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The Roxanne Fosch Files #1
Heir of Ashes
Roxanne Fosch had a perfectly normal life at the age of twelve. Cool, popular, pretty, smart. Her dreams of a perfect, successful and prosperous future seemed well within her grasp.
By the time she was twenty-two she had become a commodity. A fugitive. She was being hunted.
As Roxanne embarks on the dangerous quest to search for half-truths about her past, she discovers she’s not just an abnormal human, but a rarity even among her Fee peers.
She is hunted by scientists, keen to exploit her extraordinary abilities, as well as other beings far more dangerous whose plans for her she cannot fathom
By the time she was twenty-two she had become a commodity. A fugitive. She was being hunted.
As Roxanne embarks on the dangerous quest to search for half-truths about her past, she discovers she’s not just an abnormal human, but a rarity even among her Fee peers.
She is hunted by scientists, keen to exploit her extraordinary abilities, as well as other beings far more dangerous whose plans for her she cannot fathom
ebook
Published April 15, 2018
About the author
Jina S. Bazzar
26 books92 followersI’m a freelance writer, a blogger, a mother, a baker, a chocolate fiend, a coffee enthusiast, and sometimes a poet. A wanderer in this vast world, I’m just another body with a passion for the written word. There is no boundary I can’t cross, no limit I can’t push; my mind is my passport, my thoughts my mode of transportation.
I was born and raised in a quiet, small town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I’ve had a happy and fulfilling childhood.
Like most writers out there, my love of books began at a young age. Unlike most authors out there, I never aspired to become one.
Soon after high school graduation I developed a chronic disease that caused gradual vision loss. I was blind at the age of twenty-three, and reading became one of many things I could no longer do.
That is, until I started working for an organization for women with disabilities and learned about screen readers. After I quit my job, I picked up reading with vengeance, but soon realized it was no longer enough, and so I started writing, this time with an aim to pursue a career. Heir of Ashes is my debut novel, a creation born from my love of anything fairy, of action-packed stories and a touch of romance. Besides fiction, I’ve written dozens of articles for Conscious Talk magazine, on topics of health, food, poetry and the writer’s life.
When I’m not writing or networking on social media, you can find me in the kitchen, listening to loud music while baking (often misshapen) goodies, or cooking favorite dishes.
My inspiration comes from most anything, a discussion, a friend, an animal or plant, events, memories, music, etc – in other words, from life itself.
I was born and raised in a quiet, small town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where I’ve had a happy and fulfilling childhood.
Like most writers out there, my love of books began at a young age. Unlike most authors out there, I never aspired to become one.
Soon after high school graduation I developed a chronic disease that caused gradual vision loss. I was blind at the age of twenty-three, and reading became one of many things I could no longer do.
That is, until I started working for an organization for women with disabilities and learned about screen readers. After I quit my job, I picked up reading with vengeance, but soon realized it was no longer enough, and so I started writing, this time with an aim to pursue a career. Heir of Ashes is my debut novel, a creation born from my love of anything fairy, of action-packed stories and a touch of romance. Besides fiction, I’ve written dozens of articles for Conscious Talk magazine, on topics of health, food, poetry and the writer’s life.
When I’m not writing or networking on social media, you can find me in the kitchen, listening to loud music while baking (often misshapen) goodies, or cooking favorite dishes.
My inspiration comes from most anything, a discussion, a friend, an animal or plant, events, memories, music, etc – in other words, from life itself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 2, 2022
After interacting with Jina S. Bazzar via her blog for over a year, I decided to read her short story, The Curse earlier this year. I enjoyed it a lot even though I'm not a heavy fantasy reader. I added the first book in her series, Heir of Ashes, to my summer reading queue and finished it last week. All I can say is her heroine, Roxanne Fosch, is quite a captivating bad ass!
For starters, the book is about 9k Kindle lines which is somewhere around 700 pages if I did the math properly. It was a daunting task, but by the time I finished it, I couldn't believe it had gone so quickly. That's a good sign when an author who can truly immerse you in a fantasy world full of awesome scenery and characters. If I tried to count the number of fight scenes, I'd run out of hands and toes! But each one felt different... between the multiple groups or assassins trying to get hold of her and the people she was trying to track down, Roxanne had tons of challenges to deal with. Along the way, Bazzar weaves in some romance, mystery, advice, and charm. It hits a bunch of happy spots when I'm looking for a well-written, cross-genre-style novel.
One of the most remarkable items the book left me with was how in Roxanne's journey across those few days/weeks when we caught a sneak peak into her life, very little changed -- and I mean this in a good way. She set out to escape, which happens. She set out to get revenge, which happens. She set out to discover who she was, which happens. But in the end, she's basically back to the beginning not really knowing who she is anymore, trapped by a new force, and ready for revenge on the true tormentors. Book 2 will definitely handle all that drama and more, I'm sure, but in the meantime... so many questions about the different species and creatures in this world are still teasing me. Are her parents really dead? Was the curse from the original short story/prequel truly fulfilled? Why is this all happening? When will we meet the queen and her sister? How can I make Logan real?
I find myself intrigued and excited to learn more. I'd give this story 4.5 stars (rounding up where appropriate) and congratulate the author and publishing team on a successful launch. I look forward to picking up the next book in the series when it's ready for publication.
For starters, the book is about 9k Kindle lines which is somewhere around 700 pages if I did the math properly. It was a daunting task, but by the time I finished it, I couldn't believe it had gone so quickly. That's a good sign when an author who can truly immerse you in a fantasy world full of awesome scenery and characters. If I tried to count the number of fight scenes, I'd run out of hands and toes! But each one felt different... between the multiple groups or assassins trying to get hold of her and the people she was trying to track down, Roxanne had tons of challenges to deal with. Along the way, Bazzar weaves in some romance, mystery, advice, and charm. It hits a bunch of happy spots when I'm looking for a well-written, cross-genre-style novel.
One of the most remarkable items the book left me with was how in Roxanne's journey across those few days/weeks when we caught a sneak peak into her life, very little changed -- and I mean this in a good way. She set out to escape, which happens. She set out to get revenge, which happens. She set out to discover who she was, which happens. But in the end, she's basically back to the beginning not really knowing who she is anymore, trapped by a new force, and ready for revenge on the true tormentors. Book 2 will definitely handle all that drama and more, I'm sure, but in the meantime... so many questions about the different species and creatures in this world are still teasing me. Are her parents really dead? Was the curse from the original short story/prequel truly fulfilled? Why is this all happening? When will we meet the queen and her sister? How can I make Logan real?
I find myself intrigued and excited to learn more. I'd give this story 4.5 stars (rounding up where appropriate) and congratulate the author and publishing team on a successful launch. I look forward to picking up the next book in the series when it's ready for publication.
April 15, 2018
Roxanne Fosch is a young woman full of potential and untapped abilities that everyone wants a piece of.
In this book, you’ll read about her struggles and conflicts, both within herself and against other beings – human and otherwise.
There’s a prequel to Heir of Ashes called The Curse, however, some readers have found that reading heir of Ashes first keeps the mystery growing and makes the reading journey more enjoyable.
In this book, you’ll read about her struggles and conflicts, both within herself and against other beings – human and otherwise.
There’s a prequel to Heir of Ashes called The Curse, however, some readers have found that reading heir of Ashes first keeps the mystery growing and makes the reading journey more enjoyable.
April 16, 2018
"How can a monster tell if he's a monster if he's never known anything else?"
After spending ten years trapped within the clutches of the PSS (paranormal scientists society), being caged, experimented on and abused, Roxanne Fosch has finally freed herself. This story begins about a year after her escape, but Roxanne no longer goes by that name, or the name given to her by the PSS (Subject UX 01-484) - she's now Eliza Daniels. Anything to help throw off the elite guards and mercenaries hired to drag her back to that wretched place from her tracks. Unfortunately for her, the PSS aren't the only ones hunting her down - she can't seem to trust anyone, whether they're human or (even, especially) if they're preternatural like her.
So, what's so special about Roxanne that she managed to get such a large target put on her back? Well, that's what she intends to find out. She was ripped from her home as a child and imprisoned in a government lab, where she learned the hard way that she was born with supernatural abilities. What she is exactly, and just how powerful her "otherness" is, are what the scientists have been trying to figure out for years. They have reason to believe that she's one of the most potentially dangerous creatures they've come across, and they've kept Roxanne in the dark about everything.
There is only one other person in this world that can tell her who she is and why she was abducted by government officials, and that's who she's headed to. Being on the run is hard enough, especially when she keeps being found by her enemies and has to fight them off. When she meets Logan she can tell right away what he is by seeing his aura, a born vampire / werewolf. He's just one of the many people that's been searching for her, except he's not after the bounty that's been promised for her capture - he needs her help.
A close friend of Logan's has gone missing, and he has reason to believe it's because of the PSS. Knowing how valuable Roxanne is to them, makes her even more useful to him. She's powerful (at least, that's what they say) and she can provide him with information about the people who took his friend - their layouts, schedules, the amount of security in their buildings, etc. He plans on rescuing his friend, and in exchange for her help, he promises to help her - starting by getting her to the place she's been traveling to safely... well, alive, anyway. Slowly, Roxanne begins to realize that basically everything she's ever known has been a lie.
Is Logan's story just another ruse to get her back in the lab, or is he one of the only people she can trust? And how far is she willing to help him, when she swore to herself she would rather die than go back to that awful place?
Heir of Ashes by Jina S. Bazzar is a YA action packed story, with a unique blend of paranormal and sci-fi elements. I would like to put a warning in my review - there is mention of rape (non graphic) and abuse, so read with caution.
The world building and character development in this story is good. Everything is revealed to the reader slowly and in small portions which I enjoyed; no info dumping. The mystery of it all, plus all the action and plot twists, really kept me in suspense. I went into it not knowing anything, so I did feel a little lost at first, but the author gives you just enough to keep you interested and able to follow along. I actually really enjoyed not knowing everything about the MC and getting to figure out her true nature right alongside her. Her journey through Heir of Ashes leads her to the discovery of The Curse (which is the prequel), so I'm glad I read this book first.
I really love Roxanne's character. Despite everything she's been through (and she's gone through a lot of terrible things), she's strong, firece, brave and never backs down from a fight. She's a warrior and I can't wait to see how she grows through out this series. Logan is great too, although he is a bit too forward at one point. He's loyal to those he cares about and he's definitely a man of his word. My only issue with Logan is that I wish we could have seen more of his vampire / werewolf traits. We get to see his strength, speed and other heightened ablities, but he never once let's his "beast" show. I would have liked to see the characters relay more on their paranormal qualities rather than their man-made weapons. I thought Rafael was really cool and I'm definitely interested in seeing more from Archer, the hunters and all of the others, too. Not to mention the other worlds involved in this story - like the low lands, they made everything so much more interesting.
One other small issue I had was with the romance between the MC's. This is not an "insta-love" by any means, but because of how quickly everything happens, their intimacy felt sort of sudden. I just felt like there was a step missing between them meeting and their first kiss. They spent so much time running for their lives, saving each other and healing that they didn't really get a chance to open up. Of course, they bonded through out everything, but they never discussed their feelings or learned enough about eachother to earn the other's trust. However, I did enjoy the fact that even at the end of this book they weren't claiming to be in love and their relationship didn't go much further than that. That made it feel more realistic and leaves room for things to grow later on.
If you have a love for things like the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries and the tv show Supernatural then I highly recommend this book. This is a YA paranormal and sci-fi story that's full of non-stop action, unpredictable plot twists and mysteries that will keep you turning the page. It has badass characters, other worlds, magic, hybrids and other paranormal creatures and tons of excitment! On a side note: I really wish I could have a Frizz of my own, haha.
**** Thank you to Jina S. Bazaar for gifting me an early copy of her book! ****
After spending ten years trapped within the clutches of the PSS (paranormal scientists society), being caged, experimented on and abused, Roxanne Fosch has finally freed herself. This story begins about a year after her escape, but Roxanne no longer goes by that name, or the name given to her by the PSS (Subject UX 01-484) - she's now Eliza Daniels. Anything to help throw off the elite guards and mercenaries hired to drag her back to that wretched place from her tracks. Unfortunately for her, the PSS aren't the only ones hunting her down - she can't seem to trust anyone, whether they're human or (even, especially) if they're preternatural like her.
So, what's so special about Roxanne that she managed to get such a large target put on her back? Well, that's what she intends to find out. She was ripped from her home as a child and imprisoned in a government lab, where she learned the hard way that she was born with supernatural abilities. What she is exactly, and just how powerful her "otherness" is, are what the scientists have been trying to figure out for years. They have reason to believe that she's one of the most potentially dangerous creatures they've come across, and they've kept Roxanne in the dark about everything.
There is only one other person in this world that can tell her who she is and why she was abducted by government officials, and that's who she's headed to. Being on the run is hard enough, especially when she keeps being found by her enemies and has to fight them off. When she meets Logan she can tell right away what he is by seeing his aura, a born vampire / werewolf. He's just one of the many people that's been searching for her, except he's not after the bounty that's been promised for her capture - he needs her help.
