Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian is quite the dark political fantasy, with a bit o’ stabbing on the side.
Also need to take a moment for THAT COVER and the fact that it is a gorgeous dream ahhh. Ahem. But the insides! The insides are good too! I actually confess I thought it was going to be darker, but I felt it alluded to the darkness rather than actually put the reader through it. Anyway! The beginning was FANTASTIC and I loved the powerful world building and intriguing magic system.
The awkward love triangle? Umm…not so much.
✓ Seriously tho: world building!
It takes time to show us languages and cultures! There were a lot of “fantasy” words flying about, but I didn’t get confused. (A freaking miracle since I get confused about which order the days of the week come in so like kudos to me, this book, and the alphabet.) I felt really drawn into this lush world of viciousness contrasted with rich frivolity. Details get an A+ from me.
✓ It contrasts “prettiness” with the horror of the conquerors’ rule.
Theo’s country has been absolutely smashed by invaders. All her people are enslaved and murdered and forced to work in magic gem mines (where they die, basically) and she’s a “trophy” at court. Basically alive to be whipped if her people step out of line. Plus she’s humiliated and tortured at every opportunity — and the book starts with her having to murder her father-figure in front of the conqueror king to show she’s loyal to her new nation.
But at the same time she’s lavished in pretty dresses, there are banquets and balls to go to, and her BFF is all pretty and light and says they’re “like sisters”. And in the background you have her people being murdered and tortured and Theo gets brutalised. It’s a shocking contrast and done SO WELL. (But actually not super gruesomely or anything.)
✓ Behold: MAGIC.
I’m half-and-half about the magic. Like, I looove magic and this had some interesting twists, but it’s also elemental magic. STILL. AGAIN. ALWAYS. I’m so tiiiired haha. Surely there are other magic systems out there and I will read a YA book with them and fall into my tea and sandwiches in shock.
which actually brings me to…
✗ If you read a lot of fantasy…this was predictable.
It so so felt like The Winner’s Curse redone, which I loved. So I don’t want a repeat?! Plus The Winner’s Curse featured schemes and plot twists, whereas this JUST DID NOT. Nothing stood out about the plot, so by the end I was getting a little bored.
✗ My opinion on the love triangle is: Y THO.
I did not come here to be hit with a triangle (unless it’s pizza?? I love those triangles). It was just such an irritating triangle because Theo is like BEING TORTURED AND ABUSED and yet somehow has space to “have feelings” for multiple boys? I think the heck not. Theo likes her childhood friend, Blaise, and also the Prinz of the enemy, Søren. Both boys were about as dynamic as an undercooked noodle. I can’t even pick a side because both boys were so bland??!
Søren: “I’m a misunderstood chivlrous prince who also kills a lot of people becuase dad says so.”
Blaise: “I am the angry tortured rebel boy prove yourself to me oh but we can kiss too.”
Theo: “Oh n o I have feelings for both.”
Me: gREAT BECAUSE I GOT FEELINGS FOR NONE.
DID YOU KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE TO HAVE A MALE AND FEMALE IN THE SAME ROOM WITHOUT MAKING THEM FALL IN LOVE. WILD.
✗ Theo’s personality was a little flat too.
I was looking forward to the book exploring her PTSD and trauma, but it sort of just said they were there without going into it at all. (Maybe this is my fault?! I just LONG for fantasy that properly tackles mental illness and this just…didn’t.) Plus Theo was just GOOD. She was nice and pure™ and I just??? I’m a Slytherin who chaffs reading too many Gryffindors. I wanted to see and feel her anger and determination…but I just felt I got TOLD it.
✗ And oops I thought it’d be darker.
It references darkness that has happened, but it’s not happening on page. Which is probably just fine and would suit a much wider audience so I DON’T KNOW I SHOULD SHUT UP. It almost felt like sanitised darkness. (Plus it felt inconsistent how at the beginning she couldn’t even breathe without possible punishment, but by the end she’s going on midnight sailing frolics with Prinz Søren?!?!) The world was brutal, the plot was absolutely not.
✗ I basically wanted more from the whole book??
It’s also really really long for a book that’s 80% set in the same castle rooms and has SO many chapters reflecting on events instEAD OF ACTUALLY DOING THINGS. I wanted risks and schemes, instead of a rebellion sparking in a way that seemed so easy?! (Why did they not do this earlier since it was so easy?!) I didn’t feel threatened or scared for the characters AND I WANTED TO FEEL SCARED. Theo falling in love with the Prinz she should kill just felt very tired with no twists to that old trope. I know. I am a demanding fish.
Ash Princess is a good story set against a brutal backdrop of slavery while the conquerors party glamourously. The world building captivated me and the ending had me standing on tiptoes saying, “YES I WILL HAVE THE SEQUEL THANK YOU, SIR.” But I felt the whole book could’ve been mooooore. And I wanted to be scared and on edge and I just wasn’t.
THANK YOU TO PAN MACMILLAN FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Ash Princess (#1) by Laura Sebastian was published April 2018.
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia’s family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess–a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She’s endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.
Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn’t always won on the battlefield.
For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.
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I haven’t been doing great with fantasy lately, sadly. I am currently reading Children of Blood and Bone (though there’s no way I can finish it before it returns to the library which is sad). Anway I like dark fantasy in small doese. Like it’s not my go to but when I do read it, I’m usually super into it, ya know? but htis review was super entertaining so no regrets!
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I’m like half and half with fantasy at the moment?! It definitely hasn’t been a stand-out for this year though, gah. I feel like a lot of plots are just being rehashed and I want to see something a bit different.😂😂
The Winner’s Curse was awesome! (I just wish my library wouldn’t buy only the fIRST BOOKS OF TRILOGIES?? I need the rest) So I think I might give this one a try (and it’s somehow already on my GR to-read? [I don’t remember doing that??])
Although… a love triangle, you say? *side-eyes love triangle* *picks up pitchfork*
omg I relate to when you think you’re going to add something on Goodreads and then it turns out it’s already there. 😂😂 But ANYWAY! Past you had good decisions! I do think this one is worth reading for sure, even if I’m salty about the triangle haha.
Honestly I feel like a lot of authors just think ‘it’s not YA without a love triangle’ because… why else are so many including them when it’s not relevant to the plot AT ALL. I can’t wait for the day love triangles become super rare, especially in books with plots like these. With everything she went and is going through, should she really be thinking of which boy to choose?? If I were her and I somehow developed feelings for both boys (which seems unlikely because they do sound bland) I’d be like ‘well gonnna ignore that! got bigger fish to fry’. Now THAT’S something I’d like to see if authors feel the need to include love triangles 😛 Great review Cait!
It’s just getting ridiculous tbh.😂I mean, some love triangles are good…I do enjoy them. But other times it’s like: A GIRL AND A BOY CAN BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND NOT BE ATTRACTED. Holy heck, it is possible. Plus people don’t just fall in love with everyone they meet?!? What is this?! And there wasn’t time to develop feelings. Like even if you re-meet a childhood friend after 10 years, you’re not immediately going to be “in love” with him. sigh.😂
Hmmm this one sounds good! I actually don’t mind political plots and I really like the sound of this book’s plot. A captured princess taking punishment for all her people and killing because she’s forced to? Yes, please!
Even if it has a flat love triangle, I think this one sounds well worth the read!
Hurrah I’m so glad it sounds like a good fit for you!!! It honestly is a good book, just wasn’t “wowing” for me, but like I really hope it captures you!!
this was such an excellent review!! not sure if my phone is glitching or it might just be that a comment I thought I had posted earlier didn’t post, which is disappointing, but to re-answer your question: I love fantasy, esp dark and political ones, however I think there needs to be a healthy drizzling of lightness and actiony scenes among all the grit and politics for a well balanced book. I am not going to sit through a 10-page war meeting, nor am I going to sit through a 10-page battle sequence. I do however love some explanations and plans to be told right before a well written but short and snappy fight scene though.
It’s probably my blog glitching, I’m so sorry!! It does that sometimes and I have NO idea why. *wails*
Dark fantasy is the best kind of fantasy. :’) I definitely do like politics mixed with the action too, agreed, but those like fifty page battles scenes are the death of me.😂I never know what’s happening?! Who’s shooting who with arrows?! WHAT IS GOING ON.😂
I was actually going to order this, but I’ll hold off for a bit… I haven’t been reading fantasy pretty much at all for years, and I think I can find a better re-introduction to it than this book, even though it seemed really promising when I first saw it. Actually…. any suggestions of fantasy books that are just amazing?
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I so so love fantasy but I’m struggling to find ones that aren’t same old?! (Although I JUST picked up the Smoke Thieves today and it’s promising to be deliciously unique ahhh).
I’m a little on the fence about this because a) I’ve read a lot of fantasy and everyone’s saying this isn’t very unique and i crave unique books b) love triangle, most love triangles make me break out into gives and terrorize a small local town and c) now I find out there are bland characters. So idk if I should just skip this because life is too short for reading meh books. Maybe I’ll give this try for the world though, isn’t it German styled? Cause Prinz is German and I’m a sucker for unique fantasy worlds.
