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.

Review:
Theo lives a very sad life. She’s put on display and dressed well, but she is a pawn. I quite enjoyed seeing the various sides to her life; how she has to act and behave and try to keep thoughts and emotions always hidden when she is in the spotlight by the Kaiser. The world was very vibrantly described, and I enjoyed the contrasting descriptions between what Kaiser enjoys and sees as the perfect life versus what life had been like when Theo’s mother was queen. This book was heavily Dystopian in many regards featuring people who pillage and take whatever they want everywhere they go. There are certainly moments of intense cruelty, and very few of true comfort, with surprising allies often revealed just in time. The end of this book made me immediately get the sequel, though I have not gotten back into that world yet.

If you like political intrigue, dark fantasy, and Dystopian fiction, this one is for you.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