"Deeply engaging and piercing. An illustration that courage and strength can be found in unexpected places and in unexpected people. Amraeya’s refusal to give up even when all the odds are stacked against her will inspire many, many readers." — Nafiza Azad, author of The Candle and the Flame
“Khanani deftly navigates heavy themes while spinning an investigative tale packed with action, excellent banter, and court intrigue.” — Sarah Henning, author of THE PRINCESS WILL SAVE YOU and the SEA WITCH duology
“A vivid masterpiece with some chilling parallels to the unseen battles fought in our present day and a striking heroine who has a fierce passion for justice.” — Nadine Brandes, author of ROMANOV and FAWKES
“Khanani returns to Menaiya to expand the first volume’s worldbuilding while maintaining a depth of political and magical intrigue, developing heart-wrenchingly emotional characters, and adding hints of romance… A beautifully written, fantastical page-turner.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Political intrigue, child slavery, societal inequities, and physical infirmities are all explored in this quick-paced read by the author of Thorn .” — School Library Journal
“While sleuthing and danger aplenty keep things moving, Rae’s clashes with engaging thief Bren illuminate questions about the nature of justice and the responsibility of power… Returning readers will be delighted, but this is a friendly entry point for new readers, too.“ — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for Intisar Khanani’s THORN: “Set in a dark and dangerous world…well-written and dramatically told, teens will find much to love in a novel in which the princess grows to become a force to be reckoned with.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Khanani beautifully crafts Alyrra’s quiet but clear journey of self-definition… [Thorn ] is sure to appeal to fans of Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn. ” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“Immersive and captivating…[will] draw in fans of fantasy and slow-burn romance.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Thorn is a lovely atmospheric fairytale fantasy about a girl and her found family. I loved it!” — Gail Carriger, New York Times- bestselling author of the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series
"A quietly profound and beautiful fairytale retelling that I'll be recommending for years." — S. A. Chakraborty, author of City of Brass
“Lush and vividly imagined, THORN takes a folktale we think we know and turns it into something new: a story of and for our time, with lessons that will remain with readers long after they have finished the last, glorious pages.” — G. Willow Wilson, author of The Bird King
"Khanani’s Thorn explores themes of resilience, responsibility, and identity in a darkly captivating retelling that is more than the sum of its parts. This is the kind of book that digs under your skin and makes a home, demanding reflection and frequent re-reads.” — Tracy Banghart, author of Grace and Fury
"A vivid retelling of a classic tale, full of love, justice, and empathy." — Emily B Martin, author of the Creatures of Light series
Thorn is a lovely atmospheric fairytale fantasy about a girl and her found family. I loved it!
While sleuthing and danger aplenty keep things moving, Rae’s clashes with engaging thief Bren illuminate questions about the nature of justice and the responsibility of power… Returning readers will be delighted, but this is a friendly entry point for new readers, too.“
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Khanani beautifully crafts Alyrra’s quiet but clear journey of self-definition… [Thorn ] is sure to appeal to fans of Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
"Deeply engaging and piercing. An illustration that courage and strength can be found in unexpected places and in unexpected people. Amraeya’s refusal to give up even when all the odds are stacked against her will inspire many, many readers."
A vivid masterpiece with some chilling parallels to the unseen battles fought in our present day and a striking heroine who has a fierce passion for justice.”
Khanani deftly navigates heavy themes while spinning an investigative tale packed with action, excellent banter, and court intrigue.
Lush and vividly imagined, THORN takes a folktale we think we know and turns it into something new: a story of and for our time, with lessons that will remain with readers long after they have finished the last, glorious pages.”
"Khanani’s Thorn explores themes of resilience, responsibility, and identity in a darkly captivating retelling that is more than the sum of its parts. This is the kind of book that digs under your skin and makes a home, demanding reflection and frequent re-reads.”
"A quietly profound and beautiful fairytale retelling that I'll be recommending for years."
"A vivid retelling of a classic tale, full of love, justice, and empathy."
While sleuthing and danger aplenty keep things moving, Rae’s clashes with engaging thief Bren illuminate questions about the nature of justice and the responsibility of power… Returning readers will be delighted, but this is a friendly entry point for new readers, too.“
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A quietly profound and beautiful fairytale retelling that I'll be recommending for years."
12/18/2020
Gr 9 Up —Though she never really wanted to leave Sheltershorn, her small quiet town far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Rae is the only one who has a hope of finding her best friend's sister Seri, the latest victim of kidnappers. When she arrives in the city, Rae is dismayed to see the discrepancies between the way the very wealthy and powerful live and the squalor of the lower classes' homes and streets. Even worse, those who are in power seem to have no regard for the children who continue to go missing. When Rae is invited to become an attendant to the princess, she almost immediately becomes embroiled in the plots and machinations of palace life, putting her in more danger than she ever expected to face. An unresolved ending will give readers hope that there are more sequels to come in this fascinating series. The only weakness in this novel is how quickly a girl from a family of horse breeders in a small village is accepted into the inner circle of the royal family. Most characters have brown skin. VERDICT Political intrigue, child slavery, societal inequities, and physical infirmities are all explored in this quick-paced read by the author of Thorn .—Jane Henriksen Baird, formerly at Anchorage P.L., AK
Shiromi Arserio narrates the second book in the Dauntless Path series. Rae is content to spend her days on her family’s horse farm, but when her best friend’s sister is snatched, she travels to the royal court in search of answers and assistance. Arserio skillfully shows Rae coming into her own at court as she matures from a country girl into a young woman skilled at intrigue and politicking. As Rae’s confidence grows, so does her ingenuity, which Arserio deftly portrays. Arserio does not shy away from Rae’s prickliness, embracing her pride and intelligence, as well as her refusal to consider herself as having less value than anyone around her. While some characters may occasionally be difficult to distinguish, the intense plot and shocking cliff-hanger will keep interest high. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Shiromi Arserio narrates the second book in the Dauntless Path series. Rae is content to spend her days on her family’s horse farm, but when her best friend’s sister is snatched, she travels to the royal court in search of answers and assistance. Arserio skillfully shows Rae coming into her own at court as she matures from a country girl into a young woman skilled at intrigue and politicking. As Rae’s confidence grows, so does her ingenuity, which Arserio deftly portrays. Arserio does not shy away from Rae’s prickliness, embracing her pride and intelligence, as well as her refusal to consider herself as having less value than anyone around her. While some characters may occasionally be difficult to distinguish, the intense plot and shocking cliff-hanger will keep interest high. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
2021-01-12Thorn (2020) comes a tale of political corruption and human trafficking.
Eighteen-year-old Amraeya—Rae to intimates—lives in the small village of Sheltershorn on her family’s horse farm. Born with a clubfoot and seen as a “cripple” in a society where disability is stigmatized, little is expected of whip-smart Rae, though she is a fierce protector of her family and friends, particularly her sister Niya, whose hidden magical talent makes her a recruitment target of the kingdom’s Circle of Mages. When her best friend’s younger sister is abducted by snatchers who steal away young children, Rae is at a loss of how to help. An opportunity arrives to visit family at court, and Rae takes it, knowing that she may be able to glean more information about the snatchers. Fortuitously, Rae becomes an attendant to Princess Alyrra, but the secrets they uncover are infinitely more dangerous, revealing sinister conspiracies that could completely destabilize the kingdom. Rae, who has internalized shame over being disabled and not conventionally beautiful, undergoes a journey of coming to appreciate her physical self. Khanani returns to Menaiya to expand the first volume’s worldbuilding while maintaining a depth of political and magical intrigue, developing heart-wrenchingly emotional characters, and adding hints of romance. Menaiyans have black hair and brown skin; cultural references suggest similarities to South Asian cultures and Muslim-inspired practices.
A beautifully written, fantastical page-turner. (Fantasy. 13-18)
