Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian is a dark, gripping fantasy about resilience and revenge. Theodosia, once a princess, is now a captive in her own kingdom, enduring humiliation from her conquerors. As she finds strength to reclaim her identity, her journey unfolds with tension, betrayal, and unexpected alliances. Perfect for fans of intense, character-driven YA fantasy filled with intrigue and rebellion.

I really enjoyed Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian. The author did a great job of throwing you into the action without any confusion. I loved how she weaves in world building and the past into the current plot so you never felt confused. Theo was a very interesting and complex character. I enjoyed reading about your struggles and inner conflict. It was nice to read a fantasy book where good and evil was a little blurred. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

ASH PRINCESS is an engaging YA fantasy that takes us to the conquered land of Astrea. Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her when she was only 6 years old, as the Kalovaxians seized control. The Kaiser has kept her in her mother's palace where he now resides since then, punishing her brutally (whipping and similar) for any Astrean crimes. Her identity was stripped and she lives as Lady Thora, trying to forget all the awful things that surround her.

Everything comes crashing through her walls when she is forced to kill an Astrean prisoner who meant something to her before the siege. She begins to plot a revolt that will take down the Kaiser and the Kalovaxians, who have enslaved and killed her people. The path she walks is not easy, and she will find herself challenged by the feelings she has for the Prinz who she uses and the "friends" she has made.

What I loved: This book is completely engrossing. Much of it takes place inside Theo's head, but it's really like slipping into someone's life and mind. The pacing is absolutely perfect to keep the reader hooked. I loved the characters and the conflicts, and the way the book completely sucks you in to this other world. The world-building here is completely lush and fully developed.

Final verdict: Engaging, atmospheric, and fantastically well written, ASH PRINCESS is a wonderful read that hooks readers right from the start. Highly recommend for fans of THE SELECTION, FROSTBLOOD, and/or THE REMNANT CHRONICLES.

This was a surprisingly enjoyable fantasy. I think the fact that it was a bit darker and gorier than a lot of what's been published recently is what grabbed and held my attention. I'll definitely read the next two in the series.

I tried to get into this book numerous times but it just doesn't seem to be the right time whenever I try. I actually own the entire trilogy now so I will be trying again in the future. The covers are gorgeous and the plot sounds good so I hope I am in the mood soon.

Such a great read! I went into it hoping for a way to pass the time, what I got was a story that I could not put down, and immediately wanted to read the next as soon as I was finished. It started off a little slowly, took me a few chapters to get into it, but began to build into a great read. Theodosia has been a prisoner in her own palace since her mother was murdered. She's had to bury her true self to survive, and reading as she begins to find herself is quite enjoyable.

YA fantasy that manages to be compulsively readable despite being somewhat predictable. The characters are well-drawn and interesting; ends strongly and leaves plenty of room for the story to expand in a sequel. ★★★½

***Note: Deciding not to review this book since I am no longer interested and I just need to get this book off my feedback list.***

<i>*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review*</i>

Predictable troupe? Sure. Enjoyable read? Definitely. It's been very popular and a easy recommend.

This book made me cry as I read it, Laura Sebastian did such an amazing job of capturing how dark theo’s situation really is in the beginning of the story but as it progresses, you see Theo gain confidence in saving her country from the kaiser.

This was just ok for me. It wasn’t terrible but it also wasn’t very memorable. It’s a solid 3 stars for me

I loved this entire series. Sebastian's writing is fantastic and the story is extremely compelling. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy.

Ash Princess is such a beautifully imagined novel with complex worldbuilding. The characters were amazing, and the plot was surprising and original.

Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to read this ARC prior to the book's publication, but we did end up buying it for our library collection.

This was a fairly enjoyable read. Similar to other fantasy novels, such as The Winner's Curse and Red Queen. This one was a bit heavier on the violence, though. It vaguely reminded me of Game of Thrones. There were plenty of tropes present (love triangle, lost royals, etc), but the story was still interesting.

This book was amazing! It had me sucked in from page one I and I blasted through Lady smoke and patiently wait to read the third and final book.

I really enjoyed Ash Princess. The plot was surprisingly different and left you wanting more. The characters were well developed and added to the intrigue of the story. I will definitely be reading Lady Smoke and Ember Queen! The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is because I didn't like a turn of events in the story. I am hoping that it gets resolved in the next two installments.

this book started out great but got really boring toward the middle so it made me want to dnf the book

Twisty and political and exciting. All the things I love in a book. The world building is awesome, and I loved all the magic. I did get bored, though, because it felt very familiar. It felt like something I'd read before. I also didn't love the love triangle. I've gotten so tired of those, as it's a major plot point in YA novels. All in all, the story was well-done, but not memorable and I feel very conflicted on a rating and whether or not I want to continue the series.

Ash Princess did have a few tropes but it was still enjoyable. It was slow moving at times unfortunately.