A Curse of Ash and Iron

A Series of Curses

by Christine Norris

All The World’s A Stage, As They Say...

In 1876 Philadelphia, Benjamin Grimm knows real life is much like the theater—people play their parts, hiding behind the illusion of their lives and never revealing their secrets. When he reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor Banneker, his delight turns to dismay. On learning she has been under a spell for the past seven years, forced to live as a servant in her own home, he realizes how sinister some secrets can be.

Ellie has spent the long years since her mother’s death under her stepmother’s watchful and unforgiving eye. Bewitched and hidden in plain sight, it seemed no one could help Ellie escape. Not even her own father, likewise bespelled. When she encounters Ben one evening, he seems immune to the magic that binds her. Her hope rekindles along with their friendship.

But time is running short. If they do not find a way to break the curse before midnight on New Year’s Eve, both Ellie and her father will be bound forever.

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Historical

250 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Christine Norris is the author of several works for children and adults, including the Library of Athena series and the Zandria duology. When she’s not out saving the world one story at a time, she is disguised as a mild mannered School Librarian and Media Technology teacher. She cares for her family of one husband-creature, a son-animal, and two felines who function as Guardian of the Bathtub and Official Lap Warmer, respectively, and one Jack Russell named Elivis who feels he IS the king. She has also done several English adaptations of novels translated from other languages. She currently resides somewhere in southern New Jersey.

To learn more about Christine Norris, please visit http://www.christine-norris.com. Send an email to Christine at christinenorris02@gmail.com. Follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/cnorrisauthor or become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pag...

Reviews

[Sara J. (kefuwa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming YA retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale. Good bit of steampunk-ish-ness going on but ended up being something of a story element (i.e. a “novel with steampunk elements in it” as opposed to “a steampunk novel”). The magic/magical element also feels somewhat similar - elements in a story rather than making the story magical. That aside, I found myself quite taken with the tale at the end. It’s just that my expectations at the start of what this read would entail didn’t match up with what I ended up reading. Not necessarily a bad thing, but may have miffed me if I was of the mind to be miffed - but I think I found myself quite taken with the characters in the end, so, no miffy-ness from me.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris

1.75 stars

Benjamin Grimm prefers to hide behind the theater curtain than interacting with the society in 1876 Philadelphia. Eleanor Banneker is one and only friend, but he hasn’t seen her in years. When they are reunited he is delighted, but shocked to discover that she’s been under a spell for 7 years. Ellie and her father are both under the spells of her stepmother, but she is sure that she can break them. The problem is that when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, her fate will be in the hands of her stepmother. Obviously, this is a Cinderella retelling, and this slightly puts this novel at a disadvantage. I’m not and have never been a fan of the Cinderella story. The only adaptation I’ve ever loved and I covet it above all the rest is Ever After. You know, the movie with Drew Barrymore and Leonardo da Vinci. That one is my all-time favorite Cinderella story. I do also like the movie for Ella Enchanted because it’s cute and fun, but predominately, Cinderella stories just aren’t my cup of tea. The reason why I was drawn to this particular retelling was because it’s slightly steampunk.

This is told in alternating POVs, which can either make or break a YA novel. I feel like this novel would have benefited from only being one POV, that POV being Ben, the male hero. Ellie’s POV isn’t fleshed out and she has more of a mysterious vibe, which isn’t a good thing to have on an equal footing story that is based off of Cinderella. There are fairies in this story, which makes the plot more entertaining, but the Cinderella plot isn’t really anything new or original. Cinderella is one of the most popular stories ever and this doesn’t really diverge or offer a new perspective on the story. It’s cliched… I mean it has the coveted three challenges that ever fairytale of retelling has to have. This novel is a little too long, which sounds crazy because this novel is only 289 pages. The problem lies with the fact that the climax happens before the last 50 pages. It’s unnecessary and anti-climactic.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 1.75

The main female character is Ellie. Ellie is a typical Cinderella cardboard cutout. She really offers nothing new to the Cinderella character, not like there is much to offer since Cinderella is a bit of a drab character as it is. Ellie’s biggest drawback as a character is her lack of authenticity, she feels more like a mystery that needs to be solved than a person. She’s a manic-pixie-dream-girl in an 1876 fantasy story. She also is obsessed with some stranger named Hamilton Scott. She just needs to reevaluate her priorities because she is supposed to be focused on breaking a curse not getting a boyfriend. She’s naïve and silly. I want a Cinderella heroine with a good head on her shoulders who can navigate her way out of a situation. Ellie is not that.

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 1.25

The main male character is Ben. Ben is a magician/ inventor of illusions and this makes for a very interesting hobby. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a character with a passion quite like this before and it is one of the more interesting aspects of this novel. Ben is kind of a creep though. He is constantly mooning over Ellie and I just don’t care about how the sun sets and falls behind her “beautiful” face.

Swoon Worthy Scale: 2

The Villain- It’s your typical evil stepmother and while her grand scheme was interesting it was rushed and typical.


Villain Scale: 1.75

One shining light in this story is that Rebecca, the stepsister, isn’t portrayed as an evil villain. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual evil stepsister trope. Hamilton Scott didn’t need to be a character. OK. Bye.

Character Scale: 2

The ending was predictable, cliched, and unsatisfying. The whole novel felt poorly executed and did nothing to placate my hunger for a good book. Alas this one wasn’t meant for me, but it may be your cup of tea. If you are a fan of Cinderella and steampunk, then this will probably be a fun, enticing novel for you.

Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: It’s not horrible, but it is kind of cringey.

Thank you, Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new retelling of Cinderella set in a steampunk version of late 19th century Philadelphia, deftly weaving real historical facts and people into the familiar story, and spicing it with just a touch of magic to create a new love story. There's a curse, a geas, and a quest, but they pale behind the adventure and the ball where all might be won or lost.

Great fun to read, perfectly balanced between the new and old elements. I was very glad to have this to read!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first: I received a review copy for this book over at YA Bound Book Tours.
The book is out for a while now and you should totally check it out.

This is a Cinderella retelling with a few Steampunk elements.

Even though Cinderella isn't exactly one of my favorite fairytales, I still loved the story in the book very much. I loved the magic in the book. I loved the Steampunk elements. And just all the little details that the author put in this story.

The characters. Ellie is such a wonderful character. I love her relationship with Rebecca, her stepsister, who is not evil at all and I'm so very grateful for that. Cause it's just a wonderful element in this story. I also loved her relationship with Ben, the childhood friends who haven't seen each other in such a long time but still have that great bond years later when they meet again. Ben is such a great character with such a great mind. His little brother Harry, was such a great character too. Olivia. Ugh. I mean, she is like the typical stepmother. I hate her with a passion. It's crazy to what lengths she went to reach her goals.

I had to take half a star away because I am not as happy with the ending as I wanted to be. I didn't hate it. Cause about halfway through the story, it's the ending that I suspected. But still. I was a bit disappointed.

It's still an amazing story and I seriously recommend it to everyone.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful, thank you Curiosity Quills for letting me read such a lovely book! Definitely one of my favourites of 2015 :) There's a bit of a Cinderella storyline going on, with a gorgeous steampunk touch, and it's set in Philadelphia - I've not read much steampunk but it all seems to be Victorian London, so I loved this being set elsewhere. Funnily, I kept forgetting that it wasn't in London until suddenly someone would mention Philly, or New York, or something else American, and I'd be reminded!

I loved how cohesive the story was too. I think I've recently read a few things that had a fantasy and/or dystopian element that didn't quite make sense, so it was really good to read something where it all made sense, it all worked and fit together, I was never left going "wait, what?"

There's magic and a curse, an evil stepmother, a stepsister who is a LOT more than she seems, the first motorcar, danger and excitement, and a lovely romance plot, complete with lost shoe :) I loved that Ellie ended up with Hamilton too, that as much as she loved Ben it was more in a sisterly way - and it was obvious from very early on that Rebecca would be a very good match for him.

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

Based on the cover I assumed it would be a steampunk novel, however, I didn't realise that it was a Cinderella retelling until I was halfway the book.

Benjamin Grimm reunites with his childhood friend Eleanor and find out she's been living under a spell for years, forcing her to live like a servant in her own house.

I didn't like the book, it wasn't for me. I didn't think it was steampunk, so maybe I was just disappointed and didn't like it for that reason. Also, I thought the story was very slow and even as far as retellings go not very original. The main characters acted very stupid at times and the love triangle (did I mention I hate those) felt extremely forced.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While the base story is very familiar, the twists and turns of Christine Norris' deft writing makes this Cinderella retelling brand new.

A comfort book for adults and older teens; could even be appropriate for upper elementary and middle school age. There is mild cursing, easily edited out for reading out loud.

Very much enjoyed reading this story. I can't tell much about it without ruining all the surprises!

[Anna Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
4 Stars

I love retellings of fairytales! It is so interesting to see what authors can come up with to make the stories original. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I loved it. It had a steampunk feel to it. The story takes place in the late 1800’s when steam machines were first being invented. Society had strict rules especially when it came to women and high society. As in the fairytale, Ellie’s mother dies and her father remarries. Olivia was quite something; mean, rude and desire driven. Life with her was not pleasant. Unlike the Disney version, Ellie only had one stepsister, Rebecca, who I actually liked a lot. Although there were some similarities with the fairytale, the author added her own ideas to the story which made it amazingly creative. I personally loved the paranormal twist. The drama and deadline to solve the issue raised my anxiety until the climax. This story is well written and an excellent version of Cinderella.

[Lynxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, that when I first read this was a Cinderella retelling I was thinking along the lines of this:



But then, when I looked at the character names (Benjamin Grimm) I thought that this could be a retelling melding several fairy tales together.



Alas, I was wrong.

What was involved in the retelling was a steampunk-esque version that mixed stories like The Illusionist with its orange tree trick, and other magician movies like The prestige with the birdcage tricks...



The Evil Queen from Snow White...



And the original, well known Cinderella we know. There were aspects that worked really well with the steampunk feel, the coach was one of them. I had visions of something like the below, but a little less pumpkin-ish.



There were parts that were steeped in history, and in the end of the book there's a little spiel that goes over exactly which parts of the history are true. This added a nice touch of realism to an otherwise completely fantastical story.

While the world building and ideas were quite strong, sometimes leaning on the traditional, and at others on the added elements, themes and genres, the characters were left a little lacking.

I started to see a real character in Ben and Harry, Ben's younger brother, but these were left behind to further the Cinderella aspects of the story. The balls and dresses and dancing took over and the characterisation that had formed around Ben and Harry was lost.

I will be honest, I didn't like Ellie much after the first 10% of the book. I really didn't like her at all once she got to be an adult. I didn't like Olivia, but then you're not meant to. The stepsister, Rebecca, was one of the more interesting characters. I quite liked the way her character arc went.

Anyway, overall the story was pretty good, the characters were ok and the twisted story elements from other stories was mostly well done.

**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

[Dragana · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a long time, A Curse of Ash and Iron have been on the list of the books I was waiting to be published. I noticed it while it was announced as a Strange Chemistry release. Then the Strange Chemistry got shut down. :( I was happy to hear Christine Norris and Curiosity Quills Press made a deal and that A Curse of Ash and Iron is going to be published after all. And finally it’s here.

LIKES

* Realistic Cinderella retelling. Cinderella was never one of my favorite fairy tales, mostly because I had problems with too many plot holes. How come no one ever complained that stepmother forced Cinderella to work as a servant? They were nobles, surely she had some relatives. And that insta-love with prince at the ball never worked for me. Christine Norris masterfully resolved all these issues.

* Clean romance. So many young adult novels these days shock me with amount of sex and explicit descriptions. A Curse of Ash and Iron pleasantly surprised me with romance that was squeaky clean. I think even some advanced middle-grade readers can read this book.

* Love triangle that worked. A Curse of Ash and Iron is proof that all love triangles are not bad. After we get to know all the history behind characters, Eleanor not being able to decide between two love interests actually makes sense.

DISLIKES

* Failed expectations. From the announcements I figured A Curse of Ash and Iron will be a steampunk version of Cinderella. Gears on the book cover only cemented that belief. The fact that one of the characters was called Benjamin Grimm only intrigued me more. I thought it was going to be one of the Grimm brothers. Both of these assumptions were incorrect. A Curse of Ash and Iron was not a bad book, but I expected something completely different…

IN THE END…
A Curse of Ash and Iron was a charming retelling of Cinderella set in 19th century Philadelphia. Sadly my wrong expectations hindered me in enjoying it, but I think that fans of Jessica Day George are going to love it.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Curiosity Quills via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a truly charming and delightful retelling of Cinderella. I have read several stories that set out on this same path this year, but I felt this one had some truly unique elements to offer. First, I thought this was most interesting because it was a dual narrative between Eleanor and her childhood friend, Ben. The addition of a male narrative to the story was a real surprise, but it added something special to the story, a something that I suddenly see has always been missing. The themes are also unique because of the setting. While this does have a steampunk vibe, it takes place in a believable Philadelphia in the late 1800's when scientific exhibitions were sweeping the nation. This book pits the budding scientific advancement and the art of illusion against real magic and superstition in a very cool way. It also brings up themes of class differences and gender equality. Neither of these is pushed in an aggressive way, but they really enhance the story and add depth to characters and plot points. Finally, the author used a different approach to explain the troublesome questions of why Cinderella's father never stopped EvilStepmother and why Cinderella didn't just ask for help. Smart and fun. I found this very engaging and read it all the way through in one sitting. I wasn't bothered by the fact that I already knew the basics of the story because the events were fresh, and, truth be told, I wasn't exactly sure how it would end. I think my high school readers will find this book very appealing, especially those who enjoy a fairytale revision. Language and situations are appropriate for grades 7+, but adult readers of YA will also find it rather enchanting.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it finally happened. I shipped the wrong ship in a YA book. I am *distinctively* unhappy with this turn of events, to say the least.

