Tuesday, April 17, 2018

[Review] Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Series: The Ash Princess Trilogy #1
Rating: 4 stars

Release Date: April 24th 2018

Goodreads Synopsis:
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.

Deliciously brutal and compelling.

I like heroines with conviction. They set out on something, they get it done. Thora/Theodosia has been a captive to the Kalovaxians for ten years, after they took over her country of Astrea and imprisoned her people. After the capture and execution of one of the last Guardians, someone very dear to her heart, she decides enough is enough and she must end the reign of the Kaiser by getting close to his son, Prinz Soren.


It's hard to write this review without spoiling it all over the place. But Thora decides to play the spy, and gets things done. Even the most painful things.

But of course, this is not without consequence. And I like that Laura Sebastian brought into the book the idea that there will be casualties with a rebellion. There's cruelty at every turn, both with court intrigue and actual torture.

Pretty great that Theo is self aware about where her cruelty and cleverness comes from. She's had to adapt and struggle to survive, and this is the only way she knows. I see a little bit of Daenery's in her.

I am my mother's daughter, but she only raised me for six years. The Kaiser's had the other ten, and whether i like it or not, he's had a hand in shaping me.

The only thing I wasn't on board for entirely was the love triangle (that wasn't really a love triangle); but I like that Theo's feelings are pretty ambiguous on who she really likes because she's so focused on being a proper Queen for her people.

My favorite thing however has to be Cress's, Theo's best friend, development. It was great and unexpected, seeing her transition into this revenge-bent badass and I can't wait to see where this is going in the sequel! Because now Cress and Theo are on opposite sides. I loved it.

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