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Into the Ash: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
One of the greatest threats to mankind's existence has become a reality. The Yellowstone Caldera erupts with a force of a thousand nuclear warheads, expelling seven hundred cubic miles of ash and rock all at once into the sky. And it's not finished . . .
When Marty and her brother, Ben, relocate with their family from Los Angeles to a small town in Nebraska, the transition isn't easy. Because they are in high school, their mother believes sending them away for a week to camp might help them make friends.
Marty reluctantly agrees and they go to the camp in Wyoming.
They are there only a couple of days when the eruption happens.
At the edge of the kill zone with no communication or evacuation help in sight, Marty and Ben have no choice but to leave if they want to survive.
On foot, they begin the long journey that will take them across the ash strewn countryside flooded with desperate survivors and dangerous conditions.
With temperatures plummeting and another eruption looming, can they make it to safety in time? If, of course, a safe place even exists.
When Marty and her brother, Ben, relocate with their family from Los Angeles to a small town in Nebraska, the transition isn't easy. Because they are in high school, their mother believes sending them away for a week to camp might help them make friends.
Marty reluctantly agrees and they go to the camp in Wyoming.
They are there only a couple of days when the eruption happens.
At the edge of the kill zone with no communication or evacuation help in sight, Marty and Ben have no choice but to leave if they want to survive.
On foot, they begin the long journey that will take them across the ash strewn countryside flooded with desperate survivors and dangerous conditions.
With temperatures plummeting and another eruption looming, can they make it to safety in time? If, of course, a safe place even exists.
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Published May 17, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 3, 2022
This is the first book I read about the Yellowstone mega volcano blowing.
Really good book following a family as they try to escape the volcano.
What I liked:
-the ash, lots of ash
-the characters
-the story
Really good book following a family as they try to escape the volcano.
What I liked:
-the ash, lots of ash
-the characters
-the story
October 22, 2024
Another fantastic read, listened via Audible and all the narrators that Jacqueline has chosen all fit the narrative so well with all her books.
I felt like I learnt so much about yellowstone and eruptions, without even realising I was learning something 🤣
Jacqueline writes post apocalyptic reads. This read and "empty earth" are both about different disasters ending the world.
I felt like I learnt so much about yellowstone and eruptions, without even realising I was learning something 🤣
Jacqueline writes post apocalyptic reads. This read and "empty earth" are both about different disasters ending the world.
October 6, 2022
Gripping and hard to put down.
June 8, 2024
Be your own editor!
This is a decent short story but the huge number of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure errors just made it endlessly annoying and frustrating to read.
If that lack of reading coherence is supposed to be intentional because it's told from a teenage girl perspective, I wouldn't be surprised, actually. There is a definite lack of knowledge and communication in the expressions voiced by simple adolescents in the age of internet ignorance, but it's off putting to keep the narrative focused when trying to correct the poor language attempts sentence after sentence.
I guess E publishers just don't care about the beauty of language or the profound satisfaction that accompanies well- written prose.
This was a Kindle Unlimited version, and I read it for free which tells any reader that they have indeed, paid the bargain basement price of zero dollars for a poorly presented offering. If I'd actually paid more than a few pennies for this mess, I'd want my money back.
No pride in churning out nonsense. A 4th grader could churn out a one page essay with more skill and scholarship.
This is a decent short story but the huge number of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure errors just made it endlessly annoying and frustrating to read.
If that lack of reading coherence is supposed to be intentional because it's told from a teenage girl perspective, I wouldn't be surprised, actually. There is a definite lack of knowledge and communication in the expressions voiced by simple adolescents in the age of internet ignorance, but it's off putting to keep the narrative focused when trying to correct the poor language attempts sentence after sentence.
I guess E publishers just don't care about the beauty of language or the profound satisfaction that accompanies well- written prose.
This was a Kindle Unlimited version, and I read it for free which tells any reader that they have indeed, paid the bargain basement price of zero dollars for a poorly presented offering. If I'd actually paid more than a few pennies for this mess, I'd want my money back.
No pride in churning out nonsense. A 4th grader could churn out a one page essay with more skill and scholarship.
February 27, 2024
I don't know if the author has editors but clearly the book needs one. There's so much grammatical errors. The story felt flat. The characters experienced hurdles but I hated how easily they passed all those. The writing style was not for me.
