Wow, can you believe it’s been a year since ASHES? Nope, me neither. Well, your wait is over. SHADOWS hits 9/25 (9/27, for those of you in the UK).
If it’s been a while since you’ve read the first book, I’d suggest dropping by my website for a recap: SO YOU READ ASHES A YEAR AGO. SHADOWS picks up where ASHES left off; it’s a bigger, broader story with multiple storylines and new characters. No wash-rinse-repeat here, and no recap in the book. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
A ton of blog stops and giveaways, too, both here and in the UK. For the first half of the month, they are:
9/26: Bookspark (Live Author Chat & Giveaway, 7 p.m.)
The Book Smugglers (Giveaway)
9/27: Teen Librarian Toolbook
10/02: Books and Bling
10/03: Hoobitsies
10/04: Emily’s Reading Room
10/05: Hope, Faith, and Books
Behind A Million and One Pages (Giveaway)
10/06: The Write Path Blog (Giveaway)
10/07: Karin’s Book Nook
10/08: Always YA at Heart (Giveaway)
10/09: I Blog, You Read
10/10: The Librarian Reads
10/11: Guilded Earlobe
10/12: ParaJunkee
10/13: Novel Novice (Giveaway)
10/14: Book Sweets Book Review (Giveaway and Recipe O.o)
10/15: Just Bookin Around
FESTIVALS:
10/13: Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival (Sheboygan, WI)
10/19: Chippewa Valley Book Festival (Eau Claire, WI)
10/20: STEMfest (DeKalb, IL)
Ahhhhh the suspense!
JUST finished my Ashes reread and I’m about to start gnawing on my Kindle.
Ooohh, watch your teeth 😉
Well it’s about time I can talk freely about this one! Congrats on the release and Happy Anniversary (a little late!)!
Aww, thanks, Stephanie! I thought about you, remembered that great launch evening. I hope we can do that again 🙂
Oh man, I just finished Shadows and how could you do that to me?! It was amazing though, I must say that of the post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read yours surpass all the others. I love how original your storyline is and how it just grips you so you can’t stop reading. I look forward to the conclusion! 🙂
Wow, cool, Tanesha! Thank you! I’m always happy to hear from folks who like what I write. Tell everyone 😉
Nice way to kick off a Saturday night, girl. Thank you.
I just finished reading Shadows. So many people have commented on the way you’ve choosen to end your books. My feeling is that I don’t care for this type of ending. Ashes was a cliffhanger and I couldn’t not read Shadows because I did want to know what happened to Alex. With Shadows, I’d only like to know what happened with her and not worry about reading the next book. I got lost with the extra story lines, especially Finn. That was pretty random for me. Plus I’m not a big fan of gore. Interesting thought processes and style of writing. Good luck on your continued book writing journey.
Thanks, Elise. Not everything can be everyone’s cuppa. At least you gave it a shot 🙂
I finished Shadows over the weekend after what seemed like a forever wait (first for the sequel, then for my pre-order to arrive)!
At first I was a little taken aback by the switch betwen so many points of view. Like so many readers, I’d become pretty attached to Alex, and didn’t want to veer from her perspective. But I’ve been an avid reader since I learned to read, and while I couldn’t presume to understand your creative process, I would hope you were trying to give us, the readers, the broadest view possible.
Not a fan of gore myself, the best thing about books (versus a movie) is I have the poer to imagine things in as much detail as I want. While you draw the picture, I fill in the finer points. So if it gets too gory, I can choose not to put that scene into full technicolor in my mind. (And this IS the end of the world… it’s not meant to be fluffy cotton candy and teddy bear, right?)
Finally, you ended Ashes on a cliffhanger. Shadows left more than a few loose ends. While each book is a work in their own right, they are certainly meant to be part of a series, and should be taken as such. The story isn’t over! I, personally cannot wait to see how this wild ride ends!
