Ash Arising

Ash #2

by Mandy Hager

The gripping sequel to the prize-winning thriller The Nature of Ash.


Ash McCarthy thought he had done enough by broadcasting his story to the world, exposing the corruption and lies of Prime Minister Chandler and his cronies. With his small band of friends and family on a remote campsite in the backcountry, he awaits the international community to answer his call for action. But the public response is not what he had hoped for and the fallout from his revelations will lead him and his companions into even more danger.

Can Ash withstand the new challenges that confront him? And what of Mikey – can he survive in this increasingly merciless world?

Chilling and page-turning, this compelling novel crackles with political intrigue, fast-paced action, unexpected twists and lots of heart.

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2018

About the author

Mandy Hager is a multi-award winning writer of fiction, most often for young adults. She has won the LIANZA Book Awards for Young Adult fiction 3 times (‘Smashed’ 2008, ‘The Nature of Ash’ 2013, ‘Dear Vincent’ 2014), the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards for YA fiction (‘The Crossing’ 2010), an Honour Award in the 1996 AIM Children’s Book Awards (‘Tom’s Story’), Golden Wings Excellence Award (‘Juno Lucina,’ 2002), Golden Wings Award (‘Run For The Trees’, 2003) and Five Notable Book Awards.
She has also been awarded the 2012 Beatson Fellowship, the 2014 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and the 2015 Waikato University Writer in Residence.
In 2015 her novel ‘Singing Home the Whale’ was awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, and the Best Young Adult fiction Award from the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. It has also been named a 2016 IBBY Honour Book, an international award. Her historical novel for adults, titled ‘Heloise’, was long-listed for the Ockham Book Awards.
She is a trained teacher, with an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts (Whitireia) and an MA in Creative Writing for Victoria University. She also writes adult fiction, short stories, non-fiction, educational resources, blogs and articles, and currently tutors the Novel Course for Whitireia’s Creative Writing Programme.

Reviews

[Tweetybird166 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a riveting read. I read it in the spa pool, I read it in the car (but I was not driving!). I could not put it down. It is so topical in these days when we are spun stories by politicians and celebs and wonder who to really trust. We are told to fear terrorists, that we are under threat. Our rights are eroded and our privacy is invaded.
Set in New Zealand, Ash has made some bold claims against some powerful politicians and, the ruling politicians, with the help of the Western Alliance, have made him a marked man. This is a wonderful story of someone making a difference: inspiring not just friends, but all peace-loving people (which is most people right?) to stand up against the manipulative, hungry-for-power, greedy bully boys. Ash is tortured, injured, on the run. But he also has great friends and a heartwarming relationship with a younger brother who has Downs Syndrome.
It is a well-paced, exciting adventure, and it also highlights our human tendency towards "political and ethical complacency" without getting didactic or preachy.
Read it! You'll be glad you did. You'll be even happier if you read The Nature of Ash (the first book) first.

[A.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, loved it!
The writing was great, the plot was fast and furious, and the political awareness is exactly what I want my kids to read - strike that - EVERYONE to read.
This hits to the heart of what's happening within political arenas right now, and how you know who to trust when your world is being turned inside out.
Books like this are why I love fantasy and science fiction-they speak to the heart of matters. I can't wait for Mandy Hager's next YA novel.

[Houlahan houlahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps not quite as engaging as the first book but still quite readable.

The sections where the protagonist is agonising over his Down's syndrome brother are the best, and Mikey himself is still a standout character. It does have elements of Smith's Dream (Sleeping Dogs) with NZ torn between a Western Alliance and Asian powers - quite believable.

This is a good quick read and she is one of the leading YA writers in my view.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scarily believable, in your face, action thriller which is incredibly relatible.