I don't get the point of some of the things happening in this book. I hated how Marty killing the guy just passed by like that. The author did not even used that for Marty's development. Why would a family agree to send the grandfather, who supposedly have dementia, on a horseback while a major catastrophic event is happening, alone to find Marty and Ben? Why did the father did not do that? And oh how I hated how the author painted Ben to be. He was so flat and feels like a robot.
I don't get the 5 stars review with this one. Definitely a one star for me, zero if possible. Definitely never reading any book from this author again.
I don't get the point of some of the things happening in this book. I hated how Marty killing the guy just passed by like that. The author did not even used that for Marty's development. Why would a family agree to send the grandfather, who supposedly have dementia, on a horseback while a major catastrophic event is happening, alone to find Marty and Ben? Why did the father did not do that? And oh how I hated how the author painted Ben to be. He was so flat and feels like a robot.
I don't get the 5 stars review with this one. Definitely a one star for me, zero if possible. Definitely never reading any book from this author again.
February 17, 2022
The Red Coat
Started this book thinking I would read a couple of chapters and go to sleep. No such luck. Just finished it. Jacqueline Druga is a great storyteller. Not only was I glued to my kindle enjoying page after page. I felt the kids determined desire to find their Mother, little sister and their grandfather.
I definitely recommend this fast paced, entertaining read.
Started this book thinking I would read a couple of chapters and go to sleep. No such luck. Just finished it. Jacqueline Druga is a great storyteller. Not only was I glued to my kindle enjoying page after page. I felt the kids determined desire to find their Mother, little sister and their grandfather.
I definitely recommend this fast paced, entertaining read.
May 21, 2022
This review contains spoilers.
This would have been a better book with some changes to the plot. There was no need to have the family move from California just so that the kids could tell the other children at camp what an earthquake felt like. There was no need for the dementia storyline at all because as soon as things went to pot, it was barely mentioned again. And why on God's green earth would a mother of three children send her aging father in law with dementia trekking hundreds of miles to go and find her children? Why didn't George go and find then?
In fact, what was the point in the mother and Ruby at all? Why not just have the book as a single father with two teenage kids who live with their prepper granddad on their farm.
And don't get me started on the disgraceful way autism was portrayed in this book. Ben might as well have been an android. Perhaps by not naming autism specifically, but calling it a "spectrum thingy" the author hoped to get away with her clear lack of research on the topic.
The whole book fell flat, the moments that should have been tense just werent. Marty was annoying. Ben was dehumanised. None of the characters were truly fleshed out in a manner which made you care about them.
I get this is a YA book but it's a YA book done badly.
This is the second book that I have read by this author and it's the last.
This would have been a better book with some changes to the plot. There was no need to have the family move from California just so that the kids could tell the other children at camp what an earthquake felt like. There was no need for the dementia storyline at all because as soon as things went to pot, it was barely mentioned again. And why on God's green earth would a mother of three children send her aging father in law with dementia trekking hundreds of miles to go and find her children? Why didn't George go and find then?
In fact, what was the point in the mother and Ruby at all? Why not just have the book as a single father with two teenage kids who live with their prepper granddad on their farm.
And don't get me started on the disgraceful way autism was portrayed in this book. Ben might as well have been an android. Perhaps by not naming autism specifically, but calling it a "spectrum thingy" the author hoped to get away with her clear lack of research on the topic.
The whole book fell flat, the moments that should have been tense just werent. Marty was annoying. Ben was dehumanised. None of the characters were truly fleshed out in a manner which made you care about them.
I get this is a YA book but it's a YA book done badly.
This is the second book that I have read by this author and it's the last.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2024
I'm not going to lie, I would probably never have read this book if it was not a free Kindle book offered by my Prime reading.
Yellowstone erupts covering Wyoming and Nebraska with ash. A teenage girl and her autistic brother, California kids transplanted to a ranch in Chadron, Nebraska at a summer camp and need to make their way home. There is a Grandfather with Alzheimer's, a mom, a little sister, and a step-dad.
Might have rated it higher except I live in Nebraska and have spent enough time in the part of the country that is covered in the book to get the strong feeling the author just used Google Maps and a quick Wikipedia search to set up the region for the story. Additionally, as a geologist, I am convinced the author's understanding of a supervolcano eruption and the Yellowstone caldera was gained from a late-night Discovery Channel "documentary" that aired between episodes of "Finding Bigfoot".
A couple of times I thought of making this a DNF, but I plowed through to the end...
Yellowstone erupts covering Wyoming and Nebraska with ash. A teenage girl and her autistic brother, California kids transplanted to a ranch in Chadron, Nebraska at a summer camp and need to make their way home. There is a Grandfather with Alzheimer's, a mom, a little sister, and a step-dad.
Might have rated it higher except I live in Nebraska and have spent enough time in the part of the country that is covered in the book to get the strong feeling the author just used Google Maps and a quick Wikipedia search to set up the region for the story. Additionally, as a geologist, I am convinced the author's understanding of a supervolcano eruption and the Yellowstone caldera was gained from a late-night Discovery Channel "documentary" that aired between episodes of "Finding Bigfoot".
A couple of times I thought of making this a DNF, but I plowed through to the end...
July 4, 2022
This isn’t my first book by Jacqueline Druga. Omnicide and Rectify were both books I enjoyed. Reset being one of the authors books I didn't like (mainly because I wanted more developed characters).
This book gives us fully fleshed out main characters and the bond between brother and sister was nice to read. I assume the intended audience for this book is the YA crowd.
I find survival scenarios interesting; especially natural ones. Volcanoes are one I find interesting. It is a common disaster scenario that people talk about as large swaths of a country would be impacted by an eruption. Add in the addition of our two MC being teenagers and the concern about their grandfathers dementia and you have added tension and drama.
Overall, I liked the book. It wasn't perfect, but a good KU read. Worth a looksee if have KU or it is on sale.
This book gives us fully fleshed out main characters and the bond between brother and sister was nice to read. I assume the intended audience for this book is the YA crowd.
I find survival scenarios interesting; especially natural ones. Volcanoes are one I find interesting. It is a common disaster scenario that people talk about as large swaths of a country would be impacted by an eruption. Add in the addition of our two MC being teenagers and the concern about their grandfathers dementia and you have added tension and drama.
Overall, I liked the book. It wasn't perfect, but a good KU read. Worth a looksee if have KU or it is on sale.
August 29, 2022
This author was recommended to me by my battle-buddy, military pilot-turned author Mike Slavin. And I am so glad hbe did. This is a truly unique apocalyptic action thriller. Based on a near-future volcano eruption in Yellowstone Park, a brother-sister duo are left on the run and on their own, trying to survive a Mad Max type bunch of gangs who see them as vulnerable. Some well developed main charact4ers, and some equally interesting minor characters. Real good and evil conflict stuff. The story moves - quickly. The bad guys are evil opportunists. And best of all, the hero of the entire book, is the grandfather, who foresaw the possibility, and prepared his grandkids. And also very realistic problems faced by real families when a natural disaster hits. Moves very fast. Hard to put down – and I didn’t read it over a weekend staying up late on Saturday night.
February 25, 2022
Siblings 💗
Marty and Ben have moved from the city to the country and Marty is having a hard time adjusting. Their parents decide to send the to camp and hopefully make some friends. Once there the unthinkable happened and Yellowstone erupts. Their grandfather foresaw this happening and sent them off with bug out backpacks 🎒 to help them get home. Chaos ensues and Marty did something that will haunt her forever while trying to defend Ben.
The story pulled me in from the beginning and kept me entertained. I was rooting for Pops as what he is going thru was overcome in order to save his family.
Marty and Ben have moved from the city to the country and Marty is having a hard time adjusting. Their parents decide to send the to camp and hopefully make some friends. Once there the unthinkable happened and Yellowstone erupts. Their grandfather foresaw this happening and sent them off with bug out backpacks 🎒 to help them get home. Chaos ensues and Marty did something that will haunt her forever while trying to defend Ben.
The story pulled me in from the beginning and kept me entertained. I was rooting for Pops as what he is going thru was overcome in order to save his family.
March 13, 2022
This was nice standalone book, just a bit on the young adult side, since it is written from the POV of a teenage girl. Only a few minor editing issues ("hack of a trauma" instead of heck). There are other books that will delve into the science and broader impact of a Yellowstone eruption; this one is intentionally focused on two siblings just trying to get home. Pops and Ben are both rock stars in the apocalypse with Marty as the "glue" person. This book details nicely how people would see what is happening as they try to get to safety in this terrible disaster. It doesn't shirk from sadness and tragedy but also gives hope in the end. Well done.
