The first book in the New York Times bestselling series “made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir” (Bustle), Ash Princess is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.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, … 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.
“Sure to be one of the summer’s most talked about YAs. . . . A darkly enchanting page-turner you won’t be able to put down.”-Bustle
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Ash Princess is the first installment in debut author Laura Sebastian’s Ash Princess trilogy. 16-year old Theodosia Eirene Housara is the main protagonist for this series. When she was 6-years old, her country was invaded and conquered quickly by Kalovaxians. The Kalovaxians executed the Queen, who just happened to be Theo’s mother, took away Theo’s name and title, & renamed her Thora or the Ash Princess.
Thora is a clear reminder for her people that the Kaiser defeated them quickly, and he can do anything he chooses to continue to enslave them. Thora refuses to make any waves. She takes lashings every time one of her people, Astreans’, rebels or fights back against the tyrannical rule of the Kaiser. She believes that if she angers the Kaiser, he will no longer have any use for her and kill her. Theo’s body shows the signs of torture she has faced for the past 10 years.
How anyone is able to continue to live through such mental and emotional abuse is one of the reasons I choose to keep my review where it is. Theo must wear an Ash crown every time there is an important event she is forced to attend. Even though she is the rightful Queen of Astrea, Thora has pretty much given up hope that anyone will save her. That is until she is forced to kill one of the last people in the world she thought would be able to save her from her imprisonment, and the boy from her past who she had lost all hope of ever seeing again.
Theo’s only friend is Crescentia. But, Cress’s father isn’t innocent of what happened to Theo or her Kingdom. While their relationship is the only thing that really gives Theo hopes of continuing to breathe, it’s not something one should hang their hat on. Ash Princess has the most obviously love triangle you can find in any book. There is Theo’s childhood friend and first love Blaise, and then there’s Søren, the boy who will one day be Kaiser. There is no such thing as the perfect romance. It is what comes when the final page of the series is turned and the protagonist chooses who she wants to spend her HEA with.
This is a curious land. It is a land where Spiritgems used to be sacred things, before Astrea was conquered by the Kalovaxians who thought they could use them for power and magic. The gems came from the caves that ran beneath the four major temples— one for each of the four major gods and goddesses of fire, air, water, and earth. Before the siege, the devout would spend years in the cave of the god or goddess they swore allegiance to. Now, the Kalovaxians use the Spiritgems as fashion accessories and to show their status in this society while Theo’s people slave away in deep caves.
We’ve all read this sort of story before (Red Queen, An Ember in the Ashes), and we’ll read it again because the Young Adult Fantasy genre is red hot right now according to most publishers you talk to. It is a story about a girl who loved her Kingdom, her mother, her status, and her reason for living until it was abruptly taken away from her. Girl chooses to fight back for her Kingdom using the resources at hand. A prince who would be Kaiser, a former best friend who is still alive, and Astrean Guardians who know she is the true Queen of the land.
Oh yes, let’s add this to ensure I cover all the bases:
Trigger/Content Warnings for racism, enslaving humans, abuse, torture, graphic beating, humiliation, captivation, gore, murder, death, loss of a loved one, bullying, talk of rape in the past, talk of animal murder in the past, sexual assault (unwanted touching), and rebellion/war themes.
This book was AMZING so was the second one Lady Smoke!!! I just can’t wait for the 3rd one !!!!! I’m awaiting February! What an amazing Aurthor I hope she can see this
It was a brilliant book for those page turners out there. I literally could not go anywhere without my book.It starts out quite tragic and haunting but slowly grows on you with the steamy romantics, action packed rebellious
scenes and amazing storytelling and wording.
A well woven story… Looking forward to the next book! Captivating!
This book has a bit of everything but the story kept me completely hooked. I love the story and cannot wait to see how the story unfolds in future books.
I actually enjoyed this book a lot. I love books with royalty in them, and this one met my expectations. I am a sucker for this stuff! Although love triangles aren’t a trope that I mind, I have read enough of them to know that a good sum of the characters choose the first one they fell for. Bella chose Edward (Twilight), Ky chose Cassia (Matched), Lena chose Alex (Delirium)… But in this book, I don’t know who Theodosia will choose because she fell for two boys at almost the same time! I also loved how the book ended with questions left unanswered, and allowed the readers to be able to conjure their own theories before reading the next book. While there were many amazing aspects that made up this book, I did find a couple of the plot twists to be easily foreseen.
This book is on fire and you will loooove the burn.
Theo was only six when her kingdom was conquered by a people who had a long history of taking what wasn’t theirs, abusing it, and then moving on when there was nothing left to enjoy.
The rightful heir to the throne, she was kept alive and all dolled up in the castle, an imprisoned plaything whose every move was monitored, separated from her people who were enslaved. Any rumor or whisper of rebellion, the king would drag her out so her mom’s murderer could whip her before the court as a reminder of who was in charge.
Ten years later, the day finally comes when she realizes she must find a way to get back her rightful crown, be the princess she was born to be.
This is a rich, emotional tale by a gifted storyteller. Subtle touches, slippery twists, action even when no one is moving…I gasped, cringed, and choked up more than expected for a debut novel.
This is just one of the many quotes I couldn’t shake because they not only speak of what’s going on in the book, but in the world today: “I suppose it’s easy to be at home in a world where you are on top. It’s easy not to notice those whose backs you stand on to stay there.” If you liked Throne of Glass, Defy, Furyborn, Ember In The Ashes, or Snow Like Ashes, then you’ll love this. The second in the series (Lady Thora) comes out Feb 2019.
A princess doomed to her fate of being beaten, being nothing but a pawn. Has a wonderful storyline, if you are queazy with blood, and slavery this isn’t for you. Has a great point of we can only change things if we push to do it, nothing happens without action.
What a brilliant novel. Ash Princess captures a thrilling and unique story by showcasing a magical kingdom conquered by the non-magical. That is probably the one element in the novel that sets this novel apart from any others. Of course, the premise of a displaced princess is not a unique one, let’s face it, it is a story that has been done in a million different ways. That said the added element of the magic users overthrown by brute force is an interesting one and essential to making this novel work and stand out. Honestly, it is a breath of fresh air to see magic not be the omnipotent source in the novel because fantasy has a way of showing magic, especially elemental magic, as this source of godlike power, but here that is not the case. Sebastian takes that concept and flips it on its head while also delivering an impressive narrative.
Theo is such a vibrant character and in some ways resembles Sansa Stark. Her people hate her because they believe she lives in luxury. While this might be true, Theo is also a prisoner, a plaything for the malicious king. However, there is a fire inside her. What begins as an ember, flourishes with life, power, and a strength that she has long forgotten in her golden prison.
Her environment also presents readers with complex characters. Theo is a complex character, as is the prince and Crescentia. These dynamics are so complex and create such powerful tension in the novel because Theo loves these people, not because they are her captors, but because when times were dark, and others abused her, they strove to protect her, to make her life more bearable. However, they are still her guards, and she is still their “pet” despite it all. That is where the novel indeed finds it is fire, in those complex dynamics and the tension that is created by it. Theo exists, stripped of her real name and title, but her heritage, her roots, and her people are something she will never forget. The pain she sees in her people, she cannot let that go, she cannot forgive the Kalovaxian’s for what they have done, and her protectors, well they are still her enemies despite it all.
It is such a complex narrative, but also a relatable one as well. The concept of conquering and slavery is one that the world is all too familiar with, and the hints at the skin tone directly reflect the slave trade. It is unmistakable and sends a powerful message to the reader, a message about what is right and what is wrong and what it means to be conquered, abused, and enslaved. It is essential because it is a part of history that should never be neglected or forgotten and allows for diversity to play a role in the storytelling.
