King of Ashes

#12BooksOf2025 August Roman Carruthers left his dusty hometown & lives a fine life in Atlanta, a financial adviser who is doing well for his clients & himself. When he gets a call from his sister explaining his father is in a coma after a hit and run, Roman is drawn back home to help his family & keep the family business going . Also he is drawn into the mystery of his mother‘s disappearance years before. A mystery full of violence, I loved it !

TheEllieMo

TheEllieMo This has come up a couple of times now 4h

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Gissy

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

August 2025 Book #11

Not necessarily my favorite by this author but I still liked it. This author has a magnificent way to write about family dynamics with difficult past, vulnerable environment, risky choices with fatal consequences. At the same time, even in controversial circumstances, you want to understand his characters, like Roman and his terrible choices☹️Do we need just to let people face their mistakes? Even if they are family? ⬇️

Gissy (Cont.) Is it better to just let them take responsibility of their acts? Roman minimizes that terrible world of drugs and the consequences were so sad. 😢I read the physical book with the audiobook and this narrator is just amazing. He is the same narrator in the novels I have read by this author. You feel the drama, the ambience, you are just part of the novel. So good, Adam L. White. Still need to read Cosby backlist novels. 4.5/5⭐️ 2d

Gissy #Read2025 @DieAReader
#BookSpinBingo #BookSpin #19 #ISpyBingo (smoke) first time I make a bingo in the #ISpyBingo card 😃@TheAromaOfBooks
Goodreads #52AroundTheYear #47 related with fire
#CampLitsy25 @BarbaraBB (edited) 2d

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 2d

Texreader Excellent review. I agree. I liked this book but not as much as some of his others. I think I only have one more book by him I haven‘t read. 2d

37 likes4 comments

mrp27

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

October #wrapup

As the year is winding down I‘m realizing I haven‘t made a post or kept up with any of my challenges. I need to bring my reading focus back so I‘m going to end the year strong with some catch up posting and start the new year with a clean slate! Here‘s what I read in October, King Of Ashes and Frankenstein were my favorites of the month.

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Kboltz

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Every SA Cosby book has material that is hard to read but it‘s written so well and so true to the story it never fails to draw me in. Neveah was used, lied to , protected…the ending is perfect. Love this author!

Reggie I felt sooooo bad for the sister. 3w

Kboltz @Reggie right? Excellent book 3w

10 likes2 comments

OutAndAbout

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

so-so

Good plot and characters. The writing was a bit off. In some places, the language was very urban and lower class which fit the characters. Then occasionally there would be one sentence from the same characters with multiple 4 syllable words. It often felt like the author had to prove he had passed the SAT Vocab tests. But I see why people enjoy the storylines. The plot was well paced and mysteriously twisty.

29 likes

CatMS

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Another good southern noir by S.A. Cosby. He is a writer I will always pickup.

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Roary47

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

so-so

3✨ I can see why so many of you have enjoyed this book. We have a patriarch who ends up hospitalized and in a coma. His three children are very diverse where the daughter is taking care of the homestead, the older brother lives far away making his life, and the younger brother who is down on his luck and makes bad decisions. They have a family crematorium which adds to the action we see in the book, and a lot of secrets.

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Julsmarshall

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Oof! As always, Mr. Crosby packs a punch! Raw and fast paced, don‘t start this unless you have some time to sit down and read. Everything else will fall away and you‘ll find yourself in a tough small town, failing due to crime and drugs and a family trying to survive and support each other. Get ready for some complex characters, disastrous decisions, and a view into the darkness of organized crime. #justonemorechapter

mcctrish Diasterous decisions sums it up 3mo

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Julsmarshall

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Joining the #JustOneMoreChapter readathon this weekend! So happy to have a long weekend!
My goals are to finish the tagged book and Shelterwood, my #Roll100 book, and maybe my audiobook, Timeboxing.
@TheAromaofBooks @PuddleJumper

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Enjoy!! 3mo

40 likes1 comment

The_Book_Ninja

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

bailed

Thank god for the daily 99p e-book deals. If I didn‘t know otherwise I would have said this was written by Thelonious "Monk" Ellison‘s, Stagg R Leigh. The most cringy, trope-y nonsense you could ever want to read. My quickest ever bail. 12 pages told me I would not enjoy this shite. Makes Dan Brown look like Shakespeare.

22 likes

Gryffleclaw95

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pan

⭐️⭐️

I was a big fan of Cosby‘s previous “Razorblade Tears”, however I cannot say the same for “King of Ashes”. This book is dark and graphic, but my issue lies in the fact that there is no satisfying conclusion and the ending felt a bit lackluster. I also wasn‘t a fan of any of the characters, and I ultimately felt disappointed once I reached the end.

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suvata

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

5 Stars • In S.A. Cosby's "King of Ashes" (2025), Atlanta banker Roman Carruthers returns to his Virginia hometown after his father's accident. He faces family turmoil—his brother Dante's debts to criminals and sister Neveah's struggling crematorium business. As secrets unravel, Roman navigates a brutal underworld, making ruthless choices in a gritty Southern noir tale of loyalty, vengeance, and moral ambiguity.

#KingOfAshes #SACosby #Bookish

wildwoodreads I need this! 3mo

Jadams89 Such a good read! 3mo

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britt_brooke

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The title is a bit too on the nose, but I‘ll allow it. Brothers get mixed up in some bad business and shit gets gritty. And toasty.

69 likes

wen4blu

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Finishing the long weekend with this one.

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EmberIvyRose

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Gritty, dark, and violent. Great novel. One scene in particular was very intense. This is my first novel by this author, but I have a few more of his in my TBR stack. Glad I stocked up!

38 likes

Leftcoastzen

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Great Read ! Roman has come a long way from the small town he was raised in & the families crematorium.A financial wiz living well in Atlanta, he goes back home , his father is ill . Nothing could prepare him for the extreme situations he is drawn into with his younger brother & the crazy criminal elements that kind of run things in Jefferson Run . A great ride w/ twists and a well told story, characters with depth. 1 of the best I read this yr!

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DavidDiamond

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

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While the themes and main characters in his books so far may seem similar, the compelling storytelling continues to keep me fully engrossed until the very end.
Out of all his books, this one seems to be the darkest of them all.
And I love it!

Suet624 Did you see the comments and questions that Camplitsy engaged in about this book? 4mo

DavidDiamond @Suet624 I wasn‘t aware of Camplitsy until just today. I‘ll check it out! 4mo

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CBee

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

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Holy shit.
Holy shit.
That was brutal.
Couldn‘t put it down.
#camplitsy25

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain Love this review! 🔥 4mo

AmyG Exactly!!!! 4mo

BarbaraBB Fab review! And I couldn‘t agree more! 4mo

Kitta I loved it too! 4mo

CBee @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB now to do a deep dive into the discussion questions! But truly, after I finished it (and the ending 😮‍💨), there wasn‘t much to say except, “holy shit” 😂 4mo

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Suet624

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

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Roman comes back to his hometown when he hears his father has been badly injured. He reunites with his siblings to find that his youngest brother is involved in a bad drug dealing scheme which may have been the reason for the father now being close to death. Roman takes on the mission to get his brother out of this situation. This book is not my favorite of Cosby‘s and, as usual, it‘s violent, but I could not put it down. #CampLitsy25

squirrelbrain Yes, it‘s not his best is it? But still good! 4mo

BarbaraBB Great review. I felt the same 4mo

Suet624 @squirrelbrain Exactly! :) 4mo

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Suet624 @BarbaraBB But of course, my friend. 4mo

BarbaraBB 😂😘 4mo

Gissy Agree, but I couldn‘t put it down either☺️There is something in this author writing style that captivates my attention 🤗 4mo

Suet624 @Gissy some magic sauce. 😊 4mo

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BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 1

Our final discussion. Summer has flown by and so has Camp. We hope you‘ll stick around for choosing this year‘s winner in the coming days before packing your bags and return to autumn and reality!