May 19, 2022
2/3*
Could easily be 4*, it's an interesting take.
That said, I can only assume the 5* reviews were offered some incentive or are illiterate, because the amount of errors in this book are ridiculous. Did no one at all proof read this?! The weird random punctuation especially was very off-putting and immersion breaking, which is a shame because the actual content was quite enjoyable (my only gripe being: why would we care about M&R's deaths? They're mentioned for about 3 lines of the entire book).
Could easily be 4*, it's an interesting take.
That said, I can only assume the 5* reviews were offered some incentive or are illiterate, because the amount of errors in this book are ridiculous. Did no one at all proof read this?! The weird random punctuation especially was very off-putting and immersion breaking, which is a shame because the actual content was quite enjoyable (my only gripe being: why would we care about M&R's deaths? They're mentioned for about 3 lines of the entire book).
March 2, 2023
The lead up to Yellowstone erupting was pretty exciting, but after that, I don't know how the author managed to do it, but it just kind of got... Boring. This book had so much more potential, but after the eruption it just felt rushed and not thought through, as if the author didn't know how to continue the story.
If you did like this, but want to read a better version of a post-apocalyptic book involving Yellowstone, I'd truly recommend reading Ashfall by Mike Mullin. Same trope, but way better executed than this one.
If you did like this, but want to read a better version of a post-apocalyptic book involving Yellowstone, I'd truly recommend reading Ashfall by Mike Mullin. Same trope, but way better executed than this one.
February 25, 2022
I absolutely love this book!! Characters are well written. Love some, hate some. Very normal. Have Kleenex handy. You’ll need them. I lived 20 miles outside Yellowstone and knew it was a super volcano. You didn’t think about as you lived to close to the caldera. I’ve been to Yellowstone many times in my life. But the author awakened my fear of it blowing. I will reread the book, it’s that good. Go buy it, weekend is upon us.
February 18, 2022
Ms Drugs a is a talented author
But she kind of missed the boat with this book. Yellowstone erupting is a massive opportunity to craft a great apocalyptic book. This story didn't grab me. J would characterize this as apocalyptic light. I enjoy this author and will read everything she writes. She is a prolific writer and cannot be expected to be stumble free...
But she kind of missed the boat with this book. Yellowstone erupting is a massive opportunity to craft a great apocalyptic book. This story didn't grab me. J would characterize this as apocalyptic light. I enjoy this author and will read everything she writes. She is a prolific writer and cannot be expected to be stumble free...
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February 20, 2022Really good read
I know this is geared towards young adults but I enjoyed reading it! It got my attention right away . I was able to care about the young characters and loved Ben being on the spectrum as a couple of our grandkids are. Would recommend to YA and anyone who likes a good non-zombie apocalypse!
I know this is geared towards young adults but I enjoyed reading it! It got my attention right away . I was able to care about the young characters and loved Ben being on the spectrum as a couple of our grandkids are. Would recommend to YA and anyone who likes a good non-zombie apocalypse!
February 25, 2022
Excellent teen friendly dystopia novel
A fifteen year old girl and her brother at camp when the Yellowstone volcano erupts, and their arduous journey to reunite with their family. Believable adversity, triumph and tragedy. Accurate descriptions of the conditions, some violence, but not overly graphic. Appropriate for 12 and up. No sexual situations.
A fifteen year old girl and her brother at camp when the Yellowstone volcano erupts, and their arduous journey to reunite with their family. Believable adversity, triumph and tragedy. Accurate descriptions of the conditions, some violence, but not overly graphic. Appropriate for 12 and up. No sexual situations.
March 4, 2023
Expect the Unexpected
When reading about an apocalypse I tend to work everything out in my head and feel like I know what comes next, but with this story I couldn't. I loved this story so much.....I loved that different generations worked together so closely a nd with so much love that It was difficult not to feel like part of the family. Great story, such great characters!
When reading about an apocalypse I tend to work everything out in my head and feel like I know what comes next, but with this story I couldn't. I loved this story so much.....I loved that different generations worked together so closely a nd with so much love that It was difficult not to feel like part of the family. Great story, such great characters!
September 30, 2023
It was an easy read.
