Ash by Malinda Lo

Ash

by Malinda Lo

The haunting, romantic lesbian retelling of Cinderella and modern queer classic by award-winning author Malinda Lo--now with an introduction by Holly Black, a letter from the author, a Q&A, and more!

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, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away. 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. Their friendship, as delicate as a new bloom, 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 and empowering, Ash beautifully unfolds the connections between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Reviewed by layawaydragon on

2 of 5 stars

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I loved the idea of a lesbian Cinderella retelling. I thought she'd end up or at least fall in love with a princess instead of prince. I was wrong but that wasn't a problem. The huntress, Kasia, was fine and it makes more sense than a princess. Ash could actually run into and hang out with her. Which means there was more than instalove at a ball.

My only issue is wanting more conflict and a stronger conclusion.

Ash still didn't do much. I hate how passive Cinderella is and Ash isn't much better. She tried but had to get help from Sidhern every single step of the way. And he's just a giant blow hard. There was a great moment where the threads between her, her mother and Sidhern seemed to actually mean something.

In the end she's just lucky her mom's spell worked and Sidhern just walked away. And what about the dying magic and fae people? Are they just going to die out? It seems so cool of a world with scary fae and maybe she can bring magic back too. But NOPE! :(((

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  • 20 February, 2013: Reviewed