Burned to Ashes

by Karah Pensa

Nuclear war changed everything; the once normal world has been turned into a constant battle for life. The end of the war left the country in pieces. So for Neera, surviving is all that matters, until she finds something worth living for. When the city turns into a war zone, everything becomes even more difficult.
Burned to Ashes is a dual pov between Neera and Leander, two teens struggling for survival in a world where it's kill or be killed. This story follows the characters' struggle as they watch as many groups try to put the broken world back together, even though most of them are doing it wrong, and they cause even more destruction. How many will die before the world can finally be at peace?

Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2025

Reviews

[Annemarie Bracht · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought that the story went a little fast, but that changed quickly. I liked how the Plot-twists weren’t obvious at all, I was really shocked!
There were some repeats in the words but I don’t care about that at all. As the plot was figured out perfectly, everything the characters did, made sense and there were no unnecessary scenes to confuse. This was the first book that I read in English and it was amazing for me!

[Chloe Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't read dystopian books that much, because I stick to fantasy most of the time, but I just had to pick up this one. Why? Well, the summary got me really intrigued. My mind went "ooh, this seems like something i would definitely like to read." And so, I did! Absolutely no regrets at all. The writing runs very smoothly, the characters are all likeable/relatable (well, the ones that are supposed to be likeable anyway lol) and the plot twist really shocked me. It's always a good book when you don't see that twist coming, no matter how hard you look. The story is written in a way meant to be engaging, the type of book that makes you want to never stop reading it, never put it down because you NEED to know what happens next, you just have to find out.
I recommend Burned to Ashes to all the fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian lovers, because even if you're like me and you haven't read much dystopian books, and you usually stick to just one genre, this one might just change your mind.

[LittleLovelyWriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking a long time for a really good dystopian novel, as I feel the quality has been declining in the recent years. Burned to Ashes, however, brought back the feeling that I got when I read The Hunger Games for the first time. The characters feel very relatable and real, which is something that cannot be said for many books. It was easy to get attached to them and very hard to say goodbye to the ones who didn’t make it to the end. The plot had me hooked from the beginning, and the unexpected twists and turns had be on the edge of my seat through the duration of the book. Burned to Ashes is one of those reads that will stay on my mind for a long time.

[Zoe L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!
Burned to Ashes by karah Pensa is a dystopian books et in the future. It follows the story of Neera, age 15, and Leander, age 12. The book is really well written. It has action suspense, heartbreak, and happiness. I would recommend it to readers aged 12-17, because the main characters are teens. I cried twice becuase of this book, and I loved every inch. The ending was perfect, and all-in-all, this book was amazing. So go buy it. Now.

[Isabella Barbato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karah is an amazing author who has her readers go on an amazing rollercoaster of emotions! You really have no idea where the story is going to go. The characters are well-developed, and their backstory is deep. She is a wonderful author who wrote a wonderful book! So proud of you, Karah!

[Damiana Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burned to Ashes is a emotional rollercoaster, and is a 10/10 read. Going through the characters stories and seeing their struggles along the way helped shape each character into who they are, which also made the story unique and thrilling in its own special way. I 100% recommend to anyone!!!

[Kaylee Opalenik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning, but once I reached about halfway through, it was hard for me to put the book down (which is a very rare occurrence for me personally) I would definitely recommend to anyone who’s looking for a book to read.

[Ella Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing!! Never a moment where I was bored. This book was completely action packed with so many emotional moments. I’m so impressed with Karah and I can’t wait for her next book!!

[Emelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.