Author:  Kevin J. Anderson

ISBN:  978-0-316-00757-3

The Ashes of Worlds is the conclusion in The Saga of Seven Suns and the seventh book in this exciting science fiction epic series.  If you haven't read the rest of the series, don't miss out on the preceding books:  Book 1-Hidden Empire, Book 2-A Forest of Stars, Book 3-Horizon Storms, Book 4-Scattered Suns, Book 5-Of Fire and Night and Book 6-Metal Swarm.

The cover of the book grabs your attention with the sun forming a thin amber crust around the planet.  The contrast of the bright color against the black makes the title of the book stand out.  At the beginning of the novel, the author gives a recollection of the six previous books in a quick synopsis to bring you up-to-date to the seventh book.

In this climactic novel, Jora'h is among the fascinating characters that bring this novel to life.  The main character is torn between keeping his family safe and having to serve a tyrant.  The characters interact well with each other, giving the reader a look into each of his or her psyche and make you want to learn more about each one.    

The seventh book continues the story and engulfs the reader's senses.  It's like being introduced to the character's journey through the series, to end in the last book that brings everything together in one neat package. 

The setting of the story is typical of the science fiction genre and the reader will not be disappointed.  You're absorbed in the technology, the terminology and the style that makes this story compelling. 

One thing I can say about the dialogue is that it isn’t too contemporary.  As a reader, you know you are reading science fiction and the character names are distinct.  The dialect isn’t too heavy and difficult to read and when the characters interact with each other, you know which person is speaking based on the different personalities the author portrays.

At the back of the book, the author displays a glossary to help the reader along with any indistinguishable words.  The chapters are not lengthy and each piece keeps you glued to the story.  Kevin Anderson doesn't bog you down with difficult sci-fi terms but keeps it flowing in the distinct genre that we love.