Waiting on Wednesday (80)

Title: Huntress
Author: Malinda Lo
Publisher: Little Brown
Date: April 5th 2011
Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn’t shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people’s survival hangs in the balance.
To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Taninli, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls’ destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever.
The exciting adventure prequel to Malinda Lo’s highly acclaimed novel Ash is overflowing with lush Chinese influences and details inspired by the I Ching, and is filled with action and romance.

I loved Malinda Lo's first book Ash, which was clever and really sweet. I am really excited to read Huntress. The cover is also gorgeous.

Ash by Malinda Lo

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Ash is throw into indentured servitude for her stepmother, after her father dies and leaves a huge amount of debts. She is pushed into the City and away from the Wood, where old magic lingers in the air. Her only joy in her life, are stolen walks in the woods with the dark and dangerous fairy, Sidhean. Sometimes, she hopes that he will steal her away as fairies are said to do.
But one day, Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, and her whole heart starts to change. She no longer wants to chase Faeries, instead she learns the art of hunting and how to ride and track. Their friendship begins to be something more and Ash is reawaken with a desire to live.
Ash isn't an ordinary fairy tale retelling. It was a original take on a classic fairy tale and full of romance. Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I love to see retelling of it. Lo is an amazing writer. She twisted a magical and entrancing tale with a lot of beautiful language and imagery. Ash is a strong character. She is really sweet and grows up a lot. Kaisa is an amazing character. She is lovely and her relationship with Ash was so sweet. I liked how instead of falling in love with a prince, instead she falls in love with a woman. I recommend this to anyone that likes fairy tales.