The Write Reads Blog Tour: Feast of Ashes by Victoria Williamson

Iseult

About the book

The Earth’s ecosystems have collapsed and only ashes remain. Is one girl’s courage enough to keep hope alive in the wastelands?

It’s the year 2123, and sixteen-year-old Adina has just accidentally killed fourteen thousand seven hundred and fifty-six people. Raised in the eco-bubble of Eden Five, Adina has always believed that the Amonston Corporation’s giant greenhouse would keep her safe forever. But when her own careless mistake leads to an explosion that incinerates Eden Five, she and a small group of survivors must brave the barren wastelands outside the ruined Dome to reach the Sanctuary before their biofilters give out and their DNA threatens to mutate in the toxic air.

They soon discover that the outside isn’t as deserted as they were made to believe, and the truth is unearthed on their dangerous expedition. As time runs out, Adina must tackle her guilty conscience and find the courage to get everyone to safety. Will she make it alive, or will the Nomalies get to her first?

My Review

I’ve read several books set in a future dystopian world where humanity has taken to living in underground self-sufficient compounds, and I’m pleased to say that Williamson has put a whole new spin on the setting. 

The author writes amazing layered, realistic, sympathetic characters. Perhaps the brightest out of a cast of stars is the narrator, 16 year old Adina. She’s unreliable, doesn’t hide from showing her flaws, and extremely kind (although she doesn’t want anyone to know about it). I loved how her age, defensiveness, and personality made her jump to conclusions, pick sides, and hide information while giving enough for the reader to see the truth of the situation. 

Baba Weseka and his dog, Yango, were two of my favorite characters. The author has a gift of showing the importance and humanity in people who society often looks upon as worthless. Baba Weseka and Yango are despised by the others in Eden Five, but Adina shows kindness and compassion to them, even if her words describing them are more attuned to what the other people say. 

Another favorite was Chiku, who tries so hard to gain Adina’s approval and only succeeds in drawing her ire. It was impossible not to love the strong, determined orphan. 

The world building and background for the dystopia was surprising, original, and frighteningly realistic. While I would have liked a little more subtly in how the information was conveyed, it was pitched perfectly for the young adult audience at which this book is aimed. 

With many scenes of peril and a lot of emotional developments, both for the characters and the world, this book doesn’t pull its punches. It makes me wish that the author will try her hand next at an adult book, as I would love to read a story with her complex characters and excellent world building where she could explore dark themes with abandon. 

Young adult books have become slightly formulaic recently, with feisty teen heroines who don’t follow rules, have a devoted entourage, and an ubiquitous love triangle. I love how Williamson took these tropes and twisted them into something refreshing, gripping and a joy to read. 

I also love how the author is donating 20% of her royalties from this book  to CharChar Literacy, an organization working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi. 

A Feast of Ashes is a triumph. Exciting, thought provoking, and full of wonderful, realistic characters. I can’t wait to read another book by this author. 

About the Author

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com