Ashes discussion

What happened in the middle of the book? I was reading an excellent book and then suddenly I feel like I am reading a totally different book. I normally do not discuss books I did not enjoy but one just pisses me off I still want to know what happened the 8year old little girl and the army dude. They disappear from the story to never return. I forced myself to finish this book because I really believed they would show up at the end and be together again. It is kinda like when you love a tv show and no warning its cancelled and you never get your questions answered.

I hear you, I didn't love the sudden change in the book. But since it's only part 1 in the series I'm just going to be patient and hope that it's all part of the author's bigger plan and we will see them again at some point.

I liked the book. I agree with you that it's a little odd what happened in the middle. I understand if you don't want to continue with the series, especially if you didn't like the first installment. But if you remember at the end of the story, Alex finally breaks out of Rule (the town) and goes off to find Ellie. Meaning that at least one or both of the original characters will make a reappearance.

I will finish the series I am really interested in what happens with ellie. I have a hard time reading just one book and not continuing the series because like I said I LOVED the first half...

honestly the second half was quite well written.

I became exceedingly aggravated by this book. It was going in such an excellent direction with a solid plot and characters with enough secrets and depth of their own to help keep the interest level of the story going high. I felt like I loved where the story was going...until it completely changed. The whole last 1/3 of the novel just completely infuriated me. I hated the fact that Alex seemed to completely forget that there were two people who I thought she truly cared about, fighting for their lives in the woods. I hated that she seemed to just completely lose her momentum and fall victim for the ways of Rule. The part that really got my blood boiling though was the creation of the most infuriatingly pointless love-triangle known to man. I mean wasn't Alex just saying how she wanted a future with Tom??!! How he was her fate??!!! Did that not happen??!! Then suddenly she falls for this Chris character who is just a complete blank spot of a character, and is suddenly fine and dandy staying in Rule and being with him???!!! WWHHHAAATTT???!!! I have to say that the reason why I'm so infuriated is because I started off loving this book sooo much! I'm still intrigued enough to continue with the story but here's hoping that Bick returns to the plot that started off this book...otherwise I may end up accidentally dropping it into my fireplace....
sorry for my ranting, these are just some feelings that I desperately needed to get off my chest.....ahhh I feel much better now :)

Thank You, Ariella you said all the things I tried to say. I think the problem is that the first half of the book had characters that we connected with and could not wait to see what is in store for them and its like there are two differents books put into one. The thing is I would read the first book but the second not so much. As for the writing I never said the writing was not good because it was good but just did not understand how the story went in a different direction and we lost characters that we loved never to know what happened to them. Hopefully, the second book will bring it together because I have never ranted about a book like this before.

Haha, couldn't agree more Shellie! I can definitely say that I've never felt so strongly about the outcome of a book before, but it's just the fact that Bick is that good of an author, and did write 2/3 of an incredible story, I really hope that the second novel will bring back the characters we fell in love with and refocus on them as the "family" that they became...I honestly didn't care for any of the new characters and I hope that the rest of these books don't harp on the politics of Rule because that would just depress me...

well i didnt likw it either but it must have been to give you a better area of reading and it really did not help to the book i think cause it was laready confusing

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book until page 340 where the author seemed to have started a brand new book about cults. This was now the main theme and the crazed people (zombie-like) were just incidental to the story. Even the entire setting of the book changed. From the state park and ravished land to some idyllic little cultish community that seemed relatively untouched by what had happened, save for the population. With little over 120 pages left in the book, the author introduced new characters, new themes and a new love interest! Really? This girl who was oh so falling for Tom, suddenly likes this new whats-his name moody guy. I do NOT care about Chris, or the people in this town of Rule or the million of other characters and dynamics introduced.

I will read the next book in the trilogy, but only because I want to know about Tom and Ellie ONLY. I do not care for Chris and others.

Eda, I couldn't agree more!!! It's funny because when I got to the end of the book when Jessie (I think that's what her name is) knocked Chris unconscious with her gun, I misread it and thought she had shot him dead, and I was actually really excited...until I realized I had just read it wrong..hehe

I agree that it was confusing and i couln't stop reading the book because i hoped until the end that Tom and Ellie would appear. But it also makes the next book so much more interesting. The change in Alex's feelings and actings was interesting and realistic. I mean anybody change a bit while living in a society like Rule.

I thought it was quite realistic that Alex decided to stay in Rule, at least for a while. That's what a real person would almost certainly do; she's been strong and tough for so long, and even though she does want to know what's really going on with Rule, she also knows that it's pretty much the safest place to be. And she really didn't have any clues as to Ellie or Tom's whereabouts, there was nowhere else for her to go.

Ok, Rachel you make a great point and your right she had no where to go but just seemed like two completely different books into one...I will check out the next one.

I loved the book and the part where she found the whistle i was like "Yay Ellie`s still alive!"I think and when she was looking at the heads and was like no please no,I tought Tom`s head was there I was nearly crying because he was an excellent caracter.But all together I tought it was a very good book.=]

Shellie wrote: "What happened in the middle of the book? I was reading an excellent book and then suddenly I feel like I am reading a totally different book. I normally do not discuss books I did not enjoy but o..."

