Ash

Really great retelling of cinderella, drawing more on folk beliefs and Irish mythology and the original cinderella story, with a really nice twist on the 'fairy godmother' and a F/F romance.

I haven’t read it yet but I would like to say to whoever wrote the beautiful note about loving who you love. I hope you somehow see this and I hope you’re loved ❤️

My book just arrived in the mail earlier today, and I sat down to read it immediately, and then I blinked, and it was over, and I felt peaceful and content and a little sad that it was over, but happy with how it ended. When you see "Cinderella re-telling," don't be turned away like I almost was! The connections are clear in some places, but the love story is not at all Cinderella-like. They actually get to know each other and fall in love in a way that feels incredibly natural and beautiful. It doesn't feel like a cliche, sort of cringy YA romance at all. The romance also isn't as large a part of the book as I thought it would be, which was honestly kind of nice! It was quite a bit about Ash's journey to finding herself and her freedom, as much as it was about her falling in love with Kaisa. I loved all the characters, even the ones I didn't like, which was really cool! Even the antagonists had layers and were three-dimensional, which was really nice because often the villains can be simply that—evil. But everyone was layered and well-written, and the story flowed so well. The writing style is utterly stunning; the imagery so vivid and clear. The fantasy world-building is easy to understand and picture, and so, so easy to lose yourself in. I'll be reading this book again. And again. And again. Romance isn't honestly one of my favorite genres, but this was just done really, really well. It was beautiful. I highly, highly recommend it! No gays are harmed or die, and they all get happy endings. (The end is AMAZING, by the way.) Almost spoiler: I was worried, at one point, that there was going to be a love triangle with Sidhean, but there wasn't and I was incredibly relieved. That plot resolved itself beautifully really satisfyingly. This book was like a nice, queer hug. I can find no flaws. Buy this book, my fellow gays, and you will not regret it! <3

Aisling, who goes by Ash in this book, loses her mother at a young age. If her mother had lived, Ash would have learned of fairies and the ways of the greenwitch. Her father didn't believe in such things and neither did her step-mother, closing the door on that path. After her father's death, Ash lost her place as daughter and was moved into the servant's quarters to pay off his debt. Her only solace was the woods, but she wasn't really alone. Sidhean, opened up a new world, that of the fairies. She also met Kaisa, the King's Huntress, who opened her heart to love. Told in a Cinderella theme, this isn't your boy/girl young adult love story, but a love that develops between Aisling and Kaisa. In my opinion, ASH is a book long overdue.

I really love re-tellings of classic fairy tales if they are done well, and this is my favorite since Pamela Dean's Tam Lin. Ash is the Cinderella in the story, and all the elements are there. Magic, fairies, a wicked selfish stepmother, and a Prince who only figures into the story for a moment. It's a coming of age story, as Ash, who is alone and orphaned makes friends with a fairy who is fascinated with her for reasons she can't understand and with the Royal Huntress. Her step-mother makes her life miserable and she has her moments of escape and love with her friends until she can finally stand for herself and make the choices to make her life better. The descriptions are lush, and the dialogue is easy and comfortable. The romance in the story is something that builds naturally out of friendship instead of the big crush/fall in love that's entirely too common in YA romance type novels. I'm highly recommending it to my daughter to read now that I've finished devouring it in less than an evening. It did grab me that hard, that I didn't want to put it down until I was done reading it.

This retelling of the Cinderella tale is beautifully written, rich in folklore and gorgeous language of the woods, and wonderfully fresh. Ash, orphaned as a young teen, is tempted to give up on human life and follow the glittering fairy she meets in the woods to see her mother once more. With a life of servitude to her stepmother and stepsisters, what reason does she have to live? Enter the King's huntress - a strong, beautiful, independent young woman who teaches Ash to ride and helps her to find the answers she's been seeking. This book is a beautiful, beautiful retelling with a twist that reminds us that love comes in different shape and sizes and genders - not always in the form of a prince. For teachers & librarians: Hand this book to anyone who loves a great fairy tale retelling, but especially to GLBT and questioning students who don't see representations of themselves in fantasy literature often enough. The GLBT themes aren't the focus of this book, though - the power of finding true love is, and that's what makes it even more magical for all kinds of readers.