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Ash Princess
(Ash Princess Trilogy #1)
by
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 ...more
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of ...more
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Hardcover, 432 pages
Published
April 24th 2018
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
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Kerry-Marie
Its a trope, some of us love the trope
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy, #1)
Is it better to have your life ended by someone who hates you or someone who loves you?
Ash Princess has a heroine desperately trying to reclaim her stolen throne, a mindlessly evil tyrant who stole said throne, and a love triangle... What's that, you say? You've heard this one before? Yeah, me too.
That being said, to give credit where it's due, it stands out for being compulsively readable and entertaining.
Plot and character-wise, it resembles many other YA fantasies. But I was just complai ...more
ARC provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
“My name is Theodosia Eirene Houzzara, Queen of Astrea, and I will endure this.”
Friends, I couldn’t put this down. This was such an addicting and captivating read. This was the first book of 2018 that I read in one day, which is saying something because this book is almost 450 pages. I was just so invested with the romance, the rebellion, and the betrayals, that I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
Ash Princess is La ...more
Feb 12, 2018
Sana
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
fans of Red Queen, Falling Kingdoms and Ruined, but this is BETTER
Edit: I accidentally read this as Ass Princess and that’s what I’ll always see when I look at this title.
This book is everything I wanted Red Queen to be. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 What a fantastic debut. I loved this so much, I deadass want to reread it and experience all the feels all over again. It was just so addicting and I was unable to put this down!! I devoured this 400+ page book in two days.
Ash Princess is a trope-filled book with a very common story line. Theodosia, or Theo, was six years old when she ...more
This book is everything I wanted Red Queen to be. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 What a fantastic debut. I loved this so much, I deadass want to reread it and experience all the feels all over again. It was just so addicting and I was unable to put this down!! I devoured this 400+ page book in two days.
Ash Princess is a trope-filled book with a very common story line. Theodosia, or Theo, was six years old when she ...more
This was a pretty dark and politically twisty fantasy, and I was pretty sold! It had powerful magic and intriguing world building and I am so there for this.
Seriously tho: world building!
It actually takes time to show us languages and cultures and there were a lot of "fantasy" words flying about, but I didn't get confused. I felt really sucked into the world after only a few chapters. Plus it had a lot of fantastic details so everything seemed super vivid!
It has a lot of "prettiness" in it to ...more
Seriously tho: world building!
It actually takes time to show us languages and cultures and there were a lot of "fantasy" words flying about, but I didn't get confused. I felt really sucked into the world after only a few chapters. Plus it had a lot of fantastic details so everything seemed super vivid!
It has a lot of "prettiness" in it to ...more
3.5 stars
There's no denying:
--This could have been more intricately plotted.
--The characters could have been more developed.
--Some of the violence, because there are repeated beatings, could have been written with more emotional and physical impact
--There is a half-hearted triangle. (sorta? Maybe more of a red herring.)
--After 400+ pages, I'm still not entirely sure how all the magic works.
And yet...I enjoyed it! It doesn't hurt that the book starts off with a doozy of an act, one that clearly ...more
There's no denying:
--This could have been more intricately plotted.
--The characters could have been more developed.
--Some of the violence, because there are repeated beatings, could have been written with more emotional and physical impact
--There is a half-hearted triangle. (sorta? Maybe more of a red herring.)
--After 400+ pages, I'm still not entirely sure how all the magic works.
And yet...I enjoyed it! It doesn't hurt that the book starts off with a doozy of an act, one that clearly ...more
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK. IT IS PHENOMENAL.
Theo is so strong, and actually a normal character who relates to things normally which i loved, felt i could relate to her a little better. Magic, kings, war and spying. i could barely put it down! I'm so excited for the sequel already and i can't believe i have to wait another year!
And I know it had a love triangle, but it was so believable for me.
And the struggle, omg. And the humiliation. Jesus Christ.
Theo reminds me a little of Tris from ...more
Theo is so strong, and actually a normal character who relates to things normally which i loved, felt i could relate to her a little better. Magic, kings, war and spying. i could barely put it down! I'm so excited for the sequel already and i can't believe i have to wait another year!
And I know it had a love triangle, but it was so believable for me.
And the struggle, omg. And the humiliation. Jesus Christ.
