Ash : A Secret History [Import] [Paperback]

Mary Gentle (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1112 pages
• Publisher: Victor Gollancz (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0575069015
• ISBN-13: 978-0575069015
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,540,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome gritty military fantasy., April 21, 2006

By 

Anastasia (Staten Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ash (Hardcover)

This book was great! I read the entire 1000 (or so) page volume in several days. It is reminiscent of the popular The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon, but, dare I say it, better.

It's a very realistic, gritty military fantasy set in medieval France. Ash, a girl, grows up as an orphan in a mercenary camp. At one point, she discovers a voice in her head that gives her tactical advice during battles. With the help of the voice, she grows into a brilliant mercenary leader .

The story is like alternate history/fantasy/hint of scifi. Historical fantasy shows a hint to alternate history when Carthage invades Europe. And the brilliant general leader of the Carthagian forces happens to look exactly like Ash and also respond to a voice in her head. What is the voice? Is it hallucination, a demon, or a computer?

Great adventure, thrilling battles, mysteries, and discoveries. The main character is a vibrant strong woman, very realistically portrayed. I wish there had been more romance. Ash is in an arranged marriage with a man she's really attracted to, on a base physical level, who has nothing but distaste for her. But, since this is not a trashy romance novel, she dismisses her lust for him for what it is, has no trouble beating him up or sticking to her grand plans of conquest and adventure. I loved it. I do wish that there was more sex though. After all, once the battle is won, the warrior herione must get her reward in the arms of a handsome boy, right?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, pointless framework, perplexing ending, August 22, 2009

By 

Luca Ozzano (Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ash (Hardcover)

I had been waiting to read this book for a long time. Now, after about 1000 pages, I'm partly disappointed. In my opinion, Ash is a great story (as other reviewers have already pointed out), and a perfect example of what non stereotypical fantasy should be. However, the book has two great flaws, which I have found quite annoying. The first of them is the book structure, and the contemporary framework which - through the emails exchanged by a researcher (who, in the fiction, is translating the manuscripts about Ash) and his agent - surrounds the main story. First of all, the idea that the text is the translation of medieval manuscripts is not credible. The authour could have portrayed it as a fiction work based upon ancient sources, but to portray it as an academic work... Sometimes, especially in the early sections of the book, the emails are also quite repetitive and boring (but fortunately, the contemporary sections are particularly short!).
The second problem is the ending of the book. Without revealing too much to prospective readers, I must say that most of the story is very realistic and often crude, while its ending suddenly comes to contradict everything (in terms of both philosophy and content).
However, I still recommend the book: not only for the idea behind the story and the superb storytelling, but also for the characters, which are very well depicted, and make the reader wish to know more about them and their lives.
Moreover, in a time of precooked books, it is funny to read a novel without understanding which label could describe it. At first, one has the impression of reading an historical novel; a little later, discrepancies start to be unveiled and Ash becomes an alternate history novel; in its second half, hovever, it seems to turn definitely towards fantasy, and in the last section, it could be described as an hard science fiction work.
Hard to believe? Try it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Mercenary Lioness Romps thru Medieval Europe and Africa!, March 19, 2010

By 

Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ash (Hardcover)

This is an alternate history tale full of attractive ideas, images, violence and well defined characters.
It was originally published as one mammoth book in the UK; the present book is that version. In USA (and the rest of Europe) divided into four tomes. A wise option IMHO.

A very well documented background reveals Ms. Gentle's researches both in medieval history and warfare.

The entire late middle age world is reconstructed accurately; its reality is overwhelming. The mercenary way of life, camping, battles, cities and courts are vividly described.

The tale starts firmly gripped in actual medieval facts and rapidly evolves into a great alternate history scenario.

The story is presented as a contemporary new translation of medieval manuscripts, with the addendum of new revolutionary documents recently discovered by a historian.
This is shown as a series of emails exchanged by the translator and his editor.


Ash is a very young & capable mercenary leader with eight hundred warriors under her command. At the beginning she is at German Emperor Frederick's service against Burgundy's Duke.
Soon the emergence a mysterious visigothic invasion changes the whole background and launches the story into an alternate universe.

Golems and strange unnatural occurrences spice the tale, nevertheless highly realistic description of day to day life mingle seamlessly.

As the story develops the fantastic and sci-fi elements catch wind and grow up.


Characters are well fleshed, each with its own vital problems to solve and interact: fortune-soldiers, nobles, surgeons, priests and serfs. Interesting issues about ethic, gender, love, politics & warfare are presented to the reader in a shocking cavalcade.

This book is strictly for adult readers due to its violent scenes and language; it will be fully enjoyed by alt-his lovers, fantasy fans & sci-fi buffs.

Reviewed by Max Yofre.