Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: Middle grade fantasy/fairy tale retelling
Release Date: April 6 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis:
For years, Briony has lived in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Rosalin, and the curse that has haunted her from birth--that on the day of her sixteenth birthday she would prick her finger on a spindle and cause everyone in the castle to fall into a 100-year sleep. When the day the curse is set to fall over the kingdom finally arrives, nothing--not even Briony--can stop its evil magic.
You know the story.
But here's something you don't know. When Briony finally wakes up, it's up to her to find out what's really going on, and to save her family and friends from the murderous Thornwood. But who is going to listen to her? This is a story of sisterhood, of friendship, and of the ability of even little sisters to forge their own destiny.
Sarah's Review:
Thornwood is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty told from the perspective of Sleeping Beauty's little sister. I love a good retelling, but sometimes they are hard to come by. This book was such a unique and refreshing take on the story we all know and love.
I love the idea of a book being told by the "forgotten sibling" of the protagonist. I identified with Briony (the little sister) a ton, but also found myself identifying with Rosalin (Sleeping Beauty). I think reading this book, and being a middle child helped me really get the most out of this book. The interactions between Rosalin and Briony were so real, and I liked that Cypess didn't sugarcoat their relationship. They struggled with each other, and didn't listen to what the other was saying, but you never question the love that they have for each other.
Other than the fantastic development of our main heroines, this book was action packed, and the pages turned themselves. There are twists and turns, and I wasn't quite sure how it would end. Thornwood keeps you on your toes, but also conveys a deeper meaning of the importance of family.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to middle grade, and fairy tale fans. I will be buying a copy for my ten year old sister upon publication, as I think she might just identify with Briony herself.
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