I tried starting this book a long while ago, but held off on continuing because I hadn't read the first book and wanted to catch up. Then I tried starting the first book, but got turned off by the heavy swearing. I decided to give it another try recently, and this time, I bypassed the first book and listened to the audio book instead. There's still an over abundance of swearing, but that aside, this made for an excellent audio book.

There's near constant action, and the narrator did a fantastic job voicing the characters as they panicked and fought their way through each dragon fight or political mess. This book helped keep my brain awake during several tedious hours of working on the weekend. There's nothing like having a fiery phoenix trying to kill everyone to make a work day more exciting.

Aside from the vivid action scenes, the plot was pretty good too. I didn't like the way the main character handled everything, but that didn't detract too much from my overall enjoyment of the story. I appreciated how the author showed that human nature can be worse and more destructive than murderous dragons and a phoenix. Humans are their own worst monsters.

If I continue this series, it will probably be by audiobook. I just enjoyed that version much better than the text, although I hardly ever say that about a book.

Read the first few chapters trying to decide what to read and just couldn’t connect with it. The writing seems to be good, the books just not for me.

Sean Grigsby delivers a fiery good time with Ash Kickers, his sequel to Smoke Eaters. This series has a whole has a really fun premise hung on the bones of familiar sci-fi staples with its Futuristic Firefighters vs Dragons schtick that ultimately feels like a Ghostbusters meets Reign of Fire mashup with a smidgen of Pacific Rim tossed in for extra seasoning, all wrapped up in a big 80s action-movie blockbuster aesthetic.

Early in the 2100s, the whole damn world was caught with its pants down by the surprising reveal that dragons were no-shit for-real. Entire cities were laid waste and some select special people discovered they were genetically gifted with an immunity to heat and the ability to breathe smoke. A new municipal division of civil servants was created within America's firefighting departments to respond to the growing emergency.

In Ash Kickers, Tamerica Williams is tasked with handling an emergent threat that makes the dragons look tame by comparison - a newly risen phoenix. This magical beast drives dragons crazy and seems to be infecting human beings, causing them to spontaneously combust! Although it sounds like just the right kind of job Tamerica needs as she copes with burnout from her job as a smoke eater, it's not without its own share of complications as tensions begin to boil between the threat of the phoenix and a far-right neo-Nazi group targeting Parthenon City's immigrant population.

While Grigsby's book has lots of flash and spectacle, there's also a welcome dose of social and political commentary. Despite being set 100 years hence, Parthenon City's problems are distinctly contemporary and reflect our present-day upheavals in racism under the Trump presidency and orange ogre's public love affairs with, and emboldening of, white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups. Gigsby uses his future fantasy potboiler to explore Trump-era issues, creating a Dick Spencer counterpart with the just as badly hair-styled Duncan Sharp, leader of the racist PC First organization. For as hilariously satisfying as it was to see Spencer punched during an on-air interview a few years back, Grigsby exercises some highly satisfying creative wish fulfillment in dealing with Sharp during his high-octane climax!

And that climax... oh my goodness. Not only does it have a ton of exciting, big-screen ready action, Grigsby closes off this volume with an enticing lead-in to book three. The series ender, Flame Riders can't get here quick enough.

Author Sean Grigsby has done done something here that I don't think I've seen very often in the world of sequels ... using a different character's point of view (a character that was prominent in the first book - while the main protagonist from the first book is still prominent here) and dialing up the action, and the threat level.

Tamerica Williams is a smoke eater. Smoke eaters are sort of like firefighters with the bonus that they can breathe normally even when in a room full of smoke. Smoke eaters don't fight fires ... they fight dragons. But since the events of the previous book, smoke eaters aren't supposed to kill dragons any more, they're supposed to capture them. Dragon blood can be used to sure all sports of maladies (it is also what gives a smoke eater the ability to breathe smokey air).

At the start of the book, Tamerica is doing everything she can to provoke the dragon she's been sent to capture. She can kill a dragon if it's in self defense. But old habits die hard and Tamerica wants this dragon to die harder.

Things happen quickly and Tamerica's partner is nearly killed, the dragon is dead and explodes in a rush of flame that she's never seen happen before. Chief Brannigan has every right to kick her out of the force for endangering her partner the way she did, but instead of kicking her out or even placing her on unpaid leave, he promotes her to Captain status. (A good play, as it turns out, as she becomes hyper-aware of what her teammates are doing and if they're following the book.)

If we thought that the ghosts and dragons that we saw in the first book were terrifying (and they were!) the smoke eater battles are about to get exponentially worse as the intense fires are a result of a conversion in which a phoenix rises from the dragon ashes. And a cult of phoenix worshipers are going to give the smoke eaters some extra trouble.

This book was just hot fun.

I liked the first book a lot, though I was disappointed with the teen-boy attitude of the mature Brannigan. Tamerica doesn't have that same issue, but she is just a little bland - which is strange, since in her off time she's a DJ. Still, Grigsby creates a really spectacular world (ghosts, dragons, and a phoenix?!) and moves the story along swiftly. The characters could be a little more nuanced, but I would continue to read stories set in this world.

Looking for a good book? Ash Kickers, by Sean Grigsby, is a fun, energetic urban fantasy. The characters might not capture your interest, but the story and world definitely will.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Sequels are very hit or miss for me. There’s an inborn desire to know more about the story, but still wanting a continuation of what’s already been presented – don’t get me wrong, I’ve read good sequels, but I’ve also read bad sequels before. I’m sure you have too.

Ash Kickers, by and large, is not a bad sequel.

It’s not a good one, either.

It’s a GREAT ONE.

(Hah, that I was gonna be mean there for a second, huh?)

So let’s talk about Ash Kickers by Sean Grigsby.


Tamerica Williams, a Smoke Eater who lives for the thrill of fighting and killing dragons, finds her life dull and boring once she and the others are forced to take the dragons alive. The thrill’s gone, the excitement’s nonexistent . . . she’s about to quit before a new danger presents itself: a phoenix.

I’m not doing this book justice. Just trust me. Firefighters vs. dragons was the exciting tagline that got us into Smoke Eaters last year for a reason, and firefighters vs. a goddamn phoenix draws us in for the same reason. We crave the excitement, we crave the thrill, we crave a unique literary viewpoint that’s never really pit us against dragons and phoenixes like this before.

Ash Kickers does that cool thing we all want sequels to do, where they present us a new scenario that’s plausible enough to exist within the presented canon while still boggling us with a “holy shit, no way,” type feeling that keeps us reading. A real page-turner, if I’m allowed to be cliche for a moment.

Let’s talk about Sean for a second here. He’s loud and proud about everything – what he likes, what he dislikes, his hopes and dreams for where he wants his writing to go, and he puts all of that into his writing. There’s this joy he carries that’s evident in both his writing and his interactions with the people around him.

I’m waxing poetic real nice over the dude who stole my Micron, I know. But I never mentioned that it was because he ran into John Scalzi and he looked me in the eye and said, “That dude’s my hero and I need him to sign my book and I don’t have a pen.”

Like, how could I not give him the damn pen?

I’m glad that I get to live in this timeline, with passionate people like Sean Grigsby writing stuff and putting it out into the world.

–

Business-wise, Patreon is back up and running in time for our SECOND ANNIVERSARY AT THE END OF THE MONTH! So def check it out and sign up so you can get some cool birthday goodies!

You’ll see me at NYCC (though we don’t know which day now lmao!) so feel free to holler at me and say hi and stuff!

Don’t forget to check out my interview with Sean on iTunes, Spotify, and Podbean!

–

Ash Kickers features the kind of excitement and stellar writing that makes for a great adventure.
It’s a world of dragons, ghosts, and new larger-than-life creatures, highlighted by the always compelling Smoke Eaters and their deadly 9-5 experiences. This is modern fantasy at its best, taking the mythical creatures of legends and plugging them into a future not far removed from present day. Grigsby is fully committed to creating an adventure that never disappoints, and does so expertly.

Now on to a few of my favorite things:

GREAT CHARACTER WORK

It’s my strange preference to read a second book in a series without reading the first. I like to see how the author addresses previous books and if the individual entries can stand on their own under scrutiny. In the case of Ash Kickers, I was enthralled from the start, thanks to the author’s imaginative creations and strong character work. It’s always exciting to find an author who has a mastery for realistic, down-to-earth dialogue. I felt connected to these characters, laughing at their tough yet caring back and forths. There always seems to be something to prove between the Smoke Eaters but at the end of the day, they’d each lie their life on the line for any one of their crew members. Those are the kinds of relationships that pull you into the narrative and keep you invested until the end. 

SO MANY DRAGONS, SO LITTLE TIME

Grigsby doesn’t hold back his inventiveness when it comes to pulling dragons into this world. I’m sure a lot of this was covered in the previous entry in the series, but I was fascinated nonetheless. It’s a constantly changing world, with the dragon foes evolving to fight against their human oppressors. You never know what kind of creature is going to pop up next, adding suspense to an already adrenaline filled adventure.

ALL THE ACTION

The battles against the dragons and other creatures are exceptionally done. There’s never a dull moment as these brave Smoke Eaters fight for their lives with each encounter. Exploding dragons, firestorms, enormous mythological beings - it’s all on the table, just waiting to explode from the page. I found myself racing through the pages to keep up with the pace. It’s a fun time, to be sure.

MODERN DAY FANTASY

I love a good adaptation of old school fantasy characters and themes into modern day. It’s exciting to imagine beings as old school as dragons flying around modern day middle America. The book never falls into trope territory, but continues to add something new and fresh to the genre. Major props to Grigsby for creating something so unique and thrilling.

DNF. at 23%
Could'nt connect to any of the characters, sadly. I think this was just not a book for me.

Another Home Run

4.5 out of 5 stars

I absolutely loved Grigsby’s first novel in this series, Smoke Eaters. So, when I found out that Ash Kickers was being written and released I was excited.

Thankfully, my excitement wasn’t all for nothing. Grigsby wrote another stellar novel and this time took down the action (a little) but still wrote an absolutely compelling novel that touches on more than just fighting dragons.

Also, let’s take a moment to recognize two things here: the cover and the title of the book. I love the name Ash Kickers and as it’s finally used in the book it ends up growing on some characters as well. And that cover is so eye-candy attention-grabbing that I love it. It also gives a little hint into what you’re getting yourself into.

Grigsby didn’t shy away from action either. The scenes where they are trying to capture and then later were intense, real, and overall extremely well written

I think the biggest strength in Ash Kickers was the characters. They were compelling and human. I mean, of course, they’re human, but they really feel real. I was rooting for them all and wanted things to work out.

Overall, a fantastic novel that will be in my top list of the year for sure. Grigsby hits another home run.

Rating: ★★★★☆+

Synopsis

Dragons vs Firefighters vs the Phoenix. The scorching fantasy sequel to Smoke Eaters.

With ex-firefighter Cole Brannigan in command of the Smoke Eaters, the dragon menace is under control. Thanks to non-lethal Canadian tech, the beasts are tranquilized and locked up, rather than killed. But for Tamerica Williams, this job filled with action and danger, has become tediously routine.

When a new threat emerges, a legendary bird of fire – the Phoenix – it’s the perfect task for Williams. But killing the Phoenix just brings it back stronger, spreading fire like a plague and whipping dragons into a frenzy. Will it prove to be too much excitement, even for adrenalin-junkie Williams?

Review

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance reading copy of Ash Kickers (Smoke Eaters #2) in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this e-ARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

You ever feel like you just need a fun, easy read? One that doesn’t take a whole lot of concentration or require the ability to remember 500 names of people, places, objects… A read where you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the hell out of it? That is exactly what the Smoke Eaters series is like: a fast-paced, no holds barred romp that instantaneously grabs your attention and keeps it in its talons. An ingenious premise that I am amazed hasn’t been thought of before. The 368 pages flew by in the matter of hours. It was that good.

Ash Kickers is exactly what I wish for in every single sequel: an engaging read that tops its predecessor; really ups the ante, gets the juices flowing. How in the world can you not love a book that has firefighters vs dragons, laser weapons galore, AND A FREAKING PHOENIX. Constant action, fire-breathing monstrosities, characters that curse like sailors, YOU NAME IT.

Though books like these don’t normally have lasting characters, Brannigan still holds a place in my heart after his story in Book 1. It was great seeing his role, though diminished, in Book 2 and I still enjoy the heck out of his demeanor. I also can’t remember if Book 1 had one or not, but Book 2 left a heck of a cliffhanger, so one can only imagine what is in store for Book 3.

I’m not really sure why this series hasn’t received more hype. Angry Robot and Grigsby are sitting on something that I believe would make a hell of a movie franchise, let alone books that should be selling way more than they are. Sure, there are tons of books out there, but not so many give me this level of entertainment. It is absolutely mental in the best way possible.

Read Smoke Eaters? What’re you waiting for?
Haven’t checked out Smoke Eaters? Get on the hype train.
Want to know what it compares to? Well, nothing really. I would say people who enjoy books in the military sci-fi or urban fantasy genres will find tons to love.

Thank you to Angry Robot and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
If you would like to see more of my reviews please visit me on beforewegoblog.com

Sometimes you need to kick a little ash.

It's all fun and games till someone gets their ash kicked.

I am here to chew bubble gum and kick a little ash

To punny? Nah, there is always time for punny ash kicking.

First off, I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I love this story for a myriad of reasons. These are not limited to: the protagonist kicks absolute ass, the depiction of badass firefighting, the dragons, the Phoenix, the camaraderie, the dialog. Seriously, I can go on and on. This isn't a deep book, this is pure unadulterated fun. And we need to have some fun once in a while, not all books should be serious and thoughtful. Some books should be action-packed, full of jokes, and ones that make you fist pump. This one is like that. I fist pumped and said. "YEAH!" many times.

Ash Kickers is the second of the Smoke Eaters series following the cataclysm of the rise of dragons and later destruction of much of humanity. Firefighters are humanities last hope in fighting dragons. Specifically, specialized firefighters that are immune to dragon smoke. The first of this series, Smoke Eaters is about Brannigan. A veteran firefighter who is conscripted into the Smoke Eaters after 30 years of regular firefighter service. The second book of the series is about Tamerica Williams. Brannigan makes frequent cameos in Ash Kickers. But, the action centers around Williams who is first a firefighter and then becomes a chief with her own team investigating mysterious ash and burning dragons.

Tamerica is a great character. She is strong, weak, and everything you would think a real person, under the circumstance, with that kind of job would feel. She manages a team, personal conflict, guilt, regret, and decision making with as much aplomb as she can. Every so often she breaks down and shows a softer side that a reader can empathize with. It is not all ass kicking and rainbows. She may be an amazing firefighter, but her job is hard and she has lost many friends along the way. Every now and then a person needs to emotionally reset.

Ash Kickers also does a great job adding current events into the mix. Such as how communities feel about immigration. It doesn't feel hackneyed or contrived in an attempt to relate it to current events. Rather, it is a nod to what is going on in the world and shows it in a different light.

Also, I don't think a reader will have any issues picking up the second book and going forward with the story. I never read the first book and had no issues. I will, however, go back and read the first book tuite suite.

This story is all adventure and exactly what I needed. I had so much reading it. If you are looking for a whole lot of fun and great world-building centered around firefighters, you will love this. And dragons, I mean dragons always kick ash.

As good as the first novel and brimming with exuberance and chutzpah, Ash Kickers is a worthy sequel. The story, which began with Brannigan, now passes to Tamerica Williams, a brash young woman moving up through the Smoke Eaters ranks. Yes, it still feels like a marty stu - even with a female protagonist who, if I am honest, seems more like an amalgamation than a person. But in all, this is great fun with a lot of heart. I think the biggest inspiration must have been Ghostbusters - this feels so much like it, but with dragons instead of ghosts and firefighters instead of academics. It would make an incredible movie!

Story: Tamerica Williams is a woman with a mission - to get action destroying as many dragons as she can. It's raising her in the ranks but also getting her in trouble as often as not. When her team chances upon a phoenix, they begin to notice the animal has a strange effect on dragons and people. As dangerous as this fiery creature is - how do you kill something that won't stay dead?

What I liked most about this book is that it had a lot of lore - the world building greatly expanded here and things are looking to be getting out of hand just as they are getting under control. It's an interesting dichotomy that the writer has fun exploring with his very diverse range of main and side characters.

Tamerica is fun to follow, as irreverent as Brannigan but in her own way. At least this time we don't have all the male team members falling all over themselves trying to get her into bed as we did with the women and Brannigan. Similarly, the side characters (returning and new) are fun and showcase our main character nicely.

The action flows, is easy to follow, and there is a lot of fun to be had reading it. Especially with this book, I felt like we had the first Ghostbusters movie given a modern redux - complete with politicians getting in the way and a team of four (though not equals) dealing with an escalating situation that no one predicted happening. Instead of ghosts suddenly becoming more prevalent, we have dragons (and now a phoenix) rising from the ground to terrorize people.

In all, I look forward to every installment of this series. It's great fun, an easy and uncomplicated read, and we have characters who get to sass and quip their way in and out of strange situations. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

It's 2123 and the Smoke Eater's Division has made so much progress with fighting the dragons that appear out of nowhere to kill people and start fires that they have been given a new directive: don't kill them, capture the dragons so their blood can be used for medicine. There has also been a method devised to contain the wraiths (ghosts of dragon victims) so they can't guard nests of dragon eggs. Lots of advancement in how to deal with dragons since the end of book one, Smoke Eaters. All of this made for a great beginning to the second book. I was disappointed that Chief Brannigan wasn't heading up all the action but Tamerica Williams was definitely a character who managed to keep this story racing ahead. Unfortunately all of this regulation has tamed the job for Tamerica to the point where she's bored with her work. Well, she was until the phoenix came along.

Ash Kickers is a non-stop action story that shows great imagination, plotting and planning on the part of author Sean Grigsby. The fight against the phoenix presented multiple trial and error opportunities and the suicide arsons added an interesting diversion plot line that was sufficiently interesting to keep me tuned in. There is a comment from the author in the Acknowledgements section indicating that he is hoping there will be a third book for the series. That offers some explanation for the almost definite ending for this story. Maybe there will be another one, or two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for an e-Galley of this novel.

I struggle with the fictional portrayal of firefighting. You see, I'm married to a firefighter. Over the years, I've become one of those people who pick apart shows when firefighters are represented. I couldn't even get past the first five minutes of Chicago Fire without yelling at the tv multiple times. I hate the dramatizing and romancing of the fire life. It couldn't be further from the truth. I'm the same way when it comes to written fiction so when I saw Ash Kickers I almost passed it by, expecting the same. I'm so glad I didn't because this book was awesome!

Ash Kickers is less about firefighting than it is dragon fighting. It's a scaly new world out there. Dragons suddenly appeared on the landscape doing what dragons do and wreaking fiery havoc. In response to the emergence, the smoke eaters were formed and new ways of fighting fire —and the beasts causing them— created. To add insult to injury, they all can shoot electromagnetic pulses, knocking out the equipment used to capture them. Capture...er, what? Yup, see they've found that dragon blood saves lives so the smartest thing to do is capture them and contain them. They've also discovered that people killed by dragons become wraiths. Dragons need wraiths to protect their ash nests, adding a ghostly guard dog aspect to dueling dragons. There are so many layers to this world building. Various dragon types, almost like kaiju spawning, come with their own elemental strengths and attacks. And we haven't even talked about the big mamma jamma - the Phoenix, or the people spontaneously erupting into flames, or even what makes the smoke eaters special.

Speaking of smoke eaters, enter our MC Tamerica Williams. She's lost the thrill that comes with her job and starts taking chances that put her whole team on the line. Instead of punishing her, she's promoted to Captain. There's so much to like about this character. She's strong but still vulnerable. A leader but one still suffering from doubt and concern for her team. She does take some stupid chances but in the chaos and fire, it's easy to judge from the outside looking in. Secondary characters were also well written. Tamerica's team, Afu Kekoa and Dynamite Patrice Johnson, bring some much needed comic relief to the front line.

While Ash Kickers is a sequel, it can certainly be read as a standalone. You can bet that I'll be picking up the first in the series, Smoke Eaters, at a later date. With great characters and an incredible ever-expanding SFF world, Ash Kickers keeps you turning the pages to find out what happens next to Captain Tamerica Williams and her team. My only disappointment is the throw on the brakes, cliff hanger ending, but it only sets the scene for a third in the series, and who can be upset with that?

The second book in the series following on from Gigsby’s debut Smoke Eaters see’s us return to our Dragon killing firefighters. Only this time they aren’t killing, they’re capturing instead.

In a brilliant narrative decision this time we are following Tamerica rather than Brannigan. This gives us a fresh perspective on the role and world the Smoke Eaters inhabit.

Frustrated with the change in remit the Smoke Eaters are working under Tamerica is desperate for some action. She certainly gets it. A new threat has literally risen from the ashes – a huge flaming Phoenix is causing chaos and it’s so hot even the Smoke Eaters are having trouble getting near it.

Still present is the gritty realism of firefighting, the women feel more rounded as characters than the first time and the action sequences are fast paced and gripping.

An excellent second outing (I was thrilled to see Brannigan’s robo-dog again too). Action packed with heart as well, this is an enjoyable read.

Ash Kickers Review

I received an early copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Ash Kickers is the sequel to Smoke Eaters. If you read and enjoyed that, then you’ll really enjoy this one.
Once again, it is firefighters vs dragons in the future. But this time, with a Phoenix thrown into the mix.
The action was top notch and the dialogue was fun.
Where the first book had a couple of slow moments to it, this one moved at a more breakneck speed. The action didn’t let you go and even the character moments were sharp.
If I can use a movie comparison, Smoke Eaters was The Terminator and Ash Kickers is Terminator 2.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

I enjoyed the first book of this series, but felt this one lacked a bit. It was hard to stay attentive reading it. Felt like the author was trying to hard to make it funny and sarcastic yet fill in the story. Almost like too much dialogue..crammed with obvious "hero" action. and I'm talking in just the first two chapters..

Ash Kickers by Sean Grigsby, this book is a sequal to Smoke Eaters. A fun read about dragons swarming from the center of the earth, and only a select few can fight them off, now the Phoenix has arrived and is killing smoke eaters and dragons alike...

LOVED EVERY MINUTE

What a fabulous book two. Rather than continue to follow Brannigan we now follow Tamerica, a front line kick-ass Smoke Eater. Brannigan is still around and still his surly self but now he's the boss and Tamerica just keeps getting into trouble. The scalies are almost an manageable problem now only its drawn something new to town.

There's a bigger fish... in this case... phoenix. And talk about difficult to fight, how to you kill something that keeps coming back to life?

Full of brilliant action sequences and MOOD. Book two is as much fun if not more than the first. Author Sean Grigsby knows how to make a tense fight scene really sing. I read this on the train and for two days in a row nearly missed my stop. (I read it in two days so who knows what would have happened on the third day.) I want more from this author. This is a brilliant series, a entertaining concept and one day I hope movie series. Netflix get onto this now!