As I mentioned before, it had a very dreamlike, lyrical quality that fit perfectly with a fairy tale retelling. What I loved most about Ash was the writing. Because she’s made a bargain with a fairy prince, and he’s not so eager to let her go. When she meets the King’s Huntress, Kaisa, Ash’s desires change, but it may already be too late. Trapped in an unfamiliar house in an unfamiliar city, Ash clings to the hope that one day she’ll be taken by the fairies on the slim chance she’ll get to see her mother again. To that end, I picked up Ash by Malinda Lo, which is a lesbian retelling of the Cinderella story.Īfter the death of her father, Aisling (known as Ash) is put to work by her cruel stepmother in an effort to pay off her father’s debts. Also, thanks to Romi for sharing the love.At the beginning of the year, you may recall my determination to read a wider variety of authors and protagonists in an effort to diversify my bookshelves and broaden my horizons. *Thanks to Shay for reminding me that I need to get my own copy at some point. I wish there had been a few more scenes of them getting to know each other but it’s still a beautifully written arc. Also, in this fantasy world, same-sex attraction does not have any prejudices that our world sometimes creates. Ash’s exploration of possibilities while finding her own sense of self and belonging is my favourite part of this book.Įven though Ash was first marketed as a lesbian fairytale retelling, her attraction to people regardless of their gender is also present. In our world, Ash can be read as bisexual and I am glad that she does find love in Kaisa, the huntress. Ash’s conversations with both the fae and the huntress shows how she finds people she can trust and lean on throughout different points in her life.
![ash malinda lo discussion questions ash malinda lo discussion questions](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58dd71ebebbd1a51648718d8/dfa88306-c288-4ff5-9c53-bfff3b917252/Book+Spines+2021.jpeg)
In terms of world-building, the fae fascinated me in this one. I loved the slow burn old school fairytale feel of Ash’s story, which is also rooted in the reality of growing up with and without having hope while slowly building up resilience again. I’ve been incredibly lucky to find fantastical ethereal stories that are still about people who grieve and find their way back into the life. I’m glad this incarnation found me as an adult too.įor in the depths of grief, sometimes one cannot tell the difference between illusion and reality.Īsh is a heroine I admire so much for her quiet fortitude and her persistence in pursuing what she yearns for. I used to pull out all of the different versions of Cinderella I could find in my school library. I always found Cinderella to be the most relatable of all my childhood heroines (not counting the prince) because she had to put energy into work that wasn’t always related to her dreams. I find it incredibly difficult to talk about my favourite books but sometimes, I try. Published: March 4th 2010 by Hodder Children’s But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.Įntrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love-and her desire to live. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change.
![ash malinda lo discussion questions ash malinda lo discussion questions](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81JeHdzSw3L.jpg)
When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
![ash malinda lo discussion questions ash malinda lo discussion questions](https://imgix.bustle.com/uploads/image/2019/5/31/b2d1edb7-bf46-4672-b95c-824ced294c65-ash.jpg)
In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother.