4 stars
‘Ash
Princess’ is YA high fantasy with traces of elemental magic and no love
triangle. Sure, there are two
age-appropriate characters who occasionally steal a kiss with the Ash Princess,
but there’s no direct competition and she is not conflicted between them.
Our
protagonist and narrator, Princess Theodosia, has suffered through much. As a child, she was helpless when a brutal
regime conquered her kingdom and forced her people into slavery; those who
weren’t out-right slaughtered, like her mother, the former queen. Theo, renamed by the evil king as Thora,
copes fairly well for all she has suffered through, even if her thoughts grew
repetitive as the story progressed. Readers
are privy to her thoughts and we see much of, “’Keep the Kaiser happy and he will keep you safe.’”
When
this brutal leader forces her hand and keeping him happy no longer ensures her
safety, Theo joins the rebels in a plot to disrupt the Kaiser’s reign. There’s a prince, a forbidden romance, and
court intrigue. All in all, an enjoyable
read. Looking forward to the next entry
in this series!
‘Ash
Princess’ will be available from booksellers on April 24, 2018.
I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no
one else’s.
