Ash in readers advisory for all

Nov 25, 2014 Kogiopsis rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: queer-stuff, reviewed

I went into this book wanting to adore it, really I did - queer YA fairytale retelling AND dangerous faerie mythos? hello yes - but... like many other reviewers, I found it simply failed to rouse much emotion in me. I never felt like there was much there: not in Sidhean, who appeared infrequently in response to plot/pacing needs; not in Kaisa, who had one of the strongest personalities in the book but did little and was explored less; certainly not in Ash, who had so few desires or even strongly I went into this book wanting to adore it, really I did - queer YA fairytale retelling AND dangerous faerie mythos? hello yes - but... like many other reviewers, I found it simply failed to rouse much emotion in me. I never felt like there was much there: not in Sidhean, who appeared infrequently in response to plot/pacing needs; not in Kaisa, who had one of the strongest personalities in the book but did little and was explored less; certainly not in Ash, who had so few desires or even strongly conveyed emotions of her own. And the thing is, that's characteristic of fairy tales, where characters are more archetypes than fully formed people - but in a book which strays so far from the structure of its original tale, and which from the start seems to be trying to add depth to it, shallow characterization feels out of place.

There was also, congruent with that, a simple lack of conflict, even when compared to the basic fairy tale on which this book is supposedly modeled. Ash's problems have convenient solutions - even the one which, it is foreshadowed, should cost her a great deal - and she rarely has to expend much effort to reach those solutions. There is little tension here, which I'll grant could come from the novel's roots in Cinderella narratives except that Cinderella tales can hide horrifying twists (stepsisters cut off their toes or heels to fit into the shoe, birds peck out their eyes, etc). Instead the story sort of gently meanders, like a placid forest stream, to its contented happy ending. Which is fine, really, except that it's boring as hell to read about.

As for the romance - sigh. As a queer woman, I've often found myself frustrated with stories where two women fall in love just... 'cause. This is, in the end, another of those. What does Ash know of Kaisa? What does Kaisa know of ash? What relationship have they built, by the end of the story? Would we, as readers, know they were in love if the words were never used in the text? I don't think so - their interactions were either superficial or not wholly shown (ie the implied conversation about their respective backgrounds, which could have been a powerful character/relationship-establishing moment). This relationship was the key to the whole book, and it just didn't have much weight to it at all.

I'm gonna give Malinda Lo another shot, because I can't just walk away from someone writing queer girls in YA, but my expectations will be much dampened next time. ...more

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Jan 17, 2011 reading is my hustle rated it liked it

Shelves: queer, authors-of-color, fiction-smells-like-teen-spirit, fiction-re-imagined-or-re-told

A different take on the Cinderella story. Great idea but I wanted more- more storytelling, more character development, just MORE. Such a missed opportunity!

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Dec 26, 2012 Ariel Cummins rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, speculative-fiction, glbtq

A solid retelling of Cinderella that features fairy-tale-esque language, plenty of magic, and some fun twists. I really liked the GLBTQ aspect, and thought it was actually woven in to the story well.

Recommended for those who really enjoy paranormal romances or fairy tale retellings.

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Sep 13, 2009 NTE rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, books-i-am-too-dumb-for, ya, fairytale-retelling, feminist-in-the-making, fantasy

I really wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. The idea was intriguing, the characters were pretty cool, but I just couldn't get into it. It earns a disappointed shrug from me, but that's probably only because lots of people were telling me how awesome it was, and I expected more than I got. ...more

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