Book Synopsis
In the aftermath of World War III, the world lies in ruins. Bioengineered viruses unleashed during the war have decimated entire populations, leaving cities hollow and the few survivors scattered and mistrustful. Power grids have failed, governments herd the living into overcrowded camps under the guise of safety, and compassion is a relic of the old world.
Grace, a widowed mother of two teenage boys, has survived the chaos by retreating to her late mother Ruth’s remote farm. For years, she raises her sons — guarded Eli and gentle Noah — in near isolation, relying on Ruth’s hard-earned wisdom to hunt, grow food, and navigate the broken landscape. But as patrols push further west and resources dwindle, Grace knows they can’t remain hidden forever.
Their journey leads them to Jax, a former soldier haunted by his role in the war and his defection from the very camps Grace fears. Though trust comes hard, Jax’s knowledge of survival — and his quiet faith — slowly weaves him into their fragile family. Together, they find an abandoned homestead and begin to rebuild, transforming ruin into refuge.
As seasons turn, the family grows — joined by a band of orphaned teens seeking sanctuary. Grace teaches them the old ways: working the land, training horses, living with the rhythms of nature. Through shared labor and simple joys, they begin to heal, forging bonds stronger than blood.
But survival is never easy. Nature itself tests them — fierce storms, wildfires, and the constant threat of discovery forcing them to fight for what they’ve built. Amid the hardship, sparks of hope bloom: Eli’s tentative connection with quiet, resilient Sarah, and Grace’s own unexpected bond with Jax — a love born not of desperation, but of shared strength and trust.
Ashes of Tomorrow is a story of survival and second chances — a testament to the unbreakable ties of family, found and forged, and the courage it takes to build hope from ruin.