Princess of Thorns

With the expert narration of Julia Whelan, the continuing story of Sleeping Beauty's daughter, Aurora, can only be described as alluring. Dressed as a boy, Aurora enlists the help of Prince Niklaas, who is also under a curse, to help her raise an army to defeat the ogre queen who is holding her brother hostage. It's difficult to decide which is more appealing in Whelan's narration: Aurora's lilting, slightly accented confessions or Niklaas's growling reflections. As an extended comedy of errors prevents the star-crossed couple from uniting until the last possible moment, Whelan provides impassioned dialogue and a few surprises. Fairy-tale adaptations abound, but this narration is as enchanted as its characters. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

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.