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Ashfall #1
Ashfall Legacy
Pittacus Lore finished telling the story of the Lorien Nine in the New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four and Lorien Legacies Reborn series. Now he’s back to recount an all-new adventure rooted in the real mysteries surrounding Roswell, New Mexico, that will enthrall fans of Brandon Sanderson, Jay Kristoff, and Amie Kaufman.
We have waited generations for you…
Syd Chambers knows that there’s life on other planets because he’s descended from it. His father was from a distant world called Denza and has been missing—presumed dead—for years.
When Syd discovers a device his father left behind which shows not only that he’s alive, but where he is, Syd must set out on a mission of his own. But along the way, he discovers a deadly, unbearable secret that could destroy Denza, Earth, and the universe.
We have waited generations for you…
Syd Chambers knows that there’s life on other planets because he’s descended from it. His father was from a distant world called Denza and has been missing—presumed dead—for years.
When Syd discovers a device his father left behind which shows not only that he’s alive, but where he is, Syd must set out on a mission of his own. But along the way, he discovers a deadly, unbearable secret that could destroy Denza, Earth, and the universe.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
120 people are currently reading
4721 people want to read
About the author
Pittacus Lore
77 books11.8k followersPittacus Lore is Lorien’s ruling Elder. He has been on Earth preparing for the war that will decide Earth’s fate. His whereabouts are unknown.
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September 7, 2021Can y’all please stop leaving bad reviews because of the crappy audiobook arc you received that you know damn well is t going to be good! Your review does not contribute to the quality of the book and you are ruining other people’s reading experiences who are actually reading the book for themselves!!! I am almost done and will post a real review but this is redundant and childish and I do hope readers will be more likely to see my review over your nonrelated complaints!
December 24, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ashfall Legacy sounded like it was going to be a good book. Maybe even great. However, since I've only ever read one book (I think?) by this author.. I didn't trust myself before I dove into this. So, that being said, here is what I thought.
The beginning was actually pretty interesting. I thought things were going to go one way but then it kind of switched on me. Which was a nice a surprise and I thought the rest of the book was going to keep me on my toes as well. Spoiler alert: It really didn't.
I'm not going to lie. This book confused the heck out of me. Especially towards the ending because my brain felt like pudding. So while having pudding brain.. I just kind of went with the flow and just wanted to see how this was all going to end.
It also didn't make things easier with it being an audio - which is kind of weird to say. Typically audios are supposed to make reading a bit easier because you are listening to someone read to you. Yet, with this.. I got a very robotic narrator that was all kinds of monotone and made me want to fall asleep at 4pm. 4 freaking pm. That's not bed or nap time for me AND I was still working.
Maybe the book is better in ebook or physical form? Not sure though since I received the audiobook version. Maybe I'll dive into the actual book.. maybe not. At least I tried.
Ashfall Legacy sounded like it was going to be a good book. Maybe even great. However, since I've only ever read one book (I think?) by this author.. I didn't trust myself before I dove into this. So, that being said, here is what I thought.
The beginning was actually pretty interesting. I thought things were going to go one way but then it kind of switched on me. Which was a nice a surprise and I thought the rest of the book was going to keep me on my toes as well. Spoiler alert: It really didn't.
I'm not going to lie. This book confused the heck out of me. Especially towards the ending because my brain felt like pudding. So while having pudding brain.. I just kind of went with the flow and just wanted to see how this was all going to end.
It also didn't make things easier with it being an audio - which is kind of weird to say. Typically audios are supposed to make reading a bit easier because you are listening to someone read to you. Yet, with this.. I got a very robotic narrator that was all kinds of monotone and made me want to fall asleep at 4pm. 4 freaking pm. That's not bed or nap time for me AND I was still working.
Maybe the book is better in ebook or physical form? Not sure though since I received the audiobook version. Maybe I'll dive into the actual book.. maybe not. At least I tried.
December 12, 2020
Unfortunately, I didn't like this book. I thought the premise interesting, having a boy half human half alien looking for his missing father after a life of running with his mother but the execution is where the book lost me and in the end, I simply did not enjoy reading this book (or listening to in this case).
I honestly don't have a lot to say about Ashfall Legacy as it never manage to grab my interest. It is now among those books that I never managed to connect with. The last YA sci-fi that I didn't connect with was The Last Human.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
I honestly don't have a lot to say about Ashfall Legacy as it never manage to grab my interest. It is now among those books that I never managed to connect with. The last YA sci-fi that I didn't connect with was The Last Human.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
December 21, 2020
This is difficult for me to review because the main reason I didn't like this audiobook was the robotic narrator. It's an artificial voice reading the story and usually I don't find them so bad, but this one was rough. It made the plot very difficult to follow and I found myself lost a lot of the time.
I haven't read the Lorien Legacies series so I'm not sure if this ties in or not. The plot follows Sydney, a half human, half alien hybrid on the run with his mom. After ten years staying one step ahead of their pursuers, Syd is found by his alien uncle. He then journeys into space to attend an academy and search for his missing father. That's about all I understood, there were several species of alien that I couldn't keep straight and I didn't really get what the school was doing for Syd. There's a battle at the end and I feel like there will be a sequel with how open it's left.
Maybe a human narrator would help me like this better, but I also felt like the events in this were a bit jumbled and some parts didn't seem like they mattered to the whole story. I'll have to check out the author's other books and maybe come back to this when it's released.
