Of Ashes and Sin by Ariana Hawkes and K.N. Knight

Series: Fire Trails

Release Date: July 10, 2018

Format: Kindle

Rating: 2/5 stars

Of Ashes and Sin had such great promise! The heroine’s down-on-her-luck circumstances and her fortitude to try and survive in a world that has gone through an apocalypse of sorts were fascinating. However, the book went seriously downhill from when the heroes abduct the heroine, Ranger. They want to make her the 4th in their group, as they assume she’s a fire element shifter (an example of one of those is a dragon), so she’ll balance out their group and be able to give birth to the next Phoenix shifter. A new generation of Phoenix shifters will – of course – re-align and save the world! Sounds pretty straightforward, as this save-the-world chosen-one plot has been done quite often, but when you actually break down the action of the heroes:

1. to abduct the heroine;
2. hold her captive to ensure she becomes part of their group and balances said, group;
3. and, finally, to impregnate her so she will bear a child who will save the world.

Understandable why I thought none of the heroes were redeemable, right? Even worse was the fact that Ranger – who was rightly so, incredibly pissed off – decided to stay with said heroes because they could provide shelter and food, which I think were the requirements for mating in the prehistoric era. They already have the caveman routine down; what’s another trope to add to the mix? Even later on, Ranger couldn’t leave them (even when they were assholes) because it caused her physical pain, which is apparently evidence that she’s met her pre-destined mate(s).

Of Ashes and Sin fell so short of what it could have been! Ranger had fascinating and unique powers. She’s able to see the pain of others when looking into their eyes. She sees violent events that were so horrible they left emotional imprints on the physical location they occurred, which she could cleanse through exorcisms. Both of these traits either resulting in derision from the heroes (as they could be used in her cons) or/and became a liability (as the intensity of some people’s pain could literally knock her out).

Of course, the worst of the heroes were the eagle shifter, Oran, as he was purposefully written as an arrogant asshole who came across as if he hates Ranger. What’s worse, though, was how he maintained his rich boy persona even after going through the freaking apocalypse! He looked down on Ranger for conning people to survive (she sometimes performed fake exorcisms for money), even though he has to realize most people aren’t walking around with a literal sack of cash. Being a woman younger than 21 and capable enough to survive alone in a post-apocalyptic world is quite a feat.

I was really annoyed how, even though civilization was virtually non-existent, the author left out the harsher realities of what a lawless society would look like. Sure, when she was abducted, no one stepped up to help her, but when she’s caught bathing by a male stranger – away from the heroes – she, of course

1. cannot shift (because her animal panics – which makes no sense), and;
2. has left her knife with her clothes because she felt safe with her abductors (eye roll).

It honestly felt like the author just wanted a scene where a hero could rescue the damsel and redeem himself in the reader’s eyes. Um, fail! The scene made Ranger out to be a complete fool, which is not on par with her character since she has been taking care of herself since the world freaking ended.

The most laughable scene was to create a conflict/tension around the 60% mark in the novel. When visiting a town to replenish their supplies, Ranger is arrested for theft. However, the arresting officer is convinced she’s someone named Carrie, even though that’s obviously not true. What follows is just so random, weird and completely unnecessary. The heroine is arrested for theft, and the boys are arrested for trying to stop the cops from arresting “Carrie,” which results in them all going to lock up. Ranger goes temporarily crazy as, for some reason, she’s convinced that the boys think she actually did commit the crime (never mind that they’re Ranger’s alibi). Ranger is also convinced that she will be locked away (even though she’s never confessed and there was no trial). When the accuser meets her, it’s revealed that the evidence doesn’t point to Ranger being Callie, and Ranger then bursts into tears and is comforted by one of the heroes because she was so scared she was going to jail. This whole subplot was so unnecessary it’s laughable – even if this Carrie person is important later on, there are more relevant ways of introducing this character.

Now, the most nonsensical part of Of Ashes and Sin was the “romance,” as in there was none. I’m usually not someone that really minds “insta-love” when I like all the characters, and there’s at least some connection between them. However, the “meet-cute” of these characters was neither cute nor a meeting as much as an abduction.

Also, it seems that Ranger only gets with Rael and Zain because of a weird mix of pity (they carry so much pain – but doesn’t everyone in this new world?) and mating bond. When she gets with Oran for the first time, it is the craziest, most abrupt piece of dialogue ever!

“Why did you even kiss me?”
He opened his mouth and closed it again. “I kissed you because I wanted you, Ranger.”
…
A familiar heat washed through me, leaving me tingling from head to toe. “Really?”
He gave a brusque nod, as if embarrassed at being so open with me.
I swallowed, gathering courage for what I was about to say: “You can also have sex with me.”

Ranger & Oran in Of Ashes and Sin

I honestly burst out laughing in incredulity; talk about taking the romance out of the act! This is when Of Ashes and Sin went from possibly interesting, paranormal RH to poorly written smut with idiotic characters. After this point, I’m surprised I finished it; the introduction of the dragon and his interest in Ranger was not surprising. Neither was the fact that it seems like the heroes’ initial plan (#3 in my list-like breakdown of their plan) seems imminent in the coming books *facepalm*.

Of Ashes and Sin had such potential with its story, but it was a downhill disaster after the not-so-cute meeting of the main characters.

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