Kapiti author Mandy Hager is launching a sequel to her prize-winning thriller ‘The Nature of Ash’

‘Ash Arising’ is a political thriller featuring young activist Ash MCarthy and his quest to make those in authority accountable.

Ash thought he had done enough by broadcasting his story to the world, exposing the corruption and lies of Prime Minister Chandler and his cronies.

With his small band of friends and family on a remote campsite in the back country, he awaits the international community to answer his call for action.

But the public response is not what he had hoped for and the fallout from his revelations will lead him and his companions into even more danger.

Surviving in a merciless world

Can Ash withstand the new challenges that confront him? And what of Mikey – can he survive in this increasingly merciless world?

Chilling and page-turning, this compelling novel crackles with political intrigue, fast-paced action, unexpected twists and lots of heart.

This is a story that empowers young readers and encourages their political awareness, giving a positive message of demanding honest government, challenging corruption, non-violence, racial equality and respect for all.

Ash Arising is a cross-over title that adults should also enjoy and can be read as a stand-alone novel, but readers will love it so much they’ll want to go back and read the prequel.

‘The novel is definitely a page-turner, one of those novels that refuse to leave your hands. Political, economic and ecological issues sizzle in the action, dialogue and reactions of the characters. Just as often they lie in the hilling specific detail. . . but the strength lies in Hager’s attention to how her characters feel.’ The Nature of Ash is a novel very hard to forget.’ — New Zealand Books.

Ash Arising will be launched by the Friends of the Library, supported by the Kapiti Children’s Writers’ Group at Paraparaumu Library, 7pm on June 25. Books sales courtesy of Paper Plus.

More about Mandy Hager

Mandy Hager is a multi-award winning writer of fiction for young adults. She has won the LIANZA Book Awards for Young Adult fiction 3 times (Smashed – 2008, The Nature of Ash – 2013, Dear Vincent – 2014), the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards for YA fiction.

(The Crossing -2010), an Honour Award in the 1996 AIM Children’s Book Awards (Tom’s Story), Golden Wings Excellence Award (Juno Lucina – 2002), Golden Wings Award (Run For The Trees – 2003) and Five Notable Book Awards.

She has also been awarded the 2012 Beatson Fellowship, the 2014 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and the 2015 Waikato University Writer in Residence. In 2015 her novel Singing Home the Whale was awarded the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year award, and the Best Young Adult fiction Award from the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. It has also been named a 2016 IBBY Honour Book, an international award.

Her latest book is an historical novel for adults, titled Heloise, long-listed for the Ockham Book Awards.