It was a simple easy read. Kinda hard for me to swallow how clueless and self absorbed Marty was since she’s 15 and from Los Angeles. Idk if this author equates constant questioning and naïveté as a sign of a teenager or what, but you won’t find that from a Los Angeles teenager.
It was a simple easy read. Kinda hard for me to swallow how clueless and self absorbed Marty was since she’s 15 and from Los Angeles. Idk if this author equates constant questioning and naïveté as a sign of a teenager or what, but you won’t find that from a Los Angeles teenager.
November 30, 2023
Fantastic read.
I'm having a binge read of the books from this author that I haven't read and I'm finding it difficult to find different words for each book that say how good they are. This book was particularly good from start to finish, there was no let-up in the flow and I loved the main characters, Marty, Ben and Pops. I highly recommend reading it.
I'm having a binge read of the books from this author that I haven't read and I'm finding it difficult to find different words for each book that say how good they are. This book was particularly good from start to finish, there was no let-up in the flow and I loved the main characters, Marty, Ben and Pops. I highly recommend reading it.
December 30, 2023
apocalyptic stories
Jacqueline Druga writes some of the best end of times stories. She makes it impossible to stop reading the minute you start. She has a knack of making all of her people so interesting that you care from the beginning. I seriously can’t get enough of her stories.
Jacqueline Druga writes some of the best end of times stories. She makes it impossible to stop reading the minute you start. She has a knack of making all of her people so interesting that you care from the beginning. I seriously can’t get enough of her stories.
January 18, 2024
Yellowstone blows!
Fast paced novel centering on two teens and their journey to reunite with their family. Loved that Ben was on the spectrum as I have two nephews on the spectrum as well . That being said, there are several typos to navigate through. Though it doesn't detract from the story line. I recommend this book to preteens to adult.
Fast paced novel centering on two teens and their journey to reunite with their family. Loved that Ben was on the spectrum as I have two nephews on the spectrum as well . That being said, there are several typos to navigate through. Though it doesn't detract from the story line. I recommend this book to preteens to adult.
February 16, 2022
love Jacqueline’s books
As always a big page turner, I start n don’t put down until I finish. Fall in love with the characters, always some laughs and tears. Jacqueline’s a definite fav author of mine
As always a big page turner, I start n don’t put down until I finish. Fall in love with the characters, always some laughs and tears. Jacqueline’s a definite fav author of mine
February 18, 2022
Another amazing read!
Another amazing read from this author! She has so many books and I love every one of them! If you like apocalyptic fiction, check out her other stories too. You will not be disappointed!
Another amazing read from this author! She has so many books and I love every one of them! If you like apocalyptic fiction, check out her other stories too. You will not be disappointed!
February 28, 2022
Wowee, ash, ice, rain, snow, fire, loss
This was a different apocalyptic event, no zombies, dang. It was very realistic and not everyone made it. Good people, bad ones, impatient ones but survivors and family. Never forget family.
This was a different apocalyptic event, no zombies, dang. It was very realistic and not everyone made it. Good people, bad ones, impatient ones but survivors and family. Never forget family.
April 2, 2022
Good Story
I enjoyed the story about this family supporting and believing in each other thru this disaster. It is believable and gives enough hope at the end.
This is the second book I have read by this author looking for her other books.
I enjoyed the story about this family supporting and believing in each other thru this disaster. It is believable and gives enough hope at the end.
This is the second book I have read by this author looking for her other books.
May 2, 2022
Needs editing!
This novel is filled with grammatical errors, not the least of which is incorrect use of semi-colons (where there should be commas). An entire chapter ends without punctuation. Desperately needs editing.
This novel is filled with grammatical errors, not the least of which is incorrect use of semi-colons (where there should be commas). An entire chapter ends without punctuation. Desperately needs editing.
May 22, 2022
good
Mart and her family move to Nebraska to live on their step pops farm….Ranch. Marty and her older brother Ben are sent to a summer camp when Yellowstone erupts. Read their journey to find their family
Mart and her family move to Nebraska to live on their step pops farm….Ranch. Marty and her older brother Ben are sent to a summer camp when Yellowstone erupts. Read their journey to find their family
October 28, 2022
Great book lots of fast pace action
Really enjoyed this book hated to put it down to sleep wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next .will look for more books my this author.
Really enjoyed this book hated to put it down to sleep wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next .will look for more books my this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews