Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

19 reviews

bzliz's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Theodosia is the princess of a conquered country, kept in her stolen castle and abused by the Kaiser who invaded her lands and enslaved her people. Her every move is watched and she suffers greatly for every act of rebellion anyone dares make. After being forced to take a life herself, she learns to fight back and begins planning her own rebellion and escape for the good of her remaining people. 

Readers should beware that any glimpses of hope are few and far between as Theo plays a game she barely knows the rules to while everyone else wins by cheating. Like so many YA series, there are two more books so it’s not surprising truly how little is accomplished in this one. My biggest complaint is the same I have with so many other similar books- these characters fall in love so easily for no reason at all! I know the romance is a big draw for readers but it would be nice to see some of these protagonists stand on their own. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

tiana_king's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse and Mental illness

Minor: Domestic abuse

emjen16's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism, Vomit, and War

robin_leeann's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War

Moderate: Slavery and Death of parent

hapalyn's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense 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? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape

onefineelephant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

9/10. This book was much better than I was expecting. There are not many times when I am genuinely surprised by a book, but there were two parts of the book when my jaw dropped. I also really love both of the love interests even though I am not usually a fan of love triangles. I am very much anticipating what could happen next in the other two books.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

navibo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense 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

5.0

The ratings for this book are low, but I honestly loved it. There are a lot of plot twists and surprising connections. This is a 5 star read and I stand by that.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation

nana_7's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation

Moderate: Confinement

jojo_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Xenophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Cultural appropriation