{"id":6541,"date":"2021-07-10T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2021-07-10T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/?p=6541"},"modified":"2021-07-07T20:03:41","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T03:03:41","slug":"thorn-teen-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2021\/thorn-teen-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Thorn &#8212; Teen Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Review by Amber Elias, 15<\/p>\n<h3><em>Thorn<\/em> By Intisar Khanani<\/h3>\n<div>In a small, far-off kingdom, Princess Alyrra lives a life of contempt and yearn. She mourns the loss of her father, tries to meet the impossible standards of her loveless mother, and survives the hellish abuse of her wretched brother. Alyrra\u2019s only comforts are riding her horse through the woods and helping the maids in the palace kitchen. However, this subpar life is suddenly interrupted when she is sought out to marry Kestrin, the prince of the most powerful royal family. On the trip to the kingdom, a sorceress who has a taste for revenge casts a spell on Alyrra and morphs her body to look like her traveling partner Valka, a scornful woman who hates the princess for all she\u2019s worth. With their places switched and Valka&#8217;s intent on helping the sorceress bring the downfall of the royal family, Alyrra must decide if she wants to carry out a life of normalcy away from the court or save the prince from his likely demise.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>While this story was a unique and interesting concept, there were many structural errors that brought down the book\u2019s overall appeal. There seem to be several different storylines and plots throughout the novel and only some of them get tied neatly at the end, and even then they seem to be only partly developed. I personally felt no connection to any of the characters, which made the main storyline incredibly dull as it felt like there was nothing truly at stake. As well as the intertwining mess of plots, all of the action and development in the book happened in the last 100 pages, which meant reading through 300 pages of basically nothing but confusing world-building and unfortunate events for shock-value. It took a lot of discipline to get through the novel, and the ending didn\u2019t heed many rewards either. The story was boring to read and the eventful points that it did have seemed rushed. Despite these things, the characters had a decent amount of development and seemed to complement each other well, though I wish we could have seen more interactions between them throughout the story to build a stronger emotional attachment.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>2.5 stars.<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Find this book in our catalog: <a href=\"https:\/\/pasadena.ent.sirsi.net\/client\/en_US\/youth\/search\/results?qu=&amp;qu=TITLE%3Dthorn+&amp;qu=AUTHOR%3Dintisar+khanani+&amp;h=1&amp;te=ERC_ST_YOUTH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Title<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Catalog Number: N\/A<\/p>\n<p>460\u00a0pages<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Review by Amber Elias, 15 Thorn By Intisar Khanani In a small, far-off kingdom, Princess Alyrra lives a life of contempt and yearn. She mourns the loss of her father, tries to meet the impossible standards of her loveless mother, and survives the hellish abuse of her wretched brother. Alyrra\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":6542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-book-reviews","category-teen-reviews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2021\/07\/51265989._SX0_SY0_.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ZwbD-1Hv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3978,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/falling-kingdoms-ya-book-club\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":0},"title":"Falling Kingdoms &#8212; YA Book Club","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"April 30, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"recap by Madison Comick, age 15 Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes Even if you're a fan of magic and kingdoms, you may not like this story; participants at the YA Book Club this April meeting didn't, even though 3 out of 4 of us enjoy fantasy novels. The fantasy novel\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/09\/fallingkingdoms.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7104,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2023\/rise-of-the-vicious-princess-teen-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":1},"title":"Rise of the Vicious Princess &#8212; Teen Book Review","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"February 18, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Reviewed by Samuel Redfearn, age 16 Rise of the Vicious Princess by C.J Redwine Rise of the Vicious Princess tells the tale of Charis Willowthorn, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Calera. Her mother, the queen, has raised her to be vicious, cutthroat, unfeeling in her personal life,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2023\/02\/Screenshot-2023-02-18-at-1.04.28-PM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4045,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2017\/of-fire-and-stars-teen-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":2},"title":"Of Fire and Stars &#8212; Teen Review","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"September 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"review by Kara Eng, age 18 Of Fire and Stars\u00a0by\u00a0Audrey Coulthurst Summary:\u00a0Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2017\/09\/of-fire-and-stars.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7543,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2024\/a-thousand-heartbeats-teen-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":3},"title":"A Thousand Heartbeats &#8211; Teen Book Review","author":"Nathan Wang","date":"February 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Reviewed by Jasmine Sov, age 17 A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass Princess Annika has always longed for true love. But within the bounds of Meckonah Castle, she knows that isn\u2019t possible for her. Since her mother\u2019s disappearance, her once-loving father has grown distant, and the needs of the kingdom\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2024\/02\/59314662.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6747,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2022\/sisters-of-the-snake-teen-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":4},"title":"Sisters of the Snake &#8212; Teen Book Review","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"January 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Review by Emily Battaglia, 17 Sisters of the Snake By Sasha and Sarena Nanua Written by the Nanua twins, Sisters of the Snake is a young adult fantasy novel depicting the perpendicular lives of thief Ria and princess Rani as they navigate their place in the kingdom of Abai. They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2022\/01\/81-hXmaIy6L.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6123,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2020\/kingdom-of-souls-teen-book-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":6541,"position":5},"title":"Kingdom of Souls &#8212; Teen Book Review","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"December 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Review by Jasmine Sov, 14 Kingdom of Souls By Rena Barron Arrah, unlike many other people her age, does not yet possess magic. Despite her father\u2019s reassurances that her magic will come, she\u2019s losing hope. After all, her high-ranking priestess mother already all but shuns her. That surely means that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Book Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Book Reviews","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/teen-reviews\/book-reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2020\/12\/91WmolJ4xCL.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6541"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6543,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6541\/revisions\/6543"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}