Theo reminds me a little of Tris from ...more
So earlier this year I took a trip to the south of France, notably the Périgord, which is filled with lovely relaxed people with sun-kissed skin and floaty skirts, a nice contrast to my jumpy pasty ass (I was in the middle of an existential crisis and musing over whether or not to quit my job and become a starving artist, and The Results May Surprise You!).
While I was there I went to this antiques shop filled with retro fridges and dusty comics and amazing vinyl albums from the 80's, from befor ...more
While I was there I went to this antiques shop filled with retro fridges and dusty comics and amazing vinyl albums from the 80's, from befor ...more
WOW. That was EXCELLENT.
Everyone who compared this to the Winner’s Curse was pretty on the money, except that it was reversed. It’s as if we’re following Arin’s story, rather than Kestrel’s.
Me likey. I can’t wait to start Lady Smoke!
Everyone who compared this to the Winner’s Curse was pretty on the money, except that it was reversed. It’s as if we’re following Arin’s story, rather than Kestrel’s.
Me likey. I can’t wait to start Lady Smoke!
--2.5 stars--
This book was... fine. It wasn't horrible, it wasn't particularly great, it was just okay. It reads like literally any YA fantasy book you've ever read. If you're looking for something groundbreaking or innovative, then there's nothing to see here. It felt like the author had a YA Fantasy 101 handbook to refer to during the writing process. Like, there isn't a single thing I can think of about this book that gives it its own identity. Feels like it was made by a machine that figured ...more
This book was... fine. It wasn't horrible, it wasn't particularly great, it was just okay. It reads like literally any YA fantasy book you've ever read. If you're looking for something groundbreaking or innovative, then there's nothing to see here. It felt like the author had a YA Fantasy 101 handbook to refer to during the writing process. Like, there isn't a single thing I can think of about this book that gives it its own identity. Feels like it was made by a machine that figured ...more
Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian is the first book in the young adult fantasy series, Ash Princess Trilogy. This is one that is on the darker side with violence, abuse, slavery and a hint of rape so beware to those with issues with these triggers. There is also a hint of a love triangle involved with the main character, a boy from her past and the son (prince) of her captor.
The story begins as we meet Theodosia Eirene Houzzara who by all rights should be the Queen of Astrea. However ten years bef ...more
The story begins as we meet Theodosia Eirene Houzzara who by all rights should be the Queen of Astrea. However ten years bef ...more
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In YA, everyone piles onto the bandwagon of the latest trends. A few years ago it was dystopian fiction but now we've a glut of fantasy on our hands. As someone who loves fantasy, this should be a good thing, but the YA machine keeps churning out subpar, derivative works that are less good world-building and action-heavy plots than wallpaper fantasy settings for tepid romance.
In this regard, ASH PRINCESS is no exception.
I'm really annoye ...more
Aug 24, 2017
Simona
marked it as to-read
Please tell me "Prinz" is a typo in the synopsis and that it's not how they spell prince bc I don't think I could cope with that tbh xD
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pssssstt i know it's german for prince now. thanks(: ...more
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pssssstt i know it's german for prince now. thanks(: ...more
Yay! First book of 2019! Pretty solid fantasy read. A little bit tropey at times, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story. I was rooting for this character and I wanted her to make it so badly. The plot kept me invested from start to finish, and I look forward to reading the sequel.
...more
So glad I read this book. Really enjoyed the politics, magic and character in this one. I also could not predict what was to happen in the story. Something that is rare for me these days. Regardless if it took me a week to finish I would happily read this one over and over.
"We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive."
This book definitely helped pull me out of my book funk, so praise 🙌
*Review to come* ...more
This book definitely helped pull me out of my book funk, so praise 🙌
*Review to come* ...more
She gets to her feet and I know that I should rise as well and curtsy, but I’m frozen in place. “Some advice, little lamb? Next time you close a window, make sure it doesn’t open a trapdoor beneath your feet.”...more
She’s halfway to the door when I find my voice. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” I admit, barely louder than a whisper.
The Kaiserin hears me, though. She turns and regards me with that disconcerting, unfocused stare of hers. “You’re a lamb in the lion’s den, child. You’re surviving. Isn’t
Dec 03, 2017
Candace Robinson
added it
I'm just going to open up and say this book is just a jumbo of every other YA fantasy book thrown together, especially Ruined by Amy Tintera, which is a book that I loved. It also had Red Queen vibes. I think if this would have been my first YA fantasy book, I would have probably liked it a lot more. Also, throw in my most hated trope, sort of a weird love triangle, and you already have me annoyed. Actually, I'm not even sure if it was a triangle, but there were multiple kisses going on.
