**Disclaimer: I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review from the publisher. Please also note, the below post contains spoilers for the first and second books in this series, Ash Princess and Lady Smoke.**
I’d like to begin by thanking The Fantastic Flying Book Club and Delacorte Books for Young Readers for choosing me to be a part of this tour. Please check out the other stops along the tour for other reviews, playlists, and other fun posts about this book and the author, Laura Sebastian.
Check out the full tour schedule here!
Giveaway
Prize: Win (1) copy of THE EMBER QUEEN by Laura Sebastian (US Only)
Starts: 16th March 2020
Ends: 30th March 2020
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d9681b86474/
Title Ember Queen (Ash Princess #3)
Author Laura Sebastian
Release Date February 4, 2020
Publisher Delacorte Books For Young Readers
Description from Amazon
Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court. But though she wore a crown of ashes, there is fire in Theo’s blood. As the rightful heir to the Astrean crown, it runs in her veins. And if she learned nothing else from her mother, she learned that a Queen never cowers.
Now free, with a misfit army of rebels to back her, Theo must liberate her enslaved people and face a terrifying new enemy: the new Kaiserin. Imbued with a magic no one understands, the Kaiserin is determined to burn down anyone and everything in her way.
The Kaiserin’s strange power is growing stronger, and with Prinz Søren as her hostage, there is more at stake than ever. Theo must learn to embrace her own power if she has any hope of standing against the girl she once called her heart’s sister.
Initial Thoughts
For those who’ve read my blog before, you may or may not remember, I didn’t love Ash Princess, the first book in this series. I didn’t dislike it, but for whatever reason, I just couldn’t get into it. However, after reading Lady Smoke, my opinion of this series totally changed. After reading the second book in this series, I was really excited to see how it all ended.
Some Things I Liked
- Another change of scenery and pace. In Ash Princess, Theo is a prisoner, constantly tortured by her enemy, the Kaiser. In Lady Smoke, we got to see Theo as The Bachelorette for a bit as she navigated her choice of suitors. Ember Queen saw one more change and we got to see the final battle that we’ve been waiting for. I really enjoyed the versatility in this series and I loved seeing these characters in all of these different settings.
- The resolution of the love triangle. While it broke my heart a little, it felt right. I thought the symbolism was well done and I liked that the sacrifices made **no spoilers** were not made in vain.
- Erik and Heron. I just loved them. So. Much. They were my absolute favorites. I’m a smidge devastated over the state Erik was in when they rescued him but Heron is so good for him. I just love them together and I want a million spin off stories about them.
- Theo’s principles. I loved that Theo didn’t waver. She represented her country and while she is going to create new traditions, she is also being respectful of the old. I loved that she stayed strong, even in the end.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
- The change of villains. I wasn’t crazy about the fact that the main villain (or rather, the character that I thought was the main villain), was not in this book at all. I’m ok with the idea of “a snake in the grass” approach but the switching of antagonists felt a bit rushed between Lady Smoke and Ember Queen.
Series Value
I enjoyed this series. After the first book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep reading. I’m really glad I did. Also, I would like to see some spin-offs set in this world. There are a lot of interesting characters that I think could have fun side stories.
Final Thoughts
Each installment of this series got better and better. I’m so glad I decided to apply for this tour because I might have missed out on a really great series otherwise. The world building is fascinating, the characters were fierce and yet very relatable, and this book addresses some real issues that can be seen paralleled in the real world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
- Frostblood by Elly Blake – if you liked the elemental magic, give this series a try.
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – if you liked the magic system, the hidden villain, and the fierce main character, try this series by Victoria Aveyard.
- The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson – if you liked the idea of a princess doing whatever it takes to save her people, try this series by Mary E. Pearson.
Author Bio
After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.
When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://laurasebastianwrites.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15945524.Laura_Sebastian
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sebastian_lk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraksebastian/
BOOK LINKS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39216077-ember-queen
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SsOQVQ
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Ember-Queen-Laura-Sebastian/9781509855162?ref=grid-view&qid=1581197022750&sr=1-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ember-queen-laura-sebastian/1132077922?ean=9780593176863#/
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/au/book/ember-queen-ash-princess-3/id1487756107
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/ember-queen-3
Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Ember_Queen?id=28SdDwAAQBAJ&hl=en_US
March 16th
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Welcome Post
March 17th
Inky Moments – Review + Favourite Quotes
Ya It’s Lit – Review + Favourite Quotes
Star-Crossed Book Blog – Review + Favourite Quotes
Paws and Paperbacks – Review
L.M. Durand – Promotional Post
March 18th
Booked J – Review + Playlist
Confessions of a YA Reader – Review
Discover Elysian – Review
Lauren’s Boookshelf – Review + Playlist
Library of a Book Witch – Review
March 19th
Moonlight Rendezvous – Review + Favourite Quotes
The Shelf Life Chronicles – Review
Life Within The Pages – Review
Fictitiouswonderland – Review
BookCrushin – Promotional Post
March 20th
The Reading Corner for All – Review + Favourite Quotes
Popthebutterfly Reads – Review
Books and Zebras – Review
Bookablereads – Review
Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Favourite Quotes
March 21st
@the.magicalpages – Review + Favourite Quotes
A Bookish Dream – Review
Adventurous Bookworm – Review + Favourite Quotes
Pacific Northwest Bookworm – Review
moon & coffee – Review
March 22nd
Dazzled by Books – Review + Favourite Quotes
@onemused – Review
Annej reads – Review + Favourite Quotes
Books Over Everything – Review
fairytalespines – Promotional Post
Books Over Everything 