Book Blurb:
LADY SMOKE (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian
Pub. Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 512
The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that was "made for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sabaa Tahir" ( Bustle ), Lady Smoke is an epic new fantasy about a throne cruelly stolen and a girl who must fight to take it back for her people.
The Kaiser murdered Theodosia's mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo's country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess--a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn't realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.
Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage--Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser's rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.
To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.
Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.
Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | B&N | iBooks | TBD
My Review:
4 Out Of 5 Stars
Genre: Another-World, Heart-Wrenching, Historical, Royal-Court, Supernatural, Suspense, Teen, Witches--
I know I have said this before but I do not care- the covers for this series are so incredibly gorgeous. Hands down some of the best book covers I have seen (and so perfectly chosen for the content) and I will be the first to admit that I am attracted to the pretties. That is actually why I picked up Ash Princess to read initially, with no idea what the book was even about, just that I could not resist. It was an interesting discovery though to find that these beautiful covers can hold such darkness and destruction within their pages.
I struggled a little with Ash Princess, at times furious and others just plain sad for our Princess prisoner Theo. I had a hard time connecting to her and the fact she was at times a meek abused servant and then a complete swap to a conniving emotional betrayer- she was a hard to character to pin down and get to know since I am not sure that Theo knew herself or what she was really capable of. I found the world to be interesting and I really wanted to see where the story would take the characters next so I wanted to continue the story in Lady Smoke.
"But you are the Queen of Flame and Fury, Theodosia, and you will set their world on fire."
I am pleased to report that I loved Theo in Lady Smoke. She became strong and confident, coming into her position as Queen regardless of the obstacles that keep getting thrown at her. She makes the tough choices for the betterment of her cause and people even when it may hurt her heart (and mine a little too). There were a few times where it would have been so easy for her to give in and let others handle the situation (cough cough pushy Dragonsbane) but Theo knew better and I wanted to cheer her backbone and spunk on! She is now the Queen the people need and the ending of the book left me wanting more! What a conclusion.
I flew through this dangerous, violent, destructive story, worrying over the fate of the world and the characters that I have grown to care for. There is no doubt in my mind that I will read the third book in the series, Ember Queen (which I can't wait to see the cover for!), and I will try and be patient even while worrying over my new favorite fiery princess.
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.
"A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down." --Bustle on Ash Princess, Book 1 in the Ash Princess series.
Goodreads | Amazon | Audible | B&N | iBooks | TBD
You can read my review of Ash Princess HERE
Author Bio:
Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. No copies of her first book, a Cinderella retelling about angels circa 2nd grade, remain. Thankfully.
After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.
When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.
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Week One:
1/1/2019- To Be Read- Review
1/2/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
1/3/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
1/4/2019- Random Bookish Banter- Review
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Week Two:
1/7/2019- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review
1/8/2019- Jrsbookreviews- Review
1/9/2019- Omg Books and More Books- Review
1/10/2019- Fiction Fare- Review
1/11/2019- Du Livre- Review
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Week Three:
1/14/2019- Loie Dunn- Review
1/15/2019- A Court of Coffee and Books- Review
1/16/2019- Paws and Paperbacks- Review
1/17/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review
1/18/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
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Week Four:
1/21/2019- Paper Reader- Review
1/22/2019- Adventures and Reading- Review
1/23/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads- Review
1/24/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
1/25/2019- YA Books Central- Interview
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Week Five:
1/28/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review
1/29/2019- Colorimetry- Interview
1/30/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
1/31/2019- Kat's Books- Review
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Review tour provided by Rockstar Book Tours
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