On a more serious (or book related note), this wasn't terrible by any means, but it was mediocre at best - the prose was solid & I'd be curious to see the author's future work, but the plot was in need of significant development. It was a little too cut & dry in terms of a Cinderella adaptation, and given the premise re: illusions, magic, steampunk & historical Philadelphia during the Centennial Exhibition, I was expecting a *bit* more of a plot twist than what we got (which was to say, pretty much nothing).

As for the love aspect, yes I shipped the wrong ship, but to be honest, the fact that [SPOILER] Ben *wasn't* the ultimate love interest felt like forced adherence to the Cinderella story rather than an actually natural turn of events? [END SPOILER] I mean, she had swooning cheeks & butterflies, but no actual interaction with Hamilton? Versus Ben, who spent the entire story with her? I kept waiting to find out her feelings for Hamilton were the result of a love potion, to be quite honest...

Anyways, not a terrible book, but not terribly innovative or new. Even with all the great promise going for it.

[Rachel's Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

Full review soon.

[Leann Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. keep up the great work

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable retelling of the Cinderella story with a Steampunk twist, which had me hooked throughout. Set in Philadelphia in 1876, in a world that has automatons and steam powered ‘motor cars’, and childhood friends Benjamin Grimm and Eleanor Banneker are reunited. However, Ben’s delight soon turns to dismay when he learns that Eleanor has been under a spell, put on her by her stepmother, for the last seven years and she’s been forced to live as a servant in her own home.
Ellie had spent years bewitched under her stepmother’s watchful and unforgiving eye, whilst being hidden in plain sight. Ellie becomes hopeful when having met Ben again, he seems immune to the magic binding her and their friendship is rekindled. However, the couple must find away to break the curse before midnight on New Year’s Eve, or both Ellie and her father will be bound forever. I felt immersed in the storyline and engaged with the characters. The intriguing storyline and plot twists kept me happily turning the pages, whilst both the setting and characters were brought vividly to life by the descriptive narrative.

[Emma Samways · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! It follows poor Ellie whose life starts our so perfect with parents that love her but then enters the evil stepmother and Ellie's life goes down the toilet. Her best friend is ripped away from her and she fears her life will never be happy again. But a chance encounter starts off a series of events for the 2 best friends as they have to fathom out what Ellie's stepmother is up to. This is a period piece with magic and adventure all mixed in as well. Great storytelling and beautiful descriptions of the era and all the costumes and the galas that the characters attend. Highly recommend!

[Jennifer Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really impressed with how this story turned out. I really wasn’t expecting the little things that made this story so different then the fairy tale. I love when authors write their own thoughts on different aspects in their own words when it comes to fairy tales and fantasy. I enjoyed how the author took this a spin it into a steam punk Philadelphia in 1876. I felt like I was really in the story along side these characters, and how each one was woven into the story to make it magical. This book was filled with magic, fantasy, steam punk, realism, and historical facts. This story caught me and wouldn’t let me go till I was done reading it. I couldn’t get enough of the story and kept me on my toes because I kept thinking I was going to know what was going to happen next, but it wasn’t like that, and it really captivated me. This was an amazing read.

[Terri McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor Banneker and her father have been placed under a spell by her stepmother. No one seems to recognize her anymore, not even her father. But when Elllie is reunited with her childhood friend, Benjamin Grimm, he sees her where no one else does and recognizes her. Ellie begins to have hope that Ben can help her, but will he believe her? This book was a quick read, with a few unexpected twists.

[Alison Risher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new kind of Cinderella story. There is an evil stepmother, and a nearly-comatose father. There is a step-sister (only one, though), but she seems kind of …nice? There are rats, and there is a ball. The author has thoroughly captivated my attention, and now I can’t wait to read more of her works! The characters in this story- the somewhat familiar ones, as the unique ones- have run away with the storyline, and readers will enjoy being dragged along for this!

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for an honest review.

This review was originally posted on Books and Ladders

I love fairytale retellings. I like knowing the general outline of the story and seeing how the author puts a new twist on it depending on the theme of their story and what they want to do with it. A Curse of Ash and Iron does this almost to perfection.

I thought the prologue was a bit misplaced, but it was there to introduce us to both Ben and Ellie. Without this, it would have been a bit strange for Ben to suddenly recognize this girl and there would have been flashbacks and nobody wants that. However, the first part of the novel is very slow. Until about 30% or so, I was a little bored. I think if I didn't know how it was going to end (ish), I would have had a hard time continuing with this one. But after that, it picked up pace right away.

