A Bookish Adventure... discussion

Did you enjoy this series? What are your thoughts?

I thought it was mediocre. It was very addictive, but nothing I haven't seen before. I did, however, like how the main character was forced to make decisions that could harm her friends but were better in the end.

This was a good series. Not amazing, but good. I liked the main character and I actually loved Cress lmao. The world-building expanded in the second book, which was nice. I also liked the struggle.

It’s not amazing but I really liked it.

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "I’m planning on buddy reading this so I’ll see what I think after!!"

Same! Curious to see my thoughts. :)

I liked the first book but the 2nd one was boring and smth I have seen a million times before. should I read the third one? is it worth it?

yeah most sequels never live up to the first book :/ but this one seems really cool! and it's been on my TBR for awhile!

can't wait to hear your thoughts @Maddie and Bhavya! :)

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "So this wasn't my favorite. I did not like the love triangle cause it was not necessary. The plot was predictable like I expected what was coming. The characters were okay. I wasn't a big fan of Th..."

I feel the same.

Here’s my spoiler free review-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "Here’s my spoiler free review-https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Yes, go read Bhavya's review! It's so good and it also has a full list of how many times the word "sm..."

Aww thank you Maddie. 🥺♥️
Also yes, there are so many word repetitions here, I will paste my list. Wait.

List of word repetitions in Ash Princess

(I have not marked everything while reading, as I was already far too annoyed and there are several words I missed. But I still tried...)

Smile

“I’m fine,” I say instead, forcing a smile she sees through immediately.

“You’re right,” I lie with a smile.

“I tell her with what I hope passes as a demure smile.”

“I paste a smile on my face as well.”

“Crescentia adds with a dimpled smile.”

“I give her a reassuring smile as Søren helps her off the ship.”

“I don my most innocent smile and link my arm through Erik’s.”

“Kaiser’s orders,” he says with a tight smile. “I’m sure he has his reasons.”

“He always does,” I reply, hoping my smile looks more natural than it feels.

“I force a high, false laugh, keeping my smile frozen and speaking in Astrean for extra measure.”

Elpis is bewildered. “Smile,” I tell her"

“I look up at the guard and give him my sweetest smile, though it doesn’t seem to do much good. His face remains frozen.”

“Søren grimaces, but his eyes are smiling”

“I tighten my smile so that it looks vaguely forced”

“All it takes are wide eyes, tentative smiles, and a wolf at my heels.”

"I shrug, but my smile is feral."

"Her eyes linger on me a moment longer before her mouth curls into a tight smile and she clasps her hands in front of her.

“Her smile is wan.”

“Her mouth twitches into something that might be a smile.”

“but he was a gangly boy with an easy smile.”

"I smile pleasantly at the barrage of courtiers”

“I say, forcing a smile.”

“Blaise must see where it’s going, because a grim smile stretches across his face.”

“The thought of it causes a smile to rise to my lips."

"I smile.”

“I give Elpis a smile of thanks”

“Cress smiles, relief flooding her face”

“Have you ever seen him smile?”

“My father doesn’t smile much either.”

“I force a smile.”

“Her smile is sweet but false.”

“Her words rankle, but I try not to show it, forcing a smile instead."

“Her smile grows somewhat warmer as she calls for Elpis to come dress her hair.”

“She glances at the pin in my hair, set with simple pearls, lips pursing thoughtfully.”

"I add with a smile.”

“He smiles, relieved.”

“With a gracious smile...”

“her eyes boring into me no matter how many reassuring smiles I give her."

"but I force a smile and try not to let him see it.

He manages a smile, but he still doesn’t look at me."

“but he catches my look and smiles.”"

"He shakes his head and smiles. It’s the first time I’ve seen him really smile,

“He shakes his head and forces a smile."

"Søren softens, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“He smiles and passes me the fork.”

but Crescentia’s smile”

“Her smile faltered.”

“but I resisted and after a moment she nodded.”

“I smile at her”

“I don’t answer him except to nod.”

“If I were alone, I might smile.”

“I say, hoping for a smile.“

“she says with a smile so sweet I know it must be fake.”

“Art’s smile turns feral”

“Her smile is cruel and mocking.”

"“but I get the feeling he’s nodding.”

“giving him a dimpled smile here”

“... watch Crescentia as she gives the Kaiser a dimpled smile”

“Crescentia turns our way and her blinding smile grows wider.”

“I tell her with a forced smile I hope seems natural.”

“she replies with a smile that feels like a blow to my heart.”

“her mouth is smiling as she nudges me toward him."

"She smiles slightly, her shoulders relaxing.”

“... taking my hands in hers and smiling.”

“She gives me a smile so sad...”

“... fair eyebrows arched over a bemused smile.”

“An uncertain smile tugs at her lips...”

“Her smile lingers for a moment...”

“She has the same smile as Søren.”

"Elpis gives me a small smile.”

“.... she murmurs, her smile rare and wide.”

“... I say, smiling.”

“Her smile is genuine, relieved.”

“After a second, she gives me a smile”

“Cress’s smile softens into something more natural.”

