Laura Sebastian

I suspect this is one of those books that you either fell completely under its spell or you deeply disliked it. The structure is odd--the action takes place both in flashback, in present day and in visions the main character has of the future, all while playing on the presumed knowledge the reader already has of the Arthurian legends. I can very much see how the structure would turn folks off, but for me the characters were so strong that I didn't care that I didn't always clearly understand show more what was happening. The description of Avalon made me desperate to go there, I wanted to be Gwen's friend, and I wanted to tell off Morgause. In other words, I wanted more of this book even as I was drawn into the inevitable end. show less

The blurb left me ambivalent (intimations of a "classic tale" combined with the title made me think it was some kind of Cinderella variant) but I picked it up on the strength of remainder prices, and was pleasantly surprised not to regret it. It's the first book in what, yes, is certainly a classically plotted YA dystopia trilogy, complete with the subplot in which our heroine is torn between her love for two very different men. I could quite easily do without this part but at least neither show more of them are actively unhealthy choices and would otherwise be perfectly decent friends.

But what I particularly liked is that our heroine, while young and kind-hearted given the circumstances, also has (by necessity) a boundless capacity for deception; and is willing to do a very good proportion of what it takes - even against her personal inclinations - to scrabble for some scrap of advantage for her survival and the survival of her country. There are things she doesn't know, but she's far from naive, and she's got a fantastic strategic grasp of how to manipulate individuals and the court at large.

So when a few days after finishing it, I found the sequel on the shelves at full price, I didn't hesitate very long indeed in snapping it up. show less

Theodosia has now finally fled Kalovaxia and captivity under the vicious, cruel Kaiser. With the aid of her aunt, the notorious dreaded pirate Dragonsbane, she sails on the Smoke with her crew of friends Artemesia, Blaise and Heron, to Sta’Crivera where she is expected to find a husband and marry. This is the task of the new Queen of Astrea if she expects to gain an army that will go back with her to seek revenge on the Kaiser. Theo also has to bear the fact that they are holding Prinz show more Søren as prisoner (basically a bargaining chip); since he is the son of the Kaiser, and the person who dangerously holds her heart, she has to find ways to ingratiate him to those who see him as the enemy.
In Sta’Crivera they are given the royal treatment by their host King Etristo as she is paraded in front of suitors from lands near and far; if she marries a husband who will secure her the troops she needs, she will have to give access to the mines that hold the magical gems. But as much as Theo loves Astrea, she is torn between what is right for her people, and by what is true in her heart: staying independent and free after being held captive for so long and by not being treated like an object herself.

It has been (a bit over) a whole long year since I closed up Ash Princess and easily declared it one of my favorite YA fantasy reads. Laura Sebastian swept me away with the magic and darkness of her first book and so I was nervous and excited to read the follow up.

This has everything one could ask for in the perfect YA fantasy: excellent world-building, which keeps right on building seamlessly from the first book, also equal elements of all the right things, adventure, romance, complex relationships, friendships, treachery, and a good amount of fighting and some murder.
*Trigger warning: Theo was subjected to years of abuse at the hands of the Kaiser, and along with discussion and flashbacks for that, there is a good deal of violence involving descriptions of battles and deaths.

The underlying themes that again come through with Sebastian’s writing are those of obligation and duty, vs. fighting for your beliefs and the good of those around you. The bonds of the characters in Lady Smoke also speak to the importance of loyalty and trust. Character development is excellent, and I have come away from the second book with an even stronger attachment to Theo and the others, and a more vivid sense of the world that they live in.
Theo resists norms and also questions the Sta’Criveran’s emphasis on outward beauty; she also shows a lot of compassion to the refugees, and is frustrated by the barriers of the deeply patriarchal society she lives in. All of these elements make her and the plot highly relatable. There are also some great plot twists as the novel moves into high gear, and Theo really has to push past her grief and sadness about the past, reach a place of acceptance, and then find a lot of courage to reach her goals.

Smoke didn’t disappoint me one word, this book being even chunkier than the last one. Yet it still wasn’t long enough at 512 pages, as I never wanted to this to end. Thoroughly captivating; I can not wait for Book #3! show less

We follow Lady Thora aka the Ash Princess who's been enslaved by the Kaiser for 11 years after he laid siege upon her land and had her mother killed. Although Thora lives in her old palace and is given nice things, she lives in a cage as a political prisoner and is often punished for any wrongdoings on her peoples behalf by being beaten publicly and humiliated by having to wear an ash crown at formal events.

I was unsure of whether or not I would like this book because it seemed like any show more typical YA fantasy where a girl must save her kingdom, but this was so much more than that! Theo (her real name is Theodosia but the Kaiser stripped her of her name) is strong-willed, resourceful and much more cunning than I thought she would be. Although she struggles with her choices and the things she has to do in order to survive, she doesn't lose her humanity but she also doesn't play the victim.

I am highly anticipating the sequel and really enjoyed this story, devouring it in only 2 days! show less