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mkegley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Physical abuse, Trafficking, Animal death, Murder, Violence, and Sexual assault
viivacious's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Blood, Bullying, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Trafficking
jennajlh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Medical content, Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Rape, Trafficking, Bullying, Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Excrement, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent
mattyb's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Grief, Slavery, and Trafficking
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence, Animal death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Trafficking, Rape, and Slavery
mynotsolittlelibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Classism, Blood, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Body shaming, Abandonment, and Violence
jemofabook's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Thorn is a retelling of the Brothers' Grimm Goose Girl tale. I have read Goose Girl and several Goose Girl retellings/novels, but not since I was a child, and I don't remember much about the tale. From what I gathered from talking with my sister and looking up the original tale, this is a pretty close retelling in some aspects, but it also really makes the story it's own and introduces uncertainty. However, this book has AAAALLLLL the trigger warnings, and I was shocked at how dark it was, so I definitely suggest that you look into that before checking it out. It definitely leans toward the older end of YA, both in content and themes.
Alyrra is a princess in a small, unimportant land, where she just wishes to be forgotten. Her mother sees her as rather useless as far as politics go, and her brother is cruel and abusive to her. The king of Menaiya comes to secure a marriage between Alyrra and his son, Kestrin. However, on the journey to her new home, a sorceress switches Alyrra with her lady companion, Valka in exchange for a betrayal of the prince. Alyrra settles into her new life as Thorn, the Goose Girl, and begins to build a home for herself.
Ultimately this is not really a romance, but it is a story about a kind princess finding her place in the world, recognizing the injustice that permeates it, and doing her very best to change it when she can. Alyrra/Thorn is a very quiet heroine. She doesn't have any wish to return to the intrigue of the palace, but Valka won't forget her and how she could upset her current standing in the court. However, she is kind, and she has a good heart, and I appreciated seeing how that was able to guide her towards making an impact on the people around her and the world in general, even if it felt fairly small at the time.
Menaiya is a place where people go missing, especially children, and young women. There are things like human trafficking, animal death, assault, and other horrors that Alyrra witnesses and experiences in her time as the Goose Girl. Alyrra/Thorn faces a lot of difficult choices. In addition to the darkness, there is also magic, Falada, a mythical horse that is able to communicate with humans, mages, and fae.
I'd say that until the switch happens, I wasn't super interested in the book and almost DNFd it. Then once she was the Goose Girl, I enjoyed it a lot more. Towards the end when it got into some of the more philosophical questions and discussions came up like true justice versus performative justice, and the injustices that the underprivileged in society face when they are seeking justice, defense, and safety, I was definitely intrigued. Overall, though, the relationships were not super well-fleshed out, and while I enjoyed the side characters, I wasn't invested in Alyrra's relationships with anyone, really.
All that being said, I liked Alyrra/Thorn a lot as the MC. I enjoyed a lot of the side characters, even though I wasn't invested in them. I am especially interested in Red Hawk and his storyline/role. I enjoyed this story and am interested to see what else happens in this story. I will certainly continue reading the series.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Animal death
Minor: Death of parent
saurahsaurus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Slavery, Confinement, Torture, and Trafficking
livetgjennomb_ker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
In all seriousness, this book was a delight to read, and I'm excited to keep reading this series.
It's only my second time reading a Goose Girl retelling, and it's vastly different from the first one I read, which is exciting in and of itself, because I love when retellings have distinct voices.
The found family element in this made my heart happy, and it also made me cry, and I am hoping the holster gang get more time over the next books because I love them
Graphic: Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Kidnapping and Trafficking
leialeilani's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Physical abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Trafficking, Slavery, and Sexism