Ash Princess Mid-Book Review

Synopsis

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 the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.

Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.

For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.

Overall
This novel is certainly a page-turner. From page one, Laura Sebastian’s story hits the ground running, beginning with the brutal murder of Theodosia’s mother and immersing the reader into her fantastical and chilling world. This is a thrilling story of reclaiming what was once lost, and only halfway through, I can’t wait to keep reading!

Strengths

Ash Princess is certainly a plot-driven novel. The world of the Kalovaxians and the Astreans is excellently written without the burden of info-dumps and unnecessary histories to understand within the story. Despite the novel being primarily plot-driven, Sebastian’s characters are well developed as well, as Theodosia’s point of view is quite intimate and relatable in unexpected ways.

Weaknesses
I can’t say much for weaknesses within the story besides hope that many of the (suspected) red herrings are addressed.

Keep Reading?
Absolutely!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars