Ash by Malinda Lo

Not long after Aisling's mother dies, her father marries again. Aisling's - or Ash's - stepmother is called Lady Isobel, and she has two daughters of her own, Ana and Clara. None of them are particularly fond of Ash, and after some time her standing in the family becomes that of a servant. Sounds familiar? Yes, Ash is a loose retelling of "Cinderella". The most noteworthy difference is that instead of falling in love with a prince, Ash falls for Kaisa, the king's huntress.

I had been dying to read Ash ever since I first heard of it earlier this year. I wanted to read it so badly that I made it one of the three new releases I was allowed to get under my book buying ban - and this in a year with plenty of new releases that I'm coveting. Perhaps these high expectations were part of the problem. In any case, it really pains me to say that I didn't enjoy Ash nearly as much as I was expecting to.

I finished the book a week ago, and I've been trying to figure out what it was that made it not quite work for me ever since. The best thing I can come up with is that I failed to connect with the narrative voice. There was something about it that seemed a little off to me, a little strained; I kept being jolted out of the story when I wanted to lose myself in it. Nevertheless, there was a lot to like about Ash, so let me tell you about the good things:

I really liked the romance between Ash and Kaisa. It develops slowly, and the two have time to get to know each other, to develop a connection that feels real. The world of Ash is not a world where a same-sex romance is frowned upon, and Malinda Lo explains why she made that decision in her Big Idea post at Scalzi's blog. I completely agree with her reasons, and I love the fact that the romance in Ash is a romance, period. It's not overshadowed by the fear and shame that same-sex couples unfortunately still have to deal with in our world.

The romance, however, only takes place in the second half of the book. The first half is slower, more subtle and subdued. It spans several years, and it's mostly devoted to Ash coming to terms with the loss of her loved ones and with the subsequent changes in her life. We also watch her grow and change and realize who she is; who she does and does not want to be. The book isn't very long, so this first half only takes a little over a hundred pages, but it conveys the feeling that a long time has passed quite well.

I also loved the worldbuilding - the world of Ash is complex and fully realized. It's very much its own thing, but it reminded me of the worlds of The Goose Girl or Ella Enchanted, two of my favourite fairy tale retellings. If Malinda Lo were to set more novels in this world, I'd be sure to read them. But let me tell you a little about what makes the world so appealing: it has its own customs and traditions; it seems to exist beyond the story. Ash grows up in a remote part of the country, in a forested area where old traditions still live. We're told about the conflicts between older and modern ideas; about rites, festivals and celebrations; about the land's lore and about the truth behind that lore. And most interestingly of all, Ash's world is one where oral storytelling is of great importance. Ash's most treasured possession is a book of fairy tales that she inherits from her mother, and she and Kaisa connect by telling each other their favourite fairy tale.

Finally, I liked the fact that even though Ash's stepmother and stepsisters are far from being likeable characters, they are nor portrayed as black and white villains either. They're unpleasant and arrogant, especially Lady Isobel and Ana, the older sister. But Malinda Lo gives us a glimpse of the social system that forced these women to desperately seek a wealthy husband. There is some sympathy in the narration; some awareness of the demands that reduce these women to fairy tale stereotypes of callousness and greed.

I so wanted to love this book. It truly makes me sad that despite all the things I liked, in the end I just couldn't connect with Ash. The reasons probably have as much to do with myself as with the book. But plenty of other readers loved it, and perhaps you will too.

Other opinions: Melody's Reading Corner, Presenting Lenore, Pop Culture Junkie, The Story Siren, Steph Su Reads, Zoe's Book Reviews, The Dreamer Reader, Becky's Book Reviews, The Book Smugglers, A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy, GalleySmith

(Did I miss yours?)