Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian Review

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

★★★★

Theodosia was 6 when her country was invaded and her mother, was murdered before her eyes. Theo was crowned Ash Princess, a title given to hear to bear her shame. Theodosia has now been a prisoner in her own palace for 10 year. She's endured abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser. Theo finally hits her breaking point when the Kaiser forces Theo to kill her father, and Theo knows she needs to stand up. Theo finds an a childhood friend who is willing to take her away from the palace, but she knows she must fight for her people and their freedom. Theo comes up a plan to turn the Kaiser's son against him, creating a rift between the father and son. For years the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved, that all ends here.

This book was a really interesting reading a new take on royal fiction, of course in every book there are going to be things you did and didn't like.

Soren was a strange character, I felt like he kept switching sides....every second, I didn't know whether or not to like him. I disliked Cress, she was using Theo as a toy and told her to do what she said and no one would get hurt, except Theo has been enduring years of abuse and punishment for things she didn't have any part in. I liked the joking between Theo's Shadows/friends, I thought the little things they did for one another was just so kind. I just have such strong feelings of dislike and trust for certain characters and I love how someone's writing can make you feel that.

Soren and Theo's relationship was subtle, and wasn't the main plot of the story. I disliked the love triangle, why do authors feel the need to add love triangles? It takes away from the relationship that actually makes the main character happy. I like both Soren and Blaise, but I honestly don't care who she's with.

My heart was broken when Elpis died, but it made me smile when she finally drank all of the poison as her own rebellion against the Kaiser and dying her own way. I just knew something was going to happen to her after Blaise said she was Theo's responsibility.

That plot twist at the end with Artemisa's mother aka Theo's aunt, her mother's twin sister. That made me upset, because for a second, I thought that maybe her mother was alive. I wished Artemisa had told her, that way it wasn't such a shock. Another plot twist was that they sent Soren below and drugged him even though he never hurt Theo. He literally risked everything to rescue Theo from her death!

Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the sequel, which has equally as gorgeous cover!