Harbinger of Books

The Hour of Ashes and Dust takes place a few weeks after The Darkest Edge of Dawn. Charlie is trying to figure out if her sister is possessed and if so by whom. Meanwhile the ash victims are starting to commit suicide. Charlie is rather desperate to save her sister so pays a visit to the oracle Alessandra in order to find out how to break the possession. Alessandra warns Charlie not to use her powers and puts her in touch with the sylph, four ancient beings who can provide gifts so Charlie can figure out the who possession thing.

I was really hesitant about picking this book up because while I like Charlie she was just too much always mouthing off and anxious …acting like super woman. So it really pleased me that Charlie has calmed down quite a bit, she has a bit more restraint. This book focuses quite a bit on Charlie and her emotions so it was interesting to see her changing reactions about her feelings toward Hank and Rex. Hank was missing for the first half of the book due to his recovery from the last book. But he comes back with a bang and the perfect present (awww) …hank is not immune to the changing feelings between he and Charlie so it was good to see him open up. I am curious to see how this will work out in the next book. I also enjoyed Rex, he says the most outrageous things and it is so great to see someone so supportive of Emma.

This book was not as procedural in fact I often forgot she was supposed to be investigating a case. It has been a long time since I read the last book and it took a good fifty or so pages for me to start remembering things but even still some things did not really plan out for me. Like walking out of a prison cell…with guards present…and making into another world without anyone stopping you. For some reason I did not really feel a sense of urgency in this book, it felt like the story was taking place over weeks instead of days.

Overall it was a good story and I really took a lot of pleasure in reading it. I cannot wait to see how it all ends.