Well, I think this means you liked it 😉 Yes, I know I broaden things quite a bit, and it may not be everyone’s cuppa, but a) I think readers are smart people and b) frankly, sticking to only Alex’s POV wouldn’t really give you a good appreciation for the other characters, all of whom are very important and have their stories to discover, or the broader world. In my eyes, a single POV was just a little too claustrophobic and even a tad unbelievable; no one character can be in all places at once, nor is every person going to open up enough to that single POV to give a deeper appreciation for motive and feelings. Everyone has secrets, and this way, a reader knows, much more often than the character, that’s there danger and nuance. That was the point of doing it this way. Everyone Changes in these books.
Did I forget to mention I loved it? Shame on me! 😀 While most of what I read is for entertainment, I don’t mind having to think a bit while I read, and if the the POV change makes me do that a little more,all the better!
If I like a book I’ll also re-read it after a bit. I love when I find something new (as I did with my re-read of Ashes). I suspect I’ll find even more with Shadows, now that the flurry to just know what happens is over!
LOL!! Frankly, I think when you’re moved to re-read, that’s a great compliment. Thanks! Now spread the love 😉
I Loved this trilogy!!! I wonder if you are going to make a third book! Are you?
Thanks, Alyssa! I just answered your email, too. But–yes–MONSTERS appears in Fall, 2013.
I loved your ashes trilogy, after ashes I had to wait like 5 months till shadows was out, and in the mean time I read most of your other books. I loved them all! I just finished reading shadows at work today. I could not put that book down it was so good. The ending only.made me want it to be February already! Keep the awesome books coming!
Wow, thanks, Jesse. I got your email, and I’m so pleased that you’ve rediscovered reading. I’ve always looked at good stories as gifts, and I’m happy to give you mine as well 🙂
The only bugaboo: MONSTERS won’t come out until Fall, 2013. You’re not the only one who seems to think it’s due out in February, though, so I’m going to have my publisher look in this! I DO have another book coming out in March, however: THE SIN-EATER’S CONFESSION (Carolrhoda). So maybe you mean that one?
Today before work i was at barnes and nobel and asked them, they said february 1st. THE SIN-EATER’S CONFESSION will still be bought and read because your style of reading is by far the best i have ever read! Fall 2013 is very far away, i wonder how many times i can read ashes and shadows before then haha. I was in the army infantry, so Toms charecter really hits home for me, and i think thats why i am so hooked on ashes and shadows.
Hunh. well, that’s *VERY* odd. Thanks for letting me know; I’ve shot my editor an email. And I KNOW you can find other books, Jesse 😉 There are scads.
Ah, infantry, huh? You know, I have to tell you that you liking the book–and Tom–is quite the compliment, and I mean that. Where were you posted?
Fort Benning, and in Iraq for a tour. All together about 3 years. I have always lived in Wisconsin before and now, Any chance you are doing book signing anytime soon in Wisconsin?
Ooh, Benning. Gets pretty sticky hot, but nothing like Iraq, I imagine. Important thing is you made it back.
The only Wisconsin signing left will be for the Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison in . . . two weeks? Since I write YA, I’m part of the Friday in the school bit. Jesse, I’d be happy to send you a couple bookplates, if you want.
I would love that! That’s so awesome! Iraq is really hot but your body adjusts quick. I’m having trouble getting use to this freezing cold weather! Thank you so much!
No worries. Happy to oblige. You’ve got my email. Just send me your snail mail address, okay?
Yeah, and I thought TEXAS was awful. But you really do get used to it–and your Wisconsin blood will thicken up and be singing by Christmas, I promise 😉 Just think: SNOW!!!
Hi Ilsa…
OMG!!!!!! The ending of ashes is soooooooo fustrating!! (I absolutely looooove it though. (Sorry about all the ‘oooooo’s!)
By ‘fall’ do you mean American fall?? (Sorry, I live in New Zealand – the other side of the world!)
Funny thing – today we went to the swimming pools and mum forgot her book so she started reading Ashes and all this evening I’ve had to steal it away from her so that I could read it LOL!!
Anyway… GTG, THANKS!!
P.S. – I have just requested Shadows… I cant wait!
Sorry just realised that these comments were for Shadows not Ashes!! Sorry!!!
Oh, heavens, no worries! I’m not persnickety about these things 😉
BWAHAHAHA! Glad I caught you out 😉
Did you mean the release date for MONSTERS? If so, then yes: that book should appear roundabout September.
Enjoy SHADOWS! [And tell your mom to play nice 😉 ]
BTW, I would LOVE to visit NZ someday. Having adored Tasmania (yes, I know it’s part of Oz), I can’t imagine but that NZ would be ten times lovelier.
Hi, Zoomed thru Ashes and Shadows. Anticipating third installment. In the ertswhile, have read Emberverse series, by Stirling, about 9 books and one more to come(at least), and now have gone thru “The Hobbit,” and 2 of the “lord of Rings” books.
Much thanks for sparking the desire to read, and get off the tv!
Have up next “Westria” series. Feeling quite “Elvish” these days.
Roger Hartsell
LOL!! That’s great! Now…just hang on 😉
Promise me: no pointy elf ears, okay?
OMG! Ilsa, I have only recently discovered your amazing work as I picked up the ASHES book the other day and I knew instantly that I was going to love it! I was so hooked I just couldn’t get my nose out of it and I completely fell in love with it!
After three days finished the book and I just had to keep reading! So I bought the second book SHADOWS and finished that in another three days! When I finished SHADOWS I didn’t realise there was a third book and I was so upset because I thought that was the end and Alex was dead, but today I discovered that there is a third book and I was so excited that I started dancing around the house! Ahahaha 😀 I can’t wait to read MONSTERS (the wait will be agonising though 😛 ) and I really do hope that it has a satisfying ending (I’m hoping Alex doesn’t die and her and Peter will find each other again) 😀
You are such an amazing writer and I look forward to reading more of your books!!! 🙂
Whoops, I meant Alex and Tom. hahaha
OMG! Ilsa, I have only recently discovered your amazing work as I picked up the ASHES book the other day and I knew instantly that I was going to love it! I was so hooked I just couldn’t get my nose out of it and I completely fell in love with it!
After three days finished the book and I just had to keep reading! So I bought the second book SHADOWS and finished that in another three days! When I finished SHADOWS I didn’t realise there was a third book and I was so upset because I thought that was the end and Alex was dead, but today I discovered that there is a third book and I was so excited that I started dancing around the house! Ahahaha I can’t wait to read MONSTERS (the wait will be agonising though ) and I really do hope that it has a satisfying ending (I’m hoping Alex doesn’t die and her and Tom will find each other again)
You are such an amazing writer and I look forward to reading more of your books!!!
Hey, Sophie: I feel your excitement way out here in Wisconsin! I think my house is vibrating! You got to stop jumping up and down, girl 😉
Seriously, glad you enjoyed the books. I do hope you’ll like some of my other work as well.
Now, go out and spread the love!
I figured. Really, I’m not that much of a grammar-Nazi. 😉
Hahaha. I am hoping to read your book DROWNING INSTINCT and I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about it…? 🙂
Heh. Tell you what: go read about it here (both the publisher description and some of the comments): http://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Instinct-Carolrhoda-Ilsa-Bick/dp/1467709123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358257999&sr=8-1&keywords=drowning+instinct
That should give you a pretty good idea 😉
Thanks 🙂
It sounds like a great book 😀
You’re welcome. Let me know what you think 🙂
This book was AMAZING!! I read it in a day! Non stop action, interesting characters…LOOOOOVED IT!! Waiting until fall is going to kill me!!!!
LOL!! Don’t die! Then you won’t be reading anything! 😉