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Meridian Six #2
Children of Ash
The exciting second installment of the Meridian Six series ...
Freedom is a luxury paid for with blood.
Several months after their first victory over the vampires, Meridian Six and her band of rebels are called in to Book Mountain for a brand new mission. The leader of another rebel group needs help saving children who were captured by the Troika and sent to Krovgorod, the worst of the vampire labor camps. Getting inside the prison camp will be simple, but escaping it will be hell.
Red means life.
Freedom is a luxury paid for with blood.
Several months after their first victory over the vampires, Meridian Six and her band of rebels are called in to Book Mountain for a brand new mission. The leader of another rebel group needs help saving children who were captured by the Troika and sent to Krovgorod, the worst of the vampire labor camps. Getting inside the prison camp will be simple, but escaping it will be hell.
Red means life.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2016
About the author
Jaye Wells
27 books2,167 followersJaye Wells is a former magazine editor whose award-winning speculative fiction novels have hit several bestseller lists. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, and is a sought-after speaker on the craft of writing. When she’s not writing or teaching, she loves to travel to exotic locales, experiment in her kitchen like a mad scientist, and try things that scare her so she can write about them in her books. She lives in Texas.
Want free fiction from Jaye? Check out www.jayewells.com for details!
Want free fiction from Jaye? Check out www.jayewells.com for details!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 10, 2016
What do you get when you blend together kick ass post-apocalyptic fiction, vampire-fueled dark fantasy, and nightmarish dystopian fiction? The Meridian Six saga by Jaye Wells, of course!
Thus far the series consists of two novellas (Meridian Six and the recently released Children of Ash) and—I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—this is one of the very best vampire series that I’ve ever read: tonally comparable to Cronin’s Passage trilogy, Hogan and del Toro’s Strain trilogy, and Matheson’s I am Legend.
Powered by a brilliantly complicated heroine—Carmina Sargosa, who was captured by a vampiric regime known as the Troika as a kid and raised to be a “poster child for obedient humans”—the story is set in a future where vampires rule the world with an iron fist. The Blood Wars are over and the Troika rule through fear and propaganda. Most of humanity is enslaved but there are small groups of rebels who are still fighting to regain their freedom—and their planet.
The beginning of Children of Ash sets the ambiance for this storyline perfectly:
“The old timers speak of the before days, when the earth had color. They speak of fresh green grasses, calming blue skies, happy pink petals yearning toward a yellow sun. They talk of a time when humans had the luxury of creating art and daydreaming. But I know better than to listen to their fairy tales; to the fictions conjured by withered old men.
There’s no green in the world I know. No blue. No sunny yellow. In fact, there’s no sun at all in the Krovgorod labor camp.
The past, the present, the future—everything is grey.”
One of the major strengths of Wells is her fluid writing style. Just like her Sabina Kane novels (Red-Headed Stepchild, et. al.) a few years back, these novellas are utterly readable. The pacing is brisk and the action pretty much nonstop throughout but there’s a subtle thematic weight here as well. For example, she brilliantly references the Carl Sandberg poem “They will Say”—a poem about the brutal hardships of early 20th century working class Chicagoans, particularly the young—to perfect effect, comparing the misery of their existence to the nightmare existence of humans living in a Troika labor camp. By referencing that poem, Wells cleverly reveals some significant themes explored in Children of Ash—the loss of innocence, especially when it’s necessary to survive; the cruelty—and unfairness—of life; etc.
Another thing I love about this series is its narrative potential. Wells has created a meticulously described and intriguing future where vampires rule and the vast majority of humans are essentially cattle. There are so many potential storylines to explore in this world, so much bloody vampiric goodness.
If all this praise isn’t enough to persuade you to read these exceptional novellas, just remember that the storyline (albeit briefly) references the Sisters of Crimson, a group of vampiric nuns.
Vampire nuns. Enough said.
Thus far the series consists of two novellas (Meridian Six and the recently released Children of Ash) and—I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again—this is one of the very best vampire series that I’ve ever read: tonally comparable to Cronin’s Passage trilogy, Hogan and del Toro’s Strain trilogy, and Matheson’s I am Legend.
Powered by a brilliantly complicated heroine—Carmina Sargosa, who was captured by a vampiric regime known as the Troika as a kid and raised to be a “poster child for obedient humans”—the story is set in a future where vampires rule the world with an iron fist. The Blood Wars are over and the Troika rule through fear and propaganda. Most of humanity is enslaved but there are small groups of rebels who are still fighting to regain their freedom—and their planet.
The beginning of Children of Ash sets the ambiance for this storyline perfectly:
“The old timers speak of the before days, when the earth had color. They speak of fresh green grasses, calming blue skies, happy pink petals yearning toward a yellow sun. They talk of a time when humans had the luxury of creating art and daydreaming. But I know better than to listen to their fairy tales; to the fictions conjured by withered old men.
There’s no green in the world I know. No blue. No sunny yellow. In fact, there’s no sun at all in the Krovgorod labor camp.
The past, the present, the future—everything is grey.”
One of the major strengths of Wells is her fluid writing style. Just like her Sabina Kane novels (Red-Headed Stepchild, et. al.) a few years back, these novellas are utterly readable. The pacing is brisk and the action pretty much nonstop throughout but there’s a subtle thematic weight here as well. For example, she brilliantly references the Carl Sandberg poem “They will Say”—a poem about the brutal hardships of early 20th century working class Chicagoans, particularly the young—to perfect effect, comparing the misery of their existence to the nightmare existence of humans living in a Troika labor camp. By referencing that poem, Wells cleverly reveals some significant themes explored in Children of Ash—the loss of innocence, especially when it’s necessary to survive; the cruelty—and unfairness—of life; etc.