Overall, this was a fantastic novel. It has a compelling voice and complex characters that make it riveting. It is also nice to note that while romance tends to have a high place in young adult fantasy novels, while it may exist here, it is not the focus of the story. The story is about Theo and her goals, her imprisonment and her fight for freedom for herself and her people. That right there is just another part of why this novel stands out.
As I sit here pondering my thoughts of Ash Princess the theme song just plays through my mind. As soon as I picked this book up and until I reached the final word I declared Sit still, Look pretty by Daya to be the theme song for Ash Princess. Maybe it’s just me, but I found the lyrics to go perfectly with the writings.
Could wake up
And makeup
And play dumb
Pretending that I need a boy
Who’s gonna treat me like a toy
I know the other girlies wanna wear expensive things
Like diamond rings
But I don’t wanna be the puppet that you’re playing on a string
This queen doesn’t need a king ~ Daya
Ash Princess took me by surprise, I originally wanted to read the book because HELLO, Look at that cover….How can you not be intrigued by it? After I recovered from the thrill of the cover I read the synopsis and I was hooked. So with my fingers crossed, I waited for the fateful email from NetGalley telling me I was approved for it and I wouldn’t have to wait until April to read this masterpiece.
Well, my email came obviously and let me say that this book is giving Red Queen a run for her money.
So I dived in and when I first started reading I wasn’t exactly thrilled with what I read, I felt so let down and my friend who was also reading it with me felt the same way. I felt discouraged, the beginning of the book just isn’t sitting well me for some reason. It just seemed too familiar, Like a road, I once traveled. But I was determined that this book would not end up A DNF. So I kept reading and I am so, so, so, so glad I did.
The twist, the turns, and the oh so epic cliffhanger that had my jaw hanging to the floor. The journey of Theodosia is one I am willing to take waiting on pins and needles already for book two when book one hasn’t even been released yet. Theo maybe young and just trying to survive but you watch her transform, she becomes so much more than just a prize for the Kaiser. She proves that revenge runs deep but at what cost will she seek it. How many more of her people will suffer and who is she willing to sacrifice.
While romance is present, with an ( I say this very loosely) love triangle that is so prominent throughout the storyline, after all, it says she is to seduce the Kaiser’s warrior son. Theo is presented with a ton of dilemmas. From never having to actually rule, living under the thumb of her capturers for so long, Theo takes a stand to reclaim what is hers. This book dwells down to this. How far will she go….
Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian a thrilling four-star read. This is the first book in the Ash Princess trilogy and what a start, this is a great start from the very first page I am so excited for the next book in the series. I would give it five-stars but I was expecting a light and interesting read with some intrigue and mystery and what I got was heavy and darker than I thought it was going to be. If it wasn’t as well planned and written as it is, I would have marked it down. If you like the genre then you will like this story, you may see aspects of other stories in it, but it has been put together well.
waiting for the sequel out next spring
I had high hopes for Ash Princess and sadly this book did not live up to my expectations. I was only slightly interested in the story and it took a lot for me to push through to the end. It could have something to do with having read this story a million times and the minor lack of detail when it comes to the magic in this world. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and their predictable actions.
Theodosia was your typical character who’s a prisoner to the people who overtook her land and parade her around to show their power. I don’t like that for any woman to take back her kingdom she has to manipulate men and use her sexuality to get what she wants. Also, I thought she was very weak and made terrible decisions that always got her into trouble. I didn’t like her friend Cress, who treated her like a pretty dog to parade around. (view spoiler) I did like Blaise and the people who were helping her rebel against the Kaiser and while the Prince was a predictable character, I kinda liked him as well.
The world was interesting I just wish that the world was magic was described a little better. It was only talked about as an almost afterthought or if it was pertinent to what was happening in that scene.
I didn’t dislike this book, I just didn’t really love it either. It was ok for what it was and a well written novel by Laura Sebastian. I will probably pick up the next book, I’m just not in a rush or very excited for it.