 Title: Ash Author: Malinda Lo Format: ARC Available Formats: TC, Kindle, Barnes and Noble eBook Page Count: 264 Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Pub. Date: September 1, 2009 ISBN-13: 9780316040099 Series: Stand Alone Rating: 6 of 10 |
Summary:
Ash is a re-imagining of Cinderella's story. Only in this story, the prince isn't nearly as important. And in this story, instead of a kindly old fairy godmother, there's a fairy with darker intentions. Ash is the story of a girl's loss, coming of age, the dangerous temptations of the fairy world, fairy tales, finding yourself, and falling in love. The story revolves around Aisling, called Ash. Like the familiar fairy tale, her parents die and she is left in the care of a cruel stepmother. However, Ash's story focuses on overcoming her grief and learning to live again more than finding her fairy tale "prince".
TL;DR Version:
Another take on Cinderella, only with darker fairies and a female love interest. The book offers many unique and interesting ideas with competent writing, but appears to rely on the fairy tale it didn't need.
Review:
After I closed the back cover of this book, I felt a bit conflicted. I had gone into reading the novel with a lot of hope--perhaps too much. Fairy tale re-tellings are popular--and I don't often seek them out--but for this one, I thought: "Finally, an author who's thinking outside the box. A lesbian perspective on fairy tales is something long overdue." And I still think that. (Though I should note that Jim Hines has a lesbian one-sided relationship in his fairy tale "princesses" series.) Still, for that alone, Ash is worth giving a shot.
Ash has a long list of merits. The writing is skillful, making the entire novel feel like one of the fairy tales told within. The theme of fairy tales is integral to the plot, so this is a truly commendable quality. But, there's a difference between fairy tales and fairy tales. There's Cinderella and then there's the fairy tales told within Ash. The fairies of Ash are dark creatures, often tempting humans to their ruin or death. This is more like the fairy tale that Ash emulates, rather than the common Cinderella tale. Although Ash is very clearly a re-telling of Cinderella, I almost would have preferred the novel had Lo not relied on that older story and instead utilized her own fairy world. In a way, the Cinderella tale almost hindered the story rather than augmented. Still, I understand what Lo was trying to do and respect that.
The fairies of Ash were fantastic. I love a good, dark fairy tale. For Ash, the protagonist, the fairies embody many things she needs to confront in her life. Most importantly, Ash needs to learn how to live and love in her own world without giving into her wish to run away. This is best shown through Sidhean, the fairy who provides Ash with the means to attend the mandatory Cinderella balls and functions. Sidhean is a tempting figure, not of the human world (and thus not attached to the ideas of grief and pain that Ash knows), and all the more tempting. However, it's apparent from the tales and interactions with Sidhean that Ash's choice to follow and run after the fairy world is not a healthy one. This aspect of the novel probably turned out to be the most suspenseful for me--indeed, the following of the Cinderella fairy tale takes out all other possible suspense. One knows that the stepmother fails; one knows that love will triumph. But Sidhean was a wild card. Sure he takes the position of the fairy godmother, but it's a position so perverted that's it's almost unrecognizable.
I was left wanting more in many places. Ash is written beautifully, but it's without suspense and the story feels restrained by the framework of the fairy tale it's based on. I enjoyed the reading, but I doubt it's a book I'll come back to--despite the beautiful romance and wonderful fairy tales. I will, however, be waiting to see what Lo does in her next novel.
Cover/Title/First Line Critique:
I love the cover, but always find myself wishing that the grass had been a bit more colorful. I didn't even realize there was any green on the cover until I was half way through the book! Still, the cover is eye-catching all the same. And the chapter beginnings and spine are gorgeous.
Rating: 6 of 10 [Learn more about the rating system?]
This book was provided for the purpose of receiving a review courtesy of Amazon Vine.
11 responses:
I really like the book cover when I saw it in one of your previous posts. I will be adding this book to the list.
@Ivy: I enjoyed this one. Let me know when you've read it! :)
I had no idea there was even grass and/or green on the cover until you mentioned it, lol! Sounds like a book worth looking into at some point.
Thanks for the review!
Green in the cover? I missed it!
Here's the link to my review: http://calico-reaction.livejournal.com/132561.html
One of the things I discussed with others was that the romance between the two women could've been handled with more tension. That would've bumped the book up a notch, IMHO.
You're so very right about Sidhean. I didn't recognize him in his role either.
@Nikki: I haven't seen the actual hardcover, but there's certainly little bits of green on my ARC! It drives me (irrationally) crazy! ;)
@Calico: Heading over now! I wish every relationship had been explored further. Also, Sidhean was almost the relationship explored best, but is stepped away from at the end--which killed any possible tension there. All in all, I just wanted more tension!
I wasn't sure if you read the review I did or not, but I like how you mention the fairy tale part of it seemed almost unnecessary. I actually really liked how it didn't rely so much on just rehashing the same thing--that it truly took Cinderella and turned into something else entirely, just reminiscent of the familiar story.
http://jawastew.livejournal.com/239669.html
I also didn't really like the cover... It's eye-catching, but so dark for what I felt was ultimately an uplifting novel. It focused on the wrong emotion, I think.
@Erika: I did see your review over at Jawas Read, Too! (and commented). I almost wish I hadn't known that it was a redone Cinderella--perhaps, then, the problem with tension wouldn't have seemed as serious. But as it was, it took a lot out of the novel for me--and for something that only provided the framework! Because the rest of the novel truly belonged to Lo.
As for the cover, I like the idea, but truly the colors are just horrible. If the grass had been bright, with the same position (because it's integral to much of the story) I think it would have been more in the mood of the book...
TJ, you're right! I thought you had and went over there and saw. My apologies! :)
The cover would look a lot better with brighter colors, at least aesthetically, but at the same time, whenever Aisling goes to her mother's grave, it's always night or dark and raining. In that sense, the colors make sense. Looking at it and taking that aspect of the novel into consideration almost overwhelms whatever closure she found at the end, or strength to move on with her life. I guess the struggle is the bulk of the story, though.
@Erika: It needs some aesthetics though! :X
Interesting review! I have been interested in this book since reviews started popping up in the blogosphere. I always appreciate an honest approach. I actually flipped through this book today at the bookstore. Based on what I read and your review...I think I'll wait until the paperback comes out to read it.
Nice and thorough review. Not my normal cup of tea but I'd give it a shot. The cover is amazing.
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