Christine Norris's A Curse of Ash and Iron plunges readers into a richly imagined fantasy world, brimming with intricate magic, compelling characters, and a dark, unfolding mystery. As a reader who loves immersive world-building and narratives driven by powerful, yet flawed, protagonists, I was immediately drawn into this tale, and it largely delivered a captivating and highly promising experience.

The book's greatest strengths lie in its exceptional world-building and its unique magical system. Norris crafts a vivid setting with a deep history, distinct cultures, and a sense of ancient power that feels incredibly authentic. The concept of the "curse" and its implications on both individuals and the wider society is brilliantly executed and adds fascinating layers to the narrative. The protagonist is a deeply sympathetic and complex character, burdened by their circumstances and striving for agency in a world that seeks to control them. Their journey of self-discovery and defiance against oppressive forces is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. The political machinations are well-crafted, adding suspense and keeping the stakes high.

While the world is undeniably rich, there were a few instances where the sheer volume of information felt a little dense, especially in the early chapters, as I tried to grasp all the different factions and magical rules. Some secondary characters, while serving their purpose, could have benefited from a bit more individual development to truly stand out. However, these are minor points in an otherwise brilliant and engaging story. The pacing is generally strong, balancing action, emotional depth, and plot progression effectively.

Overall, A Curse of Ash and Iron is a fantastic start to what promises to be an epic fantasy series. It's a testament to Norris's storytelling prowess, offering a unique blend of magic, culture, and compelling character arcs. Highly recommended for fans of intricate fantasy worlds, powerful magic systems, and protagonists who fight against their fate. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris

1.75 stars

Benjamin Grimm prefers to hide behind the theater curtain than interacting with the society in 1876 Philadelphia. Eleanor Banneker is one and only friend, but he hasn’t seen her in years. When they are reunited he is delighted, but shocked to discover that she’s been under a spell for 7 years. Ellie and her father are both under the spells of her stepmother, but she is sure that she can break them. The problem is that when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, her fate will be in the hands of her stepmother. Obviously, this is a Cinderella retelling, and this slightly puts this novel at a disadvantage. I’m not and have never been a fan of the Cinderella story. The only adaptation I’ve ever loved and I covet it above all the rest is Ever After. You know, the movie with Drew Barrymore and Leonardo da Vinci. That one is my all-time favorite Cinderella story. I do also like the movie for Ella Enchanted because it’s cute and fun, but predominately, Cinderella stories just aren’t my cup of tea. The reason why I was drawn to this particular retelling was because it’s slightly steampunk.


This is told in alternating POVs, which can either make or break a YA novel. I feel like this novel would have benefited from only being one POV, that POV being Ben, the male hero. Ellie’s POV isn’t fleshed out and she has more of a mysterious vibe, which isn’t a good thing to have on an equal footing story that is based off of Cinderella. There are fairies in this story, which makes the plot more entertaining, but the Cinderella plot isn’t really anything new or original. Cinderella is one of the most popular stories ever and this doesn’t really diverge or offer a new perspective on the story. It’s cliched… I mean it has the coveted three challenges that ever fairytale of retelling has to have. This novel is a little too long, which sounds crazy because this novel is only 289 pages. The problem lies with the fact that the climax happens before the last 50 pages. It’s unnecessary and anti-climactic.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 1.75

The main female character is Ellie. Ellie is a typical Cinderella cardboard cutout. She really offers nothing new to the Cinderella character, not like there is much to offer since Cinderella is a bit of a drab character as it is. Ellie’s biggest drawback as a character is her lack of authenticity, she feels more like a mystery that needs to be solved than a person. She’s a manic-pixie-dream-girl in an 1876 fantasy story. She also is obsessed with some stranger named Hamilton Scott. She just needs to reevaluate her priorities because she is supposed to be focused on breaking a curse not getting a boyfriend. She’s naïve and silly. I want a Cinderella heroine with a good head on her shoulders who can navigate her way out of a situation. Ellie is not that.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 1.25

The main male character is Ben. Ben is a magician/ inventor of illusions and this makes for a very interesting hobby. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a character with a passion quite like this before and it is one of the more interesting aspects of this novel. Ben is kind of a creep though. He is constantly mooning over Ellie and I just don’t care about how the sun sets and falls behind her “beautiful” face.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 2

The Villain- It’s your typical evil stepmother and while her grand scheme was interesting it was rushed and typical.


Villain Scale: 1.75

One shining light in this story is that Rebecca, the stepsister, isn’t portrayed as an evil villain. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual evil stepsister trope. Hamilton Scott didn’t need to be a character. OK. Bye.


Character Scale: 2

The ending was predictable, cliched, and unsatisfying. The whole novel felt poorly executed and did nothing to placate my hunger for a good book. Alas this one wasn’t meant for me, but it may be your cup of tea. If you are a fan of Cinderella and steampunk, then this will probably be a fun, enticing novel for you.


Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: It’s not horrible, but it is kind of cringey.

Thank you, Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. Unfortunately I am unable to give you a proper review. I apologize for the inconvenience.

what a great read! i loved the fairy tale aspect and the writing and the steampunk setting! made with great characters and an intriguing plot as well!