Well there are two other books planned for the series, so you're confused because it's not over yet, it was just a cruel cliff hanger.

Jo wrote: "It's the ending that made me go "Whaaaaat?!" I'm still not sure what they were trying to accomplish by sending Alex off... into the zombies and whatnot."

My impression was either that she knows or figured too much stuff out or was too nosy/a threat so they wanted to get rid of her.

Rachel wrote: "I thought it was quite realistic that Alex decided to stay in Rule, at least for a while. That's what a real person would almost certainly do; she's been strong and tough for so long, and even thou..."

I agree. While I was annoyed/frustrated that she stayed in Rule (because the town was creepy as hell and it did slow the action way down), I understand why her character would have done it and I thought it was pretty realistic. She's not perfect, she can't just wander around and desperately search for Ellie and Tom, what else was she going to do?

I did feel like the middle of the book just WHOMP switched into a different story, but I also sort of understand why the author did it...so I haven't decided how I felt about the middle.

Great Cliffhanger! Really enjoyed the book! Good believable characters with an exciting plot. Can't wait for Shadows!

I was enjoying the book and anxious to see if Alex would find Tom and Ellie. Obviously there was a love triangle as Chris came into the picture. As I was closed to the end I realized that the book would not come to a conclusion. Then the ending took me by surprise. Yes, I will read the next book to see what happens but I am disappointed that so many of the book I read have turned into series.

I loved,and the fact that Tom and Ellie have vanished into thin air, makes me want to read the sequel even more!

Carolyn wrote: "I was enjoying the book and anxious to see if Alex would find Tom and Ellie. Obviously there was a love triangle as Chris came into the picture. As I was closed to the end I realized that the book..."

I think that the "in" thing right now is for authors to write series instead of stand alone books. I've noticed over the past 8 years or so series books seem to be more common than they were before. There are some series I do like but others I don't. I have no problem if an author wants to write a series I just don't like it if they don't write any stand alone books as well. For example I love Jonathan Kellerman's stand alone books (of which there are very few) but haven't been able to get into his Alex Delaware books which is all he writes anymore. I really wish he would write a stand alone even if it was one stand alone to every 3 or 4 A.D. novels. The main reason I can think of for the upswing in series books is that the author can use characters that have already been developed and introduced in the first book so they don't have to come up any new back story for the main character/s and in some instances don't have to describe/introduce new places or towns - everything is developed in the first book or two and they just have to continue a storyline and create a few new supporting characters to go along with it.

I wasn't confused one bit. This book was awesome from beginning to end. I admit that the change in the story line slowed down the pace, but it made the story that much more intriguing. There were questions that needed to be answered and Rule provided just that. We have to think of the setting of the story and figure that coming across a camp of survivors would be in the near future. Also, by adding Rule to the equation the plot is thickened and gives the series multiple directions to travel. I know it seemed like she forgot about the other two, but look at the situation. Hell it's no different then when men/women who are engaged in a relationship end up having affairs/liking their co-workers. It happens! It's frowned upon, but it happens. I can't wait for number two.

I absolutely loved Chris!! He was my favorite character so far! I liked how he was covered in shadows and was so mysterious. Although he lived and abided to the rules in Rule (lol) he seemed to be the complete opposite. He reminded me of the cute bad boy and I wanted him and alex to be together. At the end when he said "Alex, stop!" my heart broke in half! Don't get me wrong I liked Tom too, he was the most amazingly brave guy! But he was just sorta cookie cutter boring. I think I loved the second half better, it was alot more interesting in my oppinion. And I really hope she ends up with Chris he was amazing!!!!!!!!!!

I thought this book started out so sloooow!
But it suddenly got interesting when Alex & Ellie met Tom.....the book went from ok, to good, to excellent!

I can't believe the cliff hanger the author left.
But it only makes me more excited to read the 2nd in the trilogy.

I have a feeling Ellie's safe somewhere, so I never gave her another thought. Alex is bound to 'find' her in the next book. And I think the love triangle between Alex, Tom & Chris will be interesting.

I thought it was a fantastic book.
I just hope the rest of the trilogy will be as good as I hope.

its was a good book but i dint understand the zombie kinda part i mean they all became cannibals and why did all the animals die

I LOVED it! Come on People it's the end of the World. You gotta roll with the punches because they will come fast and hard and NOT MAKE SENSE! People with be the worst enemies in that kind of state. People will take people or items even if they have to kill for it. You might wander into a town like RULE who forces you to their way and rules if you want shelter and safety. Especially when they were looking to the few youngsters to prolly re-populate the world. I mean she may still end up in even weirder circumstances.

As far as the LOVE Triangle, she's a TEENAGER. I mean I don't know bout you but I was totally boy crazy and could flip my love interest from one week to the next. LOL HORMONES you know. End of the World confusing circumstances for all.

The Part I flipped out about was I was reading it on my Kindle and didn't notice what percentage I was on. I was so entwined in the story that when the last lines came I was ready to flip my page and was like "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" When I figured out the book ended leaving me in one of the BIGGEST cliff hangers I have been in. Well at least the TOP 10 cliff hangers for me!

Actually, the second half of the book was my favorite part. I think that not knowing where the girl went made it more realistic. And who knows? Maybe we'll find out what happened to her in the sequel.