Ash is a young adult novel fantasy gay novel by Malinda Lo first published in 2009. The novel is about an abused teenage girl who longs for fairies to take her away from her terrible life. A sinister fairy promises to do so, but shortly thereafter the girl falls in love later with an athletic, respected noblewoman and hunter. The girl struggles with her own emerging lesbian feelings as the huntress and fairy fight over her.

The book was a nominee for the Andre Norton Award,[1] a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Award, [2] a Kirkus Best Young Adult Novel,[3] and a Lambda Literary Award finalist for LGBT Children's/Young Adult literature.[4] The book is also a nominee for best novel at the 2010 Northern California Book Awards.[5]

Plot summary

Ash is a teenage girl whose loving father has died, leaving her alone with her cruel and violent stepmother. Ash's sole source of comfort is reading fairy tales by the dying light of the fire in her room each night. Ash dreams that, one day, fairies might find her and spirit her away to their world where all her wishes will come true. One night, the mysterious and sinister fairy prince Sidhean finds Ash and begins to prepare her to enter fairyland. But shortly thereafter, Ash meets Kaisa—a noblewoman and the King's Huntress. Ash and Kaisa not only form an immediate and deep friendship, but Ash begins to fall in love with the beautiful, strong woman. Ash's feelings seem be reciprocated But Sidhean returns to claim what he says is rightfully his due, and a battle for Ash's body and soul erupts between Sidhean and Kaisa.