PositiveOutside OnlineAscent starts slowly, and Reed’s restrained, almost ascetic prose... takes a little bit of work to get into ... Reed does an admirable job of assuming the perspective of a pro cyclist ... Reed also demonstrates piercing clarity about the sport’s larger truths ... Reed is equally adept in simpler character examinations ... Once it gets going, We Begin Our Ascent is a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for a summer weekend before the Tour. Reed’s pacing is expert, slowly drawing you in and then driving you ever faster to the crux of the story and its quick, quiet denouement. And Reed’s powers of perception and turns of phrase provide small delights throughout. Ascent is not a perfectly faithful rendering of every last bit of pro-cycling minutiae, but that is not its main draw. That is Reed’s voice, which even in this debut novel is already strong and will continue to rise to the top.
