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ASH: A Twisted Tale of Innocence, Manipulation, and Terror
Deep in the heart of an isolated forest, 14-year-old girl lives in isolation, mastering 'The Game'—a deadly ritual passed down by her fanatical mother. Driven by the sinister whispers of a dark god, she becomes a vessel of terror, luring unsuspecting victims into the forest’s depths. But when an unexpected bond begins to grow, her world spirals into chaos. As the new equations challenges the sinister force controlling her, the stakes rise in a battle that pits devotion against destruction. Can she defy the dark god’s will, or will she remain a pawn in a game she can’t escape? Will she find her way back to humanity, or will she forever remain the instrument of an ancient evil? Uncover the truth in this heart-pounding thriller where survival is the ultimate game.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2024
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December 20, 2024
Right off the bat, let’s get the obligatory disclaimer out of the way. I was given an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of it. And this is that review!
Immediately this book starts off as what I can describe as a horror film. We have a young photographer who is taking pictures in the woods and hears something and then she ignores it. It was probably just the wind. (Spoiler alert, it isn’t the wind).
Here we are introduced to a young girl named Ash who was taught by her mother to play, “The Game.” Which seems to involve her killing people to appease a dark god. Now what really got me interested in this book is that Ash has little minions of this dark god that is helping her. And they take the form of larger-than-normal spiders who speak to her in what I can only describe as psychic whispers. They urge her forward, to take dark actions, and offer her promises if she fulfills the wishes of the dark power.
Now where this book is different than a regular horror novel, is that the killings start right away. We get to know a group of four teenagers who go to a campsite to have fun and hang out. And immediately the spiders whisper to Ash that she must once again play, “The Game,” and take out the teenagers.
Normally a book would spend a hundred or so pages before the lambs are led to slaughter, but in this case, it begins very quickly, and soon, three of the teenagers fall before Ash’s blades and we are introduced to our Final Girl, named Cassie.
She survives Ash’s wrath, and we fast forward to six months later.
So, Ash is taken to a psychiatric ward where she is treated by Dr. Sarah Allen. The doctor takes a liking to Ash as she believes this girl was just led down the wrong path by her mother. And that with enough counseling and treatment, she can be saved.
This is a part of the book that I really liked. It makes the reader wonder, was she really hearing the voices of the spiders? Or was she perhaps just schizophrenic? While she is in the ward, she meets Fiona, another character I really enjoyed. Fiona is a young girl whose family burned to death when she was younger and was blamed for the tragedy.
I really enjoyed reading about her because all she really wanted in life was a friend to talk to and spend time with. And that’s something everyone can identify with. No matter who you are, we all like to have friends.
So, the story progresses and I won’t spoil the whole thing here for you, but greater powers, both good and evil are at work behind the scenes. Ash and Cassie eventually do meet up again, and there is an epic showdown that you just HAVE to read! The way that Brandon Ebinger describes his characters, his scenes, and the fights that go on in his stories is just epic! I love how he can describe a scene so well that I can easily picture myself in the scene as well, and his characters just seem to leap off the page!
Overall, I’d give this book a 5 out of 5. If you’re looking for something to read, it’s something that will keep you on the edge of your seat and deeply invested in the characters.
Check it out!
Immediately this book starts off as what I can describe as a horror film. We have a young photographer who is taking pictures in the woods and hears something and then she ignores it. It was probably just the wind. (Spoiler alert, it isn’t the wind).
Here we are introduced to a young girl named Ash who was taught by her mother to play, “The Game.” Which seems to involve her killing people to appease a dark god. Now what really got me interested in this book is that Ash has little minions of this dark god that is helping her. And they take the form of larger-than-normal spiders who speak to her in what I can only describe as psychic whispers. They urge her forward, to take dark actions, and offer her promises if she fulfills the wishes of the dark power.
Now where this book is different than a regular horror novel, is that the killings start right away. We get to know a group of four teenagers who go to a campsite to have fun and hang out. And immediately the spiders whisper to Ash that she must once again play, “The Game,” and take out the teenagers.
Normally a book would spend a hundred or so pages before the lambs are led to slaughter, but in this case, it begins very quickly, and soon, three of the teenagers fall before Ash’s blades and we are introduced to our Final Girl, named Cassie.
She survives Ash’s wrath, and we fast forward to six months later.
So, Ash is taken to a psychiatric ward where she is treated by Dr. Sarah Allen. The doctor takes a liking to Ash as she believes this girl was just led down the wrong path by her mother. And that with enough counseling and treatment, she can be saved.
This is a part of the book that I really liked. It makes the reader wonder, was she really hearing the voices of the spiders? Or was she perhaps just schizophrenic? While she is in the ward, she meets Fiona, another character I really enjoyed. Fiona is a young girl whose family burned to death when she was younger and was blamed for the tragedy.
I really enjoyed reading about her because all she really wanted in life was a friend to talk to and spend time with. And that’s something everyone can identify with. No matter who you are, we all like to have friends.
So, the story progresses and I won’t spoil the whole thing here for you, but greater powers, both good and evil are at work behind the scenes. Ash and Cassie eventually do meet up again, and there is an epic showdown that you just HAVE to read! The way that Brandon Ebinger describes his characters, his scenes, and the fights that go on in his stories is just epic! I love how he can describe a scene so well that I can easily picture myself in the scene as well, and his characters just seem to leap off the page!
Overall, I’d give this book a 5 out of 5. If you’re looking for something to read, it’s something that will keep you on the edge of your seat and deeply invested in the characters.
Check it out!
Displaying 1 of 1 review