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Lady Smoke
(Ash Princess Trilogy #2)
by
A tale of love, revenge, power and betrayal, Lady Smoke is Laura Sebastian's epic fantasy sequel to the New York Times-bestselling Ash Princess.
After escaping from imprisonment under the brutal Kaiser, Theodosia is on the run, plotting to take revenge and reclaim her rightful place as queen of the enslaved Astreans.
Thousands of miles away from her people and her throne
...moreGet A Copy
Kindle Edition, 514 pages
Published
May 2nd 2019
by Macmillan Children's Books
(first published February 5th 2019)
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Amira
Soren and Theo is a toxic relationship lol (my opinion no offense)
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Start your review of Lady Smoke (The Ash Princess Trilogy, #2)

This book was powerful powerful powerful powerful! I'm speechless and mind blown right now. Seriously, what a fucking powerful book.
Theo is such a fucking bad bitch and I literally don't deserve to breathe the same air as this Queen, holy SHIT.
This book was more political but equally as scheming, bloody and violent as the first one and filled with unexpected twists and deaths.
It made me so happy to read about a bisexual, female ruler even though she shows up for a little while in this book. Er ...more
Theo is such a fucking bad bitch and I literally don't deserve to breathe the same air as this Queen, holy SHIT.
This book was more political but equally as scheming, bloody and violent as the first one and filled with unexpected twists and deaths.
It made me so happy to read about a bisexual, female ruler even though she shows up for a little while in this book. Er ...more

4 stars.
Lady Smoke has exceeded my expectations. Usually, in a trilogy, there's always the chance where the second book suffers from Second Book Syndrome. To me, Lady Smoke was a pretty damn good installment to the Ash Princess trilogy.
Mind you, this will not be for everyone as I will explain further, but for a second book, I was really impressed by how the story progressed as well as the stakes that were involved.
Lady Smoke takes place right after the events of Ash Princess where Theodosia esca ...more
Lady Smoke has exceeded my expectations. Usually, in a trilogy, there's always the chance where the second book suffers from Second Book Syndrome. To me, Lady Smoke was a pretty damn good installment to the Ash Princess trilogy.
Mind you, this will not be for everyone as I will explain further, but for a second book, I was really impressed by how the story progressed as well as the stakes that were involved.
Lady Smoke takes place right after the events of Ash Princess where Theodosia esca ...more

This series is slowly, but surely, becoming a new favourite of mine. I expected this instalment to suffer from Second Book Syndrome, but I’m happy to announce that it didn’t! There was no lull in the action or fluff in the story. Rather, the plot kept me riveted and stressed over the safety of my favourite characters.
Theo is such a wonderful protagonist and queen who truly wants to do right by her people. Søren, often a lad in distress, unfortunately, is such a sweet, but protective, character ...more
Theo is such a wonderful protagonist and queen who truly wants to do right by her people. Søren, often a lad in distress, unfortunately, is such a sweet, but protective, character ...more

First Read: March 2019, Rating 4.5 Stars
Second Read: November 2020, Rating 4 Stars
This is the second instalment in The Ash Princess series.
Theodosia is the last remaining heir of a vanquished country, now owned by its conqueror and the man who kept her a beaten and paraded captive, for almost her entire childhood. But this once Ash Princess is now determined to fulfil her role as Queen Theo, and this queen wants her land back and her people freed.
The Theo the reader was introduced to in the prev ...more
Second Read: November 2020, Rating 4 Stars
This is the second instalment in The Ash Princess series.
Theodosia is the last remaining heir of a vanquished country, now owned by its conqueror and the man who kept her a beaten and paraded captive, for almost her entire childhood. But this once Ash Princess is now determined to fulfil her role as Queen Theo, and this queen wants her land back and her people freed.
The Theo the reader was introduced to in the prev ...more

9/28/18
...an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband.
But seriously, like wtf why!? There had better be a good reason, like this better not just be a convenient plot device used only to make the heroine to choose between two boys.
---
8/4/18
Loving the cover!
---
Based on the title I feel like we're going to get a lot more Cress, and honestly I am not sure I want that 😪 ...more
...an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband.
But seriously, like wtf why!? There had better be a good reason, like this better not just be a convenient plot device used only to make the heroine to choose between two boys.
---
8/4/18
Loving the cover!
---
Based on the title I feel like we're going to get a lot more Cress, and honestly I am not sure I want that 😪 ...more

The Princess of Ash is dead. Long live the Queen.
WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK, YOU GUYS!!!!! oh my god. oh my god.
i simply couldn’t put down. every chapter was a delight to read. all of them felt interesting and well-written, nothing ever feels like a filler here and i absolutely love it. the characters were amazing, the romance was good, the intrigues were awesome, the battles were consistent. amazing! just amazing! i was hooked the entire time!
just read it.
WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK, YOU GUYS!!!!! oh my god. oh my god.
i simply couldn’t put down. every chapter was a delight to read. all of them felt interesting and well-written, nothing ever feels like a filler here and i absolutely love it. the characters were amazing, the romance was good, the intrigues were awesome, the battles were consistent. amazing! just amazing! i was hooked the entire time!
just read it.

I would’ve liked this book a lot more had 85% of it not been spent on the characters doing absolutely nothing.

But, the writing significantly improved. The first one’s narration was THE WORST. LEGIT SO ANNOYINGLY BAD. This one was much, much better.
In fact, it was so much better that I will definitely read the third one. I’m too invested in Soren (which is also the only reason I read the second one 😂). He’s the most complex character in the series, so I’m rooting for him and his gray area-ness ( ...more

But, the writing significantly improved. The first one’s narration was THE WORST. LEGIT SO ANNOYINGLY BAD. This one was much, much better.
In fact, it was so much better that I will definitely read the third one. I’m too invested in Soren (which is also the only reason I read the second one 😂). He’s the most complex character in the series, so I’m rooting for him and his gray area-ness ( ...more

Feb 04, 2019
megs_bookrack
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fantasy-to-read,
2019-releases
Your Amazon.com order of "Lady Smoke (Ash Princess)" has arrived!
...more



“Still, you reminded me of the legend.
With your bright eyes and crown of ashes and Fire Queen mother.
Lady Thora, everyone called you, but I thought of you as Lady Smoke.
I knew it would only be a matter of time before your ember sparked again, until you once more burned bright enough to escape him.”
Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Theo escaped the Kaiser and his court only to be forced into another country filled with intrigues. Princes, other countries are fighting for Theos hand, but every time she chooses a way ...more

It was good.. but god dammit - I hate love triangles.
Okay, I keep changing my mind on this freaking book rating. I can't decide to put a 3 or 4 star... so it'll be a freaking 3.5. Like I mentioned above, Lady Smoke was a good book. I have the audio version, which definitely makes it a bit easier for myself when working such long drastic hours. Now this book starts where the previous book, Ash Princess left us.
However, I feel like the characters didn't really do anything in this book but when s ...more
Okay, I keep changing my mind on this freaking book rating. I can't decide to put a 3 or 4 star... so it'll be a freaking 3.5. Like I mentioned above, Lady Smoke was a good book. I have the audio version, which definitely makes it a bit easier for myself when working such long drastic hours. Now this book starts where the previous book, Ash Princess left us.
However, I feel like the characters didn't really do anything in this book but when s ...more

Spoilers for Lady Smoke hereunder.
“I hope you come to see that a woman can wield power beyond what’s between her legs—for your daughter’s sake if nothing else.”
“There’s a reason you can’t find the word virginity in Astrean. The concept doesn’t exist.”
~ ~ ~
These books are addictive. Even flawed, I just couldn’t stop reading.
This was so much better than I expected.

Theo became such a complex and rich character. I loved how grey she was in so many areas. Loved her journey into finding who she was an ...more
“I hope you come to see that a woman can wield power beyond what’s between her legs—for your daughter’s sake if nothing else.”
“There’s a reason you can’t find the word virginity in Astrean. The concept doesn’t exist.”
~ ~ ~
These books are addictive. Even flawed, I just couldn’t stop reading.
This was so much better than I expected.

Theo became such a complex and rich character. I loved how grey she was in so many areas. Loved her journey into finding who she was an ...more

“A queen without a crown, without a throne, without a coronation. What, exactly, do you imagine you're queen of?”
YASS YASS YASS I am so down for this book series. I am in love!
This book took me a little bit longer to get through in comparison to the first book, but I still loved it nonetheless. However that ENDING. That I didn't see coming. OH MY.. I cannot wait what the last book will bring us.
Let me tell you this: Soren is Bae and I wouldn't even had to chose between this love triangle situat ...more
YASS YASS YASS I am so down for this book series. I am in love!
This book took me a little bit longer to get through in comparison to the first book, but I still loved it nonetheless. However that ENDING. That I didn't see coming. OH MY.. I cannot wait what the last book will bring us.
Let me tell you this: Soren is Bae and I wouldn't even had to chose between this love triangle situat ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I really liked Ash Princess but Lady Smoke was much better! This one was intense and you are more invested in the characters and plot so the 500+ pages just fly by. Readers will grow more attached to the characters in this one than they were in the first, but a couple things were predictable. However, the predictability did not take anything away from the story or the enjoyment of the story. Just a very good sequel and that ending…oh my! Cress got to go though. She a bit overdone now…
My quick an ...more
My quick an ...more

Hey, so this was really nice, though I had a few small issues with it. RTC

Jan 31, 2019
. (not active on this account stop adding me)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bisexual
i was gonna come home form work and write a review about how much i love this world and the main characters but my wifi decided to shit itself again and the company straight up refuses to fix it ever so :-)

She takes another drink, a smaller one this time, before looking at me thoughtfully. “You’re lucky that you didn’t really know her.”
“Did you just say that I’m lucky my mother died?”
“I didn’t say that,” Dragonsbane says, rolling her eyes. “But it’s nice, in a way, to have her preserved so purely in your memory—a perfect mother and a perfect queen, brilliant and kind and valiant. She’s practically a goddess in your mind, isn’t she?"

– Actual progress toward Theo reclaiming her country n ...more

I am happy to say that this book exceeded my expectations. I read so many mixed reviews before starting Lady Smoke, I was afraid that this would be a case of second book syndrome.
Lady Smoke starts right where Ash Princess ends, Theo has just escaped the Kaiser and is traveling with Dragonbane's crew. She is presented with a simple truth: she needs an army if she hopes to defeat the Kaiser, and the easiest way to get one would be to marry. This book is not really about survival as Ash Princess wa ...more
Lady Smoke starts right where Ash Princess ends, Theo has just escaped the Kaiser and is traveling with Dragonbane's crew. She is presented with a simple truth: she needs an army if she hopes to defeat the Kaiser, and the easiest way to get one would be to marry. This book is not really about survival as Ash Princess wa ...more

4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
“A queen without a crown, without a throne, without a coronation. What, exactly, do you imagine you're queen of?”

Lady Smoke picks up right where Ash Princess left off. Theo is trying to get everything in order on her travels with Dragons-bane and her fleet. They are all looking for allies to take down the Kaiser and Cress.

Things I Liked:
Theo shows a ton of growth in this book as her character falls in line with the title of Queen. Shes starting to come into herself and r ...more
🌟🌟🌟🌟
“A queen without a crown, without a throne, without a coronation. What, exactly, do you imagine you're queen of?”

Lady Smoke picks up right where Ash Princess left off. Theo is trying to get everything in order on her travels with Dragons-bane and her fleet. They are all looking for allies to take down the Kaiser and Cress.

Things I Liked:
Theo shows a ton of growth in this book as her character falls in line with the title of Queen. Shes starting to come into herself and r ...more

Buddy read with Angy.
I read it in two days as I really was immersed into the story. It was slower in the beginning as I had to remember everything that had happened in the first book and who was who.
I like Theodosia better in this second book. She has matured and changed from the frightened little girl. Being far from the Kaiser is helping her of course. I like that she is experienced in navigating royal court and gives as good as she gets all with a saccharine smile. Yet she never loses sight o ...more
I read it in two days as I really was immersed into the story. It was slower in the beginning as I had to remember everything that had happened in the first book and who was who.
I like Theodosia better in this second book. She has matured and changed from the frightened little girl. Being far from the Kaiser is helping her of course. I like that she is experienced in navigating royal court and gives as good as she gets all with a saccharine smile. Yet she never loses sight o ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Mar 04, 2019
Caylynn
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2019-release,
ya-fantasy
Reread review- I feel as though I should have waited another day to reread these two books because I CANNOT WAIT TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL Ember Queen!!! I CAN'T DO IT, GUYS. I need this conclusion, guys.

