kassimesserly's review against another edition
4.0
This series came as quite a surprise! Going in not knowing anything about the series and frankly, hadn't even heard of it, I enjoyed it very much!
The second book was much more slow burning. We really got to learn more about the side character and learn more about the world. Although I do feel some things could have been left out to keep this book shorter, I do see why they were part of the story.
The love triangle isn't the main focus and it was executed well. (Even though I don't think the male characters even have a clue that its even a love triangle). Soren is my faaav! I love him as a character. He is strong and down to earth and he suits Theo well.
Overall, this was a great continuation, though I fear it will suffer second book syndrome. Looking forward to the third book coming out in February!!
The second book was much more slow burning. We really got to learn more about the side character and learn more about the world. Although I do feel some things could have been left out to keep this book shorter, I do see why they were part of the story.
The love triangle isn't the main focus and it was executed well. (Even though I don't think the male characters even have a clue that its even a love triangle). Soren is my faaav! I love him as a character. He is strong and down to earth and he suits Theo well.
Overall, this was a great continuation, though I fear it will suffer second book syndrome. Looking forward to the third book coming out in February!!
aaron_j136's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book. It was so much better than the first book in this series.
Pros
1. The growth of Theo
I actually hated Theo in Ash Princess but in this book Theo was a bad ass feminist.
2. This book made me laugh many times
3. There were so many good quotes such as
“Friends, enemies, I don’t think it matters anymore. The chains are just as heavy, no matter who holds the key”.
“As women, we must have our weapons in this world, whether they’re our minds or our fists or our wiles or our tears.”
“Hope is contagious, when you have enough it spreads naturally.”
“We still might bring some attention, we just have to make sure that when we do, we give them a good show.”
4. The Kaiser died.
I was really shocked when The Kaiser died!
5. The way the author made you feel emotions
Cons
1. BLAISE
I just hate him.
2. Dragonsbane
She was very annoying but it was interesting seeing her background
3. Predicable twists (besides the death of The Kaiser)
- I honestly saw Hoa dying
- I Saw søren being convicted
- I Knew Coltania was evil.
Pros
1. The growth of Theo
I actually hated Theo in Ash Princess but in this book Theo was a bad ass feminist.
2. This book made me laugh many times
3. There were so many good quotes such as
“Friends, enemies, I don’t think it matters anymore. The chains are just as heavy, no matter who holds the key”.
“As women, we must have our weapons in this world, whether they’re our minds or our fists or our wiles or our tears.”
“Hope is contagious, when you have enough it spreads naturally.”
“We still might bring some attention, we just have to make sure that when we do, we give them a good show.”
4. The Kaiser died.
I was really shocked when The Kaiser died!
5. The way the author made you feel emotions
Cons
1. BLAISE
I just hate him.
2. Dragonsbane
She was very annoying but it was interesting seeing her background
3. Predicable twists (besides the death of The Kaiser)
- I honestly saw Hoa dying
- I Saw søren being convicted
- I Knew Coltania was evil.
amandanunes's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
bookishbutterfly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
One thing to add : the worldbuilding is much better than in the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Colonisation, War, Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Grief
yanners's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn’t my first rodeo with second book syndrome, and it certainly isn’t my last. Hear me out.
It was decent. As usual, Theo took the entirety of a book to discover her powers (for someone who like flaunting her birthright around she sure doesn’t have an iota of power) and anything mildly worth noting was squeezed in (quite literally) the last page of the book.
I would say little was done because all the action and adventure was more like lethargic snooping around and scheming and being the worlds best second-guesser and effectively wasting everyone’s time.
Yes, I’m talking about our girl Theo.
I was hoping she would be more cutthroat and actually useful but my hopes were dashed. Again. She’s literally the centre of attention in everything but can’t actually make sane decisions while trying to act as if she can because of her god-given authority.
I hate you Theo.
I love Blaise and I hope you never rub off on him because he deserves so much better than you skank. My loyalty lies in Crescentia now and I’m never gonna stop wishing for your painful death in the next book. Sucks to be you. 2.5 stars
It was decent. As usual, Theo took the entirety of a book to discover her powers (for someone who like flaunting her birthright around she sure doesn’t have an iota of power) and anything mildly worth noting was squeezed in (quite literally) the last page of the book.