I totally relate.😂I think it’s worth reading, but like maybe if you haven’t read SO much YA fantasy?! Like I’ve read a lot…a lot of a lot.😂And I know there’s nothing new under the sun etc. etc. But I still don’t like reading a book that feels like deja vu for another, you know?
I think maybe it is German styled then! I didn’t actually know where Prinz came from because I’m an uneducated troll apparently, but they’re all blond, so I think it works!
That was interesting to know! I’m going to read it in the future and I’ve a soft spot for political fantasy.
But… Soren (why my keyboard doesn’t do some letters ç_ç ?)… Oh, no. I hate those kind of characters. *watch at her own work where there are probably tons of characters like him*. Well, at least I don’t like to feel attched to them in other novels. Plus the love triangle.
At least give me a book without romance. Le gasp, right? That’s the impossible sorcery XD
Honestly, I’m quite interested to see Theo and her BFF. This kind of friendship dynamics are really interesting and something not so good. Which means my bad side is really into it
I don’t know what type of computer you have, but I have a mac and if you hold down a letter, it’ll come up with ways to put the hats or crosses in them.😂It’s very useful. Søren thanks me haha. AHEM. But yes this does the politics so well and I think it’s definitely worth the read!
Is it possible to have YA without romance? Looool. Just kidding. *cries* I wish there were more!
I’ve been in a darkish fantasy kick, and I VERY much prefer political intrigue (I get lost if there’s too much action. Like … what is going on???)
I think I need to read this book. It looks REALLY interesting.
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YAS. I hope you like this one! I think the world building / politics were so strong here, so hopefully you enjoy them too! (Dark fantasy ftw I say.)
AAAHHHHHHH AJDJQKSJ. Literally my brain when you mentioned fantasy that actually talks about mental health, CAUSE DUDE, MY BOOK DOES!!!! The main character is an assassin who was raped prior to the storyline, and I talk a lot about her PTSD and how she handles it all agghhh yes couldn’t agree with you more on that.
AND YES TO THE DARKNESS 😈
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I’m glad you’re dealing with the mental health aspects for your fantasy! I really hate when it’s glossed over?! It’s something that needs to be unpacked and explored in ALL genres.
This makes me want to work on my story (there’s a few similarities, conquered, enslaved people, dichotomy of doom and torture vs. glitzy richness, but it’s sci-fi fantasy and the heroine isn’t a princess and there are no love triangles). BUT…my story has been feeling so sad and dead and incomprehensible lately. Blargh. Still, this may spur me on…
I like dark fantasy generally. Unless it’s all out comedy. Give me the extremes of genre, please.
That cover is shiny!
YAYYY yours doesn’t have a love triangle.😂😂haha. But that’s awesome that yours has a ton of political plots in it too, I think they can be so fun and interesting to read.
(This cover is GORGEOUS.)
My plots should be interesting, but I don’t know about fun, they’re all so fiendish. Well, a certain surprise backstabber should be fun. >:)
I like to say that I have love triangles by having three different couples in a story. XD Only two main ones right now though.
And I’m writing it, so I think this helped! ^.^
I’m in the middle of this now and I’m having such a hard time continuing because I’m to the point where I know ALL THE BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN. It’s just inevitable at this point. Maybe I’m a little too delicate to read it or something.
I’m finding I have a hard time connecting with some of the characters, Theo in particular. I sympathize with her for sure, but she is just so manipulative that I’m having a hard time liking her. I don’t really like any of them to be honest.
I agree with you about the love triangle. I groaned when I realized that was going to be a thing.
Ultimate question: Should I suck it up and finish this book?
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Omg it’s kind of funny because I thought Theo WASN’T very manipulative so I was a bit bored.😂But like yeah, I’m not super invested in her for some reason??? And I just am rooting for her to kill the prince but nooo she went and fell in love. Bleh. I hope you have better luck with the ending!
Hahaha. Go figure. But I’m a tender Ravenclaw and anything remotely dark hurt my wee heart. I’m probably just not built for it. I’ll try to struggle through to the end though. Thanks for the review! 😀
DARK FANTASY FOR THE WIN. I live for blood and murder so the choice is really easy. I’m currently reading the series called Daughter of Smoke and Bone and it’s sooo dark with clever plot twists and I’m definitely HOOKED. And in the matter of actiony vs. political… I’d pick political. All the political scheming may lead to killing and that’s what I live for *laughs evilly*. I also admire authors who are so adept at squeezing political subplots in between all the action.
I haven’t read Ash Princess yet but it’s already added in my TBR.