Another thing I love about this series is its narrative potential. Wells has created a meticulously described and intriguing future where vampires rule and the vast majority of humans are essentially cattle. There are so many potential storylines to explore in this world, so much bloody vampiric goodness.
If all this praise isn’t enough to persuade you to read these exceptional novellas, just remember that the storyline (albeit briefly) references the Sisters of Crimson, a group of vampiric nuns.
Vampire nuns. Enough said.
July 1, 2015
Jaye Wells did it again, completely pulled me into the world of Meridian Six and left me wanting and needing more!!! I love the roll Carmina (Meridian Six) took in this novella, and yes, please more Zed!
February 28, 2016
“Children of Ash” is the second installment in Jaye Wells’ “Meridian Six Series.” And it is even better than the first!
Once manipulated by the vampires as a “tool of oppression” in this apocalyptic tale, Meridian Six now finds herself exploited by the resistance to inspire others that all is not lost. While she struggles against this new role, determined only to be free of both sides, she can't turn her back on the cause and those fighting desperately for their lives and that of the children -- the most tragic victims in this tale.
I wasn’t sure I would enjoy anything as much as her “Prospero’s War Series,” but I am hooked on "Meridian Six." With edge of your seat tension and suspense, this well-crafted cast of characters both touches your heart and scares the heck out of you. Ms. Wells has created a frightening and believable world where vampires rule and humans are slaves and ‘food.’ I can’t wait for what happens next.
Once manipulated by the vampires as a “tool of oppression” in this apocalyptic tale, Meridian Six now finds herself exploited by the resistance to inspire others that all is not lost. While she struggles against this new role, determined only to be free of both sides, she can't turn her back on the cause and those fighting desperately for their lives and that of the children -- the most tragic victims in this tale.
I wasn’t sure I would enjoy anything as much as her “Prospero’s War Series,” but I am hooked on "Meridian Six." With edge of your seat tension and suspense, this well-crafted cast of characters both touches your heart and scares the heck out of you. Ms. Wells has created a frightening and believable world where vampires rule and humans are slaves and ‘food.’ I can’t wait for what happens next.
September 28, 2026
Children of Ash by Jaye Wells was the second installment of the Meridian Six series which I believe is long over despite the open-endedness of this title! It was a short novella series set in a dystopic future where vampires rule the earth and humans are their prey and slaves.
Meridian Six is looped back into working for Saga when another resistance leader requires his help in rescuing children from a prison run by vampires. The last thing Six wants to do is get involved with the vampires again, but when there's a chance to get revenge on one of the vampires who hurt her, she's all in. Working with her is Zed, the leader of the other resistance group and who is desperate to get back the kids he helped rescue at one point.
This time around, we get a lot more point of views. It was a bit discombobulating at first as we don't see Meridian Six right away. If it weren't for the blurb, I'd wonder if she was in the story or not. But once the story gets going, things start to move really fast.
I almost think we could've done without some of the povs, just to keep a short story moving forward. But at the same time I did enjoy seeing new characters.
It's a bit sad that this was likely the last novella of the series as there was a lot going on. True, the ending can leave you satisfied for the most part, much like the first novella, did. I would never say no to more.
This was yet another action packed short little read and since there were evil vampires in it, I was totally on board. A fun and quick read that I'd highly recommend if you need the break from the big chonker reads! Lol.
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
Meridian Six is looped back into working for Saga when another resistance leader requires his help in rescuing children from a prison run by vampires. The last thing Six wants to do is get involved with the vampires again, but when there's a chance to get revenge on one of the vampires who hurt her, she's all in. Working with her is Zed, the leader of the other resistance group and who is desperate to get back the kids he helped rescue at one point.
This time around, we get a lot more point of views. It was a bit discombobulating at first as we don't see Meridian Six right away. If it weren't for the blurb, I'd wonder if she was in the story or not. But once the story gets going, things start to move really fast.
I almost think we could've done without some of the povs, just to keep a short story moving forward. But at the same time I did enjoy seeing new characters.
It's a bit sad that this was likely the last novella of the series as there was a lot going on. True, the ending can leave you satisfied for the most part, much like the first novella, did. I would never say no to more.
This was yet another action packed short little read and since there were evil vampires in it, I was totally on board. A fun and quick read that I'd highly recommend if you need the break from the big chonker reads! Lol.
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
May 31, 2017
happy to read more in this series
December 9, 2017
Really like this series; just wish they were novels, rather than novellas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2017
Another exciting addition in this short, thrilling, and grim series. There are more perspectives and more characters to love, and a lot more action. I liked the story and the trials it brought to Six and the characters, how little she was able to trust the people she was with. We were introduced to Zed, Bravo, and Matri, each of whom are strong characters and whose stories I loved reading about, especially Zed. Yet again, I wish the story was longer, since the ending wrapped up really, really quickly. That said, there was a lot of tension, surprises, emotion, and explosive action. Definitely worth reading, and I hope there are more!
June 19, 2025
I wish the ideas were more flushed out. This book is all action, but it was almost too many ideas, plots, ans concepts for a novella.
February 16, 2016
Excellent short story. Can't wait for the next one.
January 7, 2017
I want more of Carmina and Zed. Just wonderful!
It is unique in how it approaches this world.
Well done!!!
It is unique in how it approaches this world.
Well done!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews