THORN

THORN by Intisar Khanani

Thorn by Intisar Khanani is a middle-eastern retelling of the fairy tale Goose Girl for YA readers.

Princess Alyrra has no value in her kingdom. Her queen mother is always upset with her, because she doesn't know how to be political. She's too honest. Her brother, the crown prince, is physically abusive towards her and hates her. (Her father is dead.) So when a prince from a neighboring kingdom asks for her hand in marriage, she jumps at the chance to escape her world and hopefully enter a better, more loving one. What she doesn't know is that the prince's family is cursed. Little by little they are killed off and no one says why. (There is a revengeful sorceress at the source.) Needing a chaperone to travel to the new kingdom with, Alyrra's mother chooses one of Alyrra's peers who she had a falling out with, Valka. The sorceress approaches Valka for help in getting to the prince and lays a trap that ultimately ends up switching the two girls' identities. The true Alyrra is removed from the castle and becomes the goose girl. Happy in her new identity where she finds friends and peace, she knows that ultimately the prince's life is hanging in the balance, and she can't hide away forever.

Heads Up- There is approx. 5-6 d***s in the book including 1 G-d****. There are also "snatchers" in this book who abduct young women and children. They are rarely seen again. One of Alyrra's friends is taken and beat up. You do know that she was raped but not a lot of focus is put on that. The friend ends up dying.