PRAISE
★ “An unexpected reimagining of the Cinderella tale, exquisite and pristine, unfolding deliberately. … Beautiful language magically wrought; beautiful storytelling magically told.” — Kirkus, starred review
“Somber and lovely. … Ash feels pulled between two worlds — the fairy realm, where a haughty prince named Sidhean waits for permission to possess her, and the charmed hours she spends with Kaisa. … How can Ash decide between Kaisa, in her riding leathers, and the austere, almost irresistible Sidhean?” — New York Times
“In this groundbreaking, gender-mixing retelling, it’s another woman at court, not the prince, who captures Cinderella’s heart. … Part heart-pounding lesbian romance and part universal coming-of-age story, Lo’s powerful tale is richly embroidered with folklore and glittering fairy magic that will draw fans of Sharon Shinn’s earthy, herb-laced fantasies.” — Booklist
“Described as ‘Cinderella…with a twist,’ Ash is in many ways the familiar fairy tale. … However, while structural similarities exist, ideologically Lo’s beautiful and dark tale takes the story to a new place. Ash will appeal to readers looking for GLBTQ titles, but fans of romance, fantasy, and strong female protagonists will also embrace this fine debut novel.” — School Library Journal
“This debut, a retelling of Cinderella in which the heroine falls in love with a beautiful huntress rather than a prince, should establish Lo as a gifted storyteller. … Lo’s prose is beautiful, her descriptions lush … Lo offers an important twist on a classic story that will appeal to a wide readership, especially those looking for a girl romance.” — Publishers Weekly
“Lo’s evocative prose transforms what is at first the darkly ominous setting of the Wood into a place of wonder and beauty, mirroring Ash’s transition from despondent servant to willful young woman. Although the conclusion is of course a bit different from the original Cinderella story, fans of fairy-tale retellings will nonetheless find a happy ending in this inclusive adaptation.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"This promising debut novel, set in an pseudo-historical Celtic society in which magic is just starting to be regarded as superstition, adds a few new twists to the Cinderella story. … [T]he time spent on world-building pays off when the second half picks up the pace, allowing readers a deepened sense of Ash’s character as she … falls in love, with the king’s huntress, Kaisa. Their gradually developed relationship is heartfelt, presented with a stylized fairy-tale matter-of-factness that heightens the book’s romantic aura and expands its audience." — The Horn Book
“Lo peels away old tropes to reveal a heroine of steel and heart, and a fairy tale that resonates with feeling.” — Leigh Bardugo, bestselling author of the Shadow and Bones trilogy and Six of Crows duology
“Reading Ash is like taking a walk down a familiar path and finding yourself in a new and magical place, a part of the forest you’ve never seen before. It’s a ‘Cinderella’ story with fresh blood and real yearning.” — Rainbow Rowell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Carry On
“I’ve just reread Ash after ten years and I’m full of admiration and feeling. Lyrical and beautifully balanced, it hits all the scary, sad, and satisfying points of the original ‘Cinderella’ story, but this Cinderella is flesh and blood in a whole new, breathtaking way. I wanted to comfort her and be her friend, and I cheered at the way she changed her story. What a pleasure to reread this book!” — Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling Realm books and Jane, Unlimited
“Captivating and enchanting, Ash gave me exactly what I needed when I didn’t even know I needed it. I will forever hold this gorgeous novel close to my heart.” — Nina LaCour, author of the Michael L. Printz Award winner We Are Okay
“Emotional and transformative, a modern classic and must-read for those seeking a read about the victory of transformation over the darkest grief.” — Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen and The Gilded Wolves
“Lo is one of the greatest voices in YA fiction, consistently ahead of her time. Ash, however, is timeless — the sumptuous fantasy fairy tale of your dreams.” — Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of the And I Darken trilogy
“With its beauty and bravery, with the way it set fairy enchantments alongside the magic of women in love, Ash opened a world to girls like me. I would not be writing fairy tales about queer women of color today if not for Malinda Lo.” — Anna-Marie McLemore, author of Stonewall Honor Book When the Moon Was Ours and Blanca & Roja
“With its rich fairy lore and atmospheric prose, Ash feels like taking a walk through the woods on a misty morning, following a path that feels familiar and yet takes you someplace unexpected and beautiful. It is both a life-affirming exploration of grief and a ground- breaking coming-of-age romance, already destined to be a classic from the moment of its release.” — Melissa Bashardoust, author of Girls Made of Snow and Glass
“Lo crafts a lush and original fantasy world in her retelling of ‘Cinderella,’ opening doors for a generation of writers who needed to know there is room on shelves for fantasy books in which homophobia does not exist. Ash’s journey from grief to enchantment to love is rendered with truth and tenderness in every word, her tale as powerful and captivating now as it was at its debut.” — Audrey Coulthurst, author of Of Fire and Stars and Inkmistress
“Ash … presents gay relationships the same way it does heterosexual relationships, which makes it a terrific book for young teenagers — whether they think they might be gay or not. Lo’s refreshing voice is a needed one, and hopefully a sign of more progressive young adult lit to come.” — Washington Blade
“Ash is a mature retelling of a classic and one that startles as much by its subtlety as it does with its hint of passion. … There is a happily ever after here, but it is found in Ash’s decision to live and love and find happiness. That she makes unconventional choices will just endear her even more to her readers and elevates Ash high above the standard fare.” — Bookslut
“This retelling unfolds slowly, deliciously. It’s an internal story; a story about Ash grieving the loss of her parents, shutting down from it, and eventually choosing life and love. This is a tale about recovering from grief and unbearable loss.” — A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy
“This Cinderella doesn’t merely have a ‘fairy godmother’ appear and grant her wish. No, it goes into the complicated ways the humans and the fairy folk have long interacted — and how one race has kept its magic while the other has not. Malinda’s fairy framework — and her description of their world — is some of the most interesting I’ve ever read.” — The Torch Online
“Cinderella, gorgeously reimagined, captivating and winsome. After you’ve fallen into the storytelling world of Malinda Lo, the truth of love will transcend the romantic ideal of fairy tales.” — Julie Anne Peters, National Book Award-nominated author of Luna
“This lyrically retold Cinderella tale is not just a beautifully updated fable, but an ode to the transformative power of love. — Cassandra Clare, bestselling author of The Mortal Instruments series
“A rich and darkly moving tale I couldn’t put down. Malinda Lo is an exciting and welcome new voice in YA.” — Meg Cabot, best-selling author of The Princess Diaries and Airhead series