I really enjoyed Ellie. She played her part of servant well, but I loved her moments of rage and when she was rude to her stepmother. Yes, she was punished for it. But it was better than seeing this girl get walked all over by a cruel woman. I thought Ellie was one of the best written "Cinderellas" I have read in a while.

By the end of the novel, I did not like Ben. At the beginning, he was very likeable and it was obvious he was going places, but his behaviour at the end was disgusting in my opinion. No matter how mad you are at somebody, you don't do that to them. I did enjoy his relationship with his brother Harry, I would have liked to see more of that.

Ellie's stepsister Rebecca was so great. I liked that this retelling broke the storyline of two step sisters that are so obsessed with themselves that they mistreat their stepsister. Because Rebecca was genuinely nice. She was always trying to help Ellie and make sure that Ellie's life was just as happy as her own.

The main theme in the novel was about freedom and free choice. Ellie and her father had that taken away from them and therefore so did Rebecca. Being able to make a decision for themselves was really important to these girls and I think that is a good message to be sending to the young girls that will be reading this. It is important to not do what someone thinks is "best" for you, you have to do what is best for yourself. However, I did not like that the other society girls were portrayed as catty bitches who only thought about one thing because there is no way that only Ellie and Rebecca were girls who had interests other than finding a husband. Unrealistic.

The only thing I wasn't (and never really are) a big fan of was the insta-love. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if Ellie and Hamilton had met and talked a couple more times before she wasn't sure if he fit into that part of the spell. But I did like her decisions in regards to him in the epilogue-y type chapter we got at the end.

Overall: 4/5 stars. I liked this one and if you want a Cinderella retelling that doesn't quite fit the regular mould, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Steampunk retelling of Cinderella. This was not my typical read at all but it was certainly intriguing. I’m not disappointed I chose to read it. This was for sure a re-telling like no other. I truly enjoyed the historical fiction pieces to it. I enjoyed the characters. Certainly would recommend for a younger reader (Middle School/High School).

[Alyson Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: A Curse of Ash and Iron
Author: Christine Norris
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I would also like to thank Tanya for helping with opening the file.

First off, why doesn't this book have more reviews?! This truly is a hidden gem in young adult! The more books I read, the more and more that I am discovering that many times the books not on the bestseller lists are actually better than the so called "bestsellers."

Ben and Ellie are childhood friends, living in completely different realms of society. When Ben is forced to leave Ellie, he never forgets his childhood friend. Then, one night at the threare, they meet again. This just so wonderful and so fairytale like. It was this and the beautiful cover that had me taken with this book, not to mention the elegant writing style.

Growing up, Cinderella was one of my favourite fairy tales and this new spin was really refreshing and really good. There is just something about a girl being a princess for one night and a maid the rest of the time. Christine did a really good job at depicting the harsh realities of Ellie's world by showing readers how her life was and making us fall in love with her character. She is really mature about her situation and does not whine to Ben about it when she tells him; she tells him the truth and nothing but the truth.

I also like the magic. It really surprised me though that Ben was a bit hesitant to believe Ellie though, given that he wants to be an illusionist. I do get that he wants a reason as to why these things happen, but he just wasn't as opened as I thought he would be.

Christine did an amazing job at capturing the Victorian Era clash of societies. She wrote both low and high class with such an amazing sense that it was wow. I just thought that the notions and beliefs of the time period were just so well down. The elegant nature of the writing and the characters just really allowed for the look into this society to really take form.


The writing was very, very rich. Christine did an amazing job with figurative language, using it to create an amazing piece of art. When I was reading, more than once, I said that sentence as beautiful or that was really good. There was just a certain amount of simple and elegant writing that really, really added something to the story. It just gave the book that overall fairy tale feel.

I also liked that Christine had the amazing ability to switch her characters' emotion and disposition so quickly and so beautifully. For example, Olivia could be really sweet, nurturing, and in public, but in private was completely different. This ability just made for some really well rounded characters, who are like real people. Sometimes what you see in public is not that person at all.

Overall, this was an excellent book. I would go as far as to call this a hidden gem. It really does deserve more reviews and ratings than it has.

[Maureen Lubitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on You Must Have Your Hands Full


I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had not heard of A Curse of Ash and Iron before I received the opportunity to review it, but I was extremely intrigued by the premise. This is a young adult novel written by Christine Norris.

