Mini-ish Re-Review--The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

Sometimes, falling in love really is the end of the world... don’t miss this fan-favorite tale from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost.

Ivy has always seen things that she cannot explain. Strange things. Otherworldly things. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse--her hallucinations are real, and her sister is imprisoned in a realm beyond Ivy’s reach. The one person who can help her is the dangerously attractive rebel who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

The fate Adrian has fought to escape is here - but he never expected the burning need he feels for Ivy. With destiny on one side and desire on the other, Adrian must help Ivy search for the powerful relic that can save her sister. Yet he knows what Ivy doesn’t: the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could destroy the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side, Adrian on the other, and nothing but ashes in between...

So I originally read Jeaniene Frost's The Beautiful Ashes as an ARC in 2014 and I remember there were personal reasons why the rest of the trilogy was delayed for so long, and I completely understood the reasons at the time, flash forward to now in 2020...I basically couldn't remember much of the storyline and I didn't feel comfortable diving into the rest of the trilogy with absolutely no memory of the story.

So I re-read it! Yes. ME! The third time in two years now I am caught re-reading a book! Scandalous I know! Lol.

I'll keep this one brief since I did already review it here. In this story we follow Ivy, who is searching for her missing sister. Ivy's had one helluva of time of things lately, her parents were recently killed in a car crash and her sister suddenly goes missing just before their deaths. Ivy is determined to find the last bit of family she has left no matter the cost.

For as long as Ivy can remember, she's seen things, shadows, things that no one else can see. It led to a troubled life growing up where her family thought she was crazy, all except for her sister of course. Then she meets Adrian who can see the same things she does. While they don't have what you could call a love-at-first-sight kind of meeting, there is a connection of sorts brewing between them.

What I totally forgot about this story--as nearly 6 years of time will do to a girl, because let's face it, that's roughly 600 (if not more) books ago--is that this book has threads tied to Christianity in this one. We're talking angels, demons, a rather famous Biblical tale. I won't say which for spoiler reasons, but needless to say I was pretty blown away...a second time! Lol.

I felt like I was reading this book for the first time almost because I couldn't remember much of anything about the storyline. I even thought I knew something about the ending but I ended up being dead wrong! Lol. I want to say that was the twist to another book's ending, but who knows what book I thought I was thinking of. Maybe it was with a character who shared a name with another one in this story, but I honestly have zero clue!

As far as romance goes, this one seemed a little tame for Jeaniene's style, but then again, it's only the first book. I felt like this was supposed to be more New Adult territory if I recall, but again, it's been so long I might not be remembering correctly. But still, the romance that slowly brewed between Adrian and Ivy was the slow-burning type that had its explosive moments.

Much like with any Jeaniene book, this one held me riveted! I read it in just two days which is saying something what with my reading speed these days! And the ending was shocking a second time around as well! I cannot wait to dive into the next book asap!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars