THE LOWDOWN:
Wren’s world has changed. The thing that she fought for, escaping the dome has come to fruition, but it’s not the paradise she thought it would be. Most of the shiners have died, and according to James, she is to blame for many of the deaths, a burden which sits heavy on her shoulders. Still some have survived and Wren is determined to keep them safe as they fight to establish a home outside while hiding from the rovers who have weapons that can kill from far away. But as long as she has Pace she knows everything will be fine. Still Wren wonders, as she sees the smoke that continually pours forth from the dome, how did her friends inside fare? Will they ever find out if Lucy, David, Jill and Harry, along with Pace’s mother survive the explosions?
Meanwhile, someone else has also seen the smoke. A band of explorers from across the sea arrive in an airship, curious about the dome, and offering help to those who survive. When Wren meets the handsome Levi Addison, she suddenly questions her love for Pace as Levi offers to show her the world from his airship. Does she really love Pace? Or was it just the circumstances that made her think she did? Meanwhile, word arrives from inside via Pip, and Wren is forced to go back inside the dome, a thing that terrifies her more than anything else, to save her friends. Once she’s back inside will she be able to escape again?
FIRST IMPRESSION:
There are moments in history when drastic change comes about. Whether it is for the better or for the worse can only be told after time has passed and stories are written by those who witnessed it. The question that often puzzles me is how do you pinpoint the exact moment, the precise word, or the final action that changes everything for everyone? My own history has to have such a moment, yet I have no idea of how it occurred. When did our forefathers decide that it was necessary to save our race by going inside a dome? Was it the moment they saw the comet in the sky, or was it later, when they realized the deadly implication of its existence?
—ARC paperback edition
SNAPSHOT:
Told from Wren’s perspective, the slow pace might attract readers looking for more involved character development. However, despite fighting for their survival, Wren and her band have a small course to traverse: one third adapting to the outside world, another spent learning from newly arrived American airship travelers, and the final act defending against murderous unwashed scavengers.
Past action is revealed—often repeatedly—in exposition that is as stilted and awkward as the main character’s own narrative. While this is a necessary bridge between where Wren came from and where she and her people are going, it is not a good place to jump in. This is very much a middle piece, with the more intriguing plot bits teased, set up, and left for resolution in the sequel.
Appropriate for ages 13+. Some intense situations, moderate language, scenes of violence, discussion of sexual assault, light sexual situations.
Deals with themes of survival, community, identity, the nature of love and trust, and learning to accept the responsibility that, though there are consequences, decisions must be made and actions must be taken.
Future stories in the Ashes series would benefit from careful editing, as overlooked mistakes litter the prose in ways a spell-check program would not catch (tense changes, improperly pluralized words, and so on). The inconsistent errors are frequent enough that they almost seem to be a distracting dialect choice. It leaves a general sense that, perhaps originally, the novel was written from a second person or present tense narration.
GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:
If you…
– Enjoy steampunky stories, clothing, and gadgets
– Are a fan of the City of Ember series
– Need more love triangles in your dystopians
– Ever wondered what today would be like if the Victorian age was hit by a comet
THE ESSENTIALS:
Dystopian YA
Paperback & Ebook, 329 pages
Published July 23rd, 2013 by St. Martin’s Press (ISBN 0312641761)
http://us.macmillan.com/shadowsofglass/KassyTayler
(Review copy provided by Aleksandra Mencel at St. Martin’s Press.)