I would say little was done because all the action and adventure was more like lethargic snooping around and scheming and being the worlds best second-guesser and effectively wasting everyone’s time.
Yes, I’m talking about our girl Theo.
I was hoping she would be more cutthroat and actually useful but my hopes were dashed. Again. She’s literally the centre of attention in everything but can’t actually make sane decisions while trying to act as if she can because of her god-given authority.
I hate you Theo.
I love Blaise and I hope you never rub off on him because he deserves so much better than you skank. My loyalty lies in Crescentia now and I’m never gonna stop wishing for your painful death in the next book. Sucks to be you. 2.5 stars
readingismyescape_'s review against another edition
3.5
Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian 📖
- Book review -
The second book in the series and sadly it has the typical second book problem, for most of the book it feels like nothing really happens and it's quite boring. Just a lot of talking and scenes that just felt unnecessary.
At the end we got a lot of action but even there I missed some more '' passion '' from the MC. While everything happened I didn't feel that much of it. I just missed something.
The book was okay just not a 100% obsessed with it.
- Book review -
The second book in the series and sadly it has the typical second book problem, for most of the book it feels like nothing really happens and it's quite boring. Just a lot of talking and scenes that just felt unnecessary.
At the end we got a lot of action but even there I missed some more '' passion '' from the MC. While everything happened I didn't feel that much of it. I just missed something.
The book was okay just not a 100% obsessed with it.
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Smoke is book two of the Ash Princess trilogy by Laura Sebastian and I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this book since I turned the last page of the first book. No spoilers for Lady Smoke ahead but if you haven’t read Ash Princess, I can’t promise anything, so you are officially warned.
This book picks up right after the end of book one which was great. Theodosia has escaped from the Kaiser, she’s taken back her title of Queen, and is now looking for a way to get her throne and Astrea back for her people. The biggest (I can’t say only) problem is, Theo doesn’t have an army big enough to take on the Kalovaxians but Dragonsbane has made a deal that will help her get one.
Theo has shown some growth since the first book. Not only is she learning more about herself, but she is putting her years of experience in court to good use. Her years of being under the thumb of the Kaiser has helped her in that most people underestimate her, and it absolutely helps when she is in Sta’Crivero. See, the deal Dragonsbane, Theo’s aunt, has made is that Theo will choose a husband even though that has never been Astrea’s way.
There are a lot of secrets and when Theo finds herself in the midst of a dangerous situation (again), she has to figure out who she can truly trust and clearly it isn’t everyone. There are some murders happening around Theo and her suitors are the targets, but the question is who is responsible? Unfortunately, someone in her entourage is accused and Theo has to figure out how to get them out of trouble on top of everything else that is going on.
Speaking of her entourage, Theo’s shadows are some of my favorite characters and I loved seeing how her relationships with each of them evolved over the span of this book. I’m not going to lie, there is a love triangle in this book and if there is one thing that had me on the fence, it is that…mostly because it felt off to me. I mention this because Blaise, while one of Theo’s oldest friends, never really felt like more than a friend to me, even though it came across as something more. Heron is great and even though he disagreed with Theo, he still supported and helped her. I get where he is coming from and can’t blame him for his feelings toward the Kalovaxians. And then you have Art - she doesn’t cut Theo any slack and Theo is better for it, I think. Art challenges Theo and pushes her to be someone more than what the Kaiser made her.
Dragonsbane is one of the other characters I will briefly mention here. It is clear she has her own agenda and I don’t know if I trust her even now that I have finished this installment. I get it, she has had her own issues but I don’t like how she treats Art and that is all.
I don’t think I mentioned it yet but if you read Ash Princess, you know how Theo’s relationship developed with Prinz Soren. You also know then, that she kidnapped him and while he started out as her hostage, it is clear their relationship isn’t as simple as that. I have to be honest here and say that he is the one I feel is the better fit for Theo. Even though she was lying to him almost the entire time in Ash Princess, things shift a bit in Lady Smoke for them and Theo begins to rely on Soren to help and guide her. Even though she tries to hide from (or one could say avoid) her feelings, she can’t for very long and Soren tells her how he feels as well but the thing I love about it is that he’s realized she is more than Thora, the girl who needs to be protected.
