Ashes

Crowns of the Twelve #6

by Ann Hunter

“Can we give her a name? We always gave new servants names back home.”
Hesperia kept her eyes on Rebecca, her mouth turned in that dark smile. “You may.”
Brunhilda looked at Rebecca giddily. “Let’s call her Ella. Doesn’t she look like an Ella?”
Cassandra stepped in front of her sister with the same smile as her mother. “No. Cinders. She’s so dirty. Can’t you see? Dirty, dirty, dirty. Like the cinders in the hearth.”
Hesperia raised her hand to shush them. “Her name shall be Girl. There will be no confusion that way.” Hesperia crossed to Rebecca slowly. She placed the tip of her finger underneath Rebecca’s chin and raised it gently. Rebecca locked eyes with her. “When I say ‘Come, Girl.’ You will come. When I tell you ‘Girl, go and fetch me this’ or ‘Girl, go and fetch me that’ you will fetch it. When you are told to do anything, Girl, you will do it without question or regard to your self. Do I make myself clear?”
Rebecca’s nostrils expanded and contracted with her racing breath. She wanted to spit in Hesperia’s eye. To drive her heel through the woman’s toes. Lilly had raised a better girl, though. Lilly had raised a lady. A lady knew when to leave.
Rebecca backed down the stairs, never breaking eye contact with Hesperia until she reached the door. The girls gathered beside their mother, clasping their hands just like her with their pursed lips and sharp noses and judging eyes.
“That girl is a wild one,” Hesperia said just loud enough for Rebecca to hear her. “But do not worry, my pets, we will break her like the unruly filly that she is.”
In this fantastical fairy tale retell, Cinderella goes CLOCKPUNK!
Rebecca Tremain’s world revolves around time.
The clock people believe that we are on this earth for a reason and we only have so much time on earth to find that purpose. To the clock people, time is God. That god’s name is Khronos, and he is not forgiving.
When Rebecca’s mother, Lilly, dies while working at The Corporation, a dubious factory owned by the Royal Family, Rebecca starts looking for answers. She finds them in a small group of vigilantes whose single purpose is to assassinate the royal family.
When a life sentence in prison is more severe than death, will Rebecca follow through when she meets the charming prince?
Don’t miss this thrilling ride full of mystery and romance.

Genres: Fairy Tale Retellings, Fairy Tales

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Multi-award winning author, Ann Hunter, is the creator of the young adult fantasy series Crowns of the Twelve (including the novels The Subtle Beauty, Moonlight, Fallen, with A Piece of Sky, Ashes, and The Rose In The Briar to follow). She likes cherry soda with chocolate ice cream, is a mom first and a writer second, has a secret identity, and thinks the Twilight movies are cheesier than cheez whiz (which is why they are her guilty pleasure!)

She lives in a cozy Utah home with her two awesome kids and epic husband.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT HER HOMEPAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/authorannhunter

AND MAILING LIST:
http://eepurl.com/VZsFn

Reviews

[Nina Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashes by Ann Hunter is a fanciful and unusual retelling of Cinderella. This book is somewhat overly heavy with religious tones. The story is set in a fantasy steampunk type world that is different yet similar to ours. This book is written using a lot of different metaphors and similes as well as large amounts of irony and sarcasm. I found this book interesting but definitely not an easy read. In my opinion, there were so many morals within this story that even if you are not looking too, you will hopefully learn them anyway. Like all good fairytales this one is a blueprint for things all children should learn.

[Philleys Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange and twisted version, or close to it, of that classic fairytale Cinderella. Only set in a steampunk scenario with the cruel stepmother and two annoying stepsisters, a father who wasn't around when he was needed, the cruel king and a prince who could have made a difference in this harsh kingdom and a heroine I liked....at first. The story didn't end the way it could have or how I wanted it to go. Sorry. A happy ending would have garnered another star from me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[MoonGarden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting new take on Cinderella

Cinderella goes Steam Punk. Interesting new Steam Punk-esque world with a population devoted in an almost cult like fashion to the god of time Khronos. This is a dark and gritty story, that I sometimes liked, and sometimes didn't... but through it all found to be very interesting.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time is God and so when her mother died in the factory she wants answers. This is a twist on Cinderella where a life sentence is worse than death. She meets a prince. What will.happen? Will.She get her answers? See if she will

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karin Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Reading 4/1/15

oooooh SNAP

Here we go again, *ahem* correct me if im wrong... I bet this book will go exactly like this:

1) Girl is devestated about death of mother.
2) Girl investigates and finds group of assassins
3) as a revenge, the girl joins the group to help assassinate royal family because of a big secret she discovered that was connected to her mother somehow.
4) Girl meets the dashing prince charming
5) she starts to feel things she never felt before. Cliche. I know.
6) Girl starts to change her mind and goes to the assassins and calls quits.
7) assassins don't care and they all have a big cat fight and the prince finds out.
8) girl explains it was all a mistake and she never meant to hurt him
9) puppy eyes
10) assassins attack and she grabs a glass slipper and stabs them or something.
11) the prince grabs the bloody slipper and and runs off to find the girl.
12)He finds her held hostage by the boss of the assassins
13) He rescues her and then:

14) They get married.
15) prepare for another cliche.. and they live happily ever after.

How did I know? you tell me

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting and profoundly tragic. I'm not entirely sure where this book fits in with the rest in this series...it makes me sad how the story ended and I hope that it all comes together a bit as the story moves along. Can't wait for the next book