We‘ll tag everyone once. Please scroll down to find questions 2 and 3!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 4mo

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine 4mo

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose 4mo

See All 46 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 4mo

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 (edited) 4mo

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 4mo

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 4mo

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 4mo

TrishB Think I‘m turning into a terrible person! I didn‘t feel sympathy or discomfort….just general annoyance. Every decision they made just made the situations worse… 4mo

Reggie At one point I thought Roman was just gonna kill Dante just to keep him from making more mistakes. But then you find out what happened with their mom. 4mo

DGRachel I‘m with @TrishB on this one. I never felt sympathy, just annoyance for those two. My heart broke for Neveah, but I also wanted to shake her. 4mo

squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @DGRachel - I thought Nevaeh was rather pathetic. 4mo

squirrelbrain They did bring it all on themselves didn‘t they? @TrishB Although I had more sympathy for their actions once we found out about their Mum, @Reggie 4mo

TrishB @squirrelbrain @Reggie you‘d have thought that may mean they would put more thought in to the decisions they were making! 4mo

fredthemoose I‘ll be honest, I got to the scene where they brought Dante‘s friends to the crematorium and now I‘m sort of scared to finish the book. That was a lot and I‘m sure there‘s a lot more where that came from. 🫣 (I‘m not worried about spoilers—i‘m interested in everyone else‘s takes.) 4mo

Chelsea.Poole I can understand the frustrations with the characters‘ decisions. Especially Dante and Roman. But at the end of the day everyone is just lost. Their mother disappearing at such a young age must have really messed with their foundation and they have to cope with her loss—two of them dealing with the guilt of causing her death. Can you imagine what that would do to a child? Plus keeping the secret. I bet I‘d make some questionable decisions too. 4mo

Lesliereadsalot I know I‘m alone in this, but I felt absolutely nothing toward any of these characters. From the opening pages I felt like Roman was as contrived a character as you can get. Of course Dante was who he was and ended up as I thought he would. The mom story was slightly interesting, but that was it for me. 4mo

Amiable I‘ve loved everything Cosby has written, but I struggled a bit with this book. Cosby is a master at creating characters who aren‘t saints, but you root for them despite their faults and failures. But in this one I couldn‘t bring myself to root for anyone, even after finding out the secret about their mother. They were all just a bit too far over the line into unlikable territory for me to care about them. (edited) 4mo

Suet624 I think it's safe to say I felt discomfort all the way through with both Roman and Dante. I really wanted to feel some kind of connection with either of them but neither of the characters had anything I could really hold on to as far as a redeeming feature. 4mo

GatheringBooks @Suet624 agree about the lack of redemptive features. And I still maintain that Cosby did his female characters wrong - it‘s a very male / macho book. That being said, I was glued reading and remained riveted thruout. (edited) 4mo

Suet624 @GatheringBooks Now that I think about it, does Cosby have any female characters in his other books that stand out? I can't remember any. And, yes, I was glued to the story despite everything. 4mo

Bookwormjillk @Lesliereadsalot you‘re not alone. I loved all of Cosby‘s other books but didn‘t really get into this one. Not sure if it was my mood, or wanting something less stressful after Tilt, or maybe because I did audio instead of print, but I didn‘t connect. 4mo

Lesliereadsalot @Bookwormjillk @amiable We‘re a party of three! 🎉🥂🥳 (edited) 4mo

AmyG I agree with @Chelsea.Poole about them being lost. The 3 were so traumatized. I felt sympathy for them in that they lost their mother and their father was pretty much emotionally absent. They were all a very very verynhot mess. With that said, who knows what I would have done if in shoes, having lived their life? People do crazy things. Was this over the top crazy? It just worked for me. 4mo

mcctrish I honestly wanted to kill Dante myself, until we found out what happened to the mom. Then I thought no one does therapy ? How? They were all fucked 4mo

BarbaraBB @GatheringBooks I totally agree on the machismo. And yet I loved it. There is one female who stood out to me. Jae, T&T‘s sister @Suet624 (edited) 4mo

BarbaraBB @mcctrish I was about to say the same in reaction to @Reggie ‘s post. That he couldn‘t understand why his girlfriend must stay out of town drove me craazzzy! But indeed, after their mother‘s death they were both traumatized. You‘ve pointed it out well @Chelsea.Poole (edited) 4mo

BarbaraBB @fredthemoose That was the most horrible scene of the book I think 😱. I get that you couldn‘t read on. 4mo

Megabooks @reggie @mcctrish I kind of thought Roman would kill Dante, too. But I feel the same way as you, Trish. It became a lot clearer (motivation wise) when we knew what happened to their mom. 4mo

Megabooks @GatheringBooks agree. The female characters were poorly rendered and one-dimensional! 4mo

ImperfectCJ Once we find out what happened to their mom, I felt sympathy for Dante. He ended up seeming like one of the only "good" characters in the story. Neveah, I felt some sympathy for, but her doormat-itude was a little tough for me. And the young kid in T&T's group...I can't remember his name (I'm horrible at remembering character names), but I felt sympathy for him, too. 4mo

Hooked_on_books I‘m with @Chelsea.Poole and @AmyG on this one. I felt a lot of sympathy for them both. From the start they‘re clearly both lost—Roman ran away entirely and Dante ran into drugs. Neveah is the only responsible one. And then they end up in an impossible situation that really doesn‘t have any good potential decisions. It very effectively made me feel dread. 4mo

Texreader @AmyG I‘m with you. It worked for me too 4mo

Texreader @BarbaraBB I liked Jae 4mo

squirrelbrain Love that portmanteau! @ImperfectCJ I‘m going to use that in the future. 4mo

squirrelbrain @GatheringBooks @Suet624 - I can‘t recall that Cosby writes female characters at all…. 🤔 4mo

Kitta So weird I see I‘m tagged but I didn‘t get a notification! 4mo

Kitta @BarbaraBB I liked Jae a lot too, and I feel in the minority here maybe but I really loved this book. I related to both Roman (fixing other peoples problems) and Dante (falling into addiction after trauma). I have lost a lot of friends to addiction and understand how you can lose sight of how what you‘re doing affects others - though I did want to kick him at points. I‘m not as cold as Roman though. I enjoyed reading the violence but damn. 4mo

Jas16 I felt sympathy for them while wanting to throttle them at the same time. They were both very lost and struggling and ultimately not very good people but I still ended up caring about them. 4mo

fredthemoose @BarbaraBB Thank you! I was expecting more where that came from and just didn‘t want worse things rattling around in my head.😬 4mo

vonnie862 @TrishB I'm with you. I was most annoyed with them two. The only discomfort I felt was the description of the people screaming in the ovens. That was too much for me. 4mo

DebinHawaii So, while I‘ve had Razorblade Tears on my TBR for ages, this is my first Crosby book & while I liked it well enough for the action & it kept me in a constant state of dread over what fresh hell Dante was going to bring about through his actions, none of the characters were well drawn, especially the women. I did feel some sympathy for all of the siblings but they also felt wooden to me & as several have said, I just couldn‘t connect with them. 4mo

fredthemoose @vonnie862 I put it down after that and haven‘t been back to it. That was too much for me, too! 4mo

fredthemoose @DebinHawaii I‘ve really like all of the Cosby books I‘ve read before this—I‘m not done with this one, but it feels the weakest to me in terms of character development. I thought Blacktop Wasteland was really good. Also Razorblade Tears. And All the Sinners Bleed! (edited) 4mo

