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bookdragonenby's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed reading this book. The conclusion was a little rushed for my taste.15 pages left and there hadn't been a solution suggested. The detail of stories and world building were gorgeous and well thought out. But the relationship felt really lacking. I didn't know who I was meant to be rooting for. Over a solid read, but nothing too out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Grief
Minor: War
meganmindj's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is a hauntingly beautiful retelling of Cinderella. The writing and descriptions were electrifyingly stirring and atmospheric. For a fairy-tale retelling, it was incredibly original. I enjoyed the large differences this story had compared to other Cinderella tales, especially in regard to the fairy lore, and all the fairy tales that exist within this fictional world. I also loved that this story is queer, and that the love story is sweet and refreshing. The expressive writing might not hit others as well, but I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child abuse
lady_valhella's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Grief, and Death of parent
annorabrady's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this take on the Cinderella story, especially since it didn't come at the expense of relationship development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
booksandbesitos's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
thatbookishworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Loved this one so much!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
morgiei's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Religious bigotry
strange_little_ranger's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Here the Wood was a secret place, and she knew she was trespassing. But she went on, because she could not go back.”
TITLE—Ash
AUTHOR—Malinda Lo
PUBLISHED—2009
GENRE—YA fantasy; fairytale retelling
SETTING—a fantasy kingdom
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—the Fae (Sidhe/faerie folk), ff romance, classic queer lit
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️—I wish the villains could have had a bit more depth, cliche villains are my number one bugaboo about YA fantasy...
PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S—the Fae!
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“When Ash came out, in 2009, there were no books like it in YA. There were very few books about lesbian teenagers being published (less than 1 percent), barely any with fantastical elements, and none set in high fantasy worlds with a lesbian protagonist.” — from Holly Black’s Introduction to the tenth anniversary edition
Cinderella has always been my least favorite fairy tale. I didn’t read the original one, which is much more pleasantly dark than the horrifying disney version, or see the interpretation of the tale in Into the Woods, which I loved, or realize Ever After was a Cinderella retelling (even though they make it kind of obvious in the film it just never really clicked in my brain 😂), until I was much older, so for the longest time it was just very triggering for me: this idea of a girl who was horribly abused by people who were supposed to be her family and were supposed to love her and her only out was magic and a rich prince who just happened to fall in love with her for literally no reason at all, it just terrified me and made me a little angry too. 😅😅
So this is why when Lo’s books came out in 2009, in spite of the fact it was one of the first FF fairy tale YA fantasy retellings ever, I gave it a pass, and then kept giving it a pass for twelve years... 😅 BUT I’ve read it now and yes. LOVED it. Loved loved loved the Fae fairy godfather and all the folklore and greenwitch elements! The second half of the book felt a little slow as it was mostly the MC’s rumination about her situation and internal character development and for YA fantasy I prefer for there to be a bit more action because the writing style doesn’t carry the story enough for me, but I am glad that I finally read a pioneering classic of queer lit!
“It may not be your dream, Stepsister, but do not scoff at those who do dream of it.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW // death of parent/s, grief, abuse
Further Reading—
- Cinderella is Dead, by Kalynn Bayron
- Dark and Deepest Red, by Anna-Marie McLemore
- The Sisters Grimm, by Menna van Praag
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
mothman19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, and Confinement