A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Brandy Rymer

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris is a fantastic story of curses, magic, and a great twist on the classic Cinderella. I loved the character development, as I got to know Benjamin (Ben) Grimm and Eleanor (Ellie) Banneker starting in their childhood. These two were an inseparable pair, hiding out in Ellie’s attic, and constantly getting up to mischief, until the day that Ben’s mom got fired by Ellie’s terrible stepmother for no known reason. Several years later Ben happens to see Ellie, both all grown up, in a theatre that his Dad ran and employed Ben in, amongst other jobs Ben had, all dressed in a beautiful gown and accompanied by her stepmother, Olivia, and her stepsister, Rebecca. As the two reconnect, without the knowledge of Olivia and Rebecca, Ellie is shocked that Ben recognizes her, which she will explain upon their subsequent encounter. Ben is unbelieving of Ellie’s story that her stepmother has cursed her and her father, believing more in the mechanics of things, that he can physically see or touch. As the story progresses, Ben comes to the realization that Ellie is correct, now will they be able to work together to break the curse that Olivia has cast upon Ellie and her father before the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, or will they be bound in their fates forever? I absolutely loved this steampunk version of Cinderella, the geniusness of making Ben a mechanical genius who has a knack for the illusionary just adds to the mysteriousness of this amazing story. This book had me reading straight through from beginning to end, excited to see who would persevere, the evil stepmother Olivia, or our wonderful heroine Ellie.

@Brandy Rymer 05/2023

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