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    Thorn
    Thorn
    Thorn
    Audiobook14 hours

    Thorn

    Written by Intisar Khanani

    Narrated by Shiromi Arserio

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Hunted meets The Wrath and the Dawn in this bold fairytale retelling—where court intrigue, false identities, and dark secrets will thrill fans of classic and contemporary fantasy alike.

    Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life, but when her mother betroths her to a powerful prince in a distant kingdom, she has little hope for a better future.

    Until Alyrra arrives at her new kingdom, where a mysterious sorceress robs her of both her identity and her role as princess—and Alyrra seizes on the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl. 

    But as Alyrra uncovers dangerous secrets about her new world, including a threat to the prince himself, she knows she can’t remain silent forever. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds, and ultimately must decide who she is and what she stands for.

    Originally self-published as an ebook and now brought to life with completely revised text, Thorn also features an additional short story set in-world, The Bone Knife.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 24, 2020
    ISBN9780062994837
    Author

    Intisar Khanani

    Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters.Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Intisar's next two projects include a companion trilogy to Thorn, following the heroine introduced in her short story The Bone Knife, and a novella series set in a fiction world of eleven kingdoms all controlled by a corrupt Council of Mages. Thorn is her first novel.

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    Reviews for Thorn

    4/5

    189 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Excellent Read! It had been a while since I read a book as good as this.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing book. Light fanstasy but with such deep topics. Loved it.
    • 5/5
      This was one of the next books I’ve read in a long time. There was a great plot with complex characters a themes all without crass language or overly sexual a scenes.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I am always looking for authors who give me the same feeling as reading Juliet Marillier and have never found anyone. But this author has managed to come the closest yet. Although I know the goose girl story I never knew quite what was going to happen here or how the problems and relationships were going to turn out. My only criticism is that the background world could have had more detail but it's a very small one. There are more books to come so the world will become bigger. But as a measure of how much I liked this, I went out and bought all Khanani's other books.
    • 5/5
      This is a retelling (including someo of the tough parts of the story) of the Goose Girl. And a well told tale this one is. I wanted to press it into the hands of anyone who would sit still for long enough to listen to me once I finished it. I found it hard to put down. Princess Alyrra suffers under the abuse of her mother and brother and tries to keep herself to herself and enjoys the support of the servants. Somehow she ends up being sent for a marriage alliance to a nearby kingdom but on her way there she is attacked by magic and her identity switched with the girl who should be her lady in waiting. Now she becomes the goose girl. Prince Kestrin is not what she expects and despite the tempation to leave all the pressure and politics of royalty but Prince Kestrin may need her to stay alive.A good read, and while it's marketed at YA it might be suitable for anyone.
    • 4/5
      Fifteen year old Princess Alyrra is sent to marry the prince from another kingdom but en route is forced into swapping places with her lady-in-waiting.This retelling of “The Goose Girl” is riveting. I instantly cared about Alyrra, and appreciated how thoughtfully and effectively the story walks a line between darkness and hope -- between fear and trust, sadness and joy. Alyrra’s new life has its dangers and difficulties, but also positive things, like satisfaction in her work and the support of a found-family. She becomes increasingly aware of injustice in the world around her, but her story is shaped by the choices she makes -- to be kind, to seek justice and bring change. And there are moments of violence where the horror and the consequences are absolutely conveyed even though the specifics are implied, rather than confirmed.Something else I thought interesting was Alyrra’s understandable suspicion of the prince, for seeking an alliance with an unsophisticated princess who has neither significant wealth or influential connections, and the way she holds her own in conversations with him. Conversations which are the key to building understanding between them. “Also, you are offering me apple cakes once more. You would tempt me with an offer of justice for your people rather than striving to such ends yourself.” “You speak well, lady. I perceive quite clearly why you prefer your work to the court.” “Then help me to understand why I should return. I see only lies, artifice and ultimate failure here.” “There is very little else to speak of.” Kestrain leans against the back of the armchair, resting his elbows on its back. A few strands of hair have slipped free of their tie, falling like a tracery of shadows over his brow. He looks weary, tired past bearing. The firelight casts a waning warmth on his features that makes me think of the last flush of life on the face of a dying man. “Isn't there?” I ask, almost pleading. “If you are not tempted by power, wealth, rank or an offer of flawed protection, or by personal concern for justice to be carried out for yourself,” he looks up and catches my gaze, “then what else is there?” I open my mouth and close it again. I can hear Falada’s voice, see his dark eyes comber and penetrating. At some point you must take responsibility for your life.One of my least favourite things about the original fairytale is the fate of the horse, Falada. I was disappointed by what happens to Falada here, but at least it didn’t ruin everything else for me (perhaps because I felt forewarned?).
    • 3/5
      "Thorn" was quite an enjoyable read and it is getting excellent reviews. However, I found it hard to connect with Alyrra, I found her bland and uninspiring. The plot lagged at times and I found myself getting distracted (never a good sign). Then there was Falada, the talking horse. He was my biggest problem with this book because I HATE talking animals in stories. Arggghhh!
    • 5/5
      Everything you want in a fantasy is here. A princess who sells herself short, a vengeful sorceress, a cruel brother, a good prince, a very bad prince, an amoral girl who cannot let go of a resentment, a queen who devalues her daughter at every opportunity, body switching, a robber with honor, a talking horse, and a plot that wraps all of these, as well as more seamlessly. I very much look forward to more by this author.
    • 5/5
      YA fantasy novels are not normally something that would pique my interest but after a sneak glimpse of the first few chapters I found that I was really intrigued to see where Alyrra's journey would take her and I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this beautiful adaption of The Goose Girl. Princess Alyrra of Adania learns that she is to be betrothed to Prince Kestrin of Menaiya and as every classic fairytale goes, things never are a straight forward affair. In this story it is a powerful sorceress with a vengance for the royal Menaiyan family and with a cruel act casts a body switching spell on Alyrra and her narcissistic travelling companion Valka, who in allegiance with sorceress, plans the demise of Prince Kestrin. Stripped of her identity and forced to work as a goose girl, Alyrra finds herself on a new path of self-discovery, where she encounters an array of contrasting characters. Thorn is such an enchanting and elegantly well written read, with easy to follow script which is adequately paced. Intisar Khanani keeps you completely engaged throughout and I could have kept reading about Alyrra's journey forever. The pages are filled with joy and sadness that kept me up way past my bedtime and left me wanting to be apart of that magical world. With many thanks to Hotkey books and Readers First for my proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Reading Thorn was like reading Robin McKinley's Beauty for the first time. First of all Intisar Khanani's story telling is wonderful, I don't remember an awkward sentence or "what was that" moment in the book. Just as importantly for me, her world makes sense, her characters act as you would expect, and the pacing was good. That all sounds very dry (although for me it can mean the difference between a keeper and a wallbanger)Suffice it to say this a lovely lyrical book that I stayed up much too late reading. Intisar,please keep writing for a very long time!
    • 4/5
      A very enjoyable retelling of "The Goose Girl" with various twists and turns added. I was originally drawn to this because of the cover, I'll admit. At times I was a little frustrated with the heroine's lack of action, but there are reasons behind her taking her time to figure out what she's doing. I liked the characters--everyone had a least a bit of reason for behaving the way they did, except for Alyrra's brother--he was just downright mean. It's not that the circumstances of someone's life that necessarily make one who they are, however. I found the exploration of justice, and what _is_ justice, an interesting one, and a valid one in today's society. Recommended.
    • 5/5
