I couldn't finish it. I don't mean to offend anyone, but my fairytales have to have a prince charming get together with the girl at the end.

ASH is a beautiful retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella that will leave readers breathless. Malinda Lo is a master storyteller and the prose of the novel reads like a true tale passed down from ages ago. The settings bleed through the pages and into reality in such a way that the reader will find themselves entrapped within the story and unable to release themselves. After finishing the novel, I've noticed many reactions of readers over the lesbian relationship that is developed throughout the book. Going in, one must be aware of this because it is culture that prevents so many from accepting such a relationship. In all honesty, I found the relationship in the novel to be gentle and not at all anything anyone should react badly to. Malinda Lo puts forth a strong female character who is to be admired and will hopefully help change the common perspective that people have against the LGBT community. Truly a wonderfully written novel with a powerful message, ASH is not a novel to be missed.

A very nice Cinderella story, Very well written and a lovely twist to the original fairy tail. i recommend it to both young and old.

Malinda Lo's style of writing in this novel is beautiful. Very enjoyable read :)

ok i guess im ruiner 1 thing people its really good in the beginning and the end HATED the end ash is a girl who falls in love with a GIRL i didnt have a promblem with it but i thought kaisA was just a friend

it took my breath away!

Great book, couldn't put it down! Only one thing I disliked though, Ash was way too shy and sometimes the story seemed long. I love this version way more than the original one ;)

Aisling - Ash for short - grows up as a servant in her stepmother's household after her parents die. She spends whatever free time she has either reading fairytales or walking in the woods. Ash is attracted to two different people: Sidhean, a handsome and powerful fairy, and Kaisa, the King's Huntress. Where does her future lie? It has been far too long since I've read a lesbian-themed retelling of a traditional story. This one is pitch-perfect. Even the design details of the book (published by Little, Brown, 2009) add to the atmosphere, with elaborate drop-capitals opening each chapter and judicious use of an elegant script font for the first line. Any sexual references are oblique. For example, when Ash asks "Will I die?" the answer is "Only a little" and then the scene changes to the next morning. I am comfortable recommending this novel to Grade 6 and up. A shorter retelling of the Cinderella story can be found in Emma Donoghue's lesbian-feminist collection, Kissing the Witch.