I received an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review
I haven't read the Lorien Legacies series so I'm not sure if this ties in or not. The plot follows Sydney, a half human, half alien hybrid on the run with his mom. After ten years staying one step ahead of their pursuers, Syd is found by his alien uncle. He then journeys into space to attend an academy and search for his missing father. That's about all I understood, there were several species of alien that I couldn't keep straight and I didn't really get what the school was doing for Syd. There's a battle at the end and I feel like there will be a sequel with how open it's left.
Maybe a human narrator would help me like this better, but I also felt like the events in this were a bit jumbled and some parts didn't seem like they mattered to the whole story. I'll have to check out the author's other books and maybe come back to this when it's released.
I received an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review
August 11, 2021
I have no idea how to sum this up. I’m confused as hell so I’ll just give my opinions.
At first, everything was refreshing and so… unique. But as things went on, I started finding things a bit confusing and I was discouraged to finish reading this book. And although this sounded like it was going to be a fun ride, the ending left me scratching my head and wondering how I even made it through half of this book.
The beginning was actually pretty interesting. I thought things were going to go one way but then it kind of switched on me. Which was a nice a surprise and I thought the rest of the book was going to keep me on my toes as well. Spoiler alert: It really didn't.
It also didn't make things easier with it being an audiobook. Yet, with this... I got a very robotic narrator that was all kinds of monotone. I literally heard the word “Harper Collins” and thought it might be a secret message for half the book until I realized that it was just a defect.
I understood almost nothing from the plot or what was happening, the characters seemed dull, and even the writing was robotic! It was like the main character felt no emotions.
Thank you to Netgalley & the pun=blishers for sending me an eArc of this.
At first, everything was refreshing and so… unique. But as things went on, I started finding things a bit confusing and I was discouraged to finish reading this book. And although this sounded like it was going to be a fun ride, the ending left me scratching my head and wondering how I even made it through half of this book.
The beginning was actually pretty interesting. I thought things were going to go one way but then it kind of switched on me. Which was a nice a surprise and I thought the rest of the book was going to keep me on my toes as well. Spoiler alert: It really didn't.
It also didn't make things easier with it being an audiobook. Yet, with this... I got a very robotic narrator that was all kinds of monotone. I literally heard the word “Harper Collins” and thought it might be a secret message for half the book until I realized that it was just a defect.
I understood almost nothing from the plot or what was happening, the characters seemed dull, and even the writing was robotic! It was like the main character felt no emotions.
Thank you to Netgalley & the pun=blishers for sending me an eArc of this.
November 17, 2023
This book feels geared more towards middle-grade readers, or those that prefer middle-grade books, of which I am not. So if you are a middle-grade reader, take my review with a grain of salt, as you will most likely enjoy this more than I did.
I felt like this book was too broad in all aspects. The world-building didn't seem to get down to the nitty-gritty and explain all the things I wished it would have, and the characters were the same way. Often times there were way too many characters with not nearly enough explanations and backstories.
The storyline did take some very interesting twists and turns that I did not expect. I also didn't like the overarching and shoved-in-your-face theme of HUMANS ARE BAD. I read sci-fi to escape the fact that humans are bad.
For more reviews find me on Bookstagram: @jay.rae.reads
April 7, 2022
This book had an interesting sci-fi concept with a splash of fantasy that seemed to pull from a variety of inspirations. It feels like Star Trek meets Superman mixed with dragons. The alien characters were unique and fun. Unfortunately the pace of the story felt off to me. There was too much time spent in the middle of the book at the training academy, where the characters seemed to be ignoring the quest that took them off earth in the first place. The ending also feels quite rushed and seems to just stop abruptly. While it does answer some of the questions set up by the story, it doesn’t resolve anything about the situation the characters end up in. The various alien crew members and the glimpses we get of their society are what keep me interested through the book.
December 6, 2020
Well, I have to say that this is a first for me. I requested and received an ARC for this new series, but it was given to me in an audio form. The audio form was a synthesized version of a book reader, not what is going to be the final audio version with a narrator. To say that it was a unique experience would be an understatement. Now, that is not going to take anything away from the actual book comments - but it was an odd experience.
Having enjoyed the I AM Number 4 series by Pittacus Lore, I was interested to find out more about this new series. I wasn't sure if it was in the same world - it isn't. And I didn't know if it was a spin off of the Number 4 series - again, it wasn't.
This book introduces the reader to a teenage boy who is on the run with his mother (on Earth) and they spend their life hiding off the grid. In fact, they have been on the run for most of his life. This boy's name is Sidney and after a couple of years his mother informs him that his father was a being from another planet....or, as he says it - an alien. That means he is half human and half Denson (this was on audio so my spellings of names are probably wrong)
So, after certain events, his Uncle finds them (he is also an alien) and he takes Sidney with him away from Earth. They are going to be on a quest to find his long lost father. The book is interesting. There are many different types of characters that we get to meet. The ship they meet up with has a crew of people from several different planet (i think) because there are many different species. The secret the Sidney finds out is that in outer space, humans are the super people with super strength and almost invincibility. Interesting....
Alright, enough of the summary. Don't want to give out any spoilers. The story is extremely unique and the characters, while not completely fleshed out, are at least given some development for the reader to make determinations on whether they like them or not. But, all is not as it seems and before long it becomes apparent that there are several factions who want different things.
The story kept my interest, but it was also very superficial and not as descriptive as I would have liked. I did liked Sidney, but I didn't like him enough to REALLY root for him. As the story got more involved, I did begin to like him more - so there is that. Maybe it was because I didn't actually read this, but I felt like I never really was able to immerse myself completely in the story. And to be honest, the plot kind of made me think, "really?"
