Urban Fantasy writer, Jeaniene Frost tries her hand at Paranormal New Adult in the first of a brand new series called Broken Destiny. THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES introduces Ivy, a twenty year old girl who is on the hunt for her missing sister, Jasmine. Ivy suffers from hallucinations and while they have bothered her before, nothing is worse when they begin to manifest in her real life. Scared and confused, Ivy turns to Adrian, a new friend she stumbles upon when a threat nearly kills her. Adrian, a mysterious enigma himself, seems to know more than he is letting on. As Ivy is thrust into a world she never knew existed, her inner and physical strength will be put to the test.

Fans of Frost's previous novels will be familiar with the fast-paced urgency in which she writes. However, readers new to Frost but who are fans of Contemporary New Adult may be surprised by how Frost manages to straddle the line between genres. While sometimes obtaining a New Adult feel, the narrative does revert to the Young Adult style of writing when it comes to Ivy's thinking in some scenes. Similarly, that upbeat tempo that is a known trademark of Urban Fantasy is evident as well.

While some may see Ivy as naïve, in all fairness, she is kept in the dark for much of the book and is expected to perform with her limited knowledge. Adrian and Zach, another mystery readers have yet to know more of, divulge the barest details to Ivy. However, the ending does display a stronger side to our heroine. I have a feeling she will be a fierce force in the next book.

The mythology that Frost laces with this book is interesting. With deadly demons, weapons and prophecies, you can be sure that Ivy and Adrian will have a lot to face in the coming instalments of the series. THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES is only a taste of what's to come from Jeaniene Frost.

Book Summary

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate-no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between.