Read Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series Book 2 Audible Audio Edition Laura Sebastian Saskia Maarleveld Listening Library Books
Download As PDF : Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series Book 2 Audible Audio Edition Laura Sebastian Saskia Maarleveld Listening Library Books
The sequel to the instant New York Times best-seller 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 10 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.
Praise for the Ash Princess series
"A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down." (Bustle)
"A smart, feminist twist on a traditional tale of a fallen heroine, with plenty of court intrigue, love, and lies to sweeten the deal. Good luck putting this one down." (Virginia Boecker, author of The Witch Hunter series)
"This searing page-turner is a compelling examination of the complexities of both evil and resistance." (Sarah Porter, author of Vassa in the Night)
Read Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series Book 2 Audible Audio Edition Laura Sebastian Saskia Maarleveld Listening Library Books
"Good read, forward-thinking without it being overwhelming, but falls short of the 5 star potential that I think it has. I'm writing this review before book 3 is released, so I've only read books 1 and 2. This one is slower than the first but I think that's due to world-building and answering questions from the first book. Left off right where book one ended. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because it didn't grab me quite as well as the first and the plot was slow to start but it was still a good read. The writing is beautiful and the characters seemed to evolve more for the most part but maybe not quite to their full potential or were a bit contradictory, but who am I? Certainly not a literary author. Overall I enjoyed the series but it's not quite a 5 star in my opinion. Would recommend for girls and young women ages 16+ due to amount of violenc and some mild references to rape/sexual abuse. Contains mild swearing but it was pretty scarce (in case anyone is triggered or doesn't like the occasional, but rare, cursing). The 2 books are very forward thinking and feminist without it being overwhelming, aside from what is discussed below in the spoilers, which is refreshing.
*******SPOILERS BELOW******
You've been warned!
I found that both books were written beautifully but were quite repetitive when it came to past events in the series.
Yes, we know the Kaiser overthrew her land.
Yes, we know the Theyn killed her mother the queen, by the Kaiser's order of course.
Yes, we know she witnessed it.
Yes, we know she was forced to kill Ampelio (possibly her father), by the Kaiser's order again.
Yes, we know Dragonsbane and Art have a strained relationship.
Yes, we know she betrayed Cress and will never be forgiven.
Yes, Cress now has a freakish gift that haunts nightmares
Yes, queens don't marry
Yes, we know Theo doesn't want to forgive Prinz Soren for captaining the raid on Vecturia, though again by the Kaiser's orders
etc.
I felt like I was watching episode recaps not reading books, and that bothered me. Maybe more than it should but it did. Also there is the stereotypical love triangle and she can't seem to make up her mind on which boy she wants to pursue but doesn't really seem to see it as a triangle, more like she is going to get both and kisses/proclaims her love to each, back and forth, with no real thought to who she actually "loves." This leads me to believe that Blaise will die and she ends up with the Prinz because there doesn't seem to be much of an arguement going on in her head, especially in the second book. With a book so forward thinking and trying to empower women, it doesn't make sense to me why this triangle is the way it is. It doesn't feel like "I'm an independent woman and the choice is mine," more like "emotional teenage girl can't decide."
The first book had really good plot other than that and kept me up at night reading until I finished and I believe I overall enjoyed the story
The second one I trudged through the first few chapters but once they were on their way to meet the king and suitors, things really picked up the pace. I did not guess the suitor murder culprit initially but started to get an idea of who it was right before it was revealed."
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Tags : Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series, Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition) Laura Sebastian, Saskia Maarleveld, Listening Library Books, ,Laura Sebastian, Saskia Maarleveld, Listening Library,Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series, Book 2,Listening Library,B07K8WG9J1
Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series Book 2 Audible Audio Edition Laura Sebastian Saskia Maarleveld Listening Library Books Reviews :
Lady Smoke Ash Princess Series Book 2 Audible Audio Edition Laura Sebastian Saskia Maarleveld Listening Library Books Reviews
- I loved Ash Princess so much I was almost afraid to read this sequel in case it was disappointing or, as happens with so many other series, the author ruins the characters and relationships forged in the first book. But this lived up to my hopes in every way! Theodosia becomes a true queen, with all the powers and burdens that brings. Theo's relationships with Blaise, Artemesia, and Heron grows and deepens, as does her relationship with Prince Soren.