Obviously, this is book 1 of a series, so the ground work is just being laid out and the characters are just being introduced. As far as that goes, that was done fairly competently. The story, while not ending in a cliffhanger per se, does end at a point that makes you want to find out what is going to happen next. And I will be interested to see what happens so will be getting book 2 when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. The opinions expressed are completely my own. This book is scheduled to be released in August 2021.
Having enjoyed the I AM Number 4 series by Pittacus Lore, I was interested to find out more about this new series. I wasn't sure if it was in the same world - it isn't. And I didn't know if it was a spin off of the Number 4 series - again, it wasn't.
This book introduces the reader to a teenage boy who is on the run with his mother (on Earth) and they spend their life hiding off the grid. In fact, they have been on the run for most of his life. This boy's name is Sidney and after a couple of years his mother informs him that his father was a being from another planet....or, as he says it - an alien. That means he is half human and half Denson (this was on audio so my spellings of names are probably wrong)
So, after certain events, his Uncle finds them (he is also an alien) and he takes Sidney with him away from Earth. They are going to be on a quest to find his long lost father. The book is interesting. There are many different types of characters that we get to meet. The ship they meet up with has a crew of people from several different planet (i think) because there are many different species. The secret the Sidney finds out is that in outer space, humans are the super people with super strength and almost invincibility. Interesting....
Alright, enough of the summary. Don't want to give out any spoilers. The story is extremely unique and the characters, while not completely fleshed out, are at least given some development for the reader to make determinations on whether they like them or not. But, all is not as it seems and before long it becomes apparent that there are several factions who want different things.
The story kept my interest, but it was also very superficial and not as descriptive as I would have liked. I did liked Sidney, but I didn't like him enough to REALLY root for him. As the story got more involved, I did begin to like him more - so there is that. Maybe it was because I didn't actually read this, but I felt like I never really was able to immerse myself completely in the story. And to be honest, the plot kind of made me think, "really?"
Obviously, this is book 1 of a series, so the ground work is just being laid out and the characters are just being introduced. As far as that goes, that was done fairly competently. The story, while not ending in a cliffhanger per se, does end at a point that makes you want to find out what is going to happen next. And I will be interested to see what happens so will be getting book 2 when it comes out.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. The opinions expressed are completely my own. This book is scheduled to be released in August 2021.
July 23, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
On the run his entire life, Sydney is only half human. His father belonged to an alien race who recruited humans to help fight their wars. Humans have found that in space/off earth they are like superman. His father was researching a cure for a fatal disease that any human who returned to earth contracted when he went missing. Now Syndey's Uncle(on his father's side) has shown up with evidence that Sydney's father is alive. What awaits Syndey as he looks for his father? And what could have kept him away all these years?
I need a minute....holy wow! This is easily a top read of the year. I was nervous coming into this as I never got into the author's other series, but man ....I'm speechless. This story is everything. The characters, the setting, the pacing, the reveals ....it's just honestly perfection. I wish I could meet these other alien species that are that phenomenal. A Zombified sloth creature? Assassin(ish) werewolf creatures? Puffs of gas in armor? Sign me up, I would love to go to space even if it meant leaving earth behind forever. The cliffhanger at the end of this is brutal as I don't know if the author plans other adventures with these characters. In a way, I love creating my own version of what happens next, but will definitely pick up a sequel if it is written.
I recommend this for all space sci-fi lovers of 12+ as this is a bit long, but there is nothing inappropriate or off-putting. Five ecstatic stars from this flabbergasted reviewer. Pick up a copy and be sure to let me know what you think!
On the run his entire life, Sydney is only half human. His father belonged to an alien race who recruited humans to help fight their wars. Humans have found that in space/off earth they are like superman. His father was researching a cure for a fatal disease that any human who returned to earth contracted when he went missing. Now Syndey's Uncle(on his father's side) has shown up with evidence that Sydney's father is alive. What awaits Syndey as he looks for his father? And what could have kept him away all these years?
I need a minute....holy wow! This is easily a top read of the year. I was nervous coming into this as I never got into the author's other series, but man ....I'm speechless. This story is everything. The characters, the setting, the pacing, the reveals ....it's just honestly perfection. I wish I could meet these other alien species that are that phenomenal. A Zombified sloth creature? Assassin(ish) werewolf creatures? Puffs of gas in armor? Sign me up, I would love to go to space even if it meant leaving earth behind forever. The cliffhanger at the end of this is brutal as I don't know if the author plans other adventures with these characters. In a way, I love creating my own version of what happens next, but will definitely pick up a sequel if it is written.
I recommend this for all space sci-fi lovers of 12+ as this is a bit long, but there is nothing inappropriate or off-putting. Five ecstatic stars from this flabbergasted reviewer. Pick up a copy and be sure to let me know what you think!
Want to read
July 20, 2021The fact that this book is comparing itself to Brandon Sanderson really isn't giving me a great feeling about what its quality is gonna be. I've read... a good deal of this author's works and, well, they're fun and all but till now I haven't quite seen something that would compare to what it claims.
Seriously, being pretentious does not suit it.
Either way, I shall give it a chance because, as I just said, I've been reading a lot of this author's works, so why stop now?
Seriously, being pretentious does not suit it.
Either way, I shall give it a chance because, as I just said, I've been reading a lot of this author's works, so why stop now?
March 26, 2021
Syd Chambers is an easy kid to like. He's living his life on the run - with his mom. They change names, don't stay anywhere too long - and he can't make many friends because of this. But he knows it's for the best. Because he's seen the things that chase him and his mom - Aliens.
Because Syd is not fully human. He's half human, half alien - and his alien father hasn't been around for years after disappearing on a mission to an alien planet. So Syd is pretty okay when he's invited to come find out about the other citizens of the universe and how this all works. This is his chance to find out more abut himself and, in turn, know more about his father.
At first, there's a lot of information coming at you. You're learning just a fast as Syd, about which aliens are which, which planets, and what all that they do. Thankfully, you don't have to memorize it - the author does a great job of reminding you gently each time you bump in to them which is which. I did this as an audio and didn't have a problem keeping the names or species straight.
But this is a very fast paced, funny and action packed story. Syd is constantly on the move, learning new species and techniques but also about himself and his alien side. I liked the humor and jokes that were thrown in and the friendships that were formed. The story definitely ended in a way that leaves it open for a book 2 and I'm looking forward to it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Because Syd is not fully human. He's half human, half alien - and his alien father hasn't been around for years after disappearing on a mission to an alien planet. So Syd is pretty okay when he's invited to come find out about the other citizens of the universe and how this all works. This is his chance to find out more abut himself and, in turn, know more about his father.
At first, there's a lot of information coming at you. You're learning just a fast as Syd, about which aliens are which, which planets, and what all that they do. Thankfully, you don't have to memorize it - the author does a great job of reminding you gently each time you bump in to them which is which. I did this as an audio and didn't have a problem keeping the names or species straight.
But this is a very fast paced, funny and action packed story. Syd is constantly on the move, learning new species and techniques but also about himself and his alien side. I liked the humor and jokes that were thrown in and the friendships that were formed. The story definitely ended in a way that leaves it open for a book 2 and I'm looking forward to it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 24, 2022
NetGalley Audio ARC.
Well, that was disappointing. If I decide to continue the series, I think I will have to re-read or re-listen to this once the audio is out with a real narrator. I had such a hard time following the synthesized voice for this one. And maybe the book itself didn't make a lot of sense! I read all of the Lorien books and really enjoyed that series but maybe "Pittacus Lore" had different ghostwriters for this one. We'll see.
Well, that was disappointing. If I decide to continue the series, I think I will have to re-read or re-listen to this once the audio is out with a real narrator. I had such a hard time following the synthesized voice for this one. And maybe the book itself didn't make a lot of sense! I read all of the Lorien books and really enjoyed that series but maybe "Pittacus Lore" had different ghostwriters for this one. We'll see.
dnf
January 9, 2021DNF @ 41%
Welp, first DNF of the year!
This book actually started off pretty strong. In the beginning I was into it, and excited about the space aspect. I love space books! Sadly, while the concept was awesome, the delivery was pretty awful. When I saw how bad the reviews were, I was worried; but I was still hopeful, because almost all of the negative ones were audio (which apparently is very robotic, yikes) and I tend to be the black sheep anyway. Unfortunately, it's actually just the book. I mean, it's not bad or anything, but it ain't great, either.
I think the comparison to Aurora Rising and Skyward was terrible marketing, and absolutely kills any potential it might have had. Did ya'll pull a muscle on that stretch? Because the only similarities are that it takes place in space and has aliens in it. AR and Skyward are both BRILLIANT, diverse, imaginative works. This one just felt like a cheap rip off of other books to be honest. It reminded me of a conglomeration of at least 5-6 other space books/movies I've already read/seen. Like I said, the concept was interesting, but it didn't bring anything new to the table.
If that was the only problem with it, I'd probably still have continued, because I love space stories even if they feel a bit generic. However, the prose was my main issue with this book and 90% of why I decided not to continue. It was incredibly juvenile and grated on my nerves. There was a lot of slang and attempts at cool kid speak (which just sounded like a middle-aged dude trying to sound like a hip teenager) and I wanted to stab myself in the eyeballs by 30%. Some books can pull it off, and it works, but this one? Not so much. It just sounded like it was trying too hard and was absolutely exhausting to read.
The jungle was hot as balls. No better way to put it.
Actually, I'm sure there are a million better ways to put it. But I'm sticking with "hot as balls."
You should have just left it at hot as balls.
None of us were used to the power. You're lucky that I'm here to guide you. I'd just gotten a new puppy when NASA picked me for this project. They let me bring him into the Vastness. A week in, I stroked poor Mittens so hard that one of his eyeballs popped clean out."
I stared at her. "What."
"Your face, my goodness. I'm yanking your chain, Cadet."
You could have at least picked a better name than "Mittens" for a puppy, even in a joke (that's not funny anyway).
On top of the irritating prose, the dialogue was awkward and didn't feel genuine. Actually, not much about this book felt realistic or plausible. The aliens were hard to picture, and the ones I could just looked ridiculous in my head (especially the Vulpin aka fox people, I was picturing a giant Sonic [yes I know, Sonic isn't a fox, the description was just as ridiculous as the awful movie CG Sonic, so I couldn't help it] and snickered every time the Vulpin chick was on page) and it didn't feel like it could actually happen. I know that sounds silly, as this is a science fiction, but I can't help compare it to Skyward and Aurora (BLAME THE SYNOPSIS!) where the aliens felt feasible and realistic - like they would actually exist in another world.
Two more complaints: 1) I curse like a sailor, and the usage of the word 'fuck' was absolutely unnecessary in the situations it was used in; and 2) Reno was an absolutely absurd Captain because of how unprofessional and immature she was. Just no.
And here I was super excited for another space book. Bummer.
Welp, first DNF of the year!
This book actually started off pretty strong. In the beginning I was into it, and excited about the space aspect. I love space books! Sadly, while the concept was awesome, the delivery was pretty awful. When I saw how bad the reviews were, I was worried; but I was still hopeful, because almost all of the negative ones were audio (which apparently is very robotic, yikes) and I tend to be the black sheep anyway. Unfortunately, it's actually just the book. I mean, it's not bad or anything, but it ain't great, either.
I think the comparison to Aurora Rising and Skyward was terrible marketing, and absolutely kills any potential it might have had. Did ya'll pull a muscle on that stretch? Because the only similarities are that it takes place in space and has aliens in it. AR and Skyward are both BRILLIANT, diverse, imaginative works. This one just felt like a cheap rip off of other books to be honest. It reminded me of a conglomeration of at least 5-6 other space books/movies I've already read/seen. Like I said, the concept was interesting, but it didn't bring anything new to the table.
If that was the only problem with it, I'd probably still have continued, because I love space stories even if they feel a bit generic. However, the prose was my main issue with this book and 90% of why I decided not to continue. It was incredibly juvenile and grated on my nerves. There was a lot of slang and attempts at cool kid speak (which just sounded like a middle-aged dude trying to sound like a hip teenager) and I wanted to stab myself in the eyeballs by 30%. Some books can pull it off, and it works, but this one? Not so much. It just sounded like it was trying too hard and was absolutely exhausting to read.
The jungle was hot as balls. No better way to put it.
Actually, I'm sure there are a million better ways to put it. But I'm sticking with "hot as balls."
You should have just left it at hot as balls.
None of us were used to the power. You're lucky that I'm here to guide you. I'd just gotten a new puppy when NASA picked me for this project. They let me bring him into the Vastness. A week in, I stroked poor Mittens so hard that one of his eyeballs popped clean out."
I stared at her. "What."
"Your face, my goodness. I'm yanking your chain, Cadet."
You could have at least picked a better name than "Mittens" for a puppy, even in a joke (that's not funny anyway).
On top of the irritating prose, the dialogue was awkward and didn't feel genuine. Actually, not much about this book felt realistic or plausible. The aliens were hard to picture, and the ones I could just looked ridiculous in my head (especially the Vulpin aka fox people, I was picturing a giant Sonic [yes I know, Sonic isn't a fox, the description was just as ridiculous as the awful movie CG Sonic, so I couldn't help it] and snickered every time the Vulpin chick was on page) and it didn't feel like it could actually happen. I know that sounds silly, as this is a science fiction, but I can't help compare it to Skyward and Aurora (BLAME THE SYNOPSIS!) where the aliens felt feasible and realistic - like they would actually exist in another world.
Two more complaints: 1) I curse like a sailor, and the usage of the word 'fuck' was absolutely unnecessary in the situations it was used in; and 2) Reno was an absolutely absurd Captain because of how unprofessional and immature she was. Just no.
And here I was super excited for another space book. Bummer.
March 18, 2021
I received the Audio Galley of Ashfall Legacy from NetGalley free of charge. It was my choice to read and review.
This is the first book I've read by Pittacus Lore. This was really bad. The synopsis says it "will enthrall fans of Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, and Brandon Sanderson." TOTALLY disagree. It felt more middle grade than a young adult book to be honest. I was impressed with the plot progression because when I started listening I had predictions about where the story would go and it went further than I thought. That's about the only good thing I can think of about this book. The characters and world-building were underdeveloped and because the scope was so big, there should have been fewer characters so the reader could feel more connected to the characters. Also, the reason I read sci-fi is to read about creative alien races and far-off places. I don't read sci-fi to be reminded "humans are dangerous" etc or really ANYTHING about humans (if I wanted to be reminded of that I would turn on the news or read more literary fiction) so this made the conclusion of the plot super disappointing.
This is the first book I've read by Pittacus Lore. This was really bad. The synopsis says it "will enthrall fans of Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, and Brandon Sanderson." TOTALLY disagree. It felt more middle grade than a young adult book to be honest. I was impressed with the plot progression because when I started listening I had predictions about where the story would go and it went further than I thought. That's about the only good thing I can think of about this book. The characters and world-building were underdeveloped and because the scope was so big, there should have been fewer characters so the reader could feel more connected to the characters. Also, the reason I read sci-fi is to read about creative alien races and far-off places. I don't read sci-fi to be reminded "humans are dangerous" etc or really ANYTHING about humans (if I wanted to be reminded of that I would turn on the news or read more literary fiction) so this made the conclusion of the plot super disappointing.
October 19, 2021
This is the beginning of a new series from Pittacus Lore that is not related to his previous I am Number Four series in any way. Syd Chambers discovers that his long missing father was an alien and might still be alive. He decides to leave his mother behind on Earth and follow his uncle, an alien like his father, on a journey to discover what happened to his father. Humans who leave Earth become incredibly powerful, but can never go back due to the Wasting, an illness that has killed anyone who returned to Earth. I loved the unique species of aliens in the book and the descriptions of the planet Denza. The pace of the book gets faster and faster towards the end and features many jaw dropping plot twists.
April 15, 2023
I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis was intriguing, and I enjoyed I Am Number Four by the same author, but this book is just so slow. The first few chapters were exciting, but I started losing interest once Syd got to the academy. There's just too much time spent there and too much info-dumping left and right. Syd is supposed to be on a mission with a time limit, yet it takes forever going into an overly long training montage sort of situation before it gets on with the finding his father bit. By then, I had lost interest in the reunion and finished the book out of the desire to be done rather than to get to a satisfying resolution.
May 30, 2022
oh, how broken-hearted i would be.
September 11, 2021
I feel like the author was banking on using the Pittacus Lore pseudonym to attract fans of his Lorien Legacies series (which I am one). But even as a fan, it didn't do much for me and I found myself struggling to even pick it up. Started off okay, but quickly turned into retread tropes...plenty of good ideas, but poor execution. I'm a bit of a completionist, and while this one left us with a cliffhanger, I doubt I pick up any sequels.
August 21, 2021
I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own!
Syd has always known that extraterrestrial life exists - he's descended from them. But when he finds a tether that tells him his long-lost father is out still out there in the cosmos, Syd knows he has to go find him. But along the way, can Syd save Earth - and the universe - from world-ending secrets?
Where do I begin with how much I enjoyed this book?! I have never read anything by Pittacus Lore, and now I will be trying to get my hands on everything! From chapter one, this book was super easy to get sucked into. The writing was easy and quick, but also the world and the story itself pulled me in and I didn't want to escape.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how unique the plot ended up being. A lot of sci-fi can feel very repetitive, but I was not expecting the place that this story would go. I was genuinely surprised and shocked at the end, and I enjoyed every second of the world-building and the way that the plot unfurled and left me reeling!
If you're looking for your next sci-fi obsession, this is the book for you!
Syd has always known that extraterrestrial life exists - he's descended from them. But when he finds a tether that tells him his long-lost father is out still out there in the cosmos, Syd knows he has to go find him. But along the way, can Syd save Earth - and the universe - from world-ending secrets?
Where do I begin with how much I enjoyed this book?! I have never read anything by Pittacus Lore, and now I will be trying to get my hands on everything! From chapter one, this book was super easy to get sucked into. The writing was easy and quick, but also the world and the story itself pulled me in and I didn't want to escape.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how unique the plot ended up being. A lot of sci-fi can feel very repetitive, but I was not expecting the place that this story would go. I was genuinely surprised and shocked at the end, and I enjoyed every second of the world-building and the way that the plot unfurled and left me reeling!
If you're looking for your next sci-fi obsession, this is the book for you!
October 23, 2021
A lot of the reviews I see here seem more disappointed in the audio version of this book, so I'm glad I didn't go for that one. Pittacus Lore may be the most infamous ghostwriter in all the loopy-loo YA biz, but I'll be damned if he doesn't pen a good story, and this latest look at a decidedly different kind of alien space opera is no exception. Doing a damn finer job of exploring worlds beyond this than even I Am Number Four, and reminding me a little bit of Charlie Jane Anders' Victories Greater than Death in its gentle deconstruction of genre tropes (though admittedly far less exploratory of gender and sexuality, but hey, when protagonist Sydney is a fan of Octavia Butler, you know he's got good goddamn taste.) The frequent spins on a Superman-type mythos, as well as the unexpected strings of twist after twist, keep the story going at a pretty propulsive pace, and not unlike a lot of Lore's previous novels, it builds up to a very sudden cliffhanger to virtually guarantee a sequel. Oh, how I hope we get to see more Denzan misadventures soon...
August 26, 2021
This is Young Adult/Sci-Fi. I liked the Lorien Legacies series for the most part. Definitely creative in world building and characters. So I picked up this one hoping for that same creativity I found in the previous series....and it did have similar creative strokes.
I liked how this one started. A mother is on the run with her son for his own protection from his father's people, which is an alien race. I liked the characters too, but what killed this one was the dialogue. OMG!!!! No. A million times no. Another thing that didn't quite work was the mother/son relationship. It felt a bit odd and by that I mean cold and distant, especially the separation.
This was a solid 2 stars for me. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. I did round up to three stars because I know I'll read the next one in the series. So something struck a chord with me. I just can't figure out what that was.
I liked how this one started. A mother is on the run with her son for his own protection from his father's people, which is an alien race. I liked the characters too, but what killed this one was the dialogue. OMG!!!! No. A million times no. Another thing that didn't quite work was the mother/son relationship. It felt a bit odd and by that I mean cold and distant, especially the separation.
This was a solid 2 stars for me. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. I did round up to three stars because I know I'll read the next one in the series. So something struck a chord with me. I just can't figure out what that was.
September 19, 2021
The first half was good and the twist at the end was nice but the middle part was lacking something.
April 13, 2023
Alien boy likes puzzles and meets giant teddy bear. Excellent
May 28, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this synthetic voice audio book ARC. I have reviewed four such ARCs and do not like the disjointed voice clip very chapter going "Harper Collins" randomly. If it had to be somewhere it could have been the beginning of a chapter or end, not mid sentence or amid a paragraph. It makes for disjointed reading.
I have read Pittacus Lore once before, with I Am Number Four and I haven't since because it was a disappointment after I had watched the movie. I had read the summary provided by NetGalley and hadn't paid attention to the author.
Sydney (named for Sydney, Australia) has been on the run from someone with his human mother since his alien father disappeared. Going from place to place has made making friends all but impossible. When one day that someone catches up to them, he finds himself face to face with his uncle, who wants Syd to use his Denza abilities to look into tech that will show a nap of space and find his father at the end of a tether. Syd's mother confesses that her father, Syd's grandfather was recruited by the Denza among 12 humans to fight a mysterious planet renewing energy being that looks like a dragon and creeps through universes and dimensions.
They were successful but can never go home because of a sickness that kills returning humans who had once they left Earth being superpowered. Syd's father was on the hunt for a lost people who'd visited multiple worlds without any sideffects.
Syd agrees to go with his uncle. His mother shares with him a secret plan to cure what kills superpowered humans and have them come back to Earth to force people to shape up with Denza tech to back then up.
So confusingly without any talk of it Syd is apparently enrolled in a Denza school as a cadet in the meantime?
But he does try one time while one the ship to find his father and one of those dangerous energy dragons decides to have achat, calling him "world killer" and showing him a glimpse of the future. Then it's off to and where Syd takes a few classes and encounters the two sides of Denza, those who regard humans in heroic awe and those who would like them to go back to Earth until humans prove they're no longer primitive in the way they treat Earth, each other, and have the technology to join the seven space worthy races.
Things escalate to a near kidnapping and a unexpected rescue. Denza is left behind again as Syd and his friends, and uncle, race to get to Syd's father's location first. There they find heartbreaking and mind-bending truths of the origin story that they must try to set free upon worlds. Or else see history repeat.
I have read Pittacus Lore once before, with I Am Number Four and I haven't since because it was a disappointment after I had watched the movie. I had read the summary provided by NetGalley and hadn't paid attention to the author.
Sydney (named for Sydney, Australia) has been on the run from someone with his human mother since his alien father disappeared. Going from place to place has made making friends all but impossible. When one day that someone catches up to them, he finds himself face to face with his uncle, who wants Syd to use his Denza abilities to look into tech that will show a nap of space and find his father at the end of a tether. Syd's mother confesses that her father, Syd's grandfather was recruited by the Denza among 12 humans to fight a mysterious planet renewing energy being that looks like a dragon and creeps through universes and dimensions.
They were successful but can never go home because of a sickness that kills returning humans who had once they left Earth being superpowered. Syd's father was on the hunt for a lost people who'd visited multiple worlds without any sideffects.
Syd agrees to go with his uncle. His mother shares with him a secret plan to cure what kills superpowered humans and have them come back to Earth to force people to shape up with Denza tech to back then up.
So confusingly without any talk of it Syd is apparently enrolled in a Denza school as a cadet in the meantime?
But he does try one time while one the ship to find his father and one of those dangerous energy dragons decides to have achat, calling him "world killer" and showing him a glimpse of the future. Then it's off to and where Syd takes a few classes and encounters the two sides of Denza, those who regard humans in heroic awe and those who would like them to go back to Earth until humans prove they're no longer primitive in the way they treat Earth, each other, and have the technology to join the seven space worthy races.
Things escalate to a near kidnapping and a unexpected rescue. Denza is left behind again as Syd and his friends, and uncle, race to get to Syd's father's location first. There they find heartbreaking and mind-bending truths of the origin story that they must try to set free upon worlds. Or else see history repeat.
January 4, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Pittacus Lore for the opportunity to read Ashfall Legacy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to make it known that I received a voice galley of this book that was made with a synthetic voice and should no way impact the perception of the original audiobook once it comes out. I was a bit worried about the synthetic voice, but it actually wasn't that bad. Yes, I could hear the roboticness of it, but it wasn't as stand-still as I worried it might be, so that was good! I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this book, and the app has done a great job working out the bugs and making a sustainable audio listening platform.
Now, about the book. Have to read the Lorien Legacies series or seen the movie I am Number Four? Well, this is a new series that takes place in the same universe, though years later (from my understanding). While I know of Lorien Legacies and even have all the books, I have not read them yet or seen the movie (as I refuse to watch the movie without reading the books first). That being said, it should be noted that you can certainly read Ashfall Legacy without having delved into the Lorien Legacies experience beforehand, though I would assume reading those books first would add a larger level of depth to the reader's understanding of this new series.
Syd and his mom are always on the run, in hiding, but Syd has been deceived by what it is they are hiding from. When his uncle shows up and explains Syd is only half-human, they embark to outer space where a whole new world is opened up to Syd. He gets to experience meeting different alien races and learns of various tensions between them. All the while, Syd looks for his dad, based on a hint that he is still alive.
Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot to say about this book. It certainly wasn't bad. It was mostly enjoyable, I feel like I just had a hard time getting into the characters and the world. Maybe it's because I didn't read the Lorien Legacies before, or maybe this just wasn't the book for me, but it is still certainly a good recommendation for the right person.
I would like to make it known that I received a voice galley of this book that was made with a synthetic voice and should no way impact the perception of the original audiobook once it comes out. I was a bit worried about the synthetic voice, but it actually wasn't that bad. Yes, I could hear the roboticness of it, but it wasn't as stand-still as I worried it might be, so that was good! I used the NetGalley Shelf app to listen to this book, and the app has done a great job working out the bugs and making a sustainable audio listening platform.
Now, about the book. Have to read the Lorien Legacies series or seen the movie I am Number Four? Well, this is a new series that takes place in the same universe, though years later (from my understanding). While I know of Lorien Legacies and even have all the books, I have not read them yet or seen the movie (as I refuse to watch the movie without reading the books first). That being said, it should be noted that you can certainly read Ashfall Legacy without having delved into the Lorien Legacies experience beforehand, though I would assume reading those books first would add a larger level of depth to the reader's understanding of this new series.
Syd and his mom are always on the run, in hiding, but Syd has been deceived by what it is they are hiding from. When his uncle shows up and explains Syd is only half-human, they embark to outer space where a whole new world is opened up to Syd. He gets to experience meeting different alien races and learns of various tensions between them. All the while, Syd looks for his dad, based on a hint that he is still alive.
Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot to say about this book. It certainly wasn't bad. It was mostly enjoyable, I feel like I just had a hard time getting into the characters and the world. Maybe it's because I didn't read the Lorien Legacies before, or maybe this just wasn't the book for me, but it is still certainly a good recommendation for the right person.
August 24, 2021
I really enjoyed the story, I loved I am Number Four series, this one was quite different, I liked Syd his character was intriguing, the storyline hooked me and the world-building was good, the pacing was a bit slow on some moments but overall I enjoyed it when things picked up. I so need to know what happens next.
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December 14, 2020
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing the synthetic voice recording of Ashfall Legacy by Pittacus Lore in exchange for my honest review.
I need to preface my comments by saying that listening to the synthetic audio was, at times, incredibly difficult. You get no emotion. At times it felt right, because of the world this story takes place in, but it made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. That caused me to lose interest in the story quickly. That said, here’s what I can tell you about Ashfall Legacy.
We meet Sidney, who is a teenage boy on the run with his mother. Most of his life has been on the run because he’s half-human and half-alien. We get some basic background information and then we follow Sidney on a trip to his father’s home planet and a quest to find his missing, thought to be dead, father.
The story itself was lacking the details I seem to need to get into a world. I found Sidney to be okay to start, but I didn’t care for a long time. He slowly grew on me, but it was really difficult to immerse myself in this world, I can’t say if that’s due to the writing or the audio and for that reason, I don’t know how to rate this one.
I think if you’re into Lore, or half-alien characters give it a try, but I would recommend reading the book, as it may provide a better feel for the world.
I need to preface my comments by saying that listening to the synthetic audio was, at times, incredibly difficult. You get no emotion. At times it felt right, because of the world this story takes place in, but it made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. That caused me to lose interest in the story quickly. That said, here’s what I can tell you about Ashfall Legacy.
We meet Sidney, who is a teenage boy on the run with his mother. Most of his life has been on the run because he’s half-human and half-alien. We get some basic background information and then we follow Sidney on a trip to his father’s home planet and a quest to find his missing, thought to be dead, father.
The story itself was lacking the details I seem to need to get into a world. I found Sidney to be okay to start, but I didn’t care for a long time. He slowly grew on me, but it was really difficult to immerse myself in this world, I can’t say if that’s due to the writing or the audio and for that reason, I don’t know how to rate this one.
I think if you’re into Lore, or half-alien characters give it a try, but I would recommend reading the book, as it may provide a better feel for the world.
August 21, 2021
I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own!
Syd has always known that extraterrestrial life exists - he's descended from them. But when he finds a tether that tells him his long-lost father is out still out there in the cosmos, Syd knows he has to go find him. But along the way, can Syd save Earth - and the universe - from world-ending secrets?
Where do I begin with how much I enjoyed this book?! I have never read anything by Pittacus Lore, and now I will be trying to get my hands on everything! From chapter one, this book was super easy to get sucked into. The writing was easy and quick, but also the world and the story itself pulled me in and I didn't want to escape.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how unique the plot ended up being. A lot of sci-fi can feel very repetitive, but I was not expecting the place that this story would go. I was genuinely surprised and shocked at the end, and I enjoyed every second of the world-building and the way that the plot unfurled and left me reeling!
If you're looking for your next sci-fi obsession, this is the book for you!
Syd has always known that extraterrestrial life exists - he's descended from them. But when he finds a tether that tells him his long-lost father is out still out there in the cosmos, Syd knows he has to go find him. But along the way, can Syd save Earth - and the universe - from world-ending secrets?
Where do I begin with how much I enjoyed this book?! I have never read anything by Pittacus Lore, and now I will be trying to get my hands on everything! From chapter one, this book was super easy to get sucked into. The writing was easy and quick, but also the world and the story itself pulled me in and I didn't want to escape.
I think my favorite thing about this book was how unique the plot ended up being. A lot of sci-fi can feel very repetitive, but I was not expecting the place that this story would go. I was genuinely surprised and shocked at the end, and I enjoyed every second of the world-building and the way that the plot unfurled and left me reeling!
If you're looking for your next sci-fi obsession, this is the book for you!
December 9, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing a voice galley of Ashfall Legacy in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not a Lorien Legacy fan. I read and disliked I Am Number Four because of what I found to be an incredibly lackluster narration style and stopped with the series there but all of the Pittacus Lore fans I know constantly insist that the writing duo's style drastically improves as the series continues so I figured there was no better way to check that out than with Ashfall Legacy.
I found the narration here a lot better! Sydney felt like a real person thrown into all of the book's chaos and it was fun to listen to his narration. I also really liked the supporting cast here and the pacing was really well done. This is a fun, unique sci-fi adventure that I could easily see being enjoyed whether or not you're a fan of the writing team's previous works.
I'm not a Lorien Legacy fan. I read and disliked I Am Number Four because of what I found to be an incredibly lackluster narration style and stopped with the series there but all of the Pittacus Lore fans I know constantly insist that the writing duo's style drastically improves as the series continues so I figured there was no better way to check that out than with Ashfall Legacy.
I found the narration here a lot better! Sydney felt like a real person thrown into all of the book's chaos and it was fun to listen to his narration. I also really liked the supporting cast here and the pacing was really well done. This is a fun, unique sci-fi adventure that I could easily see being enjoyed whether or not you're a fan of the writing team's previous works.
March 4, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Ashfall Legacy is the first installment in author Pittacus Lore's Ashfall Legacy duology with the sequel releasing August, 2022. In Syd Chamber’s world, twelve humans went to Denza to help protect their citizens from a monster called the Etherazi. When humans leave Earth, they gain incredible strength and invulnerability, but if they go back to Earth they are afflicted with a disease called The Wasting and die. Syd has half-Denzan, half-human DNA and has spent his life on the run along with his mother.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Ashfall Legacy is the first installment in author Pittacus Lore's Ashfall Legacy duology with the sequel releasing August, 2022. In Syd Chamber’s world, twelve humans went to Denza to help protect their citizens from a monster called the Etherazi. When humans leave Earth, they gain incredible strength and invulnerability, but if they go back to Earth they are afflicted with a disease called The Wasting and die. Syd has half-Denzan, half-human DNA and has spent his life on the run along with his mother.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
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