Following the death of her father, Ash is forced into a life of servitude by her cruel stepmother. Finding solace in the dark, ancient legends of the Fairies, she seeks refuge in the woods where she encounters Sidhean, a mysterious fae prince who offers her a path away from her grief. However, her perspective shifts when she meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress. As their bond deepens through shared time in the forest, Ash must choose between a cold, magical pact with Sidhean and her growing earthly love for Kaisa.
This retelling of Cinderella is written for readers of young adult fantasy who seek queer representation in traditional folk narratives. It appeals to those interested in the tension between dark mythology and realistic human emotion. Readers gain a version of a classic fairy tale where the protagonist defines her own future through her romantic choices rather than through a royal marriage. The story provides a melancholic atmosphere focused on the transition from mourning to self-discovery, emphasizing agency over destiny.
Insights from Ash
Stepmothers in these stories are often just women blinded by their own bitterness. Lady Isobel is cruel because she is small.
“Grief is a ghost that does not leave.”
Ash spends so much time at her mother's grave. Grief feels like a physical place you can't stop visiting.
The wood-wife represents a magic that is ancient and cold. It doesn't care about human happiness or fairy tales.
“The price of a wish is often the person who makes it.”
Sidhean is alluring but incredibly dangerous. Choosing the faerie world means losing your humanity piece by piece.
- Published
- 2009
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
- ISBN
- 9780316040099
