Ash Princess

“We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them,” she says quietly, eyes never leaving mine. “Maybe they have broken you, but you are a sharper weapon because of it. And it is time to strike.”

This book has two of my favorite things in it: politics and magic.

First and foremost this is book is all politics and Theo trying to survive in the court of the man who had her mother killed and took over her kingdom. The Kaiser invaded her world and completely upturned it. But Theo has survived for 10 long years and is slowly biding her time waiting to strike back. I loved reading Theo's inner dialogue and she pieced together plans and schemes to free herself and those she cares about. I also loved how she had to weigh her position in the court with helping her people.

This book is dark and gory. Theo has to endure the worst at the hands of the Kaiser. Whether it is verbal abuse and name calling or beatings to punish her after something her people have done. Or being forced to watch as her people are tortured and killed. There is a lot of violence and bloodshed in this book. Theo's people have become slaves in this new world and she is merely a slave dressed up at court.

The magic in this book is minimal only slightly explored in this first book, but I really want to learn more about the gems and controlling the elements with them. This book is definitely an introduction to the story. It sets up the rebellion and Theo's stake for the throne but it leaves so much more to be answered.

I cannot wait for Lady Smoke and see where Theo's story takes her next. I really hope we get to learn more about the magic system and more importantly there is more politics and manipulating