Firstly, a huge thank you to Readers First, I won a copy of Thorn...my first book win ever and this was definitely a fabulous book to win.
I was totally unaware that this book was originally published in 2012 and that this is a re-release, but if ever a book deserved an opportunity to be introduced to a wider audience this is it.
Thorn is a re-telling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Goose Girl; a story that I read many, many times and loved as a child, despite the many questions it raised, and which many Intisar Khanani has brought answers to. The story brings a greater depth of emotion and humanity to the story of the Goose Girl, but remains loyal to it's moral - Honesty, truth and that deception and lies will always be found out.
Whilst choosing to only use a few of the names from the original story including the horse Falada, the author has named the princess Alyrra/Thorn, and tells the story from her perspective, in the first person. Please, don't let this put you off. Within a couple of pages, I was so engrossed and engaged in Alyrra's world that it didn't faze me at all and truthfully, I'm not usually a fan of this approach.
Princess Alyrra, despite her station as a member of the Adanian royal family has not had an easy life, she is terrorised by her brother, disrespected and ill-used by her family; dysfunctional is a polite way to describe the family structure. Whilst honest in her nature and dealings, Alyrra recognises that the world is made up of multiple shades of honesty, intention and deception. She lacks confidence in her capabilities, her strength and herself, but she always tries to do her best in whatever position she is placed into and is not afraid to question her own actions, thoughts and emotions as well as others.
I fell in love with and totally connected with the character of Alyrra. She is likeable, she mirrors the doubts and misgivings that we all have at one time or another, but also exemplifies the behaviour we (I hope,) all aspire to. She wants to be the best person she can be for herself and for others, she wants to be there for those around her and will do her level best to help where she can, but she is also too ready to see herself as less than she is.
Despite being wonderfully honest to the original story of the Goose Girl, Intisar Khanani takes us on a more complex and deeper journey, she brings dimension to the other characters in the story not only in how we are introduced to them, but their stories within this story. They are greater than just scenery or placements to accent the character of Alyrra. They are characters in their own right.
"The older hostler woman reaches out and sets before me a trio of green leaves. I glance from it to her; she points to herself, saying her name slowly. I pick up the leaves; they are long and slightly rough-edged, with a peculiar texture to them. I rub the edge of one to release its aroma, lift it to my nose, and am rewarded with a familiar scent as cooling as it is sharp. A smile breaks across my face. I know this herb well, though I've only seen it dried before. The hosteler's name is Sage.
When I look up, the second woman presents me with a dried violet...the youngest a rowan branch, the second leaves of an ash tree and the eldest an oak leaf. They teach me their names in Menay, and I laughingly repeat them, commit them to memory: Sage, Violet, Ash, Rowan and Oak.
I carry the warmth of their kindness with me to bed and wake in the morning still smiling."
The strength of character development has a huge impact on Alyrra’s journey and the story itself, and at times brings some very strong and moving moments that are hard to escape from. Even the Prince in this story is not left as a one-dimensional character. Kestrin the Prince of Menaiya, who Alyrra has travelled to marry, the backstory to the deception practiced upon Alyrra is more than your typical fairy-tale prince.
As I've intimated above, the book does address the topics of physical abuse, rape and murder, as well as revenge and justice. I think care should be given about younger readers accessing this book, but should not be denied, the story does address these more difficult and sensitive topics, but it in such a way as to make them easier to understand and to open the reader to further discussion and learning. The book does not profess to have all the answers to questions on these more difficult subject, but it does provide the reader with a solid ground from which they can learn and discover more about morality, right/wrong, truth, deception, lies and that nothing is monochrome, there are so many different shades in this great big world we live in.
Thorn is definitely a book I recommend. I had read it from cover to cover within 24 hours of receiving it and I will definitely be reading it again.
I was totally unaware that this book was originally published in 2012 and that this is a re-release, but if ever a book deserved an opportunity to be introduced to a wider audience this is it.
Thorn is a re-telling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Goose Girl; a story that I read many, many times and loved as a child, despite the many questions it raised, and which many Intisar Khanani has brought answers to. The story brings a greater depth of emotion and humanity to the story of the Goose Girl, but remains loyal to it's moral - Honesty, truth and that deception and lies will always be found out.
Whilst choosing to only use a few of the names from the original story including the horse Falada, the author has named the princess Alyrra/Thorn, and tells the story from her perspective, in the first person. Please, don't let this put you off. Within a couple of pages, I was so engrossed and engaged in Alyrra's world that it didn't faze me at all and truthfully, I'm not usually a fan of this approach.
Princess Alyrra, despite her station as a member of the Adanian royal family has not had an easy life, she is terrorised by her brother, disrespected and ill-used by her family; dysfunctional is a polite way to describe the family structure. Whilst honest in her nature and dealings, Alyrra recognises that the world is made up of multiple shades of honesty, intention and deception. She lacks confidence in her capabilities, her strength and herself, but she always tries to do her best in whatever position she is placed into and is not afraid to question her own actions, thoughts and emotions as well as others.
I fell in love with and totally connected with the character of Alyrra. She is likeable, she mirrors the doubts and misgivings that we all have at one time or another, but also exemplifies the behaviour we (I hope,) all aspire to. She wants to be the best person she can be for herself and for others, she wants to be there for those around her and will do her level best to help where she can, but she is also too ready to see herself as less than she is.
Despite being wonderfully honest to the original story of the Goose Girl, Intisar Khanani takes us on a more complex and deeper journey, she brings dimension to the other characters in the story not only in how we are introduced to them, but their stories within this story. They are greater than just scenery or placements to accent the character of Alyrra. They are characters in their own right.
"The older hostler woman reaches out and sets before me a trio of green leaves. I glance from it to her; she points to herself, saying her name slowly. I pick up the leaves; they are long and slightly rough-edged, with a peculiar texture to them. I rub the edge of one to release its aroma, lift it to my nose, and am rewarded with a familiar scent as cooling as it is sharp. A smile breaks across my face. I know this herb well, though I've only seen it dried before. The hosteler's name is Sage.
When I look up, the second woman presents me with a dried violet...the youngest a rowan branch, the second leaves of an ash tree and the eldest an oak leaf. They teach me their names in Menay, and I laughingly repeat them, commit them to memory: Sage, Violet, Ash, Rowan and Oak.
I carry the warmth of their kindness with me to bed and wake in the morning still smiling."
The strength of character development has a huge impact on Alyrra’s journey and the story itself, and at times brings some very strong and moving moments that are hard to escape from. Even the Prince in this story is not left as a one-dimensional character. Kestrin the Prince of Menaiya, who Alyrra has travelled to marry, the backstory to the deception practiced upon Alyrra is more than your typical fairy-tale prince.
As I've intimated above, the book does address the topics of physical abuse, rape and murder, as well as revenge and justice. I think care should be given about younger readers accessing this book, but should not be denied, the story does address these more difficult and sensitive topics, but it in such a way as to make them easier to understand and to open the reader to further discussion and learning. The book does not profess to have all the answers to questions on these more difficult subject, but it does provide the reader with a solid ground from which they can learn and discover more about morality, right/wrong, truth, deception, lies and that nothing is monochrome, there are so many different shades in this great big world we live in.
Thorn is definitely a book I recommend. I had read it from cover to cover within 24 hours of receiving it and I will definitely be reading it again.