Thornlight

February 15, 2021
Children must save a kingdom in a stand-alone companion to Foxheart (2016). In the Vale, a massive Break ripped the mountains from the now-lost lowlands. Now the wicked Gulgot climbs ever closer to the top of the chasm, pushing darkness and evil before it. Twelve-year-old, pale-skinned Brier is Westlin's darling, riding her unicorn and capturing the lightning needed for the war; Thorn, her street-sweeping identical twin, cries easily and considers herself the shadow of her sister. But when lightning injures Brier, Thorn finds herself impersonating Brier on a perilous journey to find more ammunition to use against the Gulgot. While Thorn is the titular protagonist, the perspective shifts among both sisters as well as the 16-year-old Queen, Celestyna, and Cub, a mysterious creature orphaned by the Break. Thorn's story comprises mostly rousing, if perilous adventure, a nascent lesbian crush, and some sad losses, but Celestyna's arc concerns the royal curse that fights the Gulgot and contains violence at odds with the otherwise family-friendly story. Thorn may not recognize her own strength, but the many depictions of family, especially sisters, make it clear to readers that the gentle heart is the stronger one. Luscious writing and magical moments notwithstanding, the complex moral questions make this suited to an older audience than the package would suggest. Illustrations not seen. Troubling and moving in equal measure. (map) (Fantasy. 12-14)

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April 1, 2021

Gr 5-8-Twelve-year-old twin sisters Brier and Thorn, who have pale skin and brown eyes, live in war-torn Vale. Their soldiers battle a monster, Gulgot, who dwells in an ever-widening chasm. With unicorn Noro, Brier harvests lightning for weapons, but is burned, and Thorn, a street sweep, assumes her identity and accepts the Queen's order to find more lightning. On her journey, Thorn discovers the lightning is actually trapped stormwitches like her new friend, Zaf, who has pale skin and white hair. While Thorn and Zaf recruit help, Brier realizes her work imprisoned witches and she repents. Queen Celestyna, meanwhile, has made a dark bargain with a witch in a desperate attempt to stop the evil encroachment. Witches, soldiers, and Vale citizens are described with various skin tones including pale, brown, and black. Thorn and Brier each play a role in establishing peace. LeGrand's story features loving siblings with very different personalities, setting up a familiar dynamic for children. The peril always seems real, evoked fully as the author switches from Thorn's to Brier's to Celestyna's to the Gulgot's internal thoughts. The dark Chasm and the black, boglike infection that spreads from it are well delineated with multisensory writing. Numerous place names, plot threads, and origin stories make for confusing world building. Some elements are intense and morally complex. It's important to find the right reader for a story where several children murder other humans and witches. VERDICT An additional purchase where readers relish edgy, intricate fantasy.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Lib. Assoc., CT

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 30, 2021
Grades 6-8 Brier and Thorn Skystone are twin sisters. Brier is older by five minutes--she's also more magical, more famous, and more loved. Thorn, a lowly sweep, lacks both the notoriety that Brier enjoys and the talent to harvest lightning for powerful weaponry. Both girls answer to young Queen Celestyna, who was named to be the savior of the Vale, though that seems less and less likely as the days pass and a monster called the Gulgot strains to be released from his subterranean prison. As Celestyna despairs that she won't live up to her name, and Brier is attacked by living lightning, Thorn worries that the end of the world is coming faster than they can stop it. Can the three girls work together against the Old Wild magic, or is all lost? Legrand may be best known for the exciting Empirium trilogy, which skews to an older demographic, but this middle-grade fantasy is fun for younger teen readers, especially those who loved her Foxheart (2016).

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