Review: Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey

Ashes on the Waves

Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: June 27, 2013
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin Teen

Description:

Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.

With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem, "Annabel Lee," Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.  

Ashes on the Waves is a young adult fantasy/paranormal romance novel that is based off of the poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe. It focuses on main character Liam MacGregor and his terrible life on the island of Dochas. Since his birth, Liam has been treated as an outcast or worse - a demon wearing a human's skin. Liam has minded his own business and kept himself linked to the only person he ever felt a true connection with: Annabel Leighton - a wealthy heiress whose family own a mansion on the island. Liam's life is forever changed when Anna is sent to the island by her family. Now that Liam and Anna have found one another, they refuse to be apart. However, the Celtic Otherworlders who have a strong hold on the island place a wager on their love, one that might just be the end of them both.

I am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, as one can easily guess by simply looking at the name I chose for my blog, so I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the book and how it was based on his poem, "Annabel Lee." Let me just say that I was not disappointed. The novel is a complete Gothic romance with a modern setting - completely beautiful, enchanting, and tragic at the same time. There were times throughout the novel that I would smile so much my cheeks hurt and then a few pages later, I would be on the verge of tears. The story of Liam and Anna is one of hope, redemption, true love, and eternity. Liam was a wonderful main character. He's a sweet, smart, truly kind person who has been treated horribly since his birth. He is referred to in the book as the "broken one" because his arm has been paralyzed since birth, during which his mother died. Due to ignorance, rumors, and lore, the people of the island fear and loathe him, regardless of his pure and innocent heart. Anna is a great leading lady for the novel - she's an awesome complement to Liam's character. They are true halves of the same whole and they bring out the best in one another. It sounds really cheesy saying it here, but their relationship in the novel was nothing but romantic and sweet. Being a modern Gothic story, there had to be some trials, heartache, and tragedy mixed in with the romance. I don't do spoilers in my reviews, but I will say that the ending was appropriate for the Gothic genre, even if I hated that it had to be that way. The writing was impeccably well done with incredible detail and vivid descriptions that had me easily imagining myself on Dochas alongside the characters. The Celtic lore was really intriguing for me and I loved that the author put it in with the main plot. I enjoyed learning new things about Celtic mythology and folklore - it added a unique depth to the book that made sure it was one of a kind. There isn't enough time or words for me to really communicate my feelings for this novel and I'm sure it's not completely coherent since I'm still reeling from just finishing the book. This is definitely a novel that fans of fantasy and paranormal will not want to miss out on - and I wholeheartedly think that readers of all preferences should experience the beauty and tragedy that is created within its pages.