Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

In Ian Griffin's Ascend From the Ashes, Katja tried to rebuild her life after the tragedy of her husband, Rick. Katja arranged a meeting with her children to learn their wishes for the future. All of them expressed a desire to follow in their mother's footsteps and become spies. They were sent to a secret school where they would be trained in the art of espionage. Katja had previously killed Victor's brother, and Victor was determined to make the person responsible pay. When Katja is tasked with retrieving critical intelligence from Justin Time, who has essential information regarding Victor, her cover is compromised. Labeled a rogue agent, Katja finds herself as Victor’s main target, pursued by numerous organizations. At the secret school, Katja’s daughter Emma is studying the subtle art of poisoning and drugging drinks, while her sons are investigating which areas of espionage align best with their unique abilities.

Ascend From the Ashes by Ian Griffin was a thrilling read filled with nonstop action. The suspense began immediately and continued until the end. I was fully engaged in this story, and the enthralling writing style kept me focused from start to finish. With numerous twists and turns, I was constantly kept guessing. There was always an unexpected development just around the corner. The suspense had me gripping the edge of my seat, rapidly flipping through the pages. I found it hard to set the book aside, eagerly turning the pages as fast as possible. The characters were well-developed. Katja was my favorite character due to her strength and determination. The storyline was superbly constructed and executed. This book exceeded my expectations, and I truly enjoyed reading it.