As the story begins, we are introduced to Ben and Ellie. Despite the fact that Ben was the son of the cook in a grand home that Ellie lived in, the two were best friends of children. They were separated rather abruptly when Ellie’s stepmother fired Ben’s mother seven years earlier, but a chance meeting brings them together again. Ellie tells Ben a wild story about being enchanted by her stepmother and forced to work as a servant in her own home. Ben is a young man enamored with science and technology, and he finds the idea of magical enchantments to be absurd, but he agrees to help his old friend. As they explore the nature of the enchantment, they learn that if the curse is not broken by midnight on New Year’s Eve, the effects will become permanent, and Ellie will be bound to her stepmother forever.

The story is set in 1876 Philadelphia, and that was one of the aspects that attracted me to this story. I love novels set in the 19th century, and this book did not disappoint me. Ben’s love of technology is relevant because the world is on the brink of great discoveries; the telephone is a brand new invention, and talking to someone so far away seems almost magical. His curiosity proves to be an asset in their quest, as is his knack for tinkering. The 19th century setting also provides us with a glimpse into the world of debutantes and Society events.

A Curse of Ash and Iron is an amazing book. The addition of spells and enchantments provide a nice contrast to technology. It seems inconceivable that real magic can exist in the modern world, but appearances can be deceiving. There were some interesting twists that I did not see coming, but I think it might have been too predictable for the story to end a certain way.

I would absolutely recommend A Curse of Ash and Iron. This is a young adult novel that holds appeal to readers outside its target audience. This is an interesting version of the classic Cinderella story with an infusion of steampunk. I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience, and I’m looking forward to reading more from Christine Norris.

[Alyssa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love re-tellings of fairy tales, so when I found a book that is a Steampunk retelling of Cinderella, I was really interested in reading it! A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris is re-telling with many twists! It was such a charming story and very enjoyable to read, a book that is not easy to put down. Ben and Ellie, childhood best friends, are reunited one night at the theater. When Ellie asks for Ben to help save her from her life with her stepmother, they begin to solve the mystery of her life together. It is full of adventure, secrets, surprises, and taking risks.

The main character, our “Cinderella”, is named Ellie. I really liked her as a character – though she did have to be a servant in her home, Ellie was still bold. She stood up for herself and was very determined to change the outcome of her life. Ellie is very brave and independent, and even if she had to face punishment for her behavior at times, I really admired how strong she was. Then we have Ben, who likes science, invention, and magic. My favorite twist on the classic tale was to have Ellie’s step-sister, Rebecca, not to be an evil step-sister! Instead, she was kind to Ellie, and I liked the relationship and friendship that grew between them. Rebecca doesn’t have the same circumstances as Ellie does – she does not have to act as a servant, of course. But in her own way, Rebecca does suffer loss of her own freedoms by her own mother as well.

The plot in this story as very well-written and the writing flowed very well. The story just felt magical to me. Though the romance took a turn I was not expecting, looking back, it does make sense and I am glad it turned out the way it did! I also liked how the Cape May Diamond Beach was in this story (I am from New Jersey and have been there), so I thought that was exciting. The setting of Philadelphia was also an interesting location for the story to take place and I enjoyed that.

I really liked the theme of freedom being present in this story, for both Ellie and Rebecca. It is an important message for girls to make their own positive choices for their own lives. Both are such strong and independent characters that grow throughout the story. It has a lot of elements of the classic Cinderella tale, but there is more to it, captured through enchanting and beautiful writing. This is one I recommend others to read – Cinderella with some unique twists!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book!

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't realize right away that this is a Cinderella retelling because apparently the cover distracted me from actually reading the synopsis.

What I liked:

-the cover!! Gorgeous. It reminds me of the Gail Carriger novels that I really want to read.

-the plot. I love fractured fairy tales or retellings, and, even though I think the best Cinderella retelling ever is  Ella Enchanted , I'm always down to read another version.

-it's not quite steampunk, but I found the inventions interesting, especially the historically accurate description of the Exhibition.

What I didn't like:

-the characters. I feel terrible saying this, but I didn't really care about any of the characters, except maybe Rebecca, but even she had a sudden personality shift.

I couldn't understand how she and Ellie spent seven years being indifferent to each other and then Rebecca was all "you're the best sister ever, I wanna help you", and I was like "it's a little late for that, isn't it?". But they ended up having a really sweet relationship at the end, which I liked.

-the "love triangle". I didn't feel any chemistry between any of the characters. And talk about insta-love: Ellie talks to Hamilton Scott for all of ten seconds before she walks away thinking "I'm in love!!". No, Ellie, I'm pretty sure that's just lust because you thought he was hot. Which I suppose is what happens in the original Cinderella story, but one of the reasons I loved Ella Enchanted was because of the relationship between Ella and Char (I still get emotional at the end).

Ben was no better. I didn't particularly care for him, and I could see where his story was going, but it didn't stop it from being annoying to watch Ellie toy with him (even if it was unintentional).

