River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis
At first glance, St. Benedict is a small, quaint Southern town that oozes the type of charm lovers of Sweet Magnolias and Dawson’s Creek thrive on. Scratch at the veneer of this perfectly crafted façade and you’ll reveal a nitty, gritty darkness that clings to you like a second skin. River of Ashes (Vesuvian Books), the first book in the St. Benedict series by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor, is a fabulous start to an addictive series reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard, You by Caroline Kepnes, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.
Leslie and Dawn are twins, but they’re nothing alike. Leslie is pragmatic and has a no-nonsense attitude that the reader will find both endearing and relatable. Dawn, on the other hand, is the “it girl” — the girl every other girl wants to be even if her so-called perfection is mostly a show. Leslie and Dawn’s relationship is one of many conflicts you’ll come across in River of Ashes, but that’s all thanks to Beau Devereaux …
AN ADDICTIVE READ THAT LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE
Beau Devereaux is, without a doubt, one of the best-written villains you’ll ever love to hate. He’s the quintessential poster boy when it comes to privilege — handsome, old-money rich, from a seemingly good family — but there’s something not quite right with him. Beau has a cruelness in him that most people in St. Benedict ignore, mostly because his family runs the town. He rules the high school, football field and river with an iron fist, and hell be upon those who don’t follow his unwritten laws.
The problem is that Beau’s not exactly your typical arrogant teenage boy. He hungers for something sinister, something he doesn’t completely comprehend yet. He thought he could satiate his desires by toying with Dawn, but Leslie is who he really wants … and he’ll stop at nothing to get her. Beau Devereaux will not be denied.
If Gillian Flynn and Bret Easton Ellis had a book baby, it would be River of Ashes. Beau Devereaux is, in my opinion, a younger, less-sophisticated Patrick Bateman (American Psycho). He’s a devious villain with some terrifying, not-for-the-faint-of-heart tendencies. He’s cruel, even though his criminal behavior is still in its infancy. All that said, there’s something about how the character is written that makes you want to root for him to kind of redeem himself one way or another. Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor were able to make this antagonist almost … human.
EQUIVALENT TO A LITERARY SOAP OPERA
Yes, the characters of River of Ashes will draw you in, the history of St. Benedict hovers over the reader like a dark cloud, but the terrible happenings are what keep you turning the pages. And while the conflicts are brewing, thanks to Beau’s conniving, Dawn’s inability to accept the truth, and Gage Devereaux’s constant “cleaning up his son’s messes,” one can’t help but wonder whether any resolutions will be reached by the end of the book.
What’s more, there’s an almost cinematic quality to River of Ashes. As the story unfolds, my imagination went haywire, and I could easily imagine David Fincher (director of Fight Club and Gone Girl) or Mary Harron (director of American Psycho) turning this book into a movie. There’s also a bit of a soap opera quality to the drama that plays out between the characters, which would make for a binge-worthy TV series.
I loved every moment of River of Ashes, even if there were a few scenes that had me rushing to turn on the lights. It’s just so freaking juicy, like rumors that get twisted with every retelling. And while the threads of the story are neatly knotted by the end of the book — with a twist you won’t see coming — I can’t help wanting more of St. Benedict and am looking forward to River of Wrath.
River of Ashes is slated for release on Aug 2, 2022, and is now available for preorder from the retailers below.
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Thank you so much. Wonderful article.