White Wolf and the Ash Princess

By: Tammy Lash

Narrated by: Adele Adler

Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Memory loss prohibits Izzy from remembering her life before age seven when she suffered a terrible trauma that left her with physical scars. Crippling panic keeps Izzy from wandering beyond the stables but Tubs, the Gudwyne’s young stable boy, encourages Izzy to go beyond the property’s rock wall into a world that promises possible answers but also great danger.

While running to escape his past, Jonathan Gudwyne rescued Izzy and took her in, but who did she belong to before he became her guardian?

A mysterious cellar filled with secrets sets Izzy on a path to the New World where the Wendigo wanders and Water Panther swims. In the wilds of 17th-century America, Izzy and Jonathan discover the legends of the New World aren’t the fairytales of their library home in England.

©2016 Tammy Lash (P)2021 Tammy Lash

Nee World Steampunk

The time period of this novel is hard to pin down. It feels like a historical novel but the ambiguity over the time gives it an almost fantasy like feeling. The inclusion of unique steampunk gadgets and advanced firearms set it firmly in an alternative timeline. So don't hurt your head trying to pick out the exact year it takes place.

Izzy is a wonderful character. A grown woman who still has a very childlike sense of wonder. Then when reality catches up to her, she must go on a journey of self discovery, to reclaim the memories of her past so she can truly grow-up into the woman she was meant to be.

Izzy's journey to return to her father is an obvious metaphor for a Christian's faith journey from selfish sinner to child of God.

I also loved the Native American lore that was mixed into the narrative. I am not sure how much is traditional and what was written to aid the story. It just adds to the blurry boundary between the story's fantasy like feel and out world's troubling history.

This beautifully written prose is brought to life by the vocal talents if Adele Adler. She has a talent for making each character unique and she reads narrative description in character with Izzy's first person POV.

amazing!

I'm legally blind, so I was excited to hear this book was finally on audiobook! Once I started listening to the book, I didn't want to stop! I can't wait until the next book is on audiobook so I can "read" it also.

Excellent Historical Fic

Narrated by Adele Adler
Run Time: 12 hrs and 57 mins
Genre: Christian-ish historical fiction


Summary:
A traumatic event in Izzy’s childhood causes amnesia. She doesn’t remember life before she was seven. Jonathan’s always been a friend to Izzy, but he keeps terrible secrets to himself in an effort to protect Izzy.

Additional Comments:
- Jonathan and Izzy’s relationship isn’t immediately clear. I think it took about an hour to unfold that he’s her guardian, not an older brother, because their interactions certainly have a sibling vibe.
- But Izzy’s entire story isn’t immediately clear. That’s kind of the point. I’m typically not a fan of flashbacks, but these enhanced the story. Flashbacks are a natural thing with a character with amnesia.
- 4/5 Stars Main Characters: Jonathan and Izzy’s relationship is mildly frustrating, as most romances are – at least fictional ones. He loves her, but she doesn’t love him like that. He keeps secrets to protect her, but that makes her distrust him. Huzzah for a character I don’t want to reach in and smack some sense into. Izzy’s a bit naïve and selfish, but she comes out of her shell nicely throughout the course of the book.
- 4/5 Stars Plot: The epic journey through the American wilderness is interesting, though there are few enough landmarks mentioned to even get a feel for where they are on the continent.
- 4/5 Stars Side characters: Tubs is adorable, though his character reads a bit younger than 13.
- 5/5 Stars Narration: The narrator handled the characters well.
- 4/5 Stars Fit with the Title: Very nice.
- There are little inklings like this wanted to be a steampunk novel and just never made it there.
- 3.5/5 Stars Cover Fit: The cover’s absolutely gorgeous. While I think it fits the book very well, I don’t think it tells you the genre right off the bat. I had to look up what it’s categorize as because I went in expecting a fantasy. While there may be mild fantasy influences, it’s definitely historical romance and adventure. I do not get that vibe from this cover.
- Strong Christian influences, though I’m not sure I’d outright stick it in that genre. It’s certainly not a stereotypical Oregon trail/mail order bride flavor book, though plot-wise there are strong resemblances to that.

Conclusion:
A unique and beautiful tale of love, redemption, forgiveness, and finding oneself.

*I received a free copy of the audio. I have freely chosen to review. All thoughts are my own.

Thought provoking

This was a wonderful, thought-provoking book in the vein of Francine Rivers. It took a while to reveal the backstory, but it was worth the wait. There were a number of themes I really appreciated: the themes of forgiveness and of blessings that can be seen even in the midst of bad things, that forgiveness is a choice, the importance of not keeping secrets, and that marriage is between two imperfect people, who complete each other. I was blessed to listen to the author’s note at the end - well worth the time! I received a free copy of this audiobook, with no obligation.