Hello
happy readers. I don't know about where
you are but here in South Georgia it has been raining pretty non-stop for the
last two weeks. Basically it makes me
want to curl up with a book and/or nap constantly. Even as I type this a nap is calling my name
as the drizzle continues. Still I am
excited to have had the time to finish another new release book that doubles as
a debut book that had been on my anticipated reads list. And let me tell you it was more than I hoped. What book you ask? AshPrincess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1)
by Laura Sebastian.
Rating: 5 Stars
Theodosia
has lived more of her life as a captive in her own palace after the Kaiser took
over her country and murdered her mother, the Fire Queen, when she was only
six. Now at sixteen she has lived longer
as a captive, regularly abused and ridiculed in the court at the Kaisers whims,
than as a the true ruler. She should be
the queen but he mocks her as an Ash Princess.
She has become used to her life but one day the Kaiser pushes Theodosia
further than she thought she could handle and instead of breaking she remembers
who she really is and that surviving is not enough and she must do what she can
to take down the Kaiser and save what is left of her people.
We
are taken right into her world and it is harsh and cruel. She is a symbol and kept under extreme
conditions, all Astreans are. Theodosia,
Theo, is very anxious and nervous knowing even if she follows every rule and
does everything she can the Kaiser will always change the rules and find a way
to punish her. Her life, while not that
of a slave in the mines risking being driven mad by the magic or poorly fed,
she is just as much a slave. She is
interesting as she comes to terms with things.
She has to keep repeating it to herself given she doesn't want to risk
losing it again. It came at a cost. The
weight of this upbringing really shapes Theo and the way she carries herself.
There
are a lot of darker tones to this book and they are made clear from the
start. This is a land that was conquered
and that isn't something that happens peacefully. So the world is shown as brutal but it's done
in a way that gets the point across without being gratuitous, in my opinion. There is a lot happening with Theo coming
into her own for sure as she gets to know the only Astrean's she's had contact
with since she was a child, Blaise whom she knew as a child and others. She also has grown to be friends with Cress
who has taken her under her wing of limited protection from other Kalovaxians
as the daughter to the right hand of the Kaiser. And now Soren, the Kaisers son, is back from
battle and he seems less evil than his father and proves he might be the key to
her crazy plan.
I
loved getting to know everyone and Theo as she got to know herself. She has vague memories of life before and was
not raised to be a queen by any means.
She has spent her whole life surviving.
Now she has a purpose and has to push down old fears even as
circumstances grow more dangerous as she continues to push forward. There is magic too. It is limited in this book. The gems her people have been enslaved to
mine, one small one in the hands of a true guardian could cause such power, but
the Kalovaxians use them as bobbles and product. We hear what they do but don't get to see
their full power though I hope we learn more in the next book. And then there is romance. A triangle of sorts really. I enjoyed that both grew from different sides
of the coin. With Soren she is playing
on him to get information and protection it is strategy but things are never
that easy when you have to get someone to fall for you a part of you must be in
there too.
I
really enjoyed this book. There were
some things at the end that have me really amped up and excited for book two
for sure but it didn't leave us at a huge cliffhanger, which I appreciate. I am ready to see what happens next though I have
some theories. The book had it's predictable
moments for sure as anyone who has enjoyed some YA Fantasy some things you
expect but it had it's own unique voice and I enjoyed taking the ride. I was captivated through the story and the
audiobook was really good, I love the accent it was read in. I highly recommend this debut!
