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Book Review of Ash

Ash
Ash
Author: Malinda Lo
Genres: Teen & Young Adult, LGBTQ+ Books
Book Type: Paperback
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A sweet retelling of Cinderella; with a twist. Ash grew up with a loving father and mother. Her mother would tell her fairytales at bedtime. When her mother died, Ash was heartbroken (she was around 12). Her father remarried and Ash got a stepmother (Isobel) and 2 stepsisters (Ana & Clara). When her father sickens and dies about a year later, Ash is blamed for the financial state they are left in. She is then made the family cook, ladies maid, housekeeper to pay her father's debt.
Throughout all this, Ash takes walks in the Wood and meets a fairy, Sidhean. It is on another walk, she meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress. Ash and Kaisa interact multiple times while Ash is out in the Wood. I liked that Ash was able to grow into herself and realize she deserves more. She finds a way to change her situation. I did think this was a bit abrupt in the end; Ash's deal with Sidhean was very easily fixed & will Kaisa continue to be the King's Huntress?