AH! I love Daughter of Smoke and Bone! Honestly all Laini Taylor’s books are stunnnnning. (Strange the Dreamer is my ultimate fav.) And I do like schemey books a lot, but also action?! Like we need both, clearly.😂
I like my fantasy to be medium rare. *sips hot chocolate*
Okay in all seriousness, I’m not kidding. I like ALL my books to have a decent mix of light-hearted joke cracking and people being brutally murdered. So…. medium rare, because I like it to lean on the lighter side but still have a nice dark plot in there. (Petition for books to be rated like steaks becAUSE IT MAKES SENSE) (even tho i can never remember how i like my steak cooked)
I usually like actiony plots, but I’ve been surprisingly myself lately wITH ALL THESE POLITICS. Like WHERE. DID. THEY. COME. FROM.
I don’t even *like* politics, but suddenly my sci-fi novel is rooted in political dissent on a global scale, my superheroes have to deal with the politics being a huge block for them, and I’m working on a fantasy elemental political royalty shared monarchy thing with a friend (yes, that was meant to confuse you), and I just… WHERE DID THE POLITICS COME FROM
I WANT DRAGONS AND MAGIC AND PIRATES AND NOT STUFFY POLITICIANS AND RULES
But apparently ideas don’t agree blegh
I have NOT read Ash Princess, but it really reminds me of Red Queen, which was a favorite of mine, so ONTO MY TBR IT GOES!
MEDIUM RARE. SO NOT TOO BLOODY OR MOOING ON THE PLATE.😂😂 But I agree! I like some jokes and some torture. :’) That’s basically what my fantasy books are and my betas are always like, “Um cait you need to not make jokes just before everyone gets murdered.” So, well, fair. I will work on this.😂
Ha! I think in order to have a deep and complex world, you do need politics though right?! I struggle with them but if they’re well written then yes pleeease, I’m a fan.
Lol but you should always make jokes before murder. That’s the fun part!
Yeah. What’s a world with politics? (*cough* Sane)
I’m one of the many folks who are still on the fence about reading this one… The Winner’s Curse is my favorite YA trilogy/series, and lately I’ve been reading (and feeling disappointed by) a lot of fantasy novels. I’m worried that I’m going to read this one and dislike it because of the love triangle (which is so gross already, love triangles are SO HARD to pull off well) and because of its similarities to The Winner’s Curse—especially because the book just kinda glosses over the darker bits, which are what made TWC stand out so much.
Yesss this exactly is how I feel too! Like The Winner’s Curse is SO EXCELLENT and managed to actually be violent but not grotesque or anything (I know tons of people don’t like gore) And I do like some love triangles but I have to be heckin’ invested with ALL the characters and for this one I just wasn’t.😂I was rooting for her to kill the prince the whole time haha.
Yikes, I was worried about the love triangle and predictability others have talked about….I’ll probably pass on this one! Or, since it’s the beginning of a series, at least wait to see how the story arc as a whole turns out. Sometimes authors can really build momentum as they go and it’s easier to work through a slow first book if you know more exciting things are on the horizon 🙂 Yay for great world building though! There’s (almost) nothing better in fantasy than that 🙂
I definitely don’t think this was a bad book by any means! I just wasn’t fully convinced.😂And honestly if it’d just been a bit tighter with the romance, it would’ve made a lot of an improvement?! Or else I’m a massive dull bucket when it comes to romance.😂
I’ve been eyeballing this since I first saw that stunning cover, but I refrained from snagging it because I’m not sure it would be a me book. And love triangles are gag me with a spoon so I’m kinda glad I didn’t. I still want to read it but it won’t be a priority!
I’m so over love triangles haha….I mean they CAN be done well, but at this point my opinion is: no thanks.😂
I just finished Three Dark Crowns and I am so disappointed. 🙁 I expected so much more as the premise of the book sounded amazing! I had finished Children of Blood and Bone just before starting 3DC so maybe such a great book left me with high expectations?
I was hoping to give Ash Princess a try but I might not, now that I’ve read this. At least the review was enjoyable to read! 🙂
Ohhh I’m the same with Three Dark Crowns! SO much potential but haha it was really boring in the end.😂Children of Blood and Bone was terrific!
I feel like I’ve seen this book around, but never got to figure it out. I’m not one for dark stabby fantasy (so this might actually appeal to me lol) but if the world building and characters are spectacular, I’m all in. (except for the cheesy love triangle part. that . . . .might not)
Oh it’s still dark!! I just didn’t think it was AS dark as it was advertised, haha (Does that make me a terrible person or what😂😂)