As things come to a head in this book, it’s clear something big will happen. I have to admit I didn’t see what happened really coming…at least not yet. Because of that, I am very interested in seeing what happens next for all characters involved.
Sebastian does a great job of building out the world in this book as well. In book one, we really were stuck within the Kalovaxian court so getting outside allowed me to get a better picture of the world outside of Astrea and characters that inhabit it.
So…I can’t say much more here without potentially giving something away, so I won’t. If you enjoyed book one, I think you will love how Sebastian continues this story. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series as soon as I can get my hands on it. Seriously, I need to get on that waiting list. If you’re looking for a fantasy that has a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a great story with interesting characters, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book picks up right after the end of book one which was great. Theodosia has escaped from the Kaiser, she’s taken back her title of Queen, and is now looking for a way to get her throne and Astrea back for her people. The biggest (I can’t say only) problem is, Theo doesn’t have an army big enough to take on the Kalovaxians but Dragonsbane has made a deal that will help her get one.
Theo has shown some growth since the first book. Not only is she learning more about herself, but she is putting her years of experience in court to good use. Her years of being under the thumb of the Kaiser has helped her in that most people underestimate her, and it absolutely helps when she is in Sta’Crivero. See, the deal Dragonsbane, Theo’s aunt, has made is that Theo will choose a husband even though that has never been Astrea’s way.
There are a lot of secrets and when Theo finds herself in the midst of a dangerous situation (again), she has to figure out who she can truly trust and clearly it isn’t everyone. There are some murders happening around Theo and her suitors are the targets, but the question is who is responsible? Unfortunately, someone in her entourage is accused and Theo has to figure out how to get them out of trouble on top of everything else that is going on.
Speaking of her entourage, Theo’s shadows are some of my favorite characters and I loved seeing how her relationships with each of them evolved over the span of this book. I’m not going to lie, there is a love triangle in this book and if there is one thing that had me on the fence, it is that…mostly because it felt off to me. I mention this because Blaise, while one of Theo’s oldest friends, never really felt like more than a friend to me, even though it came across as something more. Heron is great and even though he disagreed with Theo, he still supported and helped her. I get where he is coming from and can’t blame him for his feelings toward the Kalovaxians. And then you have Art - she doesn’t cut Theo any slack and Theo is better for it, I think. Art challenges Theo and pushes her to be someone more than what the Kaiser made her.
Dragonsbane is one of the other characters I will briefly mention here. It is clear she has her own agenda and I don’t know if I trust her even now that I have finished this installment. I get it, she has had her own issues but I don’t like how she treats Art and that is all.
I don’t think I mentioned it yet but if you read Ash Princess, you know how Theo’s relationship developed with Prinz Soren. You also know then, that she kidnapped him and while he started out as her hostage, it is clear their relationship isn’t as simple as that. I have to be honest here and say that he is the one I feel is the better fit for Theo. Even though she was lying to him almost the entire time in Ash Princess, things shift a bit in Lady Smoke for them and Theo begins to rely on Soren to help and guide her. Even though she tries to hide from (or one could say avoid) her feelings, she can’t for very long and Soren tells her how he feels as well but the thing I love about it is that he’s realized she is more than Thora, the girl who needs to be protected.
As things come to a head in this book, it’s clear something big will happen. I have to admit I didn’t see what happened really coming…at least not yet. Because of that, I am very interested in seeing what happens next for all characters involved.
Sebastian does a great job of building out the world in this book as well. In book one, we really were stuck within the Kalovaxian court so getting outside allowed me to get a better picture of the world outside of Astrea and characters that inhabit it.
So…I can’t say much more here without potentially giving something away, so I won’t. If you enjoyed book one, I think you will love how Sebastian continues this story. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series as soon as I can get my hands on it. Seriously, I need to get on that waiting list. If you’re looking for a fantasy that has a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a great story with interesting characters, consider checking this one out.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
emcasmith's review against another edition
4.0
TLDR: SIGNIFICANTLY better than the first book...would've been five stars if that ending had been more thought out.