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Friday, August 7, 2009

Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash
by Malinda Lo


From the author's website:
In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.


I really fell in love with this book. I felt like the stepmother and stepsisters were a lot more realistic than what you usually see in the tales of Cinderella. I love the spin on it - Ash's love for Kaisa - The King's Huntress. It seemed exactly right for the world that Malinda built to surround it.

And what a world Malinda built us. There was lots of stunning scenes that took my breath away and the assorted fairy tales presented throughout the book really kept me engaged. I love how beautiful this book is, while giving the reader's a different aspect to this well-known fairy tale.

Overall, the book was simply stunning. I do hope she writes another book soon!

5/5 Roses



63 comments:

  1. I am really looking forward to this book. I like fairy tale stories, so of course I want to read this.

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  2. By the way, great review. Glad you enjoyed the book!

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  3. Gah I am so envious of all your books. I have read so many great reviews of Ash and now here's another one. I want to read it so bad!

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  4. I've been meaning to read this, and not just because of it's great cover. It's a nice twist on Cinderella.

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  5. I can't wait for this book to come out! I love the revamping of Cinderella, especially the fact that she's lesbian. It's so cool and different! I've heard only amazing things about this book :)

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  6. I am pretty amped to read this because it takes guts to revamp the Cinderella tale to touch upon same sex relationships. I will definitely read this!

    dreamzz12{at}aol{dot}com

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  7. Great review - I love a good fairy tale and this sounds lovely. Thanks for sharing :)

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  8. I've been wanting to read this book from the moment I set my eyes on it.

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  9. Really wonderful review. I enjoy twists on fairy tales and any book you call "stunning" grabs my attention.

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  10. I really can't wait for this book, I love retellings of Fairy Tales and this one sounds nicely different.

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  11. This was on my Friday Finds the other week. I can't wait to actually read it.

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  12. Great Review!
    I'm Jealous!
    This is high on my wishlist!

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  13. This book sounds so interesting!

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  14. I loved your review. Now I'm really looking forward to this book(:

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  15. Thanks for the spoiler-free review! And 5/5 sounds like a good deal...plus the book is so gorgeous! Can't wait to read it!

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  16. Whoa, she's a lesbian? That's a twist I didn't foresee. I don't know how I feel about that though, I like crushing on the hero when I read. The dark faery aspect sounds amazing though, so I still really want to read this, plus you gave it a great review. That was a gutsy twist, I applaud Lo for taking a story that we all picture as quintessential Disney fluff and turning into something dark and challenging.

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  17. That sounds like a book I'd enjoy, plus I think GLBTQ books are awesome! :-)

    Great review as always!!!

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  18. I wasn't first attracted by the book but after reading your reviews, the book really does sound great!
    Good review, thank you!

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  19. I love fractured fairy tales and I definitely have this one on my TBR list. Glad you liked it.

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  20. Fairy Tales for grown ups - sounds good to me.

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  21. Glad to hear you liked the book since I really want to read this. The cover is also really nice. Have you seen the UK cover? I think it may be prettier.

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  22. I love that Ash is a fairy tale retelling with a twist. Very interested in how Ash falls in love with The King's Huntress.

    - Alex

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  23. Wow! What a great review! This is just my type of book! A different type of "fairy tale" for sure!
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

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  24. I haven't heard of this book yet! Looks like an awesome book!

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  25. I'm SO glad you liked this book! I'm looking forward to reading this. It looks wonderful and it's a GLBTQ book!

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  26. Sound interesting! Can't wait to buy it.

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  27. Every review I've read about this book says its a great book I really cant wit to get my hand on it!!

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  28. This book sounds awesome! I love revamped fairy tales! :)

    Abbey

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  29. I ADORE retellings and this one sounds especially good! Can't wait to read it!

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  30. I love retellings. Plus I've never read a book with a love story between two girls (or two guys) so that will be interesting.

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  31. I loved Cinderella, I so want to read this book. Great review.

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  32. I really want to read this novel, I've heard nothing but great reviews for it!

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  33. Awesome Review! I can't wait to read this book..

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  34. I'm probably in the minority but I'm probably not going to read Ash. At least not fully through. I read part of it from a friend's lent copy and it wasn't to my tastes so much. But I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  35. Wah, it sounds really romantic. I want to read this too! :)

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  36. I can't wait to read this. It looks really good. Great Revview.

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  37. I agree -- this book was amazing. I can't wait for whatever Malindo Lo decides to publish next.

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  38. I love retellings and this seems like a really good one. Can't wait to read it.

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  39. This looks like a really good book. I love how she gave it a mainstream view were the main character falls in love with a girl. Great review!

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  40. I've only been hearing great things about this book, which only makes me want to read it even more. I'm a huge fan of any retelling of fairy tales, so this one is high on my list

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  41. I want to read this book too *whines* I'll have to add this to my wishlist :)

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  42. hm. normally i wouldn't want to read a fairy tale (no surprises included, you know very quickly how it turns out, -so, no climax)

    but i REALLY would like to read this one.

    in fact there are many good storytellers who mix some fairy tales into their OWN stories the way for example juliette marillier does. (YOU HAVE TO TRY: "WILDWOOD DANCING" it's based loosely on 2 fairy tales! i'm sure you might even come to love it, like i do!)

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  43. Great review. Can't wait to read this book.

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  44. Shawna Lewis
    weloveourdogs@juno.com


    Oh I am so excited about this book I would have bought it just for the cover art ;o)This sound so good thanks for the amazing review I will enter for a chance to win ;o)

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  45. The more I hear about this book, the more I want to read it. I am so so so excited for this, and I love revamped fairy tales!

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  46. I really want to read this book it sounds amazing and I have heard great things about it.

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  47. I'm a huge fairy tale reader, especially Cinderella retellings, I do a lesson on them with my third graders. Er, not that I would use this for that lesson haha but I do want to read it for me. My college roommate picked it up at ALA I think, and I know her impression, but the book blogs are mostly saying something else (more positive) so I am looking forward to seeing for myself

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  48. Wow, this books sounds good!
    I would have never expected that lesbian twist in the cinderella story...
    This is definitely on my To be Read pile. lol

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  49. I enjoy fairy tale inspired books. :)

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  50. Im anxiously awaiting this book release. A friend of mine who had a chance to read an ARC of Ash told me Ash reminded me of her.. which she wouldn't tell me why.. and now i am dying to know. Plus how can you not love a spin on a classic fairy tale?! Great review, love that you give details but not spoilers. bravo!

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  51. I marked this on Goodreads as a maybe I will, maybe I won't, but after you're review, I think I will. :)

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  52. I am really looking foward to this book and that its looks like its going to be amazing heard alot of good things about it.

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  53. I love fairytale retellings, and a lesbian Cinderella is unique! I will definitely be reading this one, especially with all the great reviews it's getting!

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  54. i read the first chapter on malinda's website and i must say i was alittle mad. i immedietly wanted more. greedy i know. can't wait to get a copy and see what happens next.

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  55. I'm looking forward to this book so much!!! I love fairy tale retellings, but this seems much more unique than others.

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  56. I have heard a lot of things about this book. However I still haven't made up my mind if I want to read it.

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  57. I do have to admit, it has a beautiful cover. :P

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  58. There are many contest out there to win a copy, but I haevn't be lucky. I'm gonna have to buy it!

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  59. Ooh I am getting my copy soon and I can't wait. Great review!

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