Princess of Thorns

October 13, 2014
A pair of cursed royals—Princess Aurora, facing death to fulfill an ancient prophecy, and Prince Niklaas, son of an immortal king whose descendants never reach age 18—rely on each other to survive in Jay’s (Of Beast and Beauty) re-imagining of “Sleeping Beauty.” Their partnership, however, is steeped in lies. Blessed with mercy, bravery, and preternatural strength, Aurora is masquerading a boy as her brother, Jor, in order to conceal her quest to save him from captivity by the Ogre Queen. Niklaas, meanwhile, feigns interest in wooing Aurora without revealing his own dire circumstances. Chapters are split between the two characters’ perspectives, allowing them to reveal their motivations, fears, distrust, and growing affection for one another in distinct but equally stubborn voices. This dual narrative becomes even more effective when Niklaas is robbed of his free will, after which he conveys his single-minded pursuits with a flat, cold voice. In giving the two teens ample room to explore their emotional journeys, Jay’s book maintains a languid pace, before picking up in the second half of the tale. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Clark, Curtis Brown.

October 15, 2014
Exiled warrior-princess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty's daughter, attempts to save her brother and reclaim her throne. Fairy-blessed by her dying mother with strength, 17-year-old Princess Aurora hopes to raise an army to free her brother, Jor, from evil ogre queen Ekeeta. Arrogant, crass and beautiful Prince Niklaas is cursed to become a swan on his 18th birthday unless he marries a princess. Disguised as a boy and calling herself Ror, Aurora is disgusted by Niklaas, but when he promises to help her find an army in exchange for an introduction to "his sister," Ror agrees. While their journey occurs over the span of several days, Aurora and Niklaas' very Lizzy and Darcy-esque relationship, as well as their growing bond, is entirely believable given the intensity of their experiences. When secrets are finally revealed, their sexual tension practically sizzles, but it's refreshingly realistic that trust and forgiveness take time. Furthermore, things aren't as straightforward as they'd seem, as Aurora's mother's blessing also came with a curse. The conclusion may come a bit too easy for some, and discerning readers may be left with multiple questions. Those able to overlook the incomplete worldbuilding will find the compelling, fully fleshed romance and gems of truth scattered throughout the story satisfying and worth the effort. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Set in a well-drawn fantasy kingdom that is home to humans, fairies, ogres, and witches, Princess of Thorns chronicles the early life of Princess Aurora, the briar-born child next in line to inherit her deceased father's kingdom of Norvere. Unfortunately, Aurora's grandfather chose an ogre as his third wife. After conspiring to bring about the demise of her husband and her son, Queen Ekeeta imprisons the rest of the family. Aurora's mother sacrifices herself so that Aurora and her brother Jor can escape, and they spend 10 years in hiding with the fey, but a disturbing ogre prophecy requiring a briar-born child makes the ogres hunt them tirelessly. When the prince is captured, she'll stop at nothing to save him, but doing so requires a risky journey across lands rife with spies and traitors. Using her fairy blessings, the princess is as strong as any warrior, but her blessings come with a dark side as well, and she fears that she'll never be able to enjoy a happily-ever-after. Compelling and action-packed, Princess of Thorns weaves in elements of classic fairy tales, such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Rapunzel," and "Swan Lake," while still telling a unique and compelling story of its own. The combination of adventure; lovable, complex characters; and a touch of romance make this a book that teens will be drawn to, especially those who appreciate strong female protagonists. The message of empowerment is well developed, and this cleverly conceived novel is a highly recommended first purchase.-Sunnie Lovelace, Wallingford Public Library, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2014
Grades 9-12 Briar-born siblings Aurora and Jor have been in hiding for 10 years, ever since their mother, Sleeping Beauty, was assassinated by the Ogre Queen. But now Jor has been kidnapped, and the fairy-blessed Aurora must save him before his blood is spilled and the prophecy of living darkness comes true. She disguises herself as a boy, planning to hire an army that can rescue Jor, but instead becomes unlikely travel partners with Nikklaas, cursed to turn into a swan on his eighteenth birthday unless he can marry a princess. Jay has turned fairy-tale elements on their heads to create her own unique tale of adventure. Both Aurora and Nikklaas are complex characters whose backstories are released incrementally, creating romantic tension. The plotting is impeccable, the world building ample, and the resolution neatly done without feeling pat. An excellent choice for older fans of Donna Jo Napoli and Robin McKinley, this book is satisfying in its own right, but readers will be hoping for a sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)