I am so excited to be taking part in the blog tour for Lady Smoke! I absolutely adored Ash Princess when I read it earlier this year, so I knew I would love Lady Smoke as well!
Continue reading for my review and a giveaway!
Title: Lady Smoke
Author: Laura Sebastian
Release: February 5, 2019
Series: Ash Princess
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 512
Review: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller 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 ten 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.
"A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down." --Bustle on Ash Princess, Book 1 in the Ash Princess series
Author: Laura Sebastian
Release: February 5, 2019
Series: Ash Princess
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 512
Review: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
The sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller 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 ten 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.
"A darkly enchanting page-turner you won't be able to put down." --Bustle on Ash Princess, Book 1 in the Ash Princess series
You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Goodreads
TBD
First Impressions
I read an ARC of Ash Princess in early 2018, and as soon as I finished it I knew I wanted book two. I was lucky enough to get on this blog tour and get an advanced copy of Lady Smoke, and boy am I glad! My copy arrived while I was home for college over winter break. The day it arrived, I opened it up, squealed, and then dove in! It took a little while to read, but that was mostly because I was reading it over Christmas and the fact that the book is huge! And I will not complain on that front!
Characters
While we already know all the characters from book one, Lady Smoke gives the characters we know and love a chance to grow. I've loved Theo since the moment I met her, so I was excited to be back inside her head. One thing I especially loved was reading just how much she scoffs at the male-dominated, patriarchal world she sees outside the borders of her home. Now out from under the thumb of the Kaiser, Theo is able to develop emotions that she previously suppressed for her own safety. But with that comes the fact that Theo starts to feel things she either doesn't understand or doesn't want to feel. I feel like by the end of the book, although Theo had her same fire, she was a completely different character (in a good way).
One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Søren outside of his father's palace. While he was complicit in great tragedies, his actions were often sparked out of ignorance or fear of his father. In Lady Smoke, I felt that he started to rebuilt some of the morality he lost while serving his father. I also loved that he was completely, unapologetically in love with Theo from day one. Throughout the period when Theo was unsure of her feeling, Søren loved her and vowed to support her as much as he could. Some of that was likely lasting guilt over what he'd done, I like to think that those feeling morphed into something more lasting.
World Building
In Ash Princess we don't see much of the world outside the palace. In Lady Smoke, that all changes. The first part of the book takes place at sea. From there, Theo and crew travel to another country and are hosting by that country's king. Over the course of the book we learn about the many other countries on the map at the beginning and the people that rule them. I loved getting to see the greater world, and I can't wait to read more in book three!
Title: Ash Princess
Author: Laura Sebastian
Series: Ash Princess
Release: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 432
Review: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.
Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.
For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.
You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Audible
B&N
iBooks
TBD
Author Bio:
Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. No copies of her first book, a Cinderella retelling about angels circa 2nd grade, remain. Thankfully.
After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.
When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.
You Can Find Her At:
Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
Giveaway:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of LADY SMOKE, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1/1/2019- To Be Read- Review
1/2/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
1/3/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
1/4/2019- Random Bookish Banter- Review
Week Two:
1/7/2019- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review
1/8/2019- Jrsbookreviews- Review
1/9/2019- Omg Books and More Books- Review
1/10/2019- Fiction Fare- Review
1/11/2019- Du Livre- Review
Week Three:
1/14/2019- Loie Dunn- Review
1/15/2019- A Court of Coffee and Books- Review
1/16/2019- Paws and Paperbacks- Review
1/17/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review
1/18/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
Week Four:
1/21/2019- Paper Reader- Review
1/22/2019- Adventures and Reading- Review
1/23/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads- Review
1/24/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
1/25/2019- YA Books Central- Interview
Week Five:
1/28/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review
1/29/2019- Colorimetry- Interview
1/30/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
1/31/2019- Kat's Books- Review
First Impressions
I read an ARC of Ash Princess in early 2018, and as soon as I finished it I knew I wanted book two. I was lucky enough to get on this blog tour and get an advanced copy of Lady Smoke, and boy am I glad! My copy arrived while I was home for college over winter break. The day it arrived, I opened it up, squealed, and then dove in! It took a little while to read, but that was mostly because I was reading it over Christmas and the fact that the book is huge! And I will not complain on that front!
Characters
While we already know all the characters from book one, Lady Smoke gives the characters we know and love a chance to grow. I've loved Theo since the moment I met her, so I was excited to be back inside her head. One thing I especially loved was reading just how much she scoffs at the male-dominated, patriarchal world she sees outside the borders of her home. Now out from under the thumb of the Kaiser, Theo is able to develop emotions that she previously suppressed for her own safety. But with that comes the fact that Theo starts to feel things she either doesn't understand or doesn't want to feel. I feel like by the end of the book, although Theo had her same fire, she was a completely different character (in a good way).
One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing Søren outside of his father's palace. While he was complicit in great tragedies, his actions were often sparked out of ignorance or fear of his father. In Lady Smoke, I felt that he started to rebuilt some of the morality he lost while serving his father. I also loved that he was completely, unapologetically in love with Theo from day one. Throughout the period when Theo was unsure of her feeling, Søren loved her and vowed to support her as much as he could. Some of that was likely lasting guilt over what he'd done, I like to think that those feeling morphed into something more lasting.
World Building
In Ash Princess we don't see much of the world outside the palace. In Lady Smoke, that all changes. The first part of the book takes place at sea. From there, Theo and crew travel to another country and are hosting by that country's king. Over the course of the book we learn about the many other countries on the map at the beginning and the people that rule them. I loved getting to see the greater world, and I can't wait to read more in book three!
Author: Laura Sebastian
Series: Ash Princess
Release: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 432
Review: 5 Stars
Synopsis:
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.
Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.
For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.
You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Audible
B&N
iBooks
TBD
Author Bio:
After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.
When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.
You Can Find Her At:
Website
Goodreads
Giveaway:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of LADY SMOKE, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
1/1/2019- To Be Read- Review
1/2/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Review
1/3/2019- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
1/4/2019- Random Bookish Banter- Review
Week Two:
1/7/2019- Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews- Review
1/8/2019- Jrsbookreviews- Review
1/9/2019- Omg Books and More Books- Review
1/10/2019- Fiction Fare- Review
1/11/2019- Du Livre- Review
Week Three:
1/14/2019- Loie Dunn- Review
1/15/2019- A Court of Coffee and Books- Review
1/16/2019- Paws and Paperbacks- Review
1/17/2019- A Gingerly Review- Review
1/18/2019- Lifestyle of Me- Review
Week Four:
1/21/2019- Paper Reader- Review
1/22/2019- Adventures and Reading- Review
1/23/2019- Popthebutterfly Reads- Review
1/24/2019- Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review
1/25/2019- YA Books Central- Interview
Week Five:
1/28/2019- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review
1/29/2019- Colorimetry- Interview
1/30/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Review
1/31/2019- Kat's Books- Review
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