In my Book Spotlight piece I will be bringing you an upcoming release and/or cover reveal. These books are ones I am excited about whether they are from a new or an established author. This week we have the second book in Laura Sebastian’s Ash Princess trilogy, Lady Smoke. 

Title: Lady Smoke (Ash Princess Trilogy #2) by Laura Sebastian

Expected publication: April 2nd, 2019

Publisher: Delacorte

Previous titles in series: Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1) by Laura Sebastian

The Kaiser murdered Theodosia’s mother, the Fire Queen, when Theo was only six. He took Theo’s country and kept her prisoner, crowning her Ash Princess–a pet to toy with and humiliate for ten long years. That era has ended. The Kaiser thought his prisoner weak and defenseless. He didn’t realize that a sharp mind is the deadliest weapon.

Theo no longer wears a crown of ashes. She has taken back her rightful title, and a hostage–Prinz Soren. But her people remain enslaved under the Kaiser’s rule, and now she is thousands of miles away from them and her throne.

To get them back, she will need an army. Only, securing an army means she must trust her aunt, the dreaded pirate Dragonsbane. And according to Dragonsbane, an army can only be produced if Theo takes a husband. Something an Astrean Queen has never done.

Theo knows that freedom comes at a price, but she is determined to find a way to save her country without losing herself.

Laura Sebastian was born and raised in South Florida (the Redlands and Key Largo) and has always loved telling stories–many apologies to her little brother who often got in trouble because of them. No copies of her first book, a Cinderella retelling about angels circa 2nd grade, remain. Thankfully.

After getting her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design, she moved to New York City thinking that she would stay for a couple of years before going somewhere better suited for a small-town, sun-loving girl. Five years later, she’s still here and madly in love with it.

When Laura isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, baking cookies or cupcakes, buying more clothes than her overstuffed closet can fit, or forcing her lazy dog Neville to take a walk.

I had the pleasure of reading Ash Princess before it was released and, I must admit, I was impressed with this author’s debut. There are a couple items that I am hoping she adjusts in the second book, such as a few shallow characters and sudden plot progression without rhyme or reason to it. Overall, the first book was a good read and I am looking forward to getting Lady Smoke. You can see my review of Ash Princess here.