      This is my first 5 star book of 2015. It's hard to put into words how much I loved this novel. I read this book in one sitting, which is extremely rare for me. I found it hard to stop because I had to know how the story ended.Everything about this story is so well done. The plot is a retelling of The Goose Girl, which I haven't read before. However, I don't think it's important to know the fairy tale before reading this book. Intisar Khanani writes in this beautiful prose that is descriptive without being too wordy or boring. She tells you just enough about the surroundings and the world, and then lets your imagination fill in the rest. The story is richly layered with so many facets.The character of Alyrra is so interesting. She starts off as this meek, frightened girl and really comes into herself. I empathized with her so strongly. She's forced into a life she didn't choose and while most heroines in fantasy novels come from poor backgrounds and move up in the world, it was a really interesting twist to have a princess become a goose girl. Also, I loved how Alyrra wasn't all powerful and didn't have any special abilities. She was just a regular girl who reluctantly became a savior.This book deals with some really serious themes and some really big moral questions. Alyrra sees cruelty and goes through some terrible events. In fact, she never seems to get a break, but she manages to handle everything admirably. She's forced to question the definition of justice, she learns about the darkest parts of revenge and also what family, honesty, and loyalty mean.I can't recommend this book highly enough and I've put all of Intisar Khanani's other works on my to-read list. Excellent read - highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      I picked up the book for the cover, and, in this case, can rightly say that the interior is just as wonderful as the exterior. Thorn is a mesh of fantasy and myth that reminded me of reading Tamora Pierce as a child. The protagonist is interesting, stronger than she knows but demur and different than many in-your-face modern heroines. The other primary and secondary characters are equally fleshed out and intriguing, with personalities that are well formed and expertly written. The plot of this story is well paced and kept me reading until the last page. Khanani is a descriptive writer with a knack for weaving moral themes into her book without preaching. Her story tells a story of justice vs. revenge, love vs. hate and thoughtfulness vs. thoughtlessness. Great indie author that I will follow closely. Highly suggest that you pick up this wonderfully written fantasy. It will help readers understand just how strong indie authors can be.
    • 4/5
      Thorn is a retelling of the fairytale The goose girl. I didn't really know the fairytale, but I read a summary on Wikipedia, and I think the book follows the story relatively well, with some minor adjustments and of course a more in-depth exploration than Wikipedia gave. I really quite enjoyed it. I liked the characters of Thorn. I think her character development was well done, and one of the things I like best about her is that she makes friends. I also like that there is no head-over-heels business to be found: Thorn is skeptical at best regarding the prince, and even towards the end there is acknowledgement that a real relationship is still to grow. At first glance, the prince might seem the rescuer of the poor abused princess. Although this is partly true, and Thorn is perhaps a bit too suspicious due to her background, when the story unfolds it becomes clear that the prince is not exactly perfect either. He is good at heart, but he does play games with her, and he is blind to the lack of justice in his own lands, to the point of telling Thorn that he does not know if he can give it to her when she comes to him asking for it. In the end, it is her rescuing him. Thorn goes through a lot, but I think she copes with it quite well. Although the story can be dramatic at points, the author doesn't milk the drama to the last drop. I get teary-eyed very easily when reading a sop-story, and I admit, I have cried a few times while reading Thorn, but it could have been a lot worse; the drama was not exploited. The thing I thought could have been better, is that the story perhaps follows the fairytale a little too well. I would have liked it better if the world of the book were better explained, without things just being stated. The magic for instance, was just there. No clue how things are accomplished, or what it's limits are. The talking horse at least has a bit more background, but this whole wind and fairy business were a bit too easy for me. Apparently there is even a magical counsel, but that got pretty much dropped out of thin air as well. This is what's keeping it from a full four stars for me.
    • 4/5
      Thorn is a retelling of “The Goose Girl,” a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. In short, a widowed queen arranges for her daughter to marry a prince of a far off country. She gives her daughter a charm to protect her, but along the way, the girl’s treacherous maid steals the charm and impersonates the princess. When they arrive at the palace, the true princess is forced into becoming a goose girl.In this version, Princess Alyrra is the protagonist. At the start of the story, she’s living in an isolated mountain kingdom under the control of her violent and abusive brother while her mother knowingly lets it happen. She’s isolated and friendless, and I was worried that she’d spend the entire story being victimized until she was rescued by the eventual love interest.I was wrong. Alyrra’s a very strong character. She’s a survivor and very brave. Although the book is dark in places and her life not happy, she keeps her head up and perseveres with her kindness, honesty and courage.The writing is excellent – I had no quibbles with it, and the setting fairly traditional. I would have liked to see some more originality and development to the world building, but it served it’s purpose to the story.Thorn‘s take on the fairy tale involved an ancient sorceress who was slowly destroying everyone in the family of Alyrra’s betrothed. This sorcerress switches Alyrra’s and the maid’s bodies and bounds Alyrra to silence in return for the eventual betrayol of the prince by the maid.There is a romance plot, but it stayed restrained and never dominated Alyrra’s story. It was very much unlike the normal gushing and obsessing that you find in young adult books. I was annoyed with one detail. Skip the rest of this paragraph if you don’t want spoilers. The original fairy tale has the princess able to talk to the wind, and Alyrra does speak to the wind in this story. However, it turns out that the wind is being sent by the prince, who has magic powers. So, Alyrra doesn’t actually have any magical abilities, which sucks. Instead, they get given to the prince.On the whole, I found this story very enjoyable, and it may be something that I’ll eventually want to reread. I’d recommend it for anyone interested in fairy tale retellings or fantasy books with strong female protagonists.
    • 4/5
      Readers will perceive Alyrra as a sad victim at the start of the novel but as we get to know her we realize she has a wealth of inner strength. Khanani writes a character that stands as an example of doing the right thing when the right thing isn't easy. Khanani also shows her skill in writing Kestrin. The prince is an interesting character in his motivations. Can Alyrra trust him? Will he be able to persevere to his goal? The love story between Alyrra and Kestrin (which may be perceived by some as a spoiler but is in the books description) is very organic and slow in coming. I disliked when young adult novels present relationships to children as something that is so easy to fall into and life or death and all big emotion and loud noises. Love is sometimes natural and the best lovers are those people who are already friends.The relationship between Alyrra and her escort, Valka, is somewhat muddled when presented. When Khanani does eventually explain things it seems to me that the narrative would have lost nothing with an upfront understanding with the audience as to what was taking place. Older readers may find some of the loose ends left untied troublesome but I believe young adults who like the fantasy genre will eat this one up. Younger readers will love the talking horse.I would recommend Thorn for middle grade to older teens
    • 4/5
      As I mentioned in my previous review of a Goose Girl retelling, the basic gist of both this book and the original fairy tale is as follows. A princess is sent to marry a prince in a foreign land and on the journey, her maid uses some form of magic to take on the princess’s identity. Once they reach the foreign capital, the princess becomes a goose girl and must decide if and how she wants to regain her place as a princess.

      Like the previous re-telling, this princess was very unassuming and not so sure she minded being a goose girl. Unlike the previous re-telling however, I felt she had a very good reason for being nervous and mistrusting the prince, so her inaction was less frustrating. Later in the book she does manage to stand up and make a difference when it matters. And at the end, she is required to be incredibly brave, enduring violent trials to save the prince. She made for a very impressive heroine!

      In general this heroine faces far darker and more violent situations than were to be found in the other re-telling. I didn’t love that this lost the “fairy tale feel” of the other, but I suspect it would be right at home in an original brothers Grimm collection. I did love that the author added some ethical dilemmas and a villain with a lot more depth. As with the other re-telling, the author did an incredible job meshing original plot with the world and magic system she created. This world was a slightly more grown-up version than the other, but I also enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to people who like character growth and/or fairy tale re-tellings.

      Note this book review was first published on Doing Dewey and comparisons are to an earlier review of Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl.