Scan barcode
bekah1210's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Cancer
Minor: Drug use
blue_squishie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
⭐⭐⭐.5
Out of the Ashes by Kara Thomas is a heart-wrenching novel of suspense that follows Samantha Newsom’s investigation into her family’s murders. When Samantha was thirteen years old, her family was killed and their Catskills farmhouse was burned down in an unsolved crime. Twenty-two years later, she returns to her hometown of Carney, New York, haunted by the tragedy. The case had gone cold, but investigator Travis Meacham brings news that a prison inmate claims that Samantha’s presumed-dead baby sister survived that fateful night.
As Samantha delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers shocking truths that challenge everything she thought she knew about her family and the crime. However, Carney is a town that fiercely guards its secrets, and Samantha may find herself in grave danger as she tries to escape its grip.
Overall, I found the book to be engaging with a well-paced plot. The writing was solid, and the cover art perfectly captured the essence of the story. However, I did have a few reservations. With numerous characters to keep track of, it became challenging to stay connected to them all. Additionally, I struggled to warm up to Samantha as a protagonist, and I felt that the character development throughout the book was lacking. Furthermore, the ending left me unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, considering that this is Kara Thomas’s first venture into adult fiction, I enjoyed it enough to consider reading more of her work in the future.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Out of the Ashes by Kara Thomas is a heart-wrenching novel of suspense that follows Samantha Newsom’s investigation into her family’s murders. When Samantha was thirteen years old, her family was killed and their Catskills farmhouse was burned down in an unsolved crime. Twenty-two years later, she returns to her hometown of Carney, New York, haunted by the tragedy. The case had gone cold, but investigator Travis Meacham brings news that a prison inmate claims that Samantha’s presumed-dead baby sister survived that fateful night.
As Samantha delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers shocking truths that challenge everything she thought she knew about her family and the crime. However, Carney is a town that fiercely guards its secrets, and Samantha may find herself in grave danger as she tries to escape its grip.
Overall, I found the book to be engaging with a well-paced plot. The writing was solid, and the cover art perfectly captured the essence of the story. However, I did have a few reservations. With numerous characters to keep track of, it became challenging to stay connected to them all. Additionally, I struggled to warm up to Samantha as a protagonist, and I felt that the character development throughout the book was lacking. Furthermore, the ending left me unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, considering that this is Kara Thomas’s first venture into adult fiction, I enjoyed it enough to consider reading more of her work in the future.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
ambernicole2795's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
peaceloveray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The end was good but it took forever to get to the ending. It just drug on and on.
desnkoz's review against another edition
5.0
Heart wrenching
I want a part two and I don’t at the same time. Such a beautiful story with a bittersweet ending that left me wanting more.
I want a part two and I don’t at the same time. Such a beautiful story with a bittersweet ending that left me wanting more.
katelu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
annajoyreed93's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
blandtaste's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think I really like the way Kara Thomas writes her characters and the relationships between them. Oftentimes, it's hard for me to empathise with the emotions in books, but I have no trouble with this author.
"Little Monsters" was a 5, "That Weekend" was a 1, and I didn't know what expect from this book seeing the ratings others gave it. Now I know that it's truly those books in 3.7-3.9 range that become my all-time favorites.
The story is sad and touching, tragic and sharp, hopeful and despairing. As a reader, you get to see pieces of puzzle slowly come together into one big detailed picture. There are so many threads, but the most enticing part of this book is family relationships, the magnitude of feelings that they can make you experience.
"Long Bright River" by Liz Moore and this book show the stories of feeling too much, and that's why they are some of my favorites.
"Little Monsters" was a 5, "That Weekend" was a 1, and I didn't know what expect from this book seeing the ratings others gave it. Now I know that it's truly those books in 3.7-3.9 range that become my all-time favorites.
The story is sad and touching, tragic and sharp, hopeful and despairing. As a reader, you get to see pieces of puzzle slowly come together into one big detailed picture. There are so many threads, but the most enticing part of this book is family relationships, the magnitude of feelings that they can make you experience.
"Long Bright River" by Liz Moore and this book show the stories of feeling too much, and that's why they are some of my favorites.
neznel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0