★ “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
“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
“ASH is one of those books that I read slowly, savoring each beautifully crafted line, running the words and imagery through my head until they became poetry in action. Malinda’s sensuous writing brings Ash’s world and the characters within to blazing, ethereal life: you can fully tell that you are immersed in a fairy tale world, one that doesn’t just satisfy, but leaves you wanting more.”
— Steph Su Reads
“What a outstanding debut novel! Malinda Lo absolutely blew me away. The writing was elegant, beautifully lyrical. Malinda has this unbelievable talent for detail and atmospheric setting. She captures the very essence of the world she created. I just felt like I was there.”
— The Story Siren
“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
“Highly recommended (and I’m not just saying that!).”
— AfterEllen.com
“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