S.R. Ashford

In S.R.s debut novel Ash and Bloom, a ex-firefighter, used to cataloging and inventorying the world around her, is caught up in an apocalyptic event. Now, though her inventory makes no sense.

Mara, the protagonist herself is never fully described, yet you know her based on the judicious use of thoughts and feelings alone. The use of the inventory and lists to catalog the world around her is an unusual approach but is, in fact, a great gimmick that keeps you informed and on the same page as Mara (pun intended) through this fast paced story.

Her journey to finding other survivors is at times fascinating and at others harrowing. S.R.s world building for the post apocalypse is self consistent and evocative. The first section of the book sets the scene in a sparsity of words that are all valuable. The first chapter is almost as concise as flash fiction, while the later chapters are more descriptive but never wasted.

The firefighter background leaves you guessing as why Mara starts this story alone, and is utilized well to maintain the fear of the unknown and the changes that are happening around her. As she travels from her home to a new world, the descriptions depict the strangeness of the new environment, and more frighteningly the similarities which Mara refuses to dwell on.

This is a fairly robust book and I feared I might get bore part way through but that was not the case at all.

I give the book a rating of 4.5.  Really evocative and interesting concept.

Favorite Quote: “…Behind her, her home–the cabin … the pantry two jars deep, … came apart into the morning sky.” as this line sums up the initial event beautifully.

Favorite Character: Cinder the dog, who has some hilarious moments of disdain.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Although I almost want to give an extra 0.5 for the world building, since the overgrowth of the planet is almost like a character itself.