-the dialogue. While it was mostly realistic, it sometimes seemed forced and unnatural. It wasn't so bad that it detracted from the story or anything, and it was a personal quirk, but I preferred the exposition to the dialogue.

Overall, I felt like it was lacking something. It was a decent story and it had some really fascinating elements, but my inability to connect with the characters made it a hard read.

[E.G. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best retelling I've read all year!

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review.

Plot summary: The novel starts with best friends Ellie and Ben hiding from the fighting that has broken out between Ellie's stepmother and Ben's mother as his mother, the household cook, is being fired. They make a pact to never forget that they are friends. From this point forward, the narrative alternates perspective with them as their young adult selves. Ben's a middle class worker in a local theater and an aspiring illusionist with a knack and interest in all things machinery. A high class born Ellie, on the other hand, is oppressed in her own household with her stepmother forcing her to work and her father tucked away from society on his death bed. Ellie and Ben find each other and they rekindle their friendship despite society's rules. Ellie soon discovers that there is more dark magic to her situation than she knew and seeks Ben's help to correct it. To break a curse by a mysterious visitor of her stepmother, she must make a spell of her own. Ellie finds her courage as she gathers the objects she needs, all the while Ben's loyalty and inventions aid her. Ellie also manages to catch the eye of a high born gentleman Hamilton, though she can't tell him who she is since her stepmother has her sights set on him as a match for her own daughter.

Thoughts: Where to start? The plot was well researched and thought out. I didn't even realize it was a retelling until about 1/3 of the way way through. The touches of steampunk-type elements, magic, as well balanced with history, making even the obvious magic well woven into the story. I wanted to jump right in with Ellie and help her, breaking into crypts, sneaking in her own home, and resisting hitting or insulting her stepmother. I cheered her on every step of the way. Likewise, Ben was a lovable character and you can't help cheering him on in his endeavors to create and aid Ellie. Unfortunately, the fairy tale ending is semi-predictable based on the original fairy tale and even as I knew this, I hoped it would shift. It did not, but still left me satisfied at the end.

I do believe I have found my new favorite book. Bravo Christine Norris. I will be rereading this one and probably buying it in physical form, as well as checking out Ms. Norris's other books.

[Casia Pickering · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, for the book's blog tour and an honest review.

A Curse of Ash and Iron is a steampunk retelling of Cinderella. There is action, romance, magic, and gears. A pretty good combination. Add that it's a fairy tale retelling and I couldn't resist.

The book starts off with a prologue that becomes important to set the tone of the friendship between Ellie and Ben. Ellie is the daughter of a well to do man. In the beginning of the book, her mother has died and her father has married her governess rather quickly. Ben is the son of a cook and bookshop owner. In this prologue, the two friends are separated never to possibly see each other again.

The next chapter starts off with the book revealing the relationship between Ellie and her stepmother. Not on good terms. As for Ben, he wants to help Ellie by any means necessary. Even if she sounds insane.

Ellie is a strong willed young woman in search of herself. I like how Chrstine Norris gives the emotions of a young adult finding themselves through a magical reason. Ellie is literally trying to find herself again and it's through the love of Ben and other people that she finds a way to at least start having an identity. Despite the slavery that her stepmother has put her through, Ellie still shows some spunk to fight back. She doesn't throw punches, but she throws verbage. Ellie is a character who doesn't let her situation darken her.

I liked Ben. He was logical, passionate about his dreams, and would walk the ends of the earth to help the girl he knew as a child. He had a bumbly kind of way to him in the beginning, but that awkwardness didn't stop his intelligence or assurance of logic over magic. Naturally, he's wrong about some things. Some things can't be explained through steam and gears.

The Cinderella story is more of a diagram for this story. Yes, there's the typical pieces you see in Cinderella in this book, but the reasons behind Ellie's lack of identity and her friendship with Ben is more of its own. There's adventure and action as well, definitely not what you see in the traditional Cinderella.

I'm a big fan of fairy tale retellings. There's something about the iconic stories that bring about the childhood. Christine Norris not only brought that child feel, but made it grown up that would intrigue all aged audiences.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of fairy-tale retellings this year. However, I have yet to be disappointed or grow tired of them. ‘A Curse of Ash and Iron’ by Christine Norris has definitely helped in keeping my interest alive.

A retelling of Cinderella, ‘A Curse of Ash and Iron’ incorporates magic, steampunk and 1876 Philadelphia to create a beautiful book that really grabs your attention. I really enjoyed the book from start to finish and I am really pleased that the author included things that might be a bit risky in a YA book.