A close friend of Logan's has gone missing, and he has reason to believe it's because of the PSS. Knowing how valuable Roxanne is to them, makes her even more useful to him. She's powerful (at least, that's what they say) and she can provide him with information about the people who took his friend - their layouts, schedules, the amount of security in their buildings, etc. He plans on rescuing his friend, and in exchange for her help, he promises to help her - starting by getting her to the place she's been traveling to safely... well, alive, anyway. Slowly, Roxanne begins to realize that basically everything she's ever known has been a lie.
Is Logan's story just another ruse to get her back in the lab, or is he one of the only people she can trust? And how far is she willing to help him, when she swore to herself she would rather die than go back to that awful place?
Heir of Ashes by Jina S. Bazzar is a YA action packed story, with a unique blend of paranormal and sci-fi elements. I would like to put a warning in my review - there is mention of rape (non graphic) and abuse, so read with caution.
The world building and character development in this story is good. Everything is revealed to the reader slowly and in small portions which I enjoyed; no info dumping. The mystery of it all, plus all the action and plot twists, really kept me in suspense. I went into it not knowing anything, so I did feel a little lost at first, but the author gives you just enough to keep you interested and able to follow along. I actually really enjoyed not knowing everything about the MC and getting to figure out her true nature right alongside her. Her journey through Heir of Ashes leads her to the discovery of The Curse (which is the prequel), so I'm glad I read this book first.
I really love Roxanne's character. Despite everything she's been through (and she's gone through a lot of terrible things), she's strong, firece, brave and never backs down from a fight. She's a warrior and I can't wait to see how she grows through out this series. Logan is great too, although he is a bit too forward at one point. He's loyal to those he cares about and he's definitely a man of his word. My only issue with Logan is that I wish we could have seen more of his vampire / werewolf traits. We get to see his strength, speed and other heightened ablities, but he never once let's his "beast" show. I would have liked to see the characters relay more on their paranormal qualities rather than their man-made weapons. I thought Rafael was really cool and I'm definitely interested in seeing more from Archer, the hunters and all of the others, too. Not to mention the other worlds involved in this story - like the low lands, they made everything so much more interesting.
One other small issue I had was with the romance between the MC's. This is not an "insta-love" by any means, but because of how quickly everything happens, their intimacy felt sort of sudden. I just felt like there was a step missing between them meeting and their first kiss. They spent so much time running for their lives, saving each other and healing that they didn't really get a chance to open up. Of course, they bonded through out everything, but they never discussed their feelings or learned enough about eachother to earn the other's trust. However, I did enjoy the fact that even at the end of this book they weren't claiming to be in love and their relationship didn't go much further than that. That made it feel more realistic and leaves room for things to grow later on.
If you have a love for things like the Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries and the tv show Supernatural then I highly recommend this book. This is a YA paranormal and sci-fi story that's full of non-stop action, unpredictable plot twists and mysteries that will keep you turning the page. It has badass characters, other worlds, magic, hybrids and other paranormal creatures and tons of excitment! On a side note: I really wish I could have a Frizz of my own, haha.
**** Thank you to Jina S. Bazaar for gifting me an early copy of her book! ****
August 23, 2018
This book…. just, wow. I am so angry that it took me SO LONG to get to it! (I’M SORRY JINA!!) It is absolutely one of my favourite reads of this year!! I sat down, and I did not stand up again until it was done (I don’t think I could have with my knees like jelly every time Luke was around… me-ow.) Now, on to the wonderful characters!!
Eliza/Roxanne, the main protagonist, is strong, independent, after all the shit she’s been through she’s still fighting, after all the shit she goes through when the book starts she’s still fighting, and there are new discoveries all the time about who she is and what she can do.
Logan…. The new love of my life (Seriously. Everyone. Hands off.). Strong, assertive, sexy as hell, kind, gentle, but with a hard ass streak and secrets… At the same time infuriating with his calm demeanour and his know it all attitude… Mostly because he DOES seem to know it all. I also hate men who can sleep so easily right after a fight. Strange thing to mention, but you’ll understand when you read it (notice how I said WHEN and not IF??)
So, this may sound like a weird thing to like and gush about (although, I’ve mentioned it before), but I liked that realistic things were mentioned! Roxanne actually needing to use the bathroom, her being dirty and smelly when they’re on the run, the fact that she was lucky to have the opportunity to shave before Logan checks her for a tracking device.
Roxanne is still a little dumb in the way of men in a way that makes me want to hit her. Like when she notices “a look of disgust in his eye” and thinks that Luke is disgusted at the thought of touching her, while searching her for a tracking device… Couldn’t be anything else, right? Like the way you’ve been treated? Looking at your bruised and broken body and thinking about what you’ve been through?? Naw… got to be just little old disgusting you *slap some sense into you*
The world building was amazing. That may seem like a weird thing to say as it is based on Earth, but it is an Earth where things are different (or are they??). Different creatures live and hide among us, and there are those who would seek them out. There are so many secret groups and societies and I loved how Jina seamlessly integrated them into our own world.
The one thing that I found irritating is …Who’s Michelle?? Hopefully she’s brought to light a little more than this mysterious friend she could talk to and got a purse from. When were they friends? What happened to her? I don’t even know if she’s important in any way but, I NEED TO KNOW!!
And of course it contains the most wonderful, and frustrating theme in all books containing romance, ever. Misunderstanding. JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER FOR ONCE AND THIS WHOLE THING CAN BE AVOIDED… but, I love it.
This book was everything. Fantasy, Sci Fi, Romance… it is just good for everyone!! Would I recommend it?? WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
Eliza/Roxanne, the main protagonist, is strong, independent, after all the shit she’s been through she’s still fighting, after all the shit she goes through when the book starts she’s still fighting, and there are new discoveries all the time about who she is and what she can do.
Logan…. The new love of my life (Seriously. Everyone. Hands off.). Strong, assertive, sexy as hell, kind, gentle, but with a hard ass streak and secrets… At the same time infuriating with his calm demeanour and his know it all attitude… Mostly because he DOES seem to know it all. I also hate men who can sleep so easily right after a fight. Strange thing to mention, but you’ll understand when you read it (notice how I said WHEN and not IF??)
So, this may sound like a weird thing to like and gush about (although, I’ve mentioned it before), but I liked that realistic things were mentioned! Roxanne actually needing to use the bathroom, her being dirty and smelly when they’re on the run, the fact that she was lucky to have the opportunity to shave before Logan checks her for a tracking device.
Roxanne is still a little dumb in the way of men in a way that makes me want to hit her. Like when she notices “a look of disgust in his eye” and thinks that Luke is disgusted at the thought of touching her, while searching her for a tracking device… Couldn’t be anything else, right? Like the way you’ve been treated? Looking at your bruised and broken body and thinking about what you’ve been through?? Naw… got to be just little old disgusting you *slap some sense into you*
The world building was amazing. That may seem like a weird thing to say as it is based on Earth, but it is an Earth where things are different (or are they??). Different creatures live and hide among us, and there are those who would seek them out. There are so many secret groups and societies and I loved how Jina seamlessly integrated them into our own world.
The one thing that I found irritating is …Who’s Michelle?? Hopefully she’s brought to light a little more than this mysterious friend she could talk to and got a purse from. When were they friends? What happened to her? I don’t even know if she’s important in any way but, I NEED TO KNOW!!
And of course it contains the most wonderful, and frustrating theme in all books containing romance, ever. Misunderstanding. JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO EACH OTHER FOR ONCE AND THIS WHOLE THING CAN BE AVOIDED… but, I love it.
This book was everything. Fantasy, Sci Fi, Romance… it is just good for everyone!! Would I recommend it?? WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
May 31, 2018
➳Full review now posted.
(This review can also be found on my blog!)
(Note: Thanks to the author, Jina, for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by this factor.)
[3/5]
Heir of Ashes is a book with an interesting magic system – one that, in my opinion, is well-developed. I always appreciate fantasy books with proper world-building, and Heir of Ashes is definitely one of them.
Roxanne is a well-thought-out character, too. I love her independence, her fierce fighting technique, and her ability to stand up for herself and for others. For everything that she goes through in the book, it’s clear she’d rather just give in and lose her mind already, but she keeps it together, and I admire that kind of courage.
One of the best things about this book are the action scenes. We’re thrown into one right from the get-go, and while every reader might not agree with me, I often like that if it’s done right. It grabs my attention immediately, and in this novel, showed me just how dangerous Roxanne’s life is. If you think things can’t get worse from there, then trust me, they do. Poor girl.
I think Roxanne is the only character I actually really like—her, and Kincaid, even if he only makes small appearances. But Logan? I can’t get myself to even like him. Not at all, and here’s why:
At one point in the book, Roxanne and Logan get into a fight. Throughout the fight, Roxanne compares Logan to a predator, and his anger scares her. She’s wary of him, is prepared to strike him down if he oversteps his boundaries, and tells him to stay away from her.
“My talons were at the ready, in case he decided to get more physical.”
And then Logan actually kisses her during the fight. And I’m not talking about the ‘I’m-sorry-I-was-wrong’ kiss either. I’m talking about the aggressive, forceful kind of kiss, one that Roxanne really doesn’t want, and yet he still does it even though she’s clearly against it. Just look at these quotes:
“Before I could react, his lips crushed mine with bruising force.”
“Terror choked me, keeping my struggles feeble. I tried to knee him but he blocked expertly.”
“—and my eyes were huge with terror – a response predators pounced upon.”
And then he expresses that he’s been meant ‘to protect her’ and that he won’t hurt her, and won’t touch her if she doesn’t want him to, even though he did just that.
I will say that one good thing about this situation is that Roxanne calls him out on it. I was so happy when I saw that because for once, for once, the female protagonist in a fantasy novel calls out the male protagonist about his violent ways of showing “affection.”
The bad part?
They become a couple after that.
I mean, what?? How?? Why??
I found the romance to be completely sudden and abrupt, with barely any build-up—and the scenario I just described only angered me further. It feels as though Logan keeps forcing it to happen until Roxanne gives in. Comparing a male to a ‘predator’ or a ‘wolf’ or some other ferocious animal is not ‘romantic’. It’s disgusting. This is one trope that is especially found in fantasy that I really hope stops soon. It’s not okay, and young girls reading books like these should know that consent is a must and that it’s a basic human right.
Another male in this story who, in my opinion, is quite problematic is Rafael. Whenever Roxanne wears anything revealing, he gives her weird looks. I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean, but I didn’t appreciate it.
Other than that, this book is fairly intriguing – there’s more than what meets the eye in this world that Roxanne has to live in, and as you read on you discover that you can’t really trust anybody. I think that makes the book more surprising and thrilling, having us trying to guess who’s friend and who’s foe. Roxanne is a character you want to root for, and every time she kills someone badass-style, I imagine some heavy metal music playing in the background. She’s just that cool.
So, I’d say if you’re a fantasy-lover, you can give this one a go, but please be aware of the problematic themes in it. This book isn’t perfect, but it’s got potential – I’m hoping Logan at least recognises his mistakes in the sequel, and Rafael stops giving Roxanne those judgemental looks of his.
(This review can also be found on my blog!)
(Note: Thanks to the author, Jina, for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by this factor.)
“Time was so precious, and it just kept ticking away.”
[3/5]
Heir of Ashes is a book with an interesting magic system – one that, in my opinion, is well-developed. I always appreciate fantasy books with proper world-building, and Heir of Ashes is definitely one of them.
Roxanne is a well-thought-out character, too. I love her independence, her fierce fighting technique, and her ability to stand up for herself and for others. For everything that she goes through in the book, it’s clear she’d rather just give in and lose her mind already, but she keeps it together, and I admire that kind of courage.
One of the best things about this book are the action scenes. We’re thrown into one right from the get-go, and while every reader might not agree with me, I often like that if it’s done right. It grabs my attention immediately, and in this novel, showed me just how dangerous Roxanne’s life is. If you think things can’t get worse from there, then trust me, they do. Poor girl.
I think Roxanne is the only character I actually really like—her, and Kincaid, even if he only makes small appearances. But Logan? I can’t get myself to even like him. Not at all, and here’s why:
At one point in the book, Roxanne and Logan get into a fight. Throughout the fight, Roxanne compares Logan to a predator, and his anger scares her. She’s wary of him, is prepared to strike him down if he oversteps his boundaries, and tells him to stay away from her.
“My talons were at the ready, in case he decided to get more physical.”
And then Logan actually kisses her during the fight. And I’m not talking about the ‘I’m-sorry-I-was-wrong’ kiss either. I’m talking about the aggressive, forceful kind of kiss, one that Roxanne really doesn’t want, and yet he still does it even though she’s clearly against it. Just look at these quotes:
“Before I could react, his lips crushed mine with bruising force.”
“Terror choked me, keeping my struggles feeble. I tried to knee him but he blocked expertly.”
“—and my eyes were huge with terror – a response predators pounced upon.”
And then he expresses that he’s been meant ‘to protect her’ and that he won’t hurt her, and won’t touch her if she doesn’t want him to, even though he did just that.
I will say that one good thing about this situation is that Roxanne calls him out on it. I was so happy when I saw that because for once, for once, the female protagonist in a fantasy novel calls out the male protagonist about his violent ways of showing “affection.”
The bad part?
They become a couple after that.
I mean, what?? How?? Why??
I found the romance to be completely sudden and abrupt, with barely any build-up—and the scenario I just described only angered me further. It feels as though Logan keeps forcing it to happen until Roxanne gives in. Comparing a male to a ‘predator’ or a ‘wolf’ or some other ferocious animal is not ‘romantic’. It’s disgusting. This is one trope that is especially found in fantasy that I really hope stops soon. It’s not okay, and young girls reading books like these should know that consent is a must and that it’s a basic human right.
Another male in this story who, in my opinion, is quite problematic is Rafael. Whenever Roxanne wears anything revealing, he gives her weird looks. I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean, but I didn’t appreciate it.
Other than that, this book is fairly intriguing – there’s more than what meets the eye in this world that Roxanne has to live in, and as you read on you discover that you can’t really trust anybody. I think that makes the book more surprising and thrilling, having us trying to guess who’s friend and who’s foe. Roxanne is a character you want to root for, and every time she kills someone badass-style, I imagine some heavy metal music playing in the background. She’s just that cool.
So, I’d say if you’re a fantasy-lover, you can give this one a go, but please be aware of the problematic themes in it. This book isn’t perfect, but it’s got potential – I’m hoping Logan at least recognises his mistakes in the sequel, and Rafael stops giving Roxanne those judgemental looks of his.
April 23, 2018
“Heir of Ashes” is one of the most fun non-stop action / paranormal thrillers I’ve read to date. We follow along as Roxanne flees from a science facility that kept her nearly half her life, performing barbarous experiments on her. She’s been on the run for a few years and the scientists are still eager to catch her, giving her no peace from the paranormal bounty hunters sent after her. Roxanne has no idea why this is; she knows she’s different but not the full extent of it, at least, not in a way that would account for the escalating pursuit. However, most other people know what she is, why she’s different, and want to use/cage/unleash that thing in her, but Roxanne doesn’t stop running long enough to truly get those answers. Ultimately, that was my only qualm with this book. For as much as I loved the thrilling, non-stop action and plot twists as Roxanne tries to get away from everyone after her, I needed the book to slow down for a hot minute so I didn’t feel as confused as Roxanne until about 67% into the story.
Bazzar has a wicked imagination when it comes to throwing supernatural baddies at the main character. Everything from different classes of vampires, mages, human/demon hybrids, dark sorcerers, shape-shifter doppelgangers, werewolf/vampire hybrids… like, there’s A LOT and that’s really cool, except it all just flies right by. In order to achieve the heart pounding pace Bazzar maintains, the world/creature building suffers and you don’t get to see much of these supernatural beings outside of Roxanne and the one guy actually trying to help her, Logan. You just get teased with hints of what they’re capable of and what makes them scary, or forces to be reckoned with. This is exceedingly true when it comes to Remo Drammen. I won’t spoil what or who he is, but needless to say, he felt like a missed opportunity to showcase this preternatural world and make the reader go “whoa!” or truly fear for Roxanne’s safety. By introducing so many creatures and having so many of them want to harm Roxanne so she has to run from them, I never got as drawn into Roxanne’s world the way I wanted to be.
I did like that Roxanne always felt relatable though, despite her otherness. She was scared and anxious and the author does a wonderful job of showing her emotions rather than just telling the reader that she’s terrified. I really enjoyed that vulnerability, and I loved how it balanced out with her abilities. She is a tough lady, and can stand toe-to-toe with some seriously bad dudes which, when she faces the man who sexually assaulted her as a child, makes the encounter all the more satisfying because you know so deeply how she feels, and she’s powerful enough to really kick some butt!
There is a romance subplot to this that I wished I liked more, but that’s because the main characters don’t do a great deal of talking to one another, just a lot of lingering looks that apparently “say” all they need to. So the romance fell a bit flat for me, but given this is a series, I’m sure it’ll come into play again and it may develop into something I can really sink my teeth into (no pun intended).
There are so many twist and turns in this book, so many times where Roxanne gets caught, gets free, then gets caught again by a different group, that the book didn’t end where I thought it should, or with the conclusion I was expecting. Usually that’s a good thing, but this felt a bit too neat and tidy and therefore a bit flat. It sets up the sequel nicely but I didn’t feel as satisfied as I wanted to be, and maybe that’s because of the reader getting some explanation as to “why Roxanne” so, SO late in the book. A lot of my confusion about the creatures and their abilities still remain, and while I’m sure more will get explained come the next book, I was hoping for a bit more in the first installment so I had a better understanding of the creatures beforehand. If some of those instances of Roxanne escaping from one person to the next were removed and we spent a bit more time on just a few of those escapes and encounters so the reader got a better sense of these supernatural beings and their powers, I think the whole wrap-up at the end would have felt much better.
This was a very creative story and I really enjoyed the non-stop nature of the action, and how well the author writes in first person in order to make the reader feel what Roxanne feels. But the fast pace did hurt the world building a bit, and that’s really too bad because this would have been a perfect book otherwise. So I’ll be giving this a 3.75 stars and am looking forward to seeing where Roxanne and Logan go from here, and hopefully some of the bad guys from the first book make an appearance in later novels! And thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
Bazzar has a wicked imagination when it comes to throwing supernatural baddies at the main character. Everything from different classes of vampires, mages, human/demon hybrids, dark sorcerers, shape-shifter doppelgangers, werewolf/vampire hybrids… like, there’s A LOT and that’s really cool, except it all just flies right by. In order to achieve the heart pounding pace Bazzar maintains, the world/creature building suffers and you don’t get to see much of these supernatural beings outside of Roxanne and the one guy actually trying to help her, Logan. You just get teased with hints of what they’re capable of and what makes them scary, or forces to be reckoned with. This is exceedingly true when it comes to Remo Drammen. I won’t spoil what or who he is, but needless to say, he felt like a missed opportunity to showcase this preternatural world and make the reader go “whoa!” or truly fear for Roxanne’s safety. By introducing so many creatures and having so many of them want to harm Roxanne so she has to run from them, I never got as drawn into Roxanne’s world the way I wanted to be.
I did like that Roxanne always felt relatable though, despite her otherness. She was scared and anxious and the author does a wonderful job of showing her emotions rather than just telling the reader that she’s terrified. I really enjoyed that vulnerability, and I loved how it balanced out with her abilities. She is a tough lady, and can stand toe-to-toe with some seriously bad dudes which, when she faces the man who sexually assaulted her as a child, makes the encounter all the more satisfying because you know so deeply how she feels, and she’s powerful enough to really kick some butt!
There is a romance subplot to this that I wished I liked more, but that’s because the main characters don’t do a great deal of talking to one another, just a lot of lingering looks that apparently “say” all they need to. So the romance fell a bit flat for me, but given this is a series, I’m sure it’ll come into play again and it may develop into something I can really sink my teeth into (no pun intended).
There are so many twist and turns in this book, so many times where Roxanne gets caught, gets free, then gets caught again by a different group, that the book didn’t end where I thought it should, or with the conclusion I was expecting. Usually that’s a good thing, but this felt a bit too neat and tidy and therefore a bit flat. It sets up the sequel nicely but I didn’t feel as satisfied as I wanted to be, and maybe that’s because of the reader getting some explanation as to “why Roxanne” so, SO late in the book. A lot of my confusion about the creatures and their abilities still remain, and while I’m sure more will get explained come the next book, I was hoping for a bit more in the first installment so I had a better understanding of the creatures beforehand. If some of those instances of Roxanne escaping from one person to the next were removed and we spent a bit more time on just a few of those escapes and encounters so the reader got a better sense of these supernatural beings and their powers, I think the whole wrap-up at the end would have felt much better.
This was a very creative story and I really enjoyed the non-stop nature of the action, and how well the author writes in first person in order to make the reader feel what Roxanne feels. But the fast pace did hurt the world building a bit, and that’s really too bad because this would have been a perfect book otherwise. So I’ll be giving this a 3.75 stars and am looking forward to seeing where Roxanne and Logan go from here, and hopefully some of the bad guys from the first book make an appearance in later novels! And thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy for review.
June 5, 2018
How can a monster tell if he’s a monster if he’s never known anything else?
Heir of Ashes is a urban YA fantasy by Jina S. Bazzar. I got this book in exchange of an honest review via THE book ROBIN HOODS. Check out their site for more exciting upcoming releases 😀
Oh Boy!!
Lets just say… “I LOVED this book!!”
Reasons:-
– It was an amazing page turner.
There won’t be a chapter where you won’t feel something. Let it be anger, frustration or pure sadness. There is so much happening all the moment! The suspense was breath taking! The writing style makes you feel like, you too are stuck, and looking for a way to escape with Roxanne.
– Great character build ups.
I loved the world Jina created. The story is full of diverse characters. I loved the way they matured and a lot of things got meaning as the story proceeded . How at the beginning you will get annoyed at Roxanne at times, but at the end you will learn to love her. How a lot of things becomes clear with time. I loved Fizzy 😉
– Great Female Lead
As I told you earlier, you will learn to love Roxanne. Of course she too has flaws. But unlike maximum of the YA female leads, she is not insecure about her looks, she knows she is pretty. She did not wait for her prince charming to show up and save the day. She plots her own escape. She makes her own rules and abides by it. I loved how despite of everything she did not loose herself, those problems only seemed to make her stronger, stubborner and wiser. I just couldn’t get enough of her!
– OMG Plot Twists
In more than I could count on places it made me think, OMFG!! What just happened!!! There are countless twists and turns to keep the readers engaged. The badboy scene, veges scene, several PSS attack scenes. Though there were several places which made me spit my coffee out, but my personal favorite is the lowland scene ❤ Oh!! And I love FIZZY ( masssterrr 😛 )
– It have a very small but enough of a Prequel
It has just enough of a filler sized prequel. There are a lot of question/confusions could arise while reading “The Heir of Ashes”, like who is Roxanne, why her own people hate her etc etc. If you read this prequel “The Curse”, you will understand everything. “The Curse” can be read before or after “Heir of Ashes”. Its totally up to you. If you want to keep the suspense to the maximum, you can read “The Curse” after. Or if you like to know and understand your characters better like me, you can read it before reading “HoA”. Any way you read it, its just a small book (approx 94 pages) with max impact.
You have already read my verdict! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
A huge burning 4.5 stars!!!!
Can’t wait for the next book!!! (Its a TRILOGY)
Heir of Ashes is a urban YA fantasy by Jina S. Bazzar. I got this book in exchange of an honest review via THE book ROBIN HOODS. Check out their site for more exciting upcoming releases 😀
Oh Boy!!
Lets just say… “I LOVED this book!!”
Reasons:-
– It was an amazing page turner.
There won’t be a chapter where you won’t feel something. Let it be anger, frustration or pure sadness. There is so much happening all the moment! The suspense was breath taking! The writing style makes you feel like, you too are stuck, and looking for a way to escape with Roxanne.
– Great character build ups.
I loved the world Jina created. The story is full of diverse characters. I loved the way they matured and a lot of things got meaning as the story proceeded . How at the beginning you will get annoyed at Roxanne at times, but at the end you will learn to love her. How a lot of things becomes clear with time. I loved Fizzy 😉
– Great Female Lead
As I told you earlier, you will learn to love Roxanne. Of course she too has flaws. But unlike maximum of the YA female leads, she is not insecure about her looks, she knows she is pretty. She did not wait for her prince charming to show up and save the day. She plots her own escape. She makes her own rules and abides by it. I loved how despite of everything she did not loose herself, those problems only seemed to make her stronger, stubborner and wiser. I just couldn’t get enough of her!
– OMG Plot Twists
In more than I could count on places it made me think, OMFG!! What just happened!!! There are countless twists and turns to keep the readers engaged. The badboy scene, veges scene, several PSS attack scenes. Though there were several places which made me spit my coffee out, but my personal favorite is the lowland scene ❤ Oh!! And I love FIZZY ( masssterrr 😛 )
– It have a very small but enough of a Prequel
It has just enough of a filler sized prequel. There are a lot of question/confusions could arise while reading “The Heir of Ashes”, like who is Roxanne, why her own people hate her etc etc. If you read this prequel “The Curse”, you will understand everything. “The Curse” can be read before or after “Heir of Ashes”. Its totally up to you. If you want to keep the suspense to the maximum, you can read “The Curse” after. Or if you like to know and understand your characters better like me, you can read it before reading “HoA”. Any way you read it, its just a small book (approx 94 pages) with max impact.
You have already read my verdict! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
A huge burning 4.5 stars!!!!
Can’t wait for the next book!!! (Its a TRILOGY)
February 3, 2019
4.5 out of 5 stars
Full review soon (http://presa-nas-palavras.blogspot.com/)
Heir of Ashes was a pleasant surprise. Even tho is not something completely new, and there are some slow moments, the story itself, the characters and the world building were just amazing. I loved it, totally recommend and I can't wait for the second book!
Full review soon (http://presa-nas-palavras.blogspot.com/)
Heir of Ashes was a pleasant surprise. Even tho is not something completely new, and there are some slow moments, the story itself, the characters and the world building were just amazing. I loved it, totally recommend and I can't wait for the second book!
February 24, 2023
Fast-paced and intense
This read is action packed, taking us through Roxanne’s quest to understand who she truly is. It’s a whole other world of talons and shadows, unlike any I’ve read before. Well done to the author! And quite the ending too (no spoilers). 5 stars!
This read is action packed, taking us through Roxanne’s quest to understand who she truly is. It’s a whole other world of talons and shadows, unlike any I’ve read before. Well done to the author! And quite the ending too (no spoilers). 5 stars!
April 18, 2018
The mind was a beautiful thing. A sea of lights, contrasting everywhere with shadows and colors, some like a dot on the map – barely significant, others shining as brilliant as the sun.
I was totally not expecting Vampires but oh what a pleasant surprise! This book opened with an exploding scene and I got an early taste of life on the run for Roxie, not to mention how extraordinary her abilities are. Jina does a fantastic job at building a supernatural world; “monsters” we’ve heard before but seen in a whole new way. All characters giving off auras was such a cool addition, by the end I found myself having the same feelings as Roxie when recognizing the colors. His aura is turning black Roxie, RUN – WHY DON’T YOU LEARN?!! I was warned that there was a romance factor but it did not overshadow the book by any means. I laughed at several spots early on in the character relationship, particularly in the beginning during the first true encounter. You know, that awkward stage when the other person is about to learn that you acted modest previously and now they’re about to see the true slobbering pig in you. LOVE IT!
He prepared the remaining two bagels, humor sparkling in his grey eyes at my famished state. I ignored his amusement and ate it all, then wolfed down all the mango and strawberry slices, no longer worrying if I looked like a slobbering pig to him.
I absolutely adored Jina’s writing. Her fight scenes are detailed enough that I felt I was a part of the action. Roxie was a pretty bad-a** character! The book was a little slow in the middle but I think it was just happened to be more obvious because there were so many action packed fight scenes in the beginning. Heir of Ashes is the first book in the Roxanne Fosch series and I will definitely be continuing the series!
Thank you to Jina for providing me a free copy of her book in exchange for an honest review. Made possible through the Book Robin Hoods.
November 16, 2018
This review was originally published on warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com
*I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. Thank you Jina S. Bazzar.*
I enjoyed a lot of different aspects of Heir of Ashes.
I thought that the concept and the plot were really interesting and I was fully engaged with what was happening in the story. The action begins almost straight away after a very short, almost mundane opening and it quickly captures your attention. I did feel like there was a lot going on and that everything happened very quickly. In some places, the plot felt a little bit rushed because there was so much happening. It was still a good plot though and very engaging. I didn't really like the romance between the two main characters because, once again, it felt a tad rushed. They didn't fall in love instantly but the pace of the plot definitely quickened their romance.
I did like the main character, Roxanne, because she is clever, likeable, strong, and a fighter. She's been through so much but she continues with her journey to find out who she is. She also shows her vulnerabilities which is great to see. I thought that the powers that she did have were interesting, especially that she could tell what species someone was (vampire, wolf, a mixture, etc.) via their aura. It does give her an advantage but she doesn't always use it in the best way which is shown at the beginning of the book when she is stalked by a vampire.
I also enjoyed the writing style. Details are slowly revealed to the reader which keeps you interested but also keeps you guessing about Roxanne's past and what she's planning to do next. It's also fast-paced and compelling.
Heir of Ashes is a fun, dynamic story full of action and interesting characters. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy paranormal fantasy novels.
*I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. Thank you Jina S. Bazzar.*
I enjoyed a lot of different aspects of Heir of Ashes.
I thought that the concept and the plot were really interesting and I was fully engaged with what was happening in the story. The action begins almost straight away after a very short, almost mundane opening and it quickly captures your attention. I did feel like there was a lot going on and that everything happened very quickly. In some places, the plot felt a little bit rushed because there was so much happening. It was still a good plot though and very engaging. I didn't really like the romance between the two main characters because, once again, it felt a tad rushed. They didn't fall in love instantly but the pace of the plot definitely quickened their romance.
I did like the main character, Roxanne, because she is clever, likeable, strong, and a fighter. She's been through so much but she continues with her journey to find out who she is. She also shows her vulnerabilities which is great to see. I thought that the powers that she did have were interesting, especially that she could tell what species someone was (vampire, wolf, a mixture, etc.) via their aura. It does give her an advantage but she doesn't always use it in the best way which is shown at the beginning of the book when she is stalked by a vampire.
I also enjoyed the writing style. Details are slowly revealed to the reader which keeps you interested but also keeps you guessing about Roxanne's past and what she's planning to do next. It's also fast-paced and compelling.
Heir of Ashes is a fun, dynamic story full of action and interesting characters. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy paranormal fantasy novels.
September 6, 2020
Roxanne Fosch is on the run from the Paranormal Scientists Society, which she escaped from over a year ago. Now she is hunted by mercenaries that want to drag her back to PSS to be further experimented on, tortured, and tested. Roxanne will do whatever it takes to evade their clutches and avoid capture.
Roxanne is a survivor. Strong and brave, she never backs down from a fight even when she knows the odds are stacked against her. I love her determination and willingness to stand up for what is right, as well as her adaptability. Roxanne continually finds things out about herself and others, and she remains strong. She is a bad-ass protagonist dealing with unbelievable obstacles, and she never knows who she can trust.
The action scenes in the book are varied and plentiful. And I mean plentiful!! This is a non-stop action kind of book. From the first chapter, the reader is thrust into a world of the hunter and the hunted, and the hunted isn’t going down without a fight! The romance is a bit inst-love for me, but Logan and Roxanne have a strong connection, and I did come to root for them as a couple.
What I liked most about the story, besides the intense fight scenes, awesome protagonist, and unique supernatural elements, is that the plot isn’t predictable. The story is unique, and I never knew exactly what was about to happen, which I loved. Will Roxanne get caught? Why does the PSS want her so bad? Why is she considered dangerous? Does she have power? Who can she trust? These questions an more are answered, but the answers surprised me.
Heir of Ashes is an action-packed, fast-paced story filled with unexpected twists and turns and a unique and interesting supernatural world. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Roxanne is a survivor. Strong and brave, she never backs down from a fight even when she knows the odds are stacked against her. I love her determination and willingness to stand up for what is right, as well as her adaptability. Roxanne continually finds things out about herself and others, and she remains strong. She is a bad-ass protagonist dealing with unbelievable obstacles, and she never knows who she can trust.
The action scenes in the book are varied and plentiful. And I mean plentiful!! This is a non-stop action kind of book. From the first chapter, the reader is thrust into a world of the hunter and the hunted, and the hunted isn’t going down without a fight! The romance is a bit inst-love for me, but Logan and Roxanne have a strong connection, and I did come to root for them as a couple.
What I liked most about the story, besides the intense fight scenes, awesome protagonist, and unique supernatural elements, is that the plot isn’t predictable. The story is unique, and I never knew exactly what was about to happen, which I loved. Will Roxanne get caught? Why does the PSS want her so bad? Why is she considered dangerous? Does she have power? Who can she trust? These questions an more are answered, but the answers surprised me.
Heir of Ashes is an action-packed, fast-paced story filled with unexpected twists and turns and a unique and interesting supernatural world. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
June 14, 2018
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is one action-packed book, and I had a lot of fun reading it. I enjoyed the plot twists and mystery, and it really had me sucked in from the beginning.
Things are revealed slowly, and there isn’t any info dumping, which I really admired. In a story like this, since it would be super confusing to be caught up in descriptions.
I love Roxanne so much. Her emotions are so well written, that I felt them along with her. She is brave, fierce and also sometimes scared. That is what an MC is supposed to be. Well rounded and relatable. I’m really looking forward to her growth in the next books.
I love Jina’s writing style. She slowly gives you the info you need, while building the suspense and keeping you invested the whole way through. That definitely takes talent and I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
jessicarachow.wordpress.com
This is one action-packed book, and I had a lot of fun reading it. I enjoyed the plot twists and mystery, and it really had me sucked in from the beginning.
Things are revealed slowly, and there isn’t any info dumping, which I really admired. In a story like this, since it would be super confusing to be caught up in descriptions.
I love Roxanne so much. Her emotions are so well written, that I felt them along with her. She is brave, fierce and also sometimes scared. That is what an MC is supposed to be. Well rounded and relatable. I’m really looking forward to her growth in the next books.
I love Jina’s writing style. She slowly gives you the info you need, while building the suspense and keeping you invested the whole way through. That definitely takes talent and I’m looking forward to reading the next book!
jessicarachow.wordpress.com
April 20, 2018
Will review this once I finish reading The Curse :)
August 24, 2018
I've had this book sitting in my kindle library for some time now, and I kicked myself the ENTIRE time I was reading it for putting it off for so long. What a thrill ride! I read the whole book in one sitting, and was on the edge of my seat from cover to cover. I actually read The Curse first, and am still undecided if that was a good move or a bad move, as I might just go back now and re-read it knowing what I know now. It's sort of a prequel to Heir of Ashes, as it explains the origins of Roxanne Fosch and how/why she came about. It told of her father and his back story. Each book can be read as a stand alone or in either order... but all in all they go hand in hand, and if you've read one then you HAVE to read the other! I just can't decide which should be read first, both ways have their perks, so if you're looking for a recommendation there, you're on your own. There will be more in the series, to come soon, and I can't wait to keep reading on!
The out of this world characters are unique, unlike anything I've read, and they all weave together seamlessly. Roxanne may appear regular on the outside to any human in passing, but she is far from it. From her ability to see what kind of creatures are around her by their aura, to her talons, to her supernatural senses and mental capacity, she's amazing!
She spends the majority of the book running from the men of a facility that she's escaped from. It's a place that she spent a decade at. They ran unthinkable tests on her regularly. She got away with a prize possession of one of the main men. So, not only are they after her, but they will stop at no length to get to her. She fights viciously for her life. Along the way, she's on a mission to learn more about herself. She want's to know who she is exactly, and where she came from. She knows nothing of herself, or why she was handed over to this experiment lab of a facility in the first place. What she finds is a complete shock. Even having read The Curse, there were surprises that I never in a million years would have guessed. With one unexpected turn after another, Jina really takes the reader on a mind warp with Heir of Ashes!!
Then there's Logan. Awww sexy, confident, brave, patient, determined and persistent Logan. I don't even know where to start with him! I really enjoyed his character. He's a mix bread, part human part otherly. I feel like he gave just the right hold to the whole story. Logan helps Roxanne escape the clutches of evil in multiple forms. He takes her where she needs to go, and fights along side her. The awesome thing about Logan is that he's doing it all for his own motives. He wants to rescue his own friend from the facility Roxanne had escaped from. They help one-another with reserved caution. Always keeping an eye open, and watching their every move. There's a never ending paranoia in Roxanne, and a tension between the two, which causes the build up to the ending of this book to be flawless!
My hat is off to you Jina S. Bazzar! Kudos on an amazing novel, I can't wait to read what comes out of your head next!
The out of this world characters are unique, unlike anything I've read, and they all weave together seamlessly. Roxanne may appear regular on the outside to any human in passing, but she is far from it. From her ability to see what kind of creatures are around her by their aura, to her talons, to her supernatural senses and mental capacity, she's amazing!
She spends the majority of the book running from the men of a facility that she's escaped from. It's a place that she spent a decade at. They ran unthinkable tests on her regularly. She got away with a prize possession of one of the main men. So, not only are they after her, but they will stop at no length to get to her. She fights viciously for her life. Along the way, she's on a mission to learn more about herself. She want's to know who she is exactly, and where she came from. She knows nothing of herself, or why she was handed over to this experiment lab of a facility in the first place. What she finds is a complete shock. Even having read The Curse, there were surprises that I never in a million years would have guessed. With one unexpected turn after another, Jina really takes the reader on a mind warp with Heir of Ashes!!
Then there's Logan. Awww sexy, confident, brave, patient, determined and persistent Logan. I don't even know where to start with him! I really enjoyed his character. He's a mix bread, part human part otherly. I feel like he gave just the right hold to the whole story. Logan helps Roxanne escape the clutches of evil in multiple forms. He takes her where she needs to go, and fights along side her. The awesome thing about Logan is that he's doing it all for his own motives. He wants to rescue his own friend from the facility Roxanne had escaped from. They help one-another with reserved caution. Always keeping an eye open, and watching their every move. There's a never ending paranoia in Roxanne, and a tension between the two, which causes the build up to the ending of this book to be flawless!
My hat is off to you Jina S. Bazzar! Kudos on an amazing novel, I can't wait to read what comes out of your head next!
April 12, 2018
I have to start this by saying, how grateful I am to the author (Jina S.Bazzar) for letting me read an ARC (Advance Readership Copy) of her up coming book. The book comes out on 15th of April 2018, and I’m not being paid to write this review:) All opinions are mine alone and honest thoughts of what I thought about the book. I would recommend it to young adult readers, who like this genre of fantasy mixed with action and some mystery behind it. It is a fast paced read.
Alright, so lets get down to business! In one short sentence, I was thoroughly entertained by the first book of the series. I don’t usually read a lot of Young Adult novels- the last few that I read were some of John Green’s, the Divergent series, the Twilight series and The Hunger Games (which come to mind), and I had enjoyed all of these.
The first book has a fast paced and action packed story, and all the while I felt like I was watching a movie about the X-Men and Twilight actors combined! There is a mix of fantastical creatures such as werewolves, vampires, shape shifters, fire mages, evil sorcerers and present day villains such as evil scientists. Add to this a kick ass female lead, Roxanne Fosch, who is racing against time to survive, and escape her lab-type prison and tormentors. She can’t trust anyone and that actually helps her survive and plan ahead. But she isn’t a sorted individual either. She has her own battles that every young woman would have, her desires to be a normal girl and have a normal life and her desire to belong somewhere, belong to a tribe. I felt very strongly for the female lead and kept praying that she gets out of the next bad situation quickly.
In the background, there are some parallel story lines and a budding romance plot as well, which keep you yearning for more answers. Obviously, all your questions aren’t answered in this first book, but you get a glimpse of what is coming. It is similar to other fantasy books I’ve read in some aspects- such as having vampires and werewolves and a female lead, and yet it is different because the magical elements and the powers that each creature and Roxanne have, are new- at least something that I haven’t come across before- for example, all the information around ‘auras’- you’ll have to read the book to know more about that..hehe
I do have to mention that there is a lot of action in the book and some of it quite violent too. There are also some serious subjects such as dealing with sexual harassment and abandonment issues that are touched upon in the book. So if you are faint hearted about any of these subjects, you might want to be prepared while reading this. At times I did feel like I was getting slightly tired of Roxanne having to constantly escape from being captured- it felt slightly repetitive, but since I enjoyed the book overall, I can’t really complain much..lol!
What I loved about the leading character of the book was how normal she is. Although Roxanne is destined for great things (that we will probably find out about in the later books) and she has powers that even she isn’t aware of, all she wants is to be a normal girl. She has normal needs like every girl has- of dressing up well, having a good meal, hanging out with friends, having a family or parents who love her, having the need to pee…that was so awesome! Because I always wondered, don’t superheroes need to pee ever? lol Also, Frizz reminded me a little of Gollum..lol (Again, you’ll have to read the book to know who Frizz is) 😀
Alright, so lets get down to business! In one short sentence, I was thoroughly entertained by the first book of the series. I don’t usually read a lot of Young Adult novels- the last few that I read were some of John Green’s, the Divergent series, the Twilight series and The Hunger Games (which come to mind), and I had enjoyed all of these.
The first book has a fast paced and action packed story, and all the while I felt like I was watching a movie about the X-Men and Twilight actors combined! There is a mix of fantastical creatures such as werewolves, vampires, shape shifters, fire mages, evil sorcerers and present day villains such as evil scientists. Add to this a kick ass female lead, Roxanne Fosch, who is racing against time to survive, and escape her lab-type prison and tormentors. She can’t trust anyone and that actually helps her survive and plan ahead. But she isn’t a sorted individual either. She has her own battles that every young woman would have, her desires to be a normal girl and have a normal life and her desire to belong somewhere, belong to a tribe. I felt very strongly for the female lead and kept praying that she gets out of the next bad situation quickly.
In the background, there are some parallel story lines and a budding romance plot as well, which keep you yearning for more answers. Obviously, all your questions aren’t answered in this first book, but you get a glimpse of what is coming. It is similar to other fantasy books I’ve read in some aspects- such as having vampires and werewolves and a female lead, and yet it is different because the magical elements and the powers that each creature and Roxanne have, are new- at least something that I haven’t come across before- for example, all the information around ‘auras’- you’ll have to read the book to know more about that..hehe
I do have to mention that there is a lot of action in the book and some of it quite violent too. There are also some serious subjects such as dealing with sexual harassment and abandonment issues that are touched upon in the book. So if you are faint hearted about any of these subjects, you might want to be prepared while reading this. At times I did feel like I was getting slightly tired of Roxanne having to constantly escape from being captured- it felt slightly repetitive, but since I enjoyed the book overall, I can’t really complain much..lol!
What I loved about the leading character of the book was how normal she is. Although Roxanne is destined for great things (that we will probably find out about in the later books) and she has powers that even she isn’t aware of, all she wants is to be a normal girl. She has normal needs like every girl has- of dressing up well, having a good meal, hanging out with friends, having a family or parents who love her, having the need to pee…that was so awesome! Because I always wondered, don’t superheroes need to pee ever? lol Also, Frizz reminded me a little of Gollum..lol (Again, you’ll have to read the book to know who Frizz is) 😀
October 12, 2019
Jina S Bazzar has penned an edgy and fast-paced paranormal thriller that grips from the first. Heir of Ashes is a vampire tale with an original and quirky storyline that contains a veiled nod to Dracula. There is no exposition to drag the narrative and terrific actions scenes are in abundance. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the evil Paranormal Scientist Society and the crafting of the vampire protagonist Roxanne Fosch, who escaped from the government research facility a year before the story opens. Well-executed, and original, Heir of Ashes makes for gripping entertainment. A great contribution to the genre.
April 12, 2018
Before I really start reviewing this books let me tell you guys something. If I love a book, I love it; if I like it, I like it; if I think that books just touched my heart I will say that too. And with this book, I liked somethings and love others. I liked that we had mystery until the very end. I loved that there was a lot of action, because I could feel Roxanne's panic and fear and it makes me want to read about her future even more now, because I feel like I was in that journey with her.
This book is in the 1st person, so we get to see things in Roxanne's POV, which I actually liked. Not that I could relate to her, I have never been in her position, but I felt like as a woman I could understand somethings. Plus, as we keep reading, we start getting to know her more and understand why she react in some ways.
So, as you probably read in the blurb the book is about Roxanne Fosch, and we get to the story after her escape, which means she's a fugitive and she's afraid they will find her.
Meanwhile, she ends up meeting Logan and he's awesome and I really want to know more about him and figure out what will happen in his life. Anyway, Roxie and Logan end up going on this action filled journey, each one of them with a goal in mind.
And, of course, this book not only had the action and mystery aspect, it had the paranormal one too. And I really do want to know more about that, because there are some many questions still unanswered, but that's because Jina (the author) is now working on the second book. And I can't wait to get my hands on that one.
The book had a quick pace in some chapters, especially the ones that got me on the edge of my seat, and there were other chapter that were slower and mysterious, or cute, or funny, or just to give us some needed information. And I liked that, I was never bored and I was really intrigued and entertained. For me that was awesome.
I liked the action, loved the mysterious, liked the paranormal aspect, loved this new path and I want to know how this new chapter in her life is going to turn out, liked that it was in the 1st person POV. So, as you can see... Liked some things, loved others.
Is this a book I recommend? Yes, it is.
Why? Because if you like action, mystery and paranormal you should enter this rollercoaster and have fun in it.
This book is in the 1st person, so we get to see things in Roxanne's POV, which I actually liked. Not that I could relate to her, I have never been in her position, but I felt like as a woman I could understand somethings. Plus, as we keep reading, we start getting to know her more and understand why she react in some ways.
So, as you probably read in the blurb the book is about Roxanne Fosch, and we get to the story after her escape, which means she's a fugitive and she's afraid they will find her.
Meanwhile, she ends up meeting Logan and he's awesome and I really want to know more about him and figure out what will happen in his life. Anyway, Roxie and Logan end up going on this action filled journey, each one of them with a goal in mind.
And, of course, this book not only had the action and mystery aspect, it had the paranormal one too. And I really do want to know more about that, because there are some many questions still unanswered, but that's because Jina (the author) is now working on the second book. And I can't wait to get my hands on that one.
The book had a quick pace in some chapters, especially the ones that got me on the edge of my seat, and there were other chapter that were slower and mysterious, or cute, or funny, or just to give us some needed information. And I liked that, I was never bored and I was really intrigued and entertained. For me that was awesome.
I liked the action, loved the mysterious, liked the paranormal aspect, loved this new path and I want to know how this new chapter in her life is going to turn out, liked that it was in the 1st person POV. So, as you can see... Liked some things, loved others.
Is this a book I recommend? Yes, it is.
Why? Because if you like action, mystery and paranormal you should enter this rollercoaster and have fun in it.
April 16, 2018
Every once in a while, a copy of a book will come across my desk that I’ve heard nothing about, but looks so intriguing, I can’t help but take a peek. Heir of Ashes was one of those books and I am absolutely thrilled to have been given a chance to read it.
Heir of Ashes is a YA paranormal fantasy that is is original, intriguing, and like nothing I’ve ever read before. I was completely impressed with the story that Jina wove throughout these pages, and she kept me on my toes and reading late into the night.
This is the story of Roxanne Fosch, a preternatural that was ripped from her family at a young age by the PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society) where she was kept caged and experimented on. Roxanne manages to escape and re-enters society as Eliza Daniels. Moving from town to town, she is continually hunted by paranormal bounty hunters determined to take her back to the PSS. As time progresses it becomes clear that it’s not just the PSS hunting her down and Roxanne can trust no one. Plus there is the mysterious Logan, a born vampire/werewolf that continues to pop up wherever she is.
Roxanne was a kick ass heroine that didn’t take crap from anybody. She’s got a strong survival instinct, and untapped power that everyone wants. Roxanne is probably one of the strongest female characters I’ve read in a long time, and she reminds me of Katy from the Lux series which is my all time favorite. Her power is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see how Roxanne progresses in the next book.
Jina also really excelled at world building, and created an environment that was believable and creepy. I loved the introduction of different types of preternatural creatures and how Roxanne could determine their type through their auras. It was a nice, fun detail that really helped bring a bit more to the story.
Heir of Ashes is like reading a TV fantasy show. Think Supernatural, or Lost Girl. If these type of shows are something you love, than definitely check out this new release!
Heir of Ashes is a YA paranormal fantasy that is is original, intriguing, and like nothing I’ve ever read before. I was completely impressed with the story that Jina wove throughout these pages, and she kept me on my toes and reading late into the night.
This is the story of Roxanne Fosch, a preternatural that was ripped from her family at a young age by the PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society) where she was kept caged and experimented on. Roxanne manages to escape and re-enters society as Eliza Daniels. Moving from town to town, she is continually hunted by paranormal bounty hunters determined to take her back to the PSS. As time progresses it becomes clear that it’s not just the PSS hunting her down and Roxanne can trust no one. Plus there is the mysterious Logan, a born vampire/werewolf that continues to pop up wherever she is.
Roxanne was a kick ass heroine that didn’t take crap from anybody. She’s got a strong survival instinct, and untapped power that everyone wants. Roxanne is probably one of the strongest female characters I’ve read in a long time, and she reminds me of Katy from the Lux series which is my all time favorite. Her power is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see how Roxanne progresses in the next book.
Jina also really excelled at world building, and created an environment that was believable and creepy. I loved the introduction of different types of preternatural creatures and how Roxanne could determine their type through their auras. It was a nice, fun detail that really helped bring a bit more to the story.
Heir of Ashes is like reading a TV fantasy show. Think Supernatural, or Lost Girl. If these type of shows are something you love, than definitely check out this new release!
April 20, 2018
This was such an enjoyable read. If you like supernatural urban fantasy with a lot of fight and action scenes and a bit of romance, then this is your type of series. The pace was perfect, not a single boring moment (poor Roxanne had to eat and pee always in a hurry). The story is interesting enough to keep you hooked without bringing too much complexity to it. I must confess I was expecting more romantic development or some kind of unforeseen twist, but that aspect remained predictable and didn’t advance as much (but can’t blame them, they were too busy trying to save their necks). However, this is the first book of a series, so I’m eagerly waiting to see how things will change in the next book.
I am so happy that this book didn’t have a dramatic mood. It was easy to bond with the characters and understand their actions, I found myself cheering for Roxanne and getting excited over her victories. I enjoy female characters that take life stubbornly head on, that wont bend down in front of adversity and most definitely wont go screaming for someone to save her. Even more, humorous and sarcastic replies, like the ones Roxanne gave all the time, made me giggle
I didn’t have any issue with the fight scenes, but you are advised that there are some mildly gore moments. Very mild in my opinion, but depends how much you let your imagination run wild. Like with any other "alpha male" character, our guy is a bit forceful at the beginning but then calms down. Rape is mentioned in the story and I think that's all the sensitive topics I found. If you have read other books with romance, alpha males/ werewolves/ supernatural and urban fantasy, you don't need any warning, you know the style, and this book is more on the light side of the spectrum. So, enjoy~ Oh, if you have read J.C. Daniels and liked Kit, you will probably enjoy Roxanne as well.
I received a copy from the author but that doesn't affect my review.
I am so happy that this book didn’t have a dramatic mood. It was easy to bond with the characters and understand their actions, I found myself cheering for Roxanne and getting excited over her victories. I enjoy female characters that take life stubbornly head on, that wont bend down in front of adversity and most definitely wont go screaming for someone to save her. Even more, humorous and sarcastic replies, like the ones Roxanne gave all the time, made me giggle
I didn’t have any issue with the fight scenes, but you are advised that there are some mildly gore moments. Very mild in my opinion, but depends how much you let your imagination run wild. Like with any other "alpha male" character, our guy is a bit forceful at the beginning but then calms down. Rape is mentioned in the story and I think that's all the sensitive topics I found. If you have read other books with romance, alpha males/ werewolves/ supernatural and urban fantasy, you don't need any warning, you know the style, and this book is more on the light side of the spectrum. So, enjoy~ Oh, if you have read J.C. Daniels and liked Kit, you will probably enjoy Roxanne as well.