But yeah. This was definitely still a 5/5 star read, even though I'm dying for the conclusion. If-for some reason- you haven't picked up this trilogy yet, DO IT.
----------------------------------------------

But yeah. This was definitely still a 5/5 star read, even though I'm dying for the conclusion. If-for some reason- you haven't picked up this trilogy yet, DO IT.
----------------------------------------------
Soren clenches his jaw and yanks the man's arms until he cries out. "Her name is Queen Theod...more

You can find this review and others on the blog here:
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
WARNING:This Review Contains Mild Spoilers for Ash Princess.
It's always the true test of a series if the second book can live up to the expectation that you were left with when you finished the first book. Will it have the same voice? Will the characters grow with the story? What will happen? Do you even care what happens next? And when you do finally get your hands on a copy of that book you've been wai ...more
http://vicariouslyvoraciously.com/rev...
WARNING:This Review Contains Mild Spoilers for Ash Princess.
It's always the true test of a series if the second book can live up to the expectation that you were left with when you finished the first book. Will it have the same voice? Will the characters grow with the story? What will happen? Do you even care what happens next? And when you do finally get your hands on a copy of that book you've been wai ...more

It was as the first book a 3 stars for me. I enjoyed it but I wasn't like sucked in to the story.
I still really want to read the last book in the series...
I felt like it was slower (maybe lots slower I don't know) but I really enjoyed the character developments in that one. We actually got to understand more some of the characters... But still some behaviour didn't make sense... ...more
I still really want to read the last book in the series...
I felt like it was slower (maybe lots slower I don't know) but I really enjoyed the character developments in that one. We actually got to understand more some of the characters... But still some behaviour didn't make sense... ...more

Review taken from Literary Weaponry
As you can see above, I rated this book 2.5/5 and that was being generous. So, all things considered, this is going to be more of a rant than anything else. SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW.
~*~INCOMING SPOILERS~*~

Did I warn you enough about spoilers? Did you get the point? Good. Moving on.
I had preordered this book and received it on release day back in February. When I read Ash Princess, the first book in this trilogy, I had genuinely enjoyed it. There was an engaging plo ...more
As you can see above, I rated this book 2.5/5 and that was being generous. So, all things considered, this is going to be more of a rant than anything else. SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW.
~*~INCOMING SPOILERS~*~

Did I warn you enough about spoilers? Did you get the point? Good. Moving on.
I had preordered this book and received it on release day back in February. When I read Ash Princess, the first book in this trilogy, I had genuinely enjoyed it. There was an engaging plo ...more

This could have been an entertaining tale, but it did have its issues. The content was unnecessary. There were way too many subplots and pretty much three hundred pages in the middle of the book weren't even needed for the plot XD. I ended up skimming a good deal of it. I didn't find any of the twists shocking and they were really quite cliche. Theo was a mostly good heroine but she still makes crazy decisions half the time and she really frustrated me in the first half. Actually anything having
...more

Nov 30, 2020
Trisha Tomy
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nov-dec-series-2020
Blog Review: https://trishadoeseverythingbutstudy2...
I liked it, I guess.
I wasn't particularly excited for this, because of the love triangle, and I was rightly worried. The love triangle played a pretty big role, and I still don't like Blaise. Honestly, for me, it's either Soren or no one.
Other parts of this book.....searching for a suitor was a really interesting part of this, and I loved it. Except for the deaths.(view spoiler) ...more
I liked it, I guess.
I wasn't particularly excited for this, because of the love triangle, and I was rightly worried. The love triangle played a pretty big role, and I still don't like Blaise. Honestly, for me, it's either Soren or no one.
Other parts of this book.....searching for a suitor was a really interesting part of this, and I loved it. Except for the deaths.(view spoiler) ...more

Nov 28, 2020
Jen ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
young-adult
Looking back, Lady Smoke was my favorite book in this trilogy. There was lots of action and I loved how the characters worked together and grew. With sweaty palms and my heart in my throat, some of the moments were definitely intense. The games and strategies they set in place were so much fun to watch unfold. It added to the unknown feel, made the story more emotional and I loved every minute of it. With the reappearance of some old faces, this book had it all. Lady Smoke was definitely my favo
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
YA Addicted Book ...: Ash Princess Series - Lady Smoke February 1st | 43 | 21 | Mar 03, 2021 04:56AM | |
Soren or Blaise? | 32 | 200 | Jan 29, 2021 11:04PM | |
YA Buddy Readers'...: Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian - Restarting November 10th 2020 | 34 | 41 | Nov 29, 2020 03:51PM | |
YA Buddy Readers'...: Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian - Restarting June 14th 2020 | 68 | 70 | Jun 07, 2020 02:29AM |
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
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“As women, we must have our weapons in this world, whether they’re our minds or our fists or our wiles or our tears.”
—
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“A queen without a crown, without a throne, without a coronation. What, exactly, do you imagine you're queen of?”
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