross. Or meet.
The story is a fabulous blend of disaster movie action and Maori mythology. Once more the New Zealand landscape is a strong part of Murray’s novel and her prose is so crisp and evocative I could almost feel the rumble of earthquakes and see ash falling from the sky.
I particularly loved the beautiful, terrible fire demons, Te Hoata and Te Pūpū. They are not ladies anyone would like to cross. Or meet.
February 15, 2019
*I received a free copy of this novel, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Some familiar faces return in Into the Ashes; as well as Taine (obviously) we have Jules, Pringle, Read, Hine, Eriksen, Lefty and Temera, all on different but converging paths that lead them straight into an imminent natural disaster.
As with previous books, Taine and Temera gradually come to the realisation that the disaster they are facing may not be entirely natural after all, but by then Taine and co have already crossed paths (and gunfire) with a gang of convicts who are set on creating some manmade chaos as they attempt to escape the mountainous rumbles and the law.
Packed full of military action and tense cliffhanger situations, Lee Murray has produced another action thriller that belongs firmly on the big screen as well as the page, and yet again she threads the violence and explosions with some Māori mythology and spirituality to create a riveting blend of the old and new, natural and supernatural.
Definitely one for fans of action movies rooted in local (New Zealand) landscapes and traditions.
Higher up in the mountain, rocks clattered. Clague froze. Another quake? But the ground was still. Hairs lifted on the back of his neck.
Through the drifts of ash, a figure was climbing the mountain. A warrior? It looked that way: Clague spied flashes of muscled skin glistening with sweat. And was that a patu-club he was carrying? What the hell was he doing up here, dressed in a piu piu as if he was part of a tribal war party?
“Hey!”
The man kept climbing.
“Hey, you can’t go up there! It’s too dangerous. There’s a state of emergency…”
If the warrior had heard him, he didn’t show any sign of it, striding up the mountain to the summit.
– Lee Murray, Into the Ashes
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Some familiar faces return in Into the Ashes; as well as Taine (obviously) we have Jules, Pringle, Read, Hine, Eriksen, Lefty and Temera, all on different but converging paths that lead them straight into an imminent natural disaster.
As with previous books, Taine and Temera gradually come to the realisation that the disaster they are facing may not be entirely natural after all, but by then Taine and co have already crossed paths (and gunfire) with a gang of convicts who are set on creating some manmade chaos as they attempt to escape the mountainous rumbles and the law.
Packed full of military action and tense cliffhanger situations, Lee Murray has produced another action thriller that belongs firmly on the big screen as well as the page, and yet again she threads the violence and explosions with some Māori mythology and spirituality to create a riveting blend of the old and new, natural and supernatural.
Definitely one for fans of action movies rooted in local (New Zealand) landscapes and traditions.
Higher up in the mountain, rocks clattered. Clague froze. Another quake? But the ground was still. Hairs lifted on the back of his neck.
Through the drifts of ash, a figure was climbing the mountain. A warrior? It looked that way: Clague spied flashes of muscled skin glistening with sweat. And was that a patu-club he was carrying? What the hell was he doing up here, dressed in a piu piu as if he was part of a tribal war party?
“Hey!”
The man kept climbing.
“Hey, you can’t go up there! It’s too dangerous. There’s a state of emergency…”
If the warrior had heard him, he didn’t show any sign of it, striding up the mountain to the summit.
– Lee Murray, Into the Ashes
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
February 15, 2019
4.5 stars
Disclaimer: I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The third installment of the Taine McKenna adventures follows the format of the two previous books without becoming formulaic or predictable. It's an action-packed adventure featuring human and supernatural dangers, full of both familiar faces and new characters I hope to see again in future books.
This time, the supernatural element is a lot less obvious -- no giant monsters this time. Instead, Murray delves deeper into New Zealand mythology to use environmental dangers to great effect. For various personal reasons, I am NOT a fan of stories about volcanoes and/or earthquakes. But I tore through this book because I was enjoying the story enough not to be put off by the very realistic and detailed descriptions of being near an active volcano and its various environmental impacts. The only reason I knocked half a star off my rating of this book, compared with the two previous, is that I really liked the inclusion of giant monsters in addition to very human villains. Totally a personal opinion on my part.
