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Ashes
All her life, Ember has only ever been the plain, untalented, quiet servant to her stepmother and stepsisters. Overlooked and unloved, she barely dares to dream of a better life. So when she goes to Lord Ksa’s Turning Ball, all she’s hoping for is one night of magic and freedom. Little does she know, the splendor of the ball is not the only magic at work.
When both of her stepsisters mysteriously disappear, Ember is the only one with the information that can save them. Together with Lord Ksa, she journeys into the heart of the Denwoed to make things right, encountering magical creatures she’s only ever heard of in stories. Meanwhile, her stepmother seeks her own revenge, causing chaos behind them. Out of her depth and far from any semblance of her comfort zone, Ember’s only choice is to rise to the challenge. Even among the dangers of the North Forest, kindness is what pushes her forward. But will it be enough to bring victory in battles she never imagined, enough to prove that she is far more than just “Ashes?”
When both of her stepsisters mysteriously disappear, Ember is the only one with the information that can save them. Together with Lord Ksa, she journeys into the heart of the Denwoed to make things right, encountering magical creatures she’s only ever heard of in stories. Meanwhile, her stepmother seeks her own revenge, causing chaos behind them. Out of her depth and far from any semblance of her comfort zone, Ember’s only choice is to rise to the challenge. Even among the dangers of the North Forest, kindness is what pushes her forward. But will it be enough to bring victory in battles she never imagined, enough to prove that she is far more than just “Ashes?”
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2022
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 15, 2022
I thought Ashes was a very fun Cinderella retelling! Without giving spoilers, there was one prominent detail you think of with Cinderella that was not present, that being the glass slipper, and it truly lended to the originality of the story.
The author set the whole story in it's own fantasy land and gave her MC the pretty and clever name of Ember - which I found to both be nice touches.
Ember, is a strong, well-written character who truly strives to be kind to all, even those seemingly undeserving of it.
I liked that the tale taught good lessons, with kindness being the overarching theme.
I definitely would recommend this book if you like sweet fairy-tale retellings or fantasy stories of any sort. It would make a great read for teens!
***I received a complimentary ARC of this novel, but I was not required to leave a review positive or otherwise. The views and opinions in this review are my own honest thoughts on it.***
The author set the whole story in it's own fantasy land and gave her MC the pretty and clever name of Ember - which I found to both be nice touches.
Ember, is a strong, well-written character who truly strives to be kind to all, even those seemingly undeserving of it.
I liked that the tale taught good lessons, with kindness being the overarching theme.
I definitely would recommend this book if you like sweet fairy-tale retellings or fantasy stories of any sort. It would make a great read for teens!
***I received a complimentary ARC of this novel, but I was not required to leave a review positive or otherwise. The views and opinions in this review are my own honest thoughts on it.***
May 3, 2022
Ashes is a re-telling of the classic Cinderella story, but with a ton of big twists. One of my favorites without spoiling much is there is no glass slipper! It takes place in its own unique fantasy setting, and there are so many good messages it teaches. The one that stood out to me the most is kindness above all else. The main character, Ember, is a strong woman in the way she always shows kindness, even to those who have mistreated her. I highly recommend this book if you’re someone who loves short reads or looking for a break after reading a lot of long ones. The twists on this re-telling were done so well, and the messages told through the story are some to live by.
August 11, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up!
A lovely and sweet Cinderella inspired Christian Fantasy book!
This is a story I came to enjoy the more I read it. Ember is such a wonderful, sympathetic protagonist, and her kind heart shone throughout the story. I am also a sucker for a female protagonist who starts out unconfident and grows into realizing who God made her. I also liked Ksa, her love interest, because he is wise and comes to recognize the truth. Other side characters, like Kellar, Cedric, and Liam were interesting and funny, too. The worldbuilding is very detailed, with fantastical creatures and two distinct medieval-ish domains. As for the plot, there were times where it was a bit confusing. Although the Cinderella elements were present, the story twisted away from it in unexpected ways, some of which I did like and some of which I didn't understand, which was mainly the villains' motivation and actions. I felt like some details were missing, which was surprising because the author was sooo detailed in other areas. That being said, things wrapped up nicely, and I was pleased by the end. My favorite part but also mixed feelings about was the faith elements. I really liked how they were very obvious, from angels to retold Bible stories, and even a spiritual test which is so true of real life. I loved that part of it, but then the retellings of Bible stories became a little much and there was a Deux Ex Machina that I felt was unnecessary, but it was also surprising, so it gave me mixed feelings. Finally, the style of this book had me discombobulated as it went from lots of telling to more showing and head hopping to narrow point of view. At the same time, I'm glad for the style shift about halfway through because that's when I felt more immersion in the story. Even though I have mixed feelings, I still really enjoyed the story, especially the first poem about kindness that really set the tone of the book.