“I ask with a bland smile...”

“I glance up at him through my eyelashes and summon my sweetest smile.”

“His smile broadens and he leans back in the chair, which creaks under his girth."

"Søren’s open smile on the boat"

“I can’t help but smile."

"A small smile works its way to Elpis’s mouth,

“He breaks into a lopsided smile when he sees me.”

“Even with the wall between us, I know she’s smiling.”

“I nod, fighting a smile.”

“Cress’s smile is beatific as she does just that, picking up the book of Elcourtian histories.”

“I’m going to miss her smile.”

“Her smile is a brittle.”

“She smiles and gives my hand a squeeze before releasing it."

"She smiles, relieved.”

“She looks back to me, pale eyebrows raised, smile tentative.”

“I try to smile at him”

“He means it as a comfort and I smile at him and pretend to be comforted,"

“I am rage and hurt and hatred, but I force that aside and give him a small, tentative smile,”

“He smiles like a wolf closing in on its prey”

“...and I will smile”

“... and though he flashes a smile at Søren”"

“I say with a half smile.”

“Heron smiles”

“When I comply, a smile ghosts across his face.”

“ She was smiling bigger than I’d ever seen her.”

“She smiles and it is wild and triumphant, despite everything.”

“Crescentia was pretty and sweet and always smiling.”

“I say, twisting my mouth into a cruel smile.”

“Her mouth tightens and she mirrors my mockery of a smile."

“I hope my smile looks more real than it feels.”

“I can’t help but smile.”

“... my smile slides away.”

“and he almost smiles."

“He’s smiling"

“he says with a tired smile”

“Then wave, at least, and smile”

“... it doesn’t have the warmth my mother’s smile always held.”

“I tell her, pasting on the fake smile I always wore at court.”

“We do,” she says, matching my smile.

“... her smile has gone feral.”

Mouth pursing/ pressing

“She purses her lips.”

“I purse my lips and turn the question over in my mind.”

“I say, and do my best impression of stone-faced Søren, furrowing my brow and pursing my lips.

“Her mouth purses before curving into a grin.”

“she says pursing her lips.”

“... jaw tight, eyes hard, mouth pursed...”

“She nods, pressing her lips together thoughtfully.”

"I press my lips together."

"I press my lips together to keep my protest down.”

“She pauses and presses her lips together...”

Tight

“Kaiser’s orders,” he says with a tight smile

I keep a tight hold on my smile.

“What is it you want from me, my lady?” she asks me, her voice tight ."

Grunt

“He gives a grunt that I interpret as acceptance, but it isn’t a promise.”

“He grunts in response and I have no choice but to take that as assent."

"he grunts...”

Wrinkling nose

“I wrinkle my nose.”

“I tell him, wrinkling my nose.”

Nod

“I nod toward my vanity”

“She nodded”

“She nods, her eyes solemn.”

“She nods, pressing her lips together thoughtfully.”

“My throat tightens so much that I can’t speak, only nod.”

“She nods once at me before turning her attention to the Kaiser...”

“I nod, trying to look placated"

“The Kaiser nods to the guard behind me”

“I nod.”

"I nod my thanks...”

“I nod even though I’m not sure he’s right.”

“He nods."

Shakes head

He shakes his head and smiles.”

He shakes his head and forces a smile."

“He shakes his head.”

“Søren shakes his head.”

“He shakes his head."

[all in same ch for shakes head and nose wrinkling. The others are scattered, but there are a min of 3 per chapter.]

Bhavya wrote: " List of word repetitions in Ash Princess

(I have not marked everything while reading, as I was already far too annoyed and there are several words I missed. But I still tried...)
..."

HERE IS THE LIST.

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Gosh I still can't believe there is that many"

Me neither. 😳

Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Gosh I still can't believe there is that many"

Me neither. 😳"

And I missed some.

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Gosh I still can't believe there is that many"

Me neither. 😳"

And I missed some."

It concerning that they didn't notice"

I’ve read worse.
(The Betrothed)

And I’m currently reading worse.
(The Shadows Between Us, The Fault in Our Stars and this one pains me to put but, Six of Crows. See my status updates, as I haven’t made a list yet...)

Reading feels like a chore these days because of this. :(

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "There are other words like

Grin, beam, smirk"

And biting lip!

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "Reading feels like a chore these days because of this. :("

That sucks :("

:(

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "There are other words like

Grin, beam, smirk"

And biting lip!"

Ahh yes!"

I must have missed something else as well.

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "There are other words like

Grin, beam, smirk"

And biting lip!"

Ahh yes!"

I must have missed something else as ..."

Yeah sure! :)

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "There are other words like

Grin, beam, smirk"

And biting lip!"

Ahh yes!"

I must have missed something else as ..."

I ran out of place in my review, so I had to put it in the comments. 😳

BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "Bhavya wrote: "BookDuck | Maddie wrote: "There are other words like

Grin, beam, smirk"

And biting lip!"

Ahh yes!"

I must have missed something else as ..."

Let me know when you put it!