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Ash by Malinda Lo, book cover

Ash

by Malinda Lo

Spice 1 out of 5, Sweet1/5 · Sweet: Kisses only

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Their friendship, as delicate as a new bloom, reawakens Ash's capacity for love--and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and empowering, Ash beautifully unfolds the connections between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Spice
1/5
Burn
Slow
Pages
~268
Ending
HEA

KU Is it on Kindle Unlimited? Check on Amazon

How spicy is Ash?

Ash is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

  • Steam: Glimpses and kisses
  • Burn: Slow burn
  • Pairing: Two women
  • POV: Heroine's POV only
  • Ending: Happily ever after

Content warnings

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Show 4 content warnings
  • Animal harm or death
  • Graphic violence
  • Child abuse (past or present)
  • Death of a loved one

Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.

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    Ash: quick answers

    How spicy is Ash?

    Ash is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

    Is Ash a standalone?

    Yes, Ash is a standalone. You can read it on its own.

    What tropes are in Ash?

    Ash features retelling, fae. It is a slow burn F/F romance that ends with a happily ever after.

    Does Ash have content warnings?

    Our notes for Ash include: animal harm or death, graphic violence, child abuse (past or present), death of a loved one. This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.

    What should I read after Ash?

    If you loved Ash, try Gilded by Marissa Meyer, The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. They share its retelling and fae energy at a similar spice level.