Princess of Thorns

Title: Princess of Thorns 
 Author: Stacey Jay
eBook, 400 pages
Published Dec. 2014
source: Netgalley

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne. Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. 

Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago. Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?

3.5 stars

 I’ve got mixed feelings about this book. A month ago, I've read Fractured Dream by KM Randall and I thought it was really great. I became a Storyteller and it was like the book version of Once Upon A Time, the TV series. Now, after reading Princess of Thorns, I couldn't help but compare the two books. Which is totally unfair because each book has its own story to tell.

 Truth be told, I’m a big fairytale fan and I like retellings, too, but I can’t say the same with Princess of Thorns. Somehow, Sleeping Beauty’s story has come to an end and so her daughter Aurora is next to the throne. But she can’t relinquish this throne because she’s on the run, together with her brother Jor; because once the Evil Queen learns she’s alive, Aurora might as well wish for her death. She must hide and save her brother, and then suddenly Prince Niklaas arrives. He thinks Aurora as a boy, so she pretends she’s Jor.

Suffice it to say, the book, in my opinion, was very well written & was quite engrossing. I admire Stacey Jay’s clear and concise descriptions and development of characters, as well as the pacing and magical adventures along the way. But soon, it became too much of a mixture of Mulan & LOTR, that it somehow lost its appeal in the end.

While evidently Aurora & Niklaas had chemistry, the uber romanticism on the latter part of the story became too much for me to bear. But surprisingly, my kids enjoyed reading it, and they told me Aurora kicks @ss. So we’re giving the Princess of Thorns thumbs up!

 

 S T A C E Y  J A Y

Stacey Jay is a recovering workaholic (or at least working hard at recovering) with three pen names, two small children, and a passion for playing pretend for a living. She’s been a full time mom-writer since 2005 and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing.

Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, waiter, math tutor (for real) and yoga instructor. Learn more at http://staceyjay.com.