BarbaraBB @Kitta I liked Jae and Roman too. To me he felt like a victim of the circumstances. He really wanted a way out for his family. And I am with you in that minority, I really loved the book! (edited) 4mo

Christine I am so late to this convo and am a bit surprised that loving this book is a minority opinion! 😮 @BarbaraBB @Kitta I certainly loved it, too. And I agree, @Chelsea.Poole , @AmyG , and @Hooked_on_books - I felt for the siblings throughout. 4mo

47 likes46 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 2

That was quite the plot twist towards the end of the book, or wasn‘t it? Let‘s talk!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

TrishB I guessed the twist half way through and thought the way they left Neveah live in despair all that time was the truly despicable part of the plot. Go Neveah! 4mo

squirrelbrain You‘re cleverer than me @TrishB - I didn‘t see that coming! 4mo

DGRachel I don‘t know that I‘d call any of it really a twist. I didn‘t know what was going to happen but it didn‘t surprise me when any of it did. It all just felt inevitable. If the boys had just told Neveah what actually happened before the end, she could have been such an ally and maybe Dante wouldn‘t have been such a mess and the whole mess could‘ve been avoided. 4mo

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DGRachel As for their father - I had a little more respect for him. He felt more like a father and less like a man who only cared about his business. I can‘t imagine living 15 years under a cloud of suspicion of murdering your spouse. 4mo

Chelsea.Poole I think this reveal was done well. It didn‘t come across as obvious to me throughout but when it came out it made total sense. I agree with @DGRachel that I felt more sympathetic towards their father after learning what happened. 4mo

Suet624 I agree with everyone. I didn't guess the twist but I wasn't surprised by it. I feel very badly for both Neveah and her father. Both of them suffered at the hands of Dante and Roman. 4mo

GatheringBooks I am with @Suet624 and @Chelsea.Poole - there was this growing sense of dread at the pit of my stomach, and yes, it also made total sense that it happened the way it did - and partially explains why people turned out the way they did. However, we still make our own choices despite the hand we‘re dealt with. Cosby could have made Neveah much more wily, clever and pragmatic, rather than a doormat & a victim of her circumstance and ignorance. 4mo

AmyG I didn‘t see this coming either. Good twist. It explained Dante and Roman‘s pain and I, too, felt a bit more respect for the father. As for Neveah…ah, the first born only daughter…she seemed like she carried the weight if the world on her shoulders. I felt that is common for alot of women. Cosby could have written a better woman, better people…..but again, people are who they are…like them or not. 4mo

mcctrish The dad totally changed in my eyes too @DGRachel but trying to protect his baby girl only alienated her from them all and wrecked her just as badly. I wonder how differently the dad would have done things IG he could go back ? 4mo

BarbaraBB I had no idea of what was about to happen but to me it all made sense once it did 4mo

Leniverse I almost shouted, "This is what happens when you don't share information!" Not just Neveah's action but Roman's futile one as well. 4mo

ImperfectCJ After the truth about their mother was revealed, I kind of stopped liking any of them, except maybe Dante. 4mo

Megabooks I was suspicious of the twist, but I try not to think too hard about it when I'm reading mystery/thrillers and concentrate on how the author reveals it. I enjoy seeing how they structure it, and Cosby didn't disappoint. I was a bit surprised about Nevaeh giving her dad the blood thinner. I hated that Cosby never seemed to give her any peace yet I didn't feel I understood her by the end either. 4mo

Hooked_on_books I felt respect for the father that he lived under suspicion rather than allow his kids to be under suspicion, but it doesn‘t change the fact that he emotionally neglected his kids their entire lives. There is a way to build a business but also be present at home. Women have to deal with this every minute of our lives. So I‘m not nearly as ready to just let him off the hook for his neglect. 4mo

DGRachel @Leniverse I wanted to strangle Roman after Neveah killed their father. I know the only one technically responsible for her actions are hers, but she never would have even considered doing it if anyone had shared the truth with her. They had so many opportunities just during the course of the book to come clean. 4mo

Kitta @TrishB I guessed it too, though I thought Dante had caused some sort of accident not Roman 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I was kinda wrong. I did have more respect or something for the father after finding out how he dealt with it and thinking about the suspicion he was under. He was so absent, at least he stepped up in that regard. 4mo

Jas16 I never really thought their father had done it but was surprised when the truth was revealed. I hated what Neveah did. Comparing her actions to Roman‘s and my reactions to them both… They both thought they had justification but but they both turned into what they were fighting against. 4mo

jenniferw88 Just before the reveal, I thought it was going to be one of the kids. BUT I'm going to be in the minority here, but I 100% understand where Neaveh is coming from re going into care homes and think she's probably done the right thing for her Dad (if not for the right reason!) 4mo

vonnie862 I had a feeling that there was more to what happened to the mother. My feelings towards the dad were always neutral. However, I felt for Neaveh. 4mo

DebinHawaii Like @Kitta I guessed wrong & thought it was Dante that accidentally did it. I never thought the father killed her. But okay, I‘m still confused about the cookie jar. The father must have put her ashes in there but it seemed like they were all avoiding the jar. Did he put her ashes in there wanting them to find them or thought they would never open it again? This is pretty macabre of me but I keep thinking “thank God no one opened a pack of ⬇️ 4mo

DebinHawaii … Oreos & dumped them in there!” 😱🤢😳 4mo

Kitta @DebinHawaii oh my gosh!! 🤣 I assumed it was because it was avoided and no one would ever look in there. I can‘t imagine if someone did. 4mo

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii That cookie jar indeed! How comes that no ever opened that before?! 4mo

BarbaraBB @jenniferw88 That might very well be possible, that she did it out of compassion somehow 4mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books Agree!! I was wondering the whole time why he couldn‘t raise his kids and run a business. He‘s not the only single parent 4mo

BarbaraBB @Megabooks I couldn‘t relate to Neveah either, she felt a bit unreal to me. I didn‘t understand the choices she made throughout the book. 4mo

jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB I think Neaveh did it because she truly believed her Dad killed her Mum, but if I'd been in her position (without everything else going on), I'd have done it out of compassion. 4mo

CBee @Leniverse 🙌🏻 4mo

CBee That was not totally unexpected - I just wasn‘t sure what the ending would be. There were two times my jaw dropped in the end - when Roman turned the tables on the BBB and then when Nevaeh found their mother‘s ashes/killed their father. And to think that yes, so much of it could have been avoiding it - like a train wreck that you can‘t look away from. 4mo

43 likes29 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 3

To conclude, let‘s discuss Roman, the “King of Ashes”. How do you feel about him?

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

TrishB In a way he got what he didn‘t want 🤷‍♀️ whilst I was reading this book I thought the author (and I‘ve loved his other books!) must have been rushing against a deadline as it felt sloppy and rushed. 4mo

Reggie The end reminded me of the Godfather where Diane Keaton is watching her husband meeting with the mob people while the door closes. Hoping/lying to herself that he‘s not part of that world anymore but of course he is. 4mo

DGRachel @Reggie I didn‘t make that connection but you‘re exactly right, down to Jae peeping into the crematory. I struggle with ends justifying means in any situation. That tends to be an excuse made for inexcusable behavior. He lost his whole family any way. 4mo

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Reggie @DGRachel 😁 4mo

Chelsea.Poole Things didn‘t exactly go his way. But now it looks like he‘ll have a new family to fight fire for…does the very end set us up for a follow up with Roman? 4mo

Suet624 @Chelsea.Poole Jeepers, I forgot all about that part at the end. I'm not so sure I want to hang out with Roman in another book. @TrishB I think you're right - it all felt rushed like a deadline was fast approaching. Granted, once I got about halfway through the book I couldn't put it down, but still... it just wasn't like his other books. 4mo

GatheringBooks I can just imagine Roman uttering “I am the danger” ala Breaking Bad. I had a feeling he would end up being the leader of this ragtag gang of sorts. No longer as a means of survival - but to test his boundaries of how far he can go, and clearly he can go veryyyy far. (edited) 4mo

AmyG @GatheringBooks YES….I thought a few times of Walter White while reading this. And @Reggie….great point about The Godfather scene. Doing bad under the guise of good. Doing bad to save the family. Yeah, the ending did come a little fast. (edited) 4mo

mcctrish Roman made the same mistake his father made for the same reason and it‘s going to go just as well. Walk. Away. 4mo

GatheringBooks @AmyG not to mention Ozark with the financial manager thing ala Marty. Lols. 4mo

Leniverse The end really reminded me of Marvel's Luke Cage. You start out with good intentions, trying to protect your family/neighbourhood from gangs. Then you start justifying more extreme acts, and in the end you have become the new villain but you can't even see it - you still think you're doing what is needed. It felt like more of a proper ending than Luke Cage did though. There it just felt like a plot twist and then the show was cancelled. 4mo

ImperfectCJ At the end, I wondered if Roman's philosophy of doing anything to protect his family was just his internal justification for all the work he was doing setting up his new business venture. He's meeting up with and helping T&T's employees from really early on, and I found this curious until the ending. He's obviously adept at lying to himself. 4mo

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole I don't think we'll see a sequel, and if we do, I doubt I'll read it. Definitely not my favorite Cosby. I'll read him again though! @mcctrish Good point! Stop the cycle!! 4mo

AmyG @mcctrish @megabooks Yes…stop the cycle. Alot if this book reminded me of generational trauma in families and a people. How Roman tried to stop it and may think he did….yet just continued it. 4mo

mcctrish @Megabooks I don‘t need to go any further in this hellhole 4mo

Megabooks @AmyG @mcctrish yes, I think Roman felt he could “outsmart” or “outmaneuver” the trauma, but I think he was deeper in by the end of the book. He created more (like I don‘t think Dante and Nevaeh‘s lives were better for his interference). 4mo

Megabooks @mcctrish we were typing at the same time and I agree!! 💯💯 4mo

mcctrish @Megabooks his dad should have sold up and they all moved out of town after the mom died and if not then then when the dad saw Dante spirally into addiction to cope and if not then Nevaeh should have once the dad was hit and if not then then then Roman should have when he came to town 4mo

Hooked_on_books Roman had already leaned into greed and been seduced by power before the narrative started. We all have sides of ourselves, and if we lean into one particular thing, we can find it hard to refind other parts of ourselves, and for me that‘s exactly Roman‘s arc in this book. He‘s stepped so far into the greed and power and can‘t see how into the wilderness he is. I thought it was a really interesting character exploration. 4mo

Megabooks @mcctrish very true. Without hearing from the Dad, we lacked a clear sense of why he continued to stay in JR among all that. Crematoriums are needed everywhere! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 4mo

AmyG @Hooked_on_books Exactly. Well said. 4mo

squirrelbrain Yes I agree @Hooked_on_books - I felt Roman was already on the ‘dark side‘ before he came home. Just because it was paper-based rather than physical doesn‘t mean he was any less corrupt. 4mo

Kitta @GatheringBooks oooh good point. I hadn‘t thought about Breaking Bad but « I am the danger » seems very much like something Roman would say. He, like Walter, does stay on past what is necessary because he wants to. God I loved Breaking Bad, so well done. 4mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books it‘s funny when he talks about T&T‘s weakness being greed because I think it‘s probably Roman‘s weakness too. I‘m sad Jae doesn‘t leave when she realizes he‘s running things in place of her brothers though, she was so vocal about wanting nothing to do with it. 4mo

Jas16 Roman thought he was smarter than them all but in the end he just became the evil he was fighting. 4mo

vonnie862 I was disappointed in him. He became the very thing he was trying to save his family from. 4mo

Hooked_on_books @Kitta Yeah, it‘s a really tough spot for Jae. She really likes Roman and is now pregnant with his child. But how much more is he going to change with the focus on power and greed? I feel like the theme of this book is “no good options,” as no character really seems to have any. 4mo

DebinHawaii As the ending was happening, I kept thinking Roman would set the remaining BBB team up & be able to walk away with Jae but the greed & power were just too much & it‘s only going to get worse. Definitely a Godfather vibe—you can‘t get out. 4mo

BarbaraBB @vonnie862 @DebinHawaii I was so disappointed in Roman, I really thought he would walk away from it all. But @Hooked_on_books is right; he already was tempted by power and greed in his white collar life in Atlanta. 4mo

39 likes29 comments

DGRachel

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

I can‘t believe I‘m saying this, but this is borderline so-so for me and I expected it to blow away the #CampLitsy competition. I‘m giving Cosby some grace to compensate for my mental state, but I‘m disappointed. It‘s dark, violent, and gritty, but unlike Blacktop Wasteland, ALL of the characters just annoy me endlessly. I wasn‘t surprised by any of the elements of the ending. They were all inevitable, not just predictable.

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

TrishB I only gave it a so-so. Definitely not my fave of his. 4mo

DGRachel My biggest gripe is the thing in books that I hate more than any other thing (except killing a dog - this is THE worst) and that is 90% of the worst of this could have been prevented if the siblings had just TALKED TO EACH OTHER HONESTLY!!!! I don‘t care if keeping secrets was “in character” or necessary for the plot. I hate it. I hate it. I HATE IT! 4mo

DGRachel @TrishB Thank you! I really thought I was the only one who didn‘t love it. 😭 4mo

See All 12 Comments

TrishB I always think that when it‘s just me! 😁 I thought it was mediocre and predictable. 4mo

BarbaraBB I did enjoy it a lot but I too was really frustrated by them not talking to each other. Dante was the worst imo 😱 (edited) 4mo

Megabooks @DGRachel in life, I hate it, too. But living with an elderly mother who can be very brittle and judgmental, there is a lot I don‘t say, even if it is in no way my preferred dynamic with people I choose to bring into my life. Family is tough. For me, there was enough realistic explanation why they weren‘t. I guess with the situation I‘m in, it gave me a level of strange affection for the characters 🤷🏻‍♀️ @BarbaraBB 4mo

Megabooks However, I was mad at Roman for not being as honest with Jae. I think she could‘ve handled it, but I think he probably feared losing her. Fear is a strong motivator! @BarbaraBB 4mo

ChaoticMissAdventures @DGRachel agree!! Just TALK to each other!! So annoying. I was annoying how terrible those boys were to their sister, leaving her out in the cold like that as she shouldered everything. 4mo

DGRachel @Megabooks I completely agree that family dynamics can be tough to navigate and it was understandable here, it‘s just a trope in fiction that frustrates me a lot. 4mo

Megabooks @DGRachel oh for sure! We all have tropes we find frustrating. 4mo

squirrelbrain It wasn‘t my favourite of his either. I just recommended All The Sinners Bleed to a friend and I was reflecting on how much better that one was. 4mo

