Reviews

Thornlight by Claire Legrand

bibliobrittish's review

5.0

Claire has beautifully expanded this world (and magic system) into something even more fantastical than I could have imagined. I adored every single one of the characters and cameos from the old - yes, Quicksilver, Sly Boots, and Ari are back! I cherished the hints at romance between Thorn and Zaf (wlw!), so completely, beautifully innocent and wondrous. But most of all, I loved the lessons in self esteem, courage, and empathy, as each fought their own unseen battles. Thornlight is a testament to the different kinds of strength we each possess, especially those that are often disregarded as weakness. This is a story that's equally heartwarming and heartbreaking (though the kind of heartbreak that pushes you to keep fighting), the sum of its parts undeniably magical. Oh, and did I mention the unicorns??? And Mazby the Grifflet?

On the blog: https://bibliobrittish.wordpress.com/2021/04/20/thornlight-review/

dominicangirl's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

esseastri's review against another edition

4.0

A beautiful and wild adventure though a magic-starved land; a quest to save a kingdom and a whole population of witches; a story about sisters, learning themselves and each other, stepping out of their shadows and growing up. This book is lovely and has the classic vibe of an old adventure story from when I was a kid–talking unicorn and all!

illiteration's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

electroclan17's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely loved reading this. I'm glad I read the first book because I understood the backstories of characters that show up in this book. I had a lot of fun reading this [especially because it's the first arc I've ever read]. I do love the first book more.

lanidon's review against another edition

2.0

This was too much of a modern fairytale for my preference. A bit too melodramatic and dreamlike

dragontomes2000's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Claire Legrand just has a way with words. Whether it is something light and fluffy like Thornlight or spooky, gritty like Sawkill Girls. Thornlight is a comapanion to Foxheart and while you do not have to read Foxheart first, as with all companions, it is a good idea to do so to get some of the references and context. Otherwise Thornlight is a self contained story on it's own.

I really had such a fun time with this story. It is not the greatest thing I have ever read but it was exactly what I needed at the time. Lately I have been reading some meh books and books that deal with more adult topics, so it was time to take a detour. Give my brain and mind something that was not so serious. Thornlight is a story about sisterhood and facing your fears and finding the strength with yourself. It is a very self empowering story told through the perspectives of three very different ladies. We have Thorn who is a girl that is living in her sister's shadow and trying to find her own place in the world. Brier a girl who is the greatest Harvester the Vale has ever known. Last we have Celestyna, the queen of the vale who is trying not to repeat the mistakes of her predecessor's. Each lady goes on a very different journey and each has a very distinct voice. There are also some loveable side characters like Noro, Mazby, and Zaf to name a few.

The world of Thornlight is not vast but it is rich with history and and you get to learn quite a bit about the Vale in Thornlight. Now, I will remain quite vague about the world, only because the plot of this story is very world driven. It is the driving force of the story from the very beginning.

Once again Thornlight was just what I needed at this time and I am very thankful for such a light hearted, yet empowering female driven story. Claire Legrand deserves so much more praise and I urge you to give her books a shot. They have been some of my favorites in just the past 2 years.

ana_distracted's review against another edition

5.0

This is a real treasure of a book! It is a beautifully written and engaging story. Thornlight is filled with adventure and unicorns and brave girls. However, I think it is marketed to a slightly younger audience than it should be. I began reading Thornlight to my 8 and 10 year-olds. My 10 year-old loves this fantasy adventure as much as I do, but it is too dark for my 8 year-old. I would guess that the right age range is from 10 to about 13. I teach middle school and I will be recommending this to my students who love adventure, fantasy and strong female characters. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.