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theaya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Compared to the first book, this one is a bit hard to read, still enjoyable nevertheless.
mellomorissa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ghost3_14159's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
024arw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
just_someone's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
2.5
Where to begin?
This book kind of disappointed me.
I couldn’t wait to start the second book, and when I did….. let’s just say it took a lot of energy and time to finish.
I think the main plot was suppose to be vengeance, but that felt like a side plot. And the main plot…… I don’t know what the main plot was. Sometimes it felt like not even the book knew where it was going.
The chemistry between Kovit and Nita…… gone for 80% of the book.
I will be reading the third book cause this is a very interesting world. Plus I want to know what follows to Nita story.
2.5 stars ⭐️ it wasn’t all that bad.Where to begin?
This book kind of disappointed me.
I couldn’t wait to start the second book, and when I did….. let’s just say it took a lot of energy and time to finish.
I think the main plot was suppose to be vengeance, but that felt like a side plot. And the main plot…… I don’t know what the main plot was. Sometimes it felt like not even the book knew where it was going.
The chemistry between Kovit and Nita…… gone for 80% of the book.
I will be reading the third book cause this is a very interesting world. Plus I want to know what follows to Nita story.
2.5 stars ⭐️ it wasn’t all that bad.Where to begin?
thebookberrie's review against another edition
3.0
Stop making me ship murderers, smh. This series is so weird for me because I like it I guess?? But then characters are so dumb sometimes that I just want to throw it.
Only Ashes Remain begins right after the last book, with everyone at the black market that held Nita captive dead. Proof of her abilities leaked on the darknet and now bounty hunters of all sorts are after her, to sell her body for parts. Nita teams up with master torturer Kovit again as she tries to kill enough people to make her reputation so dangerous they don't come after her again.
Literally the plot of this book is: "Let's kill as many people as we can!! Oh wait that makes everything worse and I shouldn't have done that? Darn" and it was so frustrating. I didn't know this was a trilogy either so ugh, wrap it up already. Why is this a trilogy? Pretty sure they've already killed enough people.
Nita is literally such a dumbass I want to fight her even though she single handedly killed like a dozen people in this. She keeps going after the same guy to kill (and fails because she's d u m b) and then gets mad he sends someone to kill her. Girl??? You started it why are you mad?? She makes so many mistakes too. Her entire idea to get out of her problem was a mistake but go off killing tons of people for NO reason I guess.
Nita kept going off about how the police would instantly shoot her in the US just for being brown but ??? none of this book even takes place in the US??? Why are you so obsessed?? It felt like the author was weirdly into inserting lines like that and I was so confused every time.
Also Nita and Kovit are murderers who have killed dozens of people and do so without remorse so like?? Shoot them please, they aren't stopping??? And ew stop mentioning the toe munching, that shit was gross in the first book and I didn't need to remember it again.
Otherwise this book was fineee and even though it bugged me, catch me still checking out book three from the library.
Only Ashes Remain begins right after the last book, with everyone at the black market that held Nita captive dead. Proof of her abilities leaked on the darknet and now bounty hunters of all sorts are after her, to sell her body for parts. Nita teams up with master torturer Kovit again as she tries to kill enough people to make her reputation so dangerous they don't come after her again.
Nita shifted forward so she was inches from his face, her eyes locked on his. "We will never be prisoners again. And we will destroy anyone who tries."This book is so dark and bloody and I was pretty into it for most of it. The story is so fast paced and I was super entertained. Nita is an antihero and Kovit is such a psychopath and I'm very happy to see their relationship is progressing. I ship them so much even though I really don't want to because they are so fucked up?? But also annoying because Nita couldn't make up her damn mind either. We love a judgemental serial killer judging another serial killer.
Finally he nodded, his black eyes tracing her face as he whispered, "Never again."
Literally the plot of this book is: "Let's kill as many people as we can!! Oh wait that makes everything worse and I shouldn't have done that? Darn" and it was so frustrating. I didn't know this was a trilogy either so ugh, wrap it up already. Why is this a trilogy? Pretty sure they've already killed enough people.
Nita is literally such a dumbass I want to fight her even though she single handedly killed like a dozen people in this. She keeps going after the same guy to kill (and fails because she's d u m b) and then gets mad he sends someone to kill her. Girl??? You started it why are you mad?? She makes so many mistakes too. Her entire idea to get out of her problem was a mistake but go off killing tons of people for NO reason I guess.
Nita kept going off about how the police would instantly shoot her in the US just for being brown but ??? none of this book even takes place in the US??? Why are you so obsessed?? It felt like the author was weirdly into inserting lines like that and I was so confused every time.
Also Nita and Kovit are murderers who have killed dozens of people and do so without remorse so like?? Shoot them please, they aren't stopping??? And ew stop mentioning the toe munching, that shit was gross in the first book and I didn't need to remember it again.
Otherwise this book was fineee and even though it bugged me, catch me still checking out book three from the library.
berbs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
littlebookterror's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
I am so happy I reread Not Even Bones to refresh my memories (and have a grand old time) before diving into this one but very unhappy I don't own the finale yet.
The story continues straight on - Nita still has a lot of unresolved feelings about everything that happened regarding the Market and she takes it upon herself to enact revenge when possible.
While the situation with INHUP and her mother wrapped up rather quickly and conveniently, I was not even mad about it because a) we got Kovit back and b) making some truly unhinged choices in the most relatable way possible. Schaeffer has created this beautiful, complex, dark fantasy world and she is not afraid to explore and dissect it even to the discomfort of her own characters. Nita overreacts and overcompensates, she is hypocritical and makes mistakes. She is also compassionate and sad and lost in this world she thought she understood and the only person who seems to be in a similarly miserable place is her previous captor. Talk about awkward.
The story includes a lot of downtime (maybe more than I needed) but it gives us plenty of time to the setup for whats to come and unravel at least a few of the mysteries we have previously uncovered. The focus on character relationships along with the additional to several old and new side characters of the human and monster variety, it offers a fascinating insight into the politics of this world and how proximity to such issues changes one's perspective.
I am also surprised that issues like racism are addressed - if just read too many white-authored books with protagonists of colour that kind of forget about that aspect.
And I loved that we get more hints of their aspec identities. Nita is clearly uninterested in the trappings of a traditional relationship, children included, and it's mentioned that Kovit has never expressed an interest in sex. The development between the two is beautiful to read about, I simply adore where they end up.
The story continues straight on - Nita still has a lot of unresolved feelings about everything that happened regarding the Market and she takes it upon herself to enact revenge when possible.
While the situation with INHUP and her mother wrapped up rather quickly and conveniently, I was not even mad about it because a) we got Kovit back and b) making some truly unhinged choices in the most relatable way possible. Schaeffer has created this beautiful, complex, dark fantasy world and she is not afraid to explore and dissect it even to the discomfort of her own characters. Nita overreacts and overcompensates, she is hypocritical and makes mistakes. She is also compassionate and sad and lost in this world she thought she understood and the only person who seems to be in a similarly miserable place is her previous captor. Talk about awkward.
The story includes a lot of downtime (maybe more than I needed) but it gives us plenty of time to the setup for whats to come and unravel at least a few of the mysteries we have previously uncovered. The focus on character relationships along with the additional to several old and new side characters of the human and monster variety, it offers a fascinating insight into the politics of this world and how proximity to such issues changes one's perspective.
I am also surprised that issues like racism are addressed - if just read too many white-authored books with protagonists of colour that kind of forget about that aspect.
And I loved that we get more hints of their aspec identities. Nita is clearly uninterested in the trappings of a traditional relationship, children included, and it's mentioned that Kovit has never expressed an interest in sex. The development between the two is beautiful to read about, I simply adore where they end up.
mysimas's review against another edition
Aw man, will the whole book be poorly written, slow, boring and flashback-y, or do I just need to tough out an unfortunate beginning?
Other reviews say it’s a whole-book thing, so I guess book one is now a standalone in my book.
Other reviews say it’s a whole-book thing, so I guess book one is now a standalone in my book.
_bird_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This took a little longer to read than the first. I found Nita’s constant fumbling of Fabricio irritating and I don’t like how she constantly puts Kovit in danger. Knowing that her mother wasn’t as bad as she made her out to be was a relief (at least for now). I’m curious to see how all of this is wrapped up in the final book.