I read Ashes back in January after winning the book in a competition, I knew it was part of a trilogy but just thought that I would read the first book and that would be that. Low and behold, I couldn't put Ashes down and when I finished, I KNEW I had to have more. My birthday is in late January and when my friend asked what I wanted for my birthday I suggested Ashes' sequels. Even though we live in the same area, I didn't end up seeing him until we returned to college, but I nearly died when I opened my present to find Shadows and Monsters. However, I knew that I would have to wait until I got home to read them, as I may or may not have had horrid nightmares (totally worth it though) with Ashes.
So I waited, and read... a lot, as I waited, and may I tell you that Mid Tri Break has never been more anticipated for. Finally I got home Monday afternoon. I spent two days with a friend (which did not result in stopping my reading though). Anyhowzers, I finished it last night, and here is what I thought....
First off, maybe a little recap of what Ashes is about (I'll try not to give any spoilers).
Ashes is set in Modern day and follows Alex (an eighteen year old girl with a terminal tumor), Ellie (a nine year old orphaned Military brat) and Tom (a twentiesomething soldier) who are all camping out when an (electromagnetic?) shock wipes out half the population, makes teenage cannibals and some super peeps. See why I'm having nightmares?! Anyway, they trek around for a while and A LOT happens (trying not to kill the story though). The three end up separated at the end of Ashes, with Alex being in a "community" called Rule, which is run by the elderly (majority of people who survived the 'zap') where we meet A LOT of characters and she maybe starts a thing with Chris and sets the destruction of Rule in motion. The final chapter is a HUGE cliffhanger!!!
Before reading Shadows I went and reread the last six chapters of Ashes, and so was back and fully immersed in the story.
Shadows was, is great!! Whilst Ashes is mostly from Alex's pov, Shadows included povs of her, Tom, Chris (in love with Alex), Peter (Chris' mate and big part of Rule), Lena (a girl from Rule) and some others. It darts back and forth and is at times hard to keep up with. I like that in books though, it keeps you in the dark until BAM!! But definitely and novel that you need to concentrate and read every single word or you'll miss things. Alex thinks Tom is dead, Chris thinks Alex is dead, and Tom hopes Alex isn't dead. They are all in this big loop trying to find one another, and it gets to a point where you are just screaming for a floor not to be somewhere. It is filled with the 'Changed' or what I like to call 'Alive and Smart Zombies' whose motives make you question some heckers things; someone changes who you will not want to and some messed up stuff. Needless to say, I am very keen for my sleepover tonight to be over so that I can start reading Monsters!! (I'm normal right?)
Favourite Quote: "Oh, Red, Cindi thought, and smiled, Sucks to be you."
Rate: 8/10
Suggested if: You like to sit on the edge of a seat, or rather a cliff and if adventure, camping and roughing it gets your heart pumping. Oh, and you probs should have a non weak stomach. <Serals, that is legit!