How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

June 3, 2019
In this meandering space opera series launch, a teenage princess blessed by fairies may be the only one who can prevent an ambitious politician from seizing control of two warring interplanetary civilizations. Rory Thorne, the first girl born to her family in 10 generations, received the traditional fairy blessings, such as kindness and harp-playing; she was also cursed to “know truth when you hear it, no matter how well concealed.” All of these traits serve the princess well when, at age 16, she’s betrothed to Tadeshi Prince Ivar and sent to live on the void-station Urse until their wedding, which will end the war between the Thorne Consortium and the Free Worlds of Tadesh. On Urse, surrounded by potential enemies, Rory becomes entangled in the deadly schemes of Tadeshi politician Vernor Moss and must seize control of her own destiny before she becomes his most valuable pawn. Eason (Ally) makes the fairy tale elements work well in their far-future setting, but slow pacing robs the tale of much of its immediacy, as does its framing as an in-universe history complete with infodumps and a self-aware authorial voice. It’s entertaining but falls short of its potential. Agent: Lisa Rodgers, JABberwocky Literary.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Ten generations after Sleeping Beauty was woken by her prince, a new princess is born to the (now interplanetary) kingdom of Thorne. That Rory Thorne is born a girl comes as a great surprise to her family, who haven't seen a firstborn daughter since that princess of legend. According to old homeworld tradition, a firstborn princess must have a naming ceremony, and the 13 fairies must be invited to give the baby their magical gifts. The tradition is so old everyone assumes the fairy invitations are a symbol, a nod to the legend, but then the fairies actually show up. Eleven of the fairies give Rory gifts like a talent for harp playing and a pretty face: gifts that seem frivolous until you consider that women are primarily expected to please other people, and a princess who can't be pleasing will have a rough go of it. In that light, the 13th fairy's gift--that Rory will "find no comfort in illusion or platitude, and [will] know truth when [she hears] it, no matter how well concealed by flattery, custom, or mendacity"--truly is a curse. Luckily, the 12th fairy hadn't yet bestowed her gift when the 13th made her dramatic appearance, and so she grants Rory courage. As Rory grows up among scheming politicians, princes who aren't what they seem, and a plot to overthrow the monarchy, she finds herself needing her curse and her courage in equal measure. With this book billed as the first of a duology, readers will be clamoring for the second installment before Chapter 1 is over. Told with just enough editorializing from a Dickensian narrator, this story delights from cover to cover. The political intrigue never fails to surprise, each character is layered and compelling, and there's a perfect balance between science-fiction action and fairy-tale fantasy. Do not, under any circumstances, miss out on this.

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Starred review from September 1, 2019

This beautifully layered, endlessly entertaining first tale in a new series from Eason ("On the Bones of Gods" series) is part space opera, part Sleeping Beauty retelling, part feminist battle cry, and part send up of The Princess Bride. Rory's fairy curse, to perceive the truth behind any falsehood, serves her well as she finds herself trapped on a distant space station to fulfill a marriage contract. Her betrothed is MIA. The regent is up to something. Her every move is captured on social media, and her advisers end up lost. This is only the beginning of the chaos that ensues for Rory and her unexpected supporters. Using a mixture of hacking skills and hexes, political maneuvering, martial arts, and flirting, Rory manages to destroy the multiverse and control her own fate. How she gets there is a journey well worth the read. VERDICT Exquisitely written with complex characters, sardonic wit, and immersive worldbuilding. Highly recommended for all readers.--Katie Lawrence, Grand Rapids, MI

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2019
Eason's sf fairy tale begins a lot like Sleeping Beauty, except that, in this instance, the evil fairy (who has pink hair and wears fishnets) does not curse Princess Rory Thorne with eternal sleep. Rather, she bestows upon Rory the ability to see through fa�ades. When people lie, Rory hears their real thoughts. When they flatter, she can discern their true motivation. Thus, when Rory is betrothed to the prince of a distant space station, she realizes the local regent is truly in charge and attempting to usurp the throne. To avoid involvement in the regent's nefarious scheme, Rory must rely on her wits, fairy gifts, a ragtag group of allies, and hexing (magical and hacking) abilities. This has been pitched as Princess Bride meets Princess Leia, which is a tall order to fill, but, by golly, does it succeed! Eason adds a feminist modern twist to fairy tale and sf tropes while presenting an intergalactic adventure that enthralls in its own right, striking that ideal balance between original and familiar. The playful writing style allows the readers to laugh at the silly scenes while also fully engaging with the characters' emotions. A delightful start to what promises to be a smart, unique series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)