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Life of Ashes - Book 1: The First Hours
When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, the world doesn't burn. It suffocates.
In Seattle, Ethan and his friends watch the life they knew collapse around them. As food disappears, violence spreads, and fear takes over, every decision carries a price.
More than 5,000 miles away, in Toulon, France, Ed struggles to protect his family as the same catastrophe reaches Europe. But when civilization begins to fall apart, how far will an ordinary man go to save the people he loves?
No heroes. No chosen ones. Just ordinary people trying to survive the end of the world.
Two continents. Two stories. One catastrophe.
Survival is no longer about strength. It's about the choices you're willing to live with.
A realistic post-apocalyptic thriller inspired by the real threat of the Yellowstone supervolcano.
In Seattle, Ethan and his friends watch the life they knew collapse around them. As food disappears, violence spreads, and fear takes over, every decision carries a price.
More than 5,000 miles away, in Toulon, France, Ed struggles to protect his family as the same catastrophe reaches Europe. But when civilization begins to fall apart, how far will an ordinary man go to save the people he loves?
No heroes. No chosen ones. Just ordinary people trying to survive the end of the world.
Two continents. Two stories. One catastrophe.
Survival is no longer about strength. It's about the choices you're willing to live with.
A realistic post-apocalyptic thriller inspired by the real threat of the Yellowstone supervolcano.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 21, 2026
Life of Ashes by Ivan Merlin is a page-turner. Unlike so many apocalyptic novels and movies these days, the protagonists here are neither ex-Navy SEALs nor preppers armed to the teeth. Instead, they are regular people we can relate to and empathize with. For example, they only decide after the disaster strikes that maybe they should stock up on water.
The disaster in question in the novel is the eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano, a very real potential event that could have world-altering effects. The world after the volcano blows is explored by splitting the novel’s plot between two far-flung settings. One follows a group of grad student friends in Seattle, and the other examines a working-class family in the south of France.
The students just happen to be working on degrees in volcanology, which might come off as too contrived like those novels that have preppers dealing with the apocalypse. But in this story, when the smoke blots out the sun and the ash poisons the air and society begins to collapse almost immediately, the author wisely shows that there is little the students’ education can do to help them. The character in France is just an average fellow as well, being essentially a dock worker with a small family.
In both settings, the naivete and lack of preparation on the part of the protagonists make them victims of brutality early on. But in both cases, they live and learn from it. The conflict explored is between an admirable belief in humanity's basic compassion and all the evidence to the contrary of the brutality of humans that lies just beneath the surface. By mid-novel, the characters are beginning to learn that they must stay on their guard.
But much like Lord of the Flies, the battles of these small groups are microcosms of man's battles on a global scale. So, the story begins to shift to the international scale, and the natural disaster serves as a precursor for another looming man-made disaster. And although the story closes with plot lines open and developing, this shift makes for a satisfying pause point between this novel and its already published sequel.
The disaster in question in the novel is the eruption of the Yellowstone super volcano, a very real potential event that could have world-altering effects. The world after the volcano blows is explored by splitting the novel’s plot between two far-flung settings. One follows a group of grad student friends in Seattle, and the other examines a working-class family in the south of France.
The students just happen to be working on degrees in volcanology, which might come off as too contrived like those novels that have preppers dealing with the apocalypse. But in this story, when the smoke blots out the sun and the ash poisons the air and society begins to collapse almost immediately, the author wisely shows that there is little the students’ education can do to help them. The character in France is just an average fellow as well, being essentially a dock worker with a small family.
In both settings, the naivete and lack of preparation on the part of the protagonists make them victims of brutality early on. But in both cases, they live and learn from it. The conflict explored is between an admirable belief in humanity's basic compassion and all the evidence to the contrary of the brutality of humans that lies just beneath the surface. By mid-novel, the characters are beginning to learn that they must stay on their guard.
But much like Lord of the Flies, the battles of these small groups are microcosms of man's battles on a global scale. So, the story begins to shift to the international scale, and the natural disaster serves as a precursor for another looming man-made disaster. And although the story closes with plot lines open and developing, this shift makes for a satisfying pause point between this novel and its already published sequel.
September 25, 2026
I have just finished reading Life of Ashes and it had a profound effect on me. It is genuinely frightening to consider that our whole civilization could vanish entirely in less than five days—no more than 100 hours. When the world is buried under ash, we are confronted with the grim reality of homo homini lupus; once laws and order have disappeared, people soon turn into complete monsters towards each other.
What really moved me deeply in this story was the great contrast: although there is so much violence and food is disappearing, parents are making the greatest sacrifice for their children and people are desperately trying to protect the vulnerable and the elderly. It serves as a beautiful and emotional reminder that even if the world becomes a nightmare and beasts roam about, genuine human love, devotion, and humanity still persist. This is a highly recommended, emotionally powerful book!
What really moved me deeply in this story was the great contrast: although there is so much violence and food is disappearing, parents are making the greatest sacrifice for their children and people are desperately trying to protect the vulnerable and the elderly. It serves as a beautiful and emotional reminder that even if the world becomes a nightmare and beasts roam about, genuine human love, devotion, and humanity still persist. This is a highly recommended, emotionally powerful book!
October 9, 2026
I've always enjoyed a good end-of-the-world story, and this one didn't disappoint. The idea of Yellowstone erupting is pretty terrifying, especially when you think about how something like that could actually happen.
I really liked following Ethan and his friends in Seattle alongside Ed and his family in France. It was interesting seeing how people so far apart were dealing with the same disaster, and I found myself equally interested in both storylines.
One thing I particularly liked was how ordinary the characters were. They make mistakes, aren't always prepared and don't necessarily make the best decisions, which is probably how most of us would react in that situation! It certainly made me think about what I'd do if something like this actually happened.
I found it an easy book to get into, with plenty happening to keep me reading. I'm definitely interested to see where the story goes in the next book.
I really liked following Ethan and his friends in Seattle alongside Ed and his family in France. It was interesting seeing how people so far apart were dealing with the same disaster, and I found myself equally interested in both storylines.
One thing I particularly liked was how ordinary the characters were. They make mistakes, aren't always prepared and don't necessarily make the best decisions, which is probably how most of us would react in that situation! It certainly made me think about what I'd do if something like this actually happened.
I found it an easy book to get into, with plenty happening to keep me reading. I'm definitely interested to see where the story goes in the next book.
August 14, 2026
I did really enjoy this, I liked the dual storylines in different countries, it has interesting ideas & is well written. I did like some of the characters & found myself hoping they would survive in this deteriorating world. A good read, I will look for more by this writer.
August 29, 2026
Life of Ashes was a real page-turner. The pacing and plot propulsion are excellent, and the story moves from one tense situation to the next in a way that made me want to keep reading. The prose is straightforward and unobtrusive, which suits the fast pace very well, and the main characters are distinct enough to follow easily.
My main criticism was that some events felt a little too convenient, with a few situations where the causality or logistics were difficult to believe. I also felt the characters sometimes served the plot more than the other way around: there wasn't much character development or thematic depth, and some of the child dialogue felt less convincing.
That said, I don't think the book needs to be more literary or introspective to work. It succeeds very well as an accessible, action-driven survival story. If you're looking for something easy to read that keeps the story moving and makes you want to find out what happens next, Life of Ashes delivers.
My main criticism was that some events felt a little too convenient, with a few situations where the causality or logistics were difficult to believe. I also felt the characters sometimes served the plot more than the other way around: there wasn't much character development or thematic depth, and some of the child dialogue felt less convincing.
That said, I don't think the book needs to be more literary or introspective to work. It succeeds very well as an accessible, action-driven survival story. If you're looking for something easy to read that keeps the story moving and makes you want to find out what happens next, Life of Ashes delivers.
August 30, 2026
Omg wow this is amazing. I love post apocalyptic survival books and I now have another author to add as a favourite. I was hoping for the best for the characters in the hectic world they are now facing. The plot is cleverly layered with survival instincts and breath holding thrills. Bring on book two!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 6, 2026
What do you get if you cross Pompeii with 2012? You get Life of Ashes! I absolutely love a good disaster film, but surprisingly this was my first time reading a disaster story. The eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano made for a frighteningly compelling scenario, and I particularly enjoyed following ordinary people on different continents as their lives changed. It genuinely felt like reading my way through a disaster movie. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to see where the series takes us next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews