Ashes to Ashes (Blood Ties, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jennifer Armintrout (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Being a vampire is a life-or-death situation. When I was first turned, I had only my survival to worry about. Now I'm locked in a battle for the existence of the entire human race—and the cards are definitely stacked against me.

The Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement headquarters are destroyed, and their pet horror, the Oracle, is on the loose. She'll stop at nothing to turn the world into a vampire's paradise, even if it means helping the Soul Eater become a god and harnessing his power for her own evil ends.

An ancient vampire, a blood-sucking near deity and oh, yeah, my presently human former sire thrown into the mix. I say bring it on. May the best monster win.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A clever blending of classic vampire story conventions, several small innovations and the eternal romantic triangle." -- Romantic Times BOOKreviews, starred review on The Turning

"This fast, furious novel is a squirm-inducing treat." -- Publishers Weekly on Blood Ties Book One: The Turning

About the Author

Jennifer Armintrout has been obsessed with vampires ever since the age of four. Raised in an enormous Roman Catholic family, Jennifer attributes her interest in the macabre to viewing too many funerals at a formative age. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 077832494X
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324942
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #653,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jennifer Armintrout is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Blood Ties series. When not writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy, she writes romance under the pseudonym Abigail Barnette. She was born, raised, and will hopefully die and be buried in Michigan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This series just keeps getting better and better! August 15, 2007

By C. Allen-Riley

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm not going to recap the storyline since the above reviewers have taken care of that. However, I am going to say that this book is the best one yet. This story is full of twists and turns that had me catching my breath in surprise.

Carrie and Nathan's already complex relationship deepens and intensifies. Max and Bella's interaction takes some unexpected and delightful turns and the Soul Eater is back and creepier than ever. Ms. Armintrout has the ability to not only humanize the "monsters" but to reveal the monsters within humanity. Do NOT miss this book!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars August 5, 2007

By AK

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Carrie and Nathan's have been far from any sort of happily ever after scenario. In the short months that they've known each other, he has re-sired her as a vampire, they have been put under the scrutiny of the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement for various crimes, people they care about have died, not all of them have stayed dead, bounty hunters have pursued them, they've betrayed each other, and all that pales in comparison to what is on the horizon. The Soul-Eater is still out there forming his evil plans, but now, he is working both with and against the Oracle, an ancient being whose lust for revenge is millenia old. For the sake of the world and for each other, Carrie and Nathan have to stop them, and that means putting aside old grudges and jealousy. Therefore, Cyrus is needed, and he, too much set aside hatred. However, before Carrie can gain his help, things change again and she is forced to do something that will make both men she loves hate her. The story is just beginning then. From there on out, the complexity and emotional action only get more intense.

***** This series is one that only gets better. Readers should be prepared to be taken on a journey that will make them weep, yet want the story to never end despite or because of that. The ending is heart-shattering, yet I am already looking forward to the next story. *****

Amanda Killgore

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Love, Loss. Second chances and common ground. September 25, 2007

By melindeeloo TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Quite a bit of Ashes to Ashes is about second chances. The characters from the previous books return here and if you are new to the series you will really want to start at the beginning with The Turning (Blood Ties, Book 1) and Possession (Blood Ties, Book 2) because a lot of time was spent in those books developing the characters and their convoluted relationships. If you start here you will get that fact that Carrie, Nathan, Cyrus, Max and Bella are all damaged in some way, but it is more of a superficial understanding than you'd have if you'd watched the events unfold.

All are needy and in search of love, but not all of them are truly ready for it. The triangle with Carrie, Nathan and Cyrus continues, in fact the author even indulges in a menage dream sequence. But the dynamics between them shift as events take the three of them through changes. Reasons holding back not just those three, but Max and Bella too, from giving their love disappear. Events occur between Cyrus and Carrie that allow Cyrus/Carrie and Nathan/Carrie to approach each other from common ground. Max and Bella especially find a new beginning, as they undertake what looks like a fatal journey, when they acknowledge love inspite of their fear of rejection or loss. All these changes make for second chances for those that can survive.

Ashes to Ashes carries forward the plot and the relationships from the previous books, but offers only a little in resolution. It turns out that there will be a fourth book in the series, All Soul's Night, out in June of next year. There's some setup for that here, as a character from the past reappears.... One enemy is vanquished and another remains to be defeated next time. I couldn't find the page to quote it exactly but in this book, Bella says that every one has scars, and it is how one goes about trying to heal that matters. It will be interesting to see how the Bella, Max, Nathan and Carrie move toward healing in the next book. Read more ›

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars the Blood Ties series continues in book 3 February 19, 2008

By Kelley Hartsell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Carrie's life, or rather, her un-life, is finally getting on track and things are looking very good for her and Nathan after all the turmoil. But of course, Carrie was never meant for a simple life. Word reaches them that the headquarters of the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement has been destroyed and the Oracle, the most dangerous of all vampires except maybe for the Soul Eater, is on the loose. Then, when it seems things couldn't get any worse, all clues point to the Oracle teaming up with the Soul eater, whose own plans involve becoming a god above human, vampires, werewolves, and all else.

Then there is Carrie's being torn between her two men, her two sires, Nathan and Cyrus. Cyrus may be human now, but if possible, Carrie is drawn to him even more because of his humanity. And we can't forget Max and Bella, two assassins, one vampire and one werewolf who have found what all believed impossible - love between the species.

And this is just the beginning...

If you've read my reviews of either of the preceding novels in the Blood Ties series, then you know I've been waffling on my opinion of it. So far, I've though the books were decent, but nothing special to make them stand out from anything else I've read lately. Probably the largest contributor to me not loving the series is Carrie herself. I've never really liked her from the first book and over time I find myself liking her less and less since she never seems to mature. I get so tired of her "do I love Nathan or Cyrus" whines that I want her to just pick one already and deal with it.

As with the previous book in the series, Ashes to Ashes takes a really long time to get going.... It starts off with a bang and I was excited to see the action begin right away. Unfortunately, that didn't last. There was a lot of aimless wandering initially, while we waited for the players to figure out what they wanted to do about the Oracle and the Soul Eater. They never really get going until halfway through the book, maybe even more, when we finally find out what the Oracle wants.

I do love Max and Bella though and their love story got me interested far more than Carrie and Nathan's. I like the new Cyrus though, now that he's discovered love (see Possession) and has gained a conscience to go along with his humanity. If not for the conflict between Max and Bella and their growing love and Cyrus still getting used to his humanity again, I would have put this book down long before the conclusion. The Oracle is horribly evil, as is the Soul Eater, so you know when these two get together, our characters are in for a hell of a time. I would have liked to see them play a larger role in the story. We see them here and there throughout, they don't really fully enter the story until close to the end.

If I've learned nothing else about the Blood Ties series, and the latest installment, Ashes to Ashes, I have discovered this series is one you either love or hate. There aren't a whole lot of people in the middle of the spectrum. I've admittedly been on the fence since book one, but most people have very strong opinions over the series. I cannot honestly say whether or not I'll be reading book 4 until it gets closer to the release date and I find out a little more about what it will be about. Right this moment though? I'm leaning towards cutting the ties with this series.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2008. All rights reserved. Read more ›