Author: Laura Sebastian
Publisher: Pan Australia
Publication Date: 24 April 2018
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's 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.
Ash Princess is a gripping tale that captivated me from start to finish. I loved the world building (especially the sense of northern Europe versus southern Europe evoked in the two nations' cultures) and the interesting plot, and Theo was a likeable heroine in whose story I was instantly caught up. That said, my favourite character was actually Søren. I found him intriguing because of his difficult position--is he friend or foe? There was only one thing I disliked and that was the inclusion of a potential Theo-Søren-Blaise love triangle. The YA love triangle has become such a cliché, and in this story it really wasn't necessary; the plot would have worked just as well without any hint of possible romance with Blaise. But, that aside, Ash Princess is a most enjoyable read, and given the way it ends, it looks as if this is going to be a duology or a trilogy, so I would definitely be interested in reading on to find out what happens next. Overall, this first installment gets a solid 4.5 stars from me.
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