Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

13 reviews

steffandbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

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

4.0

I wasn’t prepared for this book to be so dark. There’s a lot of violence, death, torture throughout the entire book. Perhaps I only forgot that YA fantasy books tend to be like adult ones, just that the age difference makes so much more violent for me. I understand why Theodosia is acting the way she acts, but I also hate that she doesn’t choose the villain. Although, many wouldn’t put Prinz Søren as the villain, I think he is. Blaise certainly has a violent streak as well, however, he’s being seen as the hero, the one who does everything for his country, for his queen. We don’t get much background information on him in the beginning, so I‘m kinda mad that she chooses him over and over again because they apparently share some childhood crush and many memories. In the end, I can imagine that he might die because it’s clear that he’s mine-mad and might turn into one of those berserkers everyone fears. But it’s only the first book, it might not become the truth. At the same time, I have a feeling that we don’t get a happy ending with this. Theo might get her kingdom back, but I fear that she will be alone by that time. I don’t like Art very much at this point and Heron is too quiet for my liking and we haven’t had much interaction with him in this first book.
After all, it’s a good book. I tend to say that YA fantasy books have the best stories. Astrea and the world it’s in is remarkable and I haven’t read anything like it before. Some parts did remind me of the World Wars, Germany trying to overtake everything the Kalovaxians being the Germans in this scenario, although they mostly have Scandinavian names and look like that as well, pale, with blond hair and blue eyes.
The thing, though, I usually can’t wrap my head around anymore is the age. They are barely adults - 16 years old only - and you want to tell me that they have to act all tough and rose because the adults left can’t do it? No, that’s why YA books aren’t that appealing to me anymore, good story or not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, and War

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Rape, and Vomit

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

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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

deerestdoe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Death