Audiobook Review: Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2 by Kassy Tayler

This is a good sequel with a cliffhanger ending setting up book 3.

Shadows of Glass: The Ashes Trilogy Book 2

    by Kassy Tayler
    Narrated by Nicola Barber
        Series: The Ashes, Book 2

LENGTH  9 hrs and 40 mins
RELEASE DATE  07-23-13
PUBLISHER  AudioGO

Genre: YA Dystopia

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

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 offer 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?

©2013 Kassy Tayler (P)2013 AudioGO

Review:
In this sequel to Twilight of Ashes, Wren, Pace, James, Adam and a few more shiner friends have survived the rushing waters that drove them out of the exploding tunnels. Some of the blind ponies and goats have also survived. But there are many more deaths and losses. The small group is now forced to survive, with little in the way of supplies, in an alien environment where even the sun they have rarely seen can harm them.

Wren discovers that her friend, John, who was forced outside, has survived and established a place of shelter. He warns of the threat of barbarian rovers who raid and carry off females. Wren is filled with self doubt and guilt that is fueled by the bitter James. She questions if living in freedom, with starvation and fear, is better than living the life of drudgery, but safety, that they had before she dared to dream of the outside.

Suddenly Wren is faced with more strangers in an airship but she soon realizes that these foreign explorers are friendly. The remarkable family set out to help the small group of survivors to establish a safe community, offering even staff and weapons to protect against the rovers. The young man, Levi, is smitten by Wren’s simple beauty, her bravery, strength and determination. He doesn’t mean to come between Wren and Pace but if there is a chance for him to win her attention he intends to pursue it.

Pip, Pace’s intrepid canary, brings a message to Wren from Lucy who is still inside the Dome. The call is “Help us!” Pace has to go back inside if he wants to rescue his mother while Wren feels she must find a way to help her friends inside. Levi’s Uncle agrees to use his ship to help get them inside where they soon are trapped into more danger. As this book closes, Wren, Pace and Levi face the angry leader of the Royals, Wren’s father.

I liked the addition of the exploring US characters. It was interesting to try to imagine how the outside world, and strangers from far off, would effect Wren and her friends who have had little schooling. Presenting Levi as another romantic interest to catch Wren’s attention creates more conflict in addition to the struggle of surviving. Although it makes Wren appear shallow in her feelings I attribute some of her confusion to her youth and the stresses she has been experiencing.

I felt there was too much repetition of Wren’s fearful doubts and thoughts for a good part of the first half of the book. Again this may be consistent with the angst of being a teen but it was a bit annoying. The story was entertaining and I was engaged and anticipating what would happen with the confrontation inside when book two abruptly ended. For those who really don’t like cliffhangers, be forewarned. I will be interested to learn the conclusion in volume three.

Audio notes: Once again Ms. Barber does a good job giving emotional input to characters. She does a nice job with the accents and I enjoyed the listening.

I received this title for review from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.

Audio Book Review: Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler

Fans of The Hunger Games won't want to miss this engaging YA dystopia!
Ashes of Twilight
by Kassy Tayler (Author)
Nicola Barber (Narrator) 

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 9 hours and 24 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 14, 2012

Genre: YA Dystopia
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent and the coal is running out. Plus, there are those who wonder: Is there life outside the dome? Or is the world still consumed by fire?

When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome’s way of life. But Alex’s final words are haunting. "The sky is blue." What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy, and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

Review:
The city was built with glass domes and air filters to shelter humanity from the fire expected to burn up the surface when, in 1878, a comet was on collision with earth. The society was set up to protect the bloodline of the royals in England. The various classes are restricted by their duties to preserve the lifestyle and line of the pampered royals with their arranged marriages.  The coal miners live below in caves, providing coal to keep the fans running. Above ground, workers maintain the giant fans and clean the domes; others serve as gardeners, bakers, weavers and the various merchants who sell wares in the markets. Enforcers , called “blue coats”, guard the privileged royals from all the lower classes. Although the system was set up without criminal expectation, through the 200 years that have passed, a group of evil thugs, the filchers, dwell on the fringes and prey on those they can snatch in the streets.

Wren is an underground worker, a “shiner”, tending the ponies who pull the coal carts. She is now sixteen and has always had a bit of a crush on Alex but he is focused on Lucy. That leaves Wren stuck with her best friend’s brother, James, who is impetuous and sometimes cruel. Wren is a bit of a dreamer who sneaks up to the dome each day to watch the sunrise. She stares at the dome and wonders if there is really fire outside as the leaders say or if the world outside has returned to the green earth it used to be.

Alex and a few of their friends have started to gather as “seekers.” The group includes members across the class structure, including some royals who do not want to be forced into marriage. Suddenly the world as they know it is plunged into uproar. Wren witnesses a burned-alive Alex declaring with his last breath that “the sky is blue.” Alex had made a run for the outside but the blue coats dragged him back to let him die in the streets. Wren is chased by a blue coat, Pace, who has seen and heard more than he should. Soon the two are in hiding, wondering about the secrets beyond the dome and wondering what their future may bring. The younger miners want to investigate further but the elders are reluctant to cause trouble.

The story starts with Wren wondering about the Bible and the Heaven she knows little about. I enjoyed Wren’s faithful courage, steady determination and inclination to do the right thing even if that means seeking answers and freedom that could bring danger. Pace is a good match for her as he too is loyal, ready to protect her and ready to fight ‘the system.’  I also like how they both care for animals - the ponies and the canary Pace names Pip.

This is an engaging YA dystopia with wonderful world building and some good surprises. There is a good blend of action and ideological dreams.  I recommend this as a good read for those who like The Hunger Games and Divergent. I like that there is less senseless killing than in Hunger Games, although there is violence through the revolution that occurs. I will be interested in the sequel when released.

Audio Notes: Ms. Barber does a great job giving emotional input to Wren’s tale. She conveys her wonder, her frustration, her fear and sorrow. She presents the other characters equally well.  My only concern was that the narration was very soft making it hard to hear. Although that might have been the fault of my MP3, I realized the problem exists with the Media player too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren has to make a decision when escape becomes possible:

"....yet, everything and everyone I love is still inside and something is desperately wrong in there. I can’t leave him....Dreams are nothing unless you have someone to share them with." End of Chapter 27.

I received this for review from AudioGO through AudioBook Jukebox.