Blog Tour: Feast of Ashes by Victoria Williamson

When I saw The Write Reads call for Feast of Ashes blog tour, I initially hesitated. Young Adult dystopian fantasy isn’t my favourite genre, but then I saw it was by Victoria Williamson, and I knew she would do something special so I immediately signed up.

Here’s the blurb:

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’ll never forget the date September the third, 2123. How could I? That was the day I killed fourteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six people.”

These are the opening lines to a terrific YA Dystopian adventure by Victoria Williamson. I loved this character-driven story and its fantastic premise, which touches on many issues, corporate greed being the one that resonated most with me.

Adina is a strong and compelling protagonist. She’s clever, imaginative, and determined. By her own words, she can be lazy, dishonest and downright mean (in her treatment of ten-year-old Chiku). At the same time, Adina desperately tries to reconcile her parents and foster a loving home environment. We learn of the great efforts she goes to in order to bring happiness to her little sister Tash. In particular, we witness her kindness to Baba Weska, a confused and difficult old man, whose dire warnings of doom and muddled memories of life before the Dome, make him a figure of fun to the other residents. I suspect it’s probably thanks to Adina that Baba’s dog, Yango, hasn’t already been put down. A complex and layered character, Adina is also tender-hearted, much as she tries to hide it. She undergoes a painful interior journey as she and a small group of survivors from Eden Five cross the dangerous and devastated African landscape. I was with her every step of this gripping journey, the end of which is both emotionally draining and extremely moving.

The other characters are well-drawn, and I particularly liked Baba and Yango, his dog. I love that Chiku is a mini-Adina and that she and Tash, like Adina, share the same kind heart. The Dome’s depiction as a viable habitat following a global disaster is convincing, I could imagine people surviving there and living the life that Adine described. It was horrible, but it was believable! I also like the symbolism of plucking the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for Adina’s eyes are opened as Eden is destroyed and its survivors cast into the wilderness.

I want to avoid spoilers, but I have to commend the author for drawing attention to the fact that global corporations have been using Africa and her people as test subjects for years, in particular with medicines, vaccines and GMOs. Feast of Ashes is speculative but not that far from the truth. I was pleased by the name of one of the villains, and someone else pointed out to me that the corporation name is actually an anagram of a real world company. I hope Feast of Ashes makes people aware and interested in learning more about these things.

Overall Feast of Ashes is a gripping and satisfying read with a super heroine and a great story. I look forward to reading book 2 and 3, and I suspect that a lot of things we discovered in book 1 might not be quite what we think in subsequent books. I highly recommend Feast of Ashes, and not just for those who love YA Dystopian tales.

Feast of Ashes features a dog, so it’s over to TOTP and his knitted friends for their thoughts.

TOTP: We were warned but we went ahead and read the book anyway.

Knitted TOTP: What can I say?

Knitted Jewel: The killer strikes again?

Knitted TOTP: No! I was going to say another wonderful depiction of a much-loved dog. I love that Yango became such a symbol of hope and motivation for Adina to continue on. I love that Yango’s human would do anything for her.

Knitted Jewel: I agree. Yango is a brave and wonderful dog.

TOTP: I see Knitted Firestone isn’t joining us?

Knitted Jewel: He’s too upset by what happened to Yango.

Knitted TOTP: At least Victoria Williamson didn’t have anyone eat Yango.

TOTP: That would be ridiculous. No one eats dogs.

Knitted TOTP and Knitted Jewel exchange looks.

Knitted Jewel (whispers): Who’s going to tell him?

Knitted TOTP (loudly): No one eats knitted dogs

TOTP: Another noble name is added to our list of fallen heroic fictional dogs – Yango joins the never-to-be-forgotten Twister and Raggy, and will remain in our canine hearts for ever. Thank you for joining us.

Feast Of Ashes was published on 5th October this year. Thanks to Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads for having me on the tour.

About the Author:

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