I only gave this a rating because I had to. I feel like this is a book that shouldn't be rated. I liked the sisters in this and the friendships that were made. I liked how the girls stuck together and protected each other. TW for sexual assault, murder, fire, etc.

This book was such an interesting trip into the mind of a very disturbed teenager and his uncontrollable urges towards sexual violence and the joy he derives from it.

At some points, it was even a bit much to read the descriptions of his thoughts and actions, but it was an informative tour of the mind of a sociopath!

River of Ashes was ok. It’s not really the kind of book I usually read but I have it a chance nonetheless. It had interesting characters and a decent plot. It just didn’t have its hooks in me like most books I finish.

Holy wow, was this book good! Absolutely amazing! I tore through it so fast! I found that I just could not put it down, because every time I thought I'd be able to stop another twist happened, and I had to keep going. This was a fantastically suspenseful thriller. The story of twin girls in high school who are both wrapped up with the same boy but in very different ways. I loved how this book gave multiple perspectives, It gave an interesting perspective to how each twin saw the events of the story. Telling it this way just added to the many layers already in the story. I loved the unpredictability of this story, it kept me guessing until the very end, I'm not normally a thriller reader, I'm usually more a fantasy or romance reader, but I absolutely loved this book. I immediately checked to see if there were more books, and I will be devouring them as well!

A dark twisted tale of high school status and the intoxication of power.
I absolutely adored this book. It was suitable creepy and horrifying and i was surprised by how dark it got. Beau was a captivating and cruel villain and his lack of empathy really resonated throughout the book. I wish we could have discovered more about the potentially supernatural elements of the priory but regardless i enjoyed my time with this series and I will absolutely be ordering its sequel.

I’m not sure I can form the best words for this review.. it was an odd yet intriguing book. Reading this book in the view of a very twisted mind was… odd. Almost turns you away from the book. It changes view from multiple people so you get a break from the psychopath’s point of view when he starts to get too dark. I did like the small foreshadowing details. How he would constantly see a white cloak running away from him which was just thought of as the silly legend around the Abby. And the dogs symbolism of death was pure icing on the cake.

The ending though.. I seen part of it coming. The other part though revealed right at the end.. I never expected that in a million years!! I am not sure where the next books are going to lead but I can’t wait.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠?
The book cover! I took one look at the cover, and wanted to read the book, assuming it would be a fantasy book. I read the blurb, and still wanted to read the book...

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠...

The trigger warnings were necessary to prep myself before I started reading the book, so they were really appreciated. The authors' note at the end also explains the need for this book... the important message it delivers...

The book was a dark dark dark rollercoaster, and can be very triggering... And yet, is so well written, that I could not stop reading in morbid fascination...

The book left me feeling disturbed, and emotional... it's mostly written from the POV of a very dysfunctional Beau Devereaux... The ending shocked me!!!

"I don't need help. What I want is revenge."

Be mindful of the trigger warnings because this book was a rough ride and deals with very heavy topics.

While this is a YA geared towards that age range, it still resonates with me as an adult. There's an author's note at the back that I would recommend reading first as it explains the overall topics of the book and the reasoning for writing it. It does a good job of preparing you for what is to come. There is a powerful message behind the book and one that is important to me.

River of Ashes was a shocking look into the mind of the villains we carry in our books and in our real life through one of the POVs. Thrown back into the high school world, we're brought face to face with Beau and see his twisted and demented thoughts during his POV. The world building and atmosphere of the authors storytelling added to the gut twisting feeling and thoughts throughout the story and amplified the intense fear that Beau radiates. The contrast between his POVs vs Leslie's was refreshing and I definitely looked forward to her chapters just to get a break from his mind.

But the ultimate piece that made Beau so realistic is that I've known men that give the same feel as Beau, and I feel like many women I know have as well. It's almost unsettling how much he reminded me of different moments and people I have known.

River of Ashes carries an important message and warnings. Thrillers, murder mysteries, and horror were my first loves when it came to literature, but I was still unprepared for different twists and turns the book took.

This is such a fantastic fall read!! There was twist and turns that keep me reading long into the early morning hours!! This book is hands down a page turner and one you want to keep reading!! The writing, the world building. Everything is fantastic!!

I thought this book was freaking awesome. The terrifying twists and turns keep me reading long after bedtime. I kept all the lights on. I thought the book was scary.

This was a perfect book to read this fall as it kept me on the edge of my seat and bitting my nails from the very start. I kept waiting for eerie music to start and read this book in only a few sessions. Weis & Astor excellently set the gothic scene, placing the book in a small southern town and describing the buildings, Abbeys, and more with great detail.

And our main character, Beau Devereaux, is both creepy and deeply disturbing. I have never read a book from a psychopaths/villains POV and found this entirely unlike anything else I had ever read. I was glad to see and read the authors note at the back of the book detailing why this topic was chosen. I would recommend reading that first!

This book, its characters and plot twists, is one that will stick with you and keep you guessing. A perfect read for October!

A hair-raising accurate portrayal of a psychopath's descent into madness and murder as well as the lives of his victims. If you want to get a look inside of the mind and the making of a killer, here's your chance. And from his POV! You also get POVs from the twin sisters in the story.

I read the bios in back and one of the authors is a nurse who has worked with sexual assault victims and mental illness. She also includes a note you shouldn't skip.

River of Ashes is a chilling reminder of what can be hiding behind the smiling mask of strangers--or the person next door..

There is a creepy atmospheric sense to this Southern Gothic thriller that has an immersive feel as you follow the characters through the town of St. Benedict, LA., which is a character all its own. The writing is flawless and the story is addictive..

Unsettling and unforgettable.


--There is a rape scene included. late in the book.

Unsettling and unforgettable, River of Ashes is a very well developed, well written crossover between Adult and mature YA.. A psychological thriller with southern gothic vibes and a ghost (it wouldn't be Louisiana if there wasn't a supernatural thread). You can feel the atmosphere from the Louisiana heat and the Spanish moss oaks, to the eeriness of the haunted abbey and the river. Then there is a deceptively charming psychopath. The characters are very well drawn and I love that you get the POV of Beau Devereaux. He is a character you love to hate, but I couldn't help but like to read about him. The twins, Leslie and Dawn, couldn't be more different, but they both evolve from beginning to end--especially Dawn. Speaking of the end, it has one of the greatest, most satisfying twists I've ever read. I cannot wait for River of Wrath to see where this epic series is going next.

The authors handle the subject matter very well. Based on the author note at the end, the reason for writing the book shows within the pages with eloquence but harbors a gritty, all too real reality. Highly recommended.

Note: This is an adult series and the authors pull no punches with some of the content. The rape scene isn't gratuitous and is near the end of the book.

⭐ -- Pretty cover.

Maybe I wasn't the target audience for this book, but nothing about this book worked for me. The writing was juvenile, simplistic, and repetitive. The characters were flat, boring, and Beau came across like a caricature. There is no subtlety to the plot (or the characters) you are just hit over the head with graphic violence and rape. The paranormal aspect was underdeveloped and seemed out of place. Yeah, disappointed...

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This book is not for the weak of heart or those with significant triggers. But, for me, it was FABULOUS. I have not been so drawn into a book since the first time I read Throne of Glass. Very reminiscent of small towns and the way the hierarchies work within them. The characters were likable (and unlikable) to such a degree that I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. Wonderful, I cannot wait to read more.

This one is so good, I’m not even sure where to start. I was expecting dark romance but this is something else entirely: obsession, sick and twisted that will never be anything else, can never be reciprocated. Beau Devereaux is a sick, sick boy. He puts up a great front as the star quarterback, excellent student and most popular guy in town but he’s hiding an evil so deep and depraved that nobody would ever suspect. Except for Leslie. She sees right through his façade and knows exactly what he is, even if nobody else believes it.

He's biding his time until he can have Leslie and will do whatever it takes to get close to her. He’s been dating her twin for months, hoping to quell some of his urges with her lookalike, but Dawn isn’t what he wants, not at all. His twisted plan has worked well, driving a wedge between the sisters that both keeps them apart while giving him access to stalk Leslie’s life from nearby.

She knows he’s no good and Leslie’s determined to unmask him for all to see, but even she underestimates the monster inside of him. As Dawn becomes disillusioned with her boyfriend’s wandering eye and gaslighting to hide his cheating, the girls grow closer once again but only Dawn realizes how Beau orchestrated their estrangement. But why does he want to keep her from her own twin?

This story is amazing in every way. The twists at the end (yes, twists plural) made my week. There was one I expected but two I never saw coming and the last few chapters had my mind reeling. This is book one of a duet and for once, I have absolutely no idea what to expect from the next book. The story could have ended right here so I don’t know where we go from this point but I can’t wait to find out. The heartfelt note at the end from one of the authors gives it an additional dimension that’s both painful and hopeful. We need more writers like Weis and Astor.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book. I am leaving this honest review of my own will.

Loved it!

📖 𝕖𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 📖

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘞𝘦𝘪𝘴 - 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝘗𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨: 355
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝘉𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 & 𝘚𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 - 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘨

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·


___________💭𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜💭_____________

“‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩. 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳.’”

𝙍𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙊𝙛 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 is the first instalment in Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor YA, contemporary, ST. BENEDICT'S thriller that follows high school seniors (and twins) Leslie and Dawn Moore, and high school quarterback Beau Devereaux.

River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis & Lucas Astor is told from the psychopath’s point of view, at some ponts in the book, and honestly I loved this new perspective. I loved seeing the world through his twisted eyes.

This one is not a quick read, with almost 400 pages BUT it is worth your time and would be a great read.

⚠️ 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦, 𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳. ⚠️

Book review :
This book is a psychological thriller. The first book in the St. Benedict series is an absolute gripping read. The kind of skin-crawling, queasy-feeling-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach story that needs to be told and demands to be read. The type of cautionary tale that keeps you alive by reminding you that sometimes the biggest horrors aren’t the monsters hiding under the bed but the ones hiding in plain sight.

The story revolves around the only child of a powerful family, Beau who can do nothing wrong, Star quarterback, Handsome, Charming and the “prince” of St. Benedict . But he is also a psychopath.

A dirty family secret buried for years, Beau’s evil grows unchecked. In the shadows of the haunted abbey, he commits unspeakable acts on his victims and ensures their silence with threats and intimidation. But in senior year when he eyes on Leslie while dating her twin sister Dawn , the story takes a huge twist.

I was quite intrigued to know will Leslie be able to face Beau and how the survival of a girl after such torturous fate takes place . The way the whole plot was crafted was really elusive. Though a dark and dangerous things but need guidance and awareness nowadays as the world is progressing and girls need to fight back.

The writing and storyline is exceptional. Though creepy at times and disturbing but still a thought provoking book. I would recommend this book to all girls to give it a read once.I am thankful to netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this book in return of an honest review.

Happy Reading!

Beau has it all. Literally. His father, Gage Devereaux owns the town & most of the people work for him. He's football captain, handsome, and he's wealthy. To his girlfriend Dawn, he's perfect. To her twin sister Leslie, he's despicable-often making lewd comments to her after she turned down his advances.

When parties at the river take a deadly turn the town is shaken up & it takes an apparition & wild dogs to make amends & stop a killer.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5