The magic system sounds quite interesting, elemental powers derived from gems mined in caves and blessed by the Gods, but it was not expanded upon enough to add any real significance to the story. There’s also a huge info dump in the beginning that could have been executed more elegantly. There were some places where Theo’s manipulation was so obvious and yet the Prinz never suspected a thing – not nearly cautious enough around a girl who has every reason to hate him.

She has been a prisoner in her own kingdom for ten years, abused and brainwashed, but it felt like she just had a personality 180 in no time at all – in the blink of an eye, she’s ready to spy, manipulate and kill. Theo as a character, however, I didn’t like all that much. I also liked Crescentia’s character arc and I’m particularly interested to see how her character is going to develop in the sequel. What I liked most however, is that Theo chose to use her wits and her brain to fight back instead of escaping at the first opportunity and leave things for others to do. As far as villains go, I thought that the Kaiser was appropriately evil and more than a little creepy. Though it does initially start out slow, it turns into a fast-paced read soon enough. It’s entertaining, and draws the reader into the story. But after a horrifying turn of events, she decides it’s time for her to get revenge and take back her kingdom and her throne. Theo/Thora has spent the past ten years in the court of the Kaiser as a trophy of his victory over her people, and suffering the punishments for any rebellion from the remaining Astreans. Now she is Thora, mockingly called the Ash Princess, a captive of the Kalovaxians who invaded her kingdom and enslaved her people. Theodosia was once the princess of Astrea. “I was a princess made of ashes there is nothing left of me to burn. And power isn’t always won on the battlefield.įor ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside. She’s endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. Theo was crowned Ash Princess–a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.įor ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia’s family, her land, and her name. Synopsis: Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. Published: April 24th, 2018 (Delacorte Books For Young Readers)

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