In this version of the tale, Ellie has been bewitched by her stepmother so that no-one can recognise her and she is forced into servitude. Meeting her childhood friend again for the first time in many years, Ellie realises that it might be possible to break the spell, which must be done by midnight of New Year’s Eve, or else it will become permanent.

The story itself is delightful. I really enjoyed the combination of magic with machine. Getting the balance between creating an original story and staying true to the fairy-tale is quite difficult in these retellings, but Norris does it very well. There were a couple of instances that felt a bit forced in order to maintain a keeping to the Cinderella story but on the whole it was remarkable done. I loved the twist on the fairy godmother and the stepsister. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of Ben as Ellie’s childhood friend as well as Ellie being independent herself.

I personally believe that the characters in this book were very strong – they had their angles, their motives, their personalities and it made them seem quite real. In fact, I think they were actually stronger than the plot. This was particularly evident in that when the main plot came to its head, I was just reading it as I would any other book, but when the character resolutions started to occur, I was so involved that I’m fairly sure the other people on the train thought I was mad.

I am not sure how well I liked the ending. I did see it coming, although I did not want to believe it to happen as I would have quite liked it to end a different way. However, thinking back, the way Norris writes the characters makes this ending the only real ending that would have worked.

I would highly recommend this book. It is beautiful, both cover and contents, and I will be keeping an eye on Christine Norris’ books in the future.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think everyone knows how much I like fairytale retellings. However, I haven't really read Steampunk retellings - I think there were some in the Once Upon a Time retelling (I hope I remembered the series name right!), but not much other than that. So when I saw A Curse of Ash and Iron, I jumped at the chance to read it.

A Curse of Ash and Iron follows Ellie, who has been under a curse for the past few years. Though she's still living in the same house she's always been in, no one recognises her. Her stepmother has the whole world convinced that she's a poor relative. That is, until one day, she bumps into her childhood friend Ben, who sees her. Really sees her. And with that, Ellie gets the hope that the curse can be broken, and she and her father saved.

For the most part, I liked this story. Ellie is plucky (though I actually prefer her stepsister), and I liked her friendship with Ben. They were childhood friends, and I liked how close they were. [MILD SPOILERS AHEAD] But, he's not a prince charming. I thought that was a pity - he was very much princely in my eyes. Instead, there's Mr. Scott, who's you know, rich and handsome. I'm not going to say more, because spoilers and what not, but yeah, this was the aspect of the book that disappointed me. I was all ready to root for a romance too.

I mentioned just now that my favouriate character wasn't Ellie, but her stepsister Rebecca. I don't know why, but I found Rebecca a lot more mysterious and interesting than Ellie. Plus, Ellie's love life annoyed me, which led to me being mildly annoyed with her. I would love it if the next book featured Rebecca.

Overall, this was an interesting book. There's a whole cast of interesting characters, and although I was mildly dissatisfied with how the romance progressed, it wasn't like the book was ruined for me. If there was a sequel, I would totally read it. Especially if Rebecca turned out to be the protagonist.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Jessica Headlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

*The complete review can be found on my blog: Of Books and Pen


Rating:
4.5/5

This was a fantastic book and very well written, definitely one of my favorites of late.

The only thing keeping it from getting a full 5 out of 5 is the way the author would switch scenes or point of view between Ellie and Ben. Occasionally, Norris would stop in the beginning of an action or conversation that the reader never experiences later. Personally, I don’t like to end scenes with a loose piece of dialogue, but that’s just my preference. The other thing that hurt the rating was that the author kept every reveal secret until the last possible second, which is fine for the bigger reveals but it got a bit annoying for all the smaller revelations. I’m all for allowing the reader to think for themselves and try to figure it out on their own, but sometimes I want to know word for word what this letter said or who surprised them and such. But other than those, this book deserved every point it got because it was a fascinating Cinderella retelling with some magic and a bit of steampunk!

Other Thoughts

If you love history and going back in time, this book may be for you. There’re some tidbits of history thrown in that aren’t common knowledge, but the author actually explains them at the back of the book. Also something rather interesting, the author actually named her characters, at least their first names, after some of her ancestors that she has found. In fact, she was related to a Benjamin that worked at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia.

If you like slow burn romance, or romance that kind of takes a back burner to the story, then you’ll enjoy this one. The love in this story is very slow, and unlike Disney and other stories, Ellie doesn’t jump into it all like a cannonball.

If you like your heroine to be strong, but not a bitch, then you’ll like Ellie. She takes on her problems and tries to fix them in whatever way she can. Ellie is clever and isn’t a crybaby that waits for Prince Charming to come rescue her. She is a woman conscious of her world and the environment around her, and she decides what she will do with her life.