Date of Completion: 30/01/2021
Truth be told, I started this book with low expectations and mid-level interest. ‘Thorn’ wasn’t a book that had fascinated me enough to be added to my ‘Want-to-read’ shelf nor had I come across a lot of excitement or hype surrounding it. This was a completely random acquisition, but boy am I glad I got it!
It is rare for someone who wants power to truly deserve it
The storyline begins with much pomp and intrigue, at a turning point in the life of the protagonist, Alyrra. From there, Intisar Khanani skilfully introduces the main characters and smoothly interweaves the world-building. Her writing style has such a tranquil and calming nature, it’s almost like stepping into a nice, warm bath. You know the feeling – all your muscles relax, your mind clears and you never want to get out.
The storyline itself is not saturated with action or drama; yet the slow pace and the strong character focus are still very captivating. Honestly, no one was more surprised than me that I never became bored or frustrated by the pace. Instead, I was kept intrigued and entertained by the highly developed and well-thought-out characters.
In particular, I found the protagonist – Alyrra – to be very refreshing as she is not the typical female lead seen in most fantasy books. She is not utterly untouchable or feisty – neither does she go charging into dangerous situations without any care for her life or the impact of her actions on others. Despite this, she is still a force to be reckoned with and I was fully mesmerised by her character. Her wit, resilience and kindness forged a path straight to my heart.
Perhaps I cannot fix everything in this moment. But I can do this: start somewhere and keep going.
Overall, this book is a delightful, unexpected gem! I certainly did not expect to love it as much as I do. Yes, the pace is relatively slow, but this actually works really well for the storyline as it allows for a strong character focus that is not overshadowed by ploys and drawn out misunderstandings. Moreover, Intisar’s beautiful and calming writing style is nothing short of a breath of fresh air and is itself impressive. Best believe I will be picking up the next book in this series!
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[…] themes that leave it brimming with heart, love and magic. I am reminded of the standalone novel Thorn by Intisar Khanani and recommend that for those who loved […]