Jules and Taine keep breaking my heart in this book. If this series was a single romance novel, I'd be smacking them both right now. But this isn't a romance novel, and Jules and Taine are portrayed as realistic people -- real people don't always get a happy ending.
Just tell that to all the other people who die in this book: heroes, villains, and innocent bystanders alike. I like a healthy dose of reality in my supernatural thrillers, and this book has it in spades.
Can't wait to read the next adventure featuring my favorite Kiwi soldier!
Disclaimer: I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The third installment of the Taine McKenna adventures follows the format of the two previous books without becoming formulaic or predictable. It's an action-packed adventure featuring human and supernatural dangers, full of both familiar faces and new characters I hope to see again in future books.
This time, the supernatural element is a lot less obvious -- no giant monsters this time. Instead, Murray delves deeper into New Zealand mythology to use environmental dangers to great effect. For various personal reasons, I am NOT a fan of stories about volcanoes and/or earthquakes. But I tore through this book because I was enjoying the story enough not to be put off by the very realistic and detailed descriptions of being near an active volcano and its various environmental impacts. The only reason I knocked half a star off my rating of this book, compared with the two previous, is that I really liked the inclusion of giant monsters in addition to very human villains. Totally a personal opinion on my part.
Jules and Taine keep breaking my heart in this book. If this series was a single romance novel, I'd be smacking them both right now. But this isn't a romance novel, and Jules and Taine are portrayed as realistic people -- real people don't always get a happy ending.
Just tell that to all the other people who die in this book: heroes, villains, and innocent bystanders alike. I like a healthy dose of reality in my supernatural thrillers, and this book has it in spades.
Can't wait to read the next adventure featuring my favorite Kiwi soldier!
February 26, 2019
Lee Murray is becoming one of my new favorite authors on any continent. She has a skill of blending the supernatural and natural in this absolute joyride of a book. It follows several characters who have been featured in her previous books, Into the Sound and Into the Void. It is these characters, and Lee's ability to make you fall in love with them, that cements the book. As a fan of local legends and indigenous backgrounds, I really liked that this book steeps itself in Maori mythology.
February 19, 2019
Another fast paced action thriller featuring Taine Mckenna an SAS officer. This time the action is set in the central plateau of New Zealand in the middle of a volcanic eruption. The army is involved in evacuations, at the same time prisoners are running amok while evacuating. Similar mystical events are running through this book as in the previous books. Lots of action and fast thinking make this a real page turner, hoping there is more to come.
February 19, 2019
Another great book in this series. Many thanks to Tbc group for allowing me to review it. This book was a great read. Lots of action and good page turning book. Great for a thrill seeker.
November 10, 2019
Another adventure with Taine McKenna from the New Zealand Defense Force. This time he is rescuing people from the volcanic eruptions of the central plateau, and as always there are plenty of distractions to make his mission more hazardous.
In the middle of the book there is a single line that sums up the whole story, ‘Taine was a pathological hero.’ He is always trying to save the situation and everyone involved, while at the same time having no problem dispatching some of the bad guys along the way. In this story the evacuation of the volcanic central plateau area is made more dangerous by the escape of a bus load of prisoners from the local correction centre and their crazed ringleader, Barnes, who has no problem adding murders to his list of offences.
The aspect of these stories that I enjoy the most are the mingling of modern thriller with ancient Māori mythology. Taine McKenna is not just exceptional army sergeant, but is also highly attuned to the land and his ancestors. Murray takes some of the mountain myths, where the mountains fight between themselves for the love of one of the female peaks, and turns this into an additional element of the story. Taine must not only rescue civilians and his platoon of men, but also battle fire demons in the shape of fearsome warrior women.
Lots of fast paced adventure.
In the middle of the book there is a single line that sums up the whole story, ‘Taine was a pathological hero.’ He is always trying to save the situation and everyone involved, while at the same time having no problem dispatching some of the bad guys along the way. In this story the evacuation of the volcanic central plateau area is made more dangerous by the escape of a bus load of prisoners from the local correction centre and their crazed ringleader, Barnes, who has no problem adding murders to his list of offences.
The aspect of these stories that I enjoy the most are the mingling of modern thriller with ancient Māori mythology. Taine McKenna is not just exceptional army sergeant, but is also highly attuned to the land and his ancestors. Murray takes some of the mountain myths, where the mountains fight between themselves for the love of one of the female peaks, and turns this into an additional element of the story. Taine must not only rescue civilians and his platoon of men, but also battle fire demons in the shape of fearsome warrior women.
Lots of fast paced adventure.
May 20, 2020
It's not a terrible book, the writing isn't too bad, but in the end I just did not like it. Partly this is because this sort of gunbunny action-adventure is not my preferred genre. And partly its because while its kiwi-as in its depictions of the terrain and Māori legends, the rest of it is basicly American - "Con Air" with a bus, a ute, a Unimog, and extra volcano gods (but no Steve Buscemi). Prisoners wear orange jumpsuits. Prison officers have access to guns. The army takes automatic weapons on a civil defence evacuation mission. None of this is remotely accurate, and it was enough to throw my suspension of disbelief completely. If I'd been pressed for time, this would have been a DNF; as it was, I pushed on to finish it. But it just wasn't worth it.
February 15, 2019
Into The Ashes is the third book in the Sergeant Taine McKenna series and it follows him and his tactical team being sent to New Zealand's central plateau to help in the last minute evacuation of the region's civilians and tourists.
Hell has come to New Zealand with the earth opening up and spewing hot ash, rocks and fireballs. Throw into the mix a group of scientists researching the quakes; Dr Jane Asher foolishly trying to find an endangered species in the middle of a National emergency and a group of evacuating prisoners.......well you can only imagine what this author is going to bring to the table!
Lee Murray has a unique ability to draw the reader in from the start, and one of my favourite things in this series of books is the ever present theme of Maori Culture, history and their folklore/myths/legends. She draws on the spirit of the land and it's people and creates a picture that pulls the reader into the story and makes you want to keep on turning the page. The novel is full of fast paced, edge of your seat action with extremely well written, rounded characters and you can't help but become attached to them or dislike them with a passion! The scary thing is that the author doesn't shy away from her characters meeting grizzly and often shocking deaths - always much deserved for the bad guys but emotionally traumatic for the ones we love! You never know who is going to bite the dust next!
Into the Ashes can be read as a standalone novel but I would urge you to read the first two; Into The Mist and Into The Sounds, as well. Believe me, you won't regret it!
I hope this isn't the last in the series, and can't wait to see what this author does next!
Hell has come to New Zealand with the earth opening up and spewing hot ash, rocks and fireballs. Throw into the mix a group of scientists researching the quakes; Dr Jane Asher foolishly trying to find an endangered species in the middle of a National emergency and a group of evacuating prisoners.......well you can only imagine what this author is going to bring to the table!
Lee Murray has a unique ability to draw the reader in from the start, and one of my favourite things in this series of books is the ever present theme of Maori Culture, history and their folklore/myths/legends. She draws on the spirit of the land and it's people and creates a picture that pulls the reader into the story and makes you want to keep on turning the page. The novel is full of fast paced, edge of your seat action with extremely well written, rounded characters and you can't help but become attached to them or dislike them with a passion! The scary thing is that the author doesn't shy away from her characters meeting grizzly and often shocking deaths - always much deserved for the bad guys but emotionally traumatic for the ones we love! You never know who is going to bite the dust next!
Into the Ashes can be read as a standalone novel but I would urge you to read the first two; Into The Mist and Into The Sounds, as well. Believe me, you won't regret it!
I hope this isn't the last in the series, and can't wait to see what this author does next!
March 18, 2019
This is the third in the Taine McKenna series and the storylines just get more twisted and terrifying. You've got to love a man who takes his job seriously, even when faced with mythical monsters, murderers and the girl he can't get out of his head. Intertwined with all the heart-racing action of a natural disaster (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) there is love and loss, hope and betrayal and most importantly retribution. Not to give too much away, Lee has a light touch to rounding out characters, male and female, young and old, real and imagined, in a way that we recognize them as the best and the worst in all of us. I particularly admire having New Zealand history and culture central to the story, giving it a sense of authenticity to the way the world could possibly be. Best to read with the lights on.
May 28, 2022
The third in the Taine McKenna series, Into The Ashes was a fantastic read. I was holding off on reading this as didn’t want to run out of Lee Murray reading goodness (seriously, I don’t know what to read now!) but I’m glad to have read it. Steeped in Maori myth and legend, it focuses on McKenna and his team trying to evacuate civilians from a volcanic eruption the likes of which New Zealand has not seem for over a century when a group of unscrupulous fellows get in their way. The action begins from the first few pages and never lets up until the end. The scenery and environment are also a highlight, and the book flows logically towards a fantastic conclusion. I highly recommend you read the whole series.
September 11, 2019
The mountains are erupting. The citizens have been evacuated…except for a handful of scientists and a busload of prisoners. The army is sent in to round up the stragglers, but the prisoners aren’t so keen on being caught. This sets the scene for a tense thriller, a game of cat and mouse…with mother nature!
But can the chaos be attributed to mere forces of nature, or is there more to it, that requires someone with a connection to the Māori gods themselves to intervene?
Once again, Murray delivers a nail-biting adventure, this time set in the beautiful (but lethal) New Zealand central plateau, woven through with Māori mythology.
But can the chaos be attributed to mere forces of nature, or is there more to it, that requires someone with a connection to the Māori gods themselves to intervene?
Once again, Murray delivers a nail-biting adventure, this time set in the beautiful (but lethal) New Zealand central plateau, woven through with Māori mythology.
February 5, 2021
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3596972.html
It turns out to be the third in a series where New Zealand law enforcers find themselves entangled with the ancient forces of Aotearoa, and I felt it depended a bit on having read at least one of the previous two to fully get what was going on. However, it's well written and suitably tense - in the middle of an evacuation from a volcanic eruption, a group of dangerous prisoners escape and cause even greater mayhem.
It turns out to be the third in a series where New Zealand law enforcers find themselves entangled with the ancient forces of Aotearoa, and I felt it depended a bit on having read at least one of the previous two to fully get what was going on. However, it's well written and suitably tense - in the middle of an evacuation from a volcanic eruption, a group of dangerous prisoners escape and cause even greater mayhem.
April 21, 2019
What a page turner! Non-stop action & intrigue the entire way through the book; you never know which way it is going to twist. The return of Taine & Jules is a great backdrop to a new story in a different part of our country, with new themes and old tales. I really enjoyed it, as I've enjoyed all of Lee's books. Great work!
June 3, 2020
A high octane adventure/thriller, this book grabs you at the outset and doesn’t let go until it’s fiery end. Murray masterfully weaves a military action story with native New Zealand mythology. This was my first experience with her work, but it won’t be the last.
August 3, 2024
Into the Ashes Review
This is the second Taine McKenna and Temera book I have read and I was so engrossed in the story it was hard to step away from it. I hope to read more adventures of theirs.
This is the second Taine McKenna and Temera book I have read and I was so engrossed in the story it was hard to step away from it. I hope to read more adventures of theirs.
February 16, 2019
This one is definitely darker than the first two. Descriptive and powerful, you can't help cheering the good guys while holding your breath.
March 10, 2019
Great characters
Just love this series of books. The characters are seem so real, and now I can't wait for the next adventure!
Just love this series of books. The characters are seem so real, and now I can't wait for the next adventure!
December 24, 2022
very good
Super read! Quite interesting and very entertaining
The folklore intertwined with a love story and a parable was extremely interesting and quite good
Super read! Quite interesting and very entertaining
The folklore intertwined with a love story and a parable was extremely interesting and quite good
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