I received a copy from the author but that doesn't affect my review.
April 15, 2018
*Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story overall. It was fast paced. The characters were interesting. All of the different paranormal/monsters were intriguing to say the least. Jina done great explaining the details of all the different characteristics of the preternatural. There were quite a few times I was a little confused? Especially at the end. The ending just threw me off in general. It wasn't necessarily bad but I do feel like there is room for more detail.
I enjoyed the main character, Roxanne. She was realistic. Her brutal life has made her a survivor. She has a lot of trust issues (which she defiantly has a right to have). I feel sorry for her up until the very end. Logan was okay. He wouldn't really swoon worthy but I liked his protective nature over Roxanne. Their romance was lacking, a lot. I was rooting for them but something felt missing in their relationship. Like I said previously, there is room for more possibilities and detail there.
My favorite part in the whole book was the Low Lands. I absolutely LOVED that world. It was super creepy. I want more! I love the creatures. I want my own fizz. Also I need to know more about Lee. I mean what happened there?
Hopefully the author will decide to write a sequel for this.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story overall. It was fast paced. The characters were interesting. All of the different paranormal/monsters were intriguing to say the least. Jina done great explaining the details of all the different characteristics of the preternatural. There were quite a few times I was a little confused? Especially at the end. The ending just threw me off in general. It wasn't necessarily bad but I do feel like there is room for more detail.
I enjoyed the main character, Roxanne. She was realistic. Her brutal life has made her a survivor. She has a lot of trust issues (which she defiantly has a right to have). I feel sorry for her up until the very end. Logan was okay. He wouldn't really swoon worthy but I liked his protective nature over Roxanne. Their romance was lacking, a lot. I was rooting for them but something felt missing in their relationship. Like I said previously, there is room for more possibilities and detail there.
My favorite part in the whole book was the Low Lands. I absolutely LOVED that world. It was super creepy. I want more! I love the creatures. I want my own fizz. Also I need to know more about Lee. I mean what happened there?
Hopefully the author will decide to write a sequel for this.
June 19, 2019
Heir of Ashes (2018) by Jina S. Bazzar is a wonderfully crafted follow-up to the author’s prequel to the series The Curse. It is the first book in The Roxanne Fosch Files.
The story follows the protagonist Roxanne Fosch who has quite the rollercoaster of a past. Up until she was twelve she lived an existence like any other kid but by 21 her world is very different and that is where we meet her at the start. She is on the run, going under the name of Eliza Daniels, from the PSS who are a lot of quack scientists who have cruelly treated her in order to gleam information from experiments. In one experiment for instance they made her believe that her mother was dead. Roxanne has already killed in her quest for freedom and despite this readers can understand her reasons for doing so and are brought on the journey with her, hoping that she remains free. As well as her quest to remain free, she has another quest. She is looking for information about her past and where she comes from. However finding that information is often like trying to break into Fort Knox. It is a long read but it is worth it. Very well-crafted, packed with interest. You can tell that this series is something the author loves writing and is very invested in and when that jumps off the page for a reader, it creates a wonderful reading experience.
There is some romance in the book too. Roxanne soon falls for her companion on the road Logan. There is a very good emotional connection between the pair as well as speckles of subtle sexual encounters between them. This added romantic element works very well with the main sci-fi/fantasy and drama plots in the story. Logan is clearly the support Roxanne needs at this time in her life where she is going through much emotional turmoil and a fight for some sense of a normal existence. The will-they-won’t-they element of the plot really appealed to the romance reader in me and despite this being more of a subplot to the rest of the action, it was written amazingly well.
The writing style is great. Bazzar has great talent at painting vivid pictures of the scenes in the book. Readers can visualize all the scenes very easily in their mind which really helps immerse readers in the story. The character of Roxanne is also very likeable as is Logan and between them the two characters drive the plot and make readers care about how it will all end up for them. Roxanne has a lot to deal with. She is encountering true love for the first time while finding herself and tackling her enemies. This adds much drama and depth to the plot. There is a lot of action in this book. In a lot of action scenes in books or films, sometimes the action gets ridiculous. But not here. Bazzar creates very believable action scenes and how Roxanne gets out of these scenarios never feels contrived.
This book has a very important theme running through it. Roxanne is preternatural and is seen by society as different. This makes many feel that she is inferior, dangerous, a freak and an object to do experiments on. This can sometimes make even Roxanne who is an incredibly strong character start to doubt herself. While this book is set in a fantasy world, it is very true of our own real world where people who are deemed ‘different’ or ‘other’ are often subjected to behavior from a mild scale all the way up to a severe scale which other people aren’t subjected to. The author did a fantastic job of highlighting the issue of prejudice in the novel and of tying it so neatly into the plot as a central theme. It also helps readers relate more to Roxanne because most readers, most people in general, are deemed ‘different’ in one way or another.
In the area of the plot which deals with her family, there is a lot of intrigue and mystery. This thriller element was something as someone who loves mysteries I found very interesting. There is pieces from different genres flowing through the main fantasy genre which make for an interesting read for readers of various genres. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
A superb read.
The story follows the protagonist Roxanne Fosch who has quite the rollercoaster of a past. Up until she was twelve she lived an existence like any other kid but by 21 her world is very different and that is where we meet her at the start. She is on the run, going under the name of Eliza Daniels, from the PSS who are a lot of quack scientists who have cruelly treated her in order to gleam information from experiments. In one experiment for instance they made her believe that her mother was dead. Roxanne has already killed in her quest for freedom and despite this readers can understand her reasons for doing so and are brought on the journey with her, hoping that she remains free. As well as her quest to remain free, she has another quest. She is looking for information about her past and where she comes from. However finding that information is often like trying to break into Fort Knox. It is a long read but it is worth it. Very well-crafted, packed with interest. You can tell that this series is something the author loves writing and is very invested in and when that jumps off the page for a reader, it creates a wonderful reading experience.
There is some romance in the book too. Roxanne soon falls for her companion on the road Logan. There is a very good emotional connection between the pair as well as speckles of subtle sexual encounters between them. This added romantic element works very well with the main sci-fi/fantasy and drama plots in the story. Logan is clearly the support Roxanne needs at this time in her life where she is going through much emotional turmoil and a fight for some sense of a normal existence. The will-they-won’t-they element of the plot really appealed to the romance reader in me and despite this being more of a subplot to the rest of the action, it was written amazingly well.
The writing style is great. Bazzar has great talent at painting vivid pictures of the scenes in the book. Readers can visualize all the scenes very easily in their mind which really helps immerse readers in the story. The character of Roxanne is also very likeable as is Logan and between them the two characters drive the plot and make readers care about how it will all end up for them. Roxanne has a lot to deal with. She is encountering true love for the first time while finding herself and tackling her enemies. This adds much drama and depth to the plot. There is a lot of action in this book. In a lot of action scenes in books or films, sometimes the action gets ridiculous. But not here. Bazzar creates very believable action scenes and how Roxanne gets out of these scenarios never feels contrived.
This book has a very important theme running through it. Roxanne is preternatural and is seen by society as different. This makes many feel that she is inferior, dangerous, a freak and an object to do experiments on. This can sometimes make even Roxanne who is an incredibly strong character start to doubt herself. While this book is set in a fantasy world, it is very true of our own real world where people who are deemed ‘different’ or ‘other’ are often subjected to behavior from a mild scale all the way up to a severe scale which other people aren’t subjected to. The author did a fantastic job of highlighting the issue of prejudice in the novel and of tying it so neatly into the plot as a central theme. It also helps readers relate more to Roxanne because most readers, most people in general, are deemed ‘different’ in one way or another.
In the area of the plot which deals with her family, there is a lot of intrigue and mystery. This thriller element was something as someone who loves mysteries I found very interesting. There is pieces from different genres flowing through the main fantasy genre which make for an interesting read for readers of various genres. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
A superb read.
June 20, 2018
I thank #TheBookRobinhoods for choosing me as a featured reviewer and the author Jina for sending me an ARC for an honest review.
Roxanne was a bad-ass heroine, fierce, brave, and has a strong survival instincts. She was held a prisoner of PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society) for 10 years where she was experimented, abused and caged like an animal. But she had escaped from them and tried to lived a normal life as Eliza Daniels. But it seems that the PSS doesn’t stop until they get her back. They’ve sent mercenaries and elite guards to hunt her but it seems that the PSS isn’t the only one hunting her down – claiming the power she might have.
And then a mysterious man named Logan came to help her in every supernaturals that were after her. She can tell right away what he is by seeing his aura, a born vampire slash werewolf. He’s just one of the many people that’s been searching for her, except that he’s not after the bounty that’s been promised for her capture – but he needs her help to save his friend.
He plans on rescuing his friend, and in exchange for her help, he promises to help her – starting by getting her to the place she’s been traveling to safely. Slowly, Roxanne begins to realize that basically everything she’s ever known has been a lie.
Does Roxanne will know who she really was? Will she able to trust Logan and escape the people who were after them?
PLOT & CHARACTERS (5 stars)
The story was incredibly awesome, unique and intriguing. I cannot fathom any words to describe how this book blew me away. I love how the author managed to grab my attention because usually on the first chapter of the books that I've read were so boring. I am also expecting that it will be a vampire story but I was wrong.
“I was no longer a victim - a prisoner - a freak. I would fight back, and if necessary, I would not hesitate to kill. I was no longer that frightened and disoriented teenager. They wouldn't abide by the law, something they had proven many times in the past, and neither would I. They had made me what I was today.”
What I like about Roxanne was she never easily gave up and she can really stand on her own not needing anybody else. And she will fight no matter what it takes. She's not a weak female protagonist like the others. Because she was caged for a long time, she doesn't trust anyone. And I admired her for being strong whenever she fights someone one-on-one.
"He'd saved my life three times now. I thought he had considered me someone. I had talked to him, told him things I'd never have told anyone to tell before. He'd cared for my injured hand, he'd shown concern. He'd made me feel human. Somewhere during this past day, I began to pretend we were friends. Me and my false sense of belonging."
And Logan, he's loyal and a true to his words. When I first met him I got a feeling that he's the male protagonist and I am right. He got so many secrets that he's hiding and I think he doesn't trust Roxanne that much even though they have something with each other.
"Ever since I met you, you've awakened a protective part of me that I hadn't realized I was missing. I lost someone once to violence.. Someone I should protected. I want to protect you, to keep you away from harm."
And the romance between them, one time they hated each other and then there's a scene where they instantly like each other. Ugh, I don't really feel them. They don't interact to each other that much. I think they just using each other. I just hope that Bazaar was able to tell some more romance of them. *cries*
WRITINGS (5 stars)
I loved the way Bazaar writes. She really write what and how the characters feels rather than saying it. Even though the story was a slow-paced, everything that happened was explained clearly. She don't rushed the events but revealed it slowly piece by piece. What I also liked about this novel was it was full of mystery. I cannot put this book down because of wanting to know more of Roxanne's identity and adventure.
WORLD BUILDING (4 stars)
In this world Bazaar created different classes of vampires, mages, human/demon hybrids, dark sorcerers, shape-shifter doppelgänger, werewolf/vampire hybrids and rejected. It was a great urban fantasy.
OVERALL (5 stars)
I really enjoyed reading this, the thrill and action that I felt while reading it. I totally recommend it to the people who are fans of City of Bones and YA action packed stories with paranormal and sci-fi elements.
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For more detailed book review visit my blog: https://themugglereader1.wordpress.com
Roxanne was a bad-ass heroine, fierce, brave, and has a strong survival instincts. She was held a prisoner of PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society) for 10 years where she was experimented, abused and caged like an animal. But she had escaped from them and tried to lived a normal life as Eliza Daniels. But it seems that the PSS doesn’t stop until they get her back. They’ve sent mercenaries and elite guards to hunt her but it seems that the PSS isn’t the only one hunting her down – claiming the power she might have.
And then a mysterious man named Logan came to help her in every supernaturals that were after her. She can tell right away what he is by seeing his aura, a born vampire slash werewolf. He’s just one of the many people that’s been searching for her, except that he’s not after the bounty that’s been promised for her capture – but he needs her help to save his friend.
He plans on rescuing his friend, and in exchange for her help, he promises to help her – starting by getting her to the place she’s been traveling to safely. Slowly, Roxanne begins to realize that basically everything she’s ever known has been a lie.
Does Roxanne will know who she really was? Will she able to trust Logan and escape the people who were after them?
PLOT & CHARACTERS (5 stars)
The story was incredibly awesome, unique and intriguing. I cannot fathom any words to describe how this book blew me away. I love how the author managed to grab my attention because usually on the first chapter of the books that I've read were so boring. I am also expecting that it will be a vampire story but I was wrong.
“I was no longer a victim - a prisoner - a freak. I would fight back, and if necessary, I would not hesitate to kill. I was no longer that frightened and disoriented teenager. They wouldn't abide by the law, something they had proven many times in the past, and neither would I. They had made me what I was today.”
What I like about Roxanne was she never easily gave up and she can really stand on her own not needing anybody else. And she will fight no matter what it takes. She's not a weak female protagonist like the others. Because she was caged for a long time, she doesn't trust anyone. And I admired her for being strong whenever she fights someone one-on-one.
"He'd saved my life three times now. I thought he had considered me someone. I had talked to him, told him things I'd never have told anyone to tell before. He'd cared for my injured hand, he'd shown concern. He'd made me feel human. Somewhere during this past day, I began to pretend we were friends. Me and my false sense of belonging."
And Logan, he's loyal and a true to his words. When I first met him I got a feeling that he's the male protagonist and I am right. He got so many secrets that he's hiding and I think he doesn't trust Roxanne that much even though they have something with each other.
"Ever since I met you, you've awakened a protective part of me that I hadn't realized I was missing. I lost someone once to violence.. Someone I should protected. I want to protect you, to keep you away from harm."
And the romance between them, one time they hated each other and then there's a scene where they instantly like each other. Ugh, I don't really feel them. They don't interact to each other that much. I think they just using each other. I just hope that Bazaar was able to tell some more romance of them. *cries*
WRITINGS (5 stars)
I loved the way Bazaar writes. She really write what and how the characters feels rather than saying it. Even though the story was a slow-paced, everything that happened was explained clearly. She don't rushed the events but revealed it slowly piece by piece. What I also liked about this novel was it was full of mystery. I cannot put this book down because of wanting to know more of Roxanne's identity and adventure.
WORLD BUILDING (4 stars)
In this world Bazaar created different classes of vampires, mages, human/demon hybrids, dark sorcerers, shape-shifter doppelgänger, werewolf/vampire hybrids and rejected. It was a great urban fantasy.
OVERALL (5 stars)
I really enjoyed reading this, the thrill and action that I felt while reading it. I totally recommend it to the people who are fans of City of Bones and YA action packed stories with paranormal and sci-fi elements.
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For more detailed book review visit my blog: https://themugglereader1.wordpress.com
April 23, 2018
It is rare that a book grabs me from the opening scenes. Usually, it can take up to the first 25% or more for me to allow myself to be swallowed up by the story. Maybe I’m just afraid of having my little reader’s heart broken. There have been a few novels that I’ve started and loved, only to have the feeling die and not come back, so perhaps that’s why I don’t want to let go too soon. This book, however, got me. Right from Chapter One.
The action started immediately, and it literally didn’t stop. If the hero, Roxanne, wasn’t getting out of a jam, she was getting herself into a new one. Seriously. This young woman wasn’t hard to catch, but dang was she hard to keep caught! And, though it did get a bit frustrating to have her escape time and time again, only to be dragged back into the clutches of one of the many factions that were after her, it was still a fun-filled, roller-coaster read!
So, who is Roxanne? Well, beyond the fact that she’s young, and female, and has some…interesting features and powers, the author doesn’t really explain what she is, at least, not until somewhere near the back third of the book. (Yes, that was a bit frustrating as well, but all of the non-stop action kept me distracted, for the most part.) Here’s what the reader does learn fairly early on. Roxanne is being hunted. At first, we only learn about the PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society), who apparently had had control of her from her twelfth birthday, until sometime around her twenty-first birthday. Then, she escaped.
When the story starts, she is holed up in some small, mid-western type town, working at a diner and living in a Bed & Breakfast. The reader is fed just enough information to understand that she is the kind of person always looking over their shoulder, and we find out why soon after. A vampire has found his way into the room she rents, and he’s there to take her back to the PSS. After a well-crafted and thoroughly detailed struggle, she gets free, and is once again on the run. The only problem is, this time, it doesn’t stop.
New characters are brought into her world, including one of the other main characters, a young man named Logan. We learn through Roxanne’s ability to read other’s auras that Logan is a ‘were’, though it is not clear if he is werewolf, or some other blend of human/animal phantasm. The author teases us with tiny glimpses of his powers (as well as the same teases for Roxanne’s powers), but never really grants the full picture. (Another item I found frustrating with this read…the author never truly shares enough about any of the characters for the reader to understand who (or what) they are.
And, while I’m at it, I’ll list one final thing that frustrated me during this read. It seemed, regardless of where in the Unites States the characters found themselves, it was always described as ‘desert’. In the big scheme, it doesn’t really affect the story, but as an avid reader and as a self-published author myself, it feels like cutting corners, and it devalues the author’s credibility. (And, yes, I did deduct the final rating for this.)
Finally, the end of the story felt a bit flat to me. After spending such a long time getting to the ‘who and what’ Roxanne is, when it all finally came out, it didn’t live up to the hype. There was really no reason to hide this part of the backstory for so long. And the same is true for almost all of the other characters that impact Roxanne’s travels in a major way – they come, and they go, and we really don’t get a chance to fully learn who and what they are, or why they’re treating her the way that they do.
On the plus side, the characters and situations are very well crafted, and there are some absolutely magical and colorful narrative buried inside all the action. This is an author who can craft some powerful sentences.
So, for my overall rating, I deducted one full star for lack of depth for the characters, far too much time spent detailing the captures and escapes, and a lot of flat dialogue. I also deducted .25 of a star for waiting sooooo long to start sharing some of the history and backstory to this absolutely creative story. So, 3.75 stars total, and, in my opinion, still a novel that is well worth the time.
The action started immediately, and it literally didn’t stop. If the hero, Roxanne, wasn’t getting out of a jam, she was getting herself into a new one. Seriously. This young woman wasn’t hard to catch, but dang was she hard to keep caught! And, though it did get a bit frustrating to have her escape time and time again, only to be dragged back into the clutches of one of the many factions that were after her, it was still a fun-filled, roller-coaster read!
So, who is Roxanne? Well, beyond the fact that she’s young, and female, and has some…interesting features and powers, the author doesn’t really explain what she is, at least, not until somewhere near the back third of the book. (Yes, that was a bit frustrating as well, but all of the non-stop action kept me distracted, for the most part.) Here’s what the reader does learn fairly early on. Roxanne is being hunted. At first, we only learn about the PSS (Paranormal Scientists Society), who apparently had had control of her from her twelfth birthday, until sometime around her twenty-first birthday. Then, she escaped.
When the story starts, she is holed up in some small, mid-western type town, working at a diner and living in a Bed & Breakfast. The reader is fed just enough information to understand that she is the kind of person always looking over their shoulder, and we find out why soon after. A vampire has found his way into the room she rents, and he’s there to take her back to the PSS. After a well-crafted and thoroughly detailed struggle, she gets free, and is once again on the run. The only problem is, this time, it doesn’t stop.
New characters are brought into her world, including one of the other main characters, a young man named Logan. We learn through Roxanne’s ability to read other’s auras that Logan is a ‘were’, though it is not clear if he is werewolf, or some other blend of human/animal phantasm. The author teases us with tiny glimpses of his powers (as well as the same teases for Roxanne’s powers), but never really grants the full picture. (Another item I found frustrating with this read…the author never truly shares enough about any of the characters for the reader to understand who (or what) they are.
And, while I’m at it, I’ll list one final thing that frustrated me during this read. It seemed, regardless of where in the Unites States the characters found themselves, it was always described as ‘desert’. In the big scheme, it doesn’t really affect the story, but as an avid reader and as a self-published author myself, it feels like cutting corners, and it devalues the author’s credibility. (And, yes, I did deduct the final rating for this.)
Finally, the end of the story felt a bit flat to me. After spending such a long time getting to the ‘who and what’ Roxanne is, when it all finally came out, it didn’t live up to the hype. There was really no reason to hide this part of the backstory for so long. And the same is true for almost all of the other characters that impact Roxanne’s travels in a major way – they come, and they go, and we really don’t get a chance to fully learn who and what they are, or why they’re treating her the way that they do.
On the plus side, the characters and situations are very well crafted, and there are some absolutely magical and colorful narrative buried inside all the action. This is an author who can craft some powerful sentences.
So, for my overall rating, I deducted one full star for lack of depth for the characters, far too much time spent detailing the captures and escapes, and a lot of flat dialogue. I also deducted .25 of a star for waiting sooooo long to start sharing some of the history and backstory to this absolutely creative story. So, 3.75 stars total, and, in my opinion, still a novel that is well worth the time.
April 17, 2018
Roxanne Fosch is a young woman on the run after escaping from Paranormal Scientists Society (PSS) that imprisoned her at the age of twelve and performed outrageous experiments on her for years. She is strong, clever and capable of more than she knows. She is also not fully human. Roxanne knows she is part fee (faerie), but does not know what kind or where her supernatural abilities come from. She knows not to trust anybody and that includes the stranger who keeps showing up and saving her.
Logan Graham is that stranger and he is a shapeshifter. He needs Roxanne and her knowledge of the scientific facility to rescue a someone from his clan he believes has been taken there. With the exception of withholding the truth and not always checking situations are safe, he seems to be a decent individual with some scary professional hit man tendencies.
The pair travel to Sacramento to find Roxanne’s mother with hopes of discovering why she handed Roxanne over to the PSS. On their way, they are hunted by PSS personnel and other paranormal beings who want to exploit Roxanne’s abilities for their own agendas. Roxanne and Logan find themselves in trouble a few times over the course of the story, but somewhere along the way, some level of trust and friendship is formed. This relationship humanised Roxanne and by the end of the book I wanted to know if their friendship will last or develop further.
The story flowed rather well and the reveal of important information was spread out over the course of the book so it was not just one big information dump. Most of the characters that were introduced and their roles made sense to the storyline, however, there were some that make a little more sense if you have read the prequel, The Curse.
The first person point of view and narration worked really well as Roxanne viewed the world and people different to how many people might. It was also interesting to read the thought processes behind her actions because, without that insight, her character would have seemed more reckless and standoffish rather than cautious and in survival mode. However, I did like that the epilogue was from Logan’s point of view. It provided just enough of a peek inside his head to see how he felt about the events at the end of the book and get an idea of what he may have been thinking during the story.
My only real complaint is I would have liked more explanations regarding Roxanne’s abilities and more focus on the fee clans, but I know that it would not have worked in this book. However, Jina herself has said that there will be more focus on Roxanne’s abilities and the faerie folklore included in future books in this series, so that does make up for it a little.
Thank you to Jina for supplying me with a digital copy of her debut novel! This was a very interesting read and I certainly appreciated the folklore at the heart of the story. I cannot wait to see where Roxanne's story will go in the next book, Heir of Doom!
Logan Graham is that stranger and he is a shapeshifter. He needs Roxanne and her knowledge of the scientific facility to rescue a someone from his clan he believes has been taken there. With the exception of withholding the truth and not always checking situations are safe, he seems to be a decent individual with some scary professional hit man tendencies.
The pair travel to Sacramento to find Roxanne’s mother with hopes of discovering why she handed Roxanne over to the PSS. On their way, they are hunted by PSS personnel and other paranormal beings who want to exploit Roxanne’s abilities for their own agendas. Roxanne and Logan find themselves in trouble a few times over the course of the story, but somewhere along the way, some level of trust and friendship is formed. This relationship humanised Roxanne and by the end of the book I wanted to know if their friendship will last or develop further.
The story flowed rather well and the reveal of important information was spread out over the course of the book so it was not just one big information dump. Most of the characters that were introduced and their roles made sense to the storyline, however, there were some that make a little more sense if you have read the prequel, The Curse.
The first person point of view and narration worked really well as Roxanne viewed the world and people different to how many people might. It was also interesting to read the thought processes behind her actions because, without that insight, her character would have seemed more reckless and standoffish rather than cautious and in survival mode. However, I did like that the epilogue was from Logan’s point of view. It provided just enough of a peek inside his head to see how he felt about the events at the end of the book and get an idea of what he may have been thinking during the story.
My only real complaint is I would have liked more explanations regarding Roxanne’s abilities and more focus on the fee clans, but I know that it would not have worked in this book. However, Jina herself has said that there will be more focus on Roxanne’s abilities and the faerie folklore included in future books in this series, so that does make up for it a little.
Thank you to Jina for supplying me with a digital copy of her debut novel! This was a very interesting read and I certainly appreciated the folklore at the heart of the story. I cannot wait to see where Roxanne's story will go in the next book, Heir of Doom!
May 21, 2019
Read this review and more on my blog at Hey, Roxie Reads!.
‘Heir of Ashes: The Roxanne Fosch Files Book 1’ by Jina S. Bazzar
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on May 9, 2019
GIVEN A FREE COPY FOR REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $2.99 on Kindle | $16.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
At twelve years old, Roxanne Fosch was taken by a group of clandestine scientists and subjected to a decade of experiments. After escaping, she is relentlessly hunted and living on the run.
Roxanne is desperate to discover the truth about her past. Why did the Paranormal Scientists Society want her? Her quest reveals that she’s not human. She doesn’t know what she is, but she’s rare even among other preternaturals.
Everything Roxanne has ever known is a lie, and she must know the truth.
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book for review.
This series was recommended to me by a friend as something I might enjoy, and she was right. ‘Heir of Ashes’ is a fast-paced, exciting, supernatural story. For fans of the genre, the lore is familiar yet unique enough to make for a thrilling new read.
I loved Roxanne as a character. She has been through hell and back. It changed her in ways that she doesn’t entirely understand. She’s tough and paranoid but, deep down, she’s tender and wants nothing more than to be understood — to be normal. She knows she’s unlikely ever to experience the things a normal twenty-something woman does, and she mourns the childhood she should have had. Despite her exceptional circumstances, she’s relatable, and that’s not always an easy thing to accomplish.
We, as readers, are as clueless about Roxanne as she is. What exactly is she? Where did she come from? She’s clearly special, but why? Bazzar maintains the suspense with an expertise that makes for a fun read.
I also liked her relationship with Logan. I felt like Bazzar handled it very well. As someone with PTSD, I know all too well how hard it is to trust someone after you’ve been through extensive trauma. I think it would have been easy (too easy) to turn their story into a romance, but Bazzar gets it. Yes, Roxanne wants a normal life and to be loved, but after everything she’s been through (and continues to go through), it only makes sense that she and Logan’s relationship would be complicated.
As a small side note, it was pretty cool to see someone with a variation of my name as a main character. We don’t often see Roxie (Roxy in Roxanne’s case) used very often, so that was neat!
I finished this novel, immediately dove into the second one, and look forward to the next installment.
‘Heir of Ashes: The Roxanne Fosch Files Book 1’ by Jina S. Bazzar
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on May 9, 2019
GIVEN A FREE COPY FOR REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $2.99 on Kindle | $16.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
At twelve years old, Roxanne Fosch was taken by a group of clandestine scientists and subjected to a decade of experiments. After escaping, she is relentlessly hunted and living on the run.
Roxanne is desperate to discover the truth about her past. Why did the Paranormal Scientists Society want her? Her quest reveals that she’s not human. She doesn’t know what she is, but she’s rare even among other preternaturals.
Everything Roxanne has ever known is a lie, and she must know the truth.
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book for review.
This series was recommended to me by a friend as something I might enjoy, and she was right. ‘Heir of Ashes’ is a fast-paced, exciting, supernatural story. For fans of the genre, the lore is familiar yet unique enough to make for a thrilling new read.
I loved Roxanne as a character. She has been through hell and back. It changed her in ways that she doesn’t entirely understand. She’s tough and paranoid but, deep down, she’s tender and wants nothing more than to be understood — to be normal. She knows she’s unlikely ever to experience the things a normal twenty-something woman does, and she mourns the childhood she should have had. Despite her exceptional circumstances, she’s relatable, and that’s not always an easy thing to accomplish.
We, as readers, are as clueless about Roxanne as she is. What exactly is she? Where did she come from? She’s clearly special, but why? Bazzar maintains the suspense with an expertise that makes for a fun read.
I also liked her relationship with Logan. I felt like Bazzar handled it very well. As someone with PTSD, I know all too well how hard it is to trust someone after you’ve been through extensive trauma. I think it would have been easy (too easy) to turn their story into a romance, but Bazzar gets it. Yes, Roxanne wants a normal life and to be loved, but after everything she’s been through (and continues to go through), it only makes sense that she and Logan’s relationship would be complicated.
As a small side note, it was pretty cool to see someone with a variation of my name as a main character. We don’t often see Roxie (Roxy in Roxanne’s case) used very often, so that was neat!
I finished this novel, immediately dove into the second one, and look forward to the next installment.
March 26, 2018
This book is like one of those dark paranormal movies, where everything moves so fast you don’t even see it coming.
The storyline was new to me, different from my usual reads, it had something unique about it. But honestly I think the plot was a bit rushed, so not everything made much sense.
It was slow-paced at some parts, then action-packed at the others. The fighting scenes were one of my favourite things about it though, sometimes it was easy to expect what would happen, sometimes I ended up having a mini heart attack.
The writing style was so simple and easy, that helped me fly through the pages.
It took me half the book to make sense of what was happening and why it was happening. And even now I still have a few doubts about a couple of things.
I really, really liked the whole aura system mixed with paranormal creatures. That’s something you don’t see a lot in books, and in it’s a bit complicated and messy to write about. So I really admire Jina’s hard work to make it happen.
The characters were diverse and mysterious. I really liked Roxanne and felt sorry for her. I admire her determination to get her life back together, even after all she went through, and is still going through.
However I didn’t really feel the romance scenes between her and Logan. It was one of those rushed, doesn’t make a lot of sense things. Or maybe my cold heart doesn’t register these stuff so much anymore.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Heir of Ashes despite my objections. And I still have hope for the rest of the series to get even better. Can’t wait to see what will happen in the next book
“The mind was a beautiful thing. A sea of lights, contrasting everywhere with shadows and colors, some like a dot on a map- barely significant, others shining as brilliant as the sun.”
The storyline was new to me, different from my usual reads, it had something unique about it. But honestly I think the plot was a bit rushed, so not everything made much sense.
It was slow-paced at some parts, then action-packed at the others. The fighting scenes were one of my favourite things about it though, sometimes it was easy to expect what would happen, sometimes I ended up having a mini heart attack.
The writing style was so simple and easy, that helped me fly through the pages.
It took me half the book to make sense of what was happening and why it was happening. And even now I still have a few doubts about a couple of things.
I really, really liked the whole aura system mixed with paranormal creatures. That’s something you don’t see a lot in books, and in it’s a bit complicated and messy to write about. So I really admire Jina’s hard work to make it happen.
“My rage had the control seat. For a timeless moment, I moved neither forward nor backward.”
The characters were diverse and mysterious. I really liked Roxanne and felt sorry for her. I admire her determination to get her life back together, even after all she went through, and is still going through.
However I didn’t really feel the romance scenes between her and Logan. It was one of those rushed, doesn’t make a lot of sense things. Or maybe my cold heart doesn’t register these stuff so much anymore.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Heir of Ashes despite my objections. And I still have hope for the rest of the series to get even better. Can’t wait to see what will happen in the next book
March 7, 2021
Where do I even begin with this review? First off I want to say thank you to the author for providing me with an ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love how from the very beginning you jump right into the action. This book is action packed. The main character barely has time to catch her breath before something else inevitably happens. While I did enjoy all the action because it sucked me in and made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next I feel like they managed to get out of each situation so easily. It was like as soon as the “attack” happened there was always an easy way out. I would have liked for things not to have been so easily resolved.
The main character Roxanne or Eliza as she is now called is a badass female character. She’s not completely human but she, just like the reader, doesn’t know exactly what she is or what she is capable of. Like I said she is constantly on the run but never once does she give up no matter how bad things are. Sure she has some abilities that help her but she goes through a lot in this book and yet she keeps fighting. Logan who shows up to help Roxanne in exchange for her help is the main male character. From the moment he entered into the story I loved him but I have some issues with him. He is very secretive and untrusting throughout the entire book. I feel like at some point they would have started trusting each other more but I didn’t get that. Up until the very end of the book where some things were revealed I was mostly happy with his character but after the ending I was mad.
I have been mentioning this a lot lately on my blog but I don’t like cliffhangers where I am left with so many questions for that book and unfortunately that’s the case here. I don’t like how things are left open and unresolved between certain characters but I am excited to continue on with this series.
If you like action packed books with paranormal aspects as well as a touch of romance I would definitely recommend you read this book.
I love how from the very beginning you jump right into the action. This book is action packed. The main character barely has time to catch her breath before something else inevitably happens. While I did enjoy all the action because it sucked me in and made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next I feel like they managed to get out of each situation so easily. It was like as soon as the “attack” happened there was always an easy way out. I would have liked for things not to have been so easily resolved.
The main character Roxanne or Eliza as she is now called is a badass female character. She’s not completely human but she, just like the reader, doesn’t know exactly what she is or what she is capable of. Like I said she is constantly on the run but never once does she give up no matter how bad things are. Sure she has some abilities that help her but she goes through a lot in this book and yet she keeps fighting. Logan who shows up to help Roxanne in exchange for her help is the main male character. From the moment he entered into the story I loved him but I have some issues with him. He is very secretive and untrusting throughout the entire book. I feel like at some point they would have started trusting each other more but I didn’t get that. Up until the very end of the book where some things were revealed I was mostly happy with his character but after the ending I was mad.
I have been mentioning this a lot lately on my blog but I don’t like cliffhangers where I am left with so many questions for that book and unfortunately that’s the case here. I don’t like how things are left open and unresolved between certain characters but I am excited to continue on with this series.
If you like action packed books with paranormal aspects as well as a touch of romance I would definitely recommend you read this book.
April 8, 2018
This wasn't really the right book for me, but it's a kind of story I know everyone else loves, so I have to recommend it for people who'll like it better.
What I think is the thing about Heir of Ashes is that it has an external plot (running away from the PSS and into trouble), but it's one of those 1st person stories that talks a lot about what the protagonist is feeling and thinking/remembering – and most of it is romance and angst. I'm not interested in this, so much of the book was lost on me, even though it's a nice story.
I liked the world of Heir of Ashes . I couldn't see enough of the magical things in it: preternatural abilities and creatures, and the unearthly locations, like the Low Lands (I really enjoyed the Low Lands part). And the plot was fine, too. As a whole, it's rather circular – for all that Roxanne tries, the poor girl is always stuck with the same personal and PSS-related issues – which got on my nerves sometimes, though it looks right in the story. After some time, there are also some very repetitive plot excuses to make Roxanne helpless when things go wrong, so she can't seem to succeed at anything and has to be saved by someone else. But, if you take the plot in pieces, you still have a lot of action and many interesting things happening that draw you in… besides the inner conflict and romance, of course, which might be attractive enough by themselves, for another reader.
For people who like this genre, I think it'll be a great novel. In my opinion, some parts of Heir of Ashes (especially the beginning) can be confusing if you haven't read its prequel, The Curse , so maybe you'd rather do this first, but it's a win-win situation, since The Curse is also lovely and quite fast to read.
What I think is the thing about Heir of Ashes is that it has an external plot (running away from the PSS and into trouble), but it's one of those 1st person stories that talks a lot about what the protagonist is feeling and thinking/remembering – and most of it is romance and angst. I'm not interested in this, so much of the book was lost on me, even though it's a nice story.
I liked the world of Heir of Ashes . I couldn't see enough of the magical things in it: preternatural abilities and creatures, and the unearthly locations, like the Low Lands (I really enjoyed the Low Lands part). And the plot was fine, too. As a whole, it's rather circular – for all that Roxanne tries, the poor girl is always stuck with the same personal and PSS-related issues – which got on my nerves sometimes, though it looks right in the story. After some time, there are also some very repetitive plot excuses to make Roxanne helpless when things go wrong, so she can't seem to succeed at anything and has to be saved by someone else. But, if you take the plot in pieces, you still have a lot of action and many interesting things happening that draw you in… besides the inner conflict and romance, of course, which might be attractive enough by themselves, for another reader.
For people who like this genre, I think it'll be a great novel. In my opinion, some parts of Heir of Ashes (especially the beginning) can be confusing if you haven't read its prequel, The Curse , so maybe you'd rather do this first, but it's a win-win situation, since The Curse is also lovely and quite fast to read.
April 18, 2018
Roxanne Foush is a very feisty, untrusting woman and for good reason. She doesn't know who or what she is and has been tortured most of her life.
Once she gains her freedom, she's got to fight like hell to keep it. Unfortunately, she has no one she can trust, or does she? It's hard to say who is friend or foe until it's too late in this tale.
I love the build up in the story and how things don't start falling into place too quickly, we're already on the run with this girl before we know who she's running from and why.
The author does an excellent job of putting us inside Roxanne's cynical, yet (sometimes) hopeful mind throughout the story. She also does an excellent job making some pretty horrific monsters, human and otherwise, and does an excellent job with world building and describing things in such a way that the reader feels very present.
It's beautifully written (especially considering English is not the author's native language!) yet easy to read!
I did feel like I wanted more development from some of the characters and relationships—though Roxanne isn't really capable of "normal" relationships—but this is only the first book of three (or possibly four) so there's plenty of room for that.
Some of the dialogue could have been a bit more tailored to each character, but as a brand-new author, one can hardly knock Jina for that. The dialogue is still cutting, direct, and quite realistic. (As far as dialogue should be, anyway!)
Given that this is the debut novel and the first in the series, I think it deserves a full 5 stars.
Absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series, Heir of Doom, where Roxanne is expected to really develop her abilities! I think she may have a chance to build some real relationships too.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Once she gains her freedom, she's got to fight like hell to keep it. Unfortunately, she has no one she can trust, or does she? It's hard to say who is friend or foe until it's too late in this tale.
I love the build up in the story and how things don't start falling into place too quickly, we're already on the run with this girl before we know who she's running from and why.
The author does an excellent job of putting us inside Roxanne's cynical, yet (sometimes) hopeful mind throughout the story. She also does an excellent job making some pretty horrific monsters, human and otherwise, and does an excellent job with world building and describing things in such a way that the reader feels very present.
It's beautifully written (especially considering English is not the author's native language!) yet easy to read!
I did feel like I wanted more development from some of the characters and relationships—though Roxanne isn't really capable of "normal" relationships—but this is only the first book of three (or possibly four) so there's plenty of room for that.
Some of the dialogue could have been a bit more tailored to each character, but as a brand-new author, one can hardly knock Jina for that. The dialogue is still cutting, direct, and quite realistic. (As far as dialogue should be, anyway!)
Given that this is the debut novel and the first in the series, I think it deserves a full 5 stars.
Absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series, Heir of Doom, where Roxanne is expected to really develop her abilities! I think she may have a chance to build some real relationships too.
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I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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