This is Book Two in the Ashes trilogy and I have to say, one again, I loved not only the sequel but also the excellent narration by Nicola Barber. (Read my gushing review of Ashes of Twilight.)

Wren and Pace have made it outside the dome with a few other survivors, but it came at a great cost. Many of their friends have died and James blames Wren. Life outside the dome offers new discoveries but it's also a dangerous place, with wild rovers who hunt them down. The small band of survivors get help unexpectedly from a group of explorers that come in on an airship from across the sea. Among them is Levi who is as intrigued with them and Wren, as she is of him and his family. Wren begins to question her feelings for Pace when she is put in the position of fighting off the rovers with Levi at her side. Levi seems to understand a part of her that is troubled. When they get word from inside the dome, Wren knows she must go back to help her friends, but she is terrified she won't be able to escape again.

I thought this was a great sequel to the first book. Once again, Tayler is a great storyteller and I loved this book just as much as the first book for all the same reasons. The author introduces a love triangle, which I don't always like in books but somehow it seemed to fit in this book because being outside the dome is a world of discovery for Wren. Levi was like no one she had ever met before. He has seen the world and recounts his adventures to Wren who is simply fascinated. I understood how she began questioning everything she knew as she adapted not only physically but also mentally to this new world and new found freedom.

The whole book takes place within a week or so, and a lot of things happen in that short time. The ending was a cliffhanger, leaving me to wonder how it will all come to an end. Once again, I absolutely loved Nicola Barber's narration. She brings the characters to life. In the first book, all the characters had different English accents (I love how she can switch from one to the other with such facility!) but in this book she also had to use an American accent, which I thought she did quite well. I think I will listen to anything narrated by her.

This is one of the best dystopian steampunk trilogies I've read, and I can't wait to read the third book.

Note: This book had some bloody scenes of violence but nothing over the top. No bad language and no sexual content except kissing.

Wren MacAvoy is a 16 year-old girl who lives in the bowels of a domed city that was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. She works as a coal miner, living with only her grandfather, since her mother died giving birth to her and her father is unknown to anyone. Nearly 200 years have passed since the dome was built and now the coal is running out. When one of Wren's friends manages to escape the dome and is burned alive, his last words to her is that the sky is blue. This sets things in motion as Wren longs for light and ends up unexpectedly helping a young cadet city enforcer, Pace Bratton, who knows too much about the outside world. Together they fight for the right to leave the dome.

First off, I have to mention the fantastic narration by Nicola Barber because I think, for me, it made all the difference and is one of the reasons I loved this book so much. She is English and captured all the different accents of the characters so well from working class to educated, it really transported me to Wren's world. I felt the emotions of the characters in that voice, I pictured the characters through it, and I never tired of hearing it. I definitely hope she continues to narrate the two other books in this trilogy.

Wren is a strong intelligent character who questions her world and learns to appreciate her people as the story progresses. The growing romance and attraction to Pace is well done, exciting and hopeful. The story is filled with action and adventure, interspersed with reflections, twists and turns, and suspense. Surprisingly, her grandfather's Bible is mentioned a few times as the only book that Wren read several times and she quotes from it as she starts her story, “The Bibles teaches us that the heavens and earth were made by the one true God”. I was instantly intrigued. This novel is classified as dystopian steampunk, and I wondered where the story led. I wasn't disappointed. Don't misunderstand me. This is not Christian fiction at all, but the morals are good and the characters strive to be honourable.

Tayler's world building is awesome. We can simultaneously feel the darkness and claustrophobia in the tunnels, and yet also feel the safety of being cocooned within its caves, hidden from the upper world that hunted the young couple. The characters are distinct and they each stand out in their own way, thanks in part to the great narration. I loved both Wren and Pace. I rooted for them. I liked the way the author built tension, wrote her dialogue, and totally encompassed me into that domed world. 

I loved the way this story ended. It actually brought tears to my eyes. I know that this is the first book in a trilogy, but I would have been happy nonetheless if there had not been a continuation. I also love the book cover and title. They suit the novel beautifully. The yellow canary is as much a character in this novel as the others and symbolizes freedom. I recommend this audiobook to all lovers of YA books.

Note: This book had some scenes of violence but nothing too descriptive or over the top. No bad language and no sexual content except kissing.

will count this book toward the following challenges: Read Dystopia Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to AudioGo and Audiobook Jukebox for sending me this audio book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.