Theodosia and her companions (three Astrean Guardians with the powers of Air, Water and Earth + Soren the Crown Prince of the Kalovaxians who also happens to be Theo's love interest) join with the pirate Dragonsbane (Theo's aunt). Dragonsbane takes them to Sta'Crivero, rich neighboring kingdom whose corrupt elderly king is only interested in how he can use her situation for profit. A sea of suitors compete for Theo's hand in marriage (and 1/2 her kingdom) while Theo fights against accepting a forced marriage for political reasons. Each of them struggle with the demons of their past and what they must now do now to regain Astrea. As the group navigates a sea of viperous suitors and tries to aid the starving Astrean refugees in Sta'Crivero, brilliant writing conveys their internal fears that they will become what they loathed in their ruthless parents. Does the end ever justify the mean? Or is empathy just a weakness that must be set aside for the greater good? There are twists and turns that had me cheering with excitement one minute and then shocked and despairing the next, but it is a ride worth taking. We see Erik and his mother Hoa again, and new surprising details of their identity is revealed. Crescentia is back and her transformation makes her into an intriguing and frightening enemy. Soren's political and military genius is put to use as tries to makes restitution for his past and show his love and loyalty to Theo. I loved watching their relationship blossom in this book. Theo finds new allies and moves closer to retaking Astrea.
I can't wait for the conclusion to this series! - Good read, forward-thinking without it being overwhelming, but falls short of the 5 star potential that I think it has. I'm writing this review before book 3 is released, so I've only read books 1 and 2. This one is slower than the first but I think that's due to world-building and answering questions from the first book. Left off right where book one ended. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because it didn't grab me quite as well as the first and the plot was slow to start but it was still a good read. The writing is beautiful and the characters seemed to evolve more for the most part but maybe not quite to their full potential or were a bit contradictory, but who am I? Certainly not a literary author. Overall I enjoyed the series but it's not quite a 5 star in my opinion. Would recommend for girls and young women ages 16+ due to amount of violenc and some mild references to rape/sexual abuse. Contains mild swearing but it was pretty scarce (in case anyone is triggered or doesn't like the occasional, but rare, cursing). The 2 books are very forward thinking and feminist without it being overwhelming, aside from what is discussed below in the spoilers, which is refreshing.
*******SPOILERS BELOW******
You've been warned!
I found that both books were written beautifully but were quite repetitive when it came to past events in the series.
Yes, we know the Kaiser overthrew her land.
Yes, we know the Theyn killed her mother the queen, by the Kaiser's order of course.
Yes, we know she witnessed it.
Yes, we know she was forced to kill Ampelio (possibly her father), by the Kaiser's order again.
Yes, we know Dragonsbane and Art have a strained relationship.
Yes, we know she betrayed Cress and will never be forgiven.
Yes, Cress now has a freakish gift that haunts nightmares
Yes, queens don't marry
Yes, we know Theo doesn't want to forgive Prinz Soren for captaining the raid on Vecturia, though again by the Kaiser's orders
etc.
I felt like I was watching episode recaps not reading books, and that bothered me. Maybe more than it should but it did. Also there is the stereotypical love triangle and she can't seem to make up her mind on which boy she wants to pursue but doesn't really seem to see it as a triangle, more like she is going to get both and kisses/proclaims her love to each, back and forth, with no real thought to who she actually "loves." This leads me to believe that Blaise will die and she ends up with the Prinz because there doesn't seem to be much of an arguement going on in her head, especially in the second book. With a book so forward thinking and trying to empower women, it doesn't make sense to me why this triangle is the way it is. It doesn't feel like "I'm an independent woman and the choice is mine," more like "emotional teenage girl can't decide."
The first book had really good plot other than that and kept me up at night reading until I finished and I believe I overall enjoyed the story
The second one I trudged through the first few chapters but once they were on their way to meet the king and suitors, things really picked up the pace. I did not guess the suitor murder culprit initially but started to get an idea of who it was right before it was revealed.
