Thorn, by Intisar Khanani

 Alyrra is a princess who just got sold into an arranged marriage by her family. She has a traumatic past, and expects her future to match that despair. Yet as she travels to the kingdom where she will live and marry, a witch unexpectedly appears. The witch takes away Alyrra's appearance, leaving her to find a way on her own in a new kingdom. With no more princess expectations and a freedom never seen before, Alyrra becomes a goose girl. With no knowledge of the foreign language or customs, she slowly creates companionship with those around her. She learns about herself and the new country, including the threats against the royal family. Knowing about the threats, one of which is the witch who cursed her, Alyrra must decide if she can continue living her peaceful life with the geese, or if she must warn the royals before the succumb to the witch.

This novel was an unexpected surprise. Going into this book, I had prepared for another romance book where the characters fell in love despite the arranged marriage hanging over their heads, and the threat of magic a constant grey cloud above them. However, Thorn has none of those common plot points. The novel focused on Alyrra, the princess, and how she had to adapt to an unforeseen situation. The princess was stripped of her title and appearance, yet still held confidence and surety of herself. While the character struggled throughout the book from external threats, she stayed strong. The brave female character was well-written by the author, and included just the right amount of doubt and harshness from those around her to show that her inspiration came from within. With little dialogue, and lots of thoughts, the book centered on Alyrra's reactions and thoughts, and perfectly created a princess who can inspire any female. The strong female protagonist, as well as the unique storyline, created a well-developed and insightful novel.

Reviewed by Thaila M., Grade 12

Montrose Library