Ascend

The Cure Chronicles #3

by K.A. Riley

The Uprising is gaining ground. But supplies are scarce, and the Aristocracy is more powerful than anyone ever imagined.

Ash's fight may be unwinnable...but the affection of a certain young man may just give her the strength she needs to persevere.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Ebooks, Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

K. A. Riley is a writer of speculative and science fiction, dedicated to creating worlds just different enough from our own to be entertaining, intriguing and a little frightening all at once. For Riley, writing isn't a job. It's a laboratory where readers can wander into a land of ideas; it's a playground where they can scamper around, giggling, gasping, and freaking out to their hearts' content.

Riley is the top-secret pen-name of a NYT and USA Today best-selling author.

Reviews

[Robinbythecatsandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can still love the series and be mad at the author for what she does to the characters right?

[The Autistic Bookclub · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly really struggled with Ascend by K.A. Riley. The romance that had annoyed me before went to all new heights as Ashen flipped between grieving her, apparently, dead stalker boyfriend and hoping, praying, begging that he was secretly alive. Literally every other page featured some sort of soppy paragraph about her needing to feel his touch against her lips again. Not even the storyline could particularly keep me interested this time, as that too seemed to have evolved into wtf territory. As if having every possible technological invention at her finger tips thanks to her two male suitors wasn't enough, she now has superpowers! Yep. Where did that come from? I don't know, but I want to send it back.

I wish I could go back to the The Cure and have a nice story about a society reliant on a cure to save them from a biological catastrophe, and a normal girl who just wants to help those less fortunate. Instead I've got magical shimmer walls, mutant people, an insane amount of bird drones, and a really very annoying love story.

Somehow though, I still have hope that the final book in the series might just come through for me. We'll see.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was by far the best in the series. It deserves so much more praise and recognition that it has gotten up until this point. The author’s talent and emotion is shown through very part of this book. Behind each word is raw emotion that added so much depth to the story. It was heart renching to read this because all throughout the story I felt the pain the characters were going through. Although it wasn’t as fast paced as the other books, it gave me a better understanding of the characters and what they had to endure. I can’t even fully put into words how amazing and intricate this book was. There were multiple plot twists that just broke my heart and I can say that the story wouldn’t be the same without it. I 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for a dystopian book that will leave them wanting for more.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs editing

It would have been better, but all of the spelling and grammar errors got really annoying, definitely rushed too quickly. Still looking forward to finishing the series.

[Selah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars!! In my opinion this is the best book in the series. I loved the character development and pain that was consistent throughout the book. I also loved how that pain affected the relationships between the characters. It was slower paced than the other books in the series but I think it lead to better understanding the characters. I can’t wait to read the next one!!

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

YALL THIS WAS SO GOOD. I never thought I'd be saying that about any book in this series but this book was by far my favorite. It still similarities to the hunger games obviously but the plot has taken a whole different turn that I'm enjoying. I love Finn and Ashen's relationship so much too ❤️❤️❤️. Also Ashen finally decided to act like a main character and has developed into a way more mature and better person than we saw in the first book. Hoping the rest of the books are this good!

[Sara Cowells · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this one was mildly better. Maybe I’m getting used to the over-the-top, over-used story lines where things magically fall into place to keep moving the plot along. I forgot this was a four book series- I was hoping this was the end. Nope! Not yet! How many times will the heroine almost sacrifice herself in the last book? Can the Duchess become even more evil? Almost done…

[Arizona Farr · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are progressively getting worse. The first book was good and I really enjoyed it. The second book was good too. But this third one just wasn’t it.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much good!! Such a great “what’s going to happen next” feeling throughout the whole book.

[Tess Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two books in the series but still a great read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ughhh the cliffhanger…this book of the series definitely was more action packed and finally progress of the Silent War is being made. However, Finn’s state is so frustrating.

[Ellen Hogg · Rating 4 out of 5]

very YA and very predictable but dystopian books make me feel 14 again and it’s fun

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Burn

This third book in the series was, at least to me, a bit of a slower pace. However, I still liked the story and am invested in it. I am looking forward to seeing how it ends. The characters are engaging and with each book you witness their growth. A very good read. There are some grammar errors within.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were a few moments that I found to be rather childish for an 18 year old in a dystopian hellscape. But man this was so good. I couldn't put it down. I read it all in one night.


SPOILER BELOW

Omg the whole storyline of Peric broke my heart. A very traumatized individual gets a sliver of hope only to have it crushed in front of him. I have a feeling he will be a valuable asset in the future books.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short and juvenile plot

I’m not sure why I enjoyed the first two books in this series so much. This one fell flat for me. Not much really happened and what did happen moved way too quickly in the plot so I wasn’t connected to the characters or what was happening. I will not be continuing on in this series.

[Sarah Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting continuation

Exciting. Fast paced action. Felt a little too hunger games in places. I could almost see where scenes had been rewritten to fit this plot

Again. A star removed for endless love triangles. A YA female does not need a man to complete her!

[Reileigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got 74% in and I couldn’t make myself finish it. The first book was pretty good, the second was alright, but the third one was an absolute no. The characters became so annoying and the story strayed quite a bit from the original book.

[Julie Marita · Rating 2 out of 5]

wow

It feels like I’ve been reading this book for months on end, it’s just so boring and unfulfilling. It has its moments, but they are so far apart. I read every night before I go to sleep, and it’s a very effective sleeping aid! Don’t think I’ll bother with the last one😂

[Elaina Hetland · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is when I realized that this series is the most average thing I've ever read. It's almost worse than a really bad book because those can be fun to read and make fun of because they're so bad and they make you laugh, but this series is just average in a bad way. The first two books were a little bit better in my opinion, but this book it where it all started to go downhill for me.
Suddenly everybody has superpowers, and there were a few good plot points like Finn not being himself with the shimmer walls, but the shimmer walls were useless in the first place.
I'm not trying to be rude, but this book sounds like it was written by 3 different high-schoolers and then they merged the series into one and added the little details to make it cohesive.

[Karen Voitik · Rating 4 out of 5]

>Book Review – Ascend

>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 3rd in the Cure Chronicles series and ends in a cliffhanger. Ash is reeling from the aftermath of her battle with Finn. She teams up with Rhys, to escape the Arc once again. The big plot points in this book, besides fighting the evil Directorate, are the personality changes in Finn and his coldness towards Ash. Ash doesn’t waver in her feelings towards Finn, but nothing is the same.

>This book is appropriate for a young adult (16+) audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. The book drags again as Finn and Ash find more survivors.

[James Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash and Rys escape. We find out just what The Surge is. Finn is back and Peric is in the forest. Finn, though, has some rather major problems which make him rather dangerous, to say the least.

Broadcasting to the Arc is undertaken, hoping to reveal the truth to its inhabitants. Dictators don't like truth so a place gets bombed into oblivion. What is basically now a war gets underway.

The war between the haves and the mislead gets going and it looks like there's a lot more story to develop. It's a good addition to the series which basically is a reflection of some things going on in today's world.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite book in the series so far!!! I can't wait to read the next book. Ash and Rys they are unstoppable. Bffs to the end,ride or die, partners in crime.

So many new characters introduced in this one as well as some tears. I even yelled "YES I KNEW IT!" Out loud and confused my kids lol

This book gave me mocking jay like vibes and I loved it. Yet it has a very different story line. I highly recommend this series...

[Lisab_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.A. Riley writes unique and intriguing dystopian stories. I’ve been thoroughly invested in The Cure Series. Good character development and depth. An interesting setting. Great flow and pacing. Ascend’s ending left me wanting to start the next book immediately. I look forward to its release in March 2022.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

a slow takeover

Many people said this book was a lot slower than the others but I think it was the perfect pace in relation to the story. There was a new depth added to this book. We finally have a bit more of the main character coming together as well, though even with out the hard hitting romance, it will scratch your itch. Ready for book 4

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series!

These books do not disappoint, keeps you on the edge guessing what will happen next, who will get caught. I can not wait to read the next book in the series to see what Ash does next. If you are into the Hunger Games and books along those lines you will love this series too!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really devastatingly horrific cruelty, and heroic rebels !

Great yet horrifying story! Ash, Finn, Rhys and many others continue to try to take down the unconscionable directorate , who continue to take lives in absolute cruel and inhumane ways !
They finally make it to Santa fe and back, and figure out how to make these horrible people pay !

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

this made me cry. like actually. tears.

read ofc if u read the rest of the series

some sus parts ;-;

BUT OVERALL GREAT BOOK

This book maaaay have been the cause of me pulling an all-nighter yesterday :D

book addicts understand. once u get to a good part U CANT PUT THE BOOK DOWN

and lemme tell u there were some guuuud parts

the crimson dreg ;-;
_____________________________________

edit: CAN WE JUST ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DAM BEAUTIFUL SHE IS ON THE COVER OF THIS BOOK 😍

[Sarah P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh. This series has promise but the more I read, the more it just feels like a knockoff hunger games

I still finished it. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it through book 4. I may just let the series get spoiled for me. I got a bit bored with this one and it was predictable because it's literally SO SIMILAR to the storyline of the hunger games books

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

By this book (third in the series) I am a little tired of Ashen being self-deprecating. Glad I waited in between books—I will read the rest in the series but the other characters are better for sure. Very like Hunger Games.

[Kimberly Gordon-Bercich · Rating 5 out of 5]

War

Ash and Finn are fighting for survival. Gathering alliances, technology and weapons. What is the greatest weapon? Weapons? People? Or truth? The truth hurts but it will set you free.