Another ...more
Another ...more
My 500th! Yay!!
4 stars
"Now it's time for a queen to rise."
I'm gonna be honest: This was better than Red Queen
I know, I know, that's such a bold claim to make. But I stand by it. Ash Princess was a surprisingly good read. I knew it had the same tropes as most YA fantasy does: Rebellion, princesses, love triangle, etc. But I was invested in the story as well as Theodosia's character development.
This took me a while to read not because it was boring, but because of finals. I read in-between studying but once fina ...more
"Now it's time for a queen to rise."
I'm gonna be honest: This was better than Red Queen
I know, I know, that's such a bold claim to make. But I stand by it. Ash Princess was a surprisingly good read. I knew it had the same tropes as most YA fantasy does: Rebellion, princesses, love triangle, etc. But I was invested in the story as well as Theodosia's character development.
This took me a while to read not because it was boring, but because of finals. I read in-between studying but once fina ...more
This dark YA fantasy is the debut novel of Laura Sebastian, it is the first of a planned trilogy. 16 year old Theodosia Houzzara has suffered the nightmare of 10 long years as a prisoner of the Kalovaxians and the tyrant King Kaiser. Her mother, the Queen, was murdered in front of her eyes when she was 6, the country was conquered, land taken and resources pillaged. Theo is shamefully known as the Ash Princess, and her people have been enslaved, any murmurs or acts that challenge the dismal mise
...more
“I was a princess made of ashes; there is nothing left of me to burn.
Now it's time for a queen to rise.”
★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
A great surprise!
I didn’t expect much from Ash Princess when I bought it for 99 cents a couple of weeks ago. So I am all the more pleased to be able to say that I really liked it.
The story itself is not very imaginative, but I think the character development during the course of the book is very well done. At first glance, princess Theodosia Eirene Houzzara is like ...more
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher (macmillan)*
*This does not affect my views or opinions*
To start off with, the writing was wonderful. It was so well written, it flowed so well, was descriptive, but not overly so. The pacing was spot on, and the world building was wonderful. The characters were all well developed too, and I liked them and had interest in whether or not they survived from pretty early on in the book.
However, the thing is, it a ...more
*This does not affect my views or opinions*
To start off with, the writing was wonderful. It was so well written, it flowed so well, was descriptive, but not overly so. The pacing was spot on, and the world building was wonderful. The characters were all well developed too, and I liked them and had interest in whether or not they survived from pretty early on in the book.
However, the thing is, it a ...more
Aug 24, 2017
Kayla
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of ToG, Falling Kingdoms & Kiss of Deception.
Shelves:
2018-releases,
arc
Hey Ya’ll!
I received this ARC of Ash Princess, coming out April 24 of 2018, from a Goodreads giveaway and I picked it up immediately when it arrived at my house. This book, as you’ll read in other reviews, started out trying to be the Falling Kingdoms series. I’m not even going to lie, the first maybe 15% wasn’t that unique. But by the end of the book it had come into it’s own and earned itself a 5 star rating from me, which as you guys probably know not many books get. A book really has to blow ...more
May 03, 2018
Dannii Elle
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantastic-fabrications
First Read: May 2018, Rating 4.5 stars
Second Read: October 2020, Rating: 4 stars
Theodosia is the last remaining heir of a vanquished country but now she is owned by her conquerors. Paraded around as the Ash Princess, for all she now truly rules has been burnt to its roots, and whipped for every misdemeanour of her enslaved people, her thoughts seek no further than in surviving every day. But her people do not forget. And neither will she, when they come to return her to her rightful spot as rule ...more
Second Read: October 2020, Rating: 4 stars
Theodosia is the last remaining heir of a vanquished country but now she is owned by her conquerors. Paraded around as the Ash Princess, for all she now truly rules has been burnt to its roots, and whipped for every misdemeanour of her enslaved people, her thoughts seek no further than in surviving every day. But her people do not forget. And neither will she, when they come to return her to her rightful spot as rule ...more
2.5/3 stars
This wasn't horrible but the similarities to Ruined by Amy Tintera are so much that I am side-eyeing a bit. The plots and characters were almost identical.
The romance played a big part in this book and it was so bland I ended up skimming those scenes.
I probably won't continue this series since it added nothing new to so many YA fantasies I've read before. ...more
This wasn't horrible but the similarities to Ruined by Amy Tintera are so much that I am side-eyeing a bit. The plots and characters were almost identical.
The romance played a big part in this book and it was so bland I ended up skimming those scenes.
I probably won't continue this series since it added nothing new to so many YA fantasies I've read before. ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1557144778p2/15335689.jpg)
May 14, 2018
destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]
marked it as finish-me-soon
This is just not happening right now, but I do think I might enjoy this some other time, so I'm setting it aside for now. I think I just need to get over this ridiculous burnout I have RE: "lost royals" stories in YA fantasy.
...more
"The hope inside me is not smothered yet. It is dying, yes, with only a few embers left. But I've seen fires rekindled with less."
Ash princess is a story about a girl who used to be a princess. But her kingdom got invaded and her mother, the queen, was killed. Now she is living and trying to survive in the palace with the people who killed her mother and who are slowly destroying the whole land, its magic and all the people living in it.
This book was really cool! I did not expect to like this so ...more
Ash princess is a story about a girl who used to be a princess. But her kingdom got invaded and her mother, the queen, was killed. Now she is living and trying to survive in the palace with the people who killed her mother and who are slowly destroying the whole land, its magic and all the people living in it.
This book was really cool! I did not expect to like this so ...more
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! I have to say; this completely exceeded my expectations. I went into this thinking that I'd probably be bored, but boy was I wrong. Laura Sebastian is an excellent writer. From the way she constructed the words to the way she made the story flow is... *chef's kiss*
I loved the universe that the Ash Princess was built in. Elemental powers from stone gems? Maybe I'm just a newbie to the YA world, but that made me giddy. I ravaged this book because I was just very immersed in the world. ...more
Wow! I have to say; this completely exceeded my expectations. I went into this thinking that I'd probably be bored, but boy was I wrong. Laura Sebastian is an excellent writer. From the way she constructed the words to the way she made the story flow is... *chef's kiss*
I loved the universe that the Ash Princess was built in. Elemental powers from stone gems? Maybe I'm just a newbie to the YA world, but that made me giddy. I ravaged this book because I was just very immersed in the world. ...more
I received ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are enough princesses in the YA literature world. Do we really need more?Maybe we do need more princesses like this one Full review posted.
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This is such a hard book to rate. While I was reading it, there were moments when I wanted to give it 2 stars, then 4 which finally led me to gi ...more
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This is such a hard book to rate. While I was reading it, there were moments when I wanted to give it 2 stars, then 4 which finally led me to gi ...more
Jun 20, 2018
Khadidja
added it
I have 0 feelings for this book. I don't even know how to rate it ;-;
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranters and Revie...: Ash Princess | 27 | 18 | Feb 02, 2021 09:00AM | |
| A Bookish Adventu...: Ash Princess | 4 | 14 | Jan 30, 2021 08:46AM | |
| YA Buddy Readers'...: Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian - Restarting December 4th 2020 | 88 | 158 | Dec 15, 2020 11:47AM | |
| FLASHLIGHT READERS: Bea+Elizabeth-Ash Princess | 45 | 27 | Sep 07, 2020 08:48PM | |
| Challenge Corner: Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian -> Restarting June 5th 2020 | 25 | 24 | Jun 06, 2020 09:13PM |
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I write YA books and I'm also entrusted with taking care of other people's children. I write books about girls who are strong in all different ways, usually with a healthy dollop of magic and a few dragons.
I live in NYC with my extraordinarily fluffy dog, Neville. ...more
I live in NYC with my extraordinarily fluffy dog, Neville. ...more
Other books in the series
Ash Princess Trilogy
(3 books)
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“We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them,” she says quietly, eyes never leaving mine. “Maybe they have broken you, but you are a sharper weapon because of it. And it is time to strike.”
—
79 likes
“I was a princess made of ashes; there is nothing left of me to burn.
Now it's time for a queen to rise.”
—
65 likes
More quotes…
Now it's time for a queen to rise.”
