2020 Beat the Backlist challenge
ARC Review: Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian
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Series: Ash Princess Trilogy #2
Author: Laura Sebastian
Published May 2nd 2019 by Macmillan Children's Books
Goodreads Synopsis
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
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Following the events of Ash Princess, Theodosia is now free, with her shadows/Guardians in tow, aboard the fleet of renowned pirate, and her aunt, Dragonsbane. Fleeing Astrea and the wicked Kaiser, Theo needs to keep her wits about her, and truly become the Queen that she's always been, and her best hope of reclaiming her home is to travel to the rich, and neutral, Sta’Crivero, and agree with the king's plan to marry her off to the strongest ally. With Prinz Soren as an ally and supporter, Theo finds herself knowing that she will have to give up part of herself to save her country, and her people. But, strong forces are acting against her, and not just the Kaiser this time. Cress, her once friend, and now enemy, survived her poisoning, and is the new Kaiserin, and vows to destroy Theo. Can Theo do it all, especially after seeing the conditions that refugees are living in, or will the Kalovaxians succeed as they have done so often in the past?
Theo has grown so much from where she was in the start of this series. She is stronger now, and knows that true life isn't all black and white, and sometimes she will have to cross the line of right and wrong to save her people, even if she can't save herself. The old gang are all together, and I love the banter between herself, Soren, Artemesia, Heron, and Blaise, especially as they are plotting themselves against what the Sta'Crivero king and Dragonsbane wanted from her.
The romance in this book got a little annoying at times. Yes, there is a love triangle, and I really don't see how Blaise was a perspective suitor, really. Nothing between Theo and Blaise ever felt romantic to me, nor did I think they had all that much chemistry. Soren and Theo, on the other hand, were perfect together, and their every interaction just showed how comparable they were. Ok, when they first became involved, in Ash Princess, Theo was lying to him, and planned on kidnapping him, but now she's completely herself, and they rely on each other and use each other as a sounding board while trying to stop the Kaiser and come up with a plan. The conclusion of this book was so explosive, and I can't wait to start reading Ember Queen to find out what happens with Theo and the rest of the gang!
Dates Read:
June 29-July 3, 2020
Rating
4 Stars