Content Warnings: PG level violence and action, light romance with hugs and kisses.
A lovely and sweet Cinderella inspired Christian Fantasy book!
This is a story I came to enjoy the more I read it. Ember is such a wonderful, sympathetic protagonist, and her kind heart shone throughout the story. I am also a sucker for a female protagonist who starts out unconfident and grows into realizing who God made her. I also liked Ksa, her love interest, because he is wise and comes to recognize the truth. Other side characters, like Kellar, Cedric, and Liam were interesting and funny, too. The worldbuilding is very detailed, with fantastical creatures and two distinct medieval-ish domains. As for the plot, there were times where it was a bit confusing. Although the Cinderella elements were present, the story twisted away from it in unexpected ways, some of which I did like and some of which I didn't understand, which was mainly the villains' motivation and actions. I felt like some details were missing, which was surprising because the author was sooo detailed in other areas. That being said, things wrapped up nicely, and I was pleased by the end. My favorite part but also mixed feelings about was the faith elements. I really liked how they were very obvious, from angels to retold Bible stories, and even a spiritual test which is so true of real life. I loved that part of it, but then the retellings of Bible stories became a little much and there was a Deux Ex Machina that I felt was unnecessary, but it was also surprising, so it gave me mixed feelings. Finally, the style of this book had me discombobulated as it went from lots of telling to more showing and head hopping to narrow point of view. At the same time, I'm glad for the style shift about halfway through because that's when I felt more immersion in the story. Even though I have mixed feelings, I still really enjoyed the story, especially the first poem about kindness that really set the tone of the book.
Content Warnings: PG level violence and action, light romance with hugs and kisses.
November 29, 2024
awww I love this sweet Cinderella retelling! Idk why I was expecting it to be just the OG story but drawn out (the blurb literally shows that it isn’t), silly me — I was delighted by the twists on the OG fairy tale
And I must give a shout out to the fantastic little buddies, Cedric and Keller, who I adored 0.02 seconds after they appeared on the page. I hope they both get a chocolate fountain. Can’t leave out Liam!! Liam is a legend.
Oh look, yet another review has turned into Amelia listing all the best characters with vague explanations for why she loves them lol
ANYWAY Ksa is such a sweetheart and a relatable little bean tbh. We all want to make somebody proud, don’t we
Ember is lovely protagonist and I adore her character development . She is a precious bean
I also love Winifred bc she is amazing and I can’t elaborate bc that would be spoilers. Let it be known I am a Winifred stan
One thing that bothered me slightly was the use of the 3rd person omniscient POV. I’m either not a fan of that particular POV choice, or horrendously picky as to how it’s pulled off. To me it feels like head hopping most of the time, and it did feel like that here several times. Could just be a me thing though. Happy to say it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story much at all, though!
Overall I really enjoyed this book :D
And I must give a shout out to the fantastic little buddies, Cedric and Keller, who I adored 0.02 seconds after they appeared on the page. I hope they both get a chocolate fountain. Can’t leave out Liam!! Liam is a legend.
Oh look, yet another review has turned into Amelia listing all the best characters with vague explanations for why she loves them lol
ANYWAY Ksa is such a sweetheart and a relatable little bean tbh. We all want to make somebody proud, don’t we
Ember is lovely protagonist and I adore her character development . She is a precious bean
I also love Winifred bc she is amazing and I can’t elaborate bc that would be spoilers. Let it be known I am a Winifred stan
One thing that bothered me slightly was the use of the 3rd person omniscient POV. I’m either not a fan of that particular POV choice, or horrendously picky as to how it’s pulled off. To me it feels like head hopping most of the time, and it did feel like that here several times. Could just be a me thing though. Happy to say it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story much at all, though!
Overall I really enjoyed this book :D
May 18, 2022
Ashes was a clever spin-off of the classic Cinderella story! It was a beautifully, cleverly written novel, perfect for breaking a reading slump! The prose was fresh and the characters vibrant! S.G. Bacon has penned a lighthearted novel with deep, heartfelt themes that shine through the characters, that I would easily recommend to anyone looking for a fun read! Fans of Gail Carson Levine will certainly enjoy this read!
August 3, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐,✨/5
This is a Cinderella retelling. When I started the story, it felt really cinderella-like and I was a bit concerned that it would get boring after a while. I must add, I was only able to Read the first 2 chapters when I started this, then, because of the exams, I couldn't Read for a while. Today, I picked it up again and finished it within 2 hours. This story went to be really unique. It still had some Cinderella vibes but the characters became so different. Ember is intelligent, kind, a generally good person but also a character with a mind of her own, a character of her own. Then we have Ksa, our Prince charming, he is so much more than that though. He has real character development. A good story and real struggles to overcome.
This story also included more mythical creatures and a lot of side characters with great roles in the story.
The Stepmom and stepsisters got a bit cliché at Times but I didn't really mind that since the rest of the story compelled me that much. It's also really fast paced and easily readable. I was planning to Read a few chapters today and within no time I finished it.
This book is YA but it does have some really cute fluff in it that actually adres to the storyline. I loved that the romantic parts of it didn't define the characters though, they grow a lot on their own too!
And I must repeat that the side characters are great, Agnes is Just the cutest and the guards are so funny. I do wish that we could've gotten a bit more on the orphaned children.
To conclude, this was a really fun story to Read and I flew through it in no time. Really worth the time to Read!
This is a Cinderella retelling. When I started the story, it felt really cinderella-like and I was a bit concerned that it would get boring after a while. I must add, I was only able to Read the first 2 chapters when I started this, then, because of the exams, I couldn't Read for a while. Today, I picked it up again and finished it within 2 hours. This story went to be really unique. It still had some Cinderella vibes but the characters became so different. Ember is intelligent, kind, a generally good person but also a character with a mind of her own, a character of her own. Then we have Ksa, our Prince charming, he is so much more than that though. He has real character development. A good story and real struggles to overcome.
This story also included more mythical creatures and a lot of side characters with great roles in the story.
The Stepmom and stepsisters got a bit cliché at Times but I didn't really mind that since the rest of the story compelled me that much. It's also really fast paced and easily readable. I was planning to Read a few chapters today and within no time I finished it.
This book is YA but it does have some really cute fluff in it that actually adres to the storyline. I loved that the romantic parts of it didn't define the characters though, they grow a lot on their own too!
And I must repeat that the side characters are great, Agnes is Just the cutest and the guards are so funny. I do wish that we could've gotten a bit more on the orphaned children.
To conclude, this was a really fun story to Read and I flew through it in no time. Really worth the time to Read!
June 10, 2022
Ashes was an amazing and insightful novel about a young woman's ability to stay kind through thick and thin. I thought this book was very inspiring and eye opening. I feel like a lot of hatred goes on in this world, and staying kind is very important through all of it. And Ashes really shows that through Ember, the main character's, perseverance. Not only are the characters very animated, but also very enjoyable to read about. In this book, there is what I consider to be the perfect amount of humor, the perfect amount of fantasy, and the perfect amount of reality. My only complaint is a few of the secondary characters could've used a bit more description. Otherwise, this book was an absolutely spectacular read.
November 27, 2022
An intriguing book with an important message! "Ashes" brings a fresh new look to a story we all know, but it's not just Cinderella copied and pasted. No, this book dove into what it means to be kind and caring even when the world is against you. It introduced characters to adore and cheer for, and those that instantly warm your heart. This is a book that I will be recommending primarily to younger readers because it shows a message that I would have loved in my younger years and still needed to hear now. Bacon has given us a timeless story that I devoured in just a few days and I look forward to anything this author will publish in the future. If you are looking for a story that keeps you turning the page while also giving you that cozy fairytale feeling, you need to read this book!
July 5, 2022
An original tale with an anticlimactic end
I had high hopes for this book, and the first half delightfully exceeded them. There was spirituality, good friends, a truly worthy hero, interesting plot twists, and thought-provoking trials. The second half, however, read like a foregone conclusion. The heroes’ victory felt a bit too easy, and the places where the worldbuilding felt too thin (the political structure, the inconsistent naming conventions) really didn’t help. So I would definitely recommend this book, and I’d say it fulfilled the author’s objective in talking about beauty. But I’m not sure I’ll be re-reading it.
I had high hopes for this book, and the first half delightfully exceeded them. There was spirituality, good friends, a truly worthy hero, interesting plot twists, and thought-provoking trials. The second half, however, read like a foregone conclusion. The heroes’ victory felt a bit too easy, and the places where the worldbuilding felt too thin (the political structure, the inconsistent naming conventions) really didn’t help. So I would definitely recommend this book, and I’d say it fulfilled the author’s objective in talking about beauty. But I’m not sure I’ll be re-reading it.
July 4, 2025
Ashes is a carefully crafted retelling of a favorite classic. In a thrilling fairytale world, our heroine, noble and graceful, is a modest trailblazer; setting a precedent of kindness, faith, and love above all. Mix in some adventure and magic, and you have a delightful read for any age.
An attention to detail to world building, character development , and plot do not go unnoticed by the undoubtedly wrapt reader in the first book of SG Bacon’s “Beyond Beauty” duology.
An attention to detail to world building, character development , and plot do not go unnoticed by the undoubtedly wrapt reader in the first book of SG Bacon’s “Beyond Beauty” duology.
January 6, 2025
Early on, it is clear that "Ashes" is not just going to sit around waiting for her fairy godmother--"she called herself Ember because she was not some lifeless, dull remnant." Ashes is a heartwarming retelling of the classic Cinderella story, but with the addition of Christian values that elevate the story's themes of kindness and forgiveness.
Ember is definitely a stronger, more assertive heroine, although her primary motivation is kindness and her quest throughout the novel is selfless. She does yearn for a better life, but she is a faithful young woman who places her trust in "Adonia" as she works to help someone who has definitely not proven themselves worthy of such generosity.
Ksa is an endearing, principled "Prince Charming" character who grows to see the beauty of Ember as he accompanies her on their journey (which is less about finding true love or a magical glass slipper). They are joined by an engaging magical band of support, from the fairies like Atsu to his supportive soldiers including Cedric and Keller as they battle for his kingdom--which is facing some formidable challenges.
The underlying message throughout the novel of the value of kindness and grace and their transformative power is one that will resonate with lovers of the classic story and those who are searching for those same qualities in the world today. There are many moments of clarity in the tale that will speak to younger and older readers who will identify with Ember's search for her own value and purpose. Ashes entertains and inspires--and is a beautiful reminder that with these qualities, anyone can find their "happily ever after".
.
Ember is definitely a stronger, more assertive heroine, although her primary motivation is kindness and her quest throughout the novel is selfless. She does yearn for a better life, but she is a faithful young woman who places her trust in "Adonia" as she works to help someone who has definitely not proven themselves worthy of such generosity.
Ksa is an endearing, principled "Prince Charming" character who grows to see the beauty of Ember as he accompanies her on their journey (which is less about finding true love or a magical glass slipper). They are joined by an engaging magical band of support, from the fairies like Atsu to his supportive soldiers including Cedric and Keller as they battle for his kingdom--which is facing some formidable challenges.
The underlying message throughout the novel of the value of kindness and grace and their transformative power is one that will resonate with lovers of the classic story and those who are searching for those same qualities in the world today. There are many moments of clarity in the tale that will speak to younger and older readers who will identify with Ember's search for her own value and purpose. Ashes entertains and inspires--and is a beautiful reminder that with these qualities, anyone can find their "happily ever after".
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews