Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1)

                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! 

Unravel Me...further into the series

                First I want to say thank you for the questions submitted.  I am working with her on the interview and hope to have it finished up and ready in the next week or so.  In the meantime as promised I’m finishing up my reviews of the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi.  Today I’ll be discussing the he first novella Destroy Me and the second book in the trilogy UnravelMe.  There will be spoilers for the first book in this right from the start, it’s a sequel so no way to avoid them really. That being said read at your own risk.

                We left Juliette after the escape from the Reestablishment.  She’s free from their sick plan to use her as a weapon and free to love Adam.  But she still has her very lethal touch.  That is something she can’t escape.  Much like Warner, he wants her now more than ever.  She’s haunted by her past and the uncertainty of her future but it becomes clear she will have some possibly life changing choices to make. 

                So…Destroy Me.  It was a short little story.  At first I didn’t like it.  I was so annoyed having a feeling where it was going and none too happy with that option.  You see it focuses on Warner and it helps to soften him up.  It allows the reader to believe he may not be as much of a monster as we believe.  Me, I had only finished Shatter Me less than an hour prior to reading this and warming up to Warner was not something I wanted.  I was totally in love with Adam and I liked thinking Warner was the heartless monster.  I didn’t want there to be any chance that given we learned Warner can also touch her and after their little session where she used that to disarm him and shoot him.  Yes I knew this was possibly leading to a love triangle with two men able to touch her.  That is one of the somewhat convenient and fishy parts that the two guys who can touch her are her prospective love interests.  I referred to in the last review but didn’t want to say it outright and ruin any surprise. 

 

                So we learn Warner has some ulterior motives and also has a heart of sorts.  The idea of a love triangle seemed a bit off at first for me.  I hated Warner for everything he did.  I liked that you grow to slowly learn about him and his actions and it’s not suddenly ‘oh I suddenly like him’ after all the evil things he did but I was completely still on team Adam.  My reading buddy, who hasn’t yet read books two or three yet, knows just how unhappy I was with the prospect.  She got an ear full that’s for sure.  One of the downsides of marathon reading a series is that you don’t get a rest between them to mellow out, you’re feels for the characters stay super charged.

                That being said my feelings for the characters and story were steady.  And one thing that only increased as I read this book…my adoration for Kenji.  He is such a great character.  He is both smart and strong but also the comedic relief when needed.  He could be serious or busting jokes with everyone.  He was central to the story as it progressed.  He gave Juliette crap about her guy drama but was there for her at the same time giving her honest advice and being a shoulder for her to lean on, through her protective suit of course since he’s a friend and we don’t want to torture or kill him.  It was interesting meeting all the new faces at Omega Point and watching Juliette develop into her own skin.  She still has a ways to go but it’s a gradual process. The different talents that people have and how they have been working to fight the Reestablishment and survive thus far.  I couldn’t help but enjoy them all and the way they adapted to the world. 

Where Shatter Me was a fight to escape type arch, Unravel Me takes the reader along for the fight to live and be free as a people.  Things are a bit grander.  There was a lot going on in the book but I don’t want to give away too much and ruin it.  So from here on out I’m tossing up the spoiler warning just to be safe.  So if you haven’t continued on in the series yet then be warned.  Finish reading and come back.  Until them skip to the bottom and share your thoughts of the series thus far and speculate on what you think will happen.  I rated Unravel Me a strong 5 Stars.

*****SPOILERS*****

               

Saw this on Pinterest and had to share!

                Just one small part really for spoilers.  The development of the triangle could, like many, go either way.  Love it or hate it.  I fell on the side of enjoyment given the progression.  Warner didn’t magically get off the hook for all the horrible things he had done.  Juliette didn’t magically decide she wanted him over Adam or both.  Adam and Juliette are what causes the biggest issues for themselves.  She doesn’t break up with one for the other, she has some conflicted feelings sure but she also is trying to focus on more important things.  Things progressed in a semi-natural way.  Semi because let’s face it she has powers and the whole war and dystopian aspect doesn’t leave a lot of room for natural relationship drama to unfold.  She and Adam had issues that had nothing to do with Warner.  She was growing into a different person.  She was becoming stronger and more confident but he had fallen for her when she was his damsel in distress. 

Warner then got to explain and some of his actions didn’t seem AS bad.  He genuinely cared for her and it became clear.  She didn’t want to hurt anyone but she also couldn’t fight that he had a good side and there was a connection between them.    The main difference between Adam and Warner is that Warner didn’t want her to sit around and be safe he wanted her to be strong and push her limits to gain power and control to keep herself safe.  He went about it completely the wrong way but still.  I grew to root for him.  Yes shocking I know.

                And that ending!!!!!  I’m just glad I had the next book waiting for me at home and didn’t have to wait a year to know what happened.  That was insane.  It also made any reservations I had about changing teams fall away.

*****END SPOILERS*****

                So there we have it.  I’m finishing up my review of the last novella and the final book in this trilogy.  I plan to post Monday if all goes well, i.e. my internet doesn’t protest against me again.  Leave me a comment below telling me your thoughts on the series this far!