A romantic and fantastical reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale, Gilded Ashes is a novella by Rosamund Hodge set in the same world as the author’s debut novel, Cruel Beauty.

As much as I would love this to be a full-length novel, it works so very well as a novella. The imagination and depth of character is extraordinary, as is the feeling that you’ve read a complete and detailed story. Gilded Ashes dovetails nicely with Cruel Beauty; it is dark and horrifying and sorrowful, yet romantic and full of love. The author writes so beautifully and really knows how to turn a phrase. And I can never resist a pretty dress. The ghost angle was SO interesting and creepy. I loved how the story unfurled and I loved the echos of Cinderella mixed with unconventional details. I loved the characters, especially Maia’s meeting with Anax. Beautiful, haunting story to complement Rosamund Hodges’ dark world.

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
Series: Vengeance Road #1
Published by: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pub Date: September 1, 2015
Date Read: October 5-9, 2015
Pages: 327
Format: hardcover | Source: library
Genres: young adult, historical fiction, adventure, western
Rating: 

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

I’m shocked at how much I loved this! Westerns are not my thing but I loved this book. It was exciting and tense, like watching a movie. I loved the action and the characters. I loved the romance. Kate reminded me of Scarlet from AC Gaughen’s series- not only her dialect but her toughness mixed with her femininity. It was a little info dumpy at the end but the book was fantastic in general. And I’m fascinated by the Author’s Note and the fact that so much of the story was based on real legends.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Pub Date: March 29, 2011
Date Read: March 23-28, 2012
Pages: 472
Format: hardcover | Source: library
Genres: young adult, fantasy, retelling
Rating:

Just when Azalea should feel that everything is before her—beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing—it’s taken away. All of it. And Azalea is trapped. The Keeper understands. He’s trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. So he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest, but there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.