DGRachel @squirrelbrain I‘m glad that others are considering this a rather disappointing outlier. I LOVED Blacktop Wasteland so much I‘ve bought his other books as they‘ve come out but I‘ve not gotten to any of them. I will have to go back as a palate cleanser to this one. 🤪 4mo

52 likes12 comments

DebinHawaii

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#HaikuADay #HaikuHive

I still owe a haiku for yesterday but today‘s haiku is inspired by today‘s commute to Hilo for our board meeting. It‘s been a looong work month, but I‘m hanging in & at least I get 90 minutes of airplane time today to finish the tagged book for #CampLitsy25

Friday‘s traveler
Coffee very much needed
She‘s running on fumes…

Kristy_K, DebinHawaii, Mimi28, TheBookHippie, JenlovesJT47, Susanita, Reggie, vivastory, Itchyfeetreader, jdiehr, CBee, dabbe, kelli7990, Jari-chan, ImperfectCJ, lil1inblue, The_Book_Ninja, julieclair, AnnCrystal, bellabella, BooksandCoffee4Me

Itchyfeetreader I had a sneaky day off today as I was def on fumes hope you get to relax this weekend a little 4mo

JenlovesJT47 Looks good I‘m so hungry 🤤♥️ 4mo

lil1inblue I hope you get a much-deserved recharge this weekend! 💓 💓 💓 4mo

dabbe Hope you get to have a relaxing weekend! 🧡💜💛 4mo

AnnCrystal Happy Weekend 👏🏼🐝👌🏼💺📚🐝💝. 4mo

52 likes5 comments

Chelsea.Poole

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Another violent, action-packed, fast-paced thriller from Cosby. I‘ll always listen to these because that narrator is perfection for Cosby‘s morally grey characters. In this one, Roman, oldest of three grown siblings returns home when his father is ill. How did the owner of the crematorium wind up in a coma? What are his siblings Neveah and Dante up to while he‘s gone? Plus, the backstory of their missing mother. A change of pace for #camplitsy!

BarbaraBB A change of pace indeed 😱 4mo

AmyG A change of pace…and I loved it. 4mo

squirrelbrain Yes indeed! 🔥 4mo

Sargar114 Loved this one! Definitely a great slump breaker! 4mo

82 likes1 stack add4 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

Excited to talk about the details with #CampLitsy25

Overall this is a low pick for me. I found all of the characters super irritating (and a bit stupid). I have mixed feelings about most of this. Not my favorite Cosby.
Positives - it was quick paced and kept you reading. The writing was fine ( sometimes a bit too cheesy)

40 likes

Kitta

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow I loved this #CampLitsy25 read and will definitely be reading some of Crosby‘s other books!

Even Willow wanted to grab it 😂 #catsoflitsy

I can see it being too violent for some people but I enjoyed it a lot. Fast and lots of action.

🔥Everything burns🔥

Megabooks Glad you enjoyed it! All the Sinners Bleed won the 2024 Litsy ToB and is a great book, too!

All the Sinners Bleed: A Novel

4mo

Kitta @Megabooks I think I have a copy of Razorblade tears but I‘ll check that one out too! 4mo

kspenmoll 😻 4mo

Suet624 @Kitta Razorblade Tears was the first of his that I read and it started me on my journey with Cosby. I really liked that one. 4mo

31 likes4 comments

GatheringBooks

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CharacterCharm Day 20: Torrent and Tranquil definitely strike me as borderline #Psychotic - one more than the other, ummm, sort-of. A #CampLitsy25 winner, no doubt. Looking forward to the final discussion this weekend hosted by the ever fab @BarbaraBB

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Yes!! They are really scary! 😱 4mo

Eggs This looks like a yummy snack-makes me hungry! 4mo

BarbaraBB Happy you‘ve joined camp with your insightful thoughts 🤍 4mo

54 likes3 comments

fredthemoose

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Ooof, this book… 🫣 #CampLitsy

Texreader Yep!! 4mo

BarbaraBB Yes… 4mo

44 likes2 comments

BookwormAHN

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

I enjoyed this book, but it was gritty and intense. Roman goes back home when he hears that his father is in a coma. There, he gets mixed up in crime thanks to his brother while his sister is still trying to solve the mystery of their Mother's disappearance 🔥
#CampLitsy25 @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain Certainly gritty! 🔥 5mo

Megabooks Great review. Gritty is right! 4mo

61 likes1 stack add2 comments

Kitta

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

So Jefferson Run is a fictional place in Virginia (I think), but there is a Jefferson Run Rd! 😂

#WhereAreYouMonday
#camplitsy25

BarbaraBB There must be a link! 5mo

Kitta @BarbaraBB I found some websites speculating where it actually is 😂 5mo

BarbaraBB And where do they say it is? 5mo

Kitta @BarbaraBB oops forgot to add the link: https://davidhuzzardwrites.com/2025/06/24/locating-the-fictional-city-of-jeffers... 5mo

Megabooks Interesting!! 4mo

30 likes5 comments

jenniferw88

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

#atozultimatechallenge #booktitle #k #characternames #d #r @AudiobookingWithLeah

#camplitsy25 @squirrelbrain @Megabooks @BarbaraBB

#52bookclub25 #summerconnectionchallenge #publishedsameyearaspreviousbook

Reggie Loveable characters? It‘s complicated. Lolol love it! 4mo

Megabooks @Reggie I could say I felt affection for them in a weird way... Glad you enjoyed it @jenniferw88! 4mo

jenniferw88 @Reggie @Megabooks I liked Jealousy and Dante... Neaveh grew on me, as I didn't like her at the start. 4mo

52 likes3 comments

Kitta

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Reading buddies in the background.

#catsoflitsy
#camplitsy25

kspenmoll Your buddies!!!😻 5mo

Jess I hope you are enjoying this book. I have 50 pages left and almost called out of work so I could finish it! I need to know how it wraps up! 5mo

Kitta @kspenmoll 😻😻😻 5mo

Kitta @Jess I am! It‘s really good but not what I normally read! Definitely will be checking out more by Crosby. 5mo

32 likes4 comments

ChaoticMissAdventures

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Sardines

My local cafe does these adorable shortbread cookies, they are different most weeks I love this one!

Time to catch up with #CampLitsy25

Megabooks That's cute! 4mo

47 likes1 stack add1 comment

Hooked_on_books

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

In his latest, Cosby deftly builds a layered narrative of greed, violence, and revenge. This is his darkest book and quite possibly his best yet. If you‘re looking for a master class on how to create dread, look no further. An absolute masterpiece.

Leftcoastzen I‘m reading it right now ! Love your review!👏🐶 5mo

BarbaraBB 💯 5mo

squirrelbrain Perfect review! 🐾 5mo

Suet624 Just getting started on this one. 5mo

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5mo

55 likes5 comments

ImperfectCJ

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

This novel is violent, but not gratuitously so. It's the story of the evolution of one family's fortune (with a side story about another family as well). This is a novel with momentum, almost like Cosby set the story up at the top of a hill and then gave it a nudge and watched it roll. It was interesting to watch the characters follow paths shaped by history, secrets, ambition, and their own and others' choices. #camplitsy25

Megabooks Great review! It's weird how his novels are spectacularly violent, but it never feels gratuitous. 4mo

57 likes1 comment

ImperfectCJ

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

I was audio-exercising yesterday morning, and it appears that I was so engrossed in the audiobook that I forgot to stop my workout tracking. According to my app, I did almost 37 hours of weight training...pretty impressive! 😂

Texreader 😂😂 5mo

julesG Impressive! Do you look like a bodybuilder now? 😜 5mo

ImperfectCJ @julesG I can't even put my arms down, they're so swole. 😉 5mo

AnnCrystal
👏🏼🥳💪🏼💝.

if I 😜 did that 🤪 I'd be...💤 😂. (edited) 5mo

50 likes4 comments

mcctrish

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

pick

#camplitsy “everything burns” summer is officially over when the last Camp Litsy read is done 😭😭 this is really not my usual genre but holy smokes ( see what I did there?) is it good! It took me three days to read the first half and now that I‘m immune to violence and bad choices, one afternoon to inhale the rest 🎶 fire‘s burning, fire‘s burning, draw nearer, draw nearer…..🎶

ShelleyBooksie I had to skim the really violent parts. What a story though 5mo

mcctrish @ShelleyBooksie apparently I‘m immune now 😆🤦🏻‍♀️ 5mo

5feet.of.fury I love his writing so much. 5mo

See All 7 Comments

AmyG He gets better with each book he writes. 5mo

mcctrish @AmyG I might need to read some more 5mo

mcctrish @5feet.of.fury I honestly did not know him 5mo

AmyG Definitely read more. Read them all! 5mo

76 likes7 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

Welcome to our final #CampLitsy25 book. We hope King of Ashes hasn‘t scared you off because of its violence. There‘s so much more to the book. We are looking forward to your insightful comments.

We‘re discussing the first half of the book (until chapter 19) so please try not to include spoilers about the rest of the book!

As usual, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find both other questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 5mo

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @CBee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 5mo

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 5mo

See All 55 Comments

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @jenniferw88 5mo

BarbaraBB @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 (edited) 5mo

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 5mo

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks 5mo

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape @zukeeyah 5mo

Megabooks I think probably to his father it meant burning down their life as poor people and uplifting their status in Jefferson Run by allowing them to move into a better house and have more opportunities for their children, especially Roman.

I think the fire has a different meaning for Neveah because it ties her to think house and this town in a way that has become stifling. It's a barrier encircling her from leaving. 5mo

mcctrish @Megabooks I think the same about Nevaeh- she‘s trapped by the fire ( the job, the responsibility), her dad rose from the ashes ( out of poverty) I feel like Roman is playing with fire with his business and Dante is being consumed by it (edited) 5mo

Megabooks @mcctrish Ooooo...yeah! Good point about Dante. 5mo

JenReadsAlot @mcctrish I love how you said that! 5mo

mcctrish @JenReadsAlot I spend a lot of time in shock reading this book 😱 5mo

AmyG I agree with @Megabooks but I am going to add another side of this….the trauma of their childhood. Rising also from the ashes of that. 5mo

Megabooks @AmyG Another great point!! I feel like Dante is still burning in that, though. He seems like he's always trying to escape reality through drugs and partying. 5mo

AmyG @Megabooks….they all seem to handle things differently. 5mo

GatheringBooks I think the cohesiveness of the narrative is what impressed me the most - fire, as you pointed out, was played out to perfection across various characters - esp the way @mcctrish captured it. One may dismiss the novel as gratuitously violent - yet the masterful way in which it was written, so tight and sparing, yet also powerful - showcases the literary craftsmanship of Cosby. I bought all his other novels that I can find after reading this one. 5mo

mcctrish @GatheringBooks I don‘t even think the violence is what upsets me the most, or unsettles me, it‘s the ‘no rules‘ morally bankruptcy of so many people. It‘s like The Walking Dead without the zombie apocalypse and considering the state of the US right now I‘m getting Margaret Atwood foretelling vibes 5mo

ImperfectCJ Roman's mantra (from their father? I can't remember) is "everything burns," and I think he's expecting more cleansing from fire than perhaps it can provide. Dante runs from it (or perhaps is trying to create an internal fire?) and Neveah seems to be trapped by it but also becoming one with it (how she can take the pan out of the oven bare-handed). There are allusions to fire throughout, like Chauncey's eyes described as "whiskey-soaked embers." 5mo

ImperfectCJ I recently read Long Island Compromise, so I have inherited wealth on my mind, but I'm wondering if fire here is serving a purpose of demonstrating how the second generation (the one after the generation that made the wealth) handles their inheritance. I have to mull that over a bit, though. 5mo

AmyG @ImperfectCJ Yes…everything burns. With what you said….Rome (the burning of Rome) Dante (inferno), Neveah (heaven spelled backward). And the second generation handling inherited wealth, very interesting point. (edited) 5mo

AmyG Also, as a reader, I became numb to the violence….as did the people in the book. I saw much of this a reflection of our country, how we become numb to so many things. Do we have to burn the country to the ground to start anew? Look at the generational trauma in our own country. (edited) 5mo

GatheringBooks @mcctrish Cosby‘s writing is definitely unsettling - that is one way to describe it. I hear you about the “moral bankruptcy” - I see it more as moral ambiguity and I admired how cleverly and realistically this is portrayed. It‘s like when “good” (or at least socially upstanding ones in appearance) people do the bad stuff in order to survive or defend/protect one‘s own, does it make it any less evil? 5mo

mcctrish @GatheringBooks YES, Roman keeps saying ‘it‘s us or them‘ and while that‘s true and T & T shouldn‘t be the winners in this game, can Roman ( all of them) live with the choices they make- Nevaeh is a shell of a person because she has no time for a life outside work, Roman sees a dominatrix to give him what he thinks he deserves and Dante self medicates to the point where he‘s got one foot in the grave 5mo

mcctrish @AmyG Heaven, Earth and Hell - I didn‘t think of Roman as the burning of Rome @ImperfectCJ I said Holy Shit out loud when Nevaeh took the pans out with bare hands - all three kids are desensitized to some kind of pain besides emotional 5mo

Maggie4483 What @mcctrish said! I think it's important to remember all the aspects of literal fire. It gets a bad rap because, yes, it can be incredibly destructive. But it's also necessary to life. I work for a Fire Academy, and we have one of the best Wildland Firefighter training programs in the country. These classes are held at a local nature preserve, and students go out and do prescribed burns in a controlled setting. (1/2) 5mo

Maggie4483 (2/2) By reducing fuel buildup (dead leaves, branches, etc.), prescribed burns can significantly lower the intensity and spread of future wildfires. It's literally fighting fire with fire. Which is exactly what Roman is trying to do. Unfortunately, he's in over his head and things are getting out of control. 5mo

mcctrish Ooo @Maggie4483 fighting fire with fire is a perfect summation of what Roman is doing 🔥🔥🔥 and a lack of funding for prescribed burns in a lot of canada is why we are on fire right now ( and funding has been found to get back in the game 🤞🏻) 5mo

BarbaraBB @mcctrish You‘ve said it so well and I agree with @GatheringBooks the fire metaphor was played out perfectly. You were right to buy his other books too Myra. I read two of them and they were both so good as well. 5mo

BarbaraBB @AmyG your pointing out their names in relation to the fire is excellent. I hadn‘t noticed Neveah as Heaven spelled backwards! 5mo

BarbaraBB @Maggie4483 Yes! Roman is fighting fire with fire. So true! 5mo

BarbaraBB I‘ve also been thinking that fire exposes Roman‘s duality. On one hand, he is the educated financial genius, rational, controlled. On the other, he becomes the very thing he fears: a man who manipulates fire (figuratively and literally). 5mo

Maggie4483 @AmyG - OMG yes! Great catch about the names! 5mo

Jas16 So many great points already. Fire can be dangerous and all consuming but it can also be cleansing depending on how well it is controlled which I think ties into your second nicely. All three of the siblings definitely have different relationships with fire which others have captured beautifully. 5mo

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ - interesting thought about Long Island Compromise and how the next generation burns away the legacy of the first. 🤔 5mo

Christine Wow, @AmyG - love that names observation!! 5mo

squirrelbrain @AmyG @BarbaraBB - I knew Neveah was heaven backwards, but hadn‘t thought of it in the context of Heaven being the opposite of fires burning in Hell. 5mo

peaKnit @AmyG I like your insight and sadly agree to wonder do we have to burn it down to cleanse… 5mo

DGRachel I think @mcctrish summed things up perfectly at the beginning of this thread, with fire playing out for each of the siblings. I like the repetition of the phrase “everything burns”. It takes on various meanings depending on where the vocal emphasizes is placed and all of those elements are here - an inevitable “shit happens”, a sad pointlessness, a (potential) cleansing, and a destructive rage. 5mo

peaKnit Interesting point also about Neveah being heaven backwards. I have personal negative feelings about the name from my past career so it just felt right to me in this book, like “of course” for me. What lost souls here. (edited) 5mo

mcctrish @peaKnit I cringed at Heaven backwards, also Patience, Devine, they all mean trouble when they show up at school 5mo

vonnie862 Ooh, many great points mentioned. Fire is not only destructive but also cleansing. 5mo

Hooked_on_books I‘ve been so absorbed by the story that I haven‘t even thought of this aspect. Love the points @mcctrish and @AmyG made about the names and places of each character in relation to fire. 5mo

Kitta @mcctrish I love the way you said that too, how each of them is touched by fire. Roman is definitely playing with fire and Dante is consumed by it. 5mo

Kitta @Maggie4483 yes fire can be cleansing too! And controlled burns are necessary. Reminds me of those seeds that only sprout after there‘s fire. It can be a rebirth. 5mo

AmyG @Kitta Exactly. I viewed it all as burn it to the ground and rebuild….rebirth. 5mo

Chelsea.Poole Great perspective @Maggie4483 —fire can lead to regrowth. I find it fascinating how some plants are “fire responsive”: sprout after a burn. In this book, some of the individuals are born of fire/the trial by fire concept. @AmyG great observation of the names. I‘m impressed by all of these comments as I‘ve finished the book so quickly and barely had time to consider the literary aspects since the plot was plotting so well 🔥 5mo

DebinHawaii @mcctrish @AmyG Love the way you interpreted the fire theme for each sibling & the names—so powerful & well put. 5mo

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole Exactly that 🤣, I raced through the book without taking the time to realize all these awesome details! 5mo

Ruthiella Loving the discussion and insight here! 5mo

Suet624 I got started late in this book. Hoping to have it finished by second week of discussion. 4mo

BarbaraBB @Suet624 There will be a point after which you can‘t stop reading, that is if you‘re enjoying the book. I hope so! 4mo

Suet624 @BarbaraBB You were spot on with that comment. 4mo

Suet624 @mctrish @gatheringbooks Your comments at the beginning of this post were terrific. Thank you for highlighting so much for me. All the comments just added on in such a spectacular way. Such a great comment section! (edited) 4mo

CBee @AmyG amazing explanation of their names!! Didn‘t even think of it 👏🏻 4mo

48 likes55 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CampLitsy25 Question 2

Rowan thinks he can save his family. After all he is an extremely successful businessman. What do you think?

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Bookwormjillk These are great questions. But sorry Roman, I don't think you can save them unless they want to be saved. 5mo

TrishB The fact that they never spoke to each other about what was happening meant he was never in control. 5mo

mcctrish Part of me wonders if surviving will be worth it in the end? Initially I thought Roman wouldn‘t be able to handle so much law and moral breaking but then as he called in favours and we learn more about his job in Atlanta I realized he is already morally grey. Nevaeh will put it all together or just get the police further into it and Dante makes me want to scream and yet I‘d be him unable to handle it all 5mo

See All 25 Comments

Megabooks Roman thinks (incorrectly imo) that controlling his life financially (whether by driving an older Porsche or having offshore investments for later in life) gives him the ultimate control. I think, especially in their initial meeting, Torrent and Tranquil have shown him it's not. It gives him a false sense of security. Dante is so frustrating in his ability to continuously make poor decision after poor decision that Roman has to clean up. 5mo

AmyG How many people do we know….who try to contol things? Roman is the eldest, type A, control freak. I also believe he has a great deal of guilt about his mother‘s disappearance. I think all the kids do. And because Roman is the oldest he feels the need to make things right. But nobody can control everything. One can only try. SO MUCH of what these three are, what they do, is directly related to the mother‘s disappearance and to how the father… (edited) 5mo

AmyG Handled all of it. His absense because of working. He wasn‘t there for them emotionally. 5mo

mcctrish @AmyG absolutely and Dante being the youngest got the least amount of full family time 5mo

GatheringBooks I was rooting for Roman - and his attempts to wrest control over what is no doubt a s**tshow that Dante has left him to clean up. I think Roman is also testing his own boundaries; the entire thing a challenge, a conundrum for him to solve making him feel relevant once again in his siblings‘ lives. Dante is your classic epic loser, needy & oblivious. My only peeve about Cosby is how the female characters in this story are untapped & sidelined. 5mo

ImperfectCJ @Megabooks @AmyG Agreed, and it's like Roman has this idea that there will be some future date when everything will be handled and in control if he just does everything right. I think Dante has this idea, too, he just doesn't have the illusion that he's controlling any of it. 5mo

BarbaraBB Like @Bookwormjillk and @TrishB say, it seemed hopeless from the beginning. Dante destabilizes (pulling Roman into the conflict), Neveah moralizes (demanding truth and accountability, stripping Roman of denial) and Roman himself mediates: but in trying to hold both together—recklessness and righteousness—he is being consumed by the fire as well. 5mo

jenniferw88 Up until chapter 10 I thought Dante had some sort of learning disability because Roman had to explain so much to him, but after that chapter I realised he does understand how much danger he's put the family in. I think Dante is probably quite bright, but the dad couldn't afford to send 2 sons to college, and the eldest would take priority. ⬇️ 5mo

jenniferw88 Dante needed Roman around when growing up, as I think Neaveh was always destined to be working in the family business and so didn't always have time to keep an eye on him. I think if Roman had stayed around, Dante might not have gotten in so deep with no idea on how to get out of it. 5mo

Jas16 Even if Roman were half as smart as he thinks he is there are too many variables for him to have complete control over anything, including himself. His own brother is impossible to control and trying to keep Neveah in the dark isn‘t going to stop her from asking questions. 5mo

DGRachel Roman is absolutely not in control. He may be a shark in Atlanta, and he‘s definitely not soft, no matter what T&T initially think, but he walked into chaos. I don‘t know that he‘s in over his head, Khalil‘s presence suggests he‘s not, but I cannot see this ending well. I just got to chapter 19 today, but phew. 😅 Everything is already burning. 5mo

DGRachel As for the siblings, because they‘re trying to keep Neveah out of it, she‘s making things worse by involving her shady cop “friend” (who is probably my most hated character - I‘d almost be ok if Roman put him in crematorium‘s fire alive). Dante? He‘s an absolute f-up who is desperate for someone to save him, but then has the audacity to be upset about the nature of the help. I have zero compassion for him. (I‘m sorry…what was the question? 😂) (edited) 5mo

peaKnit @DGRachel 🤣 yes what was the question, I‘m onboard with all you say. Dante just keeps doing exactly what is expected of him, like STOP dude. Roman is definitely not in control, who Khalil is and how Roman tied up with him is a little left to imagination. But if you know this guy and what he is capable of your hands are not clean. 5mo

vonnie862 He thinks he can control and fix things. He might make changes but you can only fix things if people want to change. 5mo

Hooked_on_books Lots of good commentary here about the siblings, though I‘m surprised no one‘s mentioned that Dante is clearly an addict. And an addict in the teeth of their addiction is always going to be self-centered, so there‘s no controlling that. But what I immediately thought of when I read the question are T&T. It seems there‘s no line those 2 won‘t cross, which means there‘s no control to be had in this situation. 5mo

AmyG @Hooked_on_books Absolutely. And there will be so much more to discuss next time. 5mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books I agree, and Dante being an addict makes his behaviour unpredictable and he‘ll be thinking mainly about himself. I don‘t blame him for the drug addiction given what he‘s been through but, from experience, it‘s hard to think straight and be making good decisions while chasing the next high. I keep thinking he‘s going to fuck up somehow and this is going to come crashing down. 5mo

Hooked_on_books @Kitta Yes! His situation (and I empathize with where he is given the family history) is so precarious and could knock all this over so quickly! It‘s what helps build the dread Cosby is so deftly building. 5mo

DebinHawaii @Hooked_on_books So much dread! I literally cringe every time Dante is on the page because he is such the wildcard in the story—just waiting for him to mess up one time too many. 😱 5mo

Hooked_on_books @DebinHawaii I do too! Every time he leaves to go get high, I think, “no! What are going to let slip and endanger yourself and everyone?!?!” Cosby threads the needle so well, because it would be so easy to hate Dante or just be fed up with him and instead he‘s someone you can have empathy for. 5mo

BarbaraBB @DebinHawaii @Hooked_on_books Cosby has created such a great character here. Dante is such a wildcard and still Cosby makes us care for him. How is that even possible?! 5mo

squirrelbrain I was exactly the same @Hooked_on_books @DebinHawaii @Kitta - every time Dante appeared (or disappeared) I had a feeling of dread as to what was going to happen next. 5mo

41 likes25 comments

BarbaraBB

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#Camplitsy25 Question 3

There is a lot to be said about the setting of the book in Jefferson Run. Let‘s talk about a bit about what it meant to you.

Next week we‘ll finish the book and discuss the second half. See you there!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

Megabooks Because of systemic policies of racism, it has been historically hard for Black people to build generational wealth. I think you see two different sides of how people try to build wealth. Roman has tied himself to the new Atlanta wealthy (music stars, Real Housewives, athletes), but Torrent and Tranquil have gone about protecting their interests financially in a very different way. 5mo

Megabooks Roman is bridging that gap by making risky investments in a more “white collar“ crime way to feed money into Torrent and Tranquil's illegal schemes. But T&T also have their own “legal“ laundering fronts with restaurants and clubs.

Added: And it was the start of the funeral home that supported Roman while he got the education that allowed him to start his investment business. (edited) 5mo

TrishB It does imply that you can only become wealthy by breaking the law and there‘s no other way for certain classes/minorities. 5mo

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AmyG I viewed this story, in large part, as a family story. The Dad trying to create that wealth for his family, Roman trying to create that wealth…..tied to the generational trauma created by the Mom‘s disappearance. But as they work to create that wealth, they have to live in the world that sometimes “forces” them to do less than moral things….as the only way to do this. Yes @Megabooks…the two sides of that. 5mo

AmyG Does the town just symbolize the direction of our country? Capitalism. 5mo

mcctrish @TrishB or the American dream - the robber barons of the Gilded Age down to T & T 5mo

GatheringBooks I don‘t know whether you have also seen the parallels of this story with Ozark. While I was reading the book, I keep seeing Marty, Ruth, Darnell in my head - except this one is African American, which added a layer of intersectionality and twist that is much needed. Characters are not one or the other - they are complex beings, no heroes nor villains, just people trying to protect their families and survive with a semblance of dignity. 5mo

ImperfectCJ This novel takes place geographically near the setting of Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead, and while the plot is quite different, there's a similar feeling of hopelessness, of a system set in place to grind part of the population down. I don't feel like this is new. It's similar to that in any former factory and/or mining region. People make money how they can make money and create a sense of agency from whatever they can. 5mo

BarbaraBB I was sincerely shocked by this reality and kept thinking that towns like Jefferson Run (that, hollowed out by systemic neglect, leave crime as one of the few economic engines) don‘t exist in this extreme way in reality in the US. But I am probably naive. 5mo

Christine Agreed, @TrishB and @BarbaraBB . And yet we have leaders who think we should deny the existence of/do nothing to address systemic racism while also claiming to care a lot about reducing crime... 😖 5mo

DGRachel @AmyG I agree with the family aspect, and the generational trauma elements. Sadly, I don‘t think it‘s indicative of the direction our country is headed. We‘re there. If you look at a lot of the towns where manufacturing or mining were booming and where those mines or factories closed - this is the reality and it‘s been happening for at least 30 years that I can recall. @BarbaraBB I wish this was hyperbole. 😭 5mo

peaKnit Jefferson Run feels like a microcosm of the darker part of what we can imagine a big city to be. You can feel the pockets of poorer areas everywhere but here the bad guys seem to run the town. Or think they do. 5mo

vonnie862 To me, it's not easy to make wealth for certain groups and leading a life crime may seem to be a quick solution for some. 5mo

Hooked_on_books I lived in Detroit from ‘04-‘09 and JR reminds me so much of it. Detroit was once the wealthiest city in the US and when I was there it was the poorest. I‘ve been picturing it in my head while reading this. Much like JR, there were people deeply committed to Detroit, those who were stuck, and those who wanted to exploit whatever they could. The similarities are really striking. 5mo

Hooked_on_books Regarding wealth, I feel like a major theme of the book is that there is no healthy way to strive for wealth. Each example we see here of someone striving for wealth is bad and fraught in its own way. Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to immediately continue reading! 5mo

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books please do, kudos for postponing it until now 😘 (edited) 5mo

Kitta @Hooked_on_books it made me think of Detroit too, though I‘ve never been there I‘ve read a lot about it and the turning point to what it is now. Really interesting. 5mo

DebinHawaii I get the Detroit vibe as well. One quote that really struck me & I highlighted was when Roman is at the Save-U-Moore convenience store… “Roman thought when folks talked about a food desert, what they really meant was that the food available wasn‘t any good. Instead of a desert, he thought of it like an ocean. All that water, but if you drank from it, You would die. Little stores like this were the flotsam and jetsam in an ocean of junk.” That ⬇️ 5mo

DebinHawaii …idea & the imagery is so perfectly put—it just struck me. 🤯 (edited) 5mo

39 likes19 comments

GatheringBooks

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

#CharacterCharm Day 14: #Murderer(s) in this gritty, fast-paced novel that was just what I needed when I read it last month. Bought all the other SA Cosby novels I can find while book hunting and trawling the bookstores in Seattle and the Bay Area. Looking forward to the upcoming #CampLitsy25 discussions.

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

BarbaraBB It‘s good right?! 5mo

Eggs I‘ve seen great reviews! 5mo

AmyG Loved this book. 5mo

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks LOVE this author!! 5mo

49 likes4 comments

mcctrish

King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby

I feel like this cover represents the weather currently #thankgodforac also I‘d take a cut off pinkie over bashed in teeth ANY DAY

Bookwormjillk SAME 5mo

63 likes1 comment

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