Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian"We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them."
While these words are not spoken by the main character, they well capture one of several themes that run through the 436 page novel. When we first meet the main character, she is a political prisoner, a trophy to be displayed by the antagonist. While she knows what she is, she - aided by others who would strip her identity from her - has crafted a self that fits in with what others would think of her. She is "Lady" Thora, the meek girl who repeats mantras to herself of how to survive. Ten years a captive at court at the mercy of those who captured her country, Lady Thora doesn't live, she survives. She crafted a self that reflected what others would think of her - small, empty-headed, and powerless. As the novel unfolds, we see this girl not only rediscover herself, forcing herself to remember her childhood, but also mature from the demeaning epithet of "Ash Princess" to begin to find herself.
Ash Princess is very much a book about survival, about taking what life throws at you and doing what you can in the moment. We see multiple characters struggle with the horrors of war, of occupation and colonialism, and the aftermath. We see the dissociation, the PTSD, and that is all because of their survival. Instead of being ashamed and hidden, their survival is not only acknowledged, it is praised. Because sometimes it is all we can truly do just to survive.
These themes running throughout the book were some of what made the read compelling. The characters were well written, though their youth had me suspend my disbelief of their ability. Overall, the world Laura Sebastian created was compelling and the lore creative. Done particularly well was the Theo's inner narrative. While at times seemingly overdone, her re-discovery of herself and of memories that she had all but forgotten about is in stark contrast to the obedient character that she had created to survive. At first, Theo lives alongside Thora, occupying the same spaces in her head, causing her to question relationships she has held for most of her life. This, to me, is the main conflict of the novel and is where the book itself shines.
"You're a lamb in the lion's den, child. You're surviving. Isn't' that enough?"
While the book offers an unapologetic view on survival and its aftermath, it also explores what happens when survival is no longer enough. When one can no longer sit by and take what is thrown at them without fighting back for something. For the most part, most of the suspense comes from what we see of Theo's inner dialogue, the way she thinks of people. Without the first person narration, the novel would be very different, and not nearly as enjoyable. The "love triangle" plot, though nobly attempted, falls flat and is instead used as a device to sow internal conflict with her co-conspirators. Especially when considered with the constant comparisons of all characters to their parents, it becomes clear throughout the course of the novel - and as Theo discovers more of herself and one of the male leads, that there never truly was any 'triangle.'
Interpersonally, much more compelling is the relationship between Thora (and Theo), and Crescentia. While to the reader (or at least me) it was clear that Crescentia did not see Theo the same way that Theo saw Cress, the inner turmoil that Theo feels about what she is asked to do over the course of the book is compelling - much more so than the somewhat stale manipulation of Søren through her previously non-existent feminine guiles. One gets a sense of Cress' intelligence and head for strategy early on - something that Theo might have picked up on if she weren't too busy thinking of her as all the other Kalovaixians did. In some ways, it was disappointing that she was so blindsided by Cress' true thoughts, but understandable in the sense that she had been one - if not the only - lifeline that she had had in her years in the palace.
Overall, Ash Princess was a good read, and would likely have been better if I had not put it down and picked it up so many times (having nothing to do with the book itself and more to do with my time of late.) As a whole. it is a good YA novel and the world that was created is believable - magic and power does not come without its price, there are real stakes for the characters - all of whom are written multi-dimensionally. It was